This movie is an excellent Fantasy Adventure Romance with a happy ending! See my earlier blog review below.
Blood and Chocolate signifies a metaphor for Werewolves and Humans. Aidan represents tasty chocolate (what Vivian wants), whereas Gabriel represents nourishing blood, high in Iron and Protein (what Vivian needs).
The movie's director decided to DIFFER from the book, in that Vivian ultimately chooses Chocolate. (This is THE major irritant to the book vigilantes, who came out to comment in force:)
In the book: Gabriel is the alpha male who is responsible for leading the pack. He loves Vivian but she initially favors Aidan. HERE Vivian eventually concludes that Aidan is fleeting and non-essential - and therefore Blood is better than Chocolate.
In the movie: Vivian says "I have the taste of blood AND chocolate in my mouth". HERE Vivian eventually concludes that Gabriel is just too cold and domineering to be with - and therefore Chocolate is better than Blood. (It seems to be assumed that the audience would be curious and listen to the director's commentary, to divine the meaning of this single utterance).
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Movie Review - Venom (Decent Indie Light Horror Adventure)
An Indie style movie in that it stars a group of young actors with lots of energy, who are having fun, making plans (and getting killed-off:) I rated it a Nine within this context.
The mystery theme is cleverly similar to a Nancy Drew story. A group of young friends, with their whole lives ahead of them, discovering and learning about voodoo out of necessity (trying to avoid getting killed-off:).
The spooky theme is very similar to the classic horror style. A Voodoo Zombie out for a hellish romp, controlled by escaped bad dead souls that had been milked/extracted/contained by a good Voodoo priestess.
An entertaining movie where Friends gather at Voodoo temples, get chased thru a real Louisiana Swamp, and often get to die. There's also a hero at the end:)
The mystery theme is cleverly similar to a Nancy Drew story. A group of young friends, with their whole lives ahead of them, discovering and learning about voodoo out of necessity (trying to avoid getting killed-off:).
The spooky theme is very similar to the classic horror style. A Voodoo Zombie out for a hellish romp, controlled by escaped bad dead souls that had been milked/extracted/contained by a good Voodoo priestess.
An entertaining movie where Friends gather at Voodoo temples, get chased thru a real Louisiana Swamp, and often get to die. There's also a hero at the end:)
Friday, April 3, 2009
Movie Review - Dreamland (Satisfying, Warm, Holistic)
A Daughter Rehabs her Dad and Gets a Life. Agnes Bruckner plays Audrey, a self-sacrificing friend and daughter. Audrey dreams of leaving the Dreamland cocoon and experiencing life. Instead of acting on her college and life's desires, she puts herself at the disposal of others (her devastated, widowed father and her chronically ill best friend).
She simply has to nudge her dad out of his comfort zone. Teach him how to live again by dragging him out of the trailer and going places - initially with her. Like many challenges in personal relationships, this is easier said than done.
In the end the father helps himself in order to help his daughter. When he finds her letters of acceptance to the various colleges that she has kept hidden from him, he realizes he MUST step-up, and transform from being Audrey's dependent to being her dad. This is a very satisfying movie with a great cast, music and scenery.
She simply has to nudge her dad out of his comfort zone. Teach him how to live again by dragging him out of the trailer and going places - initially with her. Like many challenges in personal relationships, this is easier said than done.
In the end the father helps himself in order to help his daughter. When he finds her letters of acceptance to the various colleges that she has kept hidden from him, he realizes he MUST step-up, and transform from being Audrey's dependent to being her dad. This is a very satisfying movie with a great cast, music and scenery.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Alert - Joan of Arcadia Virtual Season 3 Lives-on [at joanofarcadia.com]
Great writing succeeding a great show can be found at:
www.joanofarcadia.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=24
www.joanofarcadia.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=24
Movie Review - Blood and Chocolate (Excellent Fantasy Adventure Romance)
A Fantasy Adventure Romance with a happy ending! The opening scene is a soft narration by Vivian [Agnes Bruckner] as an adult, while you view her as a child, making angels in the snow:) You then flash to the present, where you see the very athletic adult Vivian, jogging to her job at the Chocolate boutique.
The European locations were very scenic and the violence was minimal. It is very much an artistic adventure romance. The plot is straightforward, but there is a central moral theme: everyone should have the right to pursue their own dreams and love who they choose - this should even include those who can transform themselves into werewolves!
Vivian is put under pressure as the next-to-be-chosen by the Alpha male werewolf. She decides to be quite uppity and contrary, in wanting the freedom to marry whom she chooses - and live to tell about it! Besides the chosen locale, the European bent can also be seen in their continued fascination for Rave-style Discos. In one scene many young people (perhaps half of them part of the werewolf nation) gather after-hours to socialize, network, drink, and dance to sweat it off.
"Blood and Chocolate" is a very good movie. It demonstrates that you often have to fight for even basic freedoms. Curiously, the movie was somewhat overlooked due to various circumstances: there were plot differences from the book, the European flavor may feel unfamiliar to some, many had horror expectations and simply couldn't tolerate a romance:)
I highly recommend it. A lot of effort was put into the production, and the actors were stellar.
The European locations were very scenic and the violence was minimal. It is very much an artistic adventure romance. The plot is straightforward, but there is a central moral theme: everyone should have the right to pursue their own dreams and love who they choose - this should even include those who can transform themselves into werewolves!
Vivian is put under pressure as the next-to-be-chosen by the Alpha male werewolf. She decides to be quite uppity and contrary, in wanting the freedom to marry whom she chooses - and live to tell about it! Besides the chosen locale, the European bent can also be seen in their continued fascination for Rave-style Discos. In one scene many young people (perhaps half of them part of the werewolf nation) gather after-hours to socialize, network, drink, and dance to sweat it off.
"Blood and Chocolate" is a very good movie. It demonstrates that you often have to fight for even basic freedoms. Curiously, the movie was somewhat overlooked due to various circumstances: there were plot differences from the book, the European flavor may feel unfamiliar to some, many had horror expectations and simply couldn't tolerate a romance:)
I highly recommend it. A lot of effort was put into the production, and the actors were stellar.
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