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. 

year 5 day 152

movie: Love and Friendship
starring: Kate Beckinsale, Chloe Sevigny
genre:Drama, Comedy
year:2016
format: Cinema

plot: A widow who's broke, wiggles her way into the lives of her friends, in order to find a wealthy husband for both her daughter and herself.

Loosely based on the Jane Austen novella Lady Susan

This is a Whit Stillman film, who made The Last Days Of Disco, which is one of my all time favourite films.  So when I heard that not only was he doing an adaptation of a Jane Austen story, but with the two leads from Disco, I had to go see it. 

Beckinsale plays this manipulative widow with a deliciousness, that lets you forgive the fact she's having an affair with a married man, while stringing along her friend's younger brother.  Watching Beckinsale and Sevigny together on screen, you can't help but see the chemistry between the two, as they sort of turn this into a slight buddy comedy. I can't help but compare this to Disco. In both films, the women are doing their best to find their footing in society's romantic waters without falling off a cliff, as each helps and under minds (in both movies) the others love life. Sevigny plays a wealthy woman, who's exiled from her own country by choice from what I can gather, while keeping her friendship with the Beckinsale character slightly off the main radar of her husband, as he disapproves of the widow's affairs. (all puns intended)

There is a coldness towards the daughter in this. As expressed in a scene where the lead is talking to her young admirer about how children pretty much suck the joy out of things. And she only wants to spend any time with her after the daughter has been taken in by wealthy friends.

I have one bit of a downfall here. There was a few minutes where the story happened off screen, and we the viewers only learn about it by means of "gossip" between two of the characters. It just jarred me out of the narrative for a few moments.

what did I learn? Just because you're over 35 doesn't mean you have to throw away the key.

year 5 day 66

movie: Pride Prejudice and Zombies
starring: Jack Huston, Lily James
genre: Comedy, Drama, Action
year: 2016
format: Cinema

plot: The Bennet women are some of the most fearful and skilled slayers of their generation, trained to fight the zombie outbreak that has engulfed England. Now, if they could only find a way to win themselves husbands who are still alive, their lives would have meaning.

Based on the book Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which is based on the original novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

I've been looking forward to this movie for the last few years, since I heard it was going to be turned into a movie. And you know what...I was bit disappointed.  This deviates from both the original source and from the modern monster version.  I seem to remember Lydia and Wickham ending up together in the PPZ book version, and Wickham in a state of needing a nurse. As well as the character of Charlotte becoming a zombie and Elizabeth helping her hide it from everyone. In the movie, none of that seems to happen. The character of Charlotte the best friend, who in the PPZ  book had a much more important role, has I think it was two scenes in the movie. Sort of disappointed to see that. As well as the character of Lydia, who becomes a victim in the movie, not the scheming backstabbing gold digger she is in the books. One of my favourite scenes from the book version had the heroes using cauliflower as fake brains to bait the zombies, but the movie seemed to bypass that idea.

In the original Austen story, as in all her novels, even though they are all set during the war, but we are never given details of any war; that is the one thing the movie of PPZ does. It sets, in it's own way, the missing "war" into the Austen stories.

The comedy didn't come across as well in the movie as it did in the Seth Grahame-Smith book. This was pretty much a straight up action flick that just happened to take place during the 1800's.

what did I learn? If you liked the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, then this is for you.

Food n Flix Round Up

This month I was allowed to host the Food n'Flix group for the first time. And, as I stated in another post, I was nervous about it given I'm the only non-food blog in the group. My original reaction as always was to go for the jugular and hand out a vampire movie, but decided a better way to introduce myself was with another passion of mine, Jane Austen.  I ended up picking The Jane Austen Book Club, ( based on the book of the same name)

What came about was a vast collection of ideas and recipes this month, some close to the heart of the member, others just happy to have the moment to breathe during the holidays.

First we stopped by Wendy at A Day in the Life on the Farm, she made for us her husband's  Comfort Hot Toddy. A simple recipe, that lets you feel all the warmth of the season, and as she pointed out, comfort was a theme in the film.  

Next on the tour was Evelyne over at  Cheap Ethnic Eatz with a Christmas Bundt Cake   She went with a classic, severing up her version of a regency style recipe. 

Next  we stopped in on Debra from Elioteatz who made Curried rice and Artichoke salad, inspired by the picnic scene when the group gather for their chat on Persuasion.

From there, we stopped in on Amy at Amy's Cooking Adventures  for some Snowman Pizza Buns.  A recipe she's shared with friends and family often.

Heather at All Roads Lead to the Kitchen made Orange Current Scones
She got her inspiration from both the movie and it's special features where the actor playing Allegra talks about having brought scones to the cast/crew backstage. 

Deb at Kahakai Kitchen gave us Raspberry Drinking Shrub Sodas and Apricot Marmalade on Baguette.   Her inspiration scene...er scenes, were the big break up scene at the "Marmalade" restaurant and the coffee shop scene. 

And I made an apricot "traffic jam" with banana bread and tea biscuits (here) inspired by the scene where they are meeting for the first time in the coffee shop, and Bernadette is holding a plate of pastries.

I'll remind everyone that in 2016, Food n'Flix will be kicking off the new year with January's selection of  Failure to Launch and hosted by Amy's Cooking Adventures.

December Food n Flix

This month's selection for Food n Flix is the Jane Austen Book Club, and it's being hosted by ...me! (read my announcement post here) My first FnF hosting gig, and dude, I'm a bit on the nervous side. I think I chose fittingly, as we started off 2015 doing Bridget Jones's Diary, which is an adaptation of an adaption of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice,(yes you read that right an adaption of an adaption) and now we've come full circle and closing out the group's year with another view point on Jane Austen.

plot: After seeing the people in her life seeming to all have a week of random bad luck, (a death in the family, a divorce, desertion)  Bernadette decides what everyone needs is a distraction. Realizing that everyone she knows has already read the six novels of Jane Austen, she starts a book club. For six months, each of the groups members host one of the books at their homes, discussing the ups and downs of the novels plots/characters, while trying to maneuver through their own daily lives.

This is the 2007 drama comedy starring Emily Blunt and Mario Bello.  Based on the novel of the same name.

I first talked about this film year one of the blog (day 32)

What I loved about this is that each character is a representation of the book they choose to host. With Grigg, being the embodiment of all the Austen heroes. Prudie, even though is the host for Persuasion, is living a good portion of Mansfield Park, while Sylvia hosts MP, she's actually living more of the story from Persuasion.  I also love the use of  written letters/love notes in this, which is a heavy theme in all of Jane Austen's works.

The food: "hot crossed buns" (opening traffic scene made me think of that) "traffic jam", pizza, pop, coffee, chocolate, pretzels, chips, iced tea, vending machine snacks, brandy, fruit, deli plates, cold sandwiches, wine, beer, "marmalade" (name of the restaurant) cheesecake, whip cream sundaes, pie, hot water with lemon, eggs, flan, martini, limes, peanuts, whiskey, pastries, "egg drop soup"(the sky diving made me think of it) club sandwiches, yogurt, radishes, waxed beans, tossed salad, tomatoes, lemons, grapefruit, herbs, scones, lemon-aid, melon, fruit salad, tea, tortilla shells, deviled eggs, dip, pepper strips, wraps, rolled sandwiches, salsa, guacamole, brownies, ice cream, bacon, chicken wings, lasagna, pudding, celery and carrot sticks, "by the book soup" (the scene in the library made me think of it) "birthday cake" (the car seduction scene) artichokes, hot dogs, steak, strawberries, donuts, asparagus, manicotti, pasta salad, potato salad, "crab" and "clams" (they are on the beach in the picnic scene)

Since there are a few different kinds of sandwiches seen in this film from cold meat ones like ham and salami, to clubs, to wraps, tacos, hot dogs. I couldn't think of a more suitable idea. And with it being Jane Austen, the whole concept of tea and sandwiches was too perfect. (I have to admit, every time I watch any movie adaption of a Jane Austen novel, there is a certain food I connect with it. But that's another post for another day) So my original plan was to make a bunch of different sandwiches. Now, being a vegetarian, I wasn't sure how far I could stretch cheese to make it of any real interest?  So my plan was to get to the grocery and pick up the vegan meatless ham/turkey/bologna/hot dog alternatives; only we got a massive freezing rain here. I was then stuck inside for longer then I had hoped.  New plan... I had to use what I had in the kitchen.  I had some dried apricots and over ripe bananas. I decided to make jam, banana bread and tea biscuits.

Lucky for me one of my favourite scenes happen to be the coffee shop scene where the group meet for the first time, and the character of Bernadette is seen holding a large plate of unidentified muffins/cakes/scones.  So this is my inspiration scene.  Along with the "traffic jam" and "marmalade".

The Jam

1 pound of dried apricots
1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
splash lemon juice

Soak the apricots till they have puffed up, then simmer on low heat 
add lemon juice and sugar, stirring/mashing once and awhile,
add extra water if needed to keep them from burning.
let cool before transferring to container


Tea Biscuits

1/2 cup oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 and a half cup flour
1/2 cup water

mix the dough till it's no longer sticky,
form into shape of your choice and bake at
350degrees for 20 minutes depending on your oven. 


Banana Bread

1 3/4 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs beaten
1 cup mashed banana
Mix all together

bake at 350degress for 50-55minutes depending on your oven.

So I'm not going to lie, I was disappointed that I didn't get a chance to make my original idea, but one of the themes in the film is dealing with the unexpected that life throws at you. And a freezing rain that turned the city into a giant skating rink qualifies as unexpected.

There is still some time left to join this month. (deadline is the 28th of Dec at 6pm EST)  I'll have the round up hopefully the day after.

Food n Flix Announcement

Now, it's official. I'm hosting this month's Food n Flix selection, The Jane Austen Book Club. I know, I've mentioned it once or twice before this year cause I was unable to contain myself.   I've also talked about this movie a few times over the years with this blog, but what can I say, it's one of my personal favourites.

If you haven't seen the movie yet, it's about a group of people who come together and share half a year of their lives over the works of Jane Austen and what they learn from the books as they do.

The food is subtle, but it, like the books, is constant. First starting timidly and casual to the general tastes, then becoming an expansion of each chapter, as the characters begin to open up themselves.

How to join in... Grab yourself a copy of the movie Jane Austen Book Club, then head into the kitchen and bake/cook something it has inspired in you. Either something you actually spotted in the film, or something else that just happened to pop into your brain while watching.

Step 2: You must have a blog to be part. So...make sure you've got one.  Then post your creation on your blog.  It must be a current post - During this month December 2015-  you must have within the post a link back to this announcement post AND the Food n Flix blog.

Step 3: Email a link of your post; to me at  domesticanddamned (at) gmail (dot) com  with your name, your blog's name and url, the name of the dish, and a photo or give me permission to grab a photo from the blog post. Make sure to title the email "Food n Flix Submission".

Deadline:  Monday December 28th 2015, by 6pm EST...cause I'd like to have the round up for the next day if possible.

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.

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

All Jane Austen part 4

Northanger Abbey

The 2007 version starring Felicity Jones and JJ Fields

plot: After Catherine is asked to join friends of  her parents on a vacation, she finds herself thrown into dramas better then anything she could have read in her books. Her brother James, is recently engaged to Isabella Thorpe, and in turn Catherine begins a friendship with both Isabella and her brother John. This friendship becomes one that dives Catherine from her own love interest Henry Tilney and his sister Eleanor.
While staying with the Tilney's, Catherine; having read her favourite ghost stories starts to believe that their father has murdered their mother, and begins snooping around the estate for proof. She gets caught and is thrown out in the middle of the night, left to survive on her own. Meanwhile, all the time her brother James has been away for school, Isabella has been less then faithful to him, starting up an affair with the oldest Tilney brother. Finding herself now unwanted by both men, Isabella begs Catherine for her help in talking James into taking her back. But it's too late, as Catherine wants nothing to do with her.
Henry's father disowns him when he finds out that he's in love with Catherine, after learning the Thorpes lied about how much money Catherine's family really has.  Henry, now poor, confesses his love to Catherine and are married.

This post feels a bit like a cop out, given there are only two adaptions that I've heard of.  I talked about this back in year one (day 173)

This story was originally published in 1818, and has never been out of print. That's staying power.
The main themes here are trust, innocence, betrayal, honesty, and imagination.
The heroine is a bit of a rebel for the times, listed as a bit of a tomboy, and spending all her time reading gothic novels and talking about the stories. She spends much of her time in her own head having wild teenaged fantasies about the novels. This leads to her jumping to conclusions about her friends.
She finds herself at the wrong end of peer pressure, being swept away in the idea of what her friends represent and less of what the reality of it is.

All the characters end up having their dreams shattered in one way or another, and find themselves loosing their faith in each other.
You see how rumours and secrets end up dividing all the couples and how easily reputations can be dirtied.

This is said to be the first story Jane Austen wrote but the one of the last to have been published. You can see her own innocence about romance and society as well as writing itself within the lead character. 

Okay...till later...

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 2

Once again, find myself at the end of the month, and finally getting my arse in gear to talk about the Jane Austen stuff.  I was really leaning towards using Bridget Jones's Diary, in fact that was the original idea, but last minute today I changed my mind. 

Pride and Prejudice: The 2005 version starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen.

plot:Five sisters are all trying to find their own purpose, for a couple of them, that means finding husbands. This leads to the oldest sister Jane finding not just love but that of a wealthy husband, only to have obstacles in the form of disapproving in-laws and a younger sister running away with a man. Elizabeth, the second sister, also finds herself falling in love. But for her, the obstacles are more inward then you would think. By standing by her principles, she turns down the first marriage proposal for lack of interest, and hides behind her stubbornness nearly loosing the man she really loves. And Lydia, one of the younger sisters, runs off with a man known to be devious and untrustworthy, selfishly ruins the family's reputation.

This is the classic, and I mean classic story by Jane Austen. Some would point to this and say it is truly the base point for all "romance" and "chick lit" to come out in the last 200 years. If you've read my posts on Bridget Jones's Diary, you know there have been many remakes and tributes of this story.
Yes, I've talked about this film in the past, it was one of the movies I covered in year one of the blog. But, here I am again, with a bit more on the topic.

P/P was published in 1813, so that's actually 202 years ago. Damn! and it's never been out of print.
But, the fact when it was first written, shacking up with someone unmarried, or running off to elope was a shameful act. Completely scandalous. So this careless act by the younger sister Lydia, is the real focal point in the story. It's what leads to Jane's humiliation and near fall of loosing Mr. Bingley, and the turning point for Mr. Darcy who ends up being the hero; because he ends up finding a way to legitimize Lydia's marriage. 

In this film version, we see a hint of abusiveness from Mr. Wickham, after he does legally marry Lydia. Of course, this is after we the viewers, have learned that Wickham picks young girls to seduce, having tried to do the same thing to Mr. Darcy's sister and even Elizabeth. All with the intention of stealing their money. 

Mr. Darcy, the ultimate hero archetype. When he first meets Elizabeth, he insults her, pretending to show little to no interest in her, then goes out of his way for the rest of the film to be around her. He's so concerned about her life and the members of her social circle, that when he first learns of the scandal, he talks Mr. Bingley out of his own desires for Jane. Not out of honest respect, but out of how just socializing with anyone who is connected to Lydia will make him look. Total fear man. Despite this, he turns around and asks Elizabeth to marry him. When she says no, and gives her reason, Mr. Darcy hatches a plan to fix the big bad. Everyone zooms in on this and points out how much he sacrifices for his love for her when he becomes the hero. But, dude, he does it cause otherwise his own reputation will be smeared. Really kind of selfish of him.  Love is selfish, don't get me wrong, it really is.

The question of "what will people think" is brought up a lot in this film. Both literally and metaphorically.  We see the characters of both Jane and Elizabeth being careful about how much intelligence/strength they show to others, while the character of Wickham lies his way through the whole thing. Proving, he's not as smart as he thinks he is.

This version also shows Mary, one of the younger sisters and her unrequited love for Mr. Collins. Who, is completely oblivious to her because she's plain, even though, in the film they are a perfect match. Mr. Collins instead accepts a marriage proposal of convenience from Charlotte, Elizabeth's best friend.  Again, the "what will people think" element shows itself. And as their sub-plot progresses, we see how much Mr. Collins' situation improves by his match. It's almost a role reversal with him being more feminine and Charlotte being more masculine.

I'm going to wrap this up. This post has gotten longer then originally meant. And I've barely even touched the surface of this version of the story. P/P is easily one story that can pull a person deep into it. Even if on the surface it doesn't look like your cup of tea.

Till later.

Coffee Talk Jan 17th 2015

I have come in here three times this week to work on the All Jane Austen part 2 post, and every time have found myself deleting it. I just can't seem to get my mind to work on it. Mostly because I'm still bummed over the fact the all JA book club didn't pan out. But, I will do this. 2015 will see the rest of the books having one movie version talked about.

Today, today was a Practical Magic day. I watched it...sort of, it was playing in the background while I made dinner. Vegetarian chilli. And sigh of relief, I did not take pictures of the chilli. Nor did I bother to write down my recipe today. You my lovely Spudguns! only need to see photos of my cooking when its relevant, and today it is not. I admit, my food is like me, it's not pretty but it comforting and keeps you warm on cold winter nights. There will always be much better looking plates of food on this planet as well as photographers who know how to accentuate it.
Practical Magic, one of the few movies on this planet that I know all the lines to. I don't know if that's a good thing or a sad one? It's my top go to movie for everything. (Lost Boys, Bram Stoker's Dracula and Julie/Julia being the others) When I'm giddy, when I'm sick, when I'm bummed out, when I'm looking for some inspiration etc.
I was feeling like the "Phone Tree Day" scene. Where Sally is all bummed and slightly thwarted because she's never picked to be the top mom to call everyone in an emergency and just feeling shoved out of the gang.  ( I'm still waiting for my own Mr. Hallet  to show up with a crumpled worn out letter he had of mine to rescue the day...sigh. )

With society being the way it is, I wonder sometimes why movies like this, or the genre of the romantic comedy still appeals to people?  With the internet age, so many people have shown in more ways then one, that they don't believe in the big sweeping gesture of love at first sight/true love. So why do so many of these movies in this genre still bring in millions of dollars and become the movies everyone ends up talking about?  Even the big action hero movies have their twist on the basic plots.

I think now more then ever, your personal list of go to movies really gets to the core of who you truly are, even if you don't realize it. (hmm, three of mine are based on books, two are vampires, one is witches and the other cooking...yeah that sounds about right)

Practical Magic, a love story within a love story that's about love stories.  And let me point out that it's got some elements in it from Sense and Sensibility. Jane Austen's story about two sisters who are total opposites that follow their own paths to love...but that's another post for another month.

Till Later

Coffee Talk Jan 14th 2015

Okay so I'm sitting here this morning, trying to write the next segment of Nosferatu Adventures, trying to write part 2 of the All Jane Austen series of posts, thinking about wrestling -cause when am I not?- having a coffee and another slice of the fruitcake, and listening to the neighbours in the hallway scream at each other drunkenly. 
What a noisy morning.  I mean man, just the ideas running around in my brain colliding with each other like two heavy weights smashing off the ropes barreling towards each other with running clotheslines...is loud enough, but add the noise of the people in the hallway, and you've got full on tables ladders and chairs.

And you're thinking, how does Jane Austen fit with a tag team hardcore match?  Simple, it's in my brain. Seriously, heroes, villains and the perception of the bad guy.

One of the main themes running through any JA story, is how the bad boy is missed for half the story because everyone wants to believe he's as sweet as their dream man. From Wickham to Willoughby, to Mr. Elton to Mr. Churchill, to Henry Crawford to Mr. Thorpe...all the villains start off by doing something extremely heroic (in the minds of the girls they seduce) before their heel turn comes about. (usually having to do with stealing money or seducing young girls giving them a reputation or both)

Perception of the bad guy.

Then of course the underdog swoops in and saves the day. Much like a cruiser weight winning a five on one handicap match, gaining a number one contenders spot for the belt. Everyone loves the idea, they back him, cheer him, and get very upset when it's his turn to go rogue; in which case they label him a Willoughby. Or you know, worse a sell out. (sorry watching pieces of Monday night's Raw the whole Seth Rollins vs Cena vs Brock contract signing)

In the book and movie versions of the Jane Austen Book Club, there is this entire sub-plot about how Jane Austen dug bad boys. Whether or not Jane Austen meant the observations of the "bad boy" behavouir as a warning or gift of slight amusement, we may never know.  But the slightest nod of something other than complete straight laced nobility, got you labeled the villain. Ironically, all the male characters at some point show remorse for their worst offenses; of breaking the heroine's hearts, lending to a glimmer of a hero in them.

Again, perception. 

The hero. Everyone wants to be the hero, even when their not. (Seth Rollins might not ever be Mr. Darcy material, but he's hero worthy!)

till later

Jan 1st 2015

Flashback to Year 1 Day 30 on this blog. It was Jan 1st 2012, and I talked a little about the movie Bridget Jones's Diary.

So why am I bringing it up again? Well, for one, it's my tradition of watching this on New Year's day, while I break in a new journal. (I know I'm not the only one)  It was also part of my first  What this Movie Inspired Me to Do  posts (first post had more then one movie) it was part of my Top 5 Fav Hugh Grant films list, my Top 5 Fav Birthday Scenes, my Top 5 Fav Books to Film, it's also part of the Jane Austen based movies that I want to cover this year.

And most importantly, it's the first movie being covered in the Food'n Flix group for 2015. (some of whom are professional food writers. oh yeah intimidation being felt here.)  Cheap Ethnic Eatz , is the hosting blog for January.  (which I will be doing my official post for closer to the deadline and spoiler alert, there will be food.)

BJD is a version of Pride and Prejudice  by Jane Austen. Which makes January officially P/P month on this blog, if I actually get my arse in gear. (as well as the 1995 version of P/P also starring Colin Firth, the 2007 version of P/P starring Keira Knightley, and Twilight...yeah the sparkling vampires Twilight. Those are the only version I have of P/P)

Okay, so if you're too lazy like I am to actually hit the link for the flashback, here's the plot for it...

plot: Bridget, a 30 something singleton makes a new year's resolution to stop dating creeps, right before starting to date her boss Daniel. She ends up getting her heart broken when she finds out he's been cheating. Bridget then starts to date Darcy, Daniel's former best friend.

And that's all I'm going to give you right now because, I need coffee! I'll be back later, with the All Jane Austen part 2, post for this film. As well as the Food n Flix post for it. And when I say "later" I mean sometime in the next week or so, not necessarily this afternoon.

till later.

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.

Saturday Dec 6th 2014

Year four. Off to a slow start, but that's because I don't have any challenges planned for this year. I've got an All Jane Austen book thing happening this year, so I figured some of the movie blogging will connect to it.

There are many versions of movies based on the novels Emma, Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, Pride and Prejudice and yes, I did talk about a few of them before. But, there is no rule that says I can't talk about some of them again. (it's my blog damn it!)   Crossing fingers that the book club part actually lasts more then one book this year,  and from where I am sitting right now (my living room facing the television) thinking of talking about each title (dvd) that corresponds to that month's book.  (man that sounds dry doesn't it?)

Book club is starting with Emma. So over the course of the month, I'll be kicking around with a couple of versions of Emma.  (I have the 2009 version, the 1996 version with Kate Beckinsale, the other 1996 version with Gwyneth Paltrow, and Clueless.)

Don't worry, there will be other movies as well. A girl can not live on Mr. Darcy alone...though many of us have tried. (I'm more of a Captain Wentworth girl myself...) 

Till later

Year 3 Day 60

movie: Austenland
starring: Keri Russell, J.J. Fields.
genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
year: 2013
format: Shaw Video On Demand

plot: Jane, a thirty-something woman decides to spend her life savings on a Jane Austen themed vacation, after her ex-boyfriend dumps her then insults her by saying he's as good as she'll ever find at her age. The vacation promises an authentic experience from the Austen/Regency era, with a happily ever after the last night. While she's there, Jane ends up being the center of a love triangle, not sure if it's the real deal or just part of the act.

This is based on the book of the same name.

There are elements and scenes out of every Austen novel/movie adaption used here, from the poor girl being taken in by rich relatives, to the group putting on a play to kill time (Mansfield Park) to the quiet reserved gentleman who falls in love with the heroine while trying to keep her safe from the brash cad (Pride and Prejudice) to the endless match making of the seemingly wrong people some of whom are only in it for the wealth (Emma, and  Northanger Abbey)  to the misunderstanding between the young couple who are being kept apart by other people (Persuasion) to simple manners (Sense and Sensibility)

I'm going to say that I both loved and hated this film. As a Jane Austen fan, I thought it hit every note from her novels with bang on clarity. As someone in that age bracket, it hit just a bit too close to the nerve for me. It was almost too bang on.

Jane Austen's novels have inspired more then just wishful thinking, when it comes to love, they have created the baseline for almost all the romance stories and romantic comedies to come out in the last two hundred years.
This movie really points out the line of finding the balance between the man we want and the one we usually find, as well as the idea of keeping your own values while trying to compromise with the other person in the relationship/situation.

There is a scene at the end of the movie where the three main characters are hashing it out in an airport, the two men each pointing out the other's weak spots while trying to convince Jane that she should believe them.

At one point, we see Jane decide she has to take control of her "story" while on vacation, otherwise she's never going to find the happy ending she's been promised. This is the turning point for her in more ways then one, we start seeing her break from the role given her by the hostess, and in turn it gives some of the other guests permission to act more themselves. Not always with good intentions.

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.

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 309

movie: Pride and Prejudice
starring: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen
genre: Drama
year: 2005
format: DVD

plot: Elizabeth and her sisters are all trying to get husbands. Jane the oldest, is in love with Mr. Bingley, one of the richest men in the area, but his sister Caroline is doing everything she can to keep them apart. Meanwhile, Lydia Bennet gets herself into trouble for running away with Mr. Wickham, and ruins the chances of her sisters finding respectable husbands.

Based on the classic novel by Jane Austen.

I have to admit, this is my ultimate favourite film version of P/P.  The pacing is good, and the scenery is amazing, as are the costumes and the score.
By now, everyone knows the classic story, of love misunderstood and the scandal of status.

You find hints of abuse in the story of Lydia, which some would say they saw coming a mile away with her actions in the beginning of the story.
The character of Mr. Collins being so much of a brown-noser that he doesn't even realize that everyone around him mocks him. You find yourself both sorry for him and wanting to punch him at the same time. 

what do i think i learned from this film?
Love knows no boundaries. It is the single most honest feeling in the world, no matter how it arrives or what you think it will love like when it does, it has a mind and wave all it's own.