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SPICYWATCH

Trick 'R Treat

31/10/2018

2 Comments

 
Trick 'r Treating on October 31st in Australia sure is a hotly contested topic. I heard some ladies at the hairdressers tonight going right off about it, they were saying that it is stupid and American and unseasonal and that if any kids knock on their doors looking for candy they will tell them to piss off! Woah, a bit harsh I thought. Sure, it isn't Autumn here when Halloween occurs which does make it a little un-pumpkin, chestnut and acorn friendly, but aside of that, it isn't actually American at all, it's Pagan and the bottom line is that it's fun! 
Kids love Halloween, they love dressing up and playing spooks and who wouldn't want to knock on peoples doors and get free lollies? Uh, it's frickin amazing and just because we never got to do it when we were kids doesn't mean that we shouldn't let them do it now. If you're going to use un-seasonal as your excuse for hating Trick 'r Treaters then boo to you, you're lame! I bet you still eat roasts at Christmas time even when it's hot and do all of the other Pagan based stuff the happens at Yuletide like  bringing an evergreen into your home and decorating it to welcome the coming spring....aka your Christmas Tree! That is not very seasonally appropriate is it? But it is fun, so we do it and Halloween shouldn't be any different. 
The ladies that were paying out Halloween tonight were also saying how sick it was to send your kids out for candy to strangers houses. Yes, sending your kids out to strangers houses for candy is sick, which is why 99% of the kids participating have an adult with them when they Trick 'r Treat. Safe and wholesome Halloween Trick 'r Treating can be orchestrated and seriously, if you were some Sweeney Todd type trying to lure kids into your home with candy to turn them into pies, you would hardly chose to do that on Halloween when there would be possible witnesses and the most easily traceable crime trail in all history would you? I bet that half of the people that say things like that wouldn't think twice about plopping their poor kids onto some unknown santa's lap at the mall for a happy snap would they? Are those kinds of strangers in red suits that hug unknown children at the mall better than the strangers that give out candy on Halloween? Doubtful, very bloody doubtful, but people only see what they want to see. 
We actually have a lot of little Trick 'r Treaters out here in Enfield ever year and it doesn't offend me in the least. They are often quite small and very enthusiastic and the vast majority of them are done and dusted by 7.30pm. They dress up like their lives depend on it, their faces painted and little plastic pumpkin bags in their hands, and they are always super grateful for the lollies that they receive. Some good samaritan mails everyone in our area an orange balloon to hang on their letterbox on the evening of Halloween and if you don't want to participate you just don't hang your balloon and if you run out of candy you just take your balloon down, pretty simple really. It's organised, it's optional and it's safe because all of the children are accompanied by an adult. Where is the harm in that? 
Sometimes I think that people just decide that they don't like Halloween because they can't be bothered, which essentially is fine, no-one says that you have to be bothered; but please stop making it out to be such a big horrible ordeal when it really isn't. Halloween to kids means fun, and well, even to some adults too if I'm being really honest about it, so stop being such bloody grumpy goblins, buy a few lollies and join in the fun as well, it's only one night of the year for goodness sake! 
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SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET
Release Date: 2007
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 116 mins 
My favourite of all Tim Burton's offerings, and a spectacular Gothic-horror musical of epic proportions. Adapted from the Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Tony award winning musical of the same name, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street was met with unanimously positive reviews and enjoyed over 30 awards for it's dynamic and dark style.
This Victorian melodrama tells the tale of Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp), an English barber that returns to London to seek his revenge upon the evil Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman). His lust for vengeance turns him quite mad and he ends up becoming a serial killer, systematically slitting the throats of all that come in for a shave with his straight razors. His accomplice, Mrs Lovett (Helena Bonham-Carter) aids him in the disposal of the corpses, by mincing them up, putting them into pies and selling them to the public of London. 
This is a masterful tale of macabre and madness, as beautifully haunting as it is terribly disturbing. The cast are absolutely sensational, singing and acting their hearts out. The sets are bleak and morbidly depressing, a perfect setting for such a truly horrible tale, and the music is incredible. I can't say a bad thing about this film, I absolutely loved it, and as long you aren't too squeamish, you will too. 
FINAL SAY: Best pies in all of London. 
4.5 Chilli Peppers

2 Comments

B-Grade Treasures

28/10/2018

4 Comments

 
Celebrated Halloween a little early this year, perhaps it was the full moon or maybe it was just because the 27th was the closest date that we could all manage to gather together, but whatever the reason, the Samhain vibes were flowing on Saturday. 
Whenever people get together at my place, there is always food involved. Not only do I love to eat, I also really love to cook as well, so any celebration is a good occasion for a big cook up around the bench in Enfield. Which is exactly what Zoe, Seth, Helen, Craig and I did this year, we made a delicious feast from scratch to share together.
​Our meal consisted of two different types of ravioli (pumpkin/feta and beef/mushroom) and a delicious tomato based sauce to accompany them. We also made vanilla poached pears in a salted caramel sauce with vanilla ice-cream for dessert, which was an amazing and decadent finish to our evening's festivities. Whilst we cooked, we listened to some tunes and shared some Halloween-ish cocktails and then spent the dark hours indulging in one of my favourite things in the world, B-grade horror. 
I absolutely love B-grade horror, especially B-grade horror from the 80's and 90's because those two decades were rife with poor writing, dreadfully acting, mediocre effects and cliche horror tropes that make them so damn awful that they are absolutely hilarious. I usually call them D-grade because they are so genuinely bad, which should give you some idea of the quality that I am talking about, D-grade means 'woah-fully good' material to me.
On the agenda for B-Grade gold this year? Tales from the Crypt: Bordello of Blood, the name really says it all doesn't it? It is truly classy viewing, I can assure you. Made in 1996, this 87 minute fantasy/horror got a whopping 12% on Rotten Tomatoes, and stars Angie Everhart and Corey Feldman in two of the lead roles; need I say more? In a word it is dreadful; rife with grotuetous titty shots, full of cheesy one liners, the soundtrack seems like it was recorded by someone that cannot sing in their living room with a boombox and the characters are dressed primarily in cheap silks, denim jackets and tennis shorts. It is just so bad that it defies explanation really, it's the ultimate B-grade horror find, and after a few nice strong cocktails, it is the funniest movie that you could ever see. We were literally crying with laughter at some points during the movie. 
And that is how all B-grade horror/ fantasy and sci-fi movies need to be viewed, half pissed and with really good company. Over the years we have watched some absolutely pearlers out here together that just shouldn't be missed; they are so bad, they are actually good! 
Some of my personal favourites and highly recommended B-Grade offerings are:
  • Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
  • Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
  • Vampires: Los Muertos (2002) - just outside of the 90's era but you'd never know!
  • They Live (1988)
  • Evil Dead 3: The Army of Darkness (1992)
  • Tremors (1990)
  • Highlander (1986)
  • Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995)
  • Day of the Dead (1985)
  • Critters (1986) 
  • The Thing (1982) 
  • Warlock (1989)
  • Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)
  • Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)  -a bit older, and quite possibly the worst horror movie ever made, it is unbelievably bad and hilarious. 
With Halloween just around the corner, you don't have to opt for a serious horror movie scare; a cheesy B-Grade retro horrorfest is just as enjoyable, and maybe even a lot more fun! 
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THE THING
Release Date: 1982
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 109 mins 

I remember when I saw this for the first time and I thought that the effects were so amazing, well I can assure you that after a recent re-watch those effects have dated, quite a lot; which is probably why a misguided director felt compelled to remake it in 2011. Unfortunately, the remake loses all of the great atmosphere that the original has and appears to be relying exclusively on CGI to deliver it's story line, so put up with the cheesy '80's effects and see the original version. 
Known as John Carpenter's The Thing, this sci-fi horror film is about  a parasitic extraterrestrial life form that has the ability to assimilate with other organisms and imitate them. This is actually pretty creepy and insidious viewing, and the alien life form really goes all out on the mutation, so it is kind of gross at times too. 
John Carpenter was slammed by critics over this movie, and he has sighted the failure of the movie as a personal hardship to his career as a director, but I strongly disagree with the critics here, I think that this is really good sci-fi movie making. It's quite dark and slightly gritty, and is defintely testament to the fact that Carpenter likes to the push the envelope on the macabre. Bravo I say - I really enjoyed every B-grade minute of it. 
FINAL SAY: I dunno what the hell's in there, but it's weird and pissed off, whatever it is. 
3.5 Chilli Peppers

4 Comments

When the Moon Hits your Eye

23/10/2018

0 Comments

 
What the heck is going on? The last two movies that I went to the cinema to see were romance movies. Trust me when I say that I hardly ever go to see romance movies at the cinema and it is the genre list that I had the least amount of movies on for ages, but given the recent spat of not just decent but actually enjoyable romance films, I have found myself going to the movies to watch people fall madly in love with each other and kiss each other all over the face! Seriously what the hell is happening to me? Am I getting soft and doughy eyed? Thank God Halloween is just around the corner, I really need to get back on track with my horror viewing. 
To be fair, I am not completely adverse to romance, I do quite like a bit of the luvy-duvy stuff from time to time, but there is just a heck of lot of really shithouse romance to wade through to get to the good stuff. Any film that plays on matters of the heart is at great risk of getting super cheesy and erring on the side of ridiculous; and sometimes the onscreen chemistry is about as exciting as a helium balloon three days after a party. 
There are actually quite a few elements that romance movies do really poorly and I am getting pretty tired of it. The first and most common mistake, is making the main love interest an alpha male or a 'spirited' female that abuses men all the time. In fact they often put the two of them together in movies as the two lead roles. Come up with something better than that for fuck sake, a jock body and a loud mouth chick are never going to live happily ever after now are they? They may wring a decent screw out of it but that's about the extent of that relationship, so stop implying that is a match made in heaven, it's utter crap!
Don't even get me started on the love at first sight stuff, you should know by now how much I don't want to see that old trope rolled out, and can we stop making villains turn good for the sake of love? Again, that 'gone good' shit won't last, so don't paint happily ever after on that crap sandwich and call it a delicious burger because I ain't eating it! And please romance movie makers, could we stop having people need to change to get the person of their dreams? Ever since Sandy Dee went all hot pants, cigarette puffing bad girl to get rough-house Danny Zuko in Grease to notice her, movie makers have been capitalising on the 'change to find true love' trope which not only annoys the piss out of me, but bothers me even more when idiots try to replicate it in real life as well. If you have to change yourself to get someone to love you, then they aren't the right one for you, and romance movies should never have people losing their identities or morals to find love, it's crass and it's sad. 
The best romances have two people in them that know who they are and just want to share who they are with someone else. Sure a little My Fair Lady action is all good and well from time to time, but we also know that it's old fashioned, archaic and is certainly no reflection of a good 'modern romance' tale. Just like all movie genres, you need to be discerning when it comes to the types of romance that you watch as well because Hollywood is exceptionally good at disguising really tasteless romance and selling it off as funny and plausible; but thankfully, that is happening less and less these days. 
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A STAR IS BORN
Release Date: 2018
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 136 mins

A musical romance and the fourth remake of the 1937 original film of the same name.  Produced and directed by Bradley Cooper (in his directorial debut) the movie was actually in production hell for several years as they struggled to cast the roles appropriately.  However, when Copper signed on in 2016 to star and direct and Lady Gaga joined on later that year, even they could not have foreseen what a juggernaut A Star is Born would become and how much acclaim it would receive from audiences and critics alike. 
Jackson Maine (Cooper) is a famous country singer with a drug and alcohol problem. He happens upon Ally (Lady Gaga) singing in a bar one night and immediately becomes enamored with her. Maine launches Ally's singing career and the two become lovers and a commercial success; but their success is continually overshadowed by Maine's insecurities and his inability to stay sober. 
This is a believable and heart felt script about the pitfalls of fame and the challenges of relationships in the spotlight. Cooper and Gaga are truly tremendous together, their onscreen romance seems completely natural and their duets are going to sell millions of albums around the globe. I do expect some Oscar buzz around this movie in the months to come, and for a musical romance it is much more than just watchable, it is thoroughly enjoyable. 
FINAL SAY: I just wanted to take another look at you. 
4 Chilli Peppers

0 Comments

You Don't Have to Agree With Me

21/10/2018

2 Comments

 
Every now and then someone will call me out on a review that I have done on a movie or a blog post that I have made; and if you are going to put your opinions on the internet, then you have expect that people are going to give their opinions back to you as well.  Total strangers, friends and even family members will point out how they didn't like what I wrote on my blog or point out how wrong I was about a certain movie that was at least one Chilli Pepper hotter or 3 Chilli Peppers colder than I had implied that it was, and I think that a lot them really enjoy sharing their own verdict or opinion on a topic that I have raised or a review that I have posted.
I am not sure whether people are hoping that I will kick off in response to their adverse reactions to my writings, but I can say with complete honesty that I don't mind at all if you disagree with my opinions. You do not have to agree with me, it would be completely weird if you did. I do not claim to be 'the God of all movie knowledge', I am not even close to being an expert in cinema, I am just a movie enthusiast that likes to write, and that is where my expertise ends. Sure I have seen a lot of movies, but there are still millions of movies that I haven't seen, and as for my opinions, well they're just that, opinions not facts or truths to be adopted and set into action, they are merely my opinions, nothing more and nothing less than that. 
Is it actually really great to hear that people don't agree with me. I love to hear about other people's experiences of the movies that they have seen, and that is one of the things that is so damn terrific about cinema, it is completely subjective. Like any expression of art, one person's trash is another person's treasure, and cinema is no different from that in any way. We may agree sometimes, never, seldom or often, it matters not to me one way or another. Make your own mind up about the movies that I review, see them for yourself, be discerning and be disagreeable, I welcome all opinions and you never have to agree with me. 
Cinematic experiences are unique and completely individual to everyone. They can be affected by your mood, your interest level in the subject, your wellbeing, your personal experiences, your tolerance levels and even your level of alertness when you enter a cinema. There are millions of factors at play when a person decides to squat for a couple of hours to watch a film, and I wouldn't dare to assume that my experiences would be in sync with anyone elses for even half of that time. 
Nope, I don't mind if you don't agree with me. In fact, I am ecstatic to hear the opinions of other cinephiles, it is a comfort to know that other people feel as passionately about their movie experiences as I do. I would never stifle  your disagreement of my comments, I welcome them and appreciate every one of my loyal readers opinions, even when they are completely opposed to mine. Please do keep up all of the comments and the conversations about movies with me, I am always happy to receive feedback and those of you that know me well, know that I will never get enough cinema related chatter in my life, so please do share your thoughts with me. 
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THE SKIN I LIVE IN
Release Date: 2011
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 120 mins
 
A Spanish psychological thriller, written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar.  Almodóvar has described the film as "a horror story without screams or frights" which is an accurate description. Although The Skin I Live In can't really be regarded as horror, there are certainly plenty of horrific goings on that will seriously mess with your head. 
A regarded plastic surgeon that is plagued by misfortune, creates a wonderful new type of skin that is impervious to damage. His human guinea pig and private obsession is a woman named Vera, a mysterious beauty that resides as a prisoner in his house. 
Antonio Banderas does a brilliant job of portraying the Dr. Frankenstein like surgeon Ledgard, and Elena Anaya is painfully beautiful as his subject, Vera. This movie has all of the elements of a great psychological thriller; devious plot twists, intensely interesting and esoteric characters and plenty of back story. However, because it crosses so many lines it also induces disgust and revulsion, albeit in the most stylish fashion, and for that reason it will not be to everyone's liking. If you can handle the kink levels turned up to high pitch, then you should enjoy the ride. 
FINAL SAY: I breathe. I breathe. I breathe. 
3 Chilli Peppers
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2 Comments

The Glass is Overflowing

17/10/2018

1 Comment

 
Most of the time I not only feel extremely lucky to have the kind of lifestyle that I have, but I also feel exceptionally guilty when I think about all of the people around the globe that do not have nearly enough of anything in their lives, let alone an abundance of anything. Being born in a first world country does tend to make us all a bit jaded about just how fortunate we truly are and how much abundance we get to experience on a daily basis that we don't really take into consideration. 
When was the last time you stopped to think about the people who don't have access to clean water when you turn on a tap in your house? Do you ever think about how lucky you are to have a flushing toilet or water connected to your home or food on the table every night of the week? Most of us don't think about that stuff very much of the time at all, but we do spend a lot of time complaining about the internet dropping out, or the traffic being too heavy or the line at the check out being too long. Many of us go about with surly and inconvenienced attitudes and angry unwelcoming faces, and totally forget to remember just how lucky we are most of the time. 
I think that many people in developed countries actually have a dreadful case of 'glass half empty' when in fact around 85% of the time the glass is actually overflowing and we are just too spoilt to realise it. When was the last time you had to worry about whether you would be able to eat because of a lack of food?  When have you stayed awake worrying about whether your children could access an education or appropriate medical care and vaccinations? When was the last time you yourself got dreadfully ill and could not see a doctor because there wasn't one to see? And when was the last time that you had to walk for two hours to the nearest well to get some water to drink, or even worse wait in the sun all day for a water truck to come by and provide you with a small amount? I would imagine that you answered never to all of those questions, absolutely never. 
And that makes you lucky; very, very lucky. Luckier than most of the people that are sharing this planet with you. And I think that that is something to keep at the back of your thoughts next time you feel like having a whine about something insubstantial or irrelevant, that your blessings in life far outweigh your misfortunes a lot of the time. Singer songwriter Willie Nelson once said - When I started to count my blessing my whole life turned around, and I do believe that there is a lot of power in thinking abundantly and being grateful everyday.
Try it for yourself, adopt an 'attitude of gratitude' and see how you feel about your station in life after a few weeks. Once you begin to focus on how tremendously full your glass is, I guarantee that you'll be delighted with how rich and lucky you are. And feeling abundant has a wonderful flow-on effect, because you will also start to share that abundance more freely with others, filling their glasses in the process, and guess what? It doesn't cost a thing. It's totally free to change your mindset and focus on how lucky you are, and the benefits are huge!
However, that being said, if you are in fact 'crazy rich' (and 'crazy rich' people know exactly who they are) and reading this, then you definitely have more than you are ever gonna need and you should really pass some of that wealth along to those who do need it the most. Impoverished countries are always begging for substantial donations, and helping others feels so damn good. You could change your mindset and someone else's world as well, and that's definitely something to raise a very full and overflowing glass for! 
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CRAZY RICH ASIANS
Release Date: 2018
Rating: M
Running Time: 121 mins 

A romance comedy directed by Jon M. Chu and based on Kevin Kwan's 2013 novel of the same name. Crazy Rich Asians explores the age old story of class versus true love and I'm not going to lie, it's hardly a revelation in storytelling. However, what does make it feel fresh and original is the talented Asian-American cast who successfully deliver a modern perspective of their cultural dynamics and strong family traditions. 
Rachel and her long term boyfriend Nick set out for Singapore to attend his best friend's wedding. Rachel is launched into the world of the rich and famous when she discovers that Nick is actually an heir to a very wealthy Singaporean empire that is currently being controlled by the strong arm of his overbearing mother. 
This movie is visually stunning in every way, the cast are absolutely gorgeous, the costumes are beautiful and the Singaporean surroundings are surreal. Constance Wu and Pierre Png display a wholesome and believable chemistry as the class mismatched lovers, Michelle Yeoh shines as Eleanor Young the dominating mother figure and Awkwafina, Ken Jeong and Nico Santos offer some much needed comic relief throughout. 
Crazy Rich Asians is certainly not a life changer, but it's definitely a spot of good fun. 
FINAL SAY: Only a fool folds a winning hand.
3 Chilli Peppers

1 Comment

Nothing is Too Big to Tell

14/10/2018

2 Comments

 
In our household, no topic is off the table when it comes to family discussions around the dinner table. This open dialogue between myself, my husband and our children has led to many interesting, sometimes awkward and often lengthy and involved banters over the years, and even though many people have raised an eyebrow in regards to how open we are about all topics in our home, I have been vigilant about instilling the values of open conversation and honesty when it comes to family exchanges. 
Because of this open dialogue around the dinner table, we have had what many people would call 'difficult' conversations with our children as they have discovered the truths and at times the ugly realities about the world, but we pride ourselves for never lying to them or hiding an unpleasant truth from them, and they have both turned out to be pretty well rounded and open minded individuals as a result of this.
​Both of my children knew the truth about their body parts, how lives are created and that some people are 'not quite right in the head' well before they even arrived at primary school. And before they left primary school they also knew about war, religion, genocide, enlightenment, rape, cults, incest, racism, paedophilia, discrimination, poverty, mental illness, hate crimes and all forms of artistic, spiritual and sexual expression. Neither of them have become unbalanced by any of this information, and neither of them now struggle to understand the complexities of the world. The truth about the world did not fuck them up or steal their innocence and they both had really normal happy childhoods. In fact, growing up they didn't have nearly as many troubles as their peers when it came to managing social situations or complicated issues and have always had a strong sense of social justice and ethical behaviour as a result of their developed global understanding. 
I worked hard to cultivate a mindset in my children 'that nothing is too big to tell, or too awkward to ask about.' And yes, it has lead to some 'hot' discussion and even some disagreements over the years (because with an open forum people will tend to debate and defend their formed opinions) but it has also meant that my children are always willing to talk to me, really talk to me. If something is going on they will always tell us about it and if something is happened that they don't understand or need clarification about, they will ask. And the conversation is still very lively around our dinner table and although we sometimes hit the hard topics, generally we share many relaxed and casual meals where the order of the day is much laughter and silliness. 
I am in no way saying that open-conversation is going to fly smoothly at everyone's dinner table, but having room for opinion and the comfort to ask questions is certainly not a bad thing to generate in any family. Being able to talk about anything, even the really tough stuff has certainly brought us closer together as a family and my kids have always been grateful for the honesty that they have received from us whilst they were in their formative years.
​I have never been able to think of a good reason to hide things from my children or to lie to them and I have never wanted to cultivate a relationship with my children that was steeped in deception or mistrust. I often wonder when I hear adults say that their children aren't ready to hear the truths about the world if it is just because they as adults aren't ready to deal with all of the ugliness themselves. All that I know for sure from my own experiences, is that nurturing a home where secrets are supported and lies necessitated will only lead to bitter resentments, disappointments and painful truths later on in life, and we all want a lot less of that for our children in the long run. 
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THE TALE
Release Date: 2018
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 114 mins

An American drama written and directed by Jennifer Fox and based on her memoirs about her own childhood sexual abuse and how it affected her relationships later in life. After premiering at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, The Tale went straight to television and aired on HBO in May, 2018. 
Jennifer, now a successful adult, receives an alarming call from her mother who has just discovered an essay that Jennifer wrote when she was 13. The essay outlines an illicit and inappropriate relationship that she had with two adults from her childhood. Keen to uncover the truth herself, Jennifer delves back into her past and the murky events surrounding the summer that she spent at an intensive horse riding camp with her enigmatic teacher Mrs G and their professional coach Bill. 
The Tale tackles a challenging, ugly and sensitive subject with a lot of grace and realism, and for that reason it is tremendously powerful and utterly disturbing at the same time. Laura Dern is incredible as adult Jennifer and Isabelle Nelisse gives a striking and memorable performance as 13 year old Jennifer. They are well supported by John Heard, Ellen Burstyn, Francis Conroy and Elizabeth Debicki who all deliver perfectly on this sickening tale of lost innocence and child exploitation. 
FINAL SAY: When I was a child, I was obsessed with changing myself.
​4 Chilli Peppers

2 Comments

Some Things You Have to Learn on Your Own

10/10/2018

3 Comments

 
No matter how much a well meaning parent or caring mentor may try to arm you with the goods to make the best out of the life that you have been given, there are some things that you just have to learn and find out for yourself. No amount of good advise or pep talking can ever provide you with the smarts that you will get from actually finding something out for yourself through sheer effort, life experience, perseverance and/ or a good splash of stupidity. 
​I have never met anyone that has been able to give me the ability to be strong or to be happy. I have met people that have inspired me to be stronger and happier, but the real work on those fronts comes from within. Strength can only be gained by facing life's adversities and overcoming fears. The strongest people that I know are the ones who have fallen the most in their lifetimes, and that strength is learned and cultivated over time. Everyone's strength and what they derive it from is unique, it is not a torch that can passed along to another. Strength cannot be taught, only demonstrated, and the same goes for happiness.
Everyone must learn to be happy, it isn't something that you can buy or earn, its far more esoteric than that. It is something that you either have or you don't have, it is a state of mind and therefore being truly happy is something that you must learn to do on your own. It is something that you have to choose, even in the face of great adversity, and no one else can give you the minerals to do that. Being truly happy, in spite of life's adversities or suffering is a real skill, and it's one that you have to master yourself. 
However, strength and happiness are not the only things that you must learn to master alone, let's not forget two of the toughest things that you will have to learn in this life, how to forgive and how to love. The saying 'the heart wants what the heart wants' certainly has some truth to it. You cannot make your heart feel what it doesn't want to feel, and learning to love others and yourself unconditionally is an exceptionally difficult challenge and something that people spend many lifetimes trying to learn to do well. Learning to love and willingly give over of yourself without restriction is not easy, and again like all things that you cannot learn from someone else, from a book or just purchase online; it is unique, emotional and challenging to master. 
I think that the art of forgiveness may well be the most difficult of all things that you will have to learn on your own. Being hurt is part of life and it is natural to have your feelings crushed or your hopes dashed by difficult people or even worse, the people that you care about or love the most. But learning that forgiveness can set you free and release you from potential hard-heartedness is something that you simply have to learn to do on your own. No-one can make you forgive another, or tell you to forgive another, you must do it yourself, when you are ready, and where and when that forgiveness happens is yours alone to determine. 
There is no manual for the toughest lessons, and there is no way to give a person true strength or happiness, or the ability to love and forgive. The best that anyone can ever do to instill these qualities in another is to work hard to master them themselves, so that they can at least be a good role model. However in saying that, I do believe that these skills are lifelong endeavours and certainly not something that you can master easily or quickly, and to imply that they are easily managed would be both flippant and ridiculous.
Everyone knows that all of the best fruit on the 'tree of life' is hanging out on the furthest limbs, it is tricky to reach and even harder to pluck, but it is there to be seen nonetheless. There is nothing wrong with forging forward, staying the course and continuing to learn with an open mind and a willingness to go the hard yards alone; and even if you don't ever fully learn to master the hardest lessons that you are expected to manage on your own, you won't ever regret trying. 
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A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT
Release Date: 2014
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 101 mins 

The first Iranian vampire Western, directed by Iranian-American director, screenwriter, producer and actor Ana Lily Amirpour. Making it's debut at the Sundance Film Festival in 2014, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night received largely positive reviews for it's slick and beautifully moody portrayal of the life of a lone vampire. Shot in brilliant black and white, this noir feature is destined to become a cult classic. 
In an Iranian ghost town called Bad City, the desperate and destitute locals are completely unaware of the lonesome skateboarding vampire that stalks the streets at night, preying upon men that mistreat women. 
This is a visual masterpiece, the cinematography is reminiscent of a dark graphic novel with its stark, bold contrasts. Every shot seems to have been painstakingly composed, and the music really adds another layer of intrigue to this 'style over substance' movie. Definitely unique and eerily atmospheric, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night  is a memorable and worthy watch. 
FINAL SAY: I could pluck out your eyeballs and feed them to the dogs. 
3.5 Chilli Peppers

3 Comments

The Return

7/10/2018

1 Comment

 
And just like that, two weeks of holiday bliss has passed me by again. This time I got to do all of the things that I had set out to do at the beginning of the break. I read a novel, binge watched entire an TV series and saw some terrific movies, painted at the easel, went for a walk everyday, slept in, caught up with a some friends, chilled out with my kids, did yoga and meditation everyday, drank some good whiskey, replanted by garden beds and vegetable patch and just breathed in all of the fabulousness that a fortnight of respite can offer. For the first time ever, I did not run around, I did not make an extensive to do list, I did not chase anyone for a catch up; in fact I barely even left Enfield unless I absolutely had to, and it was one of the most peaceful breaks that I have enjoyed in some time. Above all else, I rested and I rebooted myself for the final and undoubtedly busiest term of the year which is probably the most important thing to do at this stage of the year. 
Finding grace and calm during the busier times of the year is always a challenge, so setting yourself up correctly at the launch pad is always a very wise choice. In 2007, Randy Pausch (a professor from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who had terminal cancer) made a final lecture, entitled Last Lecture, about the most important lessons that he had learned in his life. The lecture became an internet sensation, inspiring millions of people around the globe and spawned an international best-selling book that would be interpreted into 35 languages. In his lecture Randy eloquently says, among many other pearls of wisdom,  "we cannot change the cards that we are dealt, just how we play the hand."
The most resilient and impressive leaders of our time have used this philosophy to stay the the course and to show courage in the face of adversity. The people that use the most challenging times of their lives as valuable teaching moments (for themselves or others) are the wisest and strongest people. And the bottom line is, that in the struggle, there is real growth. And even though I would love to swan around in downward facing dog and wander about the Enfield forest every other afternoon, that is not the only way that my soul is going to get fed. By avoiding all contact, challenge and confrontation I am not really stretching my boundaries as a person and I am not really fulfilling my potential to make a difference. The struggle is important, the struggle is valuable and the struggle is necessary. 
So raise a glass to challenge, welcome some adversity into your life. Don't let it make you furious, let it keep you curious. Like I said in my previous writings, it's all about turning straw into gold and finding the joy in all states of being. Yes, there is a time for rest and relaxation, but there is also a time for action and progress and I recognise that the time for me to pick up my tools and continue with the work at hand has arrived, and I feel like I am ready and recharged for the task ahead. This time, I welcome the return.
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THE DISASTER ARTIST 
Release Date: 2017
Rating: M
Running Time: 114 mins 

A biographical drama produced and directed by James Franco, who also plays the lead role of Tommy Wiseau in the movie. The Disaster Artist is based on Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell's 2013 non-fiction book of the same name and chronicles the making of Tommy Wiseau's 2003 film The Room, which is widely considered to be one of the worst movies to have ever been made. 
19 year old Greg Sestero meets the mysterious and flamboyant character Tommy Wiseau at an acting class. A friendship is created and the two move to Los Angeles to pursuit acting careers together. After many failed auditions and casting attempts, Wiseau writes his own script entitled The Room and sets about making a movie himself. 
With his unending money supply, his strange European accent, his unusual temperament and his incredibly mysterious approach to his actual age and heritage, Tommy Wiseau may well be one of the weirdest and most deluded characters that Hollywood has ever spawned; and it does make for some riveting (albeit disturbing) viewing.
The Franco brothers make a formidable team here, with both James and Dave showcasing their talent and ease with each other perfectly. They are well supported by Ari Graynor, Zac Efron, Seth Rogen, Alison Brie, Jackie Weaver and Paul Scheer to name but a few and the overall effect is humorously catastrophic from start to end.  
FINAL SAY: Just because you want it doesn't mean it can happen. 
4 Chilli Peppers

1 Comment

Prepare for the Scare

3/10/2018

3 Comments

 
Don't really know what happened, but somehow October just arrived. How we have already reached the tenth month of the year fills me with great confusion and concern, because it was around October last year that I went for my first job interview in over a decade and started to forge a new way of being for myself. In some ways that feels like it was very long time ago, because I have made so many changes to my life since October last year, and then in other ways it feels like it was only a few months ago that I plucked up enough guts to throw caution to the wind and put myself out there again.
However, no matter how you look at it, there is no denying that October has just snuck in the back door and that we have well and truly arrived at the 'ber' months of the year. This means that it will only be a matter of time before the onslaught of 'way too bloody early' Christmas propaganda and paraphernalia arrives in stores, spurring on early hysteria and panic among the masses and obligating us all to make lists, shop and prepare. Bottom line for me here is that there is no fricken' way that I am ready for another Christmas yet, and I flat out refuse to acknowledge any of that early stuff and nonsense of Christmas until I have at least managed to milk a decent Halloween celebration out of October. 
Until the ghosts, goblins and ghouls have come out to play for Samhain, I am not doing any department store trees, front yard twinkling lights, Christmas shopping lists or pudding recipe chatter, I will not even entertain it! The Christmas decorations and Christmas tree do not come out in our house until the start of December, and then (and only then) will I happily allow a full 25 days of hysteria and anticipation, damn I'll even encourage it! But just like eating easter eggs before Easter Sunday or hot cross buns before the week of Easter arrives, some things are better to wait for and Christmas mania definitely falls into that category for me. 
Nope, October is all about freaky deaky horror for me, the freak-ier and deak-ier the better. I generally re-watch all of my fave horror movies over October and search out some new material to bring to the fold as well. Making candy apples, carving pumpkins and inventing dark and desirable new cocktails is what October is for. And it's the last month to splurge in couch slouching before the weather gets really hot and we all get a lot more social and start heading outdoors in the evenings.
So, with only four weeks until Halloween (and impending hysteria) arrives, I think that I might get my thinking cap on and plan a night of fun and festivities in Enfield. And above all, there will have to be some terrifically terrifying movie choices for my guests, so I must begin my research asap!
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REC 
Release Date: 2007
Rating: R 18+
Running Time: 78 mins 
There are actually four REC movies, and the quality of them declines greatly in progression. For that reason, the first one is the only one you need to bother with, and definitely stay away from the American version called Quarantine, which vastly pales in comparison to this original Spanish version. 
A television reporter and her cameraman follow some emergency workers into a quarantined building in the hope of scooping a story, but what they encounter is way more than they were bargaining for. 
Yes, there are subtitles to contend with; but seriously, this movie is not relying on extensive dialogue to deliver it's scary and unsettling message. It is filmed with a hand held camera, which really adds to the overall effect and realistic energy of the movie, so as long as you aren't put off by camera shake, you will enjoy it. Don't be deterred, this movie is worth the effort, it's a corker of a horror film. 
FINAL SAY: Something is catching!
3.5 Chilli Peppers

3 Comments

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