13 Days of Hallowe'en 2019 Day 11

Day 11

movie: Wishmaster 2 Evil Never Dies
starring: Andrew Divoff, Holly Fields
genre: Horror, Comedy
year: 1999
format: TV Edit

plot: When an art thief accidentally releases a centuries old djinn, she finds herself in the middle of a prophecy trying to return him to his prison.

This is a made for tv/straight to video sequel.

This is suppose to be a horror film, but like so many movies that were released between 1997 and 2012, it plays more like a comedy. The moments it hits the horror is sadly with too much of the gore factor and not really what I consider horror. The story itself is pretty much been done to death and I actually found myself cheering on the djinn played by Divoff.

Honestly, the idea is there, I just felt it was lost under the typical religion vs the world thing that horror films have fallen prey to so often.

Divoff is about the only bright spot in this. He plays the villain as the straight man in what feels like a bad comedy duo. The fact the djinn begins paling around with a Russian mobster begins to make the audience believe he's softened, as the movie begins to dip into buddy comedy territory. Which, plays better than the rest of the plot of bringing on the end of days.

I'm going to bury this here in the graveyard. I'll be back tomorrow with another treat for your Hallowe'en displeasure.

March 2018 Food n Flix

Spudguns! it's that time of the blogging month, when we head into the kitchen and stir up something  based on a movie. This month's Food 'n Flix selection is Runaway Bride, and is being hosted by Fix Me A Little Lunch. 

plot: A reporter learns about a woman who has left three men at the altar, and travels to her small town to interview her. Before long, he's fallen for her himself.

I talked about this movie before on the blog (in Year 5 Day 72) both then and now, I watched a TV Edit, and both times I mentioned the "runny egg yolk"...okay not funny I admit. But, yes as I mentioned back couple of years ago first time I watched the film, there seems to be a running gag about how the lead character likes her eggs. In which she always says the same as the person she's with. Reflecting on the fact she doesn't know her own mind and is always trying to just fit in.

Notes: cornfield, beer, steak(sign) chops(sign) limes, olives, martini, pretzels, picked eggs, chips, mustard, ketchup, coffee, carrot sticks, gingerbread cookies, onions, flavoured rice, fruit, cereal, canned spam, geese, peaches(sign) wine, crab, tea, wedding cake, tomato, lemon, potato salad, cornbread, deviled eggs, green salad, corn on the cob, fish (pictured) brownies, bagels, donuts, bread, honey, scrambled eggs, muffins, cinnamon rolls, cookies, pumpkins, juice, pop, hot dogs, cheesies, pancakes, bacon, omlette, hashbrowns, scones, butter(mentioned) cows, poached eggs, Chinese food, coconuts, pineapples, grapes, strawberries, cherries, trout, shrimp, bananas, papaya, watermelon, fried eggs, ice cream, crackers, sandwiches

I wanted to stay away from the two obvious, being eggs and corn. Corn being the second most noted food in it.  So in this, she dumps 3 guys at the altar. I started thinking of things I could do that were 3 ingredient based. I then of course went to the next obvious thing, a wedding soup. Broth, Greens and Meatballs.  But, the vegan versions were so over the top with ingredients. Some didn't resemble the original dish in any way at all. But, my mind was made up, and I decided this one time I'd go with the obvious and made a vegetarian version of wedding soup. Only, I wasn't sure I could pull it off with just 3 ingredients.

Lucky, my kitchen cheaters version allowed me to technically do it in 4. Technically.

 Ingredients

half a bag of Kale Slaw (kale, cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower)
1/2 cup Vegetable Broth
1/2 cup Orzo pasta
1 Veggie Burger

I started by bringing the vegetable broth to a boil, adding in the orzo and cooking for 6 minutes.

I then pan fried one of the veggie burgers, breaking it down into smaller pieces

The slaw I added at the last minute, just giving it a chance to wilt more so than cook


Because both the broth and the veggie burger were pre-packaged, I did not need to add any extra salt or seasonings.

Not as out of the box as I like to try to be, but I think this is a good match.


That's about all I've got for you this table-setting. Next month's selection is the animated Coco, and is being hosted by Culinary Adventures with Camilla.

year 5 day 84

movie Galaxy Quest
starring Alan Rickman, Tim Allen
genre Comedy, Sci-fi
year 1999
format Netflix Canada

plot: A television cast are mistaken by a group of aliens as being an actual space crew and are asked to save their entire population.

This is a polite parody of Star Trek/Star Wars and the types of fans that keep those franchises alive.  I've rarely seen Alan Rickman doing comedy, so it at first not just seemed completely out of place, but he quickly makes the role enjoyable.
I wasn't sure if this was going to be a bit too slapstick, or go the opposite direction and try to be too serious; but it managed to balance the comedy with the type of sci-fi you would expect from the genre.

I actually liked the idea that the "fans" knew more about the widgets and ship then the "actors" did. As in the last half of the movie, Allen's character is forced to contact a fan he'd been rude to at a meet and greet, and ask him for blueprints of the ship. This then becomes a massive group effort with a few other fans all chipping in with their fanbased knowledge. And it's the fans that have the one answer no one else has been able to give, which is what does the object do that everyone is fighting over? Given the ship is based on the "show", and the object is never seen or used, no one can 100% say if it's going to save them or kill them.
One of the issues brought up is how the aliens have no concept of reality vs fantasy. They are innocent and childlike in their trust of the images they have grown up with. Believing that the tv show is actual historic footage. Even as one character is injured, he's barely able to grasp the concept that it was all "pretend".  As well, near the end of the film, we see the mega fan tell his parents what's going on, and they have no reaction, other then commenting that at lest he's out of the house.

what did I learn? Yeah, I have no clue...we as a society have become so disconnected from reality and reality is truly what you make it.

year 5 day 72

movie: Runaway Bride
starring: Julia Roberts, Richard Gere
genre:Comedy
year: 1999
format: TV Edit

plot:a reporter covers the story about a woman who keeps leaving men at the altar. After getting him fired from the newspaper, he agrees to re-write it, and ends up falling for her himself.

The big theme here seemed to be not being true to you. There is a running gag- no pun intended- where he asks each of the exes what her favourite way to have eggs is, and each says the same as theirs. Then when he points out to her their answers, she realizes it's because she is always trying to please everyone else.
There is a scene about fifteen minutes before the end where she once again runs away, leaving the Gere character this time, and I thought that was the end of the film. Sadly, it continued and they got back together. I was sort of hoping there wasn't going to be the over the top typical happy hollywood ending.  I guess I was just hoping the "bride" would be a true villain this time around and not a victim. As you almost get the impression she's one of those types who is addicted to the big fuss of a wedding, and not so much looking for the right man.

what did i learn? On some level, everyone believes in the fairy tale.

year 5 day 62

movie: The New Waterford Girl
starring: Liane Balaban, Tara Spencer-Nairn
genre: Comedy, Drama
year: 1999
format: Hollywood Suites Channel

plot: Unhappy with her life, a teenager dreams of escaping her fishing town, and with the help of the new neighbour, hatches a plan to get out.

Life in a small coastal Canadian town in the 1970's. Yeah man. And what is there to do in a small coastal Canadian town in the 1970's other then dream about getting out, drink too much, and make bad sexual relationship choices? Well, you can always pretend to make bad sexual relationship choices while your new best friend beats the cheating boyfriends up for a living.

The story is interesting in it's originality, and semi-endearing in it's truthfulness. You have a group of teenagers who are basically cliches of teen pregnancy because there is literally nothing else happening. And the lead character who wishes she had an easy out, while she watches the unwed teen moms leave town in a haze and fog of scandal; grabs that notion and runs wild with it, all the while unknowingly ruining the life of the local slacker-teacher.
The lead lies to get what she wants, hurts more then a few people, and yet is still the hero? 

The main idea here is do you settle for what is handed to you or do you fight for something more?

what did I learn? Beware of the ripple effect when you skip the stones on the pond.

September Food n Flix

This month's selection for Food n Flix is being hosted by Girlichef. In honor of this being the 5 year anniversary of Food n Flix, Heather has allowed everyone to pick their own movie from the past 5 years worth of selections.   When she told me this, I yelped for joy and did my geek chair dance.
Okay, so the Food n Flix group hasn't covered any vampire movies...yet, so my specialty was not on the menu, but fear not, my lovely little Spudguns! there was still a great selection to choose from, and it happened that I had half of the past selections on dvd.  My issue was choosing between them.

My gut reaction went straight to Practical Magic and to the scene at the end where Gillan needs to be saved and Sally activates the phone-tree, getting help from all the women in the neighbourhood. Particularly the part where both sisters are carrying the large soup pot to the garden.  Made me think of a potluck.

A Practical Magic potluck...a practical magick potluck... and then I laughed out loud continued to geek chair dance, and decided to make it a real (for the blog's sake) potluck. So I picked three more movies that had a similar theme, Simply Irresistible, Woman on Top and Mistress of Spices.
Three of these films I've talked about in year one of the blog, the fourth I haven't yet.  Be warned, my notes are intensely long this time around as I did notes for all four films. 

Mistress of Spices plot: A herbalist who's life is dedicated to seeing to the needs of the members of her community, falls in love braking all the rules set out for her by her coven; and soon believes the very spirit of what she works with has turned their back on her, taking revenge on everyone around her.

This is the 2005 drama starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Dylan McDermott and based on the book of the same name.

...paprika, hot oil, black pepper, bay leaf, chilies, cherries (her bracelet) salt, garlic, turmeric, raisins, sesame seeds, oil infusions, donuts/imarti, goat, saffron, orange, beef, banana, cardamon, coffee, energy drinks, coconut, garlic, grilled eggplant, tomatoes, coriander leaves, cinnamon, pickled eggs, coconut milk, mint leaves, lemons, ginger, basil, chives, rosemary, black cumin seeds, cham-cham,(form of sweets) mysore pak (form of sweets) mango pickles, eggs, capers, green apples, flat bread, almonds, limes, hearts of palm, fennel seeds, beans, mustard seeds, peppercorns, lime soda, honey, Mexican food (beginning he's standing in front of a burrito truck) Greek food (the sign of the restaurant when they go outside) Chinese food, octopus, prawns, sushi, chai tea, "love potion #9" (the end when she's rubbing powders and oils on her skin to seduce him)

Practical Magic plot: Two sisters who come from a family of witches, and have been hampered by a family curse, each believe they have finally found love. Sally, though married briefly with two daughters, ends up widowed and having to move back in with her aunts, while Gilly, finds herself in an abusive relationship. After the girls accidentally poison the abusive boyfriend, they find themselves haunted by his ghost literally, and soon Sally becomes involved with the detective sent to investigate the murder.

This is the 1998 drama starring Sandra Bullock and Nichole Kidman, based on the novel of the same name.

...apples, wine, grapes, alcohol, oatmeal, ice cream, clams, limes, coconut, pancakes and syrup, cheese, potato salad, chocolate, strawberries, cake, brownies, chicken, bread and butter, stuffing, walnuts, fruit tart, salt, toast, oranges, muffins, cherry jello, eggs, jelly donut,  jello molds (the recipe in Sally's old book) pound cake, chowder (the name of the cafe when they are reading the post card) squash, mint, fish, potatoes, lemons, "cauldron cookies", molasses, nectarines, tomatoes, pastry, onions, garlic, homemade bread, cupcakes, coffee, whip cream, "frogs legs" (cause of all the toads), mugwort tea, peas, jams/preserves, leeks, bacon,

Simply Irresistible plot: About to have her family's bistro closed by the bank, a young woman is given a message by someone claiming to be friends with her dead mother. He points her in the direction of a wealthy businessman, talking her into buying a bucket of crabs. One of which happens to be her familiar. Taking the groceries back to the bistro, she finds her luck starts to improve when not only does she make the best food she has in her life saving the bistro, but falls in love with the wealthy businessman. As each meal she cooks for her customers casts a spell causing them all to reflect back her own emotions, she realizes where her real power is.

This is the 1999 romantic comedy starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sean Patrick Flanery.

...crab, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, mushrooms, apples, chicken, potatoes, cucumber, leeks, tomatoes, rye bread, green onions, fresh produce, vanilla beans/flowers, peaches, crab napoleon, coffee, eclairs, martini, peanut butter and jelly, blue cheese, carrots, beer, "southern fried mac and cheese" (the place is called the Southern Cross) souffle, iced tea, chicken paillard, olives, spinach, limes, dill, sugar cookies, champagne, truffles, slow roasted spare ribs, fennel salad, carrot soup with mussels, tomato/cucumber/feta salad, duck confit pizza, rack of lamb, taco with cilantro sauce, roasted vegetable sundae, foie gras, herb poached salmon, jumbo prawns, vanilla custard, blueberry cheesecake, eggs, pastries, caramel, lettuce, shellfish, scallops, chops, wine, red peppers, asparagus, figs,

Woman on Top plot:After finding her husband cheating, a Brazilian chef heads to America to live with her best friend. Not wanting to be heartbroken any longer, the two friends preform an offering to the goddess Yemanja, asking for her to take away the heartbreak. The same time, back in Brazil, her husband insults the goddess during an offering by the local fishermen, causing their restaurant to close. Finding out where she has gone, her husband follows her, but learns that she's more popular as a cooking host on the local news then he ever was in their restaurant and plots to get her back.

This is the 2000 romantic comedy starring Penelope Cruz and Harold Perrineau Jr.

... seafood, tomatoes, leeks, eggplant, peppers, celery, paella, mango, rice, fish and chips, coconut braised lobster, codfish balls, carrots, birthday cake, seafood stew, souffle, chilies, fresh basil, mushrooms, limes, "Jerk chicken" (the taxi driver) beer, coconut shrimp, crab, artichoke hearts, cinnamon coffee, garlic, cilantro, "passion fruit" (show is called Passion Food) cloves, banana, brown sugar, pineapple, watermelon, papaya, avocado, bamboo shoots, tabasco, mac and cheese, sea bass,   

Deep sigh- I was going to find a few common foods in each movie and make one big dish, but in the end I decided to do one dish per movie, to make it a "potluck" (cooking =pot, magick=luck...well I thought I was funny) Choosing the dishes was surprisingly easy, having them work together taste wise was where the real "magick" came in. Then again, that's what you expect from a real life potluck.

Mistress of Spices "Kick Start My Heart" Spiced Soda

1 cup sugar
2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
minced or grated FRESH ginger
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper or chilli flakes
2 limes juiced
2 cups club soda





Make a simple syrup with the sugar, water, red pepper flakes, salt and ginger.
Bring to a boil, turn heat down to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat, cover and let steep for 30 minutes

Strain into glass bottle, and let cool.

Add the lime juice and club soda. Shake.

Serve over ice. 

This was inspired because of the scene where she offers him a lime pop, and as he begins to tell her about his mom dying then gets up to leave, she sneaks a pinch of ground black pepper into the drink and it causes him to open up to her, telling her about his mom.

I have to admit, I was stuck on what to call this, until I actually tasted it myself.  The pepper flakes leave a wicked kick in the back of your throat for a few minutes but have you going back for more.

Yes, the bottle says "milk". When I was looking at the store for something that looked like the pop bottle she uses in the movie, this vintage style printed one was too perfect.

Woman on Top "Hell of a Heartache" Mac and Cheese

This was inspired by the scene where she tries to make the second offering to the Goddess and everything goes wrong and they end up  using a boxed mac and cheese.

1 package of pasta
1 tablespoon butter
1 small onion chopped
1 jalapeno seeded and chopped (or to your taste)
2 1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 package of cream cheese
1 cup shredded cheese (your favourite)
few shakes of hot sauce



Make pasta to package instructions.  I thought it would be cute to use the "shells" given Yemanja is a sea goddess.

Melt the butter along with the onions and the jalapeno, sauteing for a few minutes,
add milk.

Stir in cornstarch,
Simmer, then reduce heat, add the cream cheese,

Slowly stir in the other cheese (I used Monterey Jack), add hot sauce (to your taste)
Continue to stir until the sauce is thick, then pour over pasta (or depending on your pot add the pasta to the mix)

Because I used a white cheese, I sprinkled a few pinches of crushed red pepper flakes on top just for a splash of colour. 

Simply Irresistible "Bewitching" Blueberry Cheesecake

This was inspired by the scene where the love interest shows up at midnight with the vanilla plant, and she starts to make them dessert, creating the vanilla fog; while the blueberry cheesecake is sitting beside them on the table.

for the crust

1/2 cup butter unsalted melted
2 cup graham cracker crumbs

Mix the butter and the crumbs well, lining bottom and sides of your spring latch pan (depending on shape of pan)
firmly press into place  (I used the bottom of measuring cup)
Chill for 10 minutes

For the filling

2 packages of cream cheese softened
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
splash lemon juice
splash vanilla
500ml sour cream

Mix up the cream cheese till smooth with beater,
adding the eggs one at a time,
add sugar, mix till smooth,
add juice and vanilla, mixing again
add sour cream mixing again,

Spread over crust,

Preheat oven 325degrees, and bake for 45minutes if using a water bath.
Let cool for a half hour, then chill for 5 hours.

for the topping

500ml blueberries
2 tablespoon sugar
splash lemon juice

Bring to a boil, lower heat,
simmer, let cool before adding to cake



I had a square pan so I had to double the crust ingredients. And the original recipe called for a water bath, but I didn't have any other pans large enough to do that.  So instead, I just turned the heat down to 300degrees and gave it an extra 20 minutes of cooking.

Practical Magic "Inviting" Pancakes with Apple Syrup

Apples are a theme in the film, from being on the dinner table in the backyard scene when the characters are younger, to representing the death of Sally's husband, to a bowl of them being knocked over by Gilly when she goes to throw the pancakes away.
And this was really inspired by the scene where Officer Hallet joins them for breakfast, where they have pancakes, and Gilly tries to use her enchanted syrup spell to un-invite him.

 I normally use the recipe in the Joy of Cooking on page 644 and just alter the measurements cause the original recipe feeds 16-18 large pancakes.

Ingredients (original recipe)

1 1/2 cup flour
3 tablespoon sugar
2 eggs
3 tablespoon butter melted
1 1/2 cup milk
1 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

 So I used a lot less then the recipe called for, giving me about 5 pancakes.


The syrup

half an apple peeled and chopped up
1 cup sugar
2 cup water
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Bring to a boil, reduce heat
simmer, let cool.

It didn't come out as thick as I was expecting, but I'm going to put that down to the fact by the time I had gotten to this recipe, I was low on sugar. I'm sure an extra few teaspoons would have done the trick. 

The tastes worked together surprisingly well. Though I don't think I would have a large glass of the spiced pop right after eating a forkful of the nacho-mac n cheese.


As I said, when I heard we could do this, pick our own selection from the past 5 years, my mind instantly went to my favourite movie Practical Magic, and it ended up being the one dish that almost didn't make it on the table.
It being a breakfast food, I was wondering how well it would fit with the rest of the meal, but had to remind myself, potlucks don't always jive when it comes to the choices on the menu. Some stick out like a sore thumb.


I know this is the longest post I've ever done, and if you've forgotten what the common themes were running through these four selections, it's magick, heartbreak, fear of falling in love, community.

Theme Week part 2- SATC

Sex and the City
Season 2 Episode 18 (#30 for the series)
"Ex and the City"

plot: After Miranda spots her ex Steve on the street, the women discuss the idea of being able to be friends with an ex. When Steve confronts her, Charlotte finds herself facing a fear of horses, and Samantha picks up a man on the street. After Carrie cleans out her clothes finding a dress that's over a decade old, she calls her ex Mr. Big. They make plans for lunch, both trying to prove they are not affected by the other. Charlotte talks Carrie into going horseback riding with her, but chickens out last second. Samantha goes to sleep with her new man, and finds he's just too much to take. While Miranda and Steve end up having sex, confusing their situation.


Quote of the week- "Can you be friends with an ex?"

Favourite quote: "You know what? I broke in Big. I did I broke him in and now the idiot stick figure with no soul gets to ride him." - Carrie in a scene with Charlotte who's about to go horse back riding.

"You broke up with James because he was too small, and this guy he's too big. What are you goldiec**ks?" - Carrie to Samantha when Samantha tells her, her new man is overwhelmingly large.

Favourite outfit: the two piece camisole and skirt in peach with silver, that Samantha wears when she first sees how big Mr. C**ky is.

This is pretty much the first time you really see Mr. Big come undone. Up till this point in the series, he's been pretty much calm cool and collected. But there are a few scenes where he shows how much Carrie really means to him, and already the regrets he has.

This episode got me to watch the movie The Way We Were, for the first time because of the drinks scene where the girls compare themselves to the movie.  The final scene with Carrie and Mr. Big is a recreation from the movie.

Year 3 Day 76

movie: The Haunting
starring: Lili Taylor, Liam Neeson
genre: Thriller
year: 1999
format: TV edit

plot: A doctor manages to get a group of volunteers together under the idea that they are taking part of a sleep experiment. In truth, he's studying fear. The unsuspecting group end up in a mansion with hidden rooms, and more then a few ghosts.

This is a remake of the 1963 film and based on the 1959 book/

Okay, so now that one episode of the Scary movie franchise makes a little more sense. This is obviously one of the main plots stolen for that spoof.  Not that there really seemed to be much of a plot in this film. But as I always say when it comes to a tv edit, it might have been that choppy story wise because it was edited for television. It was just so disjointed, and it seemed you could only follow the dots of less then half the so called plot.

I wanted to like it. I really wanted to like this movie, but I just couldn't. With the cast it had, it should have been a better film, but it was like kindergarten paste, just a slow sticky mess of tasteless nothing. The design of the house, was the only good thing in it, as the sets were just gorgeous.  Had this relied on good old fashioned story telling (more interaction on the monologs, more lighting/shadow play) and not on computer effects, this would have been so much better.

To me, it felt like the ending was a last minute decision to explain the mess. But again, this was a tv edit so the bad plot lines could be from that.

Bad Fish

Movie: Guest House Paradiso

where:online

reason for seeing it: Major fan of Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson

plot: Richie and Eddie are running the worst hotel in England, which just happens to be next to a nuclear plant.  They end up picking up some fallen fish off the back of a truck and serve it to their guests, but not before stealing from one couple's bags, and insulting everyone forcing one other couple to leave early. Meanwhile, helping a movie star hide from her jealous boyfriend.

There's not much to say on this other then DO NOT EAT during this film. I really really wish I had been given a warning before picking this as a movie to watch while having dinner.
It's a slapstick comedy with a scene at the end that is pure gross out comedy, much in line with the Exorcist's famed spewing scene.

The characters are their famed Bottom characters, but it's a stand alone film. Bill Nighy and Simon Pegg have small roles, both as upset guests. 

Day 363

movie: Jawbreaker
starring: Rose McGowa, Julie Benz
genre: Comedy, Crime,
year: 1999
format: online

plot: A group of girls kidnap their friend on her birthday, only the jawbreaker they use to keep her quiet gets stuck in her throat killing her. They make a pact with another student to keep it all silent but the truth has a way of making itself heard.

Some would say this is a mild rip off of Heathers.   I can see the elements in it. 
This movie is hard to really place in a solid category.  It's dark humour has lent it to cult status, but at the same time, the core of it is a serious story about jealousy.

Most of the actresses went on to make a name for themselves in the horror genre, most notable Benz for her role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel tv shows.

This movie really nails it for me, on how brutal high school can get. The competition, specially between women can get very close to the way it's portrayed here. The need to be the queen of the scene, can bring out the devil in some people. That's why there are so many movies on the topic of mean girls.

what do i think i learned from this film?
It's movies like this that remind me why I choose not to have any female friends

Day 268

movie: Girl Interrupted
starring: Angelina Jolie, Winona Ryder
genre: Drama, Biography
year: 1999
format: TV EDIT

plot: After graduation, a young woman is put in a mental hospital for depression and while there, learns about life from the other members of the ward

This is based on the autobiography of the same name.

I have to admit, this was not something I went running towards. I remember seeing it when it originally came out 13years ago, but didn't remember much of anything till I watched it again just now.
I know it's based on a true story, and lots of people love it because of Ryder and Joile and the late Britteny Murphy, but I was less then thrilled by it.

You're never really sure if Joile's character is using Ryder's character, or if she's that much of a co-dependent?
And I never got the whole thing about the chickens?  If you've seen this movie, then you know that there are a few scenes where Murphy's character has an eating obsession to do with roast chicken. 

what do I think I learned from this film?
The 1990's were a flashback of the 1960's, and many elements of art (books, films, music) exploded in a mirror image of that, and this proved that depression dressed up in any decade is a dangerous weapon.

What that movie inspired me to do #4

The Ninth Gate Project

This is one of my all time favourite movies.

Johnny Depp is by far my all time favourite actor, and Roman Polanksi is right up there as far as director's go.

You may recall me having talked about this movie way back in the beginning of the challenge on Day 20

Well, as you can guess, I'm not the only one who adores this film. So many people have dedicated big chunks of their time, energy, and money to the research of the movie and the original book  it's based on;  Club Dumas 

 

There are so many articles online written about the hidden meanings of the images in this movie, that it's almost become a cult within itself.

This film has lead me to be inspired to do a few things.  The most obvious being to track down a copy of the book. {yeah my webcam isn't the best}

Another not so obvious, is to track down a copy of Don Quixote.  If you're asking why, then you haven't seen the film.   Don Quixote plays a few major parts in the fabric of this movie.

And the "project" part of the project... I discovered a few websites that show how to make copies of the prop book from the film.
I'm going to try my hand at making my own... I'll let you know how it goes in the coming weeks, good bad or otherwise.

Till later...

Day 190

movie: Cruel Intentions
starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe
genre: Drama, Romance, Crime, Thriller
year: 1999
format: TV EDIT

plot: A bet between two spoiled siblings leads to the downfall of a small group of people who happen to get in their way. Soon, revenge and sex is all they are thinking about.

This is a remake of the movie Dangerous Liaisons, and is also based on the book

This is one of those movies that just makes you wonder about society in general.  The whole time I was watching this, I kept asking myself why was this considered such a "classic"? ( given it seemed to be the film that really kicked started the careers of the cast.)

It is, ironically, a movie of it's time.  The sets and costumes/wardrobe are stunning and stylishly rich.  But in the same note, the very things in this film that give it an identity to the generation that it belonged to, are the traps that leave it stuck in the generation that it belonged to.  In an odd way a period piece, much like the original novel was in the 18th century.

what do i think i learned from this film?
Power in the wrong hands is more dangerous then anyone would think, and bored teenagers are always the wrong hands.

Day 170

Movie: Never Been Kissed
Starring: Drew Barrymore, David Arquette
Genre: Comedy, Romance,
Year: 1999
Format: TV EDIT

Plot: A journalist gets her first undercover assignment, and has to go back to high school and blend in.

What was it with the 1990's and high school movies? Or for that matter plopping a band in the middle of the film for no reason?

High school was horrid first time around for many, no idea why anyone would want to do it over?

I didn't like it at all.

What do I think I learned from this film?
I learned what I already knew, for many high school is never over.

Day 150

Movie: Sleepy Hollow
Starring: Johnny Depp, Miranda Richardson
Genre: Horror, Drama, Crime, Mystery
Year: 1999
Format: TV EDIT

Plot: The village of Sleepy Hollow has had an unusual number of their population killed by a ghost.  It's up to Ichabod Crane to find out who is behind it all

Another Tim Burton/ Johnny Depp film. 
The styling of it is brilliant, the right tones of gloomy are hit.  Classic images of the story are given a bit of a quirky freshness by the duo.

This is one of those films that might have gone wrong.  Ghost stories have mostly been  dealt with, with the extreme horror but this was done with more of a low key idea; giving it more of a crime drama spin. 

What do I think I learned from this film?
This is one of the creepiest stories in the world, no matter how you slice it.

Day 115

Movie: Ten things I hate about you
Starring: Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles,
Genre: Comedy
Year: 1999
Format: TV EDIT

Plot: Two sisters who are told that they can only date if the other does, are both pursued by two guys who team up together.

This is a modern telling of the Taming of the Shrew

This was said by critics to be the big breakout for Heath Ledger, but honestly I found this film painful to sit through.
The movie might only be 13 years old, but it really dated itself with some of it's pop-culture references; and that's really saying something considering it's based on a 500 year old play.
It came out at a time when directors were throwing in scenes with bands for the sake of being able to say that they got "that band".
 
What do I think I learned from this film?
Arguing is still the most natural way to flirt.

Day 81

Movie: Simply Irresistible
Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sean Patrick Flanery
Genre: Romance, Comedy,
Year: 1999
Format: DVD

Plot:When Amanda finds out she's about to loose her restaurant, she becomes the best chef in town and meets Tom, the man of her dreams. Only he's terrified and believes she's a witch who's cast a spell on him.

This is an upgrade/remake of For Water Like Chocolate.  The one main element it shares is how food can share our emotions. And how you can't stop fate from pairing you with the right person.

I find the ironic twist being that the character of Tom starts off  saying to his assistant that falling in love should sweep you off your feet and be magical like you have no control over the situation, then when it actually happens he refuses to accept it and blames the woman for cursing him. When in truth he knew from the moment he tasted her food she was able to open something in him he'd been afraid to have open before.

What do I think I learned from this film?
Food is the most conducive form of expression there is and the easiest way to let someone know you care about them. Men will say anything when they are afraid of themselves in order to stay in control.

Day 20

Movie: Ninth Gate
Starring: Johnny Depp, Frank Langella
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Drama,
Year: 1999
Format: DVD

Plot: Corso is a book dealer who is hired to track down two of three copies of a book dating over 300 years old. While he's trekking across Europe tracking down the books, a cult of devil worshipers are following him, leaving a trail of dead bodies. Can he find the truth before anyone else gets killed?

Based on the book The Club Dumas, this is one of Johnny Depp's best work.  A dark fable that feels like it could have been a Hitchcock film it's so rich with subliminal horror. Roman Polanski, who is famous for the movie Rosemary's Baby co-wrote the screenplay.
This is one of those movies that has you doubting everything while sneaking in many layers of clues which has the viewer left putting together the puzzle along with the lead character.  

The artwork done for the book's drawings alone are worth seeing this movie for.
Because of the timing of it's release, it got lost in the shuffle with so many other end of the world/the devil made me do it movies, that if it had been released a year earlier or later it might have reached a larger audience.

What do I think I learned from this film?
Everything and everyone has a destiny that they must follow and fulfill, even when they might not believe the path they are on.  This is one of those films that makes you want to travel into this dark world, to believe along side the character that the seedier side of life can have an enlightening reward. And you have to enter into the extreme with a pure heart or greed will swallow you.