MOVIES

The Blair Witch Project: A friend bought me my ticket at 11 am on Friday morning for the 9:40 pm show. Good thing she did, too! All the shows, even the midnight, were sold out at my local theater by 8:30 pm when we got there. And this movie, in my opinion, was well worth it. Before the movie started, a friend and I played a game of "Spot the Pagan" as people filed in to the theater. *grin* Oh yeah, maybe I should talk about the movie! I liked this one because it was *different* than the Hollywood-ized movies like "The Craft." It didn't point at Neo-witchcraft as being the culprit. They keep mentioning the Blair Witch, but never really show who did it. All they really showed were bundles of twigs, and one bundle which had a free "surprise" inside. It wasn't a slasher-and-gore scary movie, but let your own imagination scare you. I think that perhaps because I feel the way I do about the word "witch", I didn't find it all that "scary" as a movie, but I can't describe in words how I did feel. Perhaps more disturbed that anyone human could do something like this, which then made me feel comforted that they attribute these mysterious deaths to something not really human. It must be said, though, that everyone walked out of the theater silent, like we had just witnessed something disturbing and real. This is based on a real legend (I worked with a woman from that area of Maryland), but this particular incident is not true. Like I said, I enjoyed this movie, and am willing to see it again. Oh, and the night after I saw this, I went camping in the woods and was perfectly fine. *grin*

The Craft: This is the one that started many people into the realm of Wicca. Unlike most people, I like this movie. It actually starts out somewhat accurate and fun. Then the Hollywierd Factor (TM) kicks in...sorry, but witches don't fly and cast spells, etc. as easily as the girls did. You don't need four people in a circle (Shakespeare did it with only 3, remember!). And THERE IS NO SUCH DEITY AS MANON! *grin* So if you watch it and try to emulate Lirio, the shopkeeper, you have the basics of Wicca. The rituals (especially the first one) are pretty good as long as peoples' names are left out. I really like the chants and I'm tempted to use them, except I don't think I could do it with a straight face. Remember, there are a LOT of special effects in this movie to make it sell...get past the way Hollywierd made it entertaining, and you have a decent movie.

Practical Magic: I really like this movie...it's cute, fun, and it doesn't say a word about Wicca. Once again, there's the Hollywierd Factor (TM), so while I'd like to light candles by blowing on them, I know it's something that was put in to set the characters apart from Wiccans. Basically this is a totally enjoyable movie as long as you don't get caught up in lambasting it for the special effects.

Dangerous Beauty: This movie is not generally one of those that falls under the "Pagan" title, but I though it was wholly appropriate here. This is based on the TRUE STORY of Veronica Franco, a woman in Renaissance Venice just before the Inquisition. She's a poetess and falls in love with her best friend's brother who cannot marry her because she has no dowry. In order to be near him, she becomes a courtisan (an upper-class...ahem..."escort," if you know what I mean). While I'm certainly not going to give away the ending, let's just say that the Inquisition accuses Veronica of being a witch. AWESOME movie!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!