Top 5 best films of 2012!

So another year is ending - how quick it has flown by! It seems only yesterday we were welcoming 2012 now here we are, on the verge of saying goodbye to a wonderful 2012 (particularly if your a Brit) and hello to 2013.

It has also been a fantastic year for the film industry - so many big films have been released this year and all of them superb in their own ways. So I thought that I just had to do this: here is my list of the top five films of 2012!

1). Skyfall
Starting with no other than 007 himself; starring Daniel Craig in his third outing as MI6 operative James Bond, this film excelled. It was the perfect mix of grittiness, action and British humour, with a splash of emotion involved. It really stood out for me as my top film of this year; I had been waiting for 5 or so years for this film to be released after the rather disappointing Quantum of Solace and it exceeded even my opinion of it - I just loved every moment of it. Daniel Craig was utterly superb, he has really put forward a strong case to possibly being one of the best Bonds ever, if not the best. Judi Dench as M was brilliant as always, and one of the main aspects of the film that I loved was her relationship with Bond, but also with the villian Silva - played by the wonderful Javier Bardem. I just loved how the whole story came together at the end of the film; you just felt all loose ends were tied up and the story-line was so cleverly written. For me, this is definitely my film of the way.

2). The Dark Knight Rises
For me to pick second place was incredibly tough - I loved both this film and the following film but I decided that The Dark Knight Rises deserved this honour. The final installment in the Batman trilogy was arguably the best, and director Christopher Nolan did not disappoint; Christian Bale as always in this role was fantastic, but Tom Hardy as Bane really stole the show for me. A superb villian, who was frightful and ruthless yet had a sense of humour about him. The whole film was gritty and fantastically made - it was dark yet there was the odd bits of humour, which I believe makes the film all the more 'believeable'. A mention must also go to Anne Hathaway - I really don't like her that much but she was brilliant as Catwoman in this film. Epic story-line and equally as epically made and produced. Bravo DC.

3). Avengers Assemble
This film is easily one of my favourites by far - I just love Marvel superheroes and I cannot tell you how excited I was for this film after watching the films following up to this such as the Iron Man franchise. That's one of the things I loved most about this film; how cleverly written it is with all of the films before. All of those films are linked to the events of Avengers Assemble and also linked to one another, it's brilliant! With a stellar cast, with actors such as Robert Downey JR and Chris Evans, you get the feeling that this film was just never going to be a flop. Marvel have a massive fanbase, and this film broke numerous box-office records; it's funny but with all of the seriousness and grittiness you'd expect in a superhero genre film - I bet you all laughed until your side's ache like I did when The Hulk pummels the villian Loki to a plump! The effects were brilliant, the story-line and script was clever and witty, the cast was brilliant (in particular RDJ stood out for me) and I love the fact there is going to be a sequel. Yippee!

4). The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey
One of the most eagerly anticipated films of 2012 and it certainly disappoint - the prequel to the Lord of The Rings trilogy finally arrived on the big screen and boy, wasn't it good! Taken from the book of the same name by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit is split into a trilogy itself, with Martin Freeman in the lead, portraying Hobbit Bilbo Baggins - and it was a fantastic performance from Freeman. Peter Jackson moved the entire filming schedule just to fit around Freeman, who's excellent performances as Watson in the series Sherlock are warranting a big blockbuster film, and he was definitely the best person to play Bilbo. It was witty in parts with the legion of dwarfs but it was just like the Lord of The Rings films; it just absorbs you into a wonderful world of fantasy full of elves, dwarfs and the great Gandalf the Grey. The effects were fantastic and the whole setting of the film is just beautiful. A mention must also go to Richard Armitage, who put in a great performance of Thorin Oakenshield - his great acting over the years in shows such as Spooks certainly earned him this big part and he did not disappoint. Roll on the next film in the trilogy already!

5). The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games is the first installment in yet another trilogy from the book series - the film tells the story of a nation divided into 'districts' by war, and every year, each district must send two tributes (teenagers/children) to compete in a fight to the death which is broadcasted live on television... it's basically children killing one another, but so much more than that. I hadn't red the books before I went to see this movie but now I've red the trilogy, I can tell you it really does the book justice. The books are more violent than the film but I think that was just about right. I really loved this film; the action was great and the setting was superb. I was really impressed with the performances of the two tributes that the story follows the most - Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson. Lawrence in particular was fantastic in this film as 'Katniss', and I just loved the whole story-line, as much as I loved the books when I got round to reading them. It's incredibly gritty but that's the nature of the story, and it captures the imagination. I really did love this film, and I believe the rest of the trilogy will be just as good.

So that's my top five - but there are a few other films which do deserve a quick mention...

The Bourne Legacy - starring break-out actor Jeremy Renner, it is the next installment in the Bourne Series but without Matt Damon... yes a entirely new character Aaron Cross, an agent on the CIA programme Outcome who takes 'chems' that enhance his physical being and his intelligence, who is attempting to evade death from the people who created his programme, led by Eric Byers (Ed Norton). Along with a stellar performance from Rachel Weisz as Dr Marta Shearing, Renner puts in an action-packed performance, and really states his claim to be the new action star in Hollywood.

Ted - Crude yet hiliarious, this film is different to other comedies; it follows grown man Josh Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) who, as a kid, wished for his teddy bear to come alive and low behold, it did by the name of Ted! (Seth MacFarlane) The story follows the two trying to balance their unusual yet immature friendship with the demands of commitment from Josh's long-term partner Lori (Mila Kunis) - which leads to a hiliarious journey. If your a fan of Family Guy, or just in need of a good laugh, this is for you!

The Amazing Spiderman - The relaunch of the Spiderman franchise proved to be an successful one, with British actor Andrew Garfield taking the reins as Peter Parker/Spiderman. This film shows the origin of Spiderman - the original comic story - with Parker still in high school and facing his past demands, whilst battling with Curt Connors - a scientist who transforms into 'Lizard' when a serum test goes wrong. Garfield really did a fantastic job as Spiderman; some actually believe that this one film is better than all of the Spiderman films with Tobey Maguire in them put together. His portrayal is brilliant, and the action in the film is great - there's wit and humour but that's to be expected in Marvel films! All in all, a great return for the Spiderman franchise.


So there you have it - my top films! As always I'd love to know what guys think so, if you could leave a comment below with your top five films of 2012, that'd be great. Also please accept my apologises for not writing sooner; I've been extremely busy with going to New York then heading back home for Christmas from university.

Hope you all had a great Christmas, and hope everyone has a happy 2013! 

Trailer reviews!

My humblest apologises for not writing sooner for you wonderful people - it turns out this year, I actually have to quite a lot of university work so I've had to dedicate a lot of my free time to completing these assignments. But guess what - I HAVE DONE ALL OF MY ASSIGNMENTS! *cue me running around my room punching the air in delight* So now, I shall hopefully be back on track with some blogs for you all in the upcoming weeks - wooo! (unless you've forgotten about me, then erm... that'll be awkward.)

Anywho, a couple of film trailers have been released and have caught my eye; so this post is my reviews on the trailers for Man of Steel and Oblivion.

1. Man of Steel

So if your into your Superhero action, this is definitely the movie for you - DC Comics are releasing this film in an attempt to re-boot the Superman franchise. Haven't seen the trailer? Take a look below...

I have to say - this film does look very promising. I know I do prattle on about this, but I just get the feeling DC had to release something to keep up with the Marvel steam train and the success that Avengers had; even though The Dark Knight Rises was also one of the films of the year by far. But you can't just have one film holding a company up, and I think this film has the potential to do very well indeed. When I first heard about DC re-booting the Superman franchise and almost starting over with a new film, I was a tad skeptical. But it really does look rather impressive - the action, the graphics... Plus the fact Christopher Nolan is the producer of this film is sure to bode well. The cast looks promising too - Henry Cavill looks the part as Superman, with the strong jaw and the handsome looks Superman should have. But the supporting cast also catch my eye - I for one think Kevin Costner is a fantastic actor and I'm already looking forward to how his role as Clark Kent's father Jonathan progresses throughout the story. I also like the idea of how it will be portraying Superman's origin, thus taking the story right back to the beginning. 

If the trailer is anything to go by, then I feel this film can really give Iron Man 3 a running for it's money next year.

2. Oblivion

Now this movie to me looks very interesting - starring Tom Cruise as Jack Harper, who is a drone repairman on Earth, one of the less remaining after a war with a out of Space threat - who then has the fate of humanity laying in his old hands. Sounds interesting to you? Have a peek at the trailer below for more...

I quite like sci-fi/action films, so this really looked interesting to me; it's slightly different to your average sci-fi film.  Yes, I know Tom Cruise is pretty much in the same film caterogy all of the time, but there's a reason why for that - because he's so bad-ass in this genre. It really does look pretty decent, and  I like all of the action that's in it; I'm intrigued to find out more about it and actually go and watch the film when it comes out (which means the trailer production techs have done their job well.) I like the whole concept of it - you get the feel this may be a solid film and the action will be well supported, particularly in IMAX. The supporting cast again is also stellar - just the name of Morgan Freeman is enough to say that, and the fact that it was directed and produced by the writer of the comic this film is based on - Joseph Kosinski - will also bode well, so then maybe, the film will just how the actual writer would like it. 

Well there you have it - two rather promising trailers for two films which I think will do well next year. Both different in their unique ways, but both seem highly interesting and exciting. Man of Steel is out on the 14th of June and Oblivion is out on the 12th of April in IMAX next year, then a week later in normal cinemas.

What do you guys think? Drop a comment below and let me know!  

Also a quick head's up - I'm in New York from Thursday until Monday and I will be writing a post about it when I'm back. But would you guys like to see a vlog from the trip? Let me know what you think please!

SPOTY nominees & predictions!

Once again, please accept my humble apologises for the lack of posts recently - second year of university really is hard work & I've been snowed under with the mountain of assignments I currently have! However, it's getting there and I needed a break sooo, here's a new blog post for you guys! 

From news.bbcimg.co.uk

One night every year, BBC Sports Personality of the Year is on - and I love it. If your a massive sports fan like me, this is the programme to watch every year (except I can't this year. WAH.) Everyone is always spectulating and guessing who will be nominated and who will win, and on the 26th of November, the UK found out who had been nominated!

The 12 nominees are:-

1. Nicola Adams - first British female boxer to win Olympic Gold, at London 2012.
2. Ben Ainslie - sailor who clinched his fourth successive Gold medal at London 2012.
3. Jessica Ennis - The London 2012 poster girl who didn't disappoint; swept to Gold in the Hepthalon.
4. Mo Farah - first British long distance runner to win 5,000 and 10,000m Gold at the Olympics.
5. Katherine Grainger - Fourth time lucky for the rower, who finally won Gold at London 2012.
6. Sir Chris Hoy - Two track cycling golds gave Sir Chris a number British record of SIX golds.
7. Rory McIlory - Won the US PGA Golf Championship by 8 shots, then helped Europe's Ryder Cup team retained the Ryder Cup.
8. Andy Murray - finally broke his duck & won the US Open Tennis - also reached Wimbledon final & won Olympic Gold in London.
9. Ellie Simmonds - Won two Paralympics Gold in the pool, and also won a Silver and Bronze. And she's just 18.
10. Sarah Storey - Won four Paralympic Golds in London, equalling a record of 11 golds.
11. David Weir - Had a clean sweep of four gold Paralympic medals at London 2012, giving him a career total of 10 Paralympic medals so far.
12. Bradley Wiggins - First British man to win the prestigous Tour de France, and then won Olympic Gold at the Cycling road time trial.

Can't pick a winner? I know - I can't either! It's fair to say this year has been just purely amazing for British Sport; from the huge success of London 2012, to Andy Murray finally winning a Grand Slam, to our British golfers helping in one of the best comebacks Sport has ever seen to retain the Ryder Cup... Just simply amazing. So many more people could have been nominated for this award too - big names such as Tom Daley and Greg Rutherford all missed out but they will surely receive some credit. If anyone should win Team of the Year then it should be Team GB and Paralympics GB combined - fantastic efforts all round from our British athletes. The shortlist is right this year - I was appalled by the fact people like Amir Khan were included on the short-list yet no women were last year. However, the panel got it right this year. But who will win the big prize?

I've always said when Andy Murray would win his Grand Slam, he'll get Sports Personality of the Year - but it just had to be the year of the Olympics and possibly the greatest year of British sport. He'll certainly have a shot of it however - I don't think many can begrudge his achievements this year. And Sir Chris Hoy - one of the heroes of the Olympics for many years, again delievering the goods for himself and for Britain. All of the nominees do deserve to win it; if only they had multiple awards. 

But I think the main prize will go to Bradley 'Wiggo' Wiggins - to win the Tour de France, one of the most gruelling competitions in Cycling, is outstanding, becoming the first British man to do so and also to then win Olympic gold only a week or so later is a brilliant achievement. And he has the personality - the Mod personality with all the wit and humour - and he made sideburns cool. It'll be close, but I think it has to be Wiggo.

Who do you guys think will win the big prize? Let me know, comment below!

BBC Sports Personality of the Year is on the 16th of December at the ExCeL Arena in London - live coverage will be shown on BBC One.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Apologises for the lack of posts recently - I'm afraid I've been 'snowed' under with all of my University assignments. Talking about 'snow' though, it kind of relates to this post. Yes people, I shall be talking about the best time of the year... Christmas!!

I'm sitting here, in November with my Christmas jammies on, watching Love Actually with my fairy lights which are meant for Christmas trees on. And yes, I have too already made a Christmas playlist full of my favourite songs - I've even sprayed my room with Christmas air freshener. I think you get the picture...

I LOVE CHRISTMAS. Everyone does surely? I mean what is there not to like?! When I was a child, like many of you I'm sure, the presents were really what sold Christmas to you, with Santa coming down the chimney and leaving a stocking and a present or two underneath the tree. It was wonderful. Yet now I'm getting older, I just love Christmas more for seeing my family. Most of my family I don't really see throughout the year, so Christmas is a time for all of us just to get together and celebrate Christmas as a family. That's what Christmas is about for me now.



And then of course, there is still the excitement of gifts... Well when your a big kid like me with a mental age of about 5 then you still going to be excited! I still have the butterflies in  my stomach the night before, every year without fail. Then there's the music, the decorations, the films, all of the awesome television on Christmas Day, the food... oh my goodness, do not even get me started on all of the amazing food. Everyone just has a lovely time with one another. It has to be the best time of the year.

Let's put it this year - Easter is celebrated as much anymore, particularly as you get older and like me, you don't want to eat as much chocolate. The rest of winter is dull after Christmas, Spring is just everything going all summery. Yes Summer is pretty awesome but let's face it... when do we EVER have a decent summer here in the UK? It just rains constantly! Sorry but not cool. Then Autumn is pretty dull then along comes Halloween, Bonfire night, Christmas and New Years Eve all in one go and it's just amazing. I seriously love this time of year; it makes me feel so happy.

Anyone who says it's too early - it's not! Nearly almost a month until Christmas now (wish that month would hurry up) and the Coca Cola advert has been on - so in my eyes, it's acceptable to be getting excited now about Christmas! So go on people, start listening to music and watching Christmas films - particularly if your in a bad mood, it really cheers you up! In the words of the Coca Cola advert, holidays are coming...

Re-releasing films in 3D - yay or nay?

News reached me yesterday that the 1993 classic Jurassic Park is being re-released next year in 3D, and I'm in two minds about it. It's pretty epic to be honest but really, is there any need for the film industry to keep doing this!?

I probably will go see it when it hits cinemas, even though as a young child I was petrified of this film but now I see how awesome it is. But I really do not see the point of re-releasing films in 3D - the only sense it makes is financially I suppose. But the films they are re-releasing have most likely already made a huge profit, so that doesn't really make much sense either? In some ways, I understand why people are doing this - 3D is a pretty good modern experience in cinema, so it would make sense. But in some films, it doesn't make much difference. 

For example last year, I went and saw The Lion King when it got re-released in cinemas in 3D. I bloody love that film - it's one of my all-time favourites. Yet, I really didn't see the need for 3D. The film was no different in my opinion, and the 3D effects didn't do much at all. Although I was amazed by the actual film itself - and nearly cried as always when Mufasa dies - I wasn't so amazed by the 3D effects. They did nothing really, and so in effect all I did was wear a pair of silly glasses for a good couple of hours which strains your eyes after all. It was pointless.

It may work for other films though - I can see Jurassic Park being quite frankly epic in 3D, with the Tyrannosaurus Rex bursting out of the screen and roaring right in your face as if it was there in real life. Now that'd be rather epic, as well as re-releasing all of the Star Wars films. But I feel the cinema industry just shouldn't bother with re-releasing films such as the Disney classics, they just don't do anything. If they will also re-release Top Gun as planned, and other films within the action genre, they'll fit in just fine. Just please stop re-releasing Disney classics, as much as I love them. 

Jurassic Park in 3D hits UK cinemas on the 5th of April 2013.

Four more years!

I'm currently writing this feeling extremely tired and struggling to stay awake in my university seminar. I'm armed with a flask of coffee to aid with staying awake and I didn't even stay up all night! But at least I can say it was worth it - yes Barack Obama has been re-elected by the people of the United States of America, and will spend four more years in term as President of the USA.

I, for one, am so happy that the people of America voted for the right man - to be honest, I think everyone this side of the pond wanted no-one but Obama to end up as President once more! I write this blog post in jubilation for American citizens all over the USA! Those who know me pretty well will know I am not a huge fan of politics, yet this election was so compelling. I stayed up until 2am watching the coverage on the BBC website, fully well knowing that I had to be up the following morning for an 11am start at university, yet I just couldn't turn it off! By the way, full credit to the Beeb - their live page for the election was fantastic, as was their live television coverage.

America, you have picked the right man for the job. No doubt about it. Obama has led you out of a war, whilst authorising the mission that killed one of the most wanted terrorists in the world at the time and he is slowly but surely rebuilding your country. Yes, unemployment may be at a high but there is optimism that he is the one to led America forward and make the next four years and beyond better for your country. I like the sound of 'Obamacare' and his financial policies to led your country's economic forward.

I mean, who would really want Mitt Romney as president!? His policies wouldn't have been the best for America, particularly with states rebuilding after Superstorm Sandy. And his comments on certain issues such as rapists having parental rights over their pregnant victims, and then facing the wrath of the whole of the United Kingdom by publicly stating that we weren't ready to hold the Olympics? I mea come on - how would the US people trust someone who made a certain number of gaffes and ill-timed comments during his campaign? Sorry Mitt, but I believe you were the one who was not ready. To be honest, if he had been elected, I would have just sat back and laughed at those silly people who would have voted him in whilst the USA would go to pot around him.

Yes Obama has still got a lot of work to do, and he acknowledges this. But his powerful speech at his victory rally in Chicago must give the American people a sense of hope that he can lead the most powerful country in the world forward and to the best of his ability for the next four years. I salute you Barack Obama, and congratulations on another term at The White House. Being across the pond, I obviously couldn't vote but our relation with your country is just as important so I will of course support him.

Which films are better - Marvel or DC?

Forget the US election - THIS is one debate that has been going for yonks among us superhero geeks around the world. The different comic organisations have released arguably two of this best films separately this year, with both breaking box office records respectively. So I'm here to ask this: which films are better - Marvel or DC? Could Iron Man beat Batman in a fight?

Well let's weigh up the differences between the two. Marvel are quite fun films in my opinion - they do address the whole 'seriousness' of the whole superhero genre, but with added humor. For example, you must have all been in hysterics when the Hulk absolutely pummels the living daylights out of Loki in Avengers Assemble. That is something you wouldn't really see in a DC film. Let's take the fantastic Batman trilogy - they are gritty, serious and perhaps a little more believable than the Marvel films. The Marvel films are all great storylines, but some times, they may not be as believable as possibly Batman is. All of the Batman trilogy are fantastic with Christopher Nolan directing them all fantastically, with a stellar cast. Aside from Christian Bale as a great Batman, I give a lot of credit to Tom Hardy as Bane; that was a great villain in the final film. 

But you could argue that the only films holding DC up at the moment is the Batman trilogy - the other films that they have made have often been let-downs or not as good compared to what Marvel release. The Green Lantern for example; looked absolute amazing in the trailers but the actual film was a let down. Same for Superman Returns. The only films DC have been really releasing recently have been Batman, whereas Marvel you feel have released hundreds. 

I also love the cleverness of how the whole Avengers universe has been written into the recent films - starting back at Iron Man through to Captain America and Thor. It was very very clever done, and you have to give credit to the writers at Marvel. It meant that if you were a die-hard fan (like me), you could watch all of these films and then understand the whole concept and plot behind the Avengers. Brilliant. 

Plus, you get the feeling Marvel has a much bigger cult fan-base than DC do. Yes everyone loved Batman and I thought it was brilliant - but when you get Comic-Con come round the corner, how many people dress up as Batman? If people are cosplaying, it's usually always Marvel characters, and Marvel events. Like the Iron Man exhibit in San Diego this year, which then had the cast of Iron Man 3 onstage, including Mr Downey Jr himself. You get the feeling Marvel is more liked in that sense than Batman.

So who is better - Marvel or DC? In my opinion, I think Marvel just. If DC had released more films which are just as epic as the Batman trilogy, then I'd probably be saying DC. However with only really the Batman trilogy holding DC up, as epic as it is, I prefer Marvel for the amount of great movies they have released and how successful they are. As much as I like the grittiness you get from a Batman movie, I prefer the fun yet serious movies that Marvel always seem to produce. I also love how cleverly written the Avengers universe is - very well done. I have loved both films that were brought out this year by Marvel and DC, but I think Marvel just shaves it for me.

As always, I'd love to hear your opinions about this so I'd love everyone to write a comment underneath saying - Team Marvel or Team DC! Go go go!

PS. I'd also love to hear who you guys want to win the US election. I'm a Brit and doesn't really matter to me but would love to hear - so also leave a note in your comment saying Team Obama or Team Romney! Follow my friend nathangenese for his blog on Election day!

Why growing up sucks...

I know this isn't usually what I post but I needed a rant so here it is - this is why growing up sucks!

Don't get me wrong, there are many good things to growing up - being able to drink legally, being able to go to university, being able to do the lottery... many things! But sometimes, I do wish I was a 10 year old all over again. Admittely, that is probably my mental age.

This evening I've been sorting out university with my parents - a long process which has made my head hurt (I've never been good at Maths...). Then there's sorting out my university house, and bills and just gah... I want to go back to being young again, when all you had to worry about is whether you want potato smilies or stars for dinner.

It's weird isn't it; when I was younger, I couldn't wait to grow up and get treated like an adult. I couldn't wait to get in a car and drive, or get my own house and work. Yet now it's actually here, it's really not all that it's cracked up to be. I love being at university, don't get me wrong - I've had the experience of a lifetime. It's just the finanical costs which is making my head hurt, along with the growing numbers of assignments...

Being a kid was actually awesome. The ninety's was an awesome decade - we had the best TV and bands; I'm so glad I saw Steps at the 02 in April, took me back to being a eight year old for the evening! All we did as kids was go to primary school, then come home and often watch as many Disney films as we liked. Of course I still watch a large amount of Disney films, and still cry when Mufasa dies in The Lion King but I'm not supposed to do that being my age. I still have cuddly toys on my bed, and got a Nerf gun for Christmas last year. My mental age must be that of a ten year old.

So being a kid was freaking awesome! But alas, I must embrace the big world of becoming an adult and as much as I'm sure I'll enjoy growing up and working in my (hopefully) dream job, I'll still be a child at heart and watch children movies whenever I can.

Star Wars Episode 7... Really!?

It seems the majority of Star Wars fans around the world shuddered and cried out "whatttt?" when this news broke last night. Yes, LucasFilms have sold the Star Wars franchise to Disney - who are now planning a episode SEVEN film in 2015, along with the possibility of episodes 8 and 9 two to three years after that. Really?

I'm a little astonished that they want to do this. I didn't believe it at first then I red it properly; surely the six films they have are more than enough for the franchise? Don't get me wrong, I love Star Wars but there's a time when enough is enough with certain things and I feel this is one of them. How much else can improve the already excellent franchise? Is it mainly for money? Probably. I mean Disney already have some part of the Star Wars franchise, with the "Star Tours" ride in their theme parks. Epic ride by the way!

No it isn't. I think the current number of Star Wars films has finished the franchise off nicely, all rounding off the story line nicely together and that is that. It'll certainly be a challenge for the script writers to tie it all in with the old films and still keep the old scripts in tact; it'll just confuse people if they put in some irrelevant story line. That is my main concern - what story do they do to fit in with the others? I feel as if George Lucas has just signed his life anyway... Let me put this way. No George Lucas creating Star Wars movies anymore? It doesn't sound right.

And the old films are better. Sorry but it's true - I really dislike Hayden Christensen for one. He was good in the first film he did but after, it went downhill; I didn't think he was a good Anakin at all. So who else would be casted? Who will direct it? There's so much questions that needed answering and tying together and I just think maybe it's not right. It doesn't feel right that yet another lot of Star Wars films are being made... There is just something not right about it.

It'll definitely be interesting for sure, don't get me wrong - I'll be very interested and love to go see it being a Star Wars fan. Only the Force (or time) will tell whether this is a good move or not for Lucas and Disney.

Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters red-band trailer!

Now this is one film I really don't know what to think of. A spin on a classic fairy tale - yes the fairy tale characters Hansel and Gretel are now supposedly 'witch hunters' with this new film out early next year starring Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton.

Wanna see the trailer? Here is the new red band version, so a word of warning among the splatter of blood.

The plot is basically after their traumatic experience as children at the hands of a witch Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel (Gemma Artherton), decided to hunt witches in revenge. The mayor of Augsbury recruits to get rid of evil sorceress Muriel (Famke Janssen), who is planning to sacrifice local children at a witch gathering of some sort.

No idea what to think? Don't worry your not the only one - I feel the exact same.

I think it is a good idea in some respects; a modern twist on a classic fairy tale, where Gretel and her brother Hansel hunt witches instead of killing just the one witch, they kill multiple. It's a fresh idea, one that hasn't been used at all really in the film industry. But for that reason, will it be a hit or miss? I really don't know. 

With this new trailer, the gruesomeness of the film is shown. I had heard stories before this that the film was going to be almost Quentin Tarantino type blood and guts, so this film will obviously not be for the faint hearted. This film is clearly not going to be rated PG, and the gore is all a little OTT, with not much seriousness. It really is a little bit daft - the story line doesn't sound too great and has chunks in numerous places, and I didn't think much of the action either; that may change by the time the film actually comes around but at the moment, it all seems a little bit... well I don't really know how to put it!

I thought with the first viewing of the first trailer that it'll be a miss, and it'll be a shame if that is the case. It has got a pretty good cast - Jeremy Renner in my opinion is one of the best actors around at the moment and Gemma Artherton is an all-round good actress. To be honest, I think Jeremy Renner and his charisma shown so far in these trailers may just boost the film up a tad. I just get a sense that this film won't be popular - it seemed almost daft at times the trailer with the plot and the whole story line of hunting witches. I know it's an old fairy tale, but does it need extending?

But it could be just what the film industry needs - a daft yet gruesomeish film to spice things up a little bit. Who knows? It may be popular, it may draw in the crowds. But I just have a feeling that this is one film that won't last in the memories of many film goers. 

What do you think? As always, comment below for your views!

Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters is set for release on the 25th of January 2013.

NFL touches down in the UK!

The National Football League touched down this weekend in London for an epic show of American Football, food and just generally American-ness, and I had the pleasure of going along! But will American Football ever really take off in the UK?

I'll admit before I start writing - I used to not like American Football. The amount of times it started and stopped just bored me. And I used to hate the fact my beloved Wembley turf would get shredded with these Yanks coming over and destroying the pitch with a game other than Football (soccer as it's called over in the US). Yep, I did not like American Football.

However my opinion changed when I got to university - last year during my Fresher year, one of my flat-mates (and my house-mate this year too) was very into the NFL; still is. So I got used to the idea of American Football, learning about it from sitting in his room whilst he'd be playing Madden and then explaining how the game worked. Seriously, if you want to get into American Football, that is the best thing to do - sit down with someone who already knows the game and watch a game. So low and behold, I started to like NFL and now, I'm a big fan. I love America, so I've embraced their national game; I'm a Panthers fan and yes I know, we haven't done well so far this season...

So a group of us, all transformed into American Football fans in the space of a year, were in attendance at Wembley on Sunday - I LOVED IT. It was truly an epic experience - from the tailgate party outside to the actual game, and seeing Tom Brady and his New England Patriots thrash St Louis Rams. It was something I never thought I'd go watch but it was amazing - just the atmosphere the stadium seemed to have was awesome. I particularly loved all of the American type enthusiasm - always good! I also loved the pre-game show done by one of my favourite bands Train - they sounded fantastic. But will it ever take off here in the UK?

Well already it has done. With the start of the International Series in London in 2007, the game has continued to grow and grow here in Great Britain, with the prestigious Wembley Stadium playing host. This first game between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants sold out the first 40,000 tickets within 90 minutes of going on sell; this weekend's fixture was a sell out, with 84,004 fans attending. So it's clear NFL is growing here, with each year more and more fans are attending - again this is proved with the fact that two games will be held in London next year, giving us Brits more chances to see the stars of the NFL in action. Coverage on Sky Sports surely must have helped numbers, with often various teams trending on Twitter even in the United Kingdom. It may not be pulling in as many numbers as the now dreadful X Factor, but it is certainly growing. There are even times propping up all over the country, from my university's team right to television presenter Vernon Kay's team London Warriors.

But I don't think it'll ever be totally accepted here. You still get people saying it's a silly sport, that they wear all of this protection whereas people playing other sports such as Rugby don't. You get people (like I was) complaining about the fact that Wembleys' pitch is being ruined in the process for what is in their opinion, a worthless game. Others ask why should we have the American's national game over here? Not everyone is going to accept this game but to be honest, does it really matter if everyone does or not? As long as the demand is here, and there are enough fans wanting to go to games and watching it on TV, then it doesn't matter.

I for one will certainly be hoping to attend the games at Wembley again next year, and I hope many more of us Brits will be there too! It is a great sport to get into, a lot of fun so if this all sounds interesting to you, take a look around on the web and find out more about America's national game. Again, I'd love to hear your opinions on this!

Next year's games at Wembley Stadium are Pittsburgh Steelers v Minnesota Vikings on the 29th of September 2013 and then San Francisco 49ers v Jacksonville Jaguars on the 27th of October 2013.

Is Daniel Craig the best Bond ever?

The third outing of Daniel Craig as British MI6 operative James Bond has just been released in the UK, soon to be worldwide. Everyone is asking it so... is Daniel Craig the best Bond ever?

There's been plenty of debate on this topic ever since Craig's first outing in the wonderful Casino Royale, and this has been reinforced with the quite frankly brilliant Skyfall, with a stellar performance worthy of all the awards. And even though Quantum of Solace was a disappointment, Craig did attempt to salvage the poor script with a good performance. But is he really potentially the best Bond there has ever been?

Potentially and if he carries on as he has been doing, yes. I watched Skyfall last night and I thought it was brilliant (read my review of it here:http://glipho.com/camchappers/skyfall-verdict). So what is good about Daniel Craig? Firstly his grittiness - let's be honest, as good as past Bonds have been, some have been a little unrealistic. Yet Craig makes his Bond seem very realistic indeed, making the role his own Bond with his grit and no-nonsense attitude in his role. It's like he was born an Action Man - he's made to be Bond. What I also like he is versatile; he is able to make his Bond gritty and stuck in the action, yet he can portray the emotive side very well indeed, as seen in this latest installment and in Casino Royale.  Despite this attitude he has adapted for his Bond, he does have wit and humor, particularly in Skyfall. It's just typical British humor that all know and love, and he does that brilliantly.  And come on ladies, he's pretty easy on the eyes...

But then are some downsides to what would be this God. He drew a lot of criticism when he was first cast as the new 007, as he was the first 'blond' Bond. Die-hard fans threatened to boycott his films, hate websites were created... because of the colour of his hair?! (I know right...) But I guess in a way, I see what all of these fans meant. The creator of 007, Ian Fleming, created a dark-haired, handsome and tall James Bond - the criteria which other actors before Craig had filled. Craig on the other hand was blond-haired and only 5'10 in height (certainly not lacking in the looks department though). Then you have the public's opinion; many see Sean Connery as the best, and I agree to sum degree of that. Connery was the first original Bond and as such, set the tone for how Bond should be; all of the 'swagger' Bond should have when killing villains, or seducing pretty woman or even drinking a Martini shaken or stirred. He also was in some of the best Bond films to date, such as Goldfinger and From Russia With Love - many people believe he is the best Bond.

Yet, public opinion is changing. I recently did an audio piece for my course about the song for Skyfall by ADELE - also named Skyfall - and me and my colleagues also asked the public what their favourite Bond was. Low and behold, the two top names were Daniel Craig and Sean Connery. But then you have other former Bond actors such as Roger Moore labelling Craig as the "best Bond ever". One woman I interviewed even said she didn't think much of Connery as a person so she preferred Pierce Bronson as Bond. Hmm.

So in conclusion, is Daniel Craig the best Bond? Potentially, yes; but Craig's Bond is very much different to Sean Connery's, they have made their Bonds their own and just as spectacular as one other. If Daniel Craig carries on putting in the wonderful performances he has done in his first three Bond films, then I have no doubt he will eclipse Connery to be the best Bond.

Would love to hear your opinions - so please, feel free to discuss! 

Go see Skyfall now in UK cinemas and out in US cinemas from 9th of November.

Skyfall verdict!

This evening was the opening night in the UK of the new installment of the James Bond franchise "Skyfall", so naturally I had to go see it. And boy, was it worth the £6 ticket.

For those who need a reminder, here's the trailer for the highly anticipated return of 007. 

CAUTION - POSSIBLE SPOILERS AFTER THE TRAILER, DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM!

I had been waiting for this film to come out for FOUR years, ever since it had been announced. I stuck by and waited during the financial trouble and whatnot with the production company but at last, it was here. I think everyone else in the cinema felt the same as me - when the adverts finally finished and the opening appeared, there was literally a buzz around the place. Some critics had labelled this the "best Bond ever" - I tell you what, it was certainly that!

Firstly the leading man Daniel Craig (swoon). We all know he received a lot of criticism when he first got the role, but he has turned out to be a fantastic Bond. His performance in this film was outstanding, particularly at the beginning of the film. We see a Bond bored, almost fed up of life as a MI6 operative yet he is there. He portrays as almost deluded by being a spy, acting a little rusty at the start but then comes along the grittiness and the stellar action, and it truly is wonderful acting. It's as if he was made for this role almost, he really was that good. He also injected a lot of wit and humor into the role, just typical British 'banter'. Look out for his relationship with the new "Q" (Ben Whishaw) and also remarks about a rather distasteful Bulldog ornament. But Craig also shows an emotive and more personal side of Bond, particularly in the latter part of the film and that really stole the part for me - wonderful acted and if I say so myself, he can easily be the best Bond actor, not far of Sean Connery.

Then there's the villain - Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem). He is a fantastic villain; one with humor yet all of the ruthlessness you'd expect from a Bond villain. It's not all blowing up buildings and shooting people with this villain however; it's more to do with cyber terrorism and I liked that. But what really fascinated me was the relationship between Silva and Bond's boss "M" - played by the wonderful Judi Dench. Dench's character was brash in this film, more so than others - particularly when barking at Bond and her operatives. What I liked about this relationship which made it pretty much the core of the film - it wasn't so much Bond chasing the villain. It was more the villain chasing M, and it was a very interesting twist and different to other Bond films. The film becomes quite personal - with this developing relationship between the antagonist and one of the main characters, but also with the ending. We find out more about Bond's past and also what Skyfall really is. How important M's relationship with 007 is also shown, mostly towards the end of the film and I loved the little exchanges between Dench and Craig. The ending I found was incredible, and really is not expected; it'll have you gasping your seat! Fantastic acting all round!

What really did impress me though was how cleverly written the plot is - Quantum of Solace severely lacked in this in my opinion, with the writer's strike at the time of filming. This time however, they got it right and it really struck me (and I think the majority of the audience) how everything is tied together at the end of the film and truly how wonderful it is written. Even the new agent introduced "Eve" (Naomie Harris) is cleverly resolved by the end of the film, leaving everyone who knows past Bonds to go "ahhhh right!" Absolutely brilliant script and very well directed by British Sam Mendes; why he hasn't directed a Bond movie, I shall never know. It brings out the grittiness of a Bond movie and all the action you'd expect, yet it has the emotive and personal side; I think that is what makes the film, along with being just so British. Together with the wonderful performances from all of the cast, it really is a cracking film.  

Is it the best Bond film ever? In my opinion, yes. It's certainly the best outing from Daniel Craig yet, just shaving Casino Royale and I think it really is a fantastic film, one of the best this year. Go now... yes NOW to your local cinema and see it! I know I'll be seeing it again for sure. 

Keep a look out for my follow up blog - where I'll be answering the question on everyone's lips; is Daniel Craig potentially the best Bond ever?

Iron Man 3 first trailer verdict!

So the new trailer for Iron Man 3 is out, yippee! I can honestly say this is one movie I have been looking forward to since... well Avengers Assemble came out in cinemas.

What's Cam's verdict I hear you cry? Well erm I'm sure your not but you get what I mean...? Ok this is awkward.

Personally, I think it looks pretty fantastic. The first film of this franchise Iron Man was a hit, a brilliant film by Marvel with box-office figures proving the same. So naturally the follow up, Iron Man 2, was eagerly anticipated and had potential of being as equally as awesome as the first. Sadly not. I was a little disappointed with Iron Man 2 - it was good don't get me wrong, but it wasn't on the same par as the first. By a long shot.

But I get the feeling Iron Man 3 is going to be different than the second. You just get that feeling that this is going to be one epic superhero movie. We see Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr), the "genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist" actually toned down - we see a more serious side, trying to protect his love Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) whilst battling his own personal demons and the villains of the film - the Mandarin (Sir Ben Kingsley). As much as I like the loud Tony Stark, it's a good idea from the writers and the director Shane Black to show a different side to Stark; one which shows him possibly trying to control his own suit.

Whoever cast Robert Downey Jr in the first place as Tony Stark is a bloody genius. He just makes Tony Stark Tony Stark - it just suits Downey Jr so well. He may have had trouble in his past but this has to be one of his best roles he's performed. The fact he also worked with Shane Black on the film Kiss Kiss Bang Bang will bode well I feel for the film - for an actor to work with a accomplished director already will help the film.

The trailer itself has all of the things you'd expect it to have - dramatic music followed by explosions and battle scenes. I'm a little disappointed that the trailer just has to include some form of small dub step (vile music...) but it does go well with it I suppose. So points to the creators of this trailer at Marvel. I already the direction where the film is coming from, showing a different side to Stark and it was shown well in this trailer. The dialogue coupled with the dramatic moments worked well - superhero movies are made to be dramatic and you get the feel this is the case.

I get the feeling that this film is going be one of the films of 2013 - I certainly hope I'm proved right!

Iron Man 3 is scheduled for release in UK cinemas on the 26th of April 2013 and the 3rd of May in the United States.

Lance Armstong - should he be forgotten?

Lance Armstrong. He was considered one of the sporting greats, a hero to many. He won the prestigious Tour de France seven times, one of the most gruelling sporting events in the world - an extraordinary feat for a man who has also fought cancer. Yet now his legacy is slowly being erased.

Since the findings from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) into Lance Armstong, the UCI decided to follow these findings and strip the Texan of all 7 titles, therefore erasing his most historic wins. He has been banned from the sport of Cycling for life, and USADA has branded Armstong a 'serial cheat', who ran the "most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme the sport has ever seen." 

Now the question is: should he deserved to be forgotten?

For USADA and the UCI to get these findings, there must be sufficient evidence - those from Armstrong's team-mates in the US Postal Service Team and other members. In my opinion, there is no denying it - Armstrong cheated the system. I was bitterly disappointed when I first heard of the story; like many, I had seen Armstrong as a hero, someone to inspire to with his courage and sporting talent. To me now, that has gone. 

Cycling is full of doping and cheats - every year, stories come out of the Tour de France and other races due to doping. It's common - it's a brutal sport where cheating is seen to help and give you an advantage over your opponents. Back when Armstrong was conducting this programme, doping was at its' peak - everyone did it apparently. Yet, why wasn't more done to stop this? How did Armstrong get away with this?

Don't get me wrong, I still have some degree of respect for Lance Armstrong - how he battled Cancer and then set up the Livestrong foundation and how many lives have been helped by that is incredible. I'll take my hat to him for that. But in sporting terms? Any respect is gone. His fall from grace is sharp and doesn't look like slowing anytime soon - Nike, Oakley and Trek have all ended their sponsorship deals with Armstrong, and his reputation as one of the sporting greats has been tarnished and now erased. People will want to remember him for his Livestrong work but can that really happen, when this is such a big programme that lasted so many years? Many people now will just see the cheat and not the cancer survivor - even himself has resigned as chairman of his fountain, his charity work also being affected.

So should Lance Armstrong be forgotten? In the cycling world, maybe. They are cheats all of the time, some forgiven, some not. But just the magnitude of his successes just all wiped away - maybe one day in the future, he will be forgotten. But in terms of what he has done for his foundation, then no. The two shouldn't be mixed, as what he has done for that has been fantastic. He may have lost my respect in sport but not for his charity work.  

ADELE's Skyfall - a Bond classic?

A song is always needed for every James Bond film. With the release of Daniel Craig's third film as the MI6 spy and 23rd installment of the franchise 'Skyfall', who and what would it be?

It first leaked on the internet before being officially released. She tweeted the world a picture of the score, after months of speculation. But here it is - the new Bond theme song "Skyfall" by none other than ADELE.

It has taken the world by storm - everyone seems to be talking about this one song (this and Gangnam Style). But the question that needs answering - is this a Bond classic?

Earlier this week, I conducted an audio vox bop in the streets of Southampton, asking the members of the public what their opinion was on this song. The majority was mainly positive - this coupled with how it rocked to the top of the charts whether hours of officially releasing suggested just as much. Adele is also seen as the country's sweetheart - one passerby even said that Adele could do "no wrong in her eyes." A popular choice it seems for the artist. And for the song?

Well it's typically Bond. If you ignore the dire "Another Way to Die" by American musicians Alicia Keys and Jack White, you get a sense that the song really goes back to how Bond used to be. The powerful instrumental just reminds of the old classic Bond song that used to be produced; I believe this has particularly captured the minds of the British public. We haven't really had a Bond song like this for a while - past Bond songs such as "You Know My Name" by Chris Cornell did work with Casino Royale with the rock edge in his voice with guitars. Then you have "Die Another Day"  by Madonna - a typically modern song which didn't quite feel like a James Bond song.

Then you have Adele. Wonderful Adele. She is loved throughout the world, and we are proud to say she is British - who else better to have for a Bond song? Her distinctive yet strong voice goes well with the instrumental, really providing a strong song. You get a sense the lyrics (as always with Adele) portray the meaning of the song so well. It's different to her other songs in a way but it's good - it's a great combination.

Whether it's a classic or not? Only time will tell I believe. It has potential - I think it depends on the success of the actual film itself too. If it's an excellent Bond film and one people will remember then I think the song will stick; it definitely can become a classic over time. It's too early now to say if it'll be on the same par as "Goldfinger" or "Live and Let Die", but maybe one day. It is definitely a very good James Bond song, and if the film as good as the song, then boy, we are in for a treat!


'Skyfall' starring Daniel Craig is out in UK cinemas from the 26th of October and US cinemas from the 9th of November.

Being a Gamesmaker at London 2012

It's all over. That's it - London 2012 has officially ended. The torch was turned out by two of Paralympic GB's teenage stars, Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock and now Great Britain must deal with post Olympic blues. No more events on the tele, no more news of gold medals. We have to go back to watching boring Daytime TV, which will be even worse than it is usually now with no Great Britain team to back. What a summer of British Sport, and congratulations to all the athletes! I have been on my own incredible journey, one which I will never forget - one which started around two years ago.

When I heard an army of volunteers, named 'Gamesmakers' by LOGOC, I jumped at the chance to apply. I thought "why not?" A Olympics was only going to come round probably once in my lifetime in my home country, and I wanted to be a part of it all. Anyone who knows me will know I love Sport, and the Olympics in Beijing a couple of years before was inspirational and to know have it in London, in the United Kingdom, was hugely exciting for me. So I didn't hesitate filling out the application form online and patiently (well maybe not so quite) waited to hear back.

A YEAR later, I eventually got an email saying I had an interview. Result! An interview at ExCeL followed and I was determined to prove to my interviewer that I was passionate enough to be a Gamesmaker. It paid off - a couple of months later, I got the news I had become a Gamesmaker at the Paralympic Games. WOW.

My job was a Transport team member at the Paralympic Family Hotels; these hotels were Grange St Pauls and Grange City. I soon found out through role-specific training and venue training what exactly I would be doing; helping clients and drivers out with the BMV fleet of cars used to ferry people to and from the two hotels. I couldn't wait to start, and getting my uniform was pretty good - I love the shoes in particular!

The big day arrived and my first shift was at Grange City, which I found is considerably smaller than Grange St Pauls - and I loved it. I worked with some lovely Gamesmakers, all of us having a laugh and getting on so well as we worked, helping the cars and then with the coach service used for the Opening Ceremony. We were also lucky enough to go watch the Paralympic torch relay as it passed Tower Hill on our break; I had missed the Olympic relay so to be able to see the Paralympic torch relay was great! I met some very interesting clients too from all different countries and as I soon found out, pin-collecting from this countries became very addictive.

I had six shifts in total, and I loved every minute of it. Yes it did involve standing around a lot, but I was working every day with great people and meeting equally as great clients. I had a conversation with a IPC member about KFC one day, then a hug from the Sports Minister from Azerbaijan the next! Another day, Dame Kelly Holmes came out of the hotel and said "good afternoon" to all us Gamesmakers outside; it's not every day you say "hiya!" to an Olympic legend! I also managed to speak to the woman who gave Richard Whitehead his 200m medal in the Athletics, and she praised London and both the Olympics and Paralympics very highly; in fact, every client I met and had a little chat with said the exact same. London had been a hit.

I had a sense of sadness when I hung up my high-vis jacket for the last time and walked back to Blackfriars station, knowing I had the Great Britain Athletes Parade left to wear my uniform for the last time then it would all be over. But what a way to finish my experience. I watched the parade at first at St Pauls, right next to the hotel where I had been working at and stood with about 20 other Gamesmakers, all in our purple uniforms. We whooped and cheered as the floats carrying the athletes went past us one by one and we cheered even louder when some of the athletes spotted us and pointing at the group of us, would shout "Thank you Gamesmakers!" Katherine Grainger, Greg Searle and Sir Chris Hoy were just some who did! We then noticed some Gamesmakers walking behind the parade, some carrying a banner. Immediately we spoke briefly to the steward next to us, and to our amazement, she opened the gate for just us Gamesmakers to join the parade! Wow! I couldn't believe it - I was walking behind the GB athletes with my fellow volunteers. As we walked the crowds were cheering, shouting out well done and thank you as we passed. We would hi-five the people at the front, a lot of people had cameras out, taking pictures as we walked along, waving and sometimes chanting "Team GB" as we continued on towards Tragalfar Square. I also bumped into someone I work with and together with hundreds of Gamesmakers, we walked along the route.
We all agreed - as much as we would have loved to have been along the mall, this was ten times better.

To put it simply, I loved the whole experience - it is one I'll never ever forget. To me, the best part of it all was meeting and working with some truly fantastic people. And to have finished it all with a fantastic day at the Parade was amazing. I am so glad I decided to register all those months ago, and I am so so proud of London and both of the Great Britain teams - you have inspired us all and have done the country so proud. We salute you all! I'm so proud to say I was a part of London 2012, and I am so proud to say I was a Gamesmaker.

Review of London 2012 so far

Wow. 

That is one word that I can use to describe the Olympics so far - just simply wow. We all had high expectations of the home Olympics, the first time it's been held in London since 1948 and it has done more than exceeded them.

7 years it has been since it was announced that London would hold the 2012 Summer Olympics, and 7 years of preparation and hard work has gone into making sure London holds a heck of a show. I'll have to take my hat off to Seb Coe, the mastermind behind the bid and making these games happen. And so far it's been hugely memorable - particularly for Team GB.

Starting with the opening ceremony which really lived up to its billing - Danny Boyle put on a fantastic show. The five rings in the sky, James Bond and 'the Queen' parachuting out of a helicopter, the giant Voldemort, the fantastic flame - it was fantastic. I felt utter pride seeing Chris Hoy walk out with the fly, holding it as high as he could, tears in his eyes as a massive roar rang around the impressive Olympic Stadium as the British team emerged. It really made me proud to be British, seeing all of the things that define what this country is all about and I for one, loved it. I don't think anyone disagree with that, and I really thought one thing - if this is what just the opening ceremony is like, I cannot wait for the rest of the games.

Team GB's 'tagline' on Twitter is "OurGreatestTeam" and I wholeheartedly agree with that - Team GB's performance in a number of sports have been anything more than fantastic. The wonderful Saturday when we brought home SIX golds in one day, those including 3 in Athletics was simply outstanding. I know that for those who are from the USA are probably used to bringing home that number of medals each day, but to us Brits, it's so much more. We hadn't achieved anything close to that since 1908 - it was the greatest day in the modern era for Brits in the Olympics and I know I am not the only one who says they are damn proud to be British. The heroes of the nation - Jess Ennis, Mo Farah, Greg Rutherford amongst others - didn't fail to deliver that day.

Then we come to the legends of the team - Bradley Wiggins and Sir Chris Hoy; Wiggins stormed to a time trial win, earning his 4th gold medal and making a claim for a knighthood from Queenie after also becoming the first British winner of the Tour de France. Truly an inspiration. And Sir Chris. Just wow. Six golds now - simply a fantastic achievement. He is really such a great role model, and cements his status just in front of Sir Steve as the greatest British Olympian EVER. For now. But I feel that title may stick for a while most definitely. Both men have done wonders for our country, and it really was lovely seeing a very touching moment between the two after Hoy's win in the Keirin.

I have been lucky enough to go to Olympic Park and to a few events, and the atmosphere was fantastic - being in London you just felt a all around better atmosphere. It felt a happier place - I know it sounds cheesy but it's true! The city of London and indeed the country has been brought together through the Olympics and it is doing amazing, amazing things for Great Britain. I'm going to be miserable when both the Olympics and Paralympics finish, as then that's it. But I know one thing for sure - there's been blood, there's been sweat, there's been tears but these games will be one that shall never be forgotten.

FAWSL experience

Welcome to this blog! I thought I should start writing one as it is encouraged on my course - which is kinda what this post is all about.

A few months back, I was out shopping in Southampton's big shopping centre West Quay with a friend. Just your usual day, nothing special about it - then I get a Twitter update through on my phone. I was pretty shocked to then learn that I had been randomly picked by FAWSL's Twitter page - for those who aren't familiar with women's football, this stands for FA Women's Super League, the new league for elite women's football in this country - to go along to a FAWSL and be a media reporter for the day. I was stunned to say the least; not only had I won a competition I didn't enter for, but also I was doing something I actually want to do after University! Brilliant.

Fast forward a few months and I was arriving at Borehamwood FC, home of Arsenal Ladies to meet the person I was to be with all day. I was excited - the game I was covering just happened to be the current top two teams in the league, Arsenal Ladies and Birmingham City Ladies, and it was tipped to be a fantastic game. I knew how good Arsenal were as well in the world of women's football - yes they actually win trophies unlike the men's side. (Sorry had to be done.) And Birmingham had also just won the Women's FA Cup, which Arsenal had been usually winning for years before. Oh, and the fact that it was being broadcast live on ESPN excited me even more. I was like a kid in a candy shop.

I met my very nice guide, Leigh, for the day and proceeded through the small board room pitch-side. Once a few things were tied up, I stood near the dugouts and simply watched the two teams warm up. I remember thinking that I wasn't far away from players I had grown up watching yet, I was here, about to report on them. Surreal. What made it even more surreal was then Faye White and Sue Smith walked past me, both smiling at me as I smiled nervously back.

I was then briefly showed the vast number of ESPN tracks outside the small stadium, seeing briefly the technology that is involved with a live football broadcast. Now I like my technology and I like to think I am a little bit of a geek, but I had never seen so many wires or small television screens as I did. I found it very cool indeed.

I then took my seat in the small press area, sitting next to two young chaps who were also there reporting for other platforms. Armed with a Mac, I set out writing a match report for the game, making notes with everything that happened - and boy, what a game it was! Arsenal ramped home 4-2, their class truly showing throughout the game. The score of course pleased the home crowd, which was a high number! This was pleasing to see - and the fact it was broadcast on ESPN makes me hope that women's football is getting the deserved coverage it is at long last. Maybe not fully there yet, but it is getting there for certain. The return of star striker Kelly Smith capped off what was a wonderful afternoon for the home crowd - and I had the chance to interview her after the game!

Yes. Kelly Smith. I know right?! That was surreal for sure. Standing in front of my HTC phone being used as a Dictaphone was Kelly Smith. One of my favourite players growing up. Just wow. I asked a few questions, querying about her injury and her team's performance, and she was great, getting a few good answers to use for my report.

It was then time for me to depart and what a day it had been. I had been introduced to a number of people, watched a fantastic game of football and topped it off with interviewing Kelly Smith - this experience also counted as vital work experience for my course and my future career. With my course and choice of occupation in the future, getting work experience is crucial. Gaining contacts is also important, it is what we are constantly told and I was very very grateful for the experience I had. It was simply incredible, it was everything and more than what I expect. I came away from the ground just smiling to myself and being ridiculously happy - if I end up doing something along the lines of what I did that day, I will be very very happy indeed. I hope I can get some more experiences like this and hopefully with the FAWSL team once more.

I'd like to thank the team who made it possible for me to go and have that experience - I thoroughly enjoyed myself! I'd also recommend to anyone who likes football to along to a FAWSL game, they really are great games.

I'd like to give a piece of advice to any aspiring journalists like myself out there; experience is crucial, but having fun is also hugely important. Go for places that you know you would enjoy your work, aim to get experience in a area you are interested in. Make the most out of the experience, but enjoy yourself at the same time.