Once upon a time, in a mystical land of Ishtae, there lived a young girl named Agatha. Agatha was a brave and adventurous soul, always seeking excitement and new discoveries. However, little did she know that her thirst for adventure would lead her down a dangerous path. One day, while exploring the ancient ruins of Ishtae, Agatha stumbled upon a hidden chamber. Intrigued by the mystery surrounding it, she couldn't resist the temptation to enter. As she stepped inside, she felt a sudden surge of energy and a dark presence lurking in the shadows.
The Woolleys did major excavations at Ur in Iraq. The British had a strong presence there, having essentially squeezed a number of disparate, smaller states into one, larger, restive country they administered. The British government knew there was oil under the sand and they wanted it to fuel British warships and industry. The British consulate was large and powerful, with fingers in many pies and deals operating within deals.
The British had a strong presence there, having essentially squeezed a number of disparate, smaller states into one, larger, restive country they administered. Apparently, their marriage was never consummated, due to Katherine s health problems she may have had Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, causing her to be born without a uterus.
As she stepped inside, she felt a sudden surge of energy and a dark presence lurking in the shadows. Unbeknownst to Agatha, she had unknowingly unleashed the curse of Ishtae. This curse had long haunted the land and anyone who dared to disturb its peace would suffer grave consequences.
Teresa Reviews “Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar” (2019)
Max is real, the Woolleys are real, the timeline’s close, and England had compelling reasons to exploit Middle Eastern oil reserves.
Quality of movie on its own: 2½ hatchets
So many failed opportunities and unanswered questions, yet surprisingly funny.
Also, follow Teresa’s discussion of these movie on her podcast.
This is a weird movie. It can’t decide if it wants to be a sex comedy, a second-chance-at-love romance, a mystery, or an examination of British realpolitik over vital resources. There’s also some sexism in the archeological biz and appropriation of native cultural goods being shipped off to British museums instead of remaining in the originating country’s own museums.
A conductor quizzes Agatha about her purpose in Iraq. That’s a lot to pack into 95 minutes. Wait! There’s also animal cruelty so be forewarned. Although according to everyone but Katherine Woolley, Ella the monkey was a vicious, flea-ridden pest and good riddance to bad rubbish.
Plus, a touch of Grand Guignol here and there.
Does this mashup work? Not really. The tone is wildly uneven and the bizarre, tinkling piano background music doesn’t help.
Let’s begin by examining what’s real. Agatha’s divorce from Archie became final in October 1928. Archie married Nancy Neele one week later. Agatha was struggling to rebuild her life, get back to writing, and had ideas for books other than mysteries. Those ideas eventually became her six Mary Westmacott novels, published between 1930 and 1956.
Max Mallowan outhunks Indiana Jones. In late 1928, she rode the Orient Express to Istanbul where she was introduced to archaeologists Leonard and Katherine Woolley. They invited her to return and visit their dig in 1930. That’s when she met Max Mallowan, 13 years her junior. He was not investigating the theft of stolen relics and never a target for murder. He was instantly attracted to Agatha but she was more hesitant because of their age gap.
The red-hot Woolleys The Woolleys did not have a noisy, red-hot, sheet-scorching sex life. Apparently, their marriage was never consummated, due to Katherine’s health problems (she may have had Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, causing her to be born without a uterus). Katherine did have a reputation for being forthright, charming, difficult, dangerous, and manipulative. She’s the model for Lovely Louise Leidner, the victim (because she had it coming) in Murder In Mesopotamia (1936).
The Woolleys did major excavations at Ur in Iraq. The British had a strong presence there, having essentially squeezed a number of disparate, smaller states into one, larger, restive country they administered. The British government knew there was oil under the sand and they wanted it to fuel British warships and industry. The British consulate was large and powerful, with fingers in many pies and deals operating within deals.
Agatha reading “Lady Into Fox” The novel Agatha is reading is real. It’s Lady Into Fox (1922) by David Garnett (1892-1981). An early fantasy novel, a young woman is transformed into a fox and tragedy ensues.
After that, well, what you see was dredged up from the sand. If you’re thinking this film is accurate, maybe it is but only for a parallel universe about six or seven universes away from our own.
For example: Agatha might have enjoyed noisy, red-hot, scorched-sheet sex with Max but she would have never discussed it with anyone. As a well-bred Victorian lady, she wouldn’t have jumped him within a few days of meeting and inside an underground tunnel, either.
During the Great War, she didn’t work only in the hospital pharmaceutical wards. She worked in the wards, tending wounded soldiers with all the mess that entails. In her autobiography she recalls taking amputated limbs to the incinerator. You think she’d have the vapors over dissecting a monkey? And wouldn’t know the difference between a kidney and a liver? Not a chance.
There are also problems with the core mystery. There aren’t too many people involved. Obviously, Agatha, Max, and the Woolleys are not suspects. That leaves Lucy Bernard, her husband Sir Constance Bernard (the script gave him a poor first name), Marmaduke/Lord Ponsonby, Pearl Theroux, and Ezekial.
None of these people got enough screen time. Lucy’s cheating on Sir Constance but with who? Since Max is our hero, he’s off the list. Katherine’s keeping Leonard busy. That leaves Marmaduke and Ezekial. In her spare time, Lucy is also stealing the dig finds for resale on the black market.
It’s doubtful Lucy’s sneaking around with Ezekial. He’s both a native Iraqi and a representative of the native government, trying to keep an eye out for stolen antiquities. Marmaduke is the only man standing. I’m assuming that’s how Agatha worked it out but she never explains her reasoning. We never see a single scene where Lucy and Marmaduke even speak to each other so how did she know?
How did Marmaduke, an American, become Lord Ponsonby and the financier behind the dig? There should have been more explanation, maybe involving Lucy so we could accept they were having an affair and not just because of process of elimination.
Pearl Theroux talks about her troubles to Agatha. Pearl Theroux — young, pretty, female, African — complains of being ill-used by Katherine. She’s relegated to being the dogsbody, doing the most menial work or so she says. But we never watch Katherine order her about, fetching tea or shawls. Like Lucy and Marmaduke, Katherine and Pearl don’t even speak to each other.
How did Ella the monkey get the strychnine? Agatha’s deduction that Ella was poisoned made sense. It’d be darned difficult to hang a monkey; the beast will bite and claw and fight and climb up the rope and throw its poo at its hangman. But taking strychnine? My first thought was Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. That monkey was poisoned because it ate poisoned dates. But we never see dates or any other toxic treat.
How did the dynamite get into the tunnel where Agatha and Max were locked in passionate embrace? Who put it there? We never find out.
What to do … In fact, there seemed to be a lot of secret tunnels. At one point, Max and an Arab digger end up in a tunnel, the Arab identifies a relic as resembling one that had already been found and suddenly, they’re surrounded by crated, stolen antiquities and there’s Max’s employer. He’s dying, supposedly bitten by a poisonous snake. In a tunnel.
There’s also the title. The Curse of Ishtar implies that there’s supernatural elements. That there’s an amulet or talisman of great power that will rain down destruction on the unworthy. There’s a big black piece of pottery that Max’s employer’s holding. Leonard reads the inscription to Agatha and it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the plot at all, other than in the most metaphorical of senses.
Is the Curse of Ishtar the black, poisonous fluid seeping from the earth? Is it oil? I guess that’s what they meant. If the script wanted to make a point about money, greed, and oil combining into a toxic stew that poisons everything it touches, then it did it badly.
This should have been better. The material is there; second chance at love, naughty monkeys, imperial intrigue, adultery, and murder. The film looks good on paper but on celluloid it doesn’t amount to a hill of sand.
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Agatha reading “Lady Into Fox” The novel Agatha is reading is real. It’s Lady Into Fox (1922) by David Garnett (1892-1981). An early fantasy novel, a young woman is transformed into a fox and tragedy ensues.
Agatha was now trapped in a never-ending cycle of danger and despair. With each passing day, Agatha faced unimaginable challenges. The curse had cursed her with an insatiable hunger for adventure but made it impossible for her to find happiness or contentment in her endeavors. Every step she took, every obstacle she overcame, only led her deeper into the curse's grip. Agatha sought the help of wise elders and powerful wizards, but no solution could be found. The curse was too powerful and had bound her existence to the land of Ishtae forever. Despite her every effort to break free, she remained entrapped. Along her journey, Agatha encountered creatures of darkness and encountered countless dangers. She fought valiantly to protect herself, but each battle drained her strength. The curse fed on her life force, growing stronger with every passing day. As time went on, Agatha's spirit began to wane. She grew weary of the never-ending cycle of struggle and sorrow. Despite the odds stacked against her, she refused to give up hope. She believed that somewhere, deep within the depths of Ishtae, a solution was waiting to be discovered. Agatha's journey continued, fueled by her determination and unwavering spirit. With the guidance of a wise wizard, she delved into the history of Ishtae, searching for a clue, a hint, anything that could lead her to a breakthrough. After years of tireless searching and battling the curse's relentless grip, Agatha finally stumbled upon an ancient scroll. The scroll contained a prophecy foretelling the key to breaking the curse. It spoke of a hidden artifact, hidden deep within the heart of Ishtae, that held the power to reverse the curse's effects. Armed with this newfound knowledge, Agatha embarked on one final, perilous quest. Guided by the ancient scroll, she navigated treacherous terrains and faced her greatest fear. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she discovered the artifact. With trembling hands, Agatha held the artifact to her heart, praying for salvation. Suddenly, a blinding light enveloped her, and she felt the curse's grip weakening. The curse of Ishtae was finally broken, and Agatha was free. As she stepped out of the ruins, Agatha could hardly believe what had transpired. She had triumphed over unimaginable odds, overcoming the curse that had plagued her existence for so long. The land of Ishtae celebrated her victory, and Agatha became a legend, forever remembered as the girl who defied the curse. Agatha's story serves as a reminder of the power of determination and resilience. She teaches us that even in the face of adversity, we must never lose hope. It is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the capacity for growth and transformation. The curse of Ishtae may have tested Agatha's limits, but in the end, she emerged victorious, forever changing the course of her destiny..
Reviews for "The Curse of Ishtae: Exploring the Dark Side of Agatha's Adventure"
1. Sarah - 2/5
I found "Agatha and the Curse of Ishtae" to be a disappointment. The storyline was predictable and lacked originality. The characters felt flat and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with them. The pacing was also uneven, with slow moments dragging on and interesting parts feeling rushed. Overall, this book did not live up to my expectations and I was left feeling underwhelmed.
2. Mark - 1/5
"Agatha and the Curse of Ishtae" was a tedious read that I struggled to finish. The plot was convoluted and confusing, with too many unnecessary subplots that distracted from the main story. The writing style was uninspiring and failed to capture my interest. The characters were forgettable and their actions often felt forced. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and well-crafted story.
3. Emily - 2/5
I was disappointed with "Agatha and the Curse of Ishtae". The world-building was weak and poorly explained, leaving me confused about the setting and rules of the magical elements in the story. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to believe in the interactions between the characters. The pacing was also off, making the story feel disjointed and lacking in coherence. Overall, this book fell short of my expectations and left me wanting more depth and clarity.
4. John - 1/5
"Agatha and the Curse of Ishtae" was a complete letdown. The plot was predictable and unoriginal, offering nothing new or exciting. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked development, making it hard to care about their fate. The writing style was also overly simplistic, failing to engage me as a reader. I struggled to finish this book and would not recommend it to others.