HBO has dropped a whopper of a teaser for their massive hit, Game of Thrones.  It’s called “The Cold Winds Are Rising”, and it does give one a chill or at least a frisson of anticipation! I can't believe we have four more months to wait for the next season! We talked about the show last week in connection with the dvd release of season one and I sincerely hope it prompted those who are unfamiliar to go take a look. This teaser is just that, a tease. Its unseen narrator is Stannis Baratheon, younger brother of slain King Robert Baratheon (played in season one by Mark Addy). How do I know that's Stannis you might ask? For one, I recognized Stephen Dillane’s voice and I know he’s been cast as Stannis Baratheon, but two, the storyline is available all over the web if anyone cares to find it and Stannis is returning from wherever he’s been to claim his birthright, despite the many who stand in his way, like his younger brother Renly, for instance.

Stannis isn't very congenial, and isn't very well-liked. He is counseled by the mysterious and dangerous Lady Melisandre, a priestess of a new and powerful religion who isn't afraid to use her mystical powers to Stannis's gain.

Dillane starred as Thomas Jefferson in HBO’s miniseries John Adams, he also played Merlin in 2004’s King Arthur (with Clive Owen and Keira Knightley), among other things. He’s another chameleon-like actor that makes one say “Oh! He’s that guy.”

Speaking of Lady Melisandre, we don’t see her here, but she’ll be played by Dutch actress(and another chameleon) Carice van Houten (Valkyrie, Repo Men, Black Book) and she's probably the most-talked-about new character of the second season. As mysterious as she is dangerous and known as the "Red Priestess," Melisandre worships the 'Lord of Light,' a deity known as R'hllor, through whom she can apparently perform feats of magic. Melisandre almost never leaves Stannis’ side. She'll do anything to get him the Iron Throne.

We showed you a behind-the-scenes featurette for season two in which the creators talk about the world of Game of Thrones and it also gives brief glimpses of some of the new characters. Since we’ve got until April to wait, I’ll be back to talk about the others when we get another teaser.  (See what I did there? I teased you about a teaser… Hey, it’s Monday…)

Queen Victoria is in residence!  Former Spice Girl, fashion designer, businesswoman and new mommy extraordinaire, Victoria Beckham, 37, strikes a pose for the cameras when she attended a reception at the British Fashion Awards 2011 held at The Savoy Hotel in London, UK on November 28.  Not surprisingly, Victoria was awarded the Designer Brand of the Year, which was presented to her by Marc Jacobs.  And it was only befitting that she wore something from her collection – a beautiful, sleek, floor-length halter gown.  Minimal, yet elegant.  Victoria fought back tears while accepting her award, acknowledging her business partner, Simon Fuller, her wonderful team, her parents, children and husband, David Beckham.  Unfortunately, David wasn't able to make it but posted on his Facebook page: “The boys and I are incredibly proud of Victoria after winning a prestigious British Fashion Award tonight. She has worked so hard and deserves all the recognition.  It’s amazing what she has achieved tonight, very special.”  You can see Victoria's designs at www.victoriabeckham.com and to purchase,  Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Holt Renfrew.

Also attending the British Fashion Awards 2011 on November 28 in London, UK and looking sleek is new mother is Kate Hudson, 32.  Kate wore a black one-shoulder gown with an embroidered mesh insert from the Stella McCartney Collection.  Kate just gave birth to son Bingham five months ago and looks absolutely amazing!  Love how she wore her tresses into a top knot.  We haven`t seen Kate on the red carpet for a while and understandably so.  Welcome back Kate! 

What is there not to like about Felicity Jones, 28, when she attended the BAFTA Los Angeles 2011 Britannia Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California on November 30?  The answer is simple:  Nothing.  The young British newcomer once again whets our fashion palette wearing a stunning black strapless tulle gown with delicately embellished bodice and ballroom skirt from the Moschino Resort 2012 collection.  Keeping the accessories subtle with a delicate headband in place in addition to Neil Lane jewels, completed with a shimmering black clutch.  This look is everything from elegant to sophisticated; classic to chic; and simple to eye-catching.  

Somewhere out of the camera's view, Orlando Bloom is telling himself "I'm the luckiest guy on the planet."  And who can blame him?  Victoria's Secret Angel, Miranda Kerr, traded in her wings for a leopard print Dolce & Gabbana sweetheart bustier mini – that just makes me want to purr – when she attended the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show viewing party on November 29 in New York City.  Miranda accessorized the dress with black Gianvito Rossi stilettos and Stella McCartney clutch.  What I like most about this style is that Miranda proves you can wear an entire dress of animal print without going into overkill.  Completing her come-hither-me look are luscious sultry waves and pouty red lips.  Hey Dita, you just might have some serious competition coming your way!  

A Midsummer Night`s dream?  Not quite. But it`s all about taking chances and Charlize Theron does just that in this shorter, low-cut Gucci stunner when she attended the IFPs 21st Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards at Cipriani Wall Street in NYC on November 28 where she received a career achievement award.  The Snow White and The Huntsman actress wore this black and white number with Tom Ford gold strappy sandals.  The delicate headband is also a nice touch!  Charlize is currently starring in the comedy-drama Young Adult and is currently filming Snow White and the Huntsman where she plays the evil queen.  With a face like hers, that`s going to take some convincing. 

With 26 films already to her name, Chloe Moretz, 14, proves that age is just a number, and also when it comes to fashion.  And no arguments here when the Hugo actress put together a sophisticated burgundy cashmere/wool knit cape and cropped leather motocross pants from the Tommy Hilfiger Fall/Winter 2011 collection, accessorized with Chanel booties when she attended the VIP opening of the Tommy Hilfiger Flagship Store in London, UK on December 1.  Not only is Chloe an actress to watch out for, but with panache like this, I'm predicting she'll also be a rising star on the red carpet!  Take note young Hollywood.  

If a picture's worth a thousand words, then six immediately come to mind: "Take my picture; I dare you" when Ashlee Simpson strikes a pose in downtown Toronto recently, when attending the First International Jessica Simpson Collection Event at the Bay.  Ashlee kept it casual and sophisticated in a butter soft tan leather jacket with mesh top, black tank, form fitting pants and peep toe heels.  I'm not sure who the designer is, but I have a strong feeling it didn't come from her sister's, Jessica Simpson Girls Collection for tween girls.  Nevertheless, you can put this look together (top right), in just one phone call to www.victoriassecret.com.  So make that call today!

Julianne Hough brings old Hollywood back to life when the Dancing with the Stars' dancer and actress arrived at The Trevor Project’s 2011 Trevor Live! at The Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, on December 4.  Julianne is perfect from head-to-toe in this stunning, lace and jewel embroidered Collette Dinnigan Resort 2011-2012 white dress with pewter encrusted neckline and capped sleeves completing the look with Salvatore Ferragamo pumps and Le Vian earrings.  Julianne really suits the old Hollywood look!  What do you think?

Once upon a time, a young beautiful woman met a handsome young prince and they lived happily ever after!  Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark returns to her homeland of Australia with her dashing prince, Fredrick, Crown Prince of Denmark.  And on the night of a charity dinner on November 26, Mary looks every bit a Princess or even a Greek goddess where she wowed the crowd in this one shoulder, full length silk chiffon creation cinched at the waist.  Their story is a modern day fairytale between royalty and a commoner when the couple met at Slip Inn pub in Sydney when the prince was visiting Australia during the 2000 Summer Olympics.  An official engagement took place in 2003 and their wedding followed the year later.  They have four children, HRH Prince Christian, 6; HRH Princess Isabella, 4; and twins HRH Prince Vincent and HRH Princess Josephine who will be celebrating their first birthday, January 8. 

Those are my picks for this week.  What is your favorite(s)? My favourite:  Victoria Beckham.

See you next week and until then, lots of love, joy and happiness during this holiday season!

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Quality television alert! “The Hour”, a six part series shown on this side of the pond as part of BBCAmerica’s “Dramaville”, is getting a second season! Starring Romola Garai (Angel, One Day), Ben Whishaw (Bright Star, Perfume, Skyfall) and Dominic West (“The Wire” 300, Centurion), the series was created by screenwriter Abi Morgan (Shame, The Iron Lady) and is set at a television channel producing a “60 Minutes” type newsmagazine in the 1950’s.

“A behind-the-scenes drama and espionage thriller in Cold War-era England that centers on a journalist (Whishaw), a producer (Garai), and an anchorman (West) for an investigative news programme.”

What was seen by some as an attempt to hop on the “Mad Men” bandwagon, the series has proved to be so much more, helped in no small part by an exceptional cast and tight, compelling writing. The new season, which will take place in 1957, a year after the last series ended, will focus on a world just entering the Cold War and will also be in six parts. It also adds new characters to be played by Peter Capaldi (In the Loop), Tom Burke and Hannah Tointon.

Season two will again be part of “Dramaville”, BBCAmerica’s omnibus hosted by Idris Elba, making it destination tv. Hee hee.  Check out the picks from season one. Enjoy!

The Flowers of War is a historical drama directed by Zhang Yimou (House of Flying Daggers, Raise the Red Lantern), and is based on the novel “The 13 Women of Nanjing” by Geling Yan. The film has been selected as the Chinese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

The imdb synopsis: “Chinese sex workers in 1937 volunteer to replace university students as escorts for invading Japanese soldiers” is a little misleading. There is so much more to the story.

“The film is set in 1937 in Nanjing, China during the Nanking Massacre, at the time of the Second Sino-Japanese War. A group of escapees, finding sanctuary in a Church compound, risk their lives as they struggle to survive the plight and persecution brought on by the violent invasion of the city. Christian Bale portrays John Magee, an American who disguises himself as a priest who helps a number of Chinese escape certain death.”

The second trailer for the film gives us a much bigger look at the heart of  the film. We know it’s set against the back drop of war and one of history’s most famously devastating campaigns, but The Flowers of War (as the title suggests) is about hope, not destruction.

Starring Christian Bale, Shigeo Kobayashi and Paul Schneider (Bright Star, Water for Elephants), The Flowers of War opens in China on Friday and will get an awards qualifying US release in NY, LA and San Francisco.

New Line has released four new posters for Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. They are testimonials to the wonders of Photoshop, if nothing else. Vanessa Hudgens if certainly defying death with that one handed rope thing. The Rock looks like, well, like The Rock and we totally believe he could leap over ginormous eggs in a single bound. (The UK poster is below. The eggs look more like rocks. So The Rock is leaping over rocks.) Directed by Brad Peyton (Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore), Journey 2: The Mysterious Island stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (he will forever be “The Rock”. He needs to accept that), Michael Caine, Josh Hutcherson, Luis Guzman, Vanessa Hudgens and Kristen Davis​.

“Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” begins when young Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson) receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist.  It’s a place of strange life forms, mountains of gold, deadly volcanoes, and more than one astonishing secret.

Unable to stop him from going, Sean’s new stepfather, Hank (Dwayne Johnson), joins the quest.  Together with a helicopter pilot (Luis Guzman) and his beautiful, strong-willed daughter (Vanessa Hudgens), they set out to find the island, rescue its lone inhabitant and escape before seismic shockwaves force the island under the sea and bury its treasures forever.

“Journey 2: The Mysterious Island,” is directed by Brad Peyton (“Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore”).  It also stars Michael Caine as Sean’s grandfather, Alexander Anderson, and Kristin Davis as Sean’s mom, Liz Anderson.”

The UK trailer gives us a bit more footage and a little more insight into the story (because the domestic trailer was totally confusing *eyeroll*).

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island begins expeditions February 10th in the US, Canada and the UK. Hopefully it will answer the question, "Where exactly is 'the deadliest part of the ocean'?"