Throughout the years we have seen many different takes on the zombie genre. From the infamous ‘Night of The Living Dead’ by George Romero to “The Walking Dead” by Robert Kirkman, this genre has not only blown up in its popularity, but it has also opened the flood gates on creativity. We are now looking at the most out-of-this-world take on this horrifying genre.

The zombance-zombie romance- of the year is finally upon us! Based on Isaac Marion’s Warm Bodies novel, ’Warm Bodies’ is about R, a zombie, wandering around an airport who is unlike any other zombie as presented in other films. R thinks like he is still alive and thrives on becoming human again. He falls in love with Julie, a strong-willed woman whom he meets when she and her team of survivors are sent to get more medical supplies for their town. R and his zombie friends are the horde of undead who burst through the doors of the medical facility. While R is devouring Julie’s boyfriend, Perry, he is taken on a ride of Perry’s emotions and memories. Whenever zombies eat a human brain, they are able to see that person’s memories, and feel their emotions. It is the closest things these zombies have to dreaming. It is the closest thing R has to being human again.

This movie and novel mirrors the classic tale of love, “Romeo and Juliet” by Shakespeare. Julie is Juliet, R is Romeo, Nora is the nurse, Perry is Paris, the rejected suitor. The movie does not really follow the novel whatsoever. However, it has certain attributes from the novel.

‘Warm Bodies’ brought in $20 million on opening night and continues to make money. No other zombie movie is like it. We usually see zombies tearing into humans or animals, but ‘Warm Bodies’ shows a softer side to the zombie genre. It proves zombies have feelings, too. They are not just mindless, killing machines bent on destroying all of mankind. The witty and talented Nicholas Hoult plays the romantic heartthrob R and brings new meaning to protecting love.

To be honest, the film was almost perfect. There were a few scenes that were a bit confusing. When R eats Perry’s brain, he gets taken on a ride through his memories. R is supposed to be Perry in those memories. So naturally R should be in first person throughout those memories. There were many moments when R was in third person, watching Perry go through these memories as if he was an audience watching a film. Summit Entertainment did an amazing job casting this film. Nicholas Hoult and Theresa Palmer seamlessly bring these two characters together to tell their story. Rob Corddry brings comedy relief as R’s best friend, M.

For those fans wanting a true translation of Marion’s book onto the silver screen, they will be disappointed; this movie is without a doubt a reinterpretation of the source material, with the best parts sewn together to create a more palatable story for general audiences.

This does not mean it takes anything away from either the book or the movie itself, but the audience gets a story that is highly satisfying for being a romance-comedy about zombies. On the other hand, the movie itself is greatly performed and put together. There was comedic relief when you found yourself wanting to cry. ‘Warm Bodies’ has zombies, romance, adventure, and comedy all in one!

“Why can’t I connect with people?” R states as he wanders around his new home, the airport. At one point you find yourself relating to how R feels. This was a great adaptation of Isaac Marion’s Warm Bodies novel. Besides the fact that a few scenes were out of place, the movie itself was great. Your attention is held throughout.

Rated 4.5/5 – An unbelievable love story with an amazing cast

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Ottawa, Canada — Even the most loving couples find it difficult to make room for romance with today’s demanding schedules. And with kids in the house, it can be challenging to find the right time and place for sex. Indeed, as many as 6 out of 10 parents polled by Care.com confess they are too tired for romance.

According to Dr. Trina Read, sexologist and author of Till Sex Do Us Part: Make Your Married Sex Irresistible, the good news is that summer is the perfect time for parents to re-ignite their romance. What’s more, there’s a sexy new product that will get parents romantic engines revved up in no time, the We-Vibe 3.

“Because of our busy lives it’s easy for a couple to lose touch with each other and get into a sex routine-rut,” adds Dr. Read, “Now that kids are heading off for camp and work schedules are a bit more relaxed, summer time is perfect for parents to reconnect romantically and bring a fun, sexy spark back into their relationship.”

Here are a few ways couples can ramp up the romance this summer:

• Book a “Sexy Staycation”:

Take advantage of the fact your kids are at camp and arrange a “sexy staycation.” Convert your house into a romantic haven — buy new silk sheets, scented candles and massage oil. Dr. Read shares, “Also spend this time finding ways to send your sex drive into overdrive. The We-Vibe 3, the world’s best selling couples’ massager, is ideal for people looking to enhance the passion, pleasure and inject more fun into their intimate relationship.”

Unlike other vibrators, the We-Vibe 3′s unique C-shape has been designed for wear during intercourse to maximize pleasure for both partners. What’s more, it allows couples to share the vibrations it delivers from two custom-engineered motors offering six thrilling vibration modes for stimulation of both the clitoris and G-spot. Not only is We-Vibe 3 small and discreet, but it now has a wireless remote control that enables couples to use their imagination and easily select desired vibration modes. All of this can happen without interruption so as not to kill the mood or momentum. The We-Vibe 3 also has a waterproof design making it the perfect toy for those who like to think outside the box…and the bedroom.

• Heat Up the Romance…Cook a Sensual Dinner Together:

When constantly “on the go,” couples tend to fall back on fast food or takeout dinners that leave little time for conversation, let alone romantic conversation. This summer, couples should carve out time to cook dinner together. Cooking as a couple can be a sensuous experience, allowing romantic partners to be playful with tastes, textures and colors.

• Sun Your Way to a Sexy Experience:

Summer is known as the most erotic and sensual time of the year. It’s not only a time to re-appreciate your significant other in sexy swim wear, but Vitamin D — produced when the body is exposed to sunlight — is linked to higher levels of sex hormones. Simply put, a little extra sun time can boost arousal. So, let the UV rays be the first round of foreplay.

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This Valentine’s Day, love struck Britons will boost the economy by GBP880 million on romantic gifts.

For decades, British men have suffered a bad rap for being less romantic than women but new research released on February 13 has revealed a new movement in the British male species. Findings from a study of 5,000 adults has identified in modern Britain, men are more romantic than women. Today’s British man is happy to lose some of his macho-ness for a more, softer, romantic approach when wooing women.

The study undertaken by UK budget hotel brand Travelodge [http://www.travelodge.co.uk ] to seek the nation’s views on love and romance found more men than women love the notion of Valentine’s Day. Over a third (36%) of British men think Valentine’s Day is romantic, whilst only 24% of women buy into it.

Research findings also revealed that despite the current strains on Britons’ finances, loved up Brits will be boosting the economy by GBP880 million[1] this Valentine’s Day on romantic themed purchases.

British men will be splashing more cash this year compared to 2011 on wooing their other half with romantic gifts. On average, males across the country will be spending twice the amount of money on presents than women this Valentine’s Day.

When questioned as to why men are spending more on a gift this Valentine’s day, 42% of respondents stated the last 12 months have been difficult financially as well as emotionally and Valentine’s Day offers the ideal opportunity for them to showcase their love for their partner.

On average 68% of men will be splashing GBP39.99 on Valentine’s gifts this year which is GBP4.41 more than the amount they spent in 2011. In comparison 45% of women on average will only be spending GBP20.25 on a gift for their partner which is GBP1.96 less than the amount they spent last year. (In total men will be spending approximately GBP611 million[2] and women will be spending approximately GBP269 million[3] in total)

The top ten gifts men and women will be purchasing for their Valentine this year are listed in the table below:

Ranking     Valentine gifts purchased by men          Valentine gifts purchased by women

1                  Flowers                                                         Chocolates

2                Chocolates                                                     A romantic meal

3              A romantic meal                                            Aftershave

4                  Perfume                                                         Bottle of Champagne / spirit

5               A cuddly toy                                                    Whisking partner to a hotel

6        Whisking partner to a hotel                              A game for console

7                 Lingerie                                                          Book / DVD

8      Whisking partner on a UK short break          A cuddly toy

9           A piece of jewellery                                          Underwear

10             Beauty treatment                                           Flowers

Further research findings revealed over a third (36%) of British men think it’s important to buy flowers for their other half on Valentine’s Day – as it’s the expected thing to do. Seventy eight per cent of male respondents did state in the research that they get annoyed that flower prices suddenly increase in the lead up to Valentine’s Day.

A fifth of male respondents reported this year they will purchase flowers well before Valentine’s Day to avoid the price increase and hide the flowers in their garage or in the boot of their car. Interestingly, nearly half of the women (48%) surveyed stated they are bored of receiving the same old tiresome Valentines gifts of flowers, champagne, chocolate and lingerie.

Four out of ten females said they would like to be whisked away on a short break and spend some quality time with their partner. One in ten women would like their lover to write them a love letter or poem declaring their love whilst 12% of females would like their other half to cook them a romantic meal from scratch and to wash up afterwards.

Relationship Psychologist, Corinne Sweet, said: “The high cost of romance is not surprising in today’s ‘easy buy/time poor’ culture. Many people, especially men, spend money to please or appease, when their partners would simply like to have more time, thought and appreciation from them.

It’s easy to click a button or flash a card to buy love, in comparison to spending some quality time together; cooking a meal, giving a massage or making a card. However, the personal touch, the little thoughtful gesture, is often more a sign of true love and commitment than extravagant, OTT romantic gestures.”

Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge Spokeswoman said: “Our research highlights love may be priceless but romance doesn’t have to cost the earth. British men are certainly taking the lead in the game of love but they do need to be a bit more creative and thoughtful to really win over their beloved.

Most women want to be romanced and spend quality time with their man. Don’t be predictable with flowers and chocolates this year, for the same amount of money you could whisk your partner away for a romantic break and create some new magical memories.”

“We have seen a growing trend of cost conscious consumers choosing a Travelodge hotel as a romantic getaway in the last couple of years; as it helps their money go further. The pounds they save on accommodation, they can spend on eating out in a top restaurant or have fun visiting the local attractions.”

“In our recent GBP10 sale, rooms for February 14th were selling like hot cakes. Top destinations included coastal locations such as Brighton, Scarborough, Torquay and Blackpool. Rural hotspots, such as The Lake District, Cotswold, Yorkshire Dales; as well as historic cities which included: London, Edinburgh, Bath, Cambridge and Oxford.”

Further research findings revealed over two thirds of men reported they would like more romance in their lives. Seventy two per cent of males stated they take romantic inspiration from films and movies and one in ten men admitted to stealing ideas from their mates’ relationships. Male respondents voted Casablanca as their top all time most romantic movie.

The research identified the one thing both men and women both agree on is their most inspiring romantic couple ever is Romeo and Juliet. Further research findings are listed below:

On average a fifth of British men will tell their partner they love them five times during the day. A third of men will say the magic three words to their partner I love you every morning and evening. A fifth of British men feel disappointed by the effort their partner puts into making Valentine’s Day special for them

With 2012 also being a leap year 26% of single men would like their girlfriend to ask them to marry her whilst 36% of British men think it is a man’s job to propose to a woman.

The top ten all time most romantic couples as voted by Britons are:

1) Romeo & Juliet

2) Elizabeth & Darcy

3) Queen Victoria & Prince Albert

4) Prince William & Duchess of Cambridge

5) Heathcliff & Catherine

6) Jane Eyre & Mr Rochester

7) Anthony & Cleopatra

8) Shrek & Princess Fiona

9) Cinderella & Prince Charming

10) Homer & Marge Simpson

The survey was conducted in February 2012 with 5,000 British adults.

The article Valentine’s Day, British Men More Romantic Than Women appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

‘Romance,’ the celebrated women’s fragrance by Ralph Lauren, has been named the exclusive fragrance partner for the upcoming feature film, ‘The Vow,’ a romantic drama starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, in theaters February 10, 2012.

‘The Vow’ and Ralph Lauren ‘Romance’ share the theme of enduring love. Paige and Leo (Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum) are a happy newlywed couple whose lives are changed by a car accident that puts Paige in a coma. Waking up with severe memory loss, Paige has no memory of Leo, a confusing relationship with her parents (Sam Neill and Jessica Lange), and an ex-fiance (Scott Speedman) she may still have feelings for. Despite these complications, Leo endeavors to win her heart again and rebuild their marriage.

“The moving narrative of The Vow reflects the Ralph Lauren Romance story about true love conquering all,” says Guillaume de Lesquen, President of Ralph Lauren Fragrances Worldwide, “and there couldn’t be two better actors than Rachel and Channing to convey this narrative.”

As part of the collaboration, Ralph Lauren ‘Romance’ will be the exclusive sponsor of ‘The Vow’ red carpet world premiere and after-party, taking place on Monday, February 6, 2012 in Los Angeles. One winner of two passes to these events, and three winners of the Ralph Lauren Romance fragrance, will be randomly selected on January 19, 2012 through a sweepstakes hosted on the Ralph Lauren Facebook fan site.

The Ralph Lauren Romance commercial ad, shot by renowned photographer and filmmaker Bruce Weber, will appear in advanced screenings of ‘The Vow’ throughout the U.S. and Canada January 24-26, 2012. The advertisement features Argentinean polo player, Nacho Figueras, with his wife, Delfina Blaquier, on location at Blaquier’s family’s Argentinean estate, ‘La Concepcion.’ The advertisement depicts their real-life fairytale love story and creates a perfect pairing for the romantic premise of ‘The Vow.’

vipflash / Shutterstock.com

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When you think of this “City of Lights”, you think of romance, arts, delicious French Cuisine, and for some – it’s the place to fall in love. While many might say the city is “overrated”. Well, I think the city is very well lives up to its reputation. It’s one of a kind city.

Paris, as many of us know, is full of attractions – the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame are just a few examples.  Sure, when we travel, we want to see the most talked about destinations but what funny is most of the times, we are mesmerized by the lesser known, hidden spots.

The fact is there is so much to see that sometimes visitors tend to overlook these great details about Paris – the places, which in my case, made my top 3 best Paris experience.

The Museums

You can be a fast traveler, but the truth is one simply can’t visit Paris in one day. Museums such as the Louvre and Musee D’Orsay can easily takes a day to enjoy. True, most visitors do go to these museums, but the “go” they’re talking about is to just take pictures from the outside.

Believe it or not, this is actually a pretty common mistake. First and foremost, the point of these wonderful museums is for everyone to see the world class arts – from up close. However, if you happen to have a time constraint and able to be in the city for only a couple of days, try this: go to the Louvre if you have a deep interest in arts reflecting in Medieval, Roman, and Renaissance history.

Also home to the world-renowned Mona Lisa painting, the Louvre contain more than 35,000 works which means you might want to start prioritizing which ones you really love to see from the rest.

On the other side of the Seine, Musée D’Orsay, a train station turned museum, covers the whole spectrums of arts from Impressionisms, Neoclassical, Art Nouveau, Naturalism, photography, cinematography, to urban planning and more. If you are a big fan of Monet’s paintings, this might just be your heaven.

Montmartre

Being a lovely artistic area outside the Paris’s center, Montmartre is home to the beautiful basilica, Sacré-Cœur. This is where one of my best Paris pictures was taken – it was on the steps in front of this stunning place on a sunny day.

To get there, take a metro to Abbesses station and walk alone Rue Yvonne le Tac and Rue Tardieu, then walk up its steep steps. Please note that this is not the closest route but it gives you a chance to appreciate Montmartre and its surroundings.

Interested in having your portrait drawn by a local painter? Look for an artist who actually has the works showcased in their own shop and pay more for the painting, instead of letting a passerby asked to paint your picture for 30-40 euros (or more!) because you will simply end up paying ridiculous amount of money for a drawing that your 8 years old niece could probably do a better job at.

Paris Dinner Cruise

Though many guidebooks suggest a Paris architectural cruise as part of the day time sightseeing, I, on the other hand, think the Paris dinner cruise has everyone’s heart. The cruise we took was run by Bateaux Parisiens. They offer different types of tour, though the Paris Illuminations is the one not to be missed.

What is a better way to see Paris at night than to hop on board of a glass-encased boat, sampling traditional French Cuisine, listening to live music while this gorgeous city is just outside the window? At approximately 8:30 pm, the cruise departed the dock near the Eiffel Tower. From there, it will pass Les Invalides, La Cathédrale Notre-Dame, L’Hotel de Ville – just to name a few.

This is truly an amazing way to see Paris transform from day to night. As the matter of fact, Bateaux Parisiens’s dinner cruise was my best Paris experience. My suggestion: take the cruise, and you will dicover why this metropolis is nicknamed the “city of light”.

Other notable places worth visiting: Place des Vosges, Jardin du Luxembourg, and Latin Quarter.

F.C.G. / Shutterstock.com

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After surprising many by winning two awards for best original screenplay and best actress at the 36^th annual Cesar Awards Ceremony (the French equivalent to the Oscars) this past February, The Names of Love will soon be moving from the French cinema to U.S. screens. In preparation for its June 24^th release, critics have already begun extolling this charming film starring Sara Forestier and Jacques Gamblin in this French romantic comedy about falling in love despite your differences.

Arthur Martin (Gamblin), which is coincidentally also the name of a popular French washing machine brand, is a forty-something Jewish scientist who studies dead animals, while Baya Benmahmoud (Forestier) is a young free-spirited half French-half Albanian liberal who sleeps with conservatives to convert them. She boasts an average conversion rate of two weeks, and even shows Arthur her book of conquests, complete with photos and descriptions for each man. There are 15,207 people in France with the name Arthur Martin, and it is the commonness of his name that first inspires Baya to try to convert Arthur to her liberal agenda. Little do they know that neither one is what the other first expected.

While the premise of putting together two opposites who inextricably fall in love anyway has been done many times before, this film adds several unique elements to its 100 minute viewing time. The Names of Love offers social commentary on many events that have been going on in France lately, but with a humorous twist.  Immigration from North African nations such as Algeria, Tanzania, and Morocco, has increased the Muslim population in France to approximately 8% (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4385768.stm). Conflict has arisen between some native French and Muslim immigrants and this film uses these conflicts as a springboard to create some very funny and touching moments on-screen.

In addition, the director brings up Arab-Jewish history, as Arthur is Jewish and Baya’s father is a non-practicing Muslim. This is especially prominent in a scene in which Baya meets with Arthur’s family for dinner and Baya unwittingly uses the term “oven” several times when describing her cooking in front of Arthur’s Jewish mother. What makes this scene even funnier is Arthur’s insistence at the beginning of the evening that she mention nothing related to the Holocaust. How hard she tries to follow his instructions and fails anyway results in a hilarious scene of situational comedy.

Harvey Karten on movieweb.com points out, “that given enough time, humor can emerge from tragedy” and this film demonstrates that quite adeptly. Despite the horrible things that have happened because of intolerance and hatred, this film points out that things do not have to stay that way.

While U.S. audiences will most likely miss some of the specifically French humor that is present in the film, themes of love, overcoming differences, and learning to let go and open up are familiar enough to be understood by many different cultures. When heading to the theaters this summer, don’t forget to place The Names of Love on your list of movies to see.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/7731386@N04/

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After a decade of complicated neuroticism, Woody Allen returns this year with Midnight in Paris, a refreshingly delightful romantic comedy. Albeit incomparable to his comedy classics Annie Hall and Sleeper, Allen succeeds in combining a witty script, professional cinematography, and quality acting against the stunning backdrop that is Paris.

Gil (Owen Wilson) is a struggling novelist with a fiancee (Rachel McAdams) who seems more interested in her pretentious friend Paul (Michael Sheen) than in him. To make things worse, his parents-in-law (to be) hate him, and we all know that never bodes well. All of this is compounded by the fact that he feels out of place, and I don’t mean physical location. Gil, as he walks through the beautiful jardins of Paris, yearns for the 1920′s and the bohemian artists and writers who lived and loved at that time.
Suddenly, by way of an old-time motorcar, Gil is transported back in time to his beloved era, and meets the famed greats like F. Scott Fitzgerald (Tom Hiddleston), Cole Porter (Yves Heck), Ernest Hemingway (Corey Stoll) and Pablo Picasso (Marcial Di Fonzo Bo). One takes enjoyment watching Gil party with literary heroes, where, thanks to Owen Wilson’s splendid acting, you can see the excitement dancing in his eyes.

Johanne Debas and Darius Khondji make movie magic with their cinematography, sweeping the audience up in the quiet cobblestone streets   of the culture capital. Throw in a warm lighting and flapper couture, and one could swoon for the City of Romance right then and there.

All in all, the charming simplicity at the heart of Midnight in Paris leaves the audience with butterflies and a few simple questions in their conscience. What would you do if you could time travel into a world so different then your own? if you could meet your hero? Gil has a chance for self-exporation through artistic creation, inspiration, and criticism, thus realizing his life is made better through art, thanks in part to his larger-than-life heroes.

That sweet reminiscence and Woody Allen’s characteristic wittiness brings together an all-in-all great star-studded film, a perfect date night movie.

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