This a gritty pirate movie. And since Taylor Norris and I are still honing A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates! I was intrigued to see what this movie would be like. It’s directed by Frank E. Flowers and stars Priyanka Chopra-Jonas and Karl Urban. The rest of the cast help the movie feel like you’re on a Caribbean island during the 1800s. What’s really interesting are the producers: Chopra-Jonas, Angela Russo-Otstot, Joe Russo, Anthony Russo, Michael Disco and Zoe Saldana’s sisters Mariel Saldana Nazario and Cisely Saldana. I find it fascinating that Zoe Saldana’s sisters are involved in The Bluff because I wanted to see more of Anamaria who Zoe Saldana portrayed in the Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl.
However, The Bluff is only similar to the Pirates of the Caribbean movies in that it’s about gold (arguably cursed), pirates, and lots of action. The Bluff is fascinating for it’s variety of weapons and intriguing action scenes. How many ways can you kill a pirate? The story isn’t just about pirates and gold. But also about family, devotion, and revenge. If anything, it’s closer to Treasure Island with it’s complicated relationships.
If you’re frustrated or angry this might be a good movie to watch. If you’re a woman scorned, it’s a really good movie to watch. For us men it’s got cool weapons and lots of action. For me, it was watching Priyanka Chopra-Jonas play a highly skilled (you’ll have to watch the movie) protector who is also a dotting mother. Woe to those that awake a mother bear’s rage when it comes to those she loves.
As Lara, as he prefers to call her, and Jedreck arrive, he finds himself draining his skin of water. Lara’s eyes widen with surprise when she sees him.
As she passes him the bag with the quartz soul stone she leans her mouth towards his ear. “You glow of faie,” she says.
“I know your mother,” he says gruffly. He is finding it hard not to be angry that she is not his child. “Let’s get this done. I ache for water.”
He sees her gulp.
Haashir and Jedreck hit the bells with a steady rhythm as he heats the handle before sliding it over the tang. Gently, he manipulates the quartz onto the end. It will become the sword’s pommel.
As he manipulates the quartz stone into place, he sees her poor a viscous red liquid into the fuller. This time he can smell the sweet scent of blood iron. Next, she blows in front of a tiny bag as she lets the mouth open. Just like last time. But this time he can feel the soul entering the fuller. A willing soul.
Before he didn’t really think much of what this Lady Hekpomahcep was doing. But now that he realizes it, it shakes him the core. He remembers the bodies in the river, especially the female one, that didn’t decay like the others. He looks up into her face. A terrified expression stares back at him. This was not what she meant to do with her secret books of enchantments.
“It’s done,” she whispers.
He waits a moment before sliding his hands under the blade of the sword. It must be two heads taller than he is. There’s a weight to it but it’s lighter than he expects. “Whose is it?” he asks.
An old giant, taller than the rest of those present, steps forward. “I am Novak,” the senior giant says with a tired but still robust voice. “Oldest of our father’s living children. I now lead the giants and the dwarves.”
The Sword Maker lifts the sword higher than his own head and proffers it to Novak. In turn Novak reaches down and takes the sword.
“Try the sword?” Lara asks in a wispy tone.
Novak grabs the handle of the sword and swings it easily with one hand. He stares at it a moment before saying with awe, “It’s perfect.”
“Come with me and I will tell you it’s secrets,” Lara says.
Sitting at the front of the Carnival wagon with Haashir, The Sword Master feels a great longing to submerse himself in water. He takes another long sip from a water skin. The wagon pulls up to a well-established black shop in a large opening surrounded on one side by a small rock cliff. Giants, a little shorter than Jedreck, and dwarves taller than most are standing around wooden tables hammering or filing bronze weapons. He can smell the spicy scent of burning ash wood and a large clay cauldron above the fire gives off the scent of melting bronze and tin.
The dwarves and giants here are similar in girth and facial features suggesting they are related. As he glances around he noices double headed bronze axes, bronze tipped spears, and heavy looking short swords leaning against the cliff. There’s no doubt the giants and dwarves are preparing for war.
“Come this way,” Haashir says, leading him to a table with a very long wooden box.
He glances inside and gasps. No Proper could wield a sword this size. The blade is unique. It has a fuller but also many notches like a saw blade on one side. There is no handle on the tang yet. He sees the handle and pommel are in a separate, smaller box.
“Lady Hekpomahcep and Jedreck will be along soon,” Haashir tells him.
“It’s too long!” he says. “The bronze will warp if not break.”
“I noticed with the other swords,” Haashir says in a hesitant voice, “they seem unbreakable. And their characteristics unique.”
He sighs. “Even so, I can’t promise this will work on a sword of this magnitude.”
He moves away from the window. Now that he’s inside, he must hurry. The desiccation of the tops of his ears has one disadvantage. Sounds from above are not as clear as they used to be unless he lifts his head. He steps silently across the hardwood floor to the door. There’s no sound of Propers nearby. He pushes open the door and peers in. To the left of him is a stairway leading up. As he climbs the stairs he hears voices. Halfway up he listens.
“That murderous Sir Ganbold,” a man says with a hiss. “I thought he fled.”
“This is treachery,” another man says. “Sir Olaf is right to send messengers to the giants, dwarves, and quarter moons. They owe it to us to help defeat that betrayer.”
“And we welcomed him and his family,” another man says.
“Imagine how many of Ganbold’s men one arrow from a giant’s bow can gut,” a man with a snarly voice says and laughs.
“Dwarves will cut out their groins while quarter moons will slip into their campsite at night and slit their throats.”
“I also heard Sir Olaf wants to hurry diverting the Tyne River so the new palace will be surrounded by a moat.”
He realizes these are castle staff with obviously minimal military training. But they understand the skills of each of the races. A giant with a bow or spear had distance advantage. The dwarves they talk about are the ones that came from the mating of giants and dwarves. Those ones, with their hardy shields would be near indestructible. And his people, the quarter moons, as the Propers call them, are renown for stealth.
The diversion of the Tyne River has been a concern for the Sifs ever since the now deceased king, King Leopold Khalifa, started construction on a new palace. He wonders how many faie will be affected by this diversion. The wildlife might survive by finding new homes elsewhere but many faie he had heard, were attached lifelong to an area of land or water.
He lets out a breath. His people are renown for showing outward disdain towards the giants and dwarves along with the Propers. The Propers believe that the Sifs are arrogant and miserly. They capture any of his people found outside what the Propers call the Kingdom of Snowdropbogbean. The more vicious soldiers often rape the females and cut off the toes of the males.
His own people don’t believe the Sifs are limited to any one land. But his people are naturally full of hubris. That could make for a dangerous situation. But what he’s most interested in, and wonders the most about, is who the castle men aren’t talking about. Sir Olaf is calling upon the giants, dwarves, and Sifs, but not Sir Olafès own northern countrymen.
He needs to get to his own people and tell the elders that an alliance is excepted between the Sifs and Sir Ganbold’s people. And that negotiating a treaty with the giants and dwarves would be wise.
Sometimes, I write book reviews on books that were given to me or ones I purchased and really enjoyed.
This one is by someone I know personally.
Daniel Flitton comes from a family of teachers. The type of teachers who put their students first. And do so with genius and wit that makes learning both fun, easy, and memorable.
I was able to talk to Dan, briefly, about his book. How I enjoyed it’s flow, practical language, and philosophical insights that come from years of experience.
As I read through “Lead Without Losing Yourself” I also realized how valuable the lessons in his book are for business leaders, parents, and anyone else in a leadership role.
Dan doesn’t write, ignore or push away your feelings of frustration, but instead, take a breath and reflect before reacting. A main theme throughout his book is to learn how to diffuse a possibly volatile situation.
He uses quotes by the stoic emperor Marcus Aurelius (160-181 AD); the stoic Epictetus (50-135 AD); St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) and from movies, songs, and more to give examples of how to be stoic and listen before reacting.
Throughout the book he asks the reader to jot down answers to questions that encourage contemplation: When was the last time you judged someone’s tone before understanding their context? (There’s space at the back of the book to make a journal)
Whether you’re a teacher, business leader, military leader, or parent, this is an excellent book to remind you that reflection before action is almost always a wiser method.
Now that he can’t use the entranceway from the stable to a stairway that leads to the different floors of the castle he leaps onto the stables sloping roof instead. Nearby, he hears people talking fearfully about the fire and the loss of the prince. The palace must have been evacuated other than those throwing pails of water. He gazes up to the third floor. The one just below the prince’s. If he has to, he’ll take off his disguise but he would rather not. From his tool bag he takes out a knotted rope and three prong grappling hook. He also slips on a pair of fingerless leather gloves. There’s no light coming from the window he sees directly above. When he was younger, he thought everyone could see at night. Not the same way as in daylight when there is a rainbow of colours but shades of grey and blue. It wasn’t until he lived amongst the Propers that he learned Sifs, and dwarves of mixed blood, could see even during solar midnight. Unfortunately, torch and candlelight decreased the distance. He throws the grappling hook at the window sill.
In the land of the Sifs, perfection was expected but never realized. You tried and tried again until something became easy. Once elders learned what a young Sif excelled at that individual was given a lifelong job. He always excelled at everything but reading and staying still. There were things every Sif learned. Throwing a grappling hook was not one of them. As he trained to be an infiltrator while his ears were covered in salves to make his wounds look normal, he learned all sorts of skills.
He listens for a moment. There are voices but no footsteps. He scales the palace’s wall to the third-floor window. If he’s right it will take him to the second kitchen where prepared food is brought and where extra jugs of mead and wine are stored.
Once inside the storage room he sees shelves and pantries around a table with cutting boards and sharpened knives. As he leans out the window to remove the grappling hook and retrieve the rope he sees the hooded girl on the rooftop. Their eyes meet. She lifts her chin to him and he shivers. She is a Sif but not of his people and that means she might be a Fif; half faie. Legend told that a Fif who lifts her or his chin while staring into another’s eyes is saying ‘We will meet again’.
“You were the only one who brought me water afterwards,” the woman is saying when he gets to the stall.
“I-I didn’t understand what was happening at first,” the man says with a mixture of fear and shame.
Her voice coils with venom, “But you ploughed inside me just like the others.”
He peers into the stall. The light is dim but he sees the side profile of a woman wearing a cowl standing before a man kneeling on the floor. Although he doesn’t know his name he knows this man. A simple soldier who is always tasked with the least desirable jobs, like cleaning out stalls.
“At first—at first, I did,” the man says while staring at the woman’s boots. “I just wanted to be like the others. That’s all.”
“You have a newborn girl?” There’s a softness now to the woman’s voice.
Still not looking up the man replies, “Yes, I do.” He’s shivering now.
The woman lowers her cowl. Sir Oisen gawks. Long blonde hair flows down her shoulders. But peeking through the strands of hair he sees the tips of a quarter moon ear.
“Remember my visage,” she says coldly, “and name her Endellion.”
The man looks up. “Thank you, milady. I will name her Endellion.”
“Will you speak of me to others?” she asks pulling her cowl up.
“Never! I will never forget that you spared me.”
“You will be the only one I do,” she says with a hiss in her voice. “Stay kneeling until I’m gone.”
She turns so quickly that Sir Oisin jumps back. In that brief glance he can see how her eyes are wider apart than Propers; like his.
He remembers the news about the prince and rushes down the hall to the same stall he entered from. Before dawn appears, he needs to learn how the prince died and what it will mean for this kingdom.
He walked here after leaving Ronni untethered in the nearby forest. The elders nicknamed him the Infiltrator. He agreed to have the tips of his ears dissected to become a spy. Now he’s back at Damp Wind, a place he hoped to have left forever. He stares at the familiar wall that surrounds the castle. He wears a commoners’ white tunic, and dark blue hose, along with well-worn leather boots. Overtop of everything he throws on a simple dark brown cape. They are clothing he only wears when in disguise. Lastly, he tightens a belt with a tool bag around his waist.
As he pays to enter the kingdom a fire erupts from one of the palaces windows. He stares intently for a moment until he’s sure that it’s Prince James’s bedroom window.
“That’s bad news Alwyn,” the guard beside him says. They have met before when he wore the same or a similar disguise. The guard believes he’s a carpenter.
“I’ll see what’s happening,” Sir Oisin says and hurries into the city.
As he gets closer the fire is extinguished. “Prince James is dead!” a crier from a tower built near the castle cries out. The few people on the street stop staring at the smoke from the fire and gather in groups. He can hear them gossiping about the news. The air is filled with tension at the news of the one-handed prince’s demise. Those that loved him cried out that it can’t be true. Others, who never liked the ‘brat’ as they called him under their breaths, keep quiet.
He walks briskly towards the mortar and wood wall that surrounds the palace. Once he’s near where he knows the stables are he leaps higher than his own height to grab the fence’s top. On the other side he sees the staggard buttresses that helps the wall stay up. The ledge is just wide enough for him to crouch and run along until he sees a spot with no guards. He jumps down and crouches near a stable.
Listening carefully for any guards he hears the quiet voice of a woman speaking in a deathly tone. He scampers through a stall window. Touching the shoulder of the horse inside he waits for her to calm before opening the stall door and slipping into a hallway. He follows the woman’s voice to a stall a short distance down the hall.
She tries not to gag from the terrible smell emitting from his body. Though that horrible scent helps her from shivering with fear and fleeing. Jedreck gently pushes her upper back and she slips in between a male giant and a female dwarf.
The king’s head turns towards her. A macabre grin appears between the wheezing breaths. “My brothers and sisters used to dress up as bears to steal children like you out of second-storey windows; where the parents thought their young ones would be safe.” His voice is weak but determined and nearly too deep for her to understand. His smile lingers before he continues between wheezes. “Delicious.”
“His memory is going,” one of the giant daughters says.
“That was before I fell in love with one of you,” the king continues in a softer voice. “Evelyn stole my heart first. So lithe and fragile in appearance yet so willful and tall for your kind.” He gasps and a dwarven daughter gives him liquid from a jug. “‘No more eating us Propers, my love, she demanded.’ I was blinded by my love for her. My brothers and sisters were unhappy and took to hunting dwarves and other tiny peoples. Then, when Evelyn grew old and passed, I fell for Nina, a dwarven maiden with wide hips and such a beautiful smile and joyous laugh.”
She stares dumbfounded as the king’s malevolent eyes grow soft and the pale-yellow yokes grow red with the trickles of tears. Jedreck passes her a large leather bag and a quartz stone with iron inside. She pinches the bottom of the bag and covers the king’s mouth with the opening of the bag.
He gives one final exhale into the bag. She pinches it closed. “We need some blood,” she says.
She is surprised when Jedreck fumbles with a glass flask and knife with ruins on its blade. One of the dwarven daughters takes both from him. She cuts her father’s wrist and holds the flask so it can gather the warm blood.
Lara realizes they were all told about the procedure before she arrived. Would they have tried without her? And would they have succeeded? Or did her faie blood make her the only one who could perform the procedure?
A genius movie that intertwines philosophy with dance, drum rhythms, life, the importance of math, precognition, and death.
Chuck Krantz, played by Benjamin Pajak, Jacob Tremblay, and Tom Hiddleston is the pith, literally, of this movie. Like Inception, it’s best to watch the movie all the way through, or pause it before going for snacks. Arguably, Marty Anderson played by Chiwetel Ejiofor is the other main character. Interacting with other characters while awaiting the End. To understand the End, pay close attention to young Chuck as Benjamin Pajak’s conversation with Miss Richards (Kate Siegel).
There is a dance scene with Chuck (Tom Hiddleston), Janice Halliday (Annalise Basso), and an incredible drum performance by Taylor Franck (The Pocket Queen). Remember the drum scene later on when you hear Chuck’s grandfather, Albie Krantz (Mark Hamill), explain why math is Truth and omnipresent.
Believability is a mixture of script and cast portrayal.
This is an ensemble piece with Felicia Gordon, Marty Anderson’s ex-wife (Karen Gillan), and Sam Yarborough (Carl Lumbly) helping Marty at the End.
There’s also Miss Rohrbacher (Samantha Sloyan) who encourages young Chuck to dance, and Sarah Krantz (Mia Sara) Chuck’s grandmother who reminds him to enjoy life. These characters along with others help the movie flow so that each important piece connects to make The Life of Chuck complete.
At the end, or later on, when your mind continues to sort through all the layers of depth in the film, you might find yourself asking: are we our own reality?
Caedar Writing & Artwork 