My take on Houdini’s Magic Ticket
I don’t usually do a lot of memes. It gets repetitive to read the same thing on dozens of blogs and it feels a bit “meh”.
However recently there was one at top 10 films that looked so fun that I just couldn’t resist participating.
The blogathon is called Houdini’s Magic Ticket. Inspired by the movie Last Action Hero, the idea is that you have a magic ticket that can transport you into any film you like.
Got the idea? Let’s see where the journey will take the lady of the café. Bring on the questions!
What character would I most like to be sat next to on a plane?
Sherlock Holmes. I’m sure he’d have a great number of stories from his life to share; he could give me an impressive performance telling me details about the lives of the other passengers based on ridiculously small details no one else would notice. And besides – if any problem would occur, such as malevolent passengers, people getting ill or machinery malfunctioning, I’m sure he’d find up a solution thanks to his superior mind.
What character would I most want to enjoy a passionate romance with?
I think that would be Mr Darcy (preferably as played by Colin Firth). He’s sincere, honest, intelligent, kind hearted and deep down passionate, despite his stiff British appearance. Besides he’s filthy rich. What more could you wish for?
If I were a cop who would I want as my partner?
Captain Jean-Luc Picard. He can be a bit grumpy at times, but I’m sure we’d get along. He’d know what to do. Always. And in case of doubt we could always consult the Starfleet code of ethics.
What animated feature would I love to walk around in?
I’ve seen excellent choices from other bloggers such as Finding Nemo, Avatar and Spirited Away. But wanting to find something of my own I’ll go for The Lion King. I’ve been to Africa once, and the trip included a safari in Serengeti. It’s a journey I’ll never forget and I’ll always want to go back. Back to where we came from.
What adventure based on Earth would I most like to go on?
In a shrinking world I can’t help longing back to the days when travelling
were slower and more adventurous. It was a world where you didn’t get jet lag because you travelled so slowly that there was time to adjust to the different time zones. It was a world when you actually could see something of the world as you crossed it – not just the clouds covering it. Hence my choice is: Around the World in 80 Days.
What adventure based in an otherworldly, fantasy-based location would I most like to go on?
My first thought was The Lord of the Rings, but at a second thought: would I really, really like to be a part of that adventure? Killing orcs on a battle field? I don’t think that’s quite my thing to be honest.
Being a science fiction fan at heart, a space adventure would appear to b
e a natural choice. But for this one I’ll pick a different kind of space, namely Innerspace. Ever since I was a child I’ve been intrigued by the idea of travelling inside a body.
What movie gadget would I love to try out (or steal)?
That’s an easy one! A holodeck, of course!
I’m basically not a huge fan of it as a part of the Star Trek universe. As a matter of fact it’s pretty awful. When you see the holodeck appearing in the beginning of an episode you face two alternatives. In best case it’s just a pretty boring small introduction scene, which soon will be over. And once the signature tunes out the action in the real world will take over. You’re safe. In worst case you’re about to watch one of those horrible episodes that never leaves the holodeck, taking place in some point in the past of Earth. It’s a stinker and it’s low budget and every season has one or two of them.
But for my personal use I’d love to have access to one. It would grant any possible wish. I could meet any person of my choice – dead, alive or imagined. I could go to every place in the universe and I could visit any time there ever was. The only downside is that it has a tendency of malfunctioning at worst possible moment. But that wouldn’t happen to me of course!
What film’s plot would I alter and how would I do it?
OK, most of this meme is very lighthearted. And a lighthearted answer would be that I think Anthony Andrews should marry Olivia Hussey in Ivanhoe rather than that blonde girl.
But this is where I’ll go serious in my reply, and I hope you can take it. I’ll soon get back to silliness, OK? But for this one – I wish with all my heart that I could wave my magical wand and change the ending of United 93. I wish the plane could land safely and that no one died. Not in the 
movie, nor in the real world. I wish the bodies never fell from WTC. I wish the towers still appeared in every new movie from New York. I wish that 9/11 never happened and the world was like it used to be
What one film would I most want to be transported into, simply to be a part of that world?
The Lord of the Rings is on my mind, as always. The Shire before or after the war seems like a nice place to be. There’s a reason why I reread the series every three years. I feel at home there. Harry Potter would obviously be a choice too, considering my unfulfilled desire to go to a boarding school. However: since I’m writing this a gloomy day in the end of October
I think I’ll go for something a little different and probably a little bit unexpected.
You see: I need a vacation. I crave for sun, blue water, beautiful, simple white houses, delicious food and a glass of ouzo as the sun goes down over the Mediterranean. A life void of worries, filled with love, friendship, laughter and music.
So my final ticket would go to the island of Mamma Mia!
Other answers
And that’s it, folks! If you want see answers from other blogs, go to the original post at Top 10 Films, where there’s a list over all participants.
The Velvet Café 
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Blogathon: Houdini’s Magic Ticket » Top 10 Films – Film Lists, Reviews, News & Opinion
October 26, 2011 at 12:31 am
Character on a plane: Celine from Before Sunrise…great conversationalist, not afraid to engage in whims with strangers on vehicles of transportation.
Character romance: Agnes in F**king Amal. The passion of teenage romance and the awkwardness of teenage romance.
Cop partner: Sally Lockhart in Ruby in the Smoke, not a cop but a clever young woman who can take care of herself.
Animated Feature: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, specifically the pristine underground part…so peaceful and beautiful. Plus I could hang with Nausicaa.
Earth adventure: 1776, because founding a country is a big adventure, and hopefully I could stop Madison from establishing such terrible institutions.
Non-earth adventure: Defending Your Life…a captivating afterlife and seemingly pretty pleasant as purgatories go.
Movie gadget: Instead of copying your pick of the Holodeck, I’ll go one further and say The Matrix. Basically like the holodeck (complete with various programs) but that much more real.
Plot change: Irreversible…I want to reverse it and just have it be an upbeat romance. Honorable Mention: Atonement, wish there was no need for Atonement.
World to be a part of: Oxford of The Golden Compass. I love the idea of having a daemon beside me. Plus, the daemons seem to externally reveal things about what the person is thinking so it would make me be able to read other people more easily.
Bondo
October 26, 2011 at 1:25 am
Bondo, you beat me on equality. I liked that you included so many women in your choices.
And The Golden Compass is a great choice! I would have loved to have that somewhere on my list as well.
Jessica
October 26, 2011 at 7:37 am
Haha, well, I don’t know how much praise I deserve for gender equality. With Celine, Agnes, Sally, Nausicaa and Lyra I’m hoping for romance. No alternate reality is worth imagining without good women nearby.
Bondo
October 26, 2011 at 3:39 pm
Ah yes, Celine from Before Sunset.
I’d pick her as my romantic partner. She is a great conversationalist, very clever and of course, Julie Delphy looks stunning.
Carra
October 26, 2011 at 1:03 pm
I don’t know if it is a meme, but it was a lot of fun. I decided on the Chocolate Factory from Willy Wonka to go to. In fact I wrote my whole post about it, so I might’ve swayed a bit in a different direction. I enjoyed you take on the magic ticket as well.
Max
October 26, 2011 at 2:40 am
Oh, that’s a good choice! And you’re take is actually smart – not firing off all the questions in one post. Now you can get back to it, expanding on the other questions one by one. 🙂
Jessica
October 26, 2011 at 7:35 am
Hmmm. That’s an interesting idea! Maybe I’ll do a follow-up somewhere down the line. Thanks for the thought.
Max
October 28, 2011 at 8:33 pm
Fun answers Jessica! I thought about The Lion King for my own post but then realized there is only animals in the movie ahah. Wouldn’t be kind of odd if you are the only human? 😀 I also chose Harry Potter for the final question. Nothing quite like discovering a magical world and returning to an innocent and responsibility-free childhood…
Castor
October 26, 2011 at 3:10 am
Well and you could argue that “walking around” in The Lion King might be unadvisable. I’d want to stand in a jeep to feel safe!
Jessica
October 26, 2011 at 7:31 am
Ditto re WTC. I think we ALL wish we could change that.
Rodney
October 26, 2011 at 3:51 am
Yeah. 😦
Jessica
October 26, 2011 at 7:29 am
hehe It is good to give in and join in the fun sometimes!! LOL
Great addition to the great Blogathon. Well done Jessica
Scott Lawlor
October 26, 2011 at 11:16 am
Thanks! yes, This one was fun. One of the reasons why I love to watch movies is because of the escapism element. And this one provided me with a good reason to lose myself in those fantasy worlds a little.
Jessica
October 26, 2011 at 11:20 am
I very much agree with your comment on Ivanhoe. Ivanhoe and Rebekah (iirc) are a far better couple.
Lewis Maskell
October 26, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Indeed. But I suppose the idea of cross-religion marriages was impossible at that time. Perhaps as much when the movie was recorded as at the time when it takes place…
Jessica
October 26, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Mmmm, I never thought about it being impossible in Walter Scott’s time, but of course it mostly was (not impossible, but decidely difficult) – I mean, even marriages between differing Protestant denominations could be tricky enough in the 19th century let alone farther afield.
You are quite right of course, a cross-religion marriage in the late 12th century would be the height of scandal and would be very strongly opposed.
Lewis Maskell
October 26, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Great answers – love The Lion King, how wonderful would it be to witness all the amazing savannah life on a daily basis. And fantastic idea on Innerspace. There’s nothing more alien than our own bodies.
LouiseReviews (@LouiseReviews)
October 26, 2011 at 5:53 pm
Indeed. We get to see some of it these days in series such as House. Veins from inside. But I’d rather go there on my own!
Jessica
October 27, 2011 at 12:02 am
A very nice list with good choises all around! I especially liked the precence if Innerspace, But who would accompany you around the world — Steve Coogan or David Niven?
Sofia
October 26, 2011 at 7:20 pm
Neither. I think I’d go with Michael Palin. I always enjoyed his travel shows… travelling with him in Innerspace would be fantastic. Even though I’m not sure he’d be good at handling the villains.
Jessica
October 26, 2011 at 11:54 pm
Some really nice choices here! You are indeed a trekkie. I’ve seen way to little of it to know of the holodeck but I like the idea of it and its a great gadget.
Innerspace is also a great fun choice. I remember loving that film as a kid and I still enjoyed it last year when revisiting it. Finally I agree on Mama Mia. I’m in serious need of a vacation and I love to go to that picture perfect island.
Joel Burman
October 26, 2011 at 7:24 pm
Thanks! Well I’m a trekkie in the sense that I like the series, ranking TNG as my number 1, followed by Voyager. Hey, I even dig Enterprise, as opposed to many others! But I don’t run around at pure Star Trek conventions dressed up in costume. So I’m not a true trekkie. Just someone who happens to like Star Trek.
Jessica
October 27, 2011 at 12:14 am
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October 27, 2011 at 5:16 am
I would love to go to the island that is the location for MAMMA MIA, but if Meryl Streep turns up or I hear a single Abba tune, I’m getting out of there!
Tyler
October 27, 2011 at 9:02 am
Bashing of Meryl Streep and Abba! Pffft. I don’t believe my ears. The youth of today… 😉
Jessica
October 27, 2011 at 5:08 pm
Innerspace – what an inspired choice. I watched the film recently and still think it’s a lot of fun. Dennis Quaid and Martin Short provide two cracking performances.
A moving answer to the plot-changing question. I steered clear from real events although I do reference World War II when mentioning Saving Private Ryan. Of course, one of the true events I would love to reverse (as well as the one you mentioned and hundreds of other tragedies) is JFK’s assassination. So I’d have to enter Oliver Stone’s film and prevent Lee Harvey Oswald from taking the shot…if indeed it was Oswald.
Dan
October 27, 2011 at 4:25 pm
That’s true. I first tried to disregard of real-life based movies but I couldn’t get this one out of my head so eventually I gave up and wrote it down.
One other real life based sad ending I thought about was Into the Wild. I would so want that young man to live. On the other hand I wouldn’t have heard of him then. Oh well…
Jessica
October 27, 2011 at 5:10 pm
A lot of interesting choices! I really liked your pick for Picard as your partner, would make a very interesting team and Around the World is one of the most interesting adventures I hadn’t thought of.
Nostra
October 27, 2011 at 9:56 pm
Yes, Picard is awesome, isn’t he? Like the all-knowing big brother that would fix everything. Even if I got into trouble I would know we’d sort it out somehow. Thanks for visiting. I just discovered your blog and I liked it!
Jessica
October 27, 2011 at 11:48 pm
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October 27, 2011 at 10:34 pm
Interesting list, the holodeck seemed interesting and it was new to me as i havn´t watch Star trek. Ivanhoe was a really good choise.
filmitch
October 29, 2011 at 12:08 pm
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