July 2020 Foodn'Flix Round Up

Spudguns!, it's that time when we see what's on the table, and who brought what to our Foodn 'Flix  movie and potluck.  The selection was Coyote Ugly from 2000, and first up is Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm. Inspired by a few different scenes and elements in the film,  She made a Breakfast Pizza.

Next up, we have Debra from Eliot Eats. She was inspired by a personal story to do with the film as much as the film being set in a bar, she made A Spiced Moscow Mule.

We're also joined by Amy from Amy's Cooking Adventures. She was as much inspired by the movie as she was with the fact it's based on a true life situation. And after digging for menus from the real bar, she created her Caprese Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms.

And lastly, we have mine. I made for you just a good old fashioned pizza. I was inspired by the opening scene of the lead character working in a pizza place, as well as remarks she makes later on when asked about some burn scars.

That's all that's on the table this time around. Don't forget  you can join in with Foodn'Flix every month. August 2020 is being hosted by Tina at Squirrel Head Manor, and she's picked the first Harry Potter film.

Until next time.

Foodn Flix Recipe July 2020

Spudguns!, it's that time again, when we watch a movie and make something to eat inspired by it. I hosted Foodn'Flix again this month, and my selection was the 2000 film Coyote Ugly. 

plot: Violet wants to be a songwriter like her mother had been, and moves to the city in order to do so. Only thing is, she's got stage fright. The first few nights she's in town, she is robbed. This forces her to look for a job, and ends up working at a popular bar in her neighbourhood. Along the way, she meets Kevin, who works at a diner. They quickly start dating, and he helps her attempt to get over her stage fright.

Notes: pizza, pop, meatball hero (mentioned) oil, sat, pepper, chili flakes, parmesan cheese, dried herbs, beer, eggs, sausage (mentioned) Lean Cuisine (mentioned) coffee, juice, toast, fish heads, celery, chili peppers whole, nuts, crackers, rum, burgers, fries, ketchup, apples, mustard, pie, sugar, hot sauce, milk, cake, cherries, lemons, limes, fried chicken, lettuce, melon, olives, oranges, taco shells, pickles, bananas, whiskey, bread, buns, ice, kabobs, Seafood Market, Chinese food, wine, turkey sandwich with sprouts, MacDonalds, martini (mentioned) breadsticks, sub sandwiches, pears.

So I went with the obvious on this one and made a pizza.  I started with a basic dough, which can be found in the Joy of Cooking on page 607. 

1/2 c warm water
1 package yeast
3 and a half cups flour
2 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Tablespoon salt

now, I didn't have any yeast on hand, so I substituted that for a Tablespoon of Baking Powder.
Mix, then let dough rise for about a half hour.  Then roll out, or stretch to desired size/shape.
Bake dough on a floured tray for 30 minutes on 375 degrees depending on your oven.

While that was pre-cooking, I made my sauce.  I used  one can of tomato paste, half a cup of grated parmesan cheese, 2 teaspoons of garlic salt, 1 teaspoon of fresh ground black pepper, 2 Tablespoons olive oil, and water.    

I then topped the pizza with black olives, chopped onions, spinach, and cheese. I used both shredded mozzarella, and a nacho cheese blend. I then added another 3 Tablespoons of grated parmesan.

I then baked it at 375dgrees for another half hour.

That's about all I have for you guys, don't forget to come back at the end of the month to see what else this movie inspired people to make.  And don't forget, you can join in every month with each Foodn'Flix host.  Next month we've got Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone  if you live outside the states) hosted by Squirrel Head Manor. 

Till next time.
  

year 5 day 103

movie: Unbreakable
starring:Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson
genre: Drama, Thriller
year: 2000
format: Netflix Canada

plot: A man who has Osteogenesis Imperfecta, believes he's found a real life superhero after hearing about a man who was the sole survivor in a train crash.

For those of you who have been reading my stuff for any real length of time, you know I have O.I. Type 1. Which is the type they have given the character in this film.  So this movie really hits home for me. Jackson who plays Mr. Glass, the character with O.I. did an excellent job with his monologue describing the effects of it. (he talks about there being 4 types, but in the last fifteen years, a total of 8 types have been identified) My one complaint is that they did nothing to show how the whites of your eyes are blue when you have it.

The character of Mr. Glass is obsessed with finding someone who is the extreme opposite of himself, with the idea that they'd be something more then human. He spends years searching for someone who can withstand extreme physical trauma, and stumbles across the character of Dunn. Telling him about his theories that "heroes" are all based on reality - in this case as represented in comics- Glass manages to convince Dunn he's meant to be a "protector". After Dunn finally allows himself to believe him, Dunn learns what he's physically capable of when he saves a family from a murderer.

At first glance, this seems like just another comic book based movie, but once you get past that surface image, you can't help but sit back and actually think about what is being said. There are plenty of examples of average people who have done things that defy logic, and could be considered hero-ish; compared to the situations they find themselves in.  
This film is also a massive tribute to the whole comic book genre. Breaking down the elements that make a great graphic novel from the design, to the characters motives, to their abilities to interact with society in general. I found it interesting that they shot parts of the film to subtly make you think of the layout of a comic and how they colour coated the two main characters. Glass was always wearing purple and there always seemed to be green surroundings with Dunn. 

The character of Glass makes a comment in one scene about how mythologies have always been hidden within books, and that made me remember this text book I'd read few years ago called Our Gods Wear Spandex ; which connects many mainstream heroes to the occult.

what did I learn?  The truth is out there.

year 5 day 93

movie: Meet the Parents
starring:Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller
genre: Comedy
year: 2000
format: Netflix Canada

plot: Wanting to ask his girlfriend to marry him, an average guy ends up in a string of unlucky events while visiting her family for a weekend, during her sister's wedding.

This is a loosely based remake of the 1992 movie.

This is sort of an off kilter buddy comedy, with all the chemistry between De Niro and Stiller. The father being a CIA agent, seems at times over the top but still manages to make perfect sense, in proportion to the rest of the storyline. It's one of those every thing that could go wrong will, films. From the lawn getting flooded by a bad sewer drain, to loosing the family pet, to disfiguring the bride.

I got the impression the core of this was about perception. The idea that the dad is a human lie detector is brought up constantly, as the leads are put through these over the top awkward moments of telling the truth. As well as the character of the ex-boyfriend; played by Owen Wilson, who seems to need to constantly try to impress everyone.  There is also this running gag of how everyone seems to be looking down their noses at the fact the Stiller character is a nurse. They keep trying to push him into becoming a doctor, making cracks about him not having gone that route.

what did I learn? it's time to give us a movie without Stiller and Wilson connected at the hip

year 5 day 77

movie:About Adam
starring: Stuart Townsend, Kate Hudson
genre:Drama
year:2000
format:TV Edit

plot: A young man seduces an entire family

You have a character who you know after the first five minutes is going to be the bad guy, only he ends up being less the villain and more the hero. Even though he willingly and on purpose seduces an entire family. Starting first with the youngest daughter, then the middle sister, the brother, the mother and finally the oldest sister.  He tells each a completely different lie to make up his history, half of which they believe and half which they don't. Two of the sisters catch him cheating but do nothing about it.

There were some odd similarities to Dracula. There is a scene where they are actually at a stage version of Dracula, and the second sister begins comparing Victorian women to some of the situations they were themselves in, identifying the Townsend character to that of the fictional count. This is expressed later on when the two are having sex and she becomes liberated by the very notion that the story of Dracula was trying to help express.
Later on at the end of the film, the youngest sister, the character of Lucy, is about to get married and is wearing a headdress similar to that of the character Lucy in the 1992 version of Dracula. The youngest sister is the first to be seduced (just like in Dracula) but is also the most wild to begin with, already having many men to chose from (again just like in Dracula) Both stories are about the sexual repression of the main "family of characters" and how one man draws them out of themselves. Including a parallel to the whole Dracula/Renfield relationship between the character of Adam and the one brother.

This surprisingly has a "happy ending". With Lucy and Adam declaring their acceptance to each other and agreeing to be willing to allow the other their secrets.  It made the ending feel over the top and sadly too hollywood for me.

what did I learn? What you see isn't always what you are getting.

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.

All Jane Austen part 5

Spudguns!  How's the coffee? Cold? Steaming? Lukewarm?  I was coming in to do the last of the Jane Austen and realized, I missed last months'.  OOOPPPPSSS!
So, this is in fact NOT the last one, but the second last one.

Mansfield Park   1999/2000 version starring Frances O'Connor and Jonny Lee Miller

plot: Fanny Price is sent to live with her wealthy uncle and aunt after her parents have yet another baby, and are unable to look after all of their children. Raised more as a servant then a family member, she's made to feel excluded by the other children and one aunt, until that is she becomes old enough to marry. Up to that point, the only family member who really accepts her is Edmund, one of the older cousins. At this point, the Crawfords have moved into the town, a pair of siblings, both looking to find a stable marriage and to cause some mischief. Henry Crawford, sets his sights on both Fanny and her recently married cousin Maria; while his sister Mary Crawford, has declared herself the intended of Tom. Only to find out the oldest Bertram is a drunk with little to offer. She soon turns her attention to Edmund, who himself has become a minister.  Mr Bertram, Fanny's uncle, learns that  Fanny refused to accept Henry's marriage proposal, and in a fit of rage sends her back to live with her parents. While there, Fanny learns of Edmund's plans to marry Mary Crawford, and of  Tom having an accident; causing her to return to her uncle's. Quickly, Henry starts and affair with Maria which creates a scandal, causing the family to remove themselves from them. Edmund soon learns that Miss Crawford is only interested in the family's money, and ends their engagement. This frees up himself and Fanny to finally be together.


The original novel was published in 1814, and has never been out of print.

There are a lot of differences between the original book and this version of the story. Most for the better.  As always in Jane Austen's works, betrayal seems to be a major theme.

Fanny Price is more then a bit stuffy for me in the original novel, but at the same time, MP is one of my favourite stories. Here we have a heroine who is really not much of one. Where in this movie version, Fanny has some backbone. 

In the novel, it's almost as if the heroine isn't a person but an ideal. It's her innocence and strong blind faith in the original story that makes her the heroine, even though she scolds everyone and is cold.
It's the idea of the moral compass. Fanny never gives in to temptation, even when it is the logical thing to do. Instead, she holds firm to her belief in her ethics, her ideal partner and her ideal family life.  The only time it's brought into question, when it looks like she might bend, is when she's sent home to live with her parents and the hoard of children; and realizes even in her state of being ignored at Mansfield Park, she's still in a better situation then the rest of the family. When this happens, she has a brief moment of "what if" and begins to soften towards Henry's marriage proposal. Afraid that she might not ever have another come her way and end up like her mother. But her core values keep her from going against her instincts, and she stands firm in her thoughts on Henry. She loves one man, which is Edmund.
In the book, Fanny comes across as both snobby towards Mary Crawford at times because Mary is willing to just let Edmund know in no uncertain terms she-Mary- is interested in marrying him, and at other times, Fanny backs off to the point of giving the impression she doesn't seem like she's worthy of love.

Yeah, mixed messages galore. And in this movie version, you see a bit of that, but not as much. The movie has Fanny as strong willed, outspoken, and bit cocky. More like the author Jane Austen was herself.

I'm waiting for a version to be made where Fanny says screw it and just ends up having a relationship with Henry Crawford. That's the twist I keep hoping for.  I mean, yeah he's the typical bad boy, the shack 'em and leave them before the condom's off kind of guy, but isn't that what JA built her reputation on?  Overcoming the scandal? Recovering from the heartbreak that seems to be universal and timeless even by today's standards...and isn't always the case that when you've got a major heat for a man, your best friend steals him when you're out of the room...

And now I need a refill on my coffee...till later

Theme Week part 3-SATC

Sex and the City
Season 3 Episode 11 (#41 of the series)

"Running with Scissors"

plot: After Carrie starts an affair with the now married Mr. Big, she starts to feel guilty. Samantha meets a man who's just as straight forward for sex as she is, but he demands she get tested before sleeping with her. Charlotte becomes a bridezilla while planning her wedding, deciding to hire a wedding planner. Miranda becomes obsessed with the mascot who dresses as a sandwich outside a local take-out diner. After Mr. Big's wife catches Carrie in her house, she falls down the stairs and ends up in the hospital.

Quote of the Week -"Is sex ever safe?"

Favourite quote: "I can't have sex with a sandwich...can I?"  when Miranda tells Carrie about the mascot and how she can't stop thinking about him.

Favourite outfit: the beige knee length dress with the green ribbons, and sun disk necklace Carrie is wearing when Charlotte finds her and Mr. Big coming out of a hotel.

This is the episode that introduced Anthony, who would go on to be Charlotte's best gay friend, and is a key plot point for the second movie.

year 3 Day 105

movie: The Gift
starring:Keanu Reeves, Cate Blanchett
genre; Thriller, Drama
year: 2000
format: Netflix Canada

plot When a small town is rocked by the disappearance of one woman, the police turn to the help of a psychic. When she points them to the victim's body because of a dream, things turn personal for her.

I liked this, even though it felt like it was edited for television, and just missing something in the pace; it still came across as a decent film. I don't know if there was ever a director's cut of this, if so, I think that would have fleshed it out a bit more.  

With that said, it was a solid crime story. (most great ghost stories are)  All the sub-plots are firmly rooted in reality, all revolving around this small town and a crime that rocks everyone to their core. You see the unraveling of personalities, for many different reasons, (abuse, adultery, greed) and what fear will push someone to do. 
  There really seemed to be a string of characters who were so co-dependent, you start to wonder if they are orbiting around the psychic because they can't afford therapy?

Year 3 Day 44

movie: Keeping the Faith
starring: Ben Stiller, Jenna Elfman
genre: Comedy, Romance
year: 2000
format: TV edit

plot: Two life long friends, one who's become a priest the other a rabbi, reunite with a girl they were friends with when they were children. Over the course of a few months, they both realize how much they care for her, and when she starts a romantic relationship with the one, their bond as a group unravels.

Yet another Ben Stiller film, the tv stations must have stock in his movies or something.  This was one of the better movies I've seen in the last few weeks.  Witty, sweet, and ironically heartfelt.

On the surface this is a buddy film/romantic comedy, but it's about we perceive ourselves and the roles smaller communities place us in.  Two of the main characters, Stiller and Edward Norton, spend a good chunk of the film trying to show just how similar all religions are, pointing out the difference between faith (spirituality) and religion.(yes, I said the difference between having faith/spiritual belief and following a religion)  The whole time, dealing with their own values and self perceptions in regards to their faith and love lives.  The Stiller character hiding his relationship because he doesn't think the stigma of dating a non-Jewish woman will sit well with his family and congregation. While, the Norton character is suppressing his own feelings because he believes the personal sacrifice is the only way he can truly live up to his calling in the Catholic religion.

What did I learn?  You can never know what tomorrow will bring.  

There is a line in the film that reflects that, when an older priest comments about you know you've made the right choice when you continue to fall in love with that choice over and over again.

Year 3 Day 40

movie: 28 Days
starring: Sandra Bullock, Elizabeth Perkins
genre: Drama
year: 2000
format: TV edit

plot: After ruining her sister's wedding because she was drunk, a woman finds herself in rehab. Refusing at first to follow the rules, she ends up with a broken foot after climbing out a window for a bottle of pills, this forces her to take a honest look at things.

This wasn't a bad film, wasn't a great one either. It's a serious topic that plays it straight up till the last few minutes, then seemed to go for the comedy, which I felt took away from the point of the film.
We see many of the characters in the rehab center fail, which of course makes the main character try all that much harder to beat her own addiction.
The end scene that goes for the comedy, points out one of the characters trying to rush the final steps of recovery, by buying both a plant and a dog to prove they are ready for relationships, but has to admit he couldn't keep the plant alive. Proving he's just not ready yet for major responsibility. 

After the credits, there was a short scene that shows a celebrity from a soap opera that the group watches, come to the same rehab center, showing that no one is above the pitfalls of life.
The soap opera the group watches becomes the glue that brings them all together, and is also a sort of new addiction for one of the main characters.

What did I learn?  Don't kill the plants. 

HW 2013 Day 3

movie: Scary Movie
starring: Anna Faris, Dave Sheridan
genre: Comedy
year: 2000
format: online (netflix Canada)

plot: Loosely following the plots of Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, a group of teens are being stalked one year after killing a guy and dumping him in the lake.

Normally, I try to stay away from teen-parody films because I'm not big on the raunchy style of comedy. But, I decided to give this one a try.
I have to admit, this one was not too bad, it kept the jokes within a certain level. I actually found it entertaining.

Not a lot to say on it, other then I think it was as good as it was, because of it being one of the earlier teen-parodies to come out in the last decade.

HW 2013 Day 2

Movie: Satan's School for Girls
starring: Shannen Doherty,  Julie Benz
genre: Drama
year: 2000
format: tv edit

plot: After her younger sister's death, a woman goes undercover to the same women's university where her sister had attended to find out the reason she died. While there, she uncovers a plot by a secret society to make her their fifth member.

This is a remake of the 1973 movie of the same name. Actually, it's more like a sequel then a remake, as this one has more story and depth.

I have to admit, this is a pretty cheesy made for television movie of the week, but it's one of those so cheesy it's good for a Hallowe'en party kind of "the devil made me do it" genre films.
And personally, I love those "the devil made me do it" type of films.

Doherty isn't playing anything too different then she did on Charmed, which, if you're a fan of the show will have you hooked in under five minutes.

Sunday afternoon with movies

Just another good day for catching movies on tv.   Watched  Darkness, So I Married an Axe Murder and Beautiful.


Darkness- Family move into a house and start to become paranoid. The dad is showing signs of mental instability and the son is showing signs of abuse. But the daughter uncovers something in the house, which leads her to the truth. Their grandfather had been part of a coven that worshiped Chaos and took part in sacrifices.  The spiritual energy in the house really is out to get them.

Okay, so this was a tv edit and really chopped up. To the point it felt like only half the story was being given.  This is a movie that if I mange to come across in the future unedited, I would like to watch again to see the whole story.


So I Married an Axe Murderer- A man who is afraid of commitment creates all these oddball reasons to break up with the women he dates. Until that is, he meets the perfect woman. Only this time, there is more then enough evidence to prove she really is crazy, after he reads an article in the paper about a widow who's murdered all three of her previous husbands on their honeymoon.


Mike Myers when he was still fresh and semi-funny, before he destroyed his career with Love Guru (I shiver and wince with admitting I went to the cinema way back when Love Guru came out) 
I was actually half way through this movie this afternoon when I realized, I've seen this before, and I think it might have been twenty years ago at the cinema too.  


Beautiful - A beauty pageant contestant, lies about having a seven year old daughter in order to keep in the running. Her secret comes out after her best friend who's been looking after the daughter all these years, is arrested.

I had a hard time not crying with this one. And I would have if I hadn't been at mom's and there been company over.  It's not the most original story, or even that great of a film, but it's just such a sweet and endearing story.

till later

Movie Club Week 10

As I said earlier, I think having picked Tuesday was a bad day in the week for this.  I'll just jump back and forth between Tuesdays and Wednesdays from now on.
So this week, I think I will go with ... The Little Vampire.

We have a group of vampires trying to preform a ritual, and we see a young boy watching from his bed which happens to be on the water. He sees the ritual get interrupted by a vampire hunter. He then wakes up and we learn it was just a dream.
We learn he's new to Scotland, and has not made any friends yet, as well as his teacher thinking he's crazy with all his talk about vampires.
His parents go to a business dinner, where his teacher happens to be, while he's back at home with a babysitter, and he's dressing up like a vampire.  Little does he know that one of the vampires from his dream happens to be real and flies by his window.  Seeing Tony dressed like a vampire, Rudolph crashes through the window.  He's weak and needs to feed, so Tony takes him to the farm down the road and lets him feed off of a cow.
Meanwhile, the babysitter discovers Tony gone and calls his parents back from the party. 
The next day, his dad's boss gets a visit from a vampire hunter, who sees Tony running around dressed like a vampire and thinks he's really is one.  As Tony and Rudolph try to figure out why Tony has been having dreams about Rudolph and his family and their missing necklace, the hunter goes to the graveyard and lures out the vampires.
We learn that Tony is dreaming about the vampires because the necklace is hidden in his bedroom, and that his dad's boss is the great-great nephew of one of the vampires. And it was her who hid the necklace originally.
The kids get the necklace and take it to Rudolph's father, in order for him to finish the ritual which can only be done once every hundred years because they need to harness the power of a comet. The ritual works, and the vampires become human.


Okay, this is a kids movie.  It's cute and it's based on a series of books and previous television shows. I covered this few days ago on the vampire blog, and thought I'd talk about it on movie club because it's not your average vampire film.
Richard E. Grant plays the part of the vampire father, who you might remember from Bram Stoker's Dracula (the 1992 version)  as the character of Dr. Seward.

I think one of the main themes here is tolerance.  You have a boy who because of his family moving, he is isolated and finds it hard to make friends.  But when he does, it's not the typical kids you would expect.  He befriends a family of vampires, and you're taken through the journey the kids have, of dealing with being different and being bullied because of it.

till later

Coffee Talk Feb 23rd 2013

I wanted to bring up the topic of American Psycho.  (which I covered the movie version here )
And basically, everything I said in that post about the movie, times that by 50 and you have what I think about the book.

You might remember back in early January, that I mentioned it was the selection for this month for book-movie club. One of the reasons it was chosen was because the movie has become a cult classic, even though the original book was said to be controversial.

I wanted to know what could have been in the book to make it so controversial?  Well, I've read the book, and now I know.

If you've seen the movie then you know it's packed with dark humour, the script is witty and the notes it hits are perfect to describe the metaphor of trying to keep up with the greed and shallowness that society hit back in the 1980s.  In the movie, the horror is there but it's not as in your face as it is in the book.
Not too mention, the movie can feel disjointed at times, but still flows in a way that makes sense. Although the movie is laid out in a slightly different order then the original book.

The book, is ten times more graphic in everything, from the sex scenes, to the murders, to the way the lead character describes everything his buddies and he are wearing. The grotesque and the mundane are equally important to the lead character. (like when he can not find a particular movie at the rental store then freaks out when he can not see what kind of shoes the sales person is wearing from where he is standing)
I'm actually left wondering if the character of Patrick Bateman is really a psycho killer or just a plan old junkie having drug induced nightmares?  You're witness to more then a few moments of pure madness, which seem to happen when his routine is disrupted (work out for two hours, watch his favourite show, pull money out of the bank machine, then go for dinner and drinks every day) or when he simply can not find something to keep him distracted. (Bateman and his buddies are constantly trying to score drugs) The sex and the drugs seem to keep him normal, and when they are removed he has a meltdown and goes on a killing spree.

There is a weird balance to this book as well.  Half this book is a strange nightmare induced horror story and half this book is like a memoir of a socialite.  Roughly the first 100 pages is filled with three (I think was what I counted) men who do nothing but talk about the women they are sleeping with, the food they are eating and the clothes they are wearing. It literally plays like a male version of Sex and the City for the first 100 pages, then the hard core stuff begins.

There is one chapter that I found particularly jarring.  And not because of any of the violence either, but from the simple fact the author goes from the first person to the third person for a few paragraphs. (I'm still not sure if that was a mistake no one's ever caught or if it was on purpose to really make you understand what the character is doing is "real" compared to the rest of the novel which is "all in his head" ?)
Like the movie version, you are left at the end wondering what the end really means. Did he do it all? Was it in his head?  Is he even really Patrick Bateman or one of the many guys people mistake him for through the book?

All in all, this is a good book. There were moments when I wondered how certain things got into print, but mostly it was brilliantly written.
For me, what I got out of it was the feeling of complete isolation, loneliness, insecurity, and boredom of the lead character.  A sort of backwards shot at feminism, and an unclouded fear of "they're not like us" that more then bordered on racism (which you could point out at times Dracula and Frankenstein both had)

If you are not easily offended, this is a book you should give a chance.


*Note- Yes the post date is 24th Feb, and the post title is the 23rd.  It took me nearly 45minutes to write the post*

Quote of the night

I have no idea why this quote popped into my head, but here it is.  From the movie Big Money Hustlas from 2000

Catus Sac -"Did somebody order a steak out there?" (as he's looking at SugerBear with a broken piece of wood in his leg) "Chair, chair  please. This is going to hurt. Would you like some squash with that steak? Bang Bang." (he jumps from the top rope into a splash on SugerBear who has removed the broken wood and has it as a weapon) Oh a stake through the heart, that's the second time this week"

From the scene near the end when they are in the hide out, in the wrestling ring.

Day 312

movie: Scream 3
starring: Courteney Cox, Parker Posey
genre: Horror
year: 2000
format: online

plot: The movie Stab 3 is in production, and soon Sydney and the others find themselves in the middle of yet another round of copy cat killings. This time, the cast of the Stab movie who are playing Sydney, Gail and Dewey, are being killed as a warning.

This is done as a film within a film, and a story within a story within a story.

Confusing to talk about, but as a movie makes total sense.
I liked that fact that they used the popularity of the first two films, to spoof themselves in a way but still taking it serious.   The ending of this film undoes so much of the mythos created in the first movie. Truly ending the first trilogy. (as we know part four started the second round of what is rumoured to be another trilogy)

The core cast swings a little with the addition of Parker Posey playing an actress who is suppose to be playing "Gail Weathers" in the Stab 3 film.  I thought that was the most brilliant move anyone in the business has done in awhile, as her character works along side the "original Gail Weathers" being played by Courteney Cox.

what do i think i learned from this film?
Rules are made to be broken.

Halloween Night Part 3

Hallowe'en Week

Hallowe'en Movie Marathon- movie 3

movie: American Psycho
starring: Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe
genre: Horror
year: 2000
format: DVD

plot: It's the 1980's and Patrick is just trying to get up the corporate ladder and fit in. Only thing is, he just doesn't have any emotions other then when he kills.

This is based on the controversial book.

This film has some of the wildest quotes "feed me a stray cat" and "I have to return some video tapes"

This is one of those films that everyone loves when we just shouldn't.  It's a cultclassic, which makes you wonder about yourself when the movie is over.
There are scenes of extreme  violence and sexuality that can make you shiver with disgust. 
The character of Bateman has a complete mental breakdown at one point, while throughout the film trying to impress everyone with his "knowledge" of pop-culture. Only because he doesn't really care about anything, every time he talks about the music, food etc, he just sounds like he's reading the newspaper.

It's a story about how the emptiness of material status drives us to fall into a more primal ego.  The lead character just wants to be seen as important, and leave everyone in awe of his skills, only he doesn't really have any skills and is really just pathetic. You almost wonder if he's developed his insecurities because he's unable to connect or if he's unable to connect because of his insecurities.

what do I think I learned from this film?
The race to be the top dog doesn't always end in the alpha position.


Check back at midnight for last movie...

Day 274

movie: It had to be you
starring: Natasha Henstridge, Michael Vartan
genre: Comedy, Romance,
year: 2000
format: TV  EDIT

plot: Two strangers both end up in the same hotel for a wedding planning weekend.  Soon, they find themselves falling in love with each other while planning their weddings to other people

It had a very similar feel to The Wedding Planner.  Nothing in this film is original.  The two leads fall in love, and the two supporting characters follow suite.
It is a sweet story but it's one that's been played out a hundred times before.

I did like the fact that it played up to the fact it was shot in New York. I find there is something about movies and shows shot there that gives a boost of character to the settings.

what do I think I learned from this film?
Sometimes the right person is not the person you thought.  Love will lead you to the places you're suppose to be even when you think you missed your path.