movie: Saved
starring: Mandy Moore, Macaulay Culkin
genre: Comedy
year: 2004
format: Hollywood Suites Channel
plot: After learning her boyfriend is gay, a religious teen decides to save him by sleeping with him, only to end up pregnant and alone.
The first few minutes of this film nearly had me turning the movie off. It basically hits you upside the head with a steel chair, with it's views. In the first ten minutes. After that, it mellows out and the comedy kicks in.
It's part high school mean girls, part after school special in it's approach. You have who you think is just the sidekick, following her gut instincts and ends up actually being the lead character. But the story is as much about the group of people on the border of her life as it is about her. Her mother's life parallels her's in the simple fact they are both crushing on the men in their lives, who happen to be the school minister and his son. The son is a bit more free thinking then his father through most of the movie.
The theme here was a slight bit muddled. It at it's core is tolerance. We as a society preach one thing, and many times do the opposite. This movie in a backarsed way, is pointing out that we need to be more understanding and less self obsessed.
I wanted to like someone in this film, anyone. Given the whole feel good love love love everyone happy ending, but...even that felt preachy to me. You're suppose to feel sorry for the rest of the characters, from the disabled brother, to his outcast girlfriend, to the pregnant lead to the popular girls who follow blindly their prom queen. But, no one's all that fleshed out enough to care about any of them.
what did I learn? No matter what spin you put on a teen movie, it's still just another teen movie
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Year 5 Day 59
movie: The Hot Chick
starring:Rob Schneider, Rachel McAdams
genre: Comedy
year: 2002
format: Netflix Canada
plot:After stealing a pair of earrings, the school's most popular girl finds herself the victim of a centuries old curse, when she wakes up as a man.
Anyone remember the movie Switch (1991) about the womanizer that gets taught a lesson? That's pretty much the route of this one. The high school snob gets mojoed and has to deal with being a man, while the idiot who got her body is using it for all it's worth.
I sat down with the intent of a mindless movie, and it pretty much lived up to my low expectations. Schneider has the bulk of the role, which he plays straight. And I'm not being punny here, I mean he plays it as a freaked out teenaged girl, in as serious a mode as one can with this type of film.
The character's big lesson is that she took everyone and everything for granted, and has to find her place in the big picture. Along the way, she looses the chip on her shoulder and becomes friends with the two girls in school who in the start of the film, she had made fun of.
It's a predictable story that points out that looks aren't everything, and that you'll find who you are meant to be when you accept those around you.
what did I learn? Don't judge a book by the cover till you've walked a mile in the author's shoes...
starring:Rob Schneider, Rachel McAdams
genre: Comedy
year: 2002
format: Netflix Canada
plot:After stealing a pair of earrings, the school's most popular girl finds herself the victim of a centuries old curse, when she wakes up as a man.
Anyone remember the movie Switch (1991) about the womanizer that gets taught a lesson? That's pretty much the route of this one. The high school snob gets mojoed and has to deal with being a man, while the idiot who got her body is using it for all it's worth.
I sat down with the intent of a mindless movie, and it pretty much lived up to my low expectations. Schneider has the bulk of the role, which he plays straight. And I'm not being punny here, I mean he plays it as a freaked out teenaged girl, in as serious a mode as one can with this type of film.
The character's big lesson is that she took everyone and everything for granted, and has to find her place in the big picture. Along the way, she looses the chip on her shoulder and becomes friends with the two girls in school who in the start of the film, she had made fun of.
It's a predictable story that points out that looks aren't everything, and that you'll find who you are meant to be when you accept those around you.
what did I learn? Don't judge a book by the cover till you've walked a mile in the author's shoes...
Friday, January 29, 2016
Year 5 Day 58
movie: Paul
starring; Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
genre: Sci-fi
year: 2011
format: Netflix Canada
plot: Two British sci-fi geeks find themselves in the company of a real alien, and have to run from the government
I pretty much love anything that has Simon Pegg in it. I think that even though this film has moments of crude/raunchiness, it doesn't always feel that way given most of it is from an animated alien. A pot smoking alien with necromantic powers. That in itself was worth a few laughs.
And in typical sci-fi geek fashion, there's a lot of references to Star Wars, Star Trek (the biggest being Pegg himself as he plays Scotty in the New Era ST films) the MIB series, etc. But my favourite little geeky in joke is the reference to Blade. The Frost character -no pun intended- spends time debating on if he should buy a "black vampire " sword, which looks just like the one Wesley Snipes uses in the vampire trilogy.
This is basically a buddy road trip film dressed up as a large escape from the cops style film. There is the obvious E.T. and Starman references, with them running from the government, and a huge nod to Escape to Witch Mountain
what did I learn? Even in an alien movie I still focused on the vampires
starring; Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
genre: Sci-fi
year: 2011
format: Netflix Canada
plot: Two British sci-fi geeks find themselves in the company of a real alien, and have to run from the government
I pretty much love anything that has Simon Pegg in it. I think that even though this film has moments of crude/raunchiness, it doesn't always feel that way given most of it is from an animated alien. A pot smoking alien with necromantic powers. That in itself was worth a few laughs.
And in typical sci-fi geek fashion, there's a lot of references to Star Wars, Star Trek (the biggest being Pegg himself as he plays Scotty in the New Era ST films) the MIB series, etc. But my favourite little geeky in joke is the reference to Blade. The Frost character -no pun intended- spends time debating on if he should buy a "black vampire " sword, which looks just like the one Wesley Snipes uses in the vampire trilogy.
This is basically a buddy road trip film dressed up as a large escape from the cops style film. There is the obvious E.T. and Starman references, with them running from the government, and a huge nod to Escape to Witch Mountain
what did I learn? Even in an alien movie I still focused on the vampires
Thursday, January 28, 2016
year 5 day 57
movie: Sin City 2 A Dame to Kill For
starring: Mickey Rourke, Josh Brolin
genre; Crime, Drama, Thriller, Film Noir
year: 2014
format: Netflix Canada
plot: Following the lives of a group of people who are all connected by the same bar
This is based on the graphic novels
Okay, I have to admit, if it wasn't for the blog project, I don't think I would have gone ahead and watched this. With that said, I'm glad I did. I've never read the graphic novels, but I did see the first film when it came out,and just didn't care for it.
This one, I found to be more cohesive, easier to follow.
The stories are about revenge, self imposed exile, fear, desperation, lust, seduction, and the list goes on. I liked the whole noir part of it, the crime thriller aspects. Considering the first film, there was more story which I liked, and less gore for the sake of shock/gore.
I have to admit, I was thrown at first with Brolin being cast, as I said, I haven't read any of the graphic novels, and was unaware he was playing a character who (in the first film was played by Clive Owens) has reconstructive surgery. I at first glance, though the character was recast because Owens was unavailable or something.
With all that said, the bulk of the film is the Brolin story, which I'm guessing is the title. And sadly, it does come off predictable. He gets wrapped up with his ex, who manipulates him into killing her husband, then she tries to kill him, seducing the cop, and making off with the millions.
I don't actually remember the Rourke character's amnesia actually being explained in this - no pun intended- so I'm guessing it was back in the first film? But otherwise, that chapter of the film, kind of goes nowhere.
what did I learn? I swear there was an animated series based on the Sin City books back in the late 1990s that aired back to back with The Maxx here...
starring: Mickey Rourke, Josh Brolin
genre; Crime, Drama, Thriller, Film Noir
year: 2014
format: Netflix Canada
plot: Following the lives of a group of people who are all connected by the same bar
This is based on the graphic novels
Okay, I have to admit, if it wasn't for the blog project, I don't think I would have gone ahead and watched this. With that said, I'm glad I did. I've never read the graphic novels, but I did see the first film when it came out,and just didn't care for it.
This one, I found to be more cohesive, easier to follow.
The stories are about revenge, self imposed exile, fear, desperation, lust, seduction, and the list goes on. I liked the whole noir part of it, the crime thriller aspects. Considering the first film, there was more story which I liked, and less gore for the sake of shock/gore.
I have to admit, I was thrown at first with Brolin being cast, as I said, I haven't read any of the graphic novels, and was unaware he was playing a character who (in the first film was played by Clive Owens) has reconstructive surgery. I at first glance, though the character was recast because Owens was unavailable or something.
With all that said, the bulk of the film is the Brolin story, which I'm guessing is the title. And sadly, it does come off predictable. He gets wrapped up with his ex, who manipulates him into killing her husband, then she tries to kill him, seducing the cop, and making off with the millions.
I don't actually remember the Rourke character's amnesia actually being explained in this - no pun intended- so I'm guessing it was back in the first film? But otherwise, that chapter of the film, kind of goes nowhere.
what did I learn? I swear there was an animated series based on the Sin City books back in the late 1990s that aired back to back with The Maxx here...
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
year 5 day 56
movie: Arthur Newman
starring: Colin Firth, Emily Blunt
genre: Drama
year: 2012
format: Netflix Canada
plot: A pro golfer fakes his own death in order to take a job at a country club, and along the way is joined by a runaway.
The opening scenes play like the lead is about to actually kill himself, but then you quickly learn it's a con. I was thinking in the first ten minutes, that it was going to be some sort of crime story. But, it ended up being more of a romance/starting over story. The lead played by Firth, has lost faith in himself because nothing has gone according to plan. Meanwhile, the Blunt character is hiding from a fear that is so self imposed, you wonder how much truth she's even told?
The two begin following this couple who just got married, and decide to break into their house, try on their clothes and have sex in their bed. It quickly becomes their only real means of communication, as to an extent, they are both coning the other and themselves.
The Blunt character, at one point mentions a twin who is in the hospital, and as the story progresses, you're given the impression that is another lie. Which layers on itself up until you see her arrive at the hospital herself, in which case the twin is revealed.
I didn't feel there was a pay off at the end. I would have liked to have seen the two actually get what they were wanting, a new life without the past responsibilities catching up.
what did I learn? no matter what your reality, you can only escape it for a little while
starring: Colin Firth, Emily Blunt
genre: Drama
year: 2012
format: Netflix Canada
plot: A pro golfer fakes his own death in order to take a job at a country club, and along the way is joined by a runaway.
The opening scenes play like the lead is about to actually kill himself, but then you quickly learn it's a con. I was thinking in the first ten minutes, that it was going to be some sort of crime story. But, it ended up being more of a romance/starting over story. The lead played by Firth, has lost faith in himself because nothing has gone according to plan. Meanwhile, the Blunt character is hiding from a fear that is so self imposed, you wonder how much truth she's even told?
The two begin following this couple who just got married, and decide to break into their house, try on their clothes and have sex in their bed. It quickly becomes their only real means of communication, as to an extent, they are both coning the other and themselves.
The Blunt character, at one point mentions a twin who is in the hospital, and as the story progresses, you're given the impression that is another lie. Which layers on itself up until you see her arrive at the hospital herself, in which case the twin is revealed.
I didn't feel there was a pay off at the end. I would have liked to have seen the two actually get what they were wanting, a new life without the past responsibilities catching up.
what did I learn? no matter what your reality, you can only escape it for a little while
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
year 5 day 55
movie: Ocean's Thirteen
starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt
genre: Crime, Comedy
year: 2007
format: Netflix Canada
plot: After one of the guys is cut out of the new casino he just built by his newest partner, the group get back together to clean out his casino.
There wasn't anything different in this, it was just a basic revisit to the first one. The bad guys from the first two movies return and are on the good guys team. They even made an in joke about not doing the same thing they had done before, referring to the first movie when they cleaned out the other casino.
I didn't care for the sub-plot of sending the two guys over the boarder to a dice factory to make sure their loaded dice are untraceable, it just seemed like it was thrown in there to duct tape a plot hole. I did however, like this one more then part two.
I found the timeline a bit unclear, I think the story expands over an eight month time frame, but not completely sure?
what did I learn? Joker's wild
starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt
genre: Crime, Comedy
year: 2007
format: Netflix Canada
plot: After one of the guys is cut out of the new casino he just built by his newest partner, the group get back together to clean out his casino.
There wasn't anything different in this, it was just a basic revisit to the first one. The bad guys from the first two movies return and are on the good guys team. They even made an in joke about not doing the same thing they had done before, referring to the first movie when they cleaned out the other casino.
I didn't care for the sub-plot of sending the two guys over the boarder to a dice factory to make sure their loaded dice are untraceable, it just seemed like it was thrown in there to duct tape a plot hole. I did however, like this one more then part two.
I found the timeline a bit unclear, I think the story expands over an eight month time frame, but not completely sure?
what did I learn? Joker's wild
Monday, January 25, 2016
Year 5 Day 54
movie: Whale Music
starring: Maury Chaykin, Paul Gross
genre: Drama, Comedy
year: 1994
format: Hollywood Suites Channel
plot: A former rockstar who's become a hermit, has his life turned inside out when a young woman shows up on his doorstep
Based on the book
The lead character is being haunted by his past in such vivid forms, he can't tell most of the time what's real and what's not. Using the whales as his only inspiration for years, until he finds his solitude broken by the young woman. She ends up becoming his protector as much as his maid as the story progresses.
The first half of the movie makes the main character seem like he's lost his mind, but as the story progresses, you realize it's more a case of desperation than depression. When you learn that he's been trying to create the album of whale music since his brother's fatal car accident, the body lost in the ocean; the connection finally comes into play. Up till that point, he keeps saying he's making the album for the whales in the ocean, but it's more a case of sending an unanswered call to his brother.
I strangely, like the scene where he freaks out at the dinner party, forcing the truth to come to the surface, both with the character of Claire, and with the character of his ex wife Fay. He finally says what he's been holding under the mental surface since the brother's death a decade before.
what did I learn? Grief has many layers
starring: Maury Chaykin, Paul Gross
genre: Drama, Comedy
year: 1994
format: Hollywood Suites Channel
plot: A former rockstar who's become a hermit, has his life turned inside out when a young woman shows up on his doorstep
Based on the book
The lead character is being haunted by his past in such vivid forms, he can't tell most of the time what's real and what's not. Using the whales as his only inspiration for years, until he finds his solitude broken by the young woman. She ends up becoming his protector as much as his maid as the story progresses.
The first half of the movie makes the main character seem like he's lost his mind, but as the story progresses, you realize it's more a case of desperation than depression. When you learn that he's been trying to create the album of whale music since his brother's fatal car accident, the body lost in the ocean; the connection finally comes into play. Up till that point, he keeps saying he's making the album for the whales in the ocean, but it's more a case of sending an unanswered call to his brother.
I strangely, like the scene where he freaks out at the dinner party, forcing the truth to come to the surface, both with the character of Claire, and with the character of his ex wife Fay. He finally says what he's been holding under the mental surface since the brother's death a decade before.
what did I learn? Grief has many layers
Night Bleeds, All Vampire Movie and Book Club 2016
Night Bleeds : All Vampire Movie and Book Club.
All Vampire Movie Club:
Idea- pick one vampire movie a month and blog about it.
All Vampire Book Club:
Idea- Pick one vampire book a month and blog about it.
The book and movie combo for the month, will NOT always be the same title. Some months, they will be two random selections.
Bonus: If you were inspired to craft something/bake or cook something, by it (both or just the book or just the movie), then add it to the mix.
Deadlines: Will be the last Sunday of every month (unless specified)
Rules- The blog post must be current (done the same month as the selected book and movie)
-You must link back to either this page or to the announcement post for that month
2016 Selections (RED is the current combo)
January -Twilight (movie) and Life and Death Twilight Reimainged (book)
February- Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter (book and movie)
March- I am Legend (book) and Omega Man (movie)
April- Vampire$ by John Steakley (book) and John Carpenter's Vampires (movie)
May- TBA
June- TBA
July-TBA
August- TBA
September - TBA
October-Salem's Lot (book) and TBA
November -TBA
December- Dracula (book) and Bram Stoker's Dracula (movie)
Badge created by Heather of All Roads Lead to the Kitchen
All Vampire Movie Club:
Idea- pick one vampire movie a month and blog about it.
All Vampire Book Club:
Idea- Pick one vampire book a month and blog about it.
The book and movie combo for the month, will NOT always be the same title. Some months, they will be two random selections.
Bonus: If you were inspired to craft something/bake or cook something, by it (both or just the book or just the movie), then add it to the mix.
Deadlines: Will be the last Sunday of every month (unless specified)
Rules- The blog post must be current (done the same month as the selected book and movie)
-You must link back to either this page or to the announcement post for that month
2016 Selections (RED is the current combo)
January -Twilight (movie) and Life and Death Twilight Reimainged (book)
February- Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter (book and movie)
March- I am Legend (book) and Omega Man (movie)
April- Vampire$ by John Steakley (book) and John Carpenter's Vampires (movie)
May- TBA
June- TBA
July-TBA
August- TBA
September - TBA
October-Salem's Lot (book) and TBA
November -TBA
December- Dracula (book) and Bram Stoker's Dracula (movie)
Badge created by Heather of All Roads Lead to the Kitchen
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Year 5 Day 53
movie: We Bought a Zoo
starring: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson
genre: Drama
year: 2011
format: TV Edit
plot: After his wife dies, a grieving single dad relocates his family only to end up being the new caretakers of a zoo
Based on the book
I know this was suppose to be a big feel good happy family film, but for me it got weighed down with the idea of the dad just trying to escape. I don't know if it was because it was a tv edit, but it just seemed to focus too much on that. There were a few oddly placed commercials that caused a few gaps in the storyline. Such as one second the dad was complaining about having to buy butter and the next second (after commercial break) they were cleaning up snakes. How did the snakes get there during the commercial break? This is the downfall of watching stuff on tv sometimes, edited for time.
The fact they had the dad deal with his grief by not dealing with the impending death of one of the tigers, was an interesting circle. It was almost as if the dad was allowing himself to feel the pain as long as there was someone who he could reflect it back to.
what did I learn? Animal in movies and cartoons will always make me cry.
starring: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson
genre: Drama
year: 2011
format: TV Edit
plot: After his wife dies, a grieving single dad relocates his family only to end up being the new caretakers of a zoo
Based on the book
I know this was suppose to be a big feel good happy family film, but for me it got weighed down with the idea of the dad just trying to escape. I don't know if it was because it was a tv edit, but it just seemed to focus too much on that. There were a few oddly placed commercials that caused a few gaps in the storyline. Such as one second the dad was complaining about having to buy butter and the next second (after commercial break) they were cleaning up snakes. How did the snakes get there during the commercial break? This is the downfall of watching stuff on tv sometimes, edited for time.
The fact they had the dad deal with his grief by not dealing with the impending death of one of the tigers, was an interesting circle. It was almost as if the dad was allowing himself to feel the pain as long as there was someone who he could reflect it back to.
what did I learn? Animal in movies and cartoons will always make me cry.
Night Bleeds January
Alrighty then. You my lovely Spudguns! might remember I said last month that I was going to start up the vampire movie club again on here. Plus, a vampire book club. Cause I'm frightfully groovy.
I'm kicking it off with having selected the new remake of Twilight for the book portion; Life and Death Twilight Reimagined. And the original Twilight dvd for the movie portion. Big shocker there eh?
The Book : Beau just moved to the small town of Forks to live with his dad after his mother's new husband who is a baseball player, is traded to another team. On his first day at a new school, Beau meets Edythe Cullen, a strange girl and her adopted siblings. After a sudden freezing rain has caused the school parking lot to be icy, causing a near fatal accident by a student driver, Beau is rescued by Edythe. He then begins to question if his new crush is just eccentric or if there is something more supernatural going on? His friend Jules Black, a member of the Quileutes, fills him in on an old family legend about how vampires crossed paths with members of his family decades before, and how the Quileutes came from wolves. Beau while on a trip out of town, once again ends up in a near accident, as Edythe appears rescuing him, forming the first real bond between them. The two teens head back home, believing the only danger they have to face are their families' disapproval, when a second group of vampires are spotted at the city limits. The leader of the new vamps, has set her sights on Beau and refuses to let anything or anyone get in her way of the hunt.
I really liked this new version of the book. I think the big change of having it be from a male's point of view made it more interesting, and dare I say less stalkerish. It didn't have the same heavy tone of creepy psycho-abusive boyfriendness that the original did.
And the ending...for those who haven't read this updated version and might want to, I'll spare the spoilers and just say, the ending is far superior than the original ending. This alternate ending actually undoes the need for Breaking Dawn in the book series. Completely removes it.
The character of Edythe for me, was a little papery. But at the same time she gives off this seductress quality. I'm going to put that down to the whole vampire predator element. Which, ironically, is pointed out more then you would expect. I got the impression she was having way too much fun trying to find ways to frighten Beau off; which I can't honestly remember there being in the original. She's just that touch more sadistic then I ever remember her counterpart in the original being. There is also this feeling of complete desperation from Edythe, much like there was from the original version's Bella. Where the Beau/Bella character is meant to be the big damsel in distress; I didn't always get the white knight vibe from Edythe/Edward character. Both versions have the females (Edythe in this one Bella in the original) as very greedy emotionally. The character of Beau, I found to be more stable then the original Bella was. Maybe because he was a guy, he was written with a tad more of a logical approach, as there just seemed less desperation from him then I remember from the original version.
Archie (the Alice character in the original) and Jessamine (the Jasper character in the original) were much more interesting for me than Edythe (as they were in the original too) I think my biggest biggest complain all around is the names of the characters. I wanted to laugh out loud in a bad way whenever I saw some of them. Changing all but Beau's parents from male to female and female to male in this version wasn't completely necessary. There were moments when it made it down right confusing, trying to keep straight in my head who the characters were parallel to in the original story.
The Movie: After moving to a new school, Bella Swan develops a crush on the school's most aloof student Edward Cullen. Even though he at first rejects her, she begins to dream about him. After an accident in the school parking lot, Edward makes it his job to keep Bella safe, even at the risk of angering his siblings. Before long, the two can not avoid each other or their own feelings. Meanwhile, a series of brutal murders have taken place in the area, and Edward's family are on edge because of it. Bella is then caught in the middle of a vampire turf war, unaware she is the ultimate prize.
I've talked about the first Twilight movie before (first year of the blog Day 41) and I've expressed over the years since the movie first came out, my love/hate/love/hate relationship with it.
So my big pro for the whole thing is that when the first Twilight came out, the vampire genre needed a change. You've heard me say many times in the last few years, that Twilight helped to clean up the genre. The vampire is a great metaphor for pretty much everything and the last few decades it had gotten locked in with just sex.Yes, we know that some of the best vampire fiction is in direct connection to the subject or sub-plot of sex (usually in the form of sexual awakening/freedom) But, the mid 1990's till just a couple of years ago, the image of the vampire lost it's ability to be used as a metaphor for anything else. Many would argue that it still is being used that way in the whole Twilight series, and I'm not arguing that it is. But it's also being used as a metaphor for addiction, loyalty and ironically veganism.
The cons to the movie, besides the fact Bella Swan is one of the most annoying characters to ever grace a screen, the movie takes way too long to get to the good stuff. The introduction of the second band of vampires, the nomads lead by James, is a plot device I would have moved up in the film, expanded on myself. The movie holds too much time in the everyday limits of the high school mentality.
Another of the movie cons, is that it seems to bring out the whole brain washing cult feel of the Cullens more so then the books ever did. Yes, we're playing with the idea of the whole sire bond, but where's the depth in it; the emotions?
I know I'm not the only one who sees deep ideas in the movie version of Twilight that are similar to Anne Rice's works. But, Rice handled it differently. There's no heart in the story here. It's like the surface of Edward's skin, shinny but useless in the shadows.
I have to admit watching it this time, I couldn't get past Edward's hair. Every time I would look at his character on screen, all I could think was why did they choose to do that hairdo? I also thought that they really made the vampires a tad on the ugly side with the make-up. It didn't have the usual effect the heavy "pale" vampire make-up normally gives. I kept wanting to change the colour features on my screen to lighten the look of the make-up.
I think I'm going to stop here. As I said before, I've got a love/hate relationship with the whole series.
February's selections will be Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. Both for the movie and the book. And the deadline for that one will be Sunday Feb 28th 2016.
So, we'll be blogging about that movie and book and if you've been inspired to craft/bake/cook something because of it, let us know. And as this one was, it must be a current blog post if you are joining in. (February 2016)
And if you're in the Thunder Bay area, and would like to join the physical book club, let me know.
I'm kicking it off with having selected the new remake of Twilight for the book portion; Life and Death Twilight Reimagined. And the original Twilight dvd for the movie portion. Big shocker there eh?
The Book : Beau just moved to the small town of Forks to live with his dad after his mother's new husband who is a baseball player, is traded to another team. On his first day at a new school, Beau meets Edythe Cullen, a strange girl and her adopted siblings. After a sudden freezing rain has caused the school parking lot to be icy, causing a near fatal accident by a student driver, Beau is rescued by Edythe. He then begins to question if his new crush is just eccentric or if there is something more supernatural going on? His friend Jules Black, a member of the Quileutes, fills him in on an old family legend about how vampires crossed paths with members of his family decades before, and how the Quileutes came from wolves. Beau while on a trip out of town, once again ends up in a near accident, as Edythe appears rescuing him, forming the first real bond between them. The two teens head back home, believing the only danger they have to face are their families' disapproval, when a second group of vampires are spotted at the city limits. The leader of the new vamps, has set her sights on Beau and refuses to let anything or anyone get in her way of the hunt.
I really liked this new version of the book. I think the big change of having it be from a male's point of view made it more interesting, and dare I say less stalkerish. It didn't have the same heavy tone of creepy psycho-abusive boyfriendness that the original did.
And the ending...for those who haven't read this updated version and might want to, I'll spare the spoilers and just say, the ending is far superior than the original ending. This alternate ending actually undoes the need for Breaking Dawn in the book series. Completely removes it.
The character of Edythe for me, was a little papery. But at the same time she gives off this seductress quality. I'm going to put that down to the whole vampire predator element. Which, ironically, is pointed out more then you would expect. I got the impression she was having way too much fun trying to find ways to frighten Beau off; which I can't honestly remember there being in the original. She's just that touch more sadistic then I ever remember her counterpart in the original being. There is also this feeling of complete desperation from Edythe, much like there was from the original version's Bella. Where the Beau/Bella character is meant to be the big damsel in distress; I didn't always get the white knight vibe from Edythe/Edward character. Both versions have the females (Edythe in this one Bella in the original) as very greedy emotionally. The character of Beau, I found to be more stable then the original Bella was. Maybe because he was a guy, he was written with a tad more of a logical approach, as there just seemed less desperation from him then I remember from the original version.
Archie (the Alice character in the original) and Jessamine (the Jasper character in the original) were much more interesting for me than Edythe (as they were in the original too) I think my biggest biggest complain all around is the names of the characters. I wanted to laugh out loud in a bad way whenever I saw some of them. Changing all but Beau's parents from male to female and female to male in this version wasn't completely necessary. There were moments when it made it down right confusing, trying to keep straight in my head who the characters were parallel to in the original story.
The Movie: After moving to a new school, Bella Swan develops a crush on the school's most aloof student Edward Cullen. Even though he at first rejects her, she begins to dream about him. After an accident in the school parking lot, Edward makes it his job to keep Bella safe, even at the risk of angering his siblings. Before long, the two can not avoid each other or their own feelings. Meanwhile, a series of brutal murders have taken place in the area, and Edward's family are on edge because of it. Bella is then caught in the middle of a vampire turf war, unaware she is the ultimate prize.
I've talked about the first Twilight movie before (first year of the blog Day 41) and I've expressed over the years since the movie first came out, my love/hate/love/hate relationship with it.
So my big pro for the whole thing is that when the first Twilight came out, the vampire genre needed a change. You've heard me say many times in the last few years, that Twilight helped to clean up the genre. The vampire is a great metaphor for pretty much everything and the last few decades it had gotten locked in with just sex.Yes, we know that some of the best vampire fiction is in direct connection to the subject or sub-plot of sex (usually in the form of sexual awakening/freedom) But, the mid 1990's till just a couple of years ago, the image of the vampire lost it's ability to be used as a metaphor for anything else. Many would argue that it still is being used that way in the whole Twilight series, and I'm not arguing that it is. But it's also being used as a metaphor for addiction, loyalty and ironically veganism.
The cons to the movie, besides the fact Bella Swan is one of the most annoying characters to ever grace a screen, the movie takes way too long to get to the good stuff. The introduction of the second band of vampires, the nomads lead by James, is a plot device I would have moved up in the film, expanded on myself. The movie holds too much time in the everyday limits of the high school mentality.
Another of the movie cons, is that it seems to bring out the whole brain washing cult feel of the Cullens more so then the books ever did. Yes, we're playing with the idea of the whole sire bond, but where's the depth in it; the emotions?
I know I'm not the only one who sees deep ideas in the movie version of Twilight that are similar to Anne Rice's works. But, Rice handled it differently. There's no heart in the story here. It's like the surface of Edward's skin, shinny but useless in the shadows.
I have to admit watching it this time, I couldn't get past Edward's hair. Every time I would look at his character on screen, all I could think was why did they choose to do that hairdo? I also thought that they really made the vampires a tad on the ugly side with the make-up. It didn't have the usual effect the heavy "pale" vampire make-up normally gives. I kept wanting to change the colour features on my screen to lighten the look of the make-up.
I think I'm going to stop here. As I said before, I've got a love/hate relationship with the whole series.
February's selections will be Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. Both for the movie and the book. And the deadline for that one will be Sunday Feb 28th 2016.
So, we'll be blogging about that movie and book and if you've been inspired to craft/bake/cook something because of it, let us know. And as this one was, it must be a current blog post if you are joining in. (February 2016)
And if you're in the Thunder Bay area, and would like to join the physical book club, let me know.
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Year 5 Day 52
movie:Quartet
starring: Maggie Smith, Billy Connolly
genre: Drama
year: 2012
format: Netflix Canada
plot: At a retirement home for opera singers and broadway musicians, a group who haven't sung together in over 30 years, reunite for a charity event
Based on the stage play
It's a slow going pace, that at times had me tempted to just give up on it and turn it off. The humour that Connolly's character manages to deliver though is about what kept me from doing that. He ends up playing this "naughty" senior who flirts with every one of the female staff at the retirement home, but at the same time manages to impart some pretty important plot points. He's the rational mind of the group.
The Smith character, comes into things, depressed and slightly angry at the world. But soon finds herself regretting having left her friends years before.
I really wasn't overly thrilled with this one. It took it's time really creating the chemistry I thought the characters should have had to begin with. They are suppose to be four people who not only were friends and worked together for a few years in their younger days, but lovers who knew each other's every angle. It just didn't feel like that for me.
what did I learn? No matter how you dress it, I'm just not an opera fan.
starring: Maggie Smith, Billy Connolly
genre: Drama
year: 2012
format: Netflix Canada
plot: At a retirement home for opera singers and broadway musicians, a group who haven't sung together in over 30 years, reunite for a charity event
Based on the stage play
It's a slow going pace, that at times had me tempted to just give up on it and turn it off. The humour that Connolly's character manages to deliver though is about what kept me from doing that. He ends up playing this "naughty" senior who flirts with every one of the female staff at the retirement home, but at the same time manages to impart some pretty important plot points. He's the rational mind of the group.
The Smith character, comes into things, depressed and slightly angry at the world. But soon finds herself regretting having left her friends years before.
I really wasn't overly thrilled with this one. It took it's time really creating the chemistry I thought the characters should have had to begin with. They are suppose to be four people who not only were friends and worked together for a few years in their younger days, but lovers who knew each other's every angle. It just didn't feel like that for me.
what did I learn? No matter how you dress it, I'm just not an opera fan.
Friday, January 22, 2016
year 5 day 51
movie:Alien Resurrection
starring: Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder
genre; Sci-fi
year; 1997
format; TV Edit
plot: After cloning the dna of the one woman who was able to overthrow the predatory aliens hundreds of years before, the lab ship crew find themselves in a game of us vs them.
Ah...er...um...yeah. I know I've seen one of the other movies in this series before like a million years ago, but thankfully this was pretty much a stand alone-ish film.
The Weaver character is cloned and ends up a bit of a hybrid, which makes sense. We watch her go through moments of strange curiosity as she stares wide eyed at things/people moving her head in a snake like way. So right off the bat after the first few minutes I'm happy doing my little geek chair dance because ITS A FRANKENSTEIN movie. Yay! There is even a scene where the character is waking up after a surgery where she's dressed in a medical gown that just screams Bride of Frankenstein. I mean, man you've even got the whole mad scientist thing going on with the Brad Dourif character, who is like the master of scary. (I know I'm not the only one who the second they hear his voice flash back to the original Child's Play and just ...shivers...)
And then the rest is a typical survival story as all the ones the aliens didn't eat or crush, go running through the broken main ship trying to get to the cargo ship and leave.
The Ryder character ends up being a cyborg, which again layers on the Frankenstein idea of creating something stronger, then it's natural predecessor.
And of course, you then have the alien queen who because her dna was mixed with Ripley's is a sort of hybrid herself. She in turn births another more advanced hybrid. Each creature destroying it's creator (the queen kills the mad scientist, the newborn kills the queen) until Ripley is left to face the newborn hybrid.
what did I learn? There really are only three types of stories; monster or tragic love or revenge.
starring: Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder
genre; Sci-fi
year; 1997
format; TV Edit
plot: After cloning the dna of the one woman who was able to overthrow the predatory aliens hundreds of years before, the lab ship crew find themselves in a game of us vs them.
Ah...er...um...yeah. I know I've seen one of the other movies in this series before like a million years ago, but thankfully this was pretty much a stand alone-ish film.
The Weaver character is cloned and ends up a bit of a hybrid, which makes sense. We watch her go through moments of strange curiosity as she stares wide eyed at things/people moving her head in a snake like way. So right off the bat after the first few minutes I'm happy doing my little geek chair dance because ITS A FRANKENSTEIN movie. Yay! There is even a scene where the character is waking up after a surgery where she's dressed in a medical gown that just screams Bride of Frankenstein. I mean, man you've even got the whole mad scientist thing going on with the Brad Dourif character, who is like the master of scary. (I know I'm not the only one who the second they hear his voice flash back to the original Child's Play and just ...shivers...)
And then the rest is a typical survival story as all the ones the aliens didn't eat or crush, go running through the broken main ship trying to get to the cargo ship and leave.
The Ryder character ends up being a cyborg, which again layers on the Frankenstein idea of creating something stronger, then it's natural predecessor.
And of course, you then have the alien queen who because her dna was mixed with Ripley's is a sort of hybrid herself. She in turn births another more advanced hybrid. Each creature destroying it's creator (the queen kills the mad scientist, the newborn kills the queen) until Ripley is left to face the newborn hybrid.
what did I learn? There really are only three types of stories; monster or tragic love or revenge.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
year 5 day 50
movie: The Truman Show
starring: Jim Carrey, Paul Giamatti
genre: Comedy
year: 1998
format: Netflix Canada
plot:A man's whole life is broadcast on tv and he is clueless about it.
This was disturbing. I know the world has become desensitized to living semi-scripted on air, but given this was done before that really became the norm, it's just creepy.
The whole time I was thinking, Shock Treatment did it first. The idea of putting someone in a controlled environment and filming them 24/7. In fact, wasn't there a Hitchcock episode or Twilight Zone or something from the 1960's that did something like this?
So there are the obvious themes of the gods/goddesses factor. The questions of free will vs someone moving us around like pawns. And the whole privacy issue. I'm sure those topics will and have kept people chatting for hours.
Me, I just can't get past the issue of not being able to know if someone is in your life because they want to or because they have to?
The fact the characters of the producers manage to control Truman by creating a deep fear of water, sort of had me wondering, what if the tragic event had backfired? What if instead of him having this horrible fear of water, he instead became obsessed with scuba diving or something? Obsessed with ships and sea creatures and that sort of thing?
I honestly think this would have had a deeper punch if it had been a straight up thriller or horror film. There are just so many things in this film that made me think of the Stepford Wives.
what did I learn? I still can not stand reality tv.
starring: Jim Carrey, Paul Giamatti
genre: Comedy
year: 1998
format: Netflix Canada
plot:A man's whole life is broadcast on tv and he is clueless about it.
This was disturbing. I know the world has become desensitized to living semi-scripted on air, but given this was done before that really became the norm, it's just creepy.
The whole time I was thinking, Shock Treatment did it first. The idea of putting someone in a controlled environment and filming them 24/7. In fact, wasn't there a Hitchcock episode or Twilight Zone or something from the 1960's that did something like this?
So there are the obvious themes of the gods/goddesses factor. The questions of free will vs someone moving us around like pawns. And the whole privacy issue. I'm sure those topics will and have kept people chatting for hours.
Me, I just can't get past the issue of not being able to know if someone is in your life because they want to or because they have to?
The fact the characters of the producers manage to control Truman by creating a deep fear of water, sort of had me wondering, what if the tragic event had backfired? What if instead of him having this horrible fear of water, he instead became obsessed with scuba diving or something? Obsessed with ships and sea creatures and that sort of thing?
I honestly think this would have had a deeper punch if it had been a straight up thriller or horror film. There are just so many things in this film that made me think of the Stepford Wives.
what did I learn? I still can not stand reality tv.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
year 5 day 49
movie: Bagdad Cafe
starring: CCH Pounder, Marianne Sagebrecht
genre: Drama, Comedy
year:1987
format: Hollywood Suites Channel
plot: After a fight with her husband, a German tourist finds herself stranded at a small gas station in the middle of nowhere in the heart of the U.S.
The first few minutes made me think it was a rock video gone wrong. It had some awkwardly done flashes cut together, that were suppose to express dreams and memories. Then it started to feel like a stage play for another ten minutes or so as CCH Pounder had the bulk of the dialog.
It wasn't a bad movie, but it wasn't overly great either. I think because it took awhile to even out I started to loose interest by the hour mark.
You end up with a woman who accepts that she's stranded in an unfamiliar place, without any of her stuff, (she finds her husband has used her suitcase instead of his) and does her best to survive. Somehow, overcoming the social gaps enough to become part of the family. The two leads find themselves both having been left by their husbands, on the surface, as the Pounder character has no idea that her husband is hanging around the edges of the place spying on her through the whole film, and only the Sagebrecht character's husband is truly gone.
Okay, so here's what I don't get, the very beginning, the German husband arrives at the gas station ahead of her asking if anyone has seen her. At this point no one has, then when she arrives, no one bothers to tell her he's been looking for her, no one puts two and two together when they see men's clothes in her bag.
what did I learn? I'm not too sure on this one.
starring: CCH Pounder, Marianne Sagebrecht
genre: Drama, Comedy
year:1987
format: Hollywood Suites Channel
plot: After a fight with her husband, a German tourist finds herself stranded at a small gas station in the middle of nowhere in the heart of the U.S.
The first few minutes made me think it was a rock video gone wrong. It had some awkwardly done flashes cut together, that were suppose to express dreams and memories. Then it started to feel like a stage play for another ten minutes or so as CCH Pounder had the bulk of the dialog.
It wasn't a bad movie, but it wasn't overly great either. I think because it took awhile to even out I started to loose interest by the hour mark.
You end up with a woman who accepts that she's stranded in an unfamiliar place, without any of her stuff, (she finds her husband has used her suitcase instead of his) and does her best to survive. Somehow, overcoming the social gaps enough to become part of the family. The two leads find themselves both having been left by their husbands, on the surface, as the Pounder character has no idea that her husband is hanging around the edges of the place spying on her through the whole film, and only the Sagebrecht character's husband is truly gone.
Okay, so here's what I don't get, the very beginning, the German husband arrives at the gas station ahead of her asking if anyone has seen her. At this point no one has, then when she arrives, no one bothers to tell her he's been looking for her, no one puts two and two together when they see men's clothes in her bag.
what did I learn? I'm not too sure on this one.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
year 5 day 48
movie: Paul Blart Mall Cop
starring: Kevin James, Keir O'Donnell
genre: Comedy
year: 2009
format: Netflix Canada
plot:After finding himself locked the mall with a group of thieves, one security guard has to find a way to stop them and save the hostages.
On the surface it's a fairly typical story, the guy who can't seem to get his life together ends up being the big hero. And that's pretty much as deep as I found it to be. It was funny, relying on physical comedy for most of it. The scenes where he is talking to the teenaged hacker reminded me of another movie/tv show but I just couldn't put my finger on what. (and I'm sure it will come to me at a weird moment later)
The whole point seems to be about being yourself, and trusting/believing in your own abilities. The underlining idea of loyalty (if you want to get deep) was one of the sub-plots. But I pretty much found it to be a surface movie, a nice light snack so to speak. With a slight cringe at the lolli on the floor scene.
This is what I don't get, there is one scene where he blows up the kitchen in the mall's restaurant leaving a large hole leading to the parking lot. Why did the police who were standing around the back parking lot, not take advantage of it? They watch the explosion with what looks like a way in for them, but yet no one even moves.
what did I learn? Don't drive your wheelchair scooter in the mall you'll get a ticket.
starring: Kevin James, Keir O'Donnell
genre: Comedy
year: 2009
format: Netflix Canada
plot:After finding himself locked the mall with a group of thieves, one security guard has to find a way to stop them and save the hostages.
On the surface it's a fairly typical story, the guy who can't seem to get his life together ends up being the big hero. And that's pretty much as deep as I found it to be. It was funny, relying on physical comedy for most of it. The scenes where he is talking to the teenaged hacker reminded me of another movie/tv show but I just couldn't put my finger on what. (and I'm sure it will come to me at a weird moment later)
The whole point seems to be about being yourself, and trusting/believing in your own abilities. The underlining idea of loyalty (if you want to get deep) was one of the sub-plots. But I pretty much found it to be a surface movie, a nice light snack so to speak. With a slight cringe at the lolli on the floor scene.
This is what I don't get, there is one scene where he blows up the kitchen in the mall's restaurant leaving a large hole leading to the parking lot. Why did the police who were standing around the back parking lot, not take advantage of it? They watch the explosion with what looks like a way in for them, but yet no one even moves.
what did I learn? Don't drive your wheelchair scooter in the mall you'll get a ticket.
Monday, January 18, 2016
year 5 Day 47
movie: The Blue Lagoon
starring: Brooke Shields, Christopher Atkins
genre: Drama
year: 1980
format; Hollywood Suites Channel
plot: After being shipwrecked on a island, two teens have to learn to survive.
This is based on the novel of the same name.
Okay, so I have to admit, this is the first time I've actually seen this movie. And I was expecting some big bad with the way it's always been talked about. I was actually disappointed to find there was nothing in this film. It was fairly uneventful. Even the big threat of the island hunters when they give a sacrifice was less then impressive.
You've got a story about two relatives, cousins, who end up abandoned after the one crew member of the shipwreck dies, leaving them to fend for themselves, on a nearly empty island. Completely unaware of everything, they end up still childlike, even as they mature.
So the big taboo in the story is incest, which given the fact they are cousins and it was a common practice until recently for cousins to marry, usually to keep the wealth in the family; and titles; I failed to see the earth shatteringness of it.
what did I learn? Don't always buy into the hype.
starring: Brooke Shields, Christopher Atkins
genre: Drama
year: 1980
format; Hollywood Suites Channel
plot: After being shipwrecked on a island, two teens have to learn to survive.
This is based on the novel of the same name.
Okay, so I have to admit, this is the first time I've actually seen this movie. And I was expecting some big bad with the way it's always been talked about. I was actually disappointed to find there was nothing in this film. It was fairly uneventful. Even the big threat of the island hunters when they give a sacrifice was less then impressive.
You've got a story about two relatives, cousins, who end up abandoned after the one crew member of the shipwreck dies, leaving them to fend for themselves, on a nearly empty island. Completely unaware of everything, they end up still childlike, even as they mature.
So the big taboo in the story is incest, which given the fact they are cousins and it was a common practice until recently for cousins to marry, usually to keep the wealth in the family; and titles; I failed to see the earth shatteringness of it.
what did I learn? Don't always buy into the hype.
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Year 5 Day 46
movie: Bigger than the Sky
starring: John Corbett, Marcus Thomas
genre: Drama
year: 2005
format: TV Edit
plot: After getting dumped, a shy man auditions for his local theater group, and gets the lead in Cyrano de Bergerac.
This is another of those stories where things seem to mirror themselves. The love triangle between the Thomas character Peter, the Corbett character Michael and the female lead, play out, similar at times to the triangle in Cyrano de Bergerac. The two men end up becoming best friends, and the Corbett character finds himself dealing with jealousy towards not just the new guy stealing his girl, but with not being the center of attention for the new best friend.
Sean Astin plays the character of a rival actor, who in his attempt to take over the role of Cyrano, begins to upstage the Corbett character, adding to an already strange rivalry. The two have been going back and forth for years pulling practical jokes on the other, in order to get the upper hand in the local theater.
There is one scene where, you see the three leads leaving a bar together, and the character of Michael saying he forgot his script, having to run back in and get it. When he returns outside, he finds himself alone, both Peter and Grace having left together. You're left with him standing there in this emotional tunnel, wondering who hurt him more? As the Peter character grows into his own courage, we see the Michael character begin to peel back his own defenses, to discover his vulnerability.
what did I learn? More movies need sword fight scenes.
starring: John Corbett, Marcus Thomas
genre: Drama
year: 2005
format: TV Edit
plot: After getting dumped, a shy man auditions for his local theater group, and gets the lead in Cyrano de Bergerac.
This is another of those stories where things seem to mirror themselves. The love triangle between the Thomas character Peter, the Corbett character Michael and the female lead, play out, similar at times to the triangle in Cyrano de Bergerac. The two men end up becoming best friends, and the Corbett character finds himself dealing with jealousy towards not just the new guy stealing his girl, but with not being the center of attention for the new best friend.
Sean Astin plays the character of a rival actor, who in his attempt to take over the role of Cyrano, begins to upstage the Corbett character, adding to an already strange rivalry. The two have been going back and forth for years pulling practical jokes on the other, in order to get the upper hand in the local theater.
There is one scene where, you see the three leads leaving a bar together, and the character of Michael saying he forgot his script, having to run back in and get it. When he returns outside, he finds himself alone, both Peter and Grace having left together. You're left with him standing there in this emotional tunnel, wondering who hurt him more? As the Peter character grows into his own courage, we see the Michael character begin to peel back his own defenses, to discover his vulnerability.
what did I learn? More movies need sword fight scenes.
Saturday, January 16, 2016
year 5 day 45
movie: Hairspray
starring: Ricki Lake, Michael St. Gerard
genre: Comedy
year: 1988
format: Hollywood Suite Channel
plot: After winning a dance competition, a young girl becomes the center of attention, while trying to help her community deal with interracial ideals in the early 1960's.
Seriously, what else is there to say about this film? It's about the racial divide that was still happening during that point in history.
It starts off as a popular high school princess vs the outsider story; playing on the cruelty that so many fall into. But, only as a vehicle to the real issue, which was the topic of segregation.
I didn't care for this movie when it first came out nearly 30 years ago, and I'm even less impressed with it after having watched it again this morning. I get the comedy of the high school rivalry is there to help lighten the seriousness of the main issue, but the extreme campyness of it makes it less digestible.
what did I learn? big hair will never go out of style completely.
starring: Ricki Lake, Michael St. Gerard
genre: Comedy
year: 1988
format: Hollywood Suite Channel
plot: After winning a dance competition, a young girl becomes the center of attention, while trying to help her community deal with interracial ideals in the early 1960's.
Seriously, what else is there to say about this film? It's about the racial divide that was still happening during that point in history.
It starts off as a popular high school princess vs the outsider story; playing on the cruelty that so many fall into. But, only as a vehicle to the real issue, which was the topic of segregation.
I didn't care for this movie when it first came out nearly 30 years ago, and I'm even less impressed with it after having watched it again this morning. I get the comedy of the high school rivalry is there to help lighten the seriousness of the main issue, but the extreme campyness of it makes it less digestible.
what did I learn? big hair will never go out of style completely.
Friday, January 15, 2016
year 5 day 44
movie:Clouds of Sils Maria
starring: Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart
genre:Drama
year:2014
format: Netflix Canada
plot: An actress who became famous for her seductive portrayal in her youth, is asked to redo the play 25 years later but in the role of the older woman. She at first rejects the idea, but soon finds herself unwilling to let go of the play, and her role. All the while, finding her real life mirroring the characters in the play.
You almost have three overlapping mirror images happening here. The lead character, played by Binoche, at one point talks about the affair she had with a male costar when she first started out, and expresses her insecurities about it. While her personal assistant; the Stewart character, ends up having an affair with a brash young photographer they met while doing a magazine cover. We know that something went wrong with the younger woman's relationship, we the viewers are just never given the knowledge of what. Meanwhile, the character of the younger starlet played by Chloe Grace Moretz, is also having an affair with a married man.
The bulk of the movie is nothing more then watching the two leads Binoche and Stewart, running lines and talking about why the Binoche character should or shouldn't be attempting to do the play. It gets confusing which is the main point. You're never 100% sure where the play ends and when the "real life" begins. And they both end up mesmerized by the Moretz character of the still younger starlet.
There is this subtle but striking vision clue when the Binoche character, after deciding to do the play, chops off her hair and begins dressing in suites. Where as in the beginning of the film, she's got longer hair, and is seen in very lovely gowns and make-up when her character is still refusing to take the role. It's almost as if she's denying the possibility for the first half hour, unwilling to see herself as anything but who she was 25 years before hand. Which is yet another theme in the film, the idea of being stuck in your own image of yourself.
what did I learn? Seduction comes in all forms, and only when you admit it can you get past the fear of who it will leave in it's wake. Fear is as seductive as seduction itself.
starring: Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart
genre:Drama
year:2014
format: Netflix Canada
plot: An actress who became famous for her seductive portrayal in her youth, is asked to redo the play 25 years later but in the role of the older woman. She at first rejects the idea, but soon finds herself unwilling to let go of the play, and her role. All the while, finding her real life mirroring the characters in the play.
You almost have three overlapping mirror images happening here. The lead character, played by Binoche, at one point talks about the affair she had with a male costar when she first started out, and expresses her insecurities about it. While her personal assistant; the Stewart character, ends up having an affair with a brash young photographer they met while doing a magazine cover. We know that something went wrong with the younger woman's relationship, we the viewers are just never given the knowledge of what. Meanwhile, the character of the younger starlet played by Chloe Grace Moretz, is also having an affair with a married man.
The bulk of the movie is nothing more then watching the two leads Binoche and Stewart, running lines and talking about why the Binoche character should or shouldn't be attempting to do the play. It gets confusing which is the main point. You're never 100% sure where the play ends and when the "real life" begins. And they both end up mesmerized by the Moretz character of the still younger starlet.
There is this subtle but striking vision clue when the Binoche character, after deciding to do the play, chops off her hair and begins dressing in suites. Where as in the beginning of the film, she's got longer hair, and is seen in very lovely gowns and make-up when her character is still refusing to take the role. It's almost as if she's denying the possibility for the first half hour, unwilling to see herself as anything but who she was 25 years before hand. Which is yet another theme in the film, the idea of being stuck in your own image of yourself.
what did I learn? Seduction comes in all forms, and only when you admit it can you get past the fear of who it will leave in it's wake. Fear is as seductive as seduction itself.
The Nosferatu Adventures s10 p1
The Nosferatu Adventures
page 249, chapter 249
2024
Rolf's Kingdom
"We're totally shacked." the dark haired male stated plainly as he sat dangling his one leg over the edge of the table. His other was propped up across the length of the old table in the library, as he continued to pull splinters out of his knee. "You know that right? I mean, right?" Reuben made a silent scream of pain as he continued to remove the remains of the shattered branch.
"I'm not the insane one who went chasing after an angry werewolf with necromantic powers." Finn commented as he stood at the end of the table, flipping pages in a large volume. "My head hurts." he complained slumping over pinching the bridge of his nose.
"What do you want me to do?" Reuben's voice rose in frustration, as he removed the trademark ponytail, running his powerful fingers through it again, redoing the ponytail without thinking about it. "He's my bloodline as everyone likes to point out to me!" a splinter went flying with pinpoint precision, by a half flick of the werewolf's wrist to land in the far corner of the room.
"I expect you not to miss next time." the familiar said looking over his shoulder at the splinter embedded in the edge of the doorframe.
"Fairy dust isn't you know...an exact science." Reuben argued, his chocolate brown puppy dog eyes closed. Shrugging he dug deeper into his flesh removing the final chunk of wood. Jumping down from the table top, he flexed his knee contented that he'd gotten it all.
"No, but you only have to be within a foot of the person to toss it at them." Finn all but added a meow at the end of his sentence as he looked down the table towards the other male, over the rim of his tiny round sunglasses. "How the hell did you miss?" The werewolf honestly couldn't answer him. He didn't understand it himself. One second Reuben was face to face, literally nose to nose with the Necromancer, and before he could breathe, he was gone. Reuben left standing alone in a bramble bush. "It's not like he can use his magick while in wolf form." Finn continued as he scratched the back of his arm. "Can he?" The male straightened up to his full height, his left hand now running through his own short hair the colour of sand streaked with grey and sun-bleached blonde.
"None of us ever could. Can you? When you're in cat form?"
Finn shook his head. "The best I've ever been able to do in cat form was telepathy." he replied wiggling his fingers towards his eyes. "And all familiars are capable of that." he opened his mouth again as if to speak, tilting his head to the side before changing his mind.
"What?" the dark haired male asked.
"This is going to sound massively crazy, but...what if he is able to?" he moved around the room suddenly as if the floor was burning his feet. Jumping up on the table, Finn crouched down balancing himself perfectly on his toes. Removing his sunglasses, he started to bat them back and forth between his palms on the table top, his green cat eyes disturbingly bright as if they were soaking in all the light in the room. Reuben had to hold back a growl, as an instinctive shiver crept up his spine. "What if he's...what if he's his own familiar?"
"You've had too much catnip today. That is crazy." the shapeshifter crossed his arms over his muscular chest. "What does that even mean? His own familiar?"
"Well, he's one of the most powerful sorcerers in like four kingdoms, it's possible he can do stuff that no other werewolf can?" Finn said standing back up, the tiny round sunglasses back on his face.
"I know it's been like nine years, but from what I remember of The Seer, he was more powerful then the Necromancer was, and even he could not do magick in wolf form." Reuben said shaking his head. Finn couldn't help but let out a snort as he moved across the table, before back flipping off it. "What?"
"Just thinking Reuben, for someone who has always claimed to hate witches so much, how is it that yours is the only bloodline I know that has not one, but two werewolf-witch hybrids"
"I try not to think about it." the werewolf sniffed. His nostrils flared as he brought both hands out to his sides then, inching his neck forward, his ears twitching. Sniffing deeply he mouthed the words "did you smell that?" Nodding, Finn pointed to the doorway. "All this talk about witches is making me hungry. I think I will need to find myself some gingerbread." the werewolf said in an overly exaggerated voice. Turning in a blur, Reuben moved towards the library door, opening it wide, causing the little boy in the hallway to give a silent giggle. Damen stuffed the gingerbread man into his mouth chomping down hard, before braking off a piece holding it out to the older male. "Mmmm, thank you. You know the first time we met your mom we had a picnic. Rolf, Dagan, me and her." the dark haired male nodded the half cookie still in his hand. "And she ate gingerbread. Actually, memory serves me that first few weeks there was a lot of gingerbread eaten. Lots of sweets usually by Dagan."
The little auburn haired eight and a half year old patted Reuben on the head leaving a few cookie crumbs in his wake. Sighing, he moved around the room to where Finn was, holding out the last piece to him. "Such a deep sigh for such a little wolf. Something on your mind?" Finn asked as the little boy grabbed hold of the table ledge swinging on it, looking over the book's pages. Screwing up his lips into a sideways duck bill, he shrugged. Both grown ups watched as the little boy moved across the room again, first closing the library door locking it from the inside then grabbing the nearest chair he could, angling it under the doorknob just to be sure. "Okay that's not very friendly." the familiar commented gesturing towards the door. "You and your little brother fighting?"
Damen nodded again walking around the room once more, this time grabbing a pencil and paper from a second smaller table that sat by the far window. Writing something in a blur he folded the page before handing it to Finn. The little boy then continued to drag a second chair to the magick mirror climbing up in order to reach the blanket that was covering it, ripping the edge off it exposing the surface.
"What you doing bud?" Reuben asked "That's not a toy you know that. We've talked about how it's only for work..." but it was too late, Damen had knocked on the mirror's surface. The Sea Witch appeared on the other side looking less then amused. That was until she spotted the child. Her features softened a great bit and Reuben could swear from his end there was a giggle forming on the old witch's lips. "I'm so sorry." the dark haired wolf started to say, as he was suddenly beside the mirror. The Sea Witch held up her hand towards him and nodded towards Damen.
Snapping his fingers the now anxious little boy pointed towards the note he'd handed Finn and patted the mirror's surface again. It was clear he wanted the familiar to read it for him.
"He really shouldn't have bothered you. Specially with something as trivial as this." the familiar had his head almost touching his chest, he bowed instinctively when seeing the witch.
"What is it?" the Sea Witch asked still in a good mood on her end of the mirror.
"He says he doesn't trust William, his little brother. He wrote here, that there's something wrong with him."
"I'm sure it's nothing..." Reuben was starting to say, but the Sea Witch cut him off.
"Hear him out. He's going to be not just the true alpha when he grows up, but I'm guessing the king's heir as well as Loki's. Not only does he need to trust his instincts better, you have to start trusting him." Reuben swallowed hard. It was true, that Rolf had planned on turning the kingdom over at some point to his nephew. But that would be ages from then, maybe even a few hundred years give or take. What stung the most was how the Sea Witch had reminded them that Damen was designed to be the one alpha. Born with the intent of controlling all the packs. As Loki's heir, it would be like the separate bloodlines never existed. The werewolf cleared his throat turning a half centimeter on his heels holding back a growl of frustration.
Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures starring your heroine...me(straight up story. Think someone is worried?)
page 249, chapter 249
2024
Rolf's Kingdom
"We're totally shacked." the dark haired male stated plainly as he sat dangling his one leg over the edge of the table. His other was propped up across the length of the old table in the library, as he continued to pull splinters out of his knee. "You know that right? I mean, right?" Reuben made a silent scream of pain as he continued to remove the remains of the shattered branch.
"I'm not the insane one who went chasing after an angry werewolf with necromantic powers." Finn commented as he stood at the end of the table, flipping pages in a large volume. "My head hurts." he complained slumping over pinching the bridge of his nose.
"What do you want me to do?" Reuben's voice rose in frustration, as he removed the trademark ponytail, running his powerful fingers through it again, redoing the ponytail without thinking about it. "He's my bloodline as everyone likes to point out to me!" a splinter went flying with pinpoint precision, by a half flick of the werewolf's wrist to land in the far corner of the room.
"I expect you not to miss next time." the familiar said looking over his shoulder at the splinter embedded in the edge of the doorframe.
"Fairy dust isn't you know...an exact science." Reuben argued, his chocolate brown puppy dog eyes closed. Shrugging he dug deeper into his flesh removing the final chunk of wood. Jumping down from the table top, he flexed his knee contented that he'd gotten it all.
"No, but you only have to be within a foot of the person to toss it at them." Finn all but added a meow at the end of his sentence as he looked down the table towards the other male, over the rim of his tiny round sunglasses. "How the hell did you miss?" The werewolf honestly couldn't answer him. He didn't understand it himself. One second Reuben was face to face, literally nose to nose with the Necromancer, and before he could breathe, he was gone. Reuben left standing alone in a bramble bush. "It's not like he can use his magick while in wolf form." Finn continued as he scratched the back of his arm. "Can he?" The male straightened up to his full height, his left hand now running through his own short hair the colour of sand streaked with grey and sun-bleached blonde.
"None of us ever could. Can you? When you're in cat form?"
Finn shook his head. "The best I've ever been able to do in cat form was telepathy." he replied wiggling his fingers towards his eyes. "And all familiars are capable of that." he opened his mouth again as if to speak, tilting his head to the side before changing his mind.
"What?" the dark haired male asked.
"This is going to sound massively crazy, but...what if he is able to?" he moved around the room suddenly as if the floor was burning his feet. Jumping up on the table, Finn crouched down balancing himself perfectly on his toes. Removing his sunglasses, he started to bat them back and forth between his palms on the table top, his green cat eyes disturbingly bright as if they were soaking in all the light in the room. Reuben had to hold back a growl, as an instinctive shiver crept up his spine. "What if he's...what if he's his own familiar?"
"You've had too much catnip today. That is crazy." the shapeshifter crossed his arms over his muscular chest. "What does that even mean? His own familiar?"
"Well, he's one of the most powerful sorcerers in like four kingdoms, it's possible he can do stuff that no other werewolf can?" Finn said standing back up, the tiny round sunglasses back on his face.
"I know it's been like nine years, but from what I remember of The Seer, he was more powerful then the Necromancer was, and even he could not do magick in wolf form." Reuben said shaking his head. Finn couldn't help but let out a snort as he moved across the table, before back flipping off it. "What?"
"Just thinking Reuben, for someone who has always claimed to hate witches so much, how is it that yours is the only bloodline I know that has not one, but two werewolf-witch hybrids"
"I try not to think about it." the werewolf sniffed. His nostrils flared as he brought both hands out to his sides then, inching his neck forward, his ears twitching. Sniffing deeply he mouthed the words "did you smell that?" Nodding, Finn pointed to the doorway. "All this talk about witches is making me hungry. I think I will need to find myself some gingerbread." the werewolf said in an overly exaggerated voice. Turning in a blur, Reuben moved towards the library door, opening it wide, causing the little boy in the hallway to give a silent giggle. Damen stuffed the gingerbread man into his mouth chomping down hard, before braking off a piece holding it out to the older male. "Mmmm, thank you. You know the first time we met your mom we had a picnic. Rolf, Dagan, me and her." the dark haired male nodded the half cookie still in his hand. "And she ate gingerbread. Actually, memory serves me that first few weeks there was a lot of gingerbread eaten. Lots of sweets usually by Dagan."
The little auburn haired eight and a half year old patted Reuben on the head leaving a few cookie crumbs in his wake. Sighing, he moved around the room to where Finn was, holding out the last piece to him. "Such a deep sigh for such a little wolf. Something on your mind?" Finn asked as the little boy grabbed hold of the table ledge swinging on it, looking over the book's pages. Screwing up his lips into a sideways duck bill, he shrugged. Both grown ups watched as the little boy moved across the room again, first closing the library door locking it from the inside then grabbing the nearest chair he could, angling it under the doorknob just to be sure. "Okay that's not very friendly." the familiar commented gesturing towards the door. "You and your little brother fighting?"
Damen nodded again walking around the room once more, this time grabbing a pencil and paper from a second smaller table that sat by the far window. Writing something in a blur he folded the page before handing it to Finn. The little boy then continued to drag a second chair to the magick mirror climbing up in order to reach the blanket that was covering it, ripping the edge off it exposing the surface.
"What you doing bud?" Reuben asked "That's not a toy you know that. We've talked about how it's only for work..." but it was too late, Damen had knocked on the mirror's surface. The Sea Witch appeared on the other side looking less then amused. That was until she spotted the child. Her features softened a great bit and Reuben could swear from his end there was a giggle forming on the old witch's lips. "I'm so sorry." the dark haired wolf started to say, as he was suddenly beside the mirror. The Sea Witch held up her hand towards him and nodded towards Damen.
Snapping his fingers the now anxious little boy pointed towards the note he'd handed Finn and patted the mirror's surface again. It was clear he wanted the familiar to read it for him.
"He really shouldn't have bothered you. Specially with something as trivial as this." the familiar had his head almost touching his chest, he bowed instinctively when seeing the witch.
"What is it?" the Sea Witch asked still in a good mood on her end of the mirror.
"He says he doesn't trust William, his little brother. He wrote here, that there's something wrong with him."
"I'm sure it's nothing..." Reuben was starting to say, but the Sea Witch cut him off.
"Hear him out. He's going to be not just the true alpha when he grows up, but I'm guessing the king's heir as well as Loki's. Not only does he need to trust his instincts better, you have to start trusting him." Reuben swallowed hard. It was true, that Rolf had planned on turning the kingdom over at some point to his nephew. But that would be ages from then, maybe even a few hundred years give or take. What stung the most was how the Sea Witch had reminded them that Damen was designed to be the one alpha. Born with the intent of controlling all the packs. As Loki's heir, it would be like the separate bloodlines never existed. The werewolf cleared his throat turning a half centimeter on his heels holding back a growl of frustration.
Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures starring your heroine...me(straight up story. Think someone is worried?)
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Year 5 day 43
movie: Stonehenge Apocalypse
starring: Peter Wingfield, Misha Collins
genre: Sci-fi
year: 2010
format: TV Edit
plot: When a strange magnetic current changes the structure of stonehenge, it sets off a world wide chain reaction of destruction.
This is one of those "what if" movies, that at first glance seems so off the rails you settle in for a mindless few hours. Only to find yourself midway through the movie and you're like "wait em second, there's a real theory here". Which, I suppose is the bases of any sci-fi/apocalyptic film.
You've got an archeologist who becomes the leader of a end of world cult, a group of military scientists that have no clue, and a conspiracy theorist who is about the only one who is able to piece it all together.
The idea that stonehenge is the center point for a large timer that when activated by an ankh shaped key half way round the world, by an underground power source, that is basically a self destruct panic button...half way makes sense.
what did I learn? I need to start paying more attention to studying crystal grids and how certain metals interact.
starring: Peter Wingfield, Misha Collins
genre: Sci-fi
year: 2010
format: TV Edit
plot: When a strange magnetic current changes the structure of stonehenge, it sets off a world wide chain reaction of destruction.
This is one of those "what if" movies, that at first glance seems so off the rails you settle in for a mindless few hours. Only to find yourself midway through the movie and you're like "wait em second, there's a real theory here". Which, I suppose is the bases of any sci-fi/apocalyptic film.
You've got an archeologist who becomes the leader of a end of world cult, a group of military scientists that have no clue, and a conspiracy theorist who is about the only one who is able to piece it all together.
The idea that stonehenge is the center point for a large timer that when activated by an ankh shaped key half way round the world, by an underground power source, that is basically a self destruct panic button...half way makes sense.
what did I learn? I need to start paying more attention to studying crystal grids and how certain metals interact.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Year 5 Day 42
movie: Parental Guidance
starring: Billy Crystal, Bette Midler
genre:Comedy
year: 2012
format: Netflix Canada
plot: An overprotective mom has to ask her parents to babysit while her and her husband go away for the weekend.
Billy Crystal is the show here. He manages to draw the line on balance, between being "out of date" and being completely relevant. This is as much a story about loosing faith in your own abilities as it is keeping up with the modern world.
The parents are so over-protective, that the kids are practically hermits being raised by a series of computers, literally. As the father is a computer executive creating a "safer home security" that seconds as an automated butler. As the grandparents realize they know nothing about their grand-kid's lives, we see the generation gaps shrink over the course of the movie.
There is a scene where the lot of them are outside playing a simple game of kick the can, in the mud and rain. One of the kids comments on the fact they are outside, unaccustomed to playing outside. There is another scene later on when we learn that the oldest kid has been working her fingers to the bone at a hobby she's no longer in love with because it is what her mother wants. You feel the disconnect between the mother and teenager as she learns that for all her trying to raise her kids better then she had been raised, she has failed to notice how unhappy they are.
what did I learn? Sometimes you just have to walk that dinosaur.
starring: Billy Crystal, Bette Midler
genre:Comedy
year: 2012
format: Netflix Canada
plot: An overprotective mom has to ask her parents to babysit while her and her husband go away for the weekend.
Billy Crystal is the show here. He manages to draw the line on balance, between being "out of date" and being completely relevant. This is as much a story about loosing faith in your own abilities as it is keeping up with the modern world.
The parents are so over-protective, that the kids are practically hermits being raised by a series of computers, literally. As the father is a computer executive creating a "safer home security" that seconds as an automated butler. As the grandparents realize they know nothing about their grand-kid's lives, we see the generation gaps shrink over the course of the movie.
There is a scene where the lot of them are outside playing a simple game of kick the can, in the mud and rain. One of the kids comments on the fact they are outside, unaccustomed to playing outside. There is another scene later on when we learn that the oldest kid has been working her fingers to the bone at a hobby she's no longer in love with because it is what her mother wants. You feel the disconnect between the mother and teenager as she learns that for all her trying to raise her kids better then she had been raised, she has failed to notice how unhappy they are.
what did I learn? Sometimes you just have to walk that dinosaur.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
year 5 day 41
movie: The Big Lebowski
starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman
genre: Comedy, Drama
year: 1998
format: Netflix Canada
plot:After mistakenly being beaten up by a couple of hired thugs, a bowling nut becomes wrapped up in helping to solve a crime for the man he was mistaken for.
This is one of those movies that you can sit down and have a laugh at while watching, then spend days coming back to analyzing. I don't have days right now, I have like 45 seconds.
Part crime story, part wacked out stoner culture. The first time I saw this was when it first came out almost twenty years ago, and I didn't care for it to be honest. The big broadway style dream sequence sort of put me off the rest of the film. But, all these years later, giving it a second spin, I half way see the appeal. As a crime story, I liked it.
The character of the cowboy/narrator (the tumbling tumbleweed at the beginning) I was never completely sure if he was a figment of the lead character's imagination or not? And I'm not a fan of bowling, so I kept sort of waiting for something to push that element along. (Bowling, Bingo and Boardgames are the three B's I just won't) Which of course, there wasn't because it was the core of the groups reality. And you end up getting stuck in the back of the bowling alley, witnessing this family dynamic, between Bridges (the hapless husband mode), Goodman (the overbearing wife mode) and Steve Buscemi (the neglected teen mode) halfway taking in the excitement in their nonsense before realizing it's a conversation about a conversation.
what did I learn? Like Jediism, Woodism (the religious study of Ed Wood), Cult of the Cthulhu and various Star Trek related religions, there is an actual religion based on this movie and it's characters, Dudeism.
starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman
genre: Comedy, Drama
year: 1998
format: Netflix Canada
plot:After mistakenly being beaten up by a couple of hired thugs, a bowling nut becomes wrapped up in helping to solve a crime for the man he was mistaken for.
This is one of those movies that you can sit down and have a laugh at while watching, then spend days coming back to analyzing. I don't have days right now, I have like 45 seconds.
Part crime story, part wacked out stoner culture. The first time I saw this was when it first came out almost twenty years ago, and I didn't care for it to be honest. The big broadway style dream sequence sort of put me off the rest of the film. But, all these years later, giving it a second spin, I half way see the appeal. As a crime story, I liked it.
The character of the cowboy/narrator (the tumbling tumbleweed at the beginning) I was never completely sure if he was a figment of the lead character's imagination or not? And I'm not a fan of bowling, so I kept sort of waiting for something to push that element along. (Bowling, Bingo and Boardgames are the three B's I just won't) Which of course, there wasn't because it was the core of the groups reality. And you end up getting stuck in the back of the bowling alley, witnessing this family dynamic, between Bridges (the hapless husband mode), Goodman (the overbearing wife mode) and Steve Buscemi (the neglected teen mode) halfway taking in the excitement in their nonsense before realizing it's a conversation about a conversation.
what did I learn? Like Jediism, Woodism (the religious study of Ed Wood), Cult of the Cthulhu and various Star Trek related religions, there is an actual religion based on this movie and it's characters, Dudeism.
Monday, January 11, 2016
Year 5 Day 40
movie: Starman
starring; Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen
genre:Sci-fi
year; 1984
format; TV Edit
plot: After an alien lands on earth, it realizes that humans are not ready for contact. Taking the form of the first human he sees, by copying their dna; he starts a three day journey to meet up with a second ship. Along the way, starting up a relationship with the widow of the man he cloned, and hiding from the government.
I don't think I ever really got the point to this movie, even all these years later? Other then the idea that humans are a bunch of savages who don't listen. Seriously, it's a romance dressed up in a sci-fi outfit. Honestly, was it suppose to be about conspiracies, or second chances, or faith in people, or not judging a book by it's cover, or believing in the illogical, or was it a buddy road movie about how differences don't make a difference in the long run? Maybe all the above?
You have this grieving widow who just wants her husband back, and here is this guy who happens to look like him, but it's not him. Then the widow ends up falling for him anyways, even though she knows being around him puts her life in danger. unintentionally, but still in danger. Then he shuffles off never to be seen again. How devastating could that be? Talk about the ultimate bad one night stand with the man of your dreams?
what did I learn? Trust is key. Communication even more so.
starring; Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen
genre:Sci-fi
year; 1984
format; TV Edit
plot: After an alien lands on earth, it realizes that humans are not ready for contact. Taking the form of the first human he sees, by copying their dna; he starts a three day journey to meet up with a second ship. Along the way, starting up a relationship with the widow of the man he cloned, and hiding from the government.
I don't think I ever really got the point to this movie, even all these years later? Other then the idea that humans are a bunch of savages who don't listen. Seriously, it's a romance dressed up in a sci-fi outfit. Honestly, was it suppose to be about conspiracies, or second chances, or faith in people, or not judging a book by it's cover, or believing in the illogical, or was it a buddy road movie about how differences don't make a difference in the long run? Maybe all the above?
You have this grieving widow who just wants her husband back, and here is this guy who happens to look like him, but it's not him. Then the widow ends up falling for him anyways, even though she knows being around him puts her life in danger. unintentionally, but still in danger. Then he shuffles off never to be seen again. How devastating could that be? Talk about the ultimate bad one night stand with the man of your dreams?
what did I learn? Trust is key. Communication even more so.
Sunday, January 10, 2016
year 5 day 39
movie: Thor
starring:Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins
genre: Fantasy, Sci-fi
year: 2011
format: TV Edit
plot: After starting a war with the frost giants, Thor is banished from Asgard and it's revealed that Loki set him up in order to take the king's place.
I'm going to say something I never say; for once I was expecting more science. I was slightly disappointed that there didn't seem to be more of a balance between the Earth scenes and the Asgard scenes. It seemed a bit on the Asgard heavy side. But, this was a tv edit, so I can't say for sure if that was the intent.(humour not lost on fact part two was aired before part one)
The big theme seemed to be pride. Thor was tossed out banished because he was too sure of himself, and stripped of his powers until he learned some humility. So the hero had a quest without even realizing he had a quest. Which, always makes for an interesting story plot.
I've never connected the hammer to Excalibur before, but then again, I've never been a big fan of Camelot or of the Thor legend either. But the scenes where the hammer is stuck in the lab, all I could think was Excalibur and how much each legend fits together.
what did I learn? Being too eager is as bad as being too cocky.
starring:Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins
genre: Fantasy, Sci-fi
year: 2011
format: TV Edit
plot: After starting a war with the frost giants, Thor is banished from Asgard and it's revealed that Loki set him up in order to take the king's place.
I'm going to say something I never say; for once I was expecting more science. I was slightly disappointed that there didn't seem to be more of a balance between the Earth scenes and the Asgard scenes. It seemed a bit on the Asgard heavy side. But, this was a tv edit, so I can't say for sure if that was the intent.(humour not lost on fact part two was aired before part one)
The big theme seemed to be pride. Thor was tossed out banished because he was too sure of himself, and stripped of his powers until he learned some humility. So the hero had a quest without even realizing he had a quest. Which, always makes for an interesting story plot.
I've never connected the hammer to Excalibur before, but then again, I've never been a big fan of Camelot or of the Thor legend either. But the scenes where the hammer is stuck in the lab, all I could think was Excalibur and how much each legend fits together.
what did I learn? Being too eager is as bad as being too cocky.
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Year 5 Day 38
movie: Thor 2 Dark World
starring: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins
genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy
year: 2013
format: TV Edit
plot:Asgard is under attack, and Thor must team up with Loki to save it.
Dude, I got confused. The Natalie Portman character was possessed by a doorway? And for some reason there was an insane guy with spacy-weapons...that's what you get with tv edits, lately lots of confusion. So we had a parasitic doorway that ended up with demonic style powers...I think. Then the bad guy sucked up the parasitic doorway like a leech and became walking charcoal.
What I did understand was that in typical sequel fashion, the hero had to team up with the villain to battle an even bigger bad. There were a lot of space ship air fights, that sort of seemed out of place. And the battle scenes seemed to drag on, and actually made it feel like we were watching the same scene over and over. I don't know if that was just because it was a tv edit or what?
what did I learn? Science/Medicine and the occult are the same, pay attention.
starring: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins
genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy
year: 2013
format: TV Edit
plot:Asgard is under attack, and Thor must team up with Loki to save it.
Dude, I got confused. The Natalie Portman character was possessed by a doorway? And for some reason there was an insane guy with spacy-weapons...that's what you get with tv edits, lately lots of confusion. So we had a parasitic doorway that ended up with demonic style powers...I think. Then the bad guy sucked up the parasitic doorway like a leech and became walking charcoal.
What I did understand was that in typical sequel fashion, the hero had to team up with the villain to battle an even bigger bad. There were a lot of space ship air fights, that sort of seemed out of place. And the battle scenes seemed to drag on, and actually made it feel like we were watching the same scene over and over. I don't know if that was just because it was a tv edit or what?
what did I learn? Science/Medicine and the occult are the same, pay attention.
Friday, January 8, 2016
Year 5 Day 37
movie: Moll Flanders
starring: Morgan Freeman, Robin Wright
genre:Drama
year: 1996
format: TV Edit
plot: A young girl is taken from an orphanage, and delivered to her long lost mother, but along the way, she learns about her mother's past.
Loosely based on the book.
It's one of those stories within a story, which normally I like, but I don't know if it was just where it was a tv edit or if the movie is just choppy? It I think is suppose to take place during the 1700's, I don't remember there being a mention of the year, if there was I missed it.
The plot seemed to be about independence for women during that time, but again, with it having been a tv edit, that could have been just the angle it was edited into. We're given an orphan who defies convention by becoming a prostitute, and the woman who runs the place on her own. Both would have been at that time considered rebellious on all levels. One could almost say, that was the ultimate freedom for a woman at that time in history.
what did I learn? Karma comes when you lest expect it.
starring: Morgan Freeman, Robin Wright
genre:Drama
year: 1996
format: TV Edit
plot: A young girl is taken from an orphanage, and delivered to her long lost mother, but along the way, she learns about her mother's past.
Loosely based on the book.
It's one of those stories within a story, which normally I like, but I don't know if it was just where it was a tv edit or if the movie is just choppy? It I think is suppose to take place during the 1700's, I don't remember there being a mention of the year, if there was I missed it.
The plot seemed to be about independence for women during that time, but again, with it having been a tv edit, that could have been just the angle it was edited into. We're given an orphan who defies convention by becoming a prostitute, and the woman who runs the place on her own. Both would have been at that time considered rebellious on all levels. One could almost say, that was the ultimate freedom for a woman at that time in history.
what did I learn? Karma comes when you lest expect it.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Year 5 Day 36
movie: Magic Beyond Words the JK Rowling Story
starring: Poppy Montgomery, Emily Holmes
genre:Biography, Drama
year: 2011
format: TV Edit
plot: Following the years leading up to the publication of the Harry Potter books, we see how the author survived massive loss and abuse.
This was another of those movies I didn't hate and I didn't love, it was just sort of there. The first half hour spans from Rowling at about age 8 to 18 in jump cuts, basically to set up her fascination with witchcraft and stories in that vein; as well as her creativity.
We're taken through the death of her mother, which leads her to more then one career change and the resulting disastrous marriage. The Harry Potter books becoming her island in the storm.
I have to say, although completely different genre of books, I couldn't stop thinking of the movie Julie/Julia, and Julia Child's struggle in writing and publishing her cookbook, while watching this.
what did I learn? Never give up on your dreams. The muse is out there, you just have to unlock it.
starring: Poppy Montgomery, Emily Holmes
genre:Biography, Drama
year: 2011
format: TV Edit
plot: Following the years leading up to the publication of the Harry Potter books, we see how the author survived massive loss and abuse.
This was another of those movies I didn't hate and I didn't love, it was just sort of there. The first half hour spans from Rowling at about age 8 to 18 in jump cuts, basically to set up her fascination with witchcraft and stories in that vein; as well as her creativity.
We're taken through the death of her mother, which leads her to more then one career change and the resulting disastrous marriage. The Harry Potter books becoming her island in the storm.
I have to say, although completely different genre of books, I couldn't stop thinking of the movie Julie/Julia, and Julia Child's struggle in writing and publishing her cookbook, while watching this.
what did I learn? Never give up on your dreams. The muse is out there, you just have to unlock it.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
year 5 day 35
movie: La Bamba
starring: Lou Diamond Phillips, Esai Morales
genre:Biography, Drama
year:1987
format: TV Edit
plot: We follow the year in the life of Ritchie Valens on his rise to fame until the time of his death.
I'm not much of a Phillips fan, but whenever I hear the song La Bamba, it's the music video for the movie that comes to mind.
I don't know about anyone else, but I got more wrapped up in the side story of the older brother. You feel sorry for him. His character is much more fleshed out then even the lead. I don't know if that was because this was Phillips first real role, or if Morales is that much better?
You feel the heavy overshadow when Morales's character snatches the talisman from him, swearing he'll kill him in a mad fit of rage, and the dread when he finds out Ritchie Valens died in the plane crash, which the talisman was holding back. His biggest fear having come true.
what do i think i learned? Omens should always be listened to.
starring: Lou Diamond Phillips, Esai Morales
genre:Biography, Drama
year:1987
format: TV Edit
plot: We follow the year in the life of Ritchie Valens on his rise to fame until the time of his death.
I'm not much of a Phillips fan, but whenever I hear the song La Bamba, it's the music video for the movie that comes to mind.
I don't know about anyone else, but I got more wrapped up in the side story of the older brother. You feel sorry for him. His character is much more fleshed out then even the lead. I don't know if that was because this was Phillips first real role, or if Morales is that much better?
You feel the heavy overshadow when Morales's character snatches the talisman from him, swearing he'll kill him in a mad fit of rage, and the dread when he finds out Ritchie Valens died in the plane crash, which the talisman was holding back. His biggest fear having come true.
what do i think i learned? Omens should always be listened to.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Year 5 Day 34
movie:The Grand Budapest Hotel
starring:Ralph Fiennes, Jude Law
genre:Comedy
year:2014
format: Netflix Canada
plot:A hotel owner tells a young writer about how he became the owner of the building, and the time he and his mentor solved a murder.
I think I got the title mixed up with Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, as I was looking for the sequel. And because of that, I was expecting a British drama. This is a comedy.
I'm actually glad I screwed up and saw this film instead. There are some really crazy at times, over the top characters but, it works.
The story opens in the 1980's, then flashes back to the late 1960's/early 1970's, and then flashes back to the 1930's where the majority of the story happens. The story is technically a third hand approach to storytelling, but you forget that element as soon as you find yourself in the 1960/70's segment.
When watching the big case scene where the villain is on skis, the movie Fearless Vampire Killers popped into my head. I think it was the combination of the apprentice kid grabbing the toboggan and sending them off in all directions. There is just that same sort of buddy comedy element in what would in any other movie, have been the big action scene.
what do I think I learned? You don't have to be rich to be rich.
starring:Ralph Fiennes, Jude Law
genre:Comedy
year:2014
format: Netflix Canada
plot:A hotel owner tells a young writer about how he became the owner of the building, and the time he and his mentor solved a murder.
I think I got the title mixed up with Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, as I was looking for the sequel. And because of that, I was expecting a British drama. This is a comedy.
I'm actually glad I screwed up and saw this film instead. There are some really crazy at times, over the top characters but, it works.
The story opens in the 1980's, then flashes back to the late 1960's/early 1970's, and then flashes back to the 1930's where the majority of the story happens. The story is technically a third hand approach to storytelling, but you forget that element as soon as you find yourself in the 1960/70's segment.
When watching the big case scene where the villain is on skis, the movie Fearless Vampire Killers popped into my head. I think it was the combination of the apprentice kid grabbing the toboggan and sending them off in all directions. There is just that same sort of buddy comedy element in what would in any other movie, have been the big action scene.
what do I think I learned? You don't have to be rich to be rich.
Monday, January 4, 2016
year 5 day 33
movie: Peter's Friends
starring:Stephen Fry, Tony Slattery
genre:Comedy, Drama
year: 1992
format: TV Edit
plot:After the death of his parents, Peter invites his college buddies to spend the holiday weekend with him with the intent to expose a big secret. But before that can happen, everyone's relationships will be tested, some in more ways then one.
You had me at Tony Slattery.
Emma Thompson plays this lonely cat lady, who throws herself at the character like a bug on a windshield, and does so beautifully. Given the fact most of the actors in this film; Thompson, Fry, Hugh Laurie, Slattery, have been part of a comedy team for awhile before this movie was made, you feel like you're watching not a fictional movie but a documentary at times, the chemistry is so perfect.
The movie is formulaic, bit on the predictable side till you get to the end. Where you expect two of the characters to end up together -Fry's and Thompson's- you instead get a slightly different outcome. Not too mention, there is a bit of a lead up to another romantic twist when the characters played by Kenneth Brangah and Stephen Fry are working on a script for their play, and the simple way Fry's angled in the frame, his body language has you thinking there was something between them.
what did I learn? Reunions are terrible ideas
starring:Stephen Fry, Tony Slattery
genre:Comedy, Drama
year: 1992
format: TV Edit
plot:After the death of his parents, Peter invites his college buddies to spend the holiday weekend with him with the intent to expose a big secret. But before that can happen, everyone's relationships will be tested, some in more ways then one.
You had me at Tony Slattery.
Emma Thompson plays this lonely cat lady, who throws herself at the character like a bug on a windshield, and does so beautifully. Given the fact most of the actors in this film; Thompson, Fry, Hugh Laurie, Slattery, have been part of a comedy team for awhile before this movie was made, you feel like you're watching not a fictional movie but a documentary at times, the chemistry is so perfect.
The movie is formulaic, bit on the predictable side till you get to the end. Where you expect two of the characters to end up together -Fry's and Thompson's- you instead get a slightly different outcome. Not too mention, there is a bit of a lead up to another romantic twist when the characters played by Kenneth Brangah and Stephen Fry are working on a script for their play, and the simple way Fry's angled in the frame, his body language has you thinking there was something between them.
what did I learn? Reunions are terrible ideas
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Year 5 Day 32
movie: Life Stinks
starring: Mel Brooks, Jeffrey Tambor
genre: Comedy
year:1991
format: TV Edit
plot: A millionaire makes a bet that he can't survive for 30 on the street with nothing. When the 30 days is up, he tries to return home only to find he's been double crossed.
I heard "Mel Brooks" and was expecting the usual slapstick goofy stuff, but was pleasantly surprised to find it was just a comedy. The story is solid enough, and is played straight. I could have done without the cheesy dance scene in the middle of it. Totally pointless.
Jeffrey Tambor has only a few scenes, but from the second he comes on screen you know he's got bad intentions, which he plays brilliantly. The scene where he's at the party just standing there on the stairs looking down at Brooks' character is one of the best villain moves. And all he does is deliver his lines softly.
what did i learn? Never make bets that involve leaving your stuff to others.
starring: Mel Brooks, Jeffrey Tambor
genre: Comedy
year:1991
format: TV Edit
plot: A millionaire makes a bet that he can't survive for 30 on the street with nothing. When the 30 days is up, he tries to return home only to find he's been double crossed.
I heard "Mel Brooks" and was expecting the usual slapstick goofy stuff, but was pleasantly surprised to find it was just a comedy. The story is solid enough, and is played straight. I could have done without the cheesy dance scene in the middle of it. Totally pointless.
Jeffrey Tambor has only a few scenes, but from the second he comes on screen you know he's got bad intentions, which he plays brilliantly. The scene where he's at the party just standing there on the stairs looking down at Brooks' character is one of the best villain moves. And all he does is deliver his lines softly.
what did i learn? Never make bets that involve leaving your stuff to others.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Year 5 Day 31 (January Food n Flix)
This month's Food n Flix selection is Failure to Launch, and is being hosted by Amy's Cooking Adventures.
The One Movie A Day Challenge part-
Movie: Failure to Launch
starring: Matthew McConaughey, Sarah Jessica Parker
genre: Comedy
year: 2006
format: Netflix Canada
plot: A 30something man still living at home with his parents, finds himself in the one relationship that might just get him to grow up.
Dude...I've dated guys like that. This movie is unfortunately a mirror of the men in my generation. There are times when a guy that age still living at home is okay (health issues, buying/inheriting the house, saving for his own house, job where he travels 11months a year) and there are times when it's just not. This movie exploits the bad for a reason. Too bad it's desired effect didn't work on half the male population.
You're suppose to hate the main character, which was easy to do.
And for the SATC fans, you'll note this makes a reunion for Parker/McConaughey/Cooper. McConaughey played his creepy self in season 3 (Escape from New York episode 13 for the season, episode 43 of the series) and Bradly Cooper played a one night stand in season 2 (They Shoot Single People Don't They? episode 4 of the season, episode 16 of the series)
What did I think I learned? Still can not stomach McConaughey. I just want to take every McConaughey movie and burn them.
And the Food n'Flix part - Once again, I watched this movie on Netflix Canada, so you will notice a lack of dvd cover in the photos.
Food Notes- wine, cake, rolls, steak, carrots, "tea for two", nacho chips, apples, juice, cereal, pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, oatmeal, coffee, potatoes, melon, bananas, tacos, hot sauce, salad, guacamole, BBQ, corn, iced tea, cookies, popcorn, asparagus, "power bars", peanuts, sushi, Japanese food, seafood, "gumballs and baby food" (paint ball scene) beer, chilies, jam, peanut butter, broccoli, coleslaw, baked potato, hot dogs, trail mix, croissant, pastries, slurpee, whip cream, pop, garlic, peppers, tomato, artichoke, green onions, gravy, roast beef, pizza, milk
Normally, I watch the film write the food list and come up with a couple of ideas. Because of how bad the ice is here still, I had one opportunity to get out for groceries. The movie was the farthest thing from my mind. I got home and realized, I had nothing planned. I hadn't picked a theme for a recipe and wasn't sure when I'd physically be able to get back out for groceries.(one of these days I'll take a photo of the 6 inch scar on my knee.)
I did however have nacho chips and lettuce. My mind swerved back to a couple of scenes in the beginning of the movie, where the lead character gets out of bed stepping on the bag of nacho chips, and the scene where he's talking to his buddies over lunch and they are having tacos. As well as the two dinners they have with the parents and there is salad. The result taco salad.
Seasoning
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon coriander
ground black pepper (to taste)
salt (to taste)
chili powder (to taste)
2 tablespoons corn starch
The recipe I had called for onion powder and garlic powder, but because I don't have that, I used the minced garlic, and I knew I was going to be chopping onions for it later so I wasn't worried about it.
Mix to a powder.
I decided to use lentils for the "meat". Just boiled a cup of the dried lentils as package instructions, then added a can of tomato paste to give it just a bit of "stick", then the freshly made seasoning.
Crumble some nacho/tortilla chips on a plate
add some lettuce
add the seasoned lentil mixture
chopped onion
chopped green pepper
chopped tomato
shredded or cubed cheese
diced jalapeno (to your taste)
sour cream
dried chives
The One Movie A Day Challenge part-
Movie: Failure to Launch
starring: Matthew McConaughey, Sarah Jessica Parker
genre: Comedy
year: 2006
format: Netflix Canada
plot: A 30something man still living at home with his parents, finds himself in the one relationship that might just get him to grow up.
Dude...I've dated guys like that. This movie is unfortunately a mirror of the men in my generation. There are times when a guy that age still living at home is okay (health issues, buying/inheriting the house, saving for his own house, job where he travels 11months a year) and there are times when it's just not. This movie exploits the bad for a reason. Too bad it's desired effect didn't work on half the male population.
You're suppose to hate the main character, which was easy to do.
And for the SATC fans, you'll note this makes a reunion for Parker/McConaughey/Cooper. McConaughey played his creepy self in season 3 (Escape from New York episode 13 for the season, episode 43 of the series) and Bradly Cooper played a one night stand in season 2 (They Shoot Single People Don't They? episode 4 of the season, episode 16 of the series)
What did I think I learned? Still can not stomach McConaughey. I just want to take every McConaughey movie and burn them.
And the Food n'Flix part - Once again, I watched this movie on Netflix Canada, so you will notice a lack of dvd cover in the photos.
Food Notes- wine, cake, rolls, steak, carrots, "tea for two", nacho chips, apples, juice, cereal, pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, oatmeal, coffee, potatoes, melon, bananas, tacos, hot sauce, salad, guacamole, BBQ, corn, iced tea, cookies, popcorn, asparagus, "power bars", peanuts, sushi, Japanese food, seafood, "gumballs and baby food" (paint ball scene) beer, chilies, jam, peanut butter, broccoli, coleslaw, baked potato, hot dogs, trail mix, croissant, pastries, slurpee, whip cream, pop, garlic, peppers, tomato, artichoke, green onions, gravy, roast beef, pizza, milk
Normally, I watch the film write the food list and come up with a couple of ideas. Because of how bad the ice is here still, I had one opportunity to get out for groceries. The movie was the farthest thing from my mind. I got home and realized, I had nothing planned. I hadn't picked a theme for a recipe and wasn't sure when I'd physically be able to get back out for groceries.(one of these days I'll take a photo of the 6 inch scar on my knee.)
I did however have nacho chips and lettuce. My mind swerved back to a couple of scenes in the beginning of the movie, where the lead character gets out of bed stepping on the bag of nacho chips, and the scene where he's talking to his buddies over lunch and they are having tacos. As well as the two dinners they have with the parents and there is salad. The result taco salad.
Seasoning
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon coriander
ground black pepper (to taste)
salt (to taste)
chili powder (to taste)
2 tablespoons corn starch
The recipe I had called for onion powder and garlic powder, but because I don't have that, I used the minced garlic, and I knew I was going to be chopping onions for it later so I wasn't worried about it.
Mix to a powder.
I decided to use lentils for the "meat". Just boiled a cup of the dried lentils as package instructions, then added a can of tomato paste to give it just a bit of "stick", then the freshly made seasoning.
Crumble some nacho/tortilla chips on a plate
add some lettuce
add the seasoned lentil mixture
chopped onion
chopped green pepper
chopped tomato
shredded or cubed cheese
diced jalapeno (to your taste)
sour cream
dried chives
Friday, January 1, 2016
year 5 day 30
Movie: Mars Attacks
starring:Jack Nicholson, Sarah Jessica Parker
genre:Comedy, Sci-fi
year:1996
format:TV Edit
plot: Aliens try to kill the American president and end up vaporizing half the planet.
There is a scene where Parker's character and Pierce Brosnan's characters are disembodied heads that still manage to be able to think and talk. I was watching that scene and thinking to myself, how low in their careers they must have been to do this movie?
The aliens are outsmarted by a teenager and his grandmother who has dementia, by cranking a Slim Whitman album. I'm embarrassed for myself on the fact I knew that was Slim Whitman they used.
I've literally got nothing nice to say about this. With the star power it should have been a more enjoyable film, but it got really...stupid really quick. It just felt too disjointed to me, as if it were meant to be sequels instead of one film, and some how; was accidentally edited into one. The scenes with Nicholson as a sleazy hotel manager and Annette Bening as his hippy wife, were about the only interesting bits in this film. Which also ironically added to the disjointed feeling.
what do I think I learned? This movie would be amusing with the sound turned off and the song "Hanger 18" by Megadeth on constant replay in the background.
starring:Jack Nicholson, Sarah Jessica Parker
genre:Comedy, Sci-fi
year:1996
format:TV Edit
plot: Aliens try to kill the American president and end up vaporizing half the planet.
There is a scene where Parker's character and Pierce Brosnan's characters are disembodied heads that still manage to be able to think and talk. I was watching that scene and thinking to myself, how low in their careers they must have been to do this movie?
The aliens are outsmarted by a teenager and his grandmother who has dementia, by cranking a Slim Whitman album. I'm embarrassed for myself on the fact I knew that was Slim Whitman they used.
I've literally got nothing nice to say about this. With the star power it should have been a more enjoyable film, but it got really...stupid really quick. It just felt too disjointed to me, as if it were meant to be sequels instead of one film, and some how; was accidentally edited into one. The scenes with Nicholson as a sleazy hotel manager and Annette Bening as his hippy wife, were about the only interesting bits in this film. Which also ironically added to the disjointed feeling.
what do I think I learned? This movie would be amusing with the sound turned off and the song "Hanger 18" by Megadeth on constant replay in the background.
Coffee Talk Jan 1st 2016
Happy new year. And it's the first of the month, so this is the part where I come in and just give a shout out to this month's Food n Flix blog host. Amy's Cooking Adventures. They're hosting Failure To Launch.
That and I need to practice writing 2016...2016...2016.
I'll be back later; possibly this week, with my offering for the group, and later today with my movie of the day. Wow, this was a really short note, feels like it needs a photo or something? I got nothing.
Coffee!!!!
That and I need to practice writing 2016...2016...2016.
I'll be back later; possibly this week, with my offering for the group, and later today with my movie of the day. Wow, this was a really short note, feels like it needs a photo or something? I got nothing.
Coffee!!!!
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