Entertainment December by Lifestyle Magazine

Entertainment December/January

Entertainment

Ahhh we all love Christmas morning, that early morning rise and the expectation of the day ahead. You open your windows and see small starving beggar boys running past your window and shouting out ‘Merry Christmas!!! Gor bless you guvnor!’ In the distance the sounds of Bing Crosby and ‘God rest ye merry gentlemen’ fill the air and everything is good in the world. And despite all the ‘Happy Holidays’ nonsense that’s being pushed on us now to get rid of the idea and use of ‘Christmas’ this is exactly how Christmas got started in the first place.

Turns out that the festivities at this time are a lot older than Christmas and go back some 4000 years and beyond. All of the festivities point to multiple celebrations all celebrating the sun’s re-emergence (or birth) after the winter solstice. These stories of the sun then became part of Christmas but to begin with they showed up in the worship of a Sun God. 40

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Before Christmas there were already celebrations. In Rome, the festival was called ‘Natalis Solis Invincti’ meaning the ‘birthday of the Invincible Sun God’ and after dying on the 21st, the winter solstice, the sun would be reborn 3 days later on the 25th.

So who was this Sun God? Well he was called Mithras and strangely enough his tale very closely resembles a later son of God. Both were known as shepherds, sons of God and even carried lambs. Both were born of a virgin, had 12 ‘disciples’ and acted as a go between God and man. Both had great celebrations at the winter solstice and the easter equinox. Mithras was seen as a travelling teacher, as a baby he was wrapped in a manger and attended by shepherds. He created miracles and as ‘the great bull of the Sun’ he sacrificed himself for world peace. Mithras was also connected with the Lion, the light/way, went to heaven on his death, his sacred day was a SUNday and put his mark on his followers/soldiers’ foreheads. Most historians now point to the Mithras as an Indo persian God who was worshipped 2000 years before Christ. He was a solar God, the light, and fire. Known as a warrior, from around 70 BC, Roman soldiers worshipped him underground, this practice spread throughout their empire from India, England and Spain. The fighting and sacrificing a bull is part of the worship of Mithras.

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Still think the connections are spurious between December 25th and Mithras? Well, even in the Catholic Encyclopedia it talks of Mithras and more specifically ‘The 25 December was observed as his birthday, the natalis invicti, the rebirth of the wintersun, unconquered by the rigours of the season.’ So early Christians no doubt saw the popularity of the pagan celebrations and the tales of the Sun God which were adopted and added to their own beliefs. That way there could be easy transition between the beliefs. By 350 AD, Pope Julius I decided on December 25th as Christ’s birthday and the rest was history.

Christmas Superstitions

But people also do not want to tempt fate and so mixed in with the Christmas celebrations are a whole lot of superstitions, some of these survive to this day and some have long since vanished. Here are some of the better ones:

Old Traditions

Decorations should not go up before Christmas eve, otherwise looking forward to the festivities tempts fate and angers dark forces. All those shops with the Christmas decorations up in August get their karma, sweet justice as far as I’m concerned.

Like Christ, Mithras was also born on December 25th. ‘December 25th was really the date, not of the birth of Jesus, but of the Sun-God Mithra. Horus, son of Isis, however, was in very early times identified with Ra, the Egyptian sun-God, and hence with Mithra...’ - Sir Arthur Weigall In Babylon and Egypt, the feast to the Son of Isis, Horus, was on the 25th which involved wine, song, eating and the giving of gifts. December 25th was all about the birth, not of the ‘son of God’ (be it Christ, Mithras or Horus) but of the birth of the sun, after the winter solstice.

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In the deep midwinter, Christmas sits like a beacon amongst those dark cold days. It’s a reminder that there are better days to come and that it’s not all doom and gloom. It’s a time to enjoy yourself and to brighten up a time which is normally cold and wet outside.

Mistletoe

At midnight, Christmas Eve, the front doors were opened wide to let any evil spirits out. On Christmas morning, the front doorstep should be swept so as to clear it of trouble.

Mistletoe (like holly) protects against lightning, barrenness, poison and should be left hanging all year round and the dried bit only taken down when fresh stuff is put up.

Also on Christmas morning, whoever is first one up would have to shout into the street ‘Welcome, old father Christmas’.

Superstition

Deck the halls

At midnight on Christmas eve, it was said that all animals (or some say just cats) can speak but don’t try to listen in, as this will kill you.

The halls and rooms would be decorated with branches of evergreen trees which symbolised life and gave hope that even in the bleak midwinter plants grew and that this growth would start again in the spring.

The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is more precise and that the man has to take a berry for every kiss from the lady, no berries no kisses, so get plenty of berries!

Don’t let your dog howl on Christmas Eve or else it will be mad by year end.

Nowadays holly, ivy and mistletoe are used as symbols of the evergreen.

The Holly and the Ivy

Work cannot be done on Christmas day as it’s supposed to be extremely unlucky. If you’re born on Christmas day, you will never see a ghost nor will you ever drown or hang.

Visitors There will be good fortune, if your first visitor is a dark haired man. A red haired man turning up is a bad omen and it’s an absolute disaster if a woman turns up first! No matter how awful they are, don’t turn away carol singers as that’s also bad luck.

Holly is seen as protective against lightning. Prickly holly means male dominance and smooth holly means the wife wearing the trousers. Ideally bring both in to the house for harmony! Holly is seen as a masculine plant while ivy is seen as a feminine one. At Christmas they unite. Normally ivy which is also protective outside the house, should never be brought inside as it’s bad luck. But at Christmas holly counteracts the ivy. One tip to check out the fortunes of the coming year is to take an ivy leaf and place it in a bowl of water on New Years Eve and then check it again on 12th night eve. If the leaf is fresh then a good year is coming but problems will be around if a black spot appears including illness.

Candles and Yule log Pagans in northern Europe celebrated Yule, which was a worship of the Sun God, Mithras. And a candle was lit to encourage Mithras to reappear in the next year. Yule logs were burned to honour the sun. The word ‘Yule’ itself means wheel, the pagan symbol for the sun.

At the end of Christmas the holly, ivy and tree should be burnt as offerings on either the 12th night or candle-mass eve (Feb 1st). For every pine needle left in the house after the Christmas tree has been taken out, a goblin will appear.

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

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Both candle and log need to be left burning until Christmas morning. If there are problems lighting the fire on Christmas day, then there are usually problems for the rest of the year. Place the candle by the window all night to bring good luck all year.

Check for the shadows cast from the fire, if someone misses a head in their shadow then they shall die within the year.

Food

Christmas cake should be eaten on Christmas eve and some saved for Christmas day. The more mince pies you eat at different houses the more luck you get for the year.

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Christmas pudding should be made at home, where everyone in the house takes turns stirring it (3 times at least and make a secret wish while stirring). Drop a silver coin, thimble or ring into the pudding and the one who is served one of the three gains a prize. The coin brings luck, the thimble brings prosperity and the ring hastens a wedding.

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Many of these superstitions have fallen by the wayside in this modern era, I mean if they still followed them then ‘red haired’ man bringing bad luck would mean not much fun going on in Scotland, all women would have to stay home and do the cooking and the pets would be planning mankind’s downfall. Most to be ignored, but some to be kept in mind and maybe even revived.

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Christmas on the Costa The best thing about being on the Costa del Sol at Christmas is that you get to do it twice! You do the traditional way and if you’ve got some Spanish friends you can celebrate on Christmas Eve and January the fifth as well. On top of that you have a chance of spending Christmas day on either the beach or the terrace where you can relax and marvel at being in sunshine while the rest of the northern hemisphere is freezing inside. It was awesome the first time I experienced it and it’s still awesome 20 years on. Apart from idling your day on the beach or terrace there is a wealth of shows and performances going on all over the Costa with the main ones being in Malaga as that’s the Capital. If you’re into the Christmas lights sensation then the ones in Malaga are very nice. They’re put up in early December and in addition to lights they also put festive flowers and the nativity figures throughout the city’s churches and Town Hall. Worth seeing if you’ve never seen before and you want to impress the missus with your sensitivity. In Marbella, have a wander through the Plaza de los Naranjos in the Old Town as that can be rather nice at this time of year with all the Christmas lights out. In the Plaza de la Alameda, you’ll find Marbella’s nativity scene and the illumination of the Christmas lights starts on Calle Enrique del Castillo. Free chocolate and roscas are given to the kids at the nearby Parque de la Alameda (Alameda Park) where there is also a Santa’s Grotto. Opening times are as follows: Weekdays 6:00pm-8:30pm. Saturdays 11:00am-1:30pm and 6:00pm-8:30pm. Sundays, December 24, and holidays 11:00am-1:30pm. There’s also a Santa postbox where kids can post letters and they’ll get a reply as long as they put their name and address on the back of their letters, courtesy of Marbella Town Hall. Worth checking out is the Marbella Christmas Market. At the Marbella Sports port. There are wares by local artists and artisans, food, games and lots more. On December 23rd, in Marbella’s Old town, local businesses give gifts to shoppers and passers by and in the Plaza de la Victoria, chocolate and churros are served. Remember though that most bars and restaurants close for the evening on Christmas Eve as that is the time Spaniards celebrate. Boxing day on the 26th is a normal day with all shops open as normal. New Years Eve is always busy, but make sure you book somewhere because they always tend to be sold out way before. The 3 kings (Los Reyes) is celebrated on the 5th and there’s a parade starting at Noon with sweets thrown for the kids, the parade starts by boat at the sports port and ends at the Town Hall. The Roscon ‘cake of kings’ is given out in the Plaza Practicante Manuel Cantos. The later parade starts at 6 pm. All worth seeing at least once and if the weather is good then all the events are highly enjoyable!

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

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y n a p m Redline Company o C e n i l Red ro

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What a night!

On the 16th November, Redline Company set up some high octane celebrations, by throwing a party for over 150 clients, friends, press and local dignitaries at Mr Gourmet Burger restaurant in San Pedro. Revellers enjoyed free-flowing wine, mini burgers, a selection of sweet treats and a spectacular red birthday cake commissioned for the occasion. Good food, great venue and guests a go-go. Wow! company – Redline knows what it takes to arrange a good party! We invest the same time and energy into marketing our clients’ businesses in Marbella, mainland Spain, Scandinavia and more recently in the UK.

The festivities marked Redline Company’s 8th anniversary as one of Marbella’s most successful marketing and design agencies. On the night, Redline’s clients turned out in force, making for a lively mix of movers and shakers from across the spectrum of Marbella’s business community. Guests were greeted with Cava, followed by wine, beer and seemingly endless trays of mini burgers (known as “sliders”). High spirits and live music provided by DJ Diogo Meira continued well into the night. Everyone left with a goody bag, a piece of cake and the promise of some Redline magic.

provided the perfect party venue. Mr Gourmet Burger is the latest restaurant from the team behind Passion Café, serving luxury burgers in trendy surroundings.

As Redline is the creative force behind the concept and design of Mr Gourmet Burger, the restaurant

Line Lyster, director and founder of Redline Company, says, “As an experienced marketing and PR

“Redline’s multi-national team is conversant in the latest online marketing techniques, traditional marketing, graphic design, website design, PR, Google Adwords and much more. In other words, we provide access to a fully fledged marketing team, which is ideal for those without the necessary internal resources.

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“We’re already looking forward to celebrating the next 8 years!”

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

Grab yourself a Cabo Pizza! Cabo Pizza is a great little gem of a pizza place! It was established 7 years ago by Graham and Ruth Hughes who previously owned and ran a pizza place just outside Middlesbrough, for over 12 years. They moved to the Costa del Sol at the beginning of 2005, and opened Cabo Pizza that summer. Cabo Pizza has grown in popularity due to it’s notoriety for consistency, great service and a friendly, warm atmosphere.

They also offer a great takeaway and delivery service. With a swift phone call, Alin, Cabo Pizza’s delivery man, will soon be at your door.

and ribs, but they will be open every day apart from New Year’s Eve and Christmas Day.

Cab o S o g e t yo u rs e lf a be P iz z a . Yo u wo n’t dis a pp o in te d !!

Alin the delivery man If Pizza’s not your thing, Cabo Pizza is also renowned for their Chicken Escalope and Hickory Chicken, their famous recipe brought over from the UK. This will always go down a treat! So when you’re hungry over the festive session and wondering what to eat and who’s open, then think no more. Not only does Cabo Pizza have a full menu ranging from delicious pizzas, to chicken, burgers

Graham, Lilli and Lucia.

Cabo Pizza are situated in Cabopino. See their advert on page 62

MALAGA DARTS LEAGUE The second month of the Spanish league has passed by with fortunes having changed for both the Beer Garden Teams. Beer Garden B, newly formed this year seemed to have gelled together and have gone undefeated this month with three straight wins. These came against strong opposition with a notable 9 -2 win against local rivals The Bull Bar. Well Done the B Team keep it up! The A team have won two and lost one against previous champions Gaucin in Malaga, a hard fought game which went to the wire, however chances went begging and their first loss of the season which I am sure will be avenged in the return game. Either team can be seen every Friday night in the Beer Garden Benalmadena why not pop along and support the teams in a warm and friendly environment. Results ‘A’ Team 3 Diana (Cartama) 1 – 10 Beer Garden A Gaucin (Malaga) 7 – 4 Beer Garden A Axarquia (Torre Del Mar) 2 - 9 Beer Garden A Results ‘B’ Team Amigos Del Dardos (Malaga) 5 – 6 Beer Garden B Beer Garden B 7 – 4 Bar Zea (Cartama) Bull Bar 2 – 9 Beer Garden B

Pld F A L Pts 1 Gaucín 6 53 13 0 6 2 Cyber Xauen 6 50 16 1 5 3 3 Dardos 7 51 26 2 5 4 Beer Garden 5 39 16 1 4 5 Zea 7 37 40 3 4 6 Benalmádena 7 39 38 4 3 7 Axarquía 6 26 40 3 3 8 Beer Garden B 5 17 39 3 2 9 Amigos del Dardo 6 24 42 6 0 10 3 Dardos B 5 10 45 5 0 11 Cyber Xauen B 4 7 37 4 0 Pld = Played F = Legs for A = Against L = Lost Pts = Points

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

Let’s face it, everyone loves the idea of Doomsday. It has been predicted for at least 2000 years and probably before that too. Most religions are built on the idea that one day everyone will meet their maker and that if you’ve obeyed the particular rules on that religion then you’ll be OK. The rest of us have had it. So far these doomsdays have come and gone, without major incident. Occasionally you’ll get the odd cult led by nutters like Jim Jones who go on and poison everyone on that particular day. Y2K has gone and nothing happened, the 6th of June 2006 came and went with no sign of Satan and now this month comes the biggest of them all, 2012.

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

The idea of something happening in 2012 has been around since the 60’s. A Mayan archaeologist deciphered a stone and the rest was history. 2012 has become a meme, something that for the last 20 years has been repeated so often that it’s even entered pub discussions. There’s usually one person who nods sagely and says stuff like ‘ah yes and you know what’s happening in 2012’; where everyone turns to hear the answer only to be met by wild eyes and ‘its the end of the world!!!’. Of course no one knows what’s going to happen on the winter solstice of 2012, on December 21st 2012 at 11.11 am precisely. But there’s a hell of a lot of speculation.

Alignments There is speculation that right on the dot of December 21st, there is an alignment that heralds the end of the age of Pisces into Aquarius. There is an ever bigger alignment than that though, and that’s the ‘precession of the equinoxes’ that happens every 26000 years or so and is known as the Great Year. It’s seen as a yin and yang period, half being good and half as bad. December 21st is one of great importance to the Maya and they call it Creation day. Hardly the end of the world. This happens as the earth moves across the milky way and the Maya measured this movement with their long count calendar. During the next winter solstice the sun is close to Galactic centre, the cosmic womb to the Mayans, a place of rebirth. When the sun crosses the galactic equator the Mayans called this the crossroads as it forms a cross. In carvings they drew this as the Sacred tree.

It should be noted that while the Mayan long Count Calendar ends in 2012, there are other Mayan calendar’s that continue even as far as 4712 AD! So they had no intention of seeing 2012 as the end, it was more like the end of an age, and the beginning of a new one.

New Age There’s talk of a new age, but even that idea is nearly a thousand years old. To cut a long story short, the new age would be when the church was no longer needed, considering this was written by Joachim of Flora, a monk then it has added gravitas. So then that’s fairly simple then. December 21st 2012 was seen as a creation day which comes only once every 26 thousand years. We should be enjoy the privilege of witnessing it, considering last time we were still living in caves. 48

The complete prophecy reads like this, 9 prophecies are spoken of in this order:

So where did all the doom come into it then? Well most of it came from religion. A famous prophecy comes from Saint Malachy, who named all the Popes up until the ‘end of the catholic church’. The last pope would be Peter the Roman who would destroy Rome and start the Judgement day. We’re on the last but one now by the way, aged 85, hopefully he doesn’t pass away in the next month or so!

The coming of the white man, Covered wagons, Longhorn cattle, Railroad tracks, Power lines, Concrete roads, Oil spills, The 8th was seen as the 1960’s with the power of love. The 9th is the Blue Star detailing ‘you will hear a dwelling place in the heavens, above the Earth, that shall fall with a great crash. It will appear as a blue star. Very soon after this, the ceremonies of my people will cease’… The odd thing though is that Sirius is instrumental in many belief systems and that something might be happening to it at the moment. If you don’t believe me check out Google Sky and search for Sirius. You won’t get anything...the search won’t work. Then look for a video about it and you’ll see its been blanked out by Google! Curious!

In Jerusalem there is a prophecy of a time called ‘the abomination of desolation’ which lasts 45 years..cheery eh? And that the taking of Jerusalem was the start and that was in 1967, finishing in...yep you guessed it, 2012. Interesting again about the end of religion though and the church no longer being needed. Religious leaders often talk about the end of the world, and indeed it might be the end of their world because people might start to think for themselves. The new age for real perhaps? And these aren’t the only spiritual leaders that are mentioning the importance of 2012. Non religious peoples are at it as well.

In fact a lot of tribal elders from all over the world talk of 2012. The New Zealand Maori’s talk of the veil between the spiritual and physical will disappear in 2012. The Cherokee talk of the need for purification before Dec 21st 2012 in order to evolve. The Q’ero indians also talk of a time before when the ‘earth and time are set right’ and the era of 1993 and 2012 as the ‘taripay pacha’ the ‘age of meeting ourselves again’. In India, and the Vedic tradition, an Indian Holy man named Yukteswar, talks of the presession of the equinoxes and how in 10,800 BC we went into darkness and how in 2012, we go back into the light. Which of course also links in with the idea of the precession of the equinoxes.

When the Blue Star Kachina “makes its appearance in the heavens, the Fifth World will emerge.

”

- White feather of the Bear clan. This comes from an American Indian tribe called the Hopi and talks of Sirius.

Comets feature heavily with Nostradamus as well and natural disasters caused by a comet bring about the rise of an antichrist who creates WW3. But fortunately he does mention the end of the world, which is by burning meteors in the year 3797 AD...so we can enjoy ourselves for now then.

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

As often is the case the bigger the lie the more people believe it and so 2012 predictions are riddled with massive doomsday scenarios that a lot of people take seriously.

The Sun Killshot Some have predicted that the Sun would give out a massive energy burst that would effectively fry everybody on Earth (see the film Knowing for the special effects). Others predict an EMP burst that would knock us back into the stone age by destroying all our electronics. Personally I think the back to the stone age is a little extreme and would think back to the 1930’s (technology wise) at worse. Lots of sunspots mean earthquakes here on Earth, so if you want to check that out, go to the SOHO satellite and check out sunspot activity online!

For the 2012 super wave this is supposedly due to the tilting of the earth on its axis (pole-shift). Previous super waves have been documented as being in Siberia, where massive mammoths were swept up and then frozen in the frozen wastes for tens of thousands of years (they were still good enough to eat in the 1880’s by dogs). Some of these mammoths were found with fresh grass in their mouths, indicating a sudden event. The time line would indicate the 10800 BC descent into darkness though that the Vedic holy man mentioned above.

Explosion of Eta Carinae / Betelegeuse Both will explode one day but nothing points to 2012.

Alien Invasion Some writers talk of the return of angels/nephilim/ aliens and that this will happen world wide on December 21st 2012. Personally it’d brighten up my day!

One expert Paul LaViolette talks of great plasma jets from the Sun and pulses from Galactic centre. But luckily sees no connection with 2012. Thankfully!

Nibiru the 10th planet One of the biggest doomsday scenarios is the idea of another planet that shoots past the Earth causing massive destruction. This has been linked with 2012, but to be fair, the original writers did not connect Nibiru with 2012 and pointed in fact to 3600 AD. So we can discount that one.

The Superwave We’ve seen it in the movies of ‘Deep Impact’, ‘2012’ and ‘The day after Tomorrow ‘ the massive mile high tsunami super wave that devastate everything in its path. This has added connection to us as we have recently seen two of the most devastating tsunamis in human history in the last 7 years (Indonesia and Japan).

So have we seen any signs that governments and the like have reacted to something happening in 2012? Well one thing Hollywood movies and Tv have got right over the years is that government would never tell the general populace anything. They’d deny it right until the last moment because panic, looting and the like might damage the chances of the establishment getting through it (government heads, bankers, rich etc.) after all a population with nothing to lose can become a serious threat to the powers that be. 51

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Costa Del Sol Sound And Light was created in 2012 by Ross Thurston. After years of running a successful sound and lighting company based in the UK with his father, Ross moved here to the Costa Del Sol. After three years working in bars and clubs along the coast, he realised the coast was lacking sound and light services. Therefore he started Costa del Sol Sound and Light, offering the perfect systems to make your bar or club that extra bit special!

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

Any other things that they might be doing? In Svalbard, Iceland they’ve built a seed storage ‘ark’ for all intents and purposes where they have stored every living seed for future generations. Or build underground bases to save the most important people perhaps? Like Denver Airport? A massive underground complex disguised as renovations to the airport itself. Jesse Ventura looked into the airport and found evidence of a large construction beneath with every official denying everything.

There are also plenty of other underground cities that were built in the cold war and have no doubt been updated. Doubt any of us will get a ticket though.

Possible Reality - 2012 Magnetic Pole Shift Something that will happen is a magnetic pole shift on the Sun in 2012. Some have theorised that the Earth is long overdue one and that in 2012 it will happen. They point to the weakening magnetic field on Earth and that the last reversal was 740,000 years ago. Signs of field reversal are things like stronger hurricanes and tornadoes and wildlife like birds and whales getting lost and stranded. Sound familiar? If the field continues to drop then a pole shift is possible and as it continues to decline at an ever increasing rate, then in the near future there is a possibility. Hopefully not in the next month though! An interesting theory about Pole shift though is that it is a really good thing. And that with a switch of the poles, there’s a switch within us as well. Researchers have found that a drop in the magnetic field increases telepathy and so with a magnetic pole-shift we might have a switch into a higher consciousness. That our DNA acts like an antenna and that once we move into alignment and with the magnetic pole-shift we evolve and are enhanced. Enlightened I guess.

Ultimately, it could be good, it could be bad and nothing might happen at all. Listening to all the doom and gloom does no good at the end of the day and in fact might disconnect you from the good stuff. If it’s the end of the world then crack open a beer and enjoy your last moments, because nothing can be done anyway. Not long to wait now...

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

Costa del Crime

The old jokes of the Costa del Crime have gone quiet now, what with the extradition act and the professional thieves keeping well under the radar.

But recent statistics have started to come in that show a sign of these economic uncertain times. Apart from the Balearic islands, the Costa del Sol has seen a marked rise in crime. During the summer, officers from Malaga have been reposted along the Costa to prevent thieves ripping off tourists. General State Prosecutor’s Office recently said... ‘In the province of Málaga the organised crime manifests itself in economic crimes such as robberies and assaults on businesses or homes, drug trafficking, prostitution, massive frauds and certain cases of administrative corruption. The presence of a high number of foreign residents, which in some occasions have a greater population than the Spanish, the diversion of homes in urbanisations along the coast, and the opportunity to make money from real estate’ are some of the factors why, according to statement from the Fiscalia, ‘Málaga is an ideal place for the refuge of persons linked to criminal activity’.

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menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

Burglaries have become a major problem this summer which is why the National Police force have been reposting their men to areas under threat which consists mainly of Marbella and Estepona.

Thankfully the thieves aren’t resorting to violence mainly because the burglars are professional. In San Pedro, in early September, intruders stole valuables worth 200,000 Euros while the owners were still asleep. In the Guadalmina area, there have been as many 4 burglaries a night.

There are rumours of ex-army, highly trained eastern European gangs robbing villas. By placing knock out gas outside and next to the air conditioning, they can flood the villa full of the gas and wait until the owners are out for the count. The burglars can then steal the house content at their leisure, as often the knock out gas lasts until noon the next day.

It’s not just private owners who are being burgled, just recently Marbella Carpets had half a million worth of stock stolen. There has been some good news though, since the reinforcements have turned up there have been less robberies. This is mainly due to “both investigation and prevention” work and local forces acting together. The prevention tactic came to a head, when in the

residential area of Las Chapas in Marbella a shoot out between police and criminals took place when a suspicious car was spotted ‘casing a joint’ and in the melee, one of the burglars was shot in the back.

Usually Christmas is connected with an intruder dressed in red sneaking into the house. One of the downsides of Christmas on the Costa, is that as many ex-pats go back ‘home’ for Christmas so the chances of intruders invading homes increases massively, but this lot aren’t dressed in red. You have to wonder what happens if all the police are in Marbella and Estepona guarding the richer areas, while houses in the campo are left empty and unguarded. It’s probably wise to invest in a burglar alarm at the very least, and a security expert in Malaga estimates that there are up to 100,000 properties with alarms down here on the Costa. Make sure you arm the alarms though because many people don’t because once they have it installed, they don’t understand how to use them. Always read the manual or just call the people in who set it up in the first place and then reacquaint yourself with the alarm. Many burglars aren’t put off by the mere sight of an alarm system, but when it goes off they soon take notice. Alternatively if you are away for a length of time then keep your valuables elsewhere. You can always ask neighbours to keep an eye on your place for you, or set up cameras within to monitor your place but obviously some defences are more expensive than others.

Overall, the Costa del Sol is still a far safer place to live than many areas in Europe, but in these testing economic times we all have to make sure to take certain security precautions for peace of mind.

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

Food & Drink Ment’syle Lifes on ndati

where to wine & dine

me nth! m o c e R the Mo of

2012 APRIL: MAY: JUNE: JULY: AUGUST: SEPTEMBER: OCTOBER: NOVEMBER:

Men’s Lifestyle’s list of monthly restaurant recommendations throughout 2012... Kudu Bar, Elviria The Beach House, Elviria Valparaiso Restaurant, Mijas The Hogan Stand, San Pedro Rancho Grill, Las Chapas No recommendation Grill del Puerto, Puerto Banus Taj Group, Benavista, Marbella, Elviria

Does your restaurant come highly recommended? We would like to give you a

FREE FULL PAGE recommendation!

Contact us today for the opportunity to be the featured venue on our monthly ‘Restaurant Recommendation’ page. info@menandautotrader.com 952 93 99 55

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

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MENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LIFESTYLE

Co e Your g Gl mpl ach recreoup wi a i ive a ll on ss m en rec eip of t to f th Ca ar y is v v ou a ch e

Grill del Puerto We are located on the front-line of the port in Puerto Banus. The food, the service, the music, and the feel good ambience will leave you wanting to dine here time and time again!

Delicious homemade food in a beautiful location! O O O O O

Grill del Puerto specialises in Chateaubriand served on a small charcoal grill on your table, allowing you to prepare your own meat just how you like it. Our menu offers international cuisine including delicious Belgian dishes. We also have a good range of vegetarian choices. All the food is homemade, using high-quality fresh ingredients. Choose from our extensive wine list which our waiters can advise you on which is the best to accompany your meal. We are now taking bookings for Christmas and New Year, so make sure you book early to avoid disappointment!

Open every day 12.30pm till late - non-stop Primera Linea / Front-line Puerto Banus - Next to Picasso. Telephone: 952 811 686 Although imitation is the greatest form of flattery, Grill del Puerto has no affiliation to any other restaurants in the port - and why would it!

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

Unique, Sophisticated, Breathtaking, Totally Incomparable – This description does not do THE BEACH HOUSE justice. A fine dining experience at the waters edge and much, much more. The food is the finest freshly sourced and cooked to order. A fine and varied menu for all palettes, that won’t break the bank! Chill out in our fabulous Beach Lounge while relaxing with a tasty snack or sipping one of our delicious exotic cocktails. As if this wasn’t enough to tempt: for the music lovers among you, stimulate your senses with our Live Music Acts which include The Masquerade, Franky B, Tomas Henry, Felix and more.

The Beach House Restaurant, Urb. Coto de los Dolores Carril del Relojero, Elviria, 29604, Marbella +34 952 83 94 58 www.marbellabeachhouse.com

Oscar’s Restaurant Next to The Hogan Stand

Oscar’s Restaurant in San Pedro is a wonderful place where you can enjoy delicious international food. Dine indoors in our contemporary surroundings or outdoors on our large terrace.

FREE BOTTLE OF WINE

Mention you saw our advert in Men’s Lifestyle Magazine and enjoy a bottle of wine on the house, with your meal for two.

• Set menu available from only €22.50 per head • Live music every Friday, Saturday & Sunday Open from 6pm until late 6 days a week. Closed on Tuesdays. For party enquiries and dinner reservations, contact the manager, Ross: +34 603212624 E-mail: thehoganstand@live.com

San Pedro, Marbella

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

on receipt of this voucher!

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Complimentary Glass of Cava

MEN’S LIFESTYLE

Your group will each recieve a

Rancho Grill Grill El Rancho in Las Chapas, to the East of Marbella, is known as one of the best grill restaurants on the coast. Open every day and until 1am in the summer, El Rancho specialises in Chateaubriand and stone grilled meats, so it definitely is a meat lover’s paradise. There are also plenty of vegetarian dishes.

• Extensive and affordable wine list • A relaxed, rustic and cosy setting, to compliment your menu. • Choice of three different dining areas, ideal for those winter nights. including a heated smoking terrace. • Special daily 3-course menu • Live music on Saturday nights!

for €17.50.

• Valet parking.

Urb. Carib Playa, 11 Bajo, Las Chapas, Marbella East, 29600, Málaga. (exit km 194) Phone: +34 952 831 922 Also in Puerto Banus ~ Grill Del Puerto. Phone: +34 952 811 686

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

Only 5km from Elviria in East Marbella is the Costa del Sols hidden gem called the Kudu Bar + Restaurant. Located in La Mairena, this stylish establishment was architect designed and has a large outside terrace with spectacular views over the coast. Kudu is owned and managed by husband and wife team Vicky & Ross who along with their staff ensure everyone is greeted with the warmest of welcomes. Kudu is La Mariena’s favourite chill-out venue and with its relaxed atmosphere it has become a popular choice of both local residents and visitors alike returning again and again. Drop in for a coffee, a Only 5km from Elviria in East Marbella is the drink or better still for a full meal. Sol’s hidden gem - Kudu Bar & Bistro. TheCosta tasty del menu never disappoints and is complimented the dailythis specials all at Located in LabyMairena, stylish establishment great too. designed and has a large outside was value architect terrace with spectacular views over the coast. Open 7 days (1pm-1am) for drinks with food served Kudu is owned and managed by husband from (1pm-10.30pm)

and wife team Vicky & Ross, who along with their staff, ensure everyone is greeted with the warmest of welcomes. KUDU La Mairena

Kudu is La Mairena’s favourite chill-out venue, and with its relaxed atmosphere, it has become a popular choice of both local residents and visitors who return again and again. El Soto

Drop in for a coffee, a drink or a meal. Gr

een

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The tasty menu never disappoints and is complimented by the daily specials. All at great value too! lf

ria Santa Ma

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Open 7 days • 1pm-1am for drinks • Food served 1pm-10.30pm Marbella

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La Mairena, Elviria Tel: 952 852 166 www.kudubar.com 5* Don Carlos Hotel

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL US ON: 952 852 166 or visit www.kudubar.com

kudubar

El Soto Restaurant ~ Located in the Clubhouse of El Soto Golf Elviria, Marbella ~

Surrounded by hills, valleys, lakes, trees and fields and set in a beautiful UNESCO designated nature reserve. Only 17km from Marbella the location is sunny and quiet. The bar and restaurant offer a relaxing, friendly atmosphere where you can sit in comfort and select from our wide selection of meals or simply choose from the snack men

Open from 10 until late for Breakfasts, Snacks, Lunch and Dinner.

For reservations please call 951 778 166 Email: info@elsotorestaurant.com

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

Masala BENAVISTA

Fine Indian Cuisine C. Com. El Pilar, Local 2, 29680 Estepona, Ctra. N340, Km 167. (opp Crowne Plaza Hotel)

951 272 149

info@masalamarbella.es www.tajgroup.es

TAKE AWAY AND HOME DELIVERY ALSO AVAILABLE

Taj Mahal Marbella Delicious Indian Cuisine Taj Mahal Marbella, Ctra. N340 Km 187, Marbella.

952887670 / 952819240 info@tajmahal-marblla.com www.tajgroup.es

Taj Mahal Elviria

Tel: 952 836 153 info@tajmahal-elviria.com www.tajgroup.es Taj Mahal Elviria, C.C. Pino Golf Don Carlos, Local 18, Ctra. N340, Km 192.

Take away and home delivery available

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Authentic Indian food in an elegant setting

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Advertise your bar or restaurant Contact us to find out about our fantastic 40% off all advertising prices! info@menandautotrader.com 952 93 99 55

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

Rec

ipes

Ingredients Serves 4 • 1 litre dry red wine • 2 (5cm) cinnamon sticks • 1 dessertspoon whole cloves • 1 dessertspoon whole allspice • 1 large piece orange rind (avoid the pith) • 1 large piece lemon rind (avoid the pith) • 4 tablespoons sugar, or to taste

Directions 1. In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, combine the red wine, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, lemon rind and orange rind. Heat gently, but don’t bring to the boil. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the sugar, and once dissolved, taste to see if you’d like to add more. 2. Keep hot on medium to low heat for 20 minutes to let the flavours infuse the wine. Serve your mulled wine hot in glasses or mugs.

Mince Pies

Easy-to-Make Ingredients

Directions

• 225g cold butter, diced • 350g plain flour • 100g golden caster sugar • 280g mincemeat • 1 small egg • Icing sugar, to dust

1. To make the pastry, rub 225g cold, diced butter into 350g plain flour, then mix in 100g golden caster sugar and a pinch of salt. Combine the pastry into a ball - don’t add liquid - and knead it briefly. The dough will be fairly firm, like shortbread dough. You can use the dough immediately, or chill for later.

Makes 18 pies

2. Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6/fan 180C. Line 18 holes of two 12hole patty tins, by pressing small walnut-sized balls of pastry into each hole. Spoon 280g mincemeat into the pies. 3. Take slightly smaller balls of pastry than before and pat them out between your hands to make round lids, big enough to cover the pies. Top the pies with their lids, pressing the edges gently together to seal - you don’t need to seal them with milk or egg as they will stick on their own. (The pies may now be frozen for up to 1 month). 4. Beat 1 small egg and brush the tops of the pies. Bake for 20 minutes until golden. Leave to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack. To serve, lightly dust with icing sugar. They will keep for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container.

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

Film REVIEWS

December’s cinema releases

Django Unchained

The Impossible

Cast: Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Gerald McRaney.

Cast: Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts. Director: Juan Antonio Bayona. Genre: Drama.

Director: Quentin Tarantino. Genre: Western. About the film: Set in the South two years before the Civil War, Django Unchained stars Academy Award-winner Jamie Foxx as Django, a slave whose brutal history with his former owners lands him face-to-face with German-born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Academy Award-winner Christoph Waltz). Schultz is on the trail of the murderous Brittle brothers, and only Django can lead him to his bounty. The unorthodox Schultz acquires Django with a promise to free him upon the capture of the Brittles dead or alive. Success leads Schultz to free Django, though the two men choose not to go their separate ways. Instead, Schultz seeks out the South’s most wanted criminals with Django by his side. Honing vital hunting skills, Django remains focused on one goal: finding and rescuing Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), the wife he lost to the slave trade long ago. n

Playing for Keeps Cast: Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Judy Greer, Dennis Quaid, Uma Thurman. Director: Gabriele Muccino. Genre: Comedy. About the film: Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Dennis Quaid star in ‘Playing For Keeps,’ a romantic comedy about a charming, down-on-his luck former football star (Butler) who returns home to put his life back together. Looking for a way to rebuild his relationship with his son, he gets roped into coaching the boy’s football team. But his attempts to finally become an “adult” are met with hilarious challenges from the attractive football mums who pursue him at every turn. n

About the film: Maria (Naomi Watts), Henry (Ewan McGregor) and their three sons begin their winter vacation in Thailand, looking forward to a few days in tropical paradise. But on the morning of December 26th, as the family relaxes around the pool after their Christmas festivities the night before, a terrifying roar rises up from the centre of the earth. As Maria freezes in fear, a huge wall of black water races across the hotel grounds toward her. ‘The Impossible’’ is the powerful and unforgettable account of a family caught, with tens of thousands of strangers, in the mayhem of one of the worst natural catastrophes of our time. But the true-life terror is tempered by the unexpected displays of compassion, courage and simple kindness that Maria and her family encounter during the darkest hours of their lives. n

The Hobbit: An unexpected Journey

Jack Reacher Cast: Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Robert Duvall, Werner Herzog, Richard Jenkins. Director: Christopher McQuarrie. Genre: Drama, Thriller.

Cast: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Andy Serkis, Aidan Turner. Director: Peter Jackson. Genre: Action, Fantasy. About the film: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, is the first of a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

About the film: The Usual Suspects’ Christopher McQuarrie brings Lee Child’s Jack Reacher character to the big screen with this Paramount Pictures production starring Tom Cruise as the lone-wolf investigator on the hunt for a murderous sniper. Robert Duvall, Richard Jenkins, Rosamund Pike, and director Werner Herzog co-star. n

The three films tell a continuous story set in Middle-earth 60 years before “The Lord of the Rings.” The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain, first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever...Gollum. Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of ingenuity and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities... A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know. The second film, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” will be released in December 2013, and the third film, “The Hobbit: There and Back Again” will be out in 2014. n

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

Promised Land

This is 40 Cast: Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Megan Fox, Albert Brooks, Chris O’Dowd.

Cast: Matt Damon, John Krasinski, Frances McDormand, Rosemarie DeWitt, Scoot McNairy.

Director: Judd Apatow.

Director: Gus Van Sant.

Genre: Comedy.

Genre: Drama.

About the film: Writer/director/ producer Judd Apatow (‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin,’ ‘Funny People’) brings audiences ‘This Is 40,’ an original comedy that expands upon the story of Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) from the blockbuster hit ‘Knocked Up’ as we see first-hand how they are dealing with their current state of life. n

About the film: ’Promised Land’ is the new contemporary drama directed by Gus Van Sant. Matt Damon plays Steve Butler, an ace corporate salesman who is sent along with his partner, Sue Thomason (Frances McDormand), to close a key rural town in his company’s expansion plans. With the town having been hit hard by the economic decline of recent years, the two outsiders see the local citizens as likely to accept their company’s offer, for drilling rights to their properties, as much-needed relief. What seems like an easy job for the duo becomes complicated by the objection of a respected schoolteacher (Hal Holbrook) with support from a grassroots campaign led by another man (John Krasinski), as well as the interest of a local woman (Rosemarie DeWitt). n

Zero Dark Thirty Cast: Joel Edgerton, Jessica Chastain, Edgar Ramirez, Kyle Chandler, Mark Strong. Director: Kathryn Bigelow. Genre: Drama, War. About the film: The filmmaking duo behind The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal) takes on the hunt for – and the killing of – Osama bin Laden in this Annapurna Pictures production that tracks SEAL Team Six, the specialops team who eventually brought down the terrorist leader. Animal Kingdom’s Joel Edgerton heads up the cast. n 66

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

Not Fade Away Cast: James Gandolfini, Brad Garrett, Christopher McDonald, Molly Price, John Magaro. Director: David Chase. Genre: Drama. About the film: A group of 1960s suburban youths start a rock band much to the chagrin of their parents in this musical drama from The Sopranos’ David Chase. n

Guilt Trip Cast: Seth Rogen, Barbra Streisand, Kathy Najimy, Colin Hanks, Adam Scott. Director: Anne Fletcher. Genre: Comedy. About the film: Andy Brewster is about to embark on the road trip of a lifetime, and who better to accompany him than his overbearing mother Joyce. After deciding to start his adventure with a quick visit at mom’s, Andy is guilted into bringing her along for the ride. Across 3,000 miles of ever-changing landscape, he is constantly aggravated by her antics, but over time he comes to realize that their lives have more in common than he originally thought. His mother’s advice might end up being exactly what he needs. n

Did you know... • Macy’s department store refused to let their name be used in the 1994 remake of Miracle on 34th Street. •B ad Santa holds the record for the most swearing in a Christmas-themed film. The word “f**k” (and its variations) appear 147 times, and a total of 243 swear words are used. •W hite Christmas was the top grossing film of 1954. • In White Christmas, the original idea was to reunite Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby, as they had been successful in Holiday Inn (1942). Astaire refused, as he had “retired” at the time, so the part was reworked for Donald O`Connor. O`Connor pulled out, and the part was reworked for Danny Kaye. •T he Muppet Christmas Carol was the first featurelength production in which Kermit’s voice was not provided by Jim Henson (who had recently died). Steve Whitmire took over the role. • In The Muppet Christmas Carol, Jacob and Robert Marley are surrounded by wailing cash boxes, this is a nod to Bob Marley & The Wailers. • In 2004 the ‘Radio Times’ conducted a poll into the Best Film Never to Have Won an Oscar. It’s a Wonderful Life came second (The Shawshank Redemption was first).

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

Film REVIEWS January’s cinema releases

Gangster Squad

Texas Chainsaw 3D Cast: Alexandra Daddario, Scott Eastwood, Tania Raymonde, Trey Songz, Keram Malicki-Sanchez. Director: John Luessenhop. Genre: Horror, Thriller. About the film: Leatherface and his cannibalistic clan are back – this time in 3D – with this Nu Image/Lionsgate production. John Luessenhop (Takers) helms. Alexandra Daddario (Percy Jackson & the Olympians) and Lost’s Tania Raymonde star, along with Scott Eastwood and R&B star, Trey Songz. Series veterans Gunnar Hansen, Marilyn Burns, John Dugan, and Bill Moseley co-star. n

Cast: Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Michael Pena, Anthony Mackie.

A Haunted House Cast: Nick Swardson, Marlon Wayans, David Koechner, Essence Atkins, Cedric the Entertainer. Directors: Rick Alvarez, Marlon Wayans. Genre: Comedy. About the film: In an outrageous send up of the Paranormal Activity movies, The Devil Inside and other “found footage” movies, ‘A HAUNTED HOUSE’ features young couple Malcolm (Marlon Wayans and Kisha (Essence Atkins) who have just moved in to their dream house. As they settle in, they quickly find they’re not alone. But it’s not the house that’s haunted, it’s Malcolm’s girlfriend who is possessed by a demon. Malcolm hires everyone from a priest to modern day ghostbusters to rid her of this unwelcome intruder, determined not to let the evil spirit ruin his relationship... or, more importantly, his sex life. n

Director: Ruben Fleischer Genre: Drama, Crime, Mystery. About the film: Los Angeles, 1949. Ruthless, Brooklyn-born mob king Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) runs the show in this town, reaping the ill-gotten gains from the drugs, the guns, the prostitutes and--if he has his way--every wire bet placed west of Chicago. And he does it all with the protection of not only his own paid goons, but also the police and the politicians who are under his control. It’s enough to intimidate even the bravest, street-hardened cop...except, perhaps, for the small, secret crew of LAPD outsiders led by Sgt. John O’Mara (Josh Brolin) and Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling), who come together to try to tear Cohen’s world apart. n

Parker Cast: Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez, Clifton Collins, Jr., Wendell Pierce, Michael Chiklis. Director: Taylor Hackford. Genre: Drama, Thriller. About the film: Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez team up to get their cut in the crime thriller, ‘Parker,’ based on the series of bestselling novels by Donald E. Westlake. Parker (Jason Statham) is a professional thief who lives by a personal code of ethics: Don’t steal from people who can’t afford it and don’t hurt people who don’t deserve it. But on his latest heist, his crew double crosses him, steals his stash, and leaves him for dead.

The Last Stand Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Peter Stormare, Rodrigo Santoro, Forest Whitaker, Zach Gilford. Director: Kim Jee-Woon. Genre: Action. About the film: Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as Sheriff Owens, a disgraced lawman who fled the LAPD to lord over the sleepy border town of Sommerton Junction, which becomes the only thing in the way of an escaped head of a drug cartel’s path to freedom in Lionsgate’s The Last Stand. I Saw the Devil’s Kim Jee-Woon directs from a script by Andrew Knauer and Jeffrey Nachmanoff. Peter Stormare, Forest Whitaker, Luis Guzman, Harry Dean Stanton, and Johnny Knoxvile costar. n

Determined to make sure they regret it, Parker tracks them to Palm Beach, playground of the rich and famous, where the crew is planning their biggest heist ever. Donning the disguise of a rich Texan, Parker takes on an unlikely partner, Leslie (Jennifer Lopez), a savvy insider, who’s short on cash, but big on looks, smarts and ambition. Together, they devise a plan to hijack the score, take everyone down and get away clean. n

Broken City Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jeffrey Wright, Barry Pepper. Director: Allen Hughes. Genre: Drama. About the film: An ex-cop-turnedprivate eye (Mark Wahlberg) is thrown headfirst into a hotbed of trouble after a mayor (Russell Crowe) hires him to look into his cheating wife. Book of Eli’s Allen Hughes directs from a script by Brian Tucker. n

menslifestylespain.com december 2012 / january 2013

Video Game

Retro game

CHRISTMAS TOP 10

of the month

2 3

6 8

7 9

Frogger is an arcade game introduced in 1981. It was developed by Konami, and licensed for worldwide distribution by Sega/ Gremlin. The object of the game is to direct frogs to their homes one by one. To do this, each frog must avoid cars while crossing a busy road and navigate a river full of hazards. Skilful players may obtain some bonuses along the way. The game is regarded as a classic from the golden age of video arcade games and was noted for its novel gameplay and theme. It was also an early example of a game using more than one CPU, as it used two Z80 processors. Frogger is still popular and versions can be found on many Internet game sites. By 2005, Frogger had sold 20 million copies worldwide, including 5 million in the United States.

10 Retro Rating: 8/10 Frogs legs anyone?

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