Old Movie of the Day : Final Destination

In the wake of watching a gazillion episodes of Supernatural, i needed something different to watch but something equally chilling. So i opted for Final Destination. Not the most spine chilling movie in my collection but it is still an interesting horror film.
I am a fan of single serve horror movies, which this one is not. Because they re-hashed the main plot four more times ( i still havent seen the new one, the 5th one yet ), the first one is hardly even a horror anymore, but nevermind. Whats a little negativity going in anyway.

I doubt theres anyone who has yet to watch these movies, but for anyone who hasnt, i shall give its desription a little whirl.

The main plot of the movie is that no one can cheat death, no matter how much they think they can mess with deaths design. The main character, one Alex Browning is about to embark on a senior trip with his classmates and teachers to paris. Once onboard the plane, Alex has a vision about the plane blowing up and everyone on board dying in a fiery ball of explosive terror. I'll pause here and reflect on the effects for a moment. It is some pretty scury shit. I hate seeing anyone in movies burn alive and this movie has burning flesh from bone in spades. Its a powerful 2 or 3 minutes on alex's premonition, but you can almost feel the terror. The kind that makes you never want to get on a plane again. Its good, but sometimes a little too good.
So, Alex wakes and realises it didnt happen (yet) and in a moment of frenzied clarity, he gets himself and 6 other people off the plane. They are detained in the airport and whilst cursing their bad fortune, they watch the plane blow up, just seconds after take off, just as in Alex's vision. Of course, everyone who got of the plane is freaked. Some bad acting here i think, but its early 2000 and everyones still sporting 90s haircuts and 90s acting. Think Clueless... see, i told you it was scary.

So, of course the survivors start dying in gruesome and terrifying ways. Alex laters discovers that they are dying in the order they would have if they had stayed on the plane. The deaths themselves, are really gruesome. Unlike so many horrors to come out in the last 15 years or so, you get to see the deaths. Instead of having the camera pan off to the corner, hearing a blood curdling scream and just assuming someone died a bloody death. You get to see some really fucked up deaths.

If you are slightly philosophical or worldy like i am, you might see there's some slight bends in the plot. The characters see death as a figure, a person with a personality and an attitude, instead of an entity or a force. Sometimes, its like your waiting to see the killer, smiling, looking at the news clippings of the dead survivors. But of course you never do, because its death itself, not a person. That is a trend that also runs throughout all the movies. And thats my main problem with the movie (s).
With a concept such as this, its a one trick pony...maybe two tricks if you ask nicely and dangle a carrot. But to drag it out for 5 movies is just stupid. Each character in each movie always assumes that death can be stopped, that you can interveen in deaths plan, but of course death is inevitable and can never be stopped. I do understand that these are movies, but this thin and sparse subject matter has been drawn out too much that movies 3, 4 and im guessing 5 are just sexy teen slashers and in no way can be considered original horror dynamite. In my opinion, it makes for some sketchy pictures.

But nontheless, i do like the first movie. Its a smart concept but almost too obvious. And like i said, its been dragged on far far too long. So watch it, dont watch it. Just don't insult yourself by watching the other ones.

Supernatural Sexy in the House!

So, it was my 21st birthday last week (hooray) and one of the things my boyfriend got me was the entire first season of Supernatural ( i have since bought the second and plan to buy all the rest soon ).
I used to watch the odd episode when it was on tv but never got a chance to watch it consistently. So i was really happy to get the DVDs.
We watched all 22 episodes of that first season over 4 days and I am completely in love. There's nothing better than watcing two uber sexy guys fight the dark forces of evil. Its just a brilliant series. Im not going to do a review or anything because i dont want to ruin any of the plot lines in case other people havent seen it.

But i do recommened that everyone watch it... Its mind bogglingly epic tv.

This was just a little rant...

Nova
xx

Old Movie of the Day : Blast from The Past

Im finally getting around to doing one of these review things i said i would do like a month ago. And im only doing it now because I cannot sleep a wink.

So, last night, I watched the truely awesome movie Blast from the Past... A light hearted comedy starring Brendan Fraser and Alicia Silverstone that was released in 1999. I have to say from the very start that this is one of my all time favourite movies. I love Brendan Fraser aswell, i think he's a very talented actor with cheekbones to die for.

The movie, which starts of with a husband and wife, who believing that a nuclear bomb was dropped on the US during the Cold War and thus causing a nuclear holocaust, baracade themselves in the underground fallout shelter that the husband Calvin, played by Christopher Walken, built because of his constant fear of nuclear war. They live there for 35 years, until the doors unlock, with there son ( Brendan Fraser ) ( who is born down there shortly after the supposed bomb is dropped ). In those 35 years, the parents live in blissful 1960s ignorance, teaching there son the good values and beliefs that they hold, praying all the while that they can return the surface one day and re build America in all its splendour. But of course, the world above them is turning into the grit and grime of the LA of the 90s. Sex, drugs, guns and a very questionable performance by Alicia Silverstone.

The movie then goes on to show Adam Webber ( gorgeous Brendan ) experience all the ups and downs of life on top, all the while trying to win the love and affection of Eve ( played by Alicia Silverstone ).

This movie has great comic validity... I absolutely adore the cutesy, safe and loving 1960s lifestyle that the webber family has clung on to, mixed then with the gritty world of the 1990s. Christopher Walken is just the best actor for the roll of the delusional father, who believes even to the very end that the communists are still trying to take over. He is just such a character himself. The mother, Helen ( played by sissy spacek ) is exactly what you would expect a 1960s housewife to be like - neatly dresses, motherly, loving and always cooking pot roasts. The character then develops quite a serious but almost comical drinking problem, a side affect of the isolation felt in the fall out shelter and this goes unnoticed the entire film by her husband, who has kidded himself into believeing that life below the earth is wonderful.


The mixing of the two very different eras creates many oppurtunities for comedy because the character of Adam is so unnacustomed to a world that he hadn't been prepared for. My favourite protrayal of his naivity is when he believes that being gay is being happy and thinks that Eve's roomate Troy is just a happy guy. You can almost believe that Brendan Fraser has travelled from the 60s, his cute almost dopey smile just makes you melt and go 'aww'.
Alicia Silverstones role in the movie is to play the love interest for Adam... Eve. I am not the biggest fan of Alicia and i don't think she was good in this role. I don't think there's enough chemistry between her and Brendan to make any part of ther on-screen relationship seem real or authentic. She always seems stiff and frozen.

The only part I don't like about the movie is the ending. It is quite a strange ending. Alicia is talking to the audience as the final moments are wrapping up, which doesnt fit in right with the rest of the movie. You don't know for sure where the relationship with her and brendan is. It a bit of a stupid ending in my opinion. As the camers pans away we see Chirstopher Walken pacing out the measurements for a new fallout shelter, which just makes you think 'Why couldn't they just leave it'. Ther all out of the shelter, they have a new life...Couldn't it just be left there.

So, apart from the not so great ending, i absolutely love this movie. I love it for Brendan Frasers acting, for Christopher Walkens insanity and for the awesome dance routine that Brendan excites us with...

So watch Blast from the Past... NOW!!

Dreary days in Ireland mean non stop cleaning.

Even though it is currently August ( and i'v had to check the calender a few times just to make sure ), the weather is acting so menstrual it's hard to do anything  remotely enjoyable outside.

But, having the house to myself and having it rain constantly outside, means my OCD affliction with cleaning can rear its well groomed head. When I have the house free and clear of noisy, untidy and generally irritating people, I go on a cleaning frenzy of surgical like precision. Im taking bleach and rubber gloves. Where most people despise having to do all the gross jobs that they only do once or twice a year, if at all, I love it. I find it a great way of cleansing the soul and when the daily stress of motherhood gets too much for me, I simply clean and tidy until my arms damn near fall off.

I don't know why i thought this would be blog worthy... I'm wondering if there are other people like that out there, who may read my blog...

Nova
xx

Super Chocolate Fudge Chunk Brownies : A Recipe

So, two days ago i made some delicious chocolate brownies with fudge chunks in them and i thought i would share the recipe. I love these brownies, there so squidgy and fudgy and you can add almost anything you want to them - nuts, raisins, marshmallows and there always lovely.

I shall try my best to put in US conversions of the weights but im dealing in grams and ounces not cups.

You Will Need :
225g (80z) of good quality dark chocolate - between 70% and 85% cocoa content
225g (8oz) butter - unsalted is best
300g (11oz) ( 1 and 1/3 cups ) of light golden brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
75g (3oz ) (2/3 cup) plain flour, sifted
1 tsp baking powder

A 9 inch baking tin. I usually use a glass casserole dish but depending on how thick you want your brownies to be, any over safe dish will do.

• Preheat your oven to 180C / Gas Mark 4 / 350F

• Line whatever dish or tin your using with non - stick parchment paper. Sometimes when im lining a dish with this stuff, a put a tiny bit of butter on the dish to help the paper stick to it, because when your trying to pour the mixture in, you dont need the paper flying out.
• Smash up the chocolate into chunks. I hit it with a rolling pin when its still in the packet. You can use chocolate chips or buttons, just make sure there a good quality dark chocolate and just use the same amount. Then you can bypass the fun with the rolling pin.
• Put the chocolate and the butter into a heatproof bowl and set that over a saucepan of simmering water. DONT let the water touch the bowl. Keep stirring until its all melted and combined into a shiny buttery chocolate mixture.
• While thats melting, in another bowl and with an electric beater, whisk the eggs and sugar together for 2-3 minutes until its becomes a lovely golden brown light mixture.
• Slowly add the melted chocolate butter mixture, the add the vanilla extract and continue to whisk until thickened.
• If you wish, this is when you can add some delicious suprises. I like to add chunks of fudge, but you can add nuts, pecans or walnuts work well, marshmallows, cherries...you get the idea. Mix them in with a spoon.
• Add the sifted flour and fold it in. Use a metal spoon with holes in it. This helps to cut through the mixture and keeps the air in the mixture, thus making the brownies beautifully smooth.
• Once all the flour has been mixed in, pour it into the prepared tin or dish and bake in the middle of the over for 30 minutes, until the top is firm and the brownies have come away slightly from the sides.
• Remove and if you have self control ( i dont ), let them cool and then cut them into pieces. Im never neat when i cut my brownies. The recipe says you can get 24 out of this recipe but i usually get about 40 small bite sized ones.
• Enjoy!

Nova

Giving up before i've even really started,,,

So, theres quite a bit going on in my life right now, some unforseen incidents that have made my blogging a litle bit more difficult.

I had wrote in my previous entry that i would do a review of an old movie every day for at least a week and maybe more and i do have some entries written ( they just need to be fine tuned ), but i havent had any time to watch any new movies or write any new entries.. So, i think i'll have to come back to that one in a little while...

Ok, let me fill you in on whats been happening. I all of a sudden became really busy doing various different bits and pieces, going places, doing summery things etc. And then, i had to go to hospital. On thursday (28th) i had terrible abdominal pains, nausea, headaches, shakes and just general feelings of ouchy suckiness. I went to my doctor and she sent me straight to hospital. I was only there two hours and they had me admitted and prepped for surgery.

I had to get my appendix removed and it was extremely frigthening because i've only ever been in hospital when i was having my son and i have never had  a surgery before. I was terribly frightened that the anaestesia wouldnt work and I was just gerally scared. But it did all go quite well...I was in the very capable hands of a wonderful surgeon and a wonderful surgical team. I'd like to add at this point that i have an absolute hatred of male doctors and surgeons. I find them arrogant, self centred and they always have a terrible bed side manner, not thinking about anything or anyone but themselves. But my surgeon, a Mr. Sugrue was fantastic. He had even showed up the day i was discharged to make sure I was ok.

So, they removed my appendix and some cysts on my ovaries, which was not expected but i've been told i don't need to worry about them.

I had the surgery late thursday night, was out at about 1am Friday morning and i was dishcarged about 6pm on saturday. I am very sore and stiff and im finding it quite hard to sleep as i always sleep on my side. But it could have been so much worse. I could still be in hospital or it could have been a much more serious surgery, so i was very lucky.

So, i have to take it easy for 6 weeks... that means i cant even lift my son, as he is quite heavy. And i will be sore for about 2 weeks so i cant really do anything for the mean time and all i really want to do now that i am home is sleep.

I hope this wont get in the way of my blogging because i really love blogging but i will have to put the old movie of the day review thing on hold for a bit. Just don't have the energy for it. I can watch a movie but can't take it in if that makes sense. Watched Under Seige 2 last night but i kept falling asleep and waking up and not understanding why steven segal was on the tv. It was quite unerving.
But i hope to still do a blog every day, i just cant promise they will be any good.

If anyone has any questions about the surgery or anything in general, id love to answer them..


Peace and love
Nova

xx