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.