Themed Thursday May 10th 2018

Spudguns! It's Thursday, and all month long I've got a vampire theme running. Which means, this week's theme is the Canadian classic Blood and Donuts. It's once again in video form.

December FoodnFlix 2017

Spudguns! It's that time once again, where I head to the kitchen and come up with something for the Food n'Flix group. This month's selection was the 1995 Clueless, and it is being hosted by Heather at All Roads Lead to the Kitchen.

Plot: Cher is the most popular girl at her school, and has decided to play matchmaker for her friends. When she fails to set up her friends Tai and Elton, she learns Elton is refusing  the match because in his mind, Tai isn't popular enough. Cher then moves onward, helping two of her teachers get together, while hoping to catch the eye of the new guy in school Christian. When that also falls apart on her, she is faced with the realization that she's in love with someone else, and ends up in a jealous situation as Tai also falls for the same guy.

So I've actually talked about this a few times over the years; notable when I did my All Jane Austen series few years ago.  Yes, for those who don't know, Clueless is a remake of Jane Austen's Emma. And, I have to say one of the better ones.

Some of the notable elements from Emma that are used are : the wardrobe. We see empress high waists, large hats, corset cut tops, feathers on cuffs and collars.  The Mr. Martin character. In the original story, he's a farmer; here he's the hapless stoner who "farms pot".  The Frank Churchill character, who in the original story has a secret fiancee. Here, his morphed into Christian, and is made into a gay man, removing any elements of being "the bad guy" when his flirtation turns out to be not so plainly upfront.   The Elton character is basically the same. He's all about status and finding a rich girlfriend. Josh, is the Mr. Knightley character. Tai of course being the Harriet character.

Because the Cher character is wealthy (as Emma is in the original story) she's allowed the luxury of not needing to worry about finding a husband herself, and therefore able to play matchmaker for her friends, as well as the charity work she does eventually end up doing. 

Notes: iced coffee, milkshakes, cherries, juice, carrots, oranges, alcohol, bread, bagels, ricecakes, cereal, water, chips, cranberries(mentioned) toast(mentioned) mayo, asparagus, cake, chicken, rice, fish(picture) turtle(picture) sandwiches, pasta salad, pop, chocolate bars, milk, muffins, yogurt, coffee, tea, MacDonalds (mentioned) granola (mentioned) broccoli, cauliflower, apples, burgers, pizza, Snapple (mentioned) turkey bacon (mentioned) popcorn, m & ms (mentioned) licorice (mentioned) celery, cookies, potato, meat loaf, beets, pie, green salad, peanuts, twinkies, grapes, garlic, onions, bananas, mangoes, lunch-meat, mints, candy canes, punch, ice, nachos, pretzels, dip, limes, breadsticks, pasta, chocolates, clams (mentioned) fries, cheesies, hard candy, pickles, crackers, olives, canned tomatoes, oysters, frogs legs in a box, capers, kimchi, escargot, mustard, canned fruit cocktail, canned chickpeas, jam, hot dogs, tart (mentioned)

I made tea. Yeah, tea. There is a scene where Cher is making tea for her dad, and goes to the window pulling a fresh citrus fruit off the tree and adds it to the cup. Throughout the film, there are comments about pampering yourself, being decadent and relaxing. I don't know what says relaxing more than a cup of tea.  We also see the teachers having a cup of coffee together when Cher is matchmaking for them.

I decided to pull from some of the "mentioned" candy/snacks as much as the idea that its a remake of a Jane Austen, and tea scenes are a common element in JA. 

I started by crushing up some candy canes. Then added the Earl Grey, in loose leaf.

In the film, they mention M&M's, as well as we see chocolates in general. I decided to go with Smarties, as the coating is a bit on the sweeter side than M&M's.

I harvested some dried papaya and coconut from the trail mix. Crushed everything, mixing it all together.

I decided that tea time needed some cookies to go with it, so I made a quick basic sugar cookie with some of the crushed candy cane.

Ingredients:

3 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
dash of salt
3 Tablespoons butter soften
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup milk or water
mix well,

form into a large ball, and pop into refrigerator for 45 minutes, then roll out to desired thickness, sprinkle in crushed candy cane, roll out once more and if desired, use cookie cutters.

Bake for 12 minutes depending on your oven at 400degrees

But back to the main thing, the tea.

Here, once I had it crushed and mixed, I simply placed it into a filter, and added the hot water. I let it steep for about 3 minutes.





I found that the dried papaya and coconut, lent to a natural enough sweetness, that I did not need to add any extra sugar.

There was just enough mint from the candy canes so that it was not overpowering, and the chocolate undertones blended perfectly with the Earl Grey.

That's about all I have to offer this time around, but don't forget to join us in 2018 for more dinner and movie ideas. January kicks off with the movie Wreck-It-Ralph, and is being hosted by Amy at Amy's Cooking Adventures. 

Night Bleeds Feb 2017

This is the first round of book/movie club for this year. This year, instead of being just vampires, I wanted to bring in the themes of witches and zombies as well. Why? Because, as I pointed out last year with a few of the selections (Dark Crystal, Hocus Pocus, Omega Man) they can be one and the same.

So I thought it was fitting to start the year off with a story that manages to walk that tightrope. Practical Magic. (book by Alice Hoffman was released in 1995 and the movie starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman in 1998) I've actually talked about the movie a few times over the years on here, and was even inspired to make pancakes with apple syrup back a few years ago, for Food n' Flix as part of a big "potluck".

book:  Sally and Gillian have spent their whole lives trying to be like everyone else. Only, they're not. They come from a family of strong women who just happen to be able to cause things to happen. Gillian, the younger of the two sisters, ran away from home when she was a teenager, was married 3 times, and lived everywhere across the lower United States. Her mistakes were as wide open as the places she lived. Sally, the older of the two, has been the adult in every way since she was just a kid. Both witnessed how passion can cause you to loose your morals along with your heart; at very young ages as they watched everyone in their town it would seem, come to their Aunts for spells. Both women end up reacting to the knowledge in different ways. Sally, ends up a young widow with two young daughters of her own. Her heartbreak causes her to move as far from their hometown and the Aunts as possible. Sally has just begun to really get her life back on track, when Gilly shows up one night with her dead boyfriend in the backseat of the car. The two women have no choice but to bury the body in the backyard.
Jimmy's body, fertilizes the yard so quickly, it causes lilacs to grow out of season and practically over night, drawing to Sally's house, all the women in the neighbourhood. Each seems to find themselves saddened by the memories of their own lost loves, not knowing why. On one of these particularly hot summer nights, as Gilly is standing outside under them remembering the few good moments with Jimmy, Ben a teacher at the school where Sally works, sees her. Ben falls instantly in love with Gilly, and just like some of the women who used to visit the Aunts, Ben just won't give up on love.
Sally's daughters, both teenagers, find themselves falling hard as well. Antonia, the older of the two, falls in love with a boy at work, Scott. While Kylie, the younger and wilder, has to admit she's got feelings for her best friend Gideon.
But before the summer is completely over, the two women find themselves the main suspects when Detective Hallet comes looking for Jimmy in a multi murder investigation. A man who Sally now is unable to tear herself away from.
As the Owens women deal with their new set of relationships, they also have to deal with the "man in the yard", who even in death doesn't want to give up control, and continues to abuse them.

movie: The Owens women have been cursed in love for hundreds of years. It seems any man who falls in love with them dies young in a horrible accident. This combined with the fact the whole family are witches, causes the latest generation -Sally and Gilly- to be outcasts in their town. Gilly, always the party girl, runs away as a teenager cris-crossing from place to place breaking hearts along the way. That is until she meets Jimmy Anglelov; an abusive drunk. Sally on the other hand, falls in love with the guy working at the grocery store. Soon, Sally's life is peaceful as she's finally accepted by the locals now that she's married. But her happiness is short lived. A few years into the marriage, Sally's husband is killed in an accident, leaving her and their two young daughters with no choice but to move back in with Sally's aunts.  Sally's aunts are known to be able to cast love spells, which Sally learns they did for her to years before to help her get married. After dealing with her grief, Sally opens a small store with her two best friends.
Meanwhile, things have gotten worse for Gilly, who's had to resort to slipping belladonna into Jimmy's drinks to keep him sedated. When she finally has the courage to ask for help, Gilly calls Sally to come pick her up. But Jimmy tries to kidnap them both, and in self defense, they poison him. Now, after both women have spent their lives denying their magickal heritage, they try one of the most complicated spells to bring Jimmy back to life. Now a zombie, Jimmy is even worse; resorting in Sally killing him for a second time and having to be buried in the backyard.  The rose bush that was planted over him begins to grow wildly overnight, taking over the entire yard. Before they know it, a police officer shows up on their doorstep looking for the missing Jimmy. Gilly tries unsuccessfully to cast a spell on the officer, terrified of being sent to jail. This causes both Sally to confess everything, and Jimmy's ghost to start possessing Gilly.
Sally, her daughters, the aunts and most of the women in the neighbourhood then band together to help release Gilly from the death grip Jimmy is still holding on with.


The differences between the movie and the book are enough to notice, but not enough to call them different stories. Such as in the movie, Sally and her daughters move back into the Aunt's house after the death of her husband; where in the book this is the point in the story where they leave the Aunt's house.  The character of Jimmy is already dead in the novel when Gilly shows up, but in the movie, he dies after Sally rescues Gilly from him. The two daughters, Antonia and Kylie, are reversed in age and appearance from book to movie. Detective Hallet has a major role in the movie, but does not appear in the book until the last 50 pages; as the Jimmy storyline is not as up front. The characters of Scott, Ben and Gideon are left out of the movie all together. Sally owns a store in the movie, but in the novel she's a secretary at a school. The Aunts have even less effect on the novel's plot then they do in the movie, as we see them in the very beginning and end only. And there is no actual possession in the novel as there is in the movie. 

The themes in the movie are sisterhood, love, abuse, trust, honesty, faith, believing in yourself and duality. Everything seems to be done in twos here. From the sisters - the Aunts Jet and Francis, Sally and Gilly, Antonia and Kylie- to the men, to the best best friends. (Gilly starts off with her first teenaged boyfriend and ends with Jimmy. Both men are less then intelligent. Sally starts off with her husband Michael and ends with the detective Hallet. Both of whom are overly sensitive.) Sally has two female friends who are Wiccans, and there are two of the school moms featured repeatedly that become part of the coven.
Just as Gilly/Sally are duel sides of a coin, so are Jimmy/Hallet. Each representing the best and worst characteristics of what men are capable of. Each in their own way, devoted to their ideals. And both happen to be "cowboys". Which has to be the ultimate symbol of male movie icons just as a witch is the ultimate symbol of female movie icons. We also have two dead "sister witches" in the form of Maria Owens in the 1660's and the mother of Sally/Gilly from the 1960's.

The themes in the book are sisterhood, trust, abuse, grief, death, control, self awareness, be careful what you wish for, sadness/depression. There is this sense of everything balancing itself out but not in the same way the movie ends up doing. There really isn't the same level of duality in the original novel, but more of a coming full circle. As shown with the drugstore girl who begs and begs repeatedly for the aunts to help her make the man she loves love her back. Only, when it becomes too much for her, she becomes trapped in her own bitterness. Later, at the end of the novel we hear she finally "gets free of him" when the husband dies and she leaves town. While trying to control the man of her desires, she ends up being controlled by him, which is her own fault.

And what did everyone learn last year in book/movie club about vampires...don't always look for a blood sucking fiend. Be aware that real vampires drain your life. They take from you what makes you you. Be it your blood, or energy, or spirit, or self respect. 
Add to that, the modern popculture zombies are all branched off from the vampire genre and how in folklore vampires/witches/ghosts were considered the same thing...well see where I was going with this month's selection.   So, the story has two "vampires" in a lot of ways. Jimmy and Drugstore Girl. (who we see in the beginning and end of the movie too) Jimmy's abuse and addictive behavouir in life, his ability to call to the women in the neighbourhood like a male siren, controlling everyone with fear and setting them into petty fights (in the novel)  and his ghostly possession (in the movie).  Drugstore Girl doesn't care about anyone else's feelings but her own, demanding over and over from the aunts assuming they and those around her owe her something, taking not only the freewill of her lover but destroying his marriage to his first wife as well.

I decided to make something this time around. In the book, the characters of Sally and her two daughters are vegetarians, one of the movie's most noted scenes is when Sally looks up at the sky and comments on the red light around the moon, and everything important seems to happen in the garden in both movie/book. So, taking these elements, I decided to make a "blood on the moon salad". 

I used a pre-mixed of mixed greens (spinach, radicchio, endive, green romaine, red oak, arugula, red chard)
dried cranberries, smoked almonds, red grapefruit and a feta oregano vinaigrette.

I had wanted to do a blood orange, but couldn't find any so that's why I went with the red grapefruit. Which looked a lot deeper in real life, not as deeply red on camera sadly.

The almonds, I just used a rolling pin to crush them a little.

The combo of sweet cranberries with the salty of the feta worked amazingly well with the smokiness of the almonds. This is a combo, I would dare to even add in a dessert. The whole time, I couldn't stop thinking that it would have been perfect in a cheesecake.

Nothing overly fancy, but yay, food inspired by the combo this month.

If you would like to take part in any upcoming Night Bleeds book/movie combos, the next one is in April. We'll be covering The Vampire Lestat (book) and Queen of the Damned (movie)  But I'll post an official note about it next month.

year 5 day 109 (March Food n Flix)

This month's Food n Flix selection is A Walk in the Clouds and is being hosted by Wendy at A Day in the Life on the Farm

The One Movie a Day Challenge part-

movie: A Walk in the Clouds
starring: Keanu Reeves, Anthony Quinn
genre: Drama
year: 1995
format: online

plot: After meeting by chance, a man decides to help a stranger out with her over protective father.

This is a remake of the 1942 film Four Steps in the Clouds

The lead character is a chocolate salesman, going cross country with a briefcase of them. It's set in the 1940's, and that works with the ideas/values that the father has.  Which is marriage before sex/baby and he needs to approve the guy first.

Can I right off say, one "box of chocolates" that aren't technically in a "box" that is being manhandled as buddy travels across country. How is that a good idea? He's got one sample of each, and they are in a hot briefcase. Just saying.

I got the feeling through the first half that the grandfather sort of knew they weren't together-together, but decided to accept the idea anyways. Hence, why he sabotaged the guy from leaving by eating all the chocolate and showing him the little rooted branch, therefore giving him exactly what the main character wanted. A way out of his current situation and well; "roots".

okay, I thought the grape dancing frolicking nymph scene was just retarded. Though Dionysus would be proud.

And I've never understood the appeal of scenes in movies/tv where they have them singing under the window at night? That's not romantic, that's crazy stalker guy. 

what did I think I learned? Sometimes, you don't know what you are really searching for till it walks in and pukes on you

The Food n Flix part-  grapes, coffee, chocolate, "popcorn" (the design on her dress) jam, pheasant, soup, chicken, tortilla, figs, flour, lemon-aid, pumpkin flower soup, limes, plums, duck, oranges, cheese, salt, wine, melon, grape leaves, brandy, bread, ham, lettuce, celery, onions, cabbage, potatoes.

Okay, so by the fact I'm so damned late in the month with my creation, you can tell this wasn't the easiest for me. I had nothing. It didn't grab me like some other movies have in the past, which considering it's Keanu Reeves, that's pretty shocking.  My first reaction was duck breast, but I couldn't sell my mother on the idea no matter how much I tried, and since she's the one who would have been eating it, that ended up being a no go.  I literally sat around all month thinking I was going to have to back out this month because it was driving me nut-balls.

Then, I started thinking about the plot again and some of the underlining scenes. The basis is he's unhappy in his current marriage and meets this stranger who's just been dumped because she's pregnant. So they form an agreement that he will pretend to be the husband her family has yet to met, and then go off for a job never to return. And he gives her a ring. Sort of. It's the candy wrapper from one of his uber expensive chocolates.

The golden ring.  Catching where I'm tossing this? I decided to make Papa Don't Preach Onion Rings.  And I've never bothered to make onion rings from scratch before.




Grab one large onion, slicing it, and separate the rings,
Coat them in flour, set aside



Batter Ingredients

1 cup flour,
teaspoon salt,
teaspoon ground black pepper,
1 cup water,

mix, make sure the batter is just a little thinner then pancake batter but still on the thicker side.

dredge the onions into the batter,

fill deep pan/fryer with oil,
carefully place battered slices into hot oil,

Let cook roughly 4 minutes a side if you need to flip them, 8 minutes without flipping if you're lucky enough to have a deep enough pan,

Drain on paper towel.

as you can see, simple. Little time consuming specially since this was my first attempt. 

You can add any spices to the batter you want, but I went super super simple with these.

Year 5 Day 28

movie:The Suburbanators
starring: Joel McNichol, Stephen Spender
genre:Drama
year; 1995/97
format: TV Edit

plot: A bunch of teenagers wander around the city trying to find something to do during the course of the day. Some get arrested, others end up in hospital.

There isn't really a thread of story happening here at all. You literally follow a group of guys around town inter-cutting with another group of guys. Half the characters seem to be looking to buy dope, while the others seem to be trying to retrieve band equipment.
Half the dialogue is in Arabic, and there were no subtitles for their scenes. I was so confused and lost on their segments.  And there seems to be a discrepancy over the year of this film too.

This movie was done at a time when these random style films were popular, but this didn't come as close to interesting as the 1991 film Slacker did.  It's the same premiss; the camera follows person A then we randomly see person B and start following them for awhile, then person C...etc.

what do I think I learned? All I learned was that I need subtitles more often.

All Jane Austen part 6

Persuasion
the 1995 version starring Amanda Root and Ciaran

plot: Anne's family has fallen on rough times, forcing the once wealthy Elliots to move, leaving Anne alone to pack what will be needed and renting out their home. Anne soon learns that the Crofts; sister and brother-in-law; to her ex-fiance are the ones who will be renting the house. This sends poor Anne into a bit of a panic, as the couple had been forced to break off their engagement and she hasn't seen or heard from him in years.  Anne is then sent to visit her other sister, who is married with kids of her own, only to find herself face to face with her ex, Mr. Wentworth, who is now a wealthy captain, staying with friends on the property. Because of an accident with one of Anne's nephews, she is forced to extend her stay much longer then first intended, and joins her sister's family and the neighbouring Musgroves on a trip. While away, she bumps into a male cousin, Mr. Elliot who is the heir to the family name and fortune. Anne is then sent to stay with her father and unmarried sister in Bath. While there, she learns of her father's expected plan for her older sister to marry Mr. Elliot. But once Anne and Mr. Elliot are introduced, they reveal the fact they already knew each other from Lyme. Mr. Elliot then begins to court Anne. While this is happening, Captain Wentworth has followed Anne, along with some navy buddies, and they realize they can't run away from their feelings any longer.  Anne, learns Mr. Elliot is only interested in marrying her for her title and what he believes is a fortune, all the while having an affair with the woman Anne's father intends to marry. Refusing Mr. Elliot, Anne then accepts Captain Wentworth's marriage proposal.

The original novel was printed in 1817 and has never been out of print.

I cry every bloody time I watch this. Every time.   The idea that you never fully get over your first love, that it haunts you in both good and bad ways rings true even today. The idea that when two people are meant to be together, nothing and no one will ever really keep them apart.

There are a few scenes where the captain's friend who has lost his own fiance to illness, talks about how men feel heartbreak deeper then women, and Anne tells him that's not true as women tend to hold the pain longer. They begin to form a bond that leads you to think they might end up together, but it actually gives Wentworth a glimmer of hope in the idea of winning Anne back.

When we first meet Wentworth, he's bitter towards Anne, holding a decade worth of broken heartness. That is until he discovers he's not the only one that had hoped to marry Anne when they were younger, and not the only one she was forced to refuse. As Anne's sister Mary, ended up marrying Charles Musgrove, who originally had fallen in love with Anne.

There is something too about the idea that the so called unwanted girl is in fact the secret desire or not so secret as the story reveals over the course of things, secret desire of many men.
The character of Anne is given a second chance at love only when she's old enough to handle it. When she is wise enough to follow her own instincts and not be led by her family and their shallow values.  This part of Austen's story is considered by some to be very tongue in cheek, as most of her heroines are never over the age of 30. If it's meant as a inside joke or a comment on society's view of "older women" no one can say for sure.

What I always connected with in this movie was the idea that Anne was "a throw away" left to feel invisible and therefore unvaluable by her family.  Even the character of Mary, who her father mentions with clear distaste, has more importance because she is in fact the only of the three girls married. The daughter he personally groomed for perfection is the one who ends up alone and without any true friends or love interests.

As much as this is a classic love story of  finding that perfect big love, it's a story about finding value in yourself and sticking up for what you know is the right path for you.
It takes Anne years to find her voice, but once she does there is no holding her back from making her statement.


And that my lovely Spudguns! brings us to the end of the All Jane Austen posts...for now anyways. Been longer going then I had hoped, but all six of her classic published works are covered.  But don't worry, there is always more Jane Austen around the corner and a little Austen is better then none.

P.S.  I'll be bringing all this up again in December when I; your heroine, will be hosting a selection of Food n Flix with my pick of  The Jane Austen Book Club.

Till next time.

Theme Week part 3-Vampires

The Addiction

plot: While walking home from a late night class, a woman is attacked by a vampire. Over the next few days, she finds herself slowly turning into one herself, and that the need to drink blood overpowering. Her first few victims are done by sticking a needle into their arms and proceeding to shoot up their blood like a drug addict. This quickly escalates to attacking and biting her closest friends, turning them into vampires as well. She mistakes another vampire for a victim, but finds herself no longer the hunter but the hunted as he takes her to his apartment and feeds off of her. The whole time lecturing her on how to control the addiction. A few weeks afterward, while at a party, herself and her newly made vampires feed on the guests, before she has a breakdown ending up in the hospital where she tries to kill herself.

This is a 1995 drama starring Lili Taylor and Christopher Walken.

I'd like to say this was different, but it really wasn't.  Shot in black and white, this was released at the same time that  Habit and Nadja were, and has much of the same themes.

What I loved about this was, the use of vampirism as a metaphor- though in no way subtle- for addiction and the social paralysis that it can cause.  I always find vampire movies more interesting when they are metaphoric of other issues, rather then just having a vampire for the sake of it.

We see the lead character in a state of desperation and false control through out this movie. Circling back and forth blaming her victims for not being strong enough to resist her, when it's in fact her that is the weak one unable to keep her junkie at bay.  There is even a scene where they bring up the book Naked Lunch, which is all about addiction in it's many forms.

Theme Week part 4- Corey Feldman

Voodoo

plot: After moving to a new university, Andy finds himself without a place to live, and pledges a fraternity. Soon, he finds himself in the middle of a voudon (voodoo) cult, and on the list to be turned into a living zombie in order to be sacrificed. With the help of a strange old man who tells him he's got 24 hours to stop Marsh, the voodoo priest, Andy begins the fight for his life.

This is a 1994/95 horror thriller starring Corey Feldman and Jack Nance.

I could sit here for ten minutes alone just listing off the ways to spell voodoo which could be argued as having more plot then the plot of the movie.

Actually, this is one of my personal favourite Feldman films, not too mention witchcraft movies, even if the plot could have used a bit more filling.  A couple of years after this movie, a whole genre of fraternities-that-were-secretly-warlocks movies seemed to sprout up, but this was the best in my books.

Every time I watch this movie, I get caught up in the "witchy cabinet" that the character of Marsh the voodoo priest has. I want one of those! Some of the toys in that hoodoo hutch just makes me wish I lived closer to real occult shops...but I digress.

The only thing I would have liked to have seen in this film, is a bit more back story to the characters. How long have they been zombies? How long has the priest been traveling around looking for his sacrifices? What got him started?

All Jane Austen part 3

Sense and Sensibility:

The 1995 version starring Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant.

plot: The Dashwoods have their world torn apart when their father dies, leaving them nearly penniless, and their half-brother moves his family into their house. With no choice but to move in with a widowed uncle and his mother in law; the four women find themselves at a disadvantage. Having to adjust to a new status in life, their prospects for marriage is lessened. Elinor and Marianne, both attract love, but from very different ends of the coin. One will get her heart broken because she is too free, while the other will have her heart broken because she's too proper.

The original book was written in 1811.

This is my favourite version of it as much for Emma Thompson's vision of Elinor as anything else. Though I have to admit, I am more of a Marianne then Elinor.

The younger sister, Marianne, is the wild child uncaring who thinks what of her. And ends up falling in love with Mr. Willoughby, who we learn as the movie progresses, has a nasty reputation for seducing young girls and leaving them pregnant. Which, for that era was the worst thing that could happen.  We -the viewers- are led to believe that his feelings for Marianne are in fact honest, but because of his past actions; he's forced to marry someone else for their money.  (a running theme in a few of the Austen novels)
Marianne ends up following Willoughby to London, and in her single-mindedness, ends up embarrassing her family publicly.  She then becomes so depressed, she almost dies.
Marianne soon discovers she's in love with Colonel Brandon, an older gentleman who lives on the property next to theirs. 

While all this is going on, Elinor falls in love with Mr. Edward Farris. The older of two brothers she meets through her sister in law.  Their courtship is considered to be a cute little summer flirtation by their sister in law, at first. But after awhile, they are separated by devious means. During which time, we learn that Edward Farris has been secretly engaged to Lucy Steele.
Miss Steele is more then aware of Elinor, and sets out to mark her territory, starting up a fake friendship with Elinor. Reminding her every chance she has that Edward is engaged to her, and the only reason they haven't married yet is because she's even poorer then the Dashwoods.  Edward's family soon discover the engagement, and disown him leaving him penniless.
Miss Steele then starts an affair with the other Farris brother marrying him now that he has all the family money. 
This opens up Edward to marry Elinor who does no care he's poor.

The movie focuses on the two sisters, leaving the mother and youngest daughter just in the sidelines.
But as much as this is a love story, it's also as movie about faith in others, manners, following your heart, and trust. Both of the two sisters find their hearts in two opposite ways. The younger of them, casting off any sort of ethical (for the time) display of public ego. While the older, holds back maybe too much.
Half the supporting characters are there for background noise, such as the constantly meddling-gossip Mrs. Jennings.

I'm going to end this one here, because even though I've seen this about a hundred times in the last twenty years, it makes me cry every single time and now I've got a headache.

All Jane Austen part 1

Okay so after my post this morning, I started feeling like I should at lest get one post in for Emma before the month is up.  I may or may not get back around to it later in the year...I sort of want to do one book a month.
 
Emma:  Clueless version

Plot: a high school student takes it upon herself to play match maker for those around her, given that she herself has decided not to marry. She soon finds she's not always right as she falls in love with one of her closest friends.

This is a 1995 movie starring Alicia Silverstone, and Paul Rudd.


Back in 2009 I had been part of an all Jane Austen online group, and Clueless was one of the movies I decided to talk about on my old book review blog Pencil-Pushers and Ink-Splotches. Here is a few lines from that
1) regency style clothes and the use of high empire waist dresses, corset cut tops, hats, feathered collars/cuffs  2) the switch up of the Frank Churchill character, in this case Christian, whom they made a gay character removing the secret girlfriend-Jane Fairfax. This let them have him flirt without being a total baddie that so many view him as.  3) the use of the Mr. Martin character who was a farmer in the book becoming a pot smoking/drug dealer addicted to martian cartoons. And Tai of course being the Miss Smith character.

And now for the new notes... the Elton character isn't changed much in this modern version (strange calling something that is 20 years old the "modern" version) The character is still thinking of his status in the group and how a token girlfriend will look on his arm. As in the book, the character of Mr. Elton marries for status, money and you can tell regrets his impulsive decision.
Cher, the Emma character, still spends most of the story trying to play matchmaker thinking she knows better then anyone around her what is good for them. For all her good heartedness, she's blind to her own ambition.
Josh, the Mr. Knightley character, in this case seems to dumb down mid-way through the film. He starts off as this much wiser character who by the end of the film, is on the same level as the girls. 

What this film deals with is hope, pride, innocent betrayal of trust, and first love. Which, is pretty much keeping to the original book's plot.
The Miss Bates character in the novel, isn't really represented. Though, you can see a slight trace of her in other characters, such as the female teacher they help set up in the beginning of the film. With the movie dropping the whole Jane Fairfax sub-plot/character, the use of Miss Bates who introduces her to Emma's circle, wouldn't necessarily be needed. (Miss Bates is one of my favourite characters in the 1996 Gwyneth Paltrow version)

What stands out in this story's plot, be it the original book or any of the movie versions, is that Emma is the only Jane Austen lead who doesn't need to be married. She's independently wealthy, giving her the opportunity to put all her focus outside of herself. When in the end, she realizes how shallow and careless she's been with her attentions.
Why do we like the character of Emma when she's so clearly a snob and a half? Because like all of Austen's works, we see ourselves as a society mirrored back at us. And there isn't a story that rings more true in today's society, with our lust for the limelight. And you have to remember, it's 200 years since this novel was first published.  Jane Austen set off to write a story where no one liked the heroine. It was almost an inside joke, pointing out the general view most people had and exposing their biggest faults.

Till next time.

Year 3 Day 130

Hallowe'en Week 2014

movie: Halloween 6 Curse of Michael Myers
starring: Paul Rudd, Donald Pleasense
genre: Horror, Thriller
year: 1995
format: Netflix Canada

plot: Seventeen years after the deaths on Halloween night, Tommy, who'd witnessed the events, finds himself wrapped back up with Michael. He lives in the house across the street, keeping tabs on the people who move into the old house. After overhearing a desperate woman on  a radio show calling for help, he tracks her last known location and finds her baby. The last supposed relative of Myers. Because of Tommy's obsession with the case, he learns that Michael is from a clan of Celtic assassins, cursed with the need to kill during a certain planetary alignment.

This is one of, it not my favourite of the franchise. Again, it's got that "devil made me do it" sub-theme going on, and the return to the witchcraft idea that was brought up in part 3.   I've always been one of those people who likes an explanation to why the story is going the way it is, which you don't always get in horror anymore.

I've seen all the Halloween movies, but to be honest, this is the one I seemed to remember the most. Where as all the others sort of blend together in my mind, this one because of it's origins idea, stuck bit more in my mind. And this was the first time in close to twenty years since I watched this episode of the franchise.

With that said, I do seem to remember there having been a scene where they revealed that the baby was Micheal's, but this version didn't seem to have it.

year 3 day 84

movie: The Net
starring: Sandra Bullock, Dennis Miller
genre: Thriller, Crime, Drama,
year: 1995
format: TV Edit

plot: A woman accidentally uncovers a major internet hacking conspiracy, and ends up having her identity stolen, and framed for murder.

First thought when I watched this was damn everything is so old. My second thought was, damn this was almost like watching a piece of history. (which all movies are technically speaking "pieces of history")  Third thought, what was with the movies/books/tv shows of the late 80's/early 90's with all these cyber-punk style stories?  (Johnny Mnemonic, TekWar, the Net, Matrix, Hackers)

This movie was done at a time when people were still just beginning to "live online" as the lead character points out more then once in the beginning of the story. Kinda spooky when you think about it, ironically, that society has become what it has in under one generation.
We talk online, read online, watch television/movies/sports online, order food/shop online etc.

It's another one of those I didn't really love it, I didn't really hate it.

Year 3 Day 7

movie: Strange Days
starring: Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett
genre: Crime, Drama
year: 1995
format: online (Netflix Canada)

plot: A drug dealer who sells memories, is given a copy of a high profile murder. He then has to find out who the supplier/killer is.

I'd seen this film 18 years ago when it first came out. I had forgotten how good it was. To see the way the world has turned since this movie first came out, it was almost as if it were a foreshadowing.
This was done in the decade of cyber-punk-backlash. The idea that the not so distant future is the mess we are creating now, and not some uber streamlined clean Jetson's view that we were given in the 1950/60's.  I think that's why movies done in this genre are so appealing. It's us on an exam table.

What did I learn from this?  Everyone has a weakness, it's how you deal with it, if you give in to it that makes you who you are.

Quote of the Day- Aug 3rd 2013

I haven't done one of these in months, so thought I would simply because I've got a line from Hard Core Logo stuck in my head.  Literally, woke up and this line was stuck in my mind.

The scene where the band is hanging out on Bucky's farm, after having just made the music video while on acid.



Pipefitter - I killed a f***ing goat

Billy Tallent- Pipe, we all drank it's blood.


Okay, it's Hard Core Logo, I can't just stop at one quote... this is one of my favourite scenes, the one where they are stopped on the highway at sunset/sunrise and start letting off steam, after days of being stuck together tip toeing around the situations..

 SWEARING ALERT

Joe Dick- Okay let's get a few things in the open, Pipe the hotel guy from Regina called you s*** on a f***ing pillow wiped your ass with a f***ing bedspread. Hey you know that's uncool. I don't get that, what the f*** is that?

Pipefitter- I didn't have any toilet paper.

Joe- No that's just nuts. And Johnny, your f***ing writing is nuts, you're not taking your medicine, you're fueling something dangerous, John...Johnny...I'm trying to help you.

John Oxenberger- What do you know about dangerous (as he slams into him over and over) Danger Will Robinson, Danger Will Robinson, Danger...(Joe covers his mouth)

Joe- I'm trying to help you, I'm trying to help you, you've got to relax! We've got three days left and you've got to chill. I'm you're friend and you've got to chill. You must listen to me.

Pipe- Hey what about Billy? Doesn't he get a little dicky action too?

Joe- That's true, that's true. Bill I guess we can, can the rockstar s***. No, we can, can the rockstar s***. That's all.

Billy Tallent- What are you going to do? What are you going to do? F***ing bite me? F***ing mohawk boy. I didn't f*** up, you're a major f*** up! You f***ed up last night got our money ripped off, you f***ed up four years ago, you go out of your f***ing way to f*** me! Is that honest enough for you Mr. Writing in the Journalist S***? And f*** you too! (he turns to Pipefitter)

I know I talk about this film a lot. But it is one that has embedded itself into my life, and is one of the best expressions of Canadian pop culture. From the book to the movie to the soundtrack, there is just something so alive about the story.

Quote of the Day March 28th

I haven't done one of these in a long while, and thought it would be a good day to throw one at the wall.

Elinor- "Maryann, you must change or you'll catch a cold"

Mariann- "What do I care for a cold when there is such a man"

Elinor- "You will care very much when your nose swells up"

Mariann-"You are right Elinor, help me up."

From the Emma Thompson version of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility right after Willoughby has found her in the rain.

Tuesday Movie Club Week 2

This week's vampire movie is .... Draghoula.  A 1995 Canadian film.

It's about  Harry, a lab researcher who lives with his mother; and has had his funding cut, and goes in search of a new supply of rats for his blood research. He ends up buying them from what ends up being a vampire. Then is bitten by one of the rats, and starts to turn into a vampire. 
Only, he starts to live what he believes is the way a vampire should live, which is as a drag queen.
His mother, who is Jewish, hires a Jewish exorcist to rid him of the demons she feels he's filled with. Meanwhile, his girlfriend also tries to help him.  

The main theme in this film is personal independence. The lead character is a grown man who's whole life is controlled by his mother, and the rest of the time he's so devoted to his job he has no idea who he really is.  He grabs onto this newness and throws himself into what he thinks is the life he should be experiencing.  At first, it starts off as a liberation for the character, but soon he finds himself a slave to the vampiric nature and the trappings he's set for himself as this glorified club kid.
(he actually looks like he's going to a Rocky Horror Picture Show party as Frank'n'Furter)  It's more of a case of him falling into the idea that "oh I'm a vampire, I must be goth then". 

There is a scene, where the lead character has a conversation with the woman who sold him the Transylvanian rats, where she tells him she's been a vampire for over a hundred years and has been searching for the real Dracula herself. And that she's been looking in movies and books but that she's found him there, as in Harry.  Harry doesn't find this at all odd, in fact he goes ahead and drinks the blood she hands him. The next scene is Harry shaving his chest and legs, getting all dragged out. 
That is just such a big jump in story. And he suddenly starts to talk with a Hungarian accent the more he becomes a vampire.

He doesn't question at all any of it, just jumps right into it.  Nor is he discrete about his kills, just attacks randomly in open streets at all hours and leaves the bodies where they fall. Not a very smart vampire considering he's suppose to be this big scientist.

This is one of those movies that follows some of the folklore, the vampire is not affected by religious symbols, has a reflection, can go out in sunlight but is weak.

The plot is thin, but the silliness makes up for it.
There is a showdown between the three women in the story, the girlfriend, the mother and the female vampire are all trying to keep the others out of Harry's life.  Makes you wonder if the idea of the lead character dressing in drag when he starts to gain power over his own life, is because of the women in his life up to that point controlling him?

The lead character's main "vampire traits" - sleeping all the time, up all night, suddenly caring about how he looks, sweating all the time, new fashions, new friends, keeping secrets from his mom- all typical teenaged behavouir.  Only he's suppose to be nearly thirty which is where the comedy comes in.
As far as the idea that he's only affected by Jewish symbols, that's an idea that not only was shown in the movie The Fearless Vampire Killers or Pardon Me But Your Teeth Are In My Neck,  but does appear in many folklore. The idea that a vampire is only affected by the gods of their own personal religion and regions.

The acting is bad... so bad I can't help but wonder if it's meant to be that stiff and bad. Again, I'm brought back to the Roman Polanski film Fearless Vampire Killers, which was also badly acted but because of the campyness.  Draghoula, is by far a trial in campy films, and if you don't look at it that way, then you might make the mistake of thinking the film takes itself too seriously.

Quote of the Day

From the 1995 modern version of Jane Austen's Emma (yes it really is a version of Emma) I thought I would do a quote from the movie Clueless

Amber: Mrs. Stoeger, my plastic surgeon doesn't want me doing any activity where balls fly at my nose.

Dionne:  There goes your social life

From the scene when they are all outside for gym class playing tennis.

Day 178

movie: Sense and Sensibility
starring: Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant
genre: Romance, Drama
year: 1995
format: DVD

plot: The Dashwoods have been thrown out of their home after the death of their father, and must now move into a small cottage with a cousin they've never met. Soon, two of the sisters find themselves with broken hearts and scandals.

Based on the book by Jane Austen.

I have to admit, this is one movie that I come back to over and over. I think it's a base idea that even though the original book was written nearly 200 years ago, the themes are things we still can identify with. Maybe because of the state the world has gotten with the idea of celebrities and status?

There are a few scenes where the character of Marianne quotes lines from a sonnet by Shakespeare which asks the very core question of this film - is love a fancy or a feeling?  

what do i think i learned from this film?
Love true and never be afraid to show your love, wither it be a loud love or a quiet one. There are too many people on this planet who are out for the things that they think they want and will do whatever they have to, to get them even when it means hurting others so you have to be strong enough to handle things. But don't loose who you are to them out of fear or pride. 

Day 133

Movie: Before Sunrise
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy
Genre: Romance, Drama
Year: 1995
Format: TV EDIT

Plot: A young couple meet on a train and decide to spend the night together walking around a city in Europe.

This is all talk.  There isn't much else to it.
But the talk is poetic and thoughtful.  It's a complete representative of being young in the beginning stages of desire.
It's also at times dry and too self important.  It reminds me too much of my friends and I back in college.

What do I think I learned from this film?
No matter what generation you are from, that first real pangs of truly falling in love is always familiar.

Day 83

Movie:The Quick and the Dead
Starring; Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman
Genre:Western
Year:1995
Format: Shaw Video On Demand

Plot: A woman enters a gunfight challenge in order to get revenge on the man who killed her father.

Not a whole lot of dialog.
This was released when the western was either on it's comeback on completly on it's way out, depending on whom you talk to.  As this is one of many westerns that seemed to pop up in the early 1990's.
I have to admit, this is not a genre I normally watch, but this particular film was stylish with a solid story.

What do I think I learned from this film?
When a woman's been hurt she will do whatever it takes to free herself of that pain.