MTV Movie Awards 2011: Ladies on the Red Carpet

MTV Movie Awards 2011: Ladies on the Red Carpet

The MTV Movie Awards 2011 were on Sunday and, like with every other awards show from MTV, the hottest stars of the moment came out to promote their projects and show their support for the nominees. This also meant fabulous, youthful and glitzy fashion on the red carpet. While the gentlemen in attendance kept it simple yet classy in casual outfits, the ladies couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to show off their unique style. Since this was an awards show for the younger generation – all the winners were determined by fans’ votes – there was no room for sophisticated fashion choices, but that’s not to say that the ladies on the red carpet didn’t rock their best looks. Shimmering fabrics and metallic or bold colors were all the rage, while hair styling was kept down to a minimum, with most of the ladies donning either regular ponytails or the tousled, “I just got out of bed and went out the door” look. Emma Watson was one among the ladies that went for metallic shades, though she mixed and matched the metallic silver with angelic white – to the most eye-pleasing effect. The mid-thigh dress was by Marchesa, while the shoes were Brian Atwood in silver, thus matching the gladiator silver shoulders on the dress. Since Emma’s hair is still rather short, she kept it simple, but one should note that her makeup and overall styling was very pretty – not that Emma often misses the mark on the red carpet, for that matter. Blake Lively also kept it very simple, though she went for a bolder color than Emma for her first public appearance since the leaked photo scandal. The “Gossip Girl” star, who was also a presenter for the awards show, rocked a blue Michael Kors dress, which she accessorized with understated Lorraine Schwartz jewelry and Louboutin shoes in a clashing shade with the dress. Also for the shock factor went “Twilight” star Kristen Stewart, who normally tries to fly under the radar at these types of events, being a well-known fact that she hates red carpet ceremonies. It seems that she’s more comfortable now, since her red Balmain dress was definitely not one to overlook: decorated with countless safety pins and very short, it flattered Kristen’s trim figure, without making her look as if she was trying too hard. Cameron Diaz also went for short and sweet, but she ditched the traditional dress, going instead for this summer’s must-have: the short jumpsuit. With legs like hers, who can blame her for going for something this short as the black Phillip Lim jumpsuit she wore. Cameron accessorized with Lanvin summer shoes and some jewelry.        Several Angels were also in attendance at the MTV Movie Awards 2011 – the kind that walk the catwalk at Victoria’s Secret shows, not the kind one finds in heaven. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who is yet to make her onscreen debut (in “Transformers: The Dark of the Moon”) and Brooklyn Decker both made for stunning appearances on the red carpet, even if they went for different looks. Rosie, for instance, chose an animal print dress by Dolce&Gabbana, matched with shoes by Sergio Rossi and a Salvatore Ferragamo bag. Brooklyn, on the other hand, did her best to shine without showing too much: and she managed to do just that in a No.21 dress, accessorized with Walter Steiger shoes. Fresh off her vacation with Justin Bieber in Hawaii, Selena Gomez used the opportunity of posing on the red carpet to show off her newly acquired tan, especially on her long, toned legs. The Disney darling kept it very summery and sweet in a Giambattista Valli dress, with shoes by Casadei and a Cecelia clutch. The recipient of this year’s Generation Award, Reese Witherspoon, looked her usual stylish and stunning self in a Zac Posen Leopard Print Jacquard Bustier Dress, straight from the pre-fall 2011 collection. Reese’s biggest accessory was a gold cuff by Neil Lane and that bright smile of hers that fans fell in love with the moment she first appeared onscreen. To round up our brief look at the fashion of the MTV Movie Awards 2011, we include Amanda Bynes, considered by many a fashion guru the worst dressed celebrity of the evening, especially knowing how she rarely messes up on the red carpet. For the occasion, Amanda chose a Herve Leger bandage dress and, what actually ruined her look for the evening, turquoise frilly Louboutin shoes, which clashed terribly with everything else

X-Men: First Class – Movie Review

X-Men: First Class – Movie Review

Saturday, 11 June 2011 13:11

After the damage done to Marvel’s “X-Men” franchise with the last two poorly received outings, “X-Men: The Last Stand” and “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” it was about time it got a reboot. Call it that or call it a prequel, or even a sequel, but Matthew Vaughn’s latest film is definitely “first class.” Like any good superhero movie, “X-Men: First Class” starts with a scene in a Nazi concentration camp. The year is 1944, and little boy Erik Lehnsherr is being separated from his mom in a camp in Poland, as the evil Dr. Schmidt watches on from a window. As the SS guards pry the boy away from his only remaining relative, in his anger and frustration, he bends a heavy metal gate solely with the power of his mind – and Dr. Schmidt naturally takes notice. Played by Kevin Bacon with delicious sadism, he later offers the boy a choice: move a coin on a table or your mother will be hurt. The confrontation is tense, unfair and, above all, tragic. It’s also useful, marking the beginning of the story of Magneto. Fast forward to 1962: as the now-grown up and ever stylish Erik (Michael Fassbender) travels the world to look for the man who killed his mother, now going by the name of international supervillain Sebastian Shaw (also Bacon, just as superbly menacing as ever), we also get a better look Charles Xavier (James McAvoy). He too has supernatural powers of his own, though he chooses not to use them, at least not until he finds a way for humans and mutants to peacefully coexist. That’s right, there’s more of them, and Erik is not alone: when he was still a child, Charles discovered a little blue, scaly girl called Raven in his kitchen, and the two decided to grow up together. Raven (Jennifer Lawrence), unlike Charles, who is now studying to become a professor in genetic mutations, is not really that psyched about being a mutant, especially since her powers would mean she’d have to freak everybody out with her uncanny skin color and yellow eyes (back then, Na’vis were clearly not as popular as they are today). CIA agent Moira MacTaggert (Rose Byrne) comes to Charles for help: Sebastian Shaw is about to do something really bad, something that will potentially throw the world in a nuclear war, and the agency can use whatever help it can get. Thus, viewers get a “first class” history lesson, in that the Cuban Missile Crisis had mutant fingerprints all over it. Nay, it was actually provoked and eventually prevented from escalating by these beings with powers no human (with or without a fancy weapon) could ever match. Erik and Charles eventually meet, realizing they have a common enemy. Alas, their motives for wanting to get to Shaw before he carries out his dastardly evil plan, are different – and will put quite a damper on their beautiful friendship and collaboration. This being an “origin story” by all means, it functions to explain things that fans have been wondering about for over a decade, since the first “X-Men” film came out. While this could work against “First Class,” in that you can’t really build suspense if you already know what the outcome will be, the solid acting from the cast and Vaughn’s excellent use of VFX, action cuts, humor and wit prevent that from happening. The variety of subplots and themes also helps, from romantic connections to the ever-popular topic of social acceptance and whether being “different” should be vilified or glorified. “First Class” is not just any superhero movie: it’s a superhero movie with a heart, allowing room for tenderness and violence to the same extent. When either is shown, it’s gloriously stunning. In this sense, no romantic subplot (not even the beautifully developed and rendered relationship between Erik and Raven, aka Magneto and Mystique) can match the beauty of the bromance between the two leads. Without coming off as too mushy or wussy, the bond between Erik and Charles is truly something to behold: they can be tough yet charming, threatening yet still very emotional, silent but eloquent. When the two exchange ice-cold blue gazes, one feels their connection without the need of a single line of dialog. It may have seemed unlikely for anyone (let alone two young actors) to replace Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan in the roles they owned in the first “X-Men” film, but it just happened: this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship / rivalry for McAvoy and Fassbender, and of a blockbuster franchise for Marvel. “X-Men: First Class” runs for 132 minutes (but is not one second too long) and is rated PG-13 for scenes of violence and gore, mild profanity and nudity. It opened in the US on June 3, is now running in Italy and Greece, and will end its run in Georgia on June 23. The Good Well-acted, with a smart plot mixing actual history and superhero mythology, and very good special effects, “X-Men: First Class” reminds fans and non-fans alike what it was that got us so jazzed about the first film in the franchise over a decade ago. Watching McAvoy, Fassbender and Bacon at work is also truly jaw-dropping. Plus, diehard fans will also be treated to a few surprises along the way – only for the connoisseurs. The Bad “X-Men: First Class” takes a bit longer to start, but that’s common to most origin stories. Sadly, this being one, it also allows too little room for the other mutants, who are best defined by their superpowers instead of their character traits. As for the acting, Zoe Kravitz and January Jones probably stand out for their forced performances. The Truth  Fans will undoubtedly love “X-Men: First Class,” being just the movie they’ve been expecting for years. Fresh, smart and very entertaining, Michael Vaughn’s film brings into full zoom stellar acting, smart dialog and good visuals in a single package, reminding us all what superhero movies should be about – and then raises the bar for them.

Plastic Surgeon Confirms Courtney Stodden’s Body Is All Real

Plastic Surgeon Confirms Courtney Stodden’s Body Is All Real

She is Hollywood’s most infamous bride right now but, if anything, Courtney Stodden is out to prove at least some of the controversy around her is unfounded. She has a certified plastic surgeon check her out and confirm for the world what she’s been saying all along: she did not have plastic surgery. Stodden, a beauty pageant girl who also wants to be a singer and actress, rose to international fame after tying the knot with 51-year-old actor Doug Hutchison. She’s only 16. As Radar Online also underlines, unlikely marriage aside, Courtney has also been getting a lot of attention (mostly negative) for her curves, which she claims are all natural. Contrary to reports online about breast implants, Botox and fillers, she claims that she’s so not fake that she doesn’t even have hair extensions. Now, she has a doctor to confirm it. Dr. Gabriel Chiu is a board certified plastic surgeon from Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Inc. and he examined the teen bride to be able to say whether she has had any surgery. He tells Radar that Stodden is 100 percent natural, just like she claims she is. “In my professional opinion Courtney Stodden does not have implants. Her breasts are 100 per cent natural and organic,” Dr. Chiu says for the aforementioned media outlet. He says he performed four different tests to see whether there were any signs that Courtney ever went under the knife to get an augmentation – he found none. “I looked and carefully examined the four areas where someone would normally have a scar from surgery – the armpit, aureole border, the belly button and the fold under the breasts, and Courtney did not have any scars,” Dr. Chiu says. “If you know how to look for the scars you can find one and I did not find a scar. I proclaim her to be organic,” the expert concludes, thus confirming what Stodden, her mother and her husband have been saying all along.

Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries Are Married

Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries Are Married

Monday, 22 August 2011 15:38

She promised it would be an event that would top even the Royal Wedding – and many reports suggest that it managed to do just that. Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries were married over the weekend in a lavish ceremony, in front of over 400 guests. Though Kim is always very open about her personal life with the magazines, she chose to keep most of the details of her wedding under wraps – which was to be expected, since word has it she will be raking in the big bucks from exclusivity deals for it. Nevertheless, some details (and even footage, which you can see here) have emerged online. People magazine says the reception counted no less than 440 guests, all A-list celebrities. The bride went through three outfit changes and the groom through just two. Kim wore a gorgeous Vera Wang gown, and her bridesmaids (her sisters) also wore white: siren dresses with long trains, making them look almost like brides. “As stepfather Bruce Jenner walked her down the aisle, Kardashian, 30, donned an ivory custom-designed Vera Wang gown with full tulle skirt, basque waist and hand-pieced Chantilly lace appliqué on the bodice and train. She wore Guiseppe Zanotti shoes,” People writes. She was literally dripping in diamonds. At the altar, Kim made sure she remembered her late father, whom she wished could have walked her down the aisle. “The groom, 26, sported a made-to-measure white peak lapel tuxedo jacket, black tuxedo pants with white tuxedo shirt and white bow tie – all by Ermenegildo Zegna – and the couple exchanged rings by Lorraine Schwartz, who also designed the engagement ring,” the celebrity magazine further says. Kris too changed outfits for the reception, but still wore something to match the outfits of his best men. People says the guests included, among others, Demi Lovato, Babyface, Vera Wang, Mario Lopez, Mark Ballas, Ciara, Carmelo Anthony, Eva Longoria and Eduardo Cruz, Ryan Seacrest and Julianne Hough, Alan Thicke, Cheryl Burke, Melanie Brown, Maria Menounos, Sugar Ray Leonard, Serena Williams, Kathie Lee Gifford, Brittny Gastineau, Greta Van Susteren, Jillian Barberie, Brody Jenner and Avril Lavigne, Scottie and Larsa Pippen, and Dina, Ali and Lindsay Lohan. For a first look at the happy (and presumably blushing) bride, check out the video here. E! will air a 4-hour, 2-part special on October 9 and 10.

5 Healthy desserts in under 10mins

5 Healthy desserts in under 10mins

You've switched over to healthy cooking, you moved to using Olive oil in your salads and whole wheat instead of processed flour.  But desserts are always a grey area when it comes to eating healthy. Desserts by virtue of their names conjure up images of sinful plates of calories and nothing more. So, here are 5 desserts that are quick and easy to make, and healthy to boot! Fruit and nut crumble - Spread whole pecans or other desired nuts on a parchment lined baking pan. Toast at 180 degree (oven) for 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool. Using a food processor, grind 1 cup toasted nuts to approximate size of baby peas. Slice and sauté favorite fruits (apples, pears, plums, peaches are a few that work well) in butter until softened and/or warmed through. Add desired spices (e.g. cinnamon, ginger, etc.) and mix for additional minute over heat. Mix toasted nuts with 2 Tbsp. melted butter. Pour fruit into dish and top with nut crumble, and whipped cream if desired. Almond macaroons - Ingredients: 1-1/4 cups almonds, 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 tablespoons grated lemon peel, 2 egg whites, beaten, 1/4 cup raw honey, 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Grind almonds coarsely. Combine cinnamon and lemon and add to bowl. Beat egg whites very stiff, fold in honey and continue beating. Fold in lemon juice with almond mixture and blend. Drop from a teaspoon onto un-greased parchment paper. Bake 30 minutes at 130 degrees C. Remove from paper while still slightly warm. Makes 4 macaroons. Peanut butter cake - Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. In a mixer add the following and blend: 3/4 cup of peanut butter, 3 eggs, about 1/4 cup of honey, 1 very ripe banana (you don't even need to bother cutting it up – the mixer does a good job pulverizing it), 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/3 cup chopped dark chocolate. Then when everything else is combined, about 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Add the batter to a greased/or lined cake tin, and bake for 25-40 minutes (or until an inserted toothpick comes out dry). Banana Ice cream – This one is for the kids. All you need are bananas, crushed peanuts in bowls, dark chocolate chips in bowls. Peel bananas and freeze. Remove from freezer and blend. Place in containers and add colourful sprinkles. This is a fun and healthy ice-cream sundae without tons of sugar that will make kids bounce off walls. Low sugar chocolate fudge - In your stand mixer, or with an electric hand mixer (whisk attachment), combine: 1/4 cup cocoa powder, 2 tbsps honey, 2 tbsps water, 3 tbsps coconut cream. At first it might seem like it's not going to come together, but just keep mixing on high speed until everything is combined. It'll look like a rich chocolate dough. Scoop the dough out onto a piece of waxed paper, fold the paper over the dough, and press to form a sort of patty. Refrigerate or freeze until firm, then cut into pieces to enjoy.