SAMUEL L. JACKSON as Nick Fury and SCARLETT JOHANSSEN as Black Widow a/k/a Natasha Romanov in MARVEL'S The AVENGERS:
Hulk Smash! Mark Ruffalo was an interesting choice for The Hulk but he's inhabited the persona and played Bruce Banner very convincingly. Lucky number 3 --we have ourselves a winner! (Also pictured: Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye.) SOURCE: EW Magazine
We saw Marvel's The Avengers on Friday night. At the end, the audience cheered, which doesn't happen too often. So, in its second week, The Avengers is still getting THAT kind of audience reception. I am so glad Whedon is getting the recognition he deserves it on its own, and for his body of work thus far. I hope a whole new crop of Whedonites sprout.
Whedon has an awesomely loyal following. And this time, they brought ALL their friends.
UPDATE (MAY 9 2012) Game Of Thrones Season 2: The Story So Far (Episodes 11-16) VIDEO:
NIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU as 'Jaime Lannister' in KING OF THRONES Episode #17: “A Man Without Honor” (HBO) Beginning MAY 13:
Game Of Thrones Season 2: Episode #17 Preview VIDEO:
GAME OF THRONES - Episode #17: “A Man Without Honor” SYNOPSIS:
Jaime (Nicolaj Coster-Waldau) meets a distant relative;Dany receives an invitation to the House of the Undying; Theon leads a search party; Jon loses his way in the wilderness; Cersei (Lena Headey) counsels Sansa (Sophie Turner).
Debut: SUNDAY, MAY 13 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) Written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss; directed by David Nutter.
ALFIE ALLEN as THEON GREYJOY in GAME OF THRONES - Episode #17: “A Man Without Honor”:
Update May 9, 2012 - NEW! GAME OF THRONES: SEASON 2 SO FAR VIDEO ( The Story So Far (Episodes 11-16):
Game Of Thrones Season 2: Inside The Episode #16 VIDEO:
Game of Thrones Season 2: Recap #16:
This episode may have been the most exciting and tension-filled hour of Game of Thrones yet simply because I had no idea what would happen next!
Despite having to missed a week of Bronn (Jerome Flynn) and Ser Jorah (Iain Glen), we had some scorching scenes with many of our favorites (it was Stark-and-psuedo-Stark-intensive).
The opening scene was heartbreaking:
Theon: I sent my men over the walls with grappling hooks and took the castle.
Bran: Why?
As a almost synched-in-time-with GAME OF THRONES (HBO) and current book reader, this was hands down the most tense episode of the season as half-way through I realized that seriously, I had NO IDEA what would happen next.
This episode had some rocking scenes. My highlights:
All of the interactions with Arya (Maisie Williams) and Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) were chock full of seriously great chemistry. And when they added Littlefinger to the mix it was nail-bittingly intense. (For my part, I have no doubt whatsoever that he recognized Arya. Think about who and what Littlefinger is.)
Kudos to the brilliant Mr. Dance, who knows full well the caveat about working with animals and children in film and is handing every scene to Maisie and her wonderful expression. His restraint is superb—he never dominates with too strong a delivery, or upstages her with menacing hand motions, or any other bits of theatrical business —he just serves up one home-run ball after another and lets her hit each one out of the park.
Arya and Jaqen:
The annoyed look on Jaqen’s (Tom Wlaschiha) face when a frantic Arya demands an immediate kill was perfect. And then Tywin opens the door and Lorch drops in--dead. Spot.on.
The Jon and Ygritte scene where Ygritte kept… “moving” was sweet and sexy. Despite it being a departure from the books, it made me smile.
Osha = badass/ good heart:
Bran, Rickon, Osha and Hodor escape Theon's Winterfell invasion, but to where?:
Game of Thrones Season 2: Recap #16 VIDEO:
The episode opens on a frantic maester Luwin, attempting to send an S.O.S. message via raven. He just gets it off when the Greyjoys arrive. Theon wakes Bran and tells him to assemble everyone in the courtyard, where he will yield Winterfell to him, 'Prince Theon.' Bran does as Theon requests.
Ser Rodrik is captured by Theon’s men outside Winterfell, as he is returning from Torrhen’s Square. He spits in Theon’s face and Dagmer urges Theon to execute him or the men will lose respect for him (He must 'pay the Iron Price.') Theon mulls this over briefly and then takes way too many whacks at poor Ser Rodrik's neck before kicking it off. Later that night, Osha seduces Theon. When he is asleep she sneaks out of his room, casually kills one of the guards and then smuggles Bran, Rickon and Hodor to safety.
***I know this would have changed the story too drastically but logically, why wouldn't Osha have 'casually killed' the sleeping Theon before she did the guard?"***
In King’s Landing, Tyrion, Cersei, Joffrey and Sansa are seeing princess Myrcella off to Dorne. On the way back to the Red Keep, the motley & starving villagers get restless, taunting the royals. Some horseshit finds it target on Joffrey. He loses his shit and demands the head of whomever threw it and from there, things degenerate into complete chaos. Joffrey, Tyrion and Cersei make it back to the castle safely, but Sansa, separated from the group, gets left behind. Tyrion slaps the boy king around a bit and berates him for causing this riot and potentially losing Sansa, reminding him--again--that Jaime's life and Sansa's are tied together. Sansa has been dragged away from the mob and is about to be gang-raped when The Hound, prompted we learn afterwards by Tyrion, slashes and crushes his way to her rescue.
In Robb’s camp we again glimpse 'Lady Talisa' as does the King of the North. Under much quieter circumstances than their first meeting on the battlefield, she and Robb flirt--then Catelyn arrives with Brienne. Catelyn is introduced to Talisa. Cat and Robb then walk-and-talk until Roose arrives with some really.bad. news. Robb is furious with Theon and is ready to march to Winterfell and take it back himself. Roose suggests he send his own bastard son from the Dreadfort instead, that he would be happy to bring him Theon’s head. Robb says he wants him alive, so he can look him in the eye and ask him ‘Why?’ before executing him himself.
At Harrenhal, Arya continues to serve Tywin Lannister as cupbearer. In a meeting with his men, Tywin berates Amory Lorch for bungling a simple letter delivery because he cannot read. He dismisses his men and then chats with Arya, after he learns that she can read. Littlefinger arrives to meet with Tywin. Arya does her best to remain unnoticed while Littlefinger proposes an alliance with the Tyrells. After Littlefinger leaves, Arya spots a letter about Robb on the table and, while Tywin’s back is turned, snatches it. Later with the letter in hand, she runs through the castle and literally runs into Amory Lorch. Amory notices the letter and gets suspicious. Arya fears she'll be caught and punished so she runs. Amory heads for Tywin while Arya desperately searches out Jaqen. She finds him, names Amory Lorch as her second name, demands he be killed--NOW-- and just as Amory makes it to Tywin’s door, he falls down dead.
Beyond the Wall, Qhorin’s band treks through the mountains, looking for wildlings. They spy a small scout camp and attack and kill all but one of the wildlings, a red-haired girl named Ygritte. Qhorin tells Jon to kill her and meet up with them at the top of the mountain. Jon hesitates--he can't do this--and Ygritte uses his moment of weakness to break and run for it. Jon chases and catches her, but they have lost Qhorin and the rest of his brothers. Darkness is descending upon them so after binding her, the two settle in for the long, cold night, huddled together on the ground.
Meanwhile in Qarth, Danareys is trying and failing to bargain with the Spice King for some ships. Though he finds her intriguing and spirited, he won't make such a risky investment. Dany and Xaro return to his mansion to find his guards slain. Dany runs through the courtyard up to her quarters, passing a dead bloodrider on the way, and finding an apparently dead Irri lying on the floor. Worst of all, her dragon's cages are empty. The closing shot shows a hooded figure walking the dragons up steep steps toward a ominous-looking tower, whilst the dragons, cloaked and caged, cry out.
The Best Scenes:
Change is good, right?
Many changes from the way things went down in the book in tonight’s episode. Arya almost runs into Littlefinger, then she kills off Amory Lorch. Theon executes Ser Rodrik then sleeps with Osha. Jon doesn’t let Ygritte go and instead chases her down then ends up getting separated from Qhorin. And, of course, Dany’s dragons get stolen. The changes from book to screen really added a lot of drama and tension to the episode.
Ser Rodrik: Death with dignity – This scene was truly hard to watch, especailly with the plaintive wails of both Bran and Ricken who, like the rest of the the captives, bore witness. Ser Rodrik went out with class tho', despite Theon not giving him the clean execution he deserved. First, he calmed Bran and Rickon and then called out Theon one last time. “Gods help you, Theon Greyjoy. Now you are truly lost.”
The super-fast murder of Amory Lorch – This had to be the lightest moment involving death in the series thus far. The Hound saves Sansa – The Hound was all kinds of awesome in his rescue of the nearly gang-raped Sansa. It was a scene only alluded to in the book so it was very satisfying seeing it played out.
And not-insignificantly we had...Direwolves! -- There were three direwolves. Ghost looks magnificent in the white-on-white setting he's in. We had a non-gratuitous Osha(!) (Natalia Tena) naked scene and an awesomely-rendered Joffrey-bitch-slap from Tyrion ( for inciting the mob ("Kill them all!") after some poo-flinging at the boy king on some low-born's part.
EMILIA CLARKE as DAENARYS in EPISODE #16 of GAME OF THRONES:
The less-than-Best Scenes:
As Dany talked longer and longer to the spice king, she seemed younger and younger and less and less powerful/confident, even when yelling her standard 'Fire and Blood' threat. And all of her gravitas disappeared when she made her most feared discovery at episode's end.
This season Daenarys is beginning to sound like as a whiny, demanding 'little princess' stamping her feet when she doesn’t get her way. A little girl that is completely out of her depth and is falling apart...not rising.
ALFIE ALLEN (Theon Greyjoy), LENA HEADEY (Queen Cersei), KIT HARRINGTON (Jon Snow), EMILIA CLARKE (Daenerys) - ROLLING STONE magazine shoot - March 2012:
Stephen Moyer,'s True Blood Season 4 'In 3 Days Promo: Here are the some screencaps (new scenes/angles):
Check out the screencap albums for lots more:
True Blood Season 4: 3 Days PromoStephen Moyer (Bill Compton) 'Vampire Bill', 'Sookie Stackhouse's' former paramour.
True Blood Season 4: 4 Days Promo Rutina Wesley ('Tara Thorton')
OK. One question. Did Pam (Kristen Bauer van Straten) just throw Lafayette across the Fangtasia dungeon floor and if so, is he now putting the whammy on her? Her fierce look is getting sort of unsure--bewitched?
We've seen her dispatch with Lafayette previously in this scene and she looked very confident.:
Everyone in the regular cast of True Blood here at the Dome at the Arclight Hollywood season 4 premiere event looks really nice of course, but pretty much themselves (meaning their real-life selves) except Sam Trammell ('Sam Merlotte') who, though he often has the lovely Missy Yager at his side, has not to my knowledge appeared by her side whilst she was blooming, soon to be a mother! Congrats to both of them!
This photo is just the best!
(Photo Credit: Albert L. Ortega/PictureGroup.co)
Todd Lowe 'True Blood' Season 4 Premiere: Red Carpet:
(Image Credit: Tina Gill/PR Photos)
I just wanted to again note how much Todd Lowe transforms himself into the character 'Terry Bellfleuer', the shell-shocked Gulf War vet-short order cook on True Blood. "
He is one fine-looking man and I think more pics of him---maybe in his band would be really nice in addition to the MANY shots of the "big three." Love them too, but oi, they are everywhere and there are only so many poses and facial gestures they can make for variety (and it's been 4 years!) So more Todd Lowe, please?
Finally, for looking her age (early 20's) and adorable:
Had a brief encounter with an old friend just now. It's going on 6 years since I first came upon him on the Showtime network. Since then, I've spent only about 12 hours each year in his company but he always has made a tremendous *ahem* impression.
I'm truly, deeply moved that he's taken time to tell me that soon we will reunite.
Despite a false start or two last year, he now seems stone-cold certain that he is 'renewed, recharged (and) refocused with nothing to stop (him) from being 'Dexter'.
It seems in the last month or so the Disney-Pixar folks have left me eating their dust when it comes to getting out the word on Cars 2! I need to burn rubber and try to play catch-up right now! :)
Worldwide racing and mistaken identities -- Click above to watch the final trailer for Cars 2 before it races into theaters on June 24th! Who are you rooting for in the World Grand Prix? - Disney-Pixar Facebook
OMG. The abs on that man. Everyone looks terrific and happy!
Is this not the. cutest. twosome?
I love, love, love these two onscreen together! Miss them!
Would love to see both Tahmoh Penikett and Katee Sackhoff together in a super-awesome series. I could see them in a 'Friends'-like comedy/drama but better---sci-fi or not. It's entirely possible. I cannot believe smart casting peeps do not see the chemistry here?!
Some great, sort-of- recent news about Katee Sackoff:
Well, there’s one Battlestar Galactica vet who won’t be joining Ron Moore’sfrak pack-heavy NBC supernatural procedural 17th Precinct: Katee Sackhoff.
The badass formerly known as Starbuck has landed the female lead in the A&E pilot 'Longmire.' Based on the Walt Longmire Mystery series of novels by Craig Johnson, the project centers on a charismatic, dry-witted Wyoming sheriff , played by 'Matrix' actor Robert Taylor ('Agent Smith's' collegue-in-code--'till Neo killed him). Sackhoff will play 'Vic', one of his deputies.
Sackhoff is coming off a recurring role as' Det. Frankie Reed' on CSI. Also cast on Longmire, Deadline reports, are Cassidy Freeman (Smallville), as Longmire’s daughter; Lou Diamond Phillips (Numb3rs) as his best friend; and Bailey Chase (Saving Grace) as another deputy.
Update/ 4.16.11 Does anyone know if the shows have been picked up or do we have to wait until May for the anouncement? I think I read somewhere, 'Not 'till May! Boo! But yay! They are in the running!
'Bodyworks' - View Preserved Corpses Performing Amazing Feats of Physicality!:
CLICK THROUGH FOR VIDEOS
In our family, spring break means a trip to the city of Chicago, not that there's no other time but I'm not at all inclined to brave the lake effect during the depths of winter unless I have to and summertime can get crazy with tourists.
This was a nice, late-March day albeit only about 40°F so the utterly fantastic underground parking at the Museum of Science and Industry was super-welcome. (The added benefit is you leave your coat n' stuff in the car.) All aspects of a trip to the city, even to a very specific destination need to have to have additional niceties that I consider when making the trip. Easy access is a very big plus.
That said, since it is spring break for my son, he picks out the museum/activity of choice and he inevitably chooses the Museum of Science and Industry. If I want to go to the Art Institute for example, I'm on my own (which does not ever stop me--I sort of like going to the Art Institute in particular, by myself so I can unselfconsciously linger where I please). I digress.
We caught glimpses of some cool Chicago sights on the way and saw plenty of great stuff when we got there including the current Bodyworks exhibit. Though no hands-on activities there (they are real bodies), otherwise this Museum is known for having some very cool either hands-on or 'living' activities as well, which is perhaps why I've not been able to convince 'junior' to return to the Field Museum where everything is 'dead.' The hands-on stuff can be quite sophisticated so you'll see less tiny kids and more adults participating which I admit, I prefer. There is a farm area that I think the tots gravitate towards though. One visit to the huge, fake pig and her 'suckling' piglets as well as the fake cow giving milk was enough for me.
One caveat, and I suppose this can be said of any activity in the city. It has gotten super-expensive. We paid general admission plus 1 special exhibit (there are a number from which to chose). Adult admission was $30 each.** There is no public trans that is going to get us there from here in the northwest suburbs to the south side of Chicago in under 2 hours so car is the way to go. That was another $20-something bucks in parking. We bought nothing at the museum, no food, drink, or souvenirs (we can get them online), instead stopping on the way home to clog our arteries at Outback Steakhouse (we do this no more than once per year, which is good because I still felt full the next day).
All-in all a perfect spring break day spent with spouse and son.
**there are so-called 'free days' but they are very irregular and spotty throughout the year, with long periods where there are none--specifically school break times and tourist season(s).
Thanks to Tricia Helfer for sharing this photo of herself and her former castmates on Battlestar Galactica,Jamie Bamber as Lee 'Apollo' Adama and James Callis as 'Gaius Baltar.' Tricia of course, was the sublime 'Number 6'.
Anyway, I reeeeally hope that Ron Moore's latest endeavour, 17th Precinct, described as a 'supernatural cop show' gets picked up! Trica is alluding to the wrap party for the pilot for 17th Precinct in this photo. These actors were a big part of what made BSG so magical. Can a similar magic be created once again? I sure think so! (I've been dying to see Tricia and James acting together again!) Jamie had some pretty cool scenes on BSG with Baltar as well. I've not seen him as anyone but 'Lee Adama' so checking him out in a a new role is cool with me.
New York City Girls Rossum & Kenney Hang Out Before 'Shameless' Finale on 3.27.11!:
Courtesy of @emmyrossum
Spending the day with my @sho_shameless sister @emmarosekenney!! we just saw the mummies at the MET!! Finale tmrw!
posted by @emmyrossum from Twitterrific 2 hours 20 mins ago Direct link: http://yfrog.com/h2uu1kcj
As much as I truly love the guys from Shameless, Emma Rose Kenney and Emmy Rossum as sisters 'Debbie' and 'Fiona' and are waaay outnumbered by them so it's great to to see the ladies together enjoying some off-set 'sister' time at the Met in NYC!
Don't forget! The Shameless finale airs Sunday, March 27 on Showtime at 9 Central /10 Eastern & Pacific. Shameless is my favourite new show (and I have very discriminating taste --I do!) Check Shameless out to find out why you should be watching, too (besides the obvious loveliness represented here).
