A conscience is a very important thing. Without it we would make bad decision after bad decision.
But unfortunately, not all of us are tuned into our conscience. Some of us just go about doing what we want without thinking of others.
Hopefully those people have someone who will help keep them in check. Someone willing to point out their errors and how best to fix them. Someone…well someone like Mr. Knightley.
Yes, Emma was one of those people who doesn’t think of others.
It’s not that she tries to be cruel, she was just raised getting whatever she wants so she only focuses on her needs and desires. This can cause issues as she doesn’t always behave the best way.
Luckily Mr. Knightley is on the case to bettering her, whether she likes it or not.
“Mr. Knightley, in fact, was one of the few people who could see faults in Emma Woodhouse, and the only one who ever told her of them…”
Yep, Mr. Knightley is the only one making sure Emma doesn’t turn out to be a selfish person. While Emma may not like having her faults pointed out:
Mr. Knightley is only trying to do his duty as her friend. Yes, friends are there to support and encourage you:
But to also call us out on the stuff we are doing that’s not right as well.
A lot of people see this as mean, but it is just the Austen version of:
After all real friends are there to help you grow.
And whether it is tough love, supportive love, encouraging love, etc:
As this is Noir November #Noirvember, I thought it was no better time to talk about one of the top classic femme fatale.
I hate Christine, I think she was a horrid little urgh.
And I don’t use that lightly. First we see her all upset at Raul for being rude and condemning Erik
“Why do you condemn a man who you have never seen, whom no one knows about and whom you yourself know nothing?” (pg. 104)
But then she’s like I’m so scared of him. Aaah! She makes him sound evil, even though the story is hardly anything.
She heard this wonderful voice and begs him to teach her.
“From that time onward, the voice and I became great friends.” (pg. 116)
They spend years together as the phantom puts his all into teaching her and helping her. Then one day Christine spots Raoul and tells the phantom all about seeing him. And the voice disappears, Christine is anxious and scared. She knows she is nothing without him, she will shrivel up into a has-been.
The next day the Phantom comes and tells her he has to leave her.
“The voice was there, spoke to me with great sadness and told me plainly that, if I must bestow my heart on earth, there was nothing for the voice to do but go back to heaven.” (pg. 117)
You see, no threats. No harsh words. The Phantom would have simply backed off if she loved another. He would be heartbroken, but that would be the end of it. Except…
“I swore to the voice that you were no more than a brother to me nor ever would be and that my heart was incapable of any earthly love.” (pg. 117)
You see that!!!! You see that!!!
What???!!!
She purposely leads on the Phantom because she just wants to use him. She doesn’t love him, she doesn’t care for him, as she has stated before:
“[to Raoul] And that, dear, first revealed to me that I loved you.”
She knew, but she had a good thing and didn’t want to see it disappear. Now she tells Raoul that she “lied only because she thought she had no chance with Raoul.” But is that even the truth? She already admitted to playing the Phantom, she’s probably playing Raoul too. He’s rich and interested, and now she’s going to play the little helpless victim to catch him.
So you know what, I never feel sorry for her. She created this whole mess as she only cared about herself and not what her false declarations did to people. She almost kills hundreds because of her selfishness. I feel bad for the Phantom. Poor guy, who is completely crushed by her. He picked the wrong woman.
Poor guy
And she goes on about being captured by a madman and held prisoner, BUT he treats her well. He respects her as a thing of beauty and doesn’t harm her or touch her. And when she is upset and wants to leave?
“And, when I stood up, Raoul, and told him that I could only despise him if he did not, then and there, give me my liberty…he offered it…” (pg. 125)
See he isn’t a crazy killer or psychotic (yet). He loves her and respects her wishes. She’s the viper, she’s evil as she chooses to stay there.
“For he sang. And I listened…and stayed!” (pg. 125)
Seriously?
So she falls asleep and then wakes up in a whole different room, properly freaked. BUT then spots a note left to her by the Phantom.
“My dear Christine, you need have no concern as to your fate. You have no better nor more respectful friend in the world than myself.” (pg. 126)
Wow
He just let her alone, as he sees her as the kindest and most divine woman; respecting her. He also purchases tons of things for her in order to make the place truly home.
But Christine is not happy. She wants out. She is angry with the Phantom, even though she is packed with beautiful gifts. All she wants is to see his face as “no honest man would wear a mask.” But that is the one place Erik won’t give.
Then Erik mentions how most of her time with him will be musical practice. She is angry as he wants her to stay five days, then he will let her go again as she will either love him (hope) or pity him. But Christine is now upset that he won’t let her go now, but hey he offered you before.
Seriously
The real issue Christine has with the Phantom is his skull-like face. This is what breaks her and makes her horrified and disgusted.She can’t live well enough alone, and asks him to play for her, plotting her deception. When he is too worked up in the music she snatches the mask off.
She tells Raoul this as each visit “increased her horror.”
Now what’s really interesting is after Christine has told her tale, Raoul asks her:
“You are frightened…but do you love me? If Erik were good-looking, would you love me, Christine?” (pg. 132)
Hmm…
And what does Christine say? Does she say NEVER, I don’t love him I LOVE YOU? No. Does she say that Erik is a horrible person, and she could never love him? No. Now what does she say?
“She rose in her turn, and put her two trembling arms round the young man’s neck and said: ‘Oh my betrothed of a day, if I did not love you, I would not give you my lips! Take them, for the first time and the last.” (pg. 132)
You see that!!! You see that!!! SHE NEVER ANSWERS THE QUESTION!!!! And you know why???!!! Because the answer is NO! She don’t love you Raoul, she’s using you just as she used Erik. She could have easily answered she loved you, but instead she deflected the question and gave you a kiss. I hate when people do that, urgh!
Let me tell you something, if you ever are having a serious and deep conversation with someone and they deflect you with a kiss, hug, sex, whatever, you need to get out of that relationship because they are not serious about you. Should’ve seen it Raoul, except you were to busy focusing on that kiss that you missed it.
Meanwhile, Christine, the little actress starts playing Erik to the areas he has been insecure. She tells him that he is genius, his music causes her to forget his looks. She even burns his mask to symbolize that she is “above” such things. In reality she is playing him from every angle, earning his trust so that he is willing to believe she actually loves him and won’t harm him. Letting her go.
Christine acts as if he is a true monster, but the Phantom has a compassionate heart. She asks if she can pretend to “be engaged”, playacting, with Raoul and the Phantom agrees.
“He said, ‘I trust you, Christine. M. de Chagny [Raoul] is in love with you and going abraod. Before he goes, I want him to be as happy as I am.” (pg. 134)
How can someone be unfeeling and a loser when they consider what their arch rival’s is feeling?
See Erik isn’t the monster, Christine is! She just goes and destroys two men’s lives-never thinking about them or how it affect them; all she cares is about her self.
So you are probably wondering what am I doing watching this movie, well it wasn’t really the one I wanted. You see I was at Big Lots and they were having a 20% everything sale. That sounded great to me, so I went and looked around. I found a DVD set for $4, of which three were Michael J. Fox films and the other two were ones I had never heard of.
AWESOME!!!
Well you all know how I feel about Michael J. Fox
I love him, so this seemed like a deal too good to pass up.
So my friend and I were watching some of the films, when we decide to check out this one, Casual Sex?, as we both like Lea Thompson.
I have to admit this movie surprised me a lot. It was rated “R” but didn’t really show anything, you know nothing like Game of Thrones, and actually dealt with the issues of sex. How you can get diseases, pregnant, sometimes the person just wants you for the sex, how sometimes you get involved with a person and they turn out to be nothing like you expect; and how hard it can be to meet anyone whether you desire sex or a relationship. It was pretty good.
So the film is about two women, Stacey and Michelle, who have not had the best luck in love.
Stacey is constantly falling for artists, of which she not only changes herself for them but they always leave her in the lurch.
Melissa has only been with two men, and the second one, her ex-fiancé broke up with her as he was “going through a selfish phase.” Ugh, Men.
The girls decide to leave the LA area and head on some kind of getaway in hopes to meet the perfect man.
They decide to head to a health spa in which they meet a variety of possibilities. There is Vinny “the Vin Man” from New Jersey who hits on everybody and is always talking about his “attributes.”
Jamie, one of the spa workers who seems sweet and caring:
Matthew, a psychologist, who is looking for material for his newest book on psycho-sexual tendencies of pre-menopausal females.
And Nick, a fitness instructor who dreams of becoming a rock star.
Will the girls find the man of their dreams? Or will they be disappointed once again?
Most Romantic Moment: From Vin Man to Vincent
So the most romantic moment comes from the most unlikely source, Vincent otherwise known as Vinny or the Vin Man.
Vincent is from New Jersey, a pre Michael “The Situation”. He is gross, annoying, and just doesn’t understand that women are not interested in crudity.
Men
However, as he keeps striking out with the women, one of the spa instructors gives him a book, The Pretend You’re Sensitive Handbook.
He tries it out on Stacey, but as she has her own stuff going on she wants nothing to do with it.
Vinny: Stacy, how nice to see you. Do you have a few minutes? I mean, it occurred to me, I don’t even know where you work.
Stacy: Where I work?
Vinny: Yeah, you know, your career plans, your dreams, your aspirations… I really want to hear all about them.
Stacy: What I want? I don’t even know — ask me what anyone else wants. Give me three seconds, I’ll figure out your whole entire life.
Vinny: Would you maybe want to share something with me about your childhood, perhaps?
Stacy: Vinny, what the hell are you talking about? I’m in a big rush. Look, I have to go talk to Melissa, because if I don’t figure out something about my life soon, I’m going to crack!
Vinny: I respect your strength, Stacy, and I think you’ve got a lot of potential!
After striking out once again, Vinny runs to the spa instructor and tells him that he can’t do this. He can’t pretend, he has to be it. He decides to leave, catching a ride with Stacey to the bus stop. There we see a look at the real Vinny as he asks Stacey for advice. He wants to have a real relationship with a woman; like a friendship but more, but doesn’t know what to do. What do women want?
She doesn’t have the answers and drops him off at the bus station. We think that is the last of him, but then we are given this surprise.
Stacy: [reading] ‘Dear Stacy, I hope you don’t mind me writing to you…
Yes, Vinny writes Stacy a letter and tells her about how his life has been changing. He wants to be a different person, but no more pretending, he’s going all the way. He starts reading books,
Cooking, changing his wardrobe to more appropriate clothing (and no more super “Vs” showing off the chest,
Giving up all those aspects of the Vin Man and transforming himself, from the inside out, into a new person, Vincent.
The sweetest, most romantic thing about this is that he made all these changes on his own, no “promise of getting the girl”, no other motivation than he wanted to be better and strove for it, turning himself from jerk to heartthrob. And once he feels his change is complete, he travels from Jersey to LA to see Stacy and prove that he is not only a new man, but ready for a real relationship.
“It was their hands that built this city of ours, Father. But where do the hands belong in your scheme?
In their proper place, the depths.”
So back in July I did a post on trying to start a revolution and I mentioned this film. Now this film is not mainly a horror film but a mix of a Dystopian Drama, Sci-fi and Horror, a Dystfiror. This film also reminds me A LOT of Atlas Shrugged, so I chose this poster instead of the other one that has the robot on it. Robot, you may ask? But that’s getting ahead of ourselves.
So this film takes place in a future far away [2026]. In this land the people have been split into two groups, the workers and the rulers. High above is the city Metropolis with its pleasure garden, as the wealthy lounge about doing nothing and anything they want. Below the city lies the workers, who are constantly going to support the city and all of the upper-dwellers’ desires.
Sounds familiar? That’s because stupid Matt Damon ripped it off for his Elysium film. Go here to read why I don’t like Matt Damon (hint: you have to scroll down to #5).
Anyways, the ruler of Metropolis is Jon Frederson, who’s only compassion and love is aimed at his son, the rest of the world and people be d*****. His son Freder…Now I know what you’re thinking because I thought of it too. Really, Freder Frederson? Really now? That’s you’re name?
Why yes, yes I do think so.
Well I don’t care.
So anyways I’m like that’s really all you can come up with? With all the names there are that is the only one you can think of? Freder Frederson?
Spongebob would be disappointed in you.
When I watched it I renamed him Alan, as Alan Frederson was way better than Freder Frederson.
I like it!
Anyways, I digress so Freder is chillin’ in the pleasure garden (everytime I hear pleasure garden I think of Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights), just enjoying being rich and worry-free.
They got lots of pleasures, alright.
Maria brings some children to see the Garden, and Freder sees her and falls for her, completely taken with her.
Maria, leader of the Rebellion
He then follows her down to the workers’ realm.
Freder journeys down into the machine rooms and sees it explode, injuring and killing the workers.
AAAAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
He runs to report to his father:
Sorry had to do it
Frederson is upset at having gotten the news from Freder instead of his foreman. (Everytime I read that sentence all I can thik of Señor Senior Sr and Señor Senior Jr. from Kim Possible). Sorry! I’m moving on, I swear! So the assistant Josaphat is fired for his failure. Jo knows that now that he no longer holds such a high position, he will be sent to the worker’s underground and forced to be in the factories, getting the same harm inflicted on him that he did to others. He decides to kill himself, but is stopped by Freder. Frederson is confused by the way his son is starting to act and sends his henchman the Thin Man.
On a side note, evil, businessman and father Frederson, has some secret plans in the mix. They were found on the dead factory workers’ bodies, which angered him extremely, as he doesn’t want it revealed yet.
Upon Freder’s return, he finds a worker and takes his place as the worker is too old and sick to continue. They trade clothes, in which the worker, Georgy, is supposed to come back later for them. However, Georgy enjoys his taste of the high life and spends the night at a club, forgetting all about Freder. (You might recognize pieces of this film as parts were used in Queen‘s Music Video for “Radio Ga Ga“.)
Freder on the other hand finds a map in his pocket and hears about a secret meeting. (There is also this weird scene where he hallucinates from exhaustion, but let’s skip it).
Meanwhile up above evil dad Frederson has discovered copies of the map and decides he will do something about this little insurrection. He goes to see his minion, Rotwang, in order to figure out what to do about it. [Check out the name Rotwang. It just screams evil!]
Rotwang is an inventor and he had been in love with Frederson’s wife, who died in childbirth. Rotwang has been unable to let go of her memory and created his own version of the perfect woman Maschinenmensch.
Its a pretty freaky scene, and totally creeps Frederson out.
Understandable, as it would freak me out too. It did. It still does.
Rotwang deciphers the map, and sees that it shows a system of catacombs that lie beneath Metropolis. They go down to investigate what’s going on.
Downstairs, there is a large gathering of the workers. Freder is there too, trying to find out what’s up. Maria is at the head of the group as she is the leader. She tries to rally the people to arms and to fight against their oppressors. She tells them that they must be patient until they can find a mediator between the two worlds.
Freder believes that he is the one to fill that role. He also realizes that he is in love with Maria and declares his love for her. She returns it.
The two make plans to meet up the next day, but unbeknowest to them they are being watched by Freder’s father and lackey. Freder’s father asks Rotwang to make the robot look like Maria so they can turn all the workers against her. Rotwang agrees, but has a secret agenda. He plans on killing Freder for causing the death of his mother.
Like what a jerk! He couldn’t do anything, he was just a baby. And Rotwang is a MAJOR creepo!!!
So Rotwang follows Maria and kidnaps her, hiding her away to complete his evil plan.
Georgy gets caught and sent back down to the worker’s area. They think that Freder’s friend Josaphat is involved, as that is where Georgy was supposed to spend the night, and Josaphat has to flee to the worker’s city. Freder goes to meet with Georgy, but can’t find him. He goes over to the Cathedral where the two were supposed to meet but can’t find Maria.He does overhear monks talking about the apocalypse, and the Whore of Babylon wrecking havoc through the world. He begs them not to harm Maria and goes searching for her.
Meanwhile Maria is trapped while the mad scientist Rotwang completes his robot’s likeness.
I’m sure you all knew I was going to make this connection.
Rotwang complete his robot and sends it off to Father Frederson. This version of Maria is wanton and lustful. Freder goes to see his father and finds the two in an embrace.
I mean seriously, what were you thinking?
Freder freaks out and drops into a delirious state of mind.
Poor guy!
False Maria begins to unleash chaos throughout the land as she causes men to murder and fight each other.
Freder recovers and finds his friend Josaphat. Meanwhile, Maria manages to escape their grasp. Freder and Josaphat try to stop the false Maria from urging the workers to destroy the city, but everyone tries to attack him as they recognize him as Frederson’s son. He is luckily saved by Josaphat. Upstairs, Frederson wants the workers to fight, allowing him to use his army against them.
The workers are extremely riled up and rush to the machine rooms destroying the Heart Machine that powers the city.
Grab your torches and sharpen your pitchforks!
The system’s below start to fail and the worker’s area began to flood. But the workers have forgotten one thing. They left their children behind!
Noooooooooo!!!!!!!
Maria has managed to escape and runs downstairs to help save the children. [Side Note: Unemployment and inflation were so bad in Germany at the time that the producers had no trouble finding 500 malnourished children to film these flooding sequences.] Maria and Josaphat work together to get them out okay. In the machine room, Grot begins to yell at the workers. He reprimends them for letting their emotions get the best of them and killing their children. The parents freak out and march after the false Maria.
Grab your torches and sharpen your pitchforks!
They take False Maria and burn her at the stake. Freder is heartbroken, thinking he lost her.
Noooooooooo!!!!!!!
But then when she burns away, she is revealed to be the robot.
Rotwang chases the real Maria to the roof pursued by Freder. Fredersen and the workers watch from the ground. Rotwang falls to his death and Freder is able to unite the two. He [heart] ends by linking the hands of Fredersen (head) and Grot (hands) to bring them together.
This movie was actually supposed to be against facism and Hitler, but unfortunately Adolph Hitler and Joseph Goebbels really liked this film. Fritz Lang, the director, was Jewish, but Hitler told him that in spite of his background they would make him a honorary Aryan. Lang left Germany immediately after that night.
So yeah, I was a huge Peter Pan fan. I loved him so, so, so, so, so much. I always wished he would come over to America and visit me, taking me away to Neverland. But sadly he never, ever came. Other kids wished for Hogwarts letters, to go to Camp Blood, etc; I wished for him.
I used to read the illustrated classic as a kid, just like I did with Phantom of the Opera, and the day I bought the actual book I had to read all the way through.
We were at a restaurant and instead of talking to everyone, I was like nope I’m reading.
Anyways, so I love Peter Pan and I love how he has red hair, that is just perfect and how I had always imagined it. Now I know that Peter isn’t the most humble of characters, as he is boastful, egocentric, cocky, etc. Peter is mainly an exaggerated stereotype of a boastful and careless boy. He is quick to point out how great he is, (such as when he congratulates himself for Wendy’s successful re-attachment of his shadow). In the book and play, as well as both films, Peter symbolizes the selfishness of childhood, shown in Barrie’s work through constant forgetfulness and self-centred behavior.
But he has a lot of good points too. He really loves and cares about his Lost Boys and Wendy. He might not always put them first, but he does care about them. And he always knows the right thing to say.
Plus he’s brave, kind, funny, and always up for games of make believe and imagination.
Amen to that!
Yes, Peter, I’m the same way. I hate saying goodbye.
janeaustenrunsmylife 