tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66272560689217849622024-03-05T02:01:48.226-05:00 JA Grier - One Writer's Mind A Planetologist's PerambulationsJA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.comBlogger244125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-19927974202277746462021-01-22T00:23:00.000-05:002021-01-22T00:23:33.167-05:00A Tarot Reading for 2021 - Revealing the Spread, Cards 1 and 2This is the third in my series of posts about my New Year's 2021 Tarot
reading. Post one where I talk about my choice of deck is <a href="https://onewritersmind.blogspot.com/2021/01/a-tarot-reading-for-2021-choosing-deck.html">here</a>, and post two where I discuss the spread is <a href="https://onewritersmind.blogspot.com/2021/01/a-tarot-reading-for-2021-choosing-spread.html ">here</a>. <p>So onward! Let's start with looking at the cards as a whole, just to get a feel for the connections and overall themes. Then I'll 'flip' the first two. Here's what's in my spread:<br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9x9lrxMtmwl5ZRrB-l8imWg9x9q5-OF3mtCvbOXlZMhS7MGoCE_qHC7uDZAVfyG3tWP81qUwehf6V6C38sb2qQIC7FPyClKYi0V7Hn4PU9D7f0sBlC0RKij86QLekktlKkcGBu0NpXA/s1920/fullspread2021.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1301" data-original-width="1920" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9x9lrxMtmwl5ZRrB-l8imWg9x9q5-OF3mtCvbOXlZMhS7MGoCE_qHC7uDZAVfyG3tWP81qUwehf6V6C38sb2qQIC7FPyClKYi0V7Hn4PU9D7f0sBlC0RKij86QLekktlKkcGBu0NpXA/w320-h217/fullspread2021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>1. Death.<br />2. Five of Swords<br />3. Ace of Swords<br />4. Five of Wands<br />5. Eight of Wands<br />6. Tower<br />7. Sun<br />8. Magician<br />9. Page of Cups<br />10. Ace of Cups<br />11. Four of Coins<br /><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Looking at the suits, it’s interesting to see how they are so cleanly split. Swords (challenges, intellect, thoughts) appear early, referring the background like my inner self and the conflict. Then the framing forces of the past and present are Wands (career, projects, inspiration). The intangibles of 2021 are represented by Cups (emotions, relationships, creativity). Only at the very end do we find Coins/Pentacles (money, resources) showing the tangibles of real-world outcomes. Four of the eleven cards are Major Arcana, and two are Aces, which is pretty cool as indicators of key themes/aspects of my relationship to 2021.</p><p>I've placed the first two cards off to the side, although they are usually dealt to lay across the middle of the center card in the spread. These two cards form the essence of me and my relationship to 2021, both my role(s) and my true inner self within that context.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF373I8lQlyLGCSa6QAV_glcTkgpyMywSYOGVSgwLvTiE-vzePmQ481htF0WCwfM9sfLZrqpJCnF8BjB58LsGPjkGJ_ep68srwZE5G6e_i83AC1oPdxruCbKwhyphenhyphenLujII8k_dny6lypHGY/s1920/twocard2021.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1426" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF373I8lQlyLGCSa6QAV_glcTkgpyMywSYOGVSgwLvTiE-vzePmQ481htF0WCwfM9sfLZrqpJCnF8BjB58LsGPjkGJ_ep68srwZE5G6e_i83AC1oPdxruCbKwhyphenhyphenLujII8k_dny6lypHGY/w298-h400/twocard2021.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>1. Death - Significator. Okay, so I’m a romanto-techno-weirdo-goth person and thus the Tarot Death card has never been one I’ve viewed negatively. This card represents change, and I see a lot of positive aspects in that. We certainly need some change after 2020. The character in the card wears a mask, already so appropriate for 2020/2021 but in addition, this mask is a plague doctor’s mask. Creepy appropriate. It is intended as protection. The white rose is an homage to Death. My interpretation is that I see myself as someone trying to stay safe, but also trying to help and to honor others who were not so lucky. I also think it bodes for my role in 2021 being different from 2020 in some way that may be specifically virus related.<br /><br />2. Five of Swords - Me. This card depicts the winner of a hard-fought battle. But while the character in the card has indeed won, the victory may have been Pyrrhic. As my inner self I see this card as a question - what have I gained and what have I lost in 2020? I have to take my lessons learned forward with me into 2021 or this victory (my continued health and prosperity) will have been at a high price, indeed. My inner self is one who is glad for victory, but cognizant of costs and compromises. This is appropriate as Swords as it frames my challenges and thoughts of myself and my place.</p><p>Next post, I'll talk about the five middle cards that form the cross.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Credits: Pix by me of my stuff.</span><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-34954982790501014082021-01-21T21:11:00.002-05:002021-01-21T22:01:16.913-05:00A Tarot Reading for 2021 - Choosing a Spread<p>This is the second in my series of posts about my New Year's 2021 Tarot reading. The first post where I talk about my choice of deck is <a href="https://onewritersmind.blogspot.com/2021/01/a-tarot-reading-for-2021-choosing-deck.html">here</a>. </p><p>So with deck in hand, I had to choose a spread. Since I wanted to "get a read' on my place in the whole year of 2021, I figured a big, complex spread was the way to go. I picked the Celtic Cross Spread and included a 'significator' card for a total of eleven cards. The Celtic Cross is often dealt to look like this:<br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSieAo6YRNwe5g0y5njOzh6f0WaXpFFRha1djoPLNoJz6Jsj-yuGAnTRtI1wxOJBu7qfawJB_lOS9ifGtqySHueqOYNd7IJE1HN5T41SGMFzslOYWlFfxcx_QWMGkN591BmpoSBXoWSfs/s2048/celticspread.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1854" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSieAo6YRNwe5g0y5njOzh6f0WaXpFFRha1djoPLNoJz6Jsj-yuGAnTRtI1wxOJBu7qfawJB_lOS9ifGtqySHueqOYNd7IJE1HN5T41SGMFzslOYWlFfxcx_QWMGkN591BmpoSBXoWSfs/s320/celticspread.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celtic Cross spread, from the guide to<br />The Gilded Tarot<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Each card is related to the question or situation of interest in some specific way. The 'definitions' for each card follow here - again this is largely the description provided in the guide to The Gilded Tarot.</p><p>1. <u>Significator.</u> How I feel about 2021 and/or my role in 2021. This is generally considered an optional card, only added if, as in my case here, I wanted additional info/complexity in my reading.<br />2. <u>Me (The Querent)</u>. My relationship to 2021. This is the “inner me” or the “true me”
that has some bearing on issues and situations in 2021.<br />3. <u>Crossing</u>. The major conflict(s) or challenges in 2021 for me.<br />4. <u>Foundation</u>. The basis of 2021, key themes or ideas I will encounter.<br />5. <u>Past. </u> My past issue(s) that will influence 2021.<br />6. <u>Present.</u> Current force(s) shaping my 2021.<br />7. <u>Future.</u> Forces that will affect the nature of and/or the outcome of my 2021.<br />8. <u>Myself.</u> My self-image, which may or may not reflect card #2. How I see myself approaching/living/being in 2021.<br />9. <u>Environment.</u> How others will view/see me in 2021.<br />10. <u>Hopes and Fears.</u> What I most hope or most fear for 2021.<br />11.
<u>Outcome. </u> Probable outcomes for 2021; what will be the nature of 2021
for me, assuming nothing changes from the moment of the reading.<br /></p><p>The Celtic Cross spread isn't about predicting or changing the future, it is instead a way to gain insight into a past and present situation, and what outcome(s) might arise. Whenever you use Tarot cards, it's important to focus on some specific question or situation, since the cards have lots of meanings based entirely on context. As I noted in my first post, this is all about psychology. What do I hope the cards will suggest? What do I *not* want to see? In what way do they confirm or conflict with my previous ideas?</p><p>I of course was looking for insight into 2021 - including, what were the key issues in my 2020 that will influence 2021, what would be the major themes for me this year, what strengths I could access, and what weaknesses I had that would need support.</p><p>So I shuffled the cards, thinking about my questions, and then handed the deck to my spouse, who dealt the cards face down. After that, he turned them over one by one and we pondered the significance ... <br /></p><p>Nuff for now; next post to see the cards I drew!<br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Credits: My pic of the inside of my guide to The Gilded Tarot by Barbara Moore (illustrator for the cards is Ciro Marchetti.)</span><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-19947190225576342492021-01-21T08:50:00.003-05:002021-01-22T19:15:34.583-05:00A Tarot Reading for 2021 - Choosing A Deck<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCyYZz8rufgBVV3Jgl0VPCggk4grz4o9xpl_jJIfkxiT7rbkZIgCJzbOJo3RyegwWqRjKzDD74DnDcVF2lPhsyDsDuR8pY01LT7n_FW8rWeyjfmobuqmO6Payr86WjnyMa9mZutAdtws/s1920/waterdeckchoice2021.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1763" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCyYZz8rufgBVV3Jgl0VPCggk4grz4o9xpl_jJIfkxiT7rbkZIgCJzbOJo3RyegwWqRjKzDD74DnDcVF2lPhsyDsDuR8pY01LT7n_FW8rWeyjfmobuqmO6Payr86WjnyMa9mZutAdtws/s320/waterdeckchoice2021.jpg" /></a></div>As part of our New Year's revelry, I asked my spouse to help me with a
Tarot reading for 2021. He obliged, and so I have my (pretty awesome)
reading for 2021 to share over the next several posts.<br /><p></p><p>Given
that I'm a scientist, I'm sure it's no surprise that I do not view
Tarot as supernatural. Rather I view it as a engaging and creative
means to uncover some of my own psychology. Tarot works best for me
when I look at a card and consider the implications that I easily
accept, and then those I immediately resist. Also during this time of
pandemic, I find myself gravitating to tactile activities that are not
computer based. There's a sort of need for texture, color, and the
sound of shuffling cards. It's very grounding and comforting in a time
when so much of the physical world, and the physicality of other people,
has been out of reach.</p><p>For my 2021 reading I chose my Tarot Grand
Luxe deck. It's my go-to deck for when I want lots of detail, but
don't want to work too hard to find the messages. One of this deck's
best aspects is that, unlike SO many other Tarot
decks, it includes people with a wide range of skin tones and facial
features. It's a dynamic, vibrant deck that's full of life. Now if I
could only find a deck with a wide range of genders and body types, too,
I'd be pretty darn happy ...<br /><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEBXyNjAQ5RU5ay3U0QTa-V06J4LV0OkBbv2mwthrGTe2jWUFrjM4CMYsQkvBRtC_ZYE5ZpSaJD0qK9EH4-GfajtVHjzBgrj72d92htGBF41g0Nc0Hvj_u8AXsdaIydzL5oE-vgeq5cQ/s1024/waterGrandLuxCards2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="1024" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEBXyNjAQ5RU5ay3U0QTa-V06J4LV0OkBbv2mwthrGTe2jWUFrjM4CMYsQkvBRtC_ZYE5ZpSaJD0qK9EH4-GfajtVHjzBgrj72d92htGBF41g0Nc0Hvj_u8AXsdaIydzL5oE-vgeq5cQ/w400-h318/waterGrandLuxCards2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tarot Grand Luxe. Stunning art, detailed images, diversity,<br />high-quality card stock and labels that are easy for the eye.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>This is a gorgeously illustrated Tarot with largely standard themes.
Because the themes and symbols are standard, it makes interpreting the
messages more straightforward than some of my more unorthodox decks.
What do I mean by standard themes? Let's take a look at a comparison of
four of my favorite tarot decks. I've taken the Six of Coins/Pentacles
and the Hermit card from each deck. Check out the image, with helpful
arrows and labels! :) </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYb6b5fMOt-Zdce8EzbhaQCV_jYV_Bsb1sDH5YGthQSD05e9VqTsO7lEU0IlxlA8NpmNHKvkPkP1C0djOv5_YMOB8SMbW2WQp_pbcP_se6M05wXAdEhCb5pzezDChr8GoxS6WA8GNTo/s1920/rwscompare2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1609" data-original-width="1920" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYb6b5fMOt-Zdce8EzbhaQCV_jYV_Bsb1sDH5YGthQSD05e9VqTsO7lEU0IlxlA8NpmNHKvkPkP1C0djOv5_YMOB8SMbW2WQp_pbcP_se6M05wXAdEhCb5pzezDChr8GoxS6WA8GNTo/w400-h335/rwscompare2021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p></p><p>The first deck is the Rider Waite Smith Tarot deck, a variant of the very first decks used for divination published in the early 1900s. The second deck is the one I've chosen for 2021, Tarot Grande Lux. As you can see, the first two decks have similar imagery and
symbols for both cards. The Hermit is an
old dude with a long white beard, usually carrying a lantern or such and
maybe a cane or staff. The setting is a path or journey. For the Six
of Coins, there is a scale and someone weighing out gold. It's easy to say, yep, that's a scale and it's being balanced, or that's a
lantern and he's looking for something. I.e. you can get a quick read on the general idea of what you are looking at in the card.</p><p>But
decks can be a great deal more unorthodox, with imagery and symbols
used in new ways, or that are not immediately recognizable. The last
two decks show a progression from weird to weirder. Revelations Tarot
is pretty cool because the cards can be read as they fall, either
right-side up or upside down. I don't usually bother with 'inverted' or
'reversed' readings - if I pull a card and it is upside down, I flip
it. Many people prefer to leave the card inverted, and then interpret
the meaning in some way that is reversed to the original meaning of the
card. Revelations Tarot makes that super easy - it's almost like there
are two whole decks here, since each card has a top and a bottom image. However, these images are highly stylized, and combine symbols in unusual ways. Deviant Moon Tarot is one of my more weird decks, and is perfect when
I'm in that headspace. The images here look nothing like the Rider Waite Smith Tarot, and the moon and tone of the art is vastly different. So when
I'm in a mood for the strange, I'll choose a deck more like this.</p><p>Nuff for now, more later.</p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Credits: All pix are taken by me of my own Tarot decks, except I have cut in the pictures of the RWS Hermit and six of coins into my image from Wikimedia Commons.</span> <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-17940872401487049232020-10-29T09:48:00.000-04:002020-10-29T09:48:19.592-04:00Halloween Movies of Choice: Movies 16 to 19 - Is this Horror?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZEABXgBx4SmmRGuWjwvQ8a8eac8bvR7tHldOKvn5xbj6gni9JBFCgRO9MaH7MAWxT4-A6mGiO0zD7uhixAxzubQ9c5lZGlQaCmWDxVWoM9sz_C3FfRT9rzxXh61FLkAU0Lpfh_E5kTo/s569/medea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="436" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZEABXgBx4SmmRGuWjwvQ8a8eac8bvR7tHldOKvn5xbj6gni9JBFCgRO9MaH7MAWxT4-A6mGiO0zD7uhixAxzubQ9c5lZGlQaCmWDxVWoM9sz_C3FfRT9rzxXh61FLkAU0Lpfh_E5kTo/w153-h200/medea.jpg" width="153" /></a></div>How do we know when we are dealing with something in the genre of horror? There are different ideas on that topic, so pin-pointing authentic horror within film is trickier than it might at first appear. Horror crops up in strange places ...<br /><p></p><p>In the book <i>Danse Macabre,</i> Stephen King defines three levels of emotion/feeling that can be inspired in the reader/viewer. From "lowest" to "highest" these are revulsion, horror, and terror. The emotion easiest to generate within the viewer/reader is <b>Revulsion</b>. Revulsion is the reaction to something acutely gross or disgusting, such as slimy guts, pools of blood, heads rolling down the hall, or flaps of necrotic skin. It's the sort of thing that if seen in real life would make almost anyone gag, barf, or pass out. Human revulsion to "body horror" is near universal, and based largely in physical reactions that all people share. </p><p>King's middle level is <b>Horror</b>. Horror is more challenging to generate within the audience, and it happens when the audience is confronted with something so unnatural or impossible that their minds struggle to make rational sense of it. Maybe it's giant snakes with seven heads, or walking carnivorous plants, or a dead friend suddenly appearing in your room at night. This is the moment of shock, when your brain short-circuits, and you are trapped in that moment of panic in fight, freeze, or flight. It therefore has both a physical/body component and a cerebral component. Horror by this definition is difficult because not everyone finds the same things to be unnatural, nor at the same level of implausibility. Also, if you are using a typical trope for the genre then the audience may not feel horror - it will be too "natural" to them; something they've seen so often that it no longer compels them to try to make sense of it. </p><p>For King, the finest level is that of <b>Terror</b>. Terror happens before the unnatural thing is fully revealed. It is the moment of suspense. It is the aching dread where your mind runs wild with ideas. In terror your imagination is your real enemy. You know something is <i>wrong </i>but have no other concrete information. You sense the rules of reality have changed, and for some reason you didn't get the memo. It is that deep sense that the universe is a hair's-breadth from devolving into utter chaos. Terror, more than anything, is what makes you leave the lights on after you watch a good horror flick. Your imagination is still running away with you. Terror is especially difficult to engender in the audience because it is entirely cerebral, and more dependent on culture, personality, and individual experience than the other two levels. </p><p>In my opinion, good horror has aspects of both Terror and Horror, with Revulsion being optional. I like the Horror level because I like monsters. Sometimes movies with too much Terror can bore me. I get emotionally saturated if the suspense does not ever resolve into Horror or Revulsion. But I've also seen a few good flicks that were merely gore-fests, so who knows? </p><p>With all this in mind, I'm going to take a look at the horror genre aspects of a few canonically non-horror films and see how/if those aspects are an integral, necessary part of the movie. Does it inspire the emotions of <b>Revulsion, Horror, </b>or <b>Terror</b>? Would the movie be as effective without these? Let's look ...</p><p>SPOILERS as always so watch before reading ... <br /></p><p><u><b>16. Groundhog Day - 1993</b></u></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WjsZtVwlaj3dL3UH3LLYgtd6o4xcTJeYYhcFBFXH1nwCaMgV9KsbX7tVTlbNb2x2q6icQ_xR9Tw6-2_rQq6Xrfv7sAj7ctPCM96xKhE3IsT9zLN2ZJHut7dFtZE8wLUEQEohlBzVQno/s436/groundhogdvd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="291" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WjsZtVwlaj3dL3UH3LLYgtd6o4xcTJeYYhcFBFXH1nwCaMgV9KsbX7tVTlbNb2x2q6icQ_xR9Tw6-2_rQq6Xrfv7sAj7ctPCM96xKhE3IsT9zLN2ZJHut7dFtZE8wLUEQEohlBzVQno/w134-h200/groundhogdvd.jpg" width="134" /></a></div>One of the most original and celebrated fantasy "time travel" films of the modern age, <i>Groundhog Day</i> was utterly unique and genre-busting. There were very few comedies before this one that had included distinct fantasy elements. Although the day-looping-over-and-over idea was not original to this film, it was handled in ways that were totally innovative. <p></p><p>No small credit goes to Murray's performance, where he has to play both protagonist and antagonist while convincingly undergoing a complete change of personality. At first it seems the conflict in the film is between Murray's character (named Phil, of course), and nature gone wild, but we quickly realize that that isn't the case. Nature, after all, hasn't gone wild, it has become utterly and completely predictable. This movie is about Phil versus himself, and how this constant sameness throws his narcissism into a relief so stark even he can't miss it anymore. Phil comes to realize that he, himself, is responsible for his misery, and that in spite of the inexorable sameness of the days, he still has the power to make the all of the choices that matter.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHx2eLk2yu0x-ihF0ahNobPLcx0iqwZNEepHmPO-fSOU7Kgk9xPoGMgLSFMVupUv9JRMdJD2g7Evi_ofL0S2jBnuV04d_MxL3Sd4k5fzM1tRLK3DnELmZyfbHeTa3RZ58Xy5BkwSE-t-Q/s2048/composite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1928" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHx2eLk2yu0x-ihF0ahNobPLcx0iqwZNEepHmPO-fSOU7Kgk9xPoGMgLSFMVupUv9JRMdJD2g7Evi_ofL0S2jBnuV04d_MxL3Sd4k5fzM1tRLK3DnELmZyfbHeTa3RZ58Xy5BkwSE-t-Q/w200-h188/composite.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Looking at the three elements of the genre of horror, we note that Groundhog Day has plenty. While unbridled terror is not an expected reaction to this film, dismay, unease, pain, sadness, confusion, and dread are all possibilities. Phil's world has cracked along the seams - the rules of reality have changed and he has no idea why. We also have no idea why; the audience is never told why this has happened, nor for how long, nor why it stops. During what might be 70 or 80 years of looping, Phil descends into utter despair, attempting suicide over and over. Actually, he <i>succeeds </i>in suicide, he just does not stay dead. He becomes utterly unhinged, stealing Phil the groundhog and letting the animal drive the van with both of them over a cliff. You are even treated to the sight of his corpse being identified in the morgue. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sw448bF7DWS31zaLm7EB4v3plEvb4t_JvdjjlVxoa3z6Q_OSt18fBuaPsV3Uq7vLmM_iFnDnPlpoZSt0sZXv1ACMsYbEt6XGMNjKipYX-lzyCWNNWhYvbIy0XAj4OWcgj9S-4_3iXtE/s751/hogdrive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="751" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sw448bF7DWS31zaLm7EB4v3plEvb4t_JvdjjlVxoa3z6Q_OSt18fBuaPsV3Uq7vLmM_iFnDnPlpoZSt0sZXv1ACMsYbEt6XGMNjKipYX-lzyCWNNWhYvbIy0XAj4OWcgj9S-4_3iXtE/w200-h138/hogdrive.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>In these exceptionally grim moments we share Phil's emotions of angst, exhaustion, shock, despair, and dread, both for him and for ourselves. The horror of an endless treadmill of helplessness and powerlessness is something we understand and even fear. But without these moments, Phil's epiphany and eventual discovery of happiness wouldn't be possible. In that sense, <i>Groundhog Day</i> is exceptionally clever horror, using every nuance of the genre to bring us deeply and fully along with the story.<br /><br /><br /><p></p><p><u><b>17. Hamlet - 1996</b></u></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GqolGPtjAqeQARjZtMeCpUkfaI0icXGNH469tE4IC0H9SH573xVuTBaTHMLNvPjcO1o5ciqds_QzecGsia_ZDWnyTQX2t3ifNAdiNgaS9GDxDMvUgG0z7waSjCbMdD1GSdlYZaMwBgA/s436/hamletdvd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="327" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GqolGPtjAqeQARjZtMeCpUkfaI0icXGNH469tE4IC0H9SH573xVuTBaTHMLNvPjcO1o5ciqds_QzecGsia_ZDWnyTQX2t3ifNAdiNgaS9GDxDMvUgG0z7waSjCbMdD1GSdlYZaMwBgA/w150-h200/hamletdvd.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>I watched the entire 4+ hours of Kenneth Branagh's 1996 version of <i>Hamlet</i>. I've seen a few different versions of this play, and this one is top notch. It has serious flaws, but overall it offers a grounded portrayal of the story, allowing the viewer to engage deeply with the characters. Winslet's performance as Ophelia is the best for the role I've ever seen.<br /><p></p><p>Considering Shakespeare's works as horror is not a new idea - after all the "Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble" spell in MacBeth is recited by actual witches. As noted in the paper <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320801538_The_%27Gothic%27_in_Hamlet_The_role_of_the_macabre_in_creating_cathartic_horror">The Gothic in Hamlet</a><i> " ... t<span class="lsc ws3"><span class="ls18 ws3b">he use of<span class="_ _1"></span> ... horr<span class="_ _1"></span>or leads to<span class="_ _1"></span></span></span> gothic catharsis. Got<span class="_ _1"></span>hic catharsis can b<span class="_ _1"></span>e defined as a form of c<span class="_ _2"></span>atharsis with the specif<span class="_ _2"></span>ic aim to cr<span class="_ _2"></span>eate fear a<span class="_ _2"></span>nd awe in th<span class="_ _2"></span>e audience<span class="_ _1"></span> ... whic<span class="ls6 ws40">h ... makes the audience ... feel<span class="_ _1"></span> relieved because </span>the horrifyin<span class="_ _0"></span>g incidents did no<span class="_ _0"></span>t happen to them." </i>I note here three ways in which Hamlet specifically uses the elements of the horror genre to tell its story.<i><br /></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqK5eBMIRBrqDZLWJa_DM64v2172xrrMrfiOTzKNLh_84ZordC_q1RWongX8ttiluFTNynzNFQfDtuLp8TDZzq8H-cgoTji99pjYneSsJ3N4HfK2x4rajF5C5D15Ouxd4WLocRZe7svnc/s278/waterhamlet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="278" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqK5eBMIRBrqDZLWJa_DM64v2172xrrMrfiOTzKNLh_84ZordC_q1RWongX8ttiluFTNynzNFQfDtuLp8TDZzq8H-cgoTji99pjYneSsJ3N4HfK2x4rajF5C5D15Ouxd4WLocRZe7svnc/w200-h168/waterhamlet.png" width="200" /></a></div>1. The ghost. Hamlet sees the ghost of his dead father, which certainly shocks and horrifies Hamlet and his attendants. Old Hamlet is not happy in the afterlife, and tells his son that he was murdered by Claudius (Old Hamlet's brother) who now sits upon the throne. Hamlet is ordered by the ghost to kill Claudius. Hamlet, a brooding, self-centered, introspective thinker, is overwhelmed with this assignment. He agonizes and delays, not knowing if this ghost is a force of good or evil. It's an important and dreadful question. Certainly Old Hamlet is no angel - he's insisting his son commit murder, however justified. In the end, the ghost's demand results in rampant tragedy.<p></p><p>2. Madness. Hamlet ponders and pontificates, pretending to be going mad as a cover for
his odd behaviors. Perhaps he actually is going mad; his reality has shattered, and he can't rely on anything anymore, even himself and his own judgement. He is filled with confusion, rage, and despair, lashing out at everyone - most notably Ophelia. He cruelly rejects her, and then kills her father (thinking it is Claudius). Ophelia becomes unhinged herself and winds up drowning in a manner that is never confirmed. We sense the walls are crumbling around Hamlet and his world.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnY_KJnsXgZ1XbfxgE5mi1psnWF74ESQqRMewdWSAm34fAsrR8VrYxzE8c6LWrrDOYa6MYc7zf7-sTwDr1GxFSKnewkzTPJSpK8Un18KzEQixd5KZc0ooS4tAPR8gk8Eyg9Gfr89RWoE/s277/hamletskull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="277" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnY_KJnsXgZ1XbfxgE5mi1psnWF74ESQqRMewdWSAm34fAsrR8VrYxzE8c6LWrrDOYa6MYc7zf7-sTwDr1GxFSKnewkzTPJSpK8Un18KzEQixd5KZc0ooS4tAPR8gk8Eyg9Gfr89RWoE/w200-h131/hamletskull.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>3. The Specter of Death. Hamlet has already seen his father's ghost and knows the grave need not be a place of peace. He ponders suicide, saying "To be or not to be," but runs from the idea because he is afraid that the 'dreams' of the dead may well be wretched in the extreme. The play turns utterly morbid, especially when Hamlet is confronted with the skull of Yorick, who was the kind court jester of Hamlet's youth. Contemplating the skull, Hamlet experiences revulsion, saying his "gorge rises."<p></p><p>Elements of the horror genre underlie all of Hamlet. Without them, there is no dread, no tragedy, and ultimately no story of interest. <br /><br /></p><p><u><b>18. Who Framed Roger Rabbit? - 1988</b></u></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwJGjQAIk9Ql7gW57z9TJmUvwor4mJClbTFXcKRgDZivJ8SeQj8Ow-dyCtkKgqTstiuAgfM7Pa803fpFZlP0cT-p-HeGpecHea9MqGb8kP_zPsOV3UE_bRB3YQUvQEurk9qrIUBUbshc/s436/rogerdvd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="327" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwJGjQAIk9Ql7gW57z9TJmUvwor4mJClbTFXcKRgDZivJ8SeQj8Ow-dyCtkKgqTstiuAgfM7Pa803fpFZlP0cT-p-HeGpecHea9MqGb8kP_zPsOV3UE_bRB3YQUvQEurk9qrIUBUbshc/w150-h200/rogerdvd.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Animated cartoons have always lent themselves to the macabre and the terrifying. They fully explore of the Horror level of the genre - within a cartoon the laws of reality go out the window. Cartoons allow for unbridled chaos and brutality where the characters can't even die to get out. Think of all the ways that Wile E. Coyote mangled himself as his strategies backfired. How about that cartoon where we see Daffy Duck being toyed with by the artist in scene after scene, the world shifting around Daffy wildly, even to the point of body horror where Daffy is redrawn as a monster? And these were supposed to be funny ... <p></p><p>Matt Groening's 'The Simpsons' always understood the cartoon-equals-creepy factor. Bart and Lisa's favorite cartoon show is called "Itchy and
Scratchy." This cartoon within a
cartoon serves to highlight the whole bizarre idea that cartoons bashing one another is funny - Itchy and Scratchy commit
horrific acts of violence, and Bart and Lisa laugh uproariously. The series took the logical next step and created a yearly Halloween special called "Treehouse of Horror." In the ninth episode, Bart and Lisa get thrown into an actual Itchy and Scratchy cartoon, and the titular characters ask why seeing them get cut up and hurt is supposed to be funny. They then direct their violence towards Bart and Lisa to teach them a lesson. Super duper creepy.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fURQAI9S3YEGLXUmmDup76wL_OAJhdzDeQjdIcgEW52cBhTMeslMUJ6UoKwiuSphHI8Y-OawdMfNSM7Pl0ibK9ICJ_q_Cs2Bcav4a98pZjkS7abbRoqE5KMyq344bnkhFwfABtCMk8c/s636/Screen+Shot+2020-10-29+at+6.39.50+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="636" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fURQAI9S3YEGLXUmmDup76wL_OAJhdzDeQjdIcgEW52cBhTMeslMUJ6UoKwiuSphHI8Y-OawdMfNSM7Pl0ibK9ICJ_q_Cs2Bcav4a98pZjkS7abbRoqE5KMyq344bnkhFwfABtCMk8c/w200-h181/Screen+Shot+2020-10-29+at+6.39.50+AM.png" width="200" /></a></div>The logical extreme of cartoon carnage shows up in the anthology "Twilight Zone - The Movie" where a kid with godlike powers torments people by throwing them bodily into cartoons and bringing cartoon monsters to life in the real world.<br /><p></p><p>So it's really no surprise that "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" is terrifying, and I'm not the only person who thinks that. Juxtaposing cartoons and people living side-by-side is a recipe for bloodcurdling chaos. The rules between reality and "toonality" are not compatible, and since you never know if a gag is being played for laughs or for suspense, you can't have fun with this movie. You are in a constant state of dread, unable to predict what the consequences of any action will be.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jzZ39ihZnbgCNjL-haIwhVqTjanVcesG9pxYJzM68lKvk6wCdpDRe-OmRg2D8kNYSdTkW2be7iqc12m2NisSJjA3XGdwX8eI56mKshV_scZZwi3GqpUaImldy5vlfhdNhxNXIj6iJKM/s968/Screen+Shot+2020-10-29+at+6.41.15+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="968" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jzZ39ihZnbgCNjL-haIwhVqTjanVcesG9pxYJzM68lKvk6wCdpDRe-OmRg2D8kNYSdTkW2be7iqc12m2NisSJjA3XGdwX8eI56mKshV_scZZwi3GqpUaImldy5vlfhdNhxNXIj6iJKM/w200-h199/Screen+Shot+2020-10-29+at+6.41.15+AM.png" width="200" /></a></div>Super nasty things happen in this film or are referenced - off screen the protagonist's brother is killed by having a piano dropped on him, and Marvin Acme is killed by a dropped safe. The worst, the very worst, is that on screen we see the villain Judge Doom summarily execute a harmless toon by dipping it in acid. This is how we learn that there is no due-process for toons, and that the judge has full powers as judge, jury, and executioner with no supervision of any kind. The shoe toon death scene is something I can't even watch, it is so barbaric, and it is slooooow death by acid torture. Sadistic in the extreme.<p></p><p>The judge himself is super terrifying, and when he starts to mentally unravel things get overwhelmingly nasty. His henchmen are killed by making them laugh themselves to death. Doom himself dies slowly and agonizingly in dip, thrashing about in torment. </p><p>This movie is entirely driven by elements of the horror genre, and the tone and mood are created by our own unease with cartoons juxtaposed with reality. Toon Town is supposed to be cheerful and fun, but it's definitely my version of Hell.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image credits. "Medea killing her children" from the Princeton art collection. Dvd covers for each movie. Still frames or promo photos for each movie. Composites of promo photos.</span><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-11128871601491085952020-10-27T15:11:00.005-04:002020-10-27T15:11:54.443-04:00Halloween Movies of Choice 2020: Movies 11 to 15 - Revenge<p>It's almost the end of October and I'm only 10 movies into my reviews! I've been having so much fun watching the films I haven't been blogging about them. I have noticed, however, that this year's viewing has had many flicks featuring revenge as the plot driver. Revenge has long been a staple theme of horror movies, so it takes some finesse to pull off a revenge plot and not simply slip into the same old predictable patterns. Here's a loooong post about five freaky films dealing with the wretched rewards of revenge ...</p><p><i><span> </span>"To seek revenge may lead to hell,<br /><span> </span>but everyone does it and seldom as well<br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>as Sweeney,<br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>as Sweeney Todd.<br /><span> </span>The Demon barber of Fleet Street."</i> <br /></p><p>SPOILERS! As always, WATCH before reading if you want your revenge with max surprises!<br /></p><p><u><b>11. Sweeney Todd - 2007</b></u><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCNqt7RaIhygjwKaWO0rSpF3FERks_RO6pLxPgwWuFU48uR9iqUgLvtFM6lNLxeZEBclg3bP4RCtbq0vV4XjRHj8jVoDda5Fr8Mgq4OXYTo2fF-bMvbZmQkNdwoply8P2ybJrdX1s_xo/s436/sweeneydvd.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="327" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCNqt7RaIhygjwKaWO0rSpF3FERks_RO6pLxPgwWuFU48uR9iqUgLvtFM6lNLxeZEBclg3bP4RCtbq0vV4XjRHj8jVoDda5Fr8Mgq4OXYTo2fF-bMvbZmQkNdwoply8P2ybJrdX1s_xo/w150-h200/sweeneydvd.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>The 1982 stage recorded version of Sweeney Todd with Angela Lansbury and George Hearn is my favorite telling of this chilling modern myth. I blogged about it in my <a href="http://onewritersmind.blogspot.com/2017/10/halloween-movies-of-choice-movies-17-19.html">2017 Halloween movie reviews here,</a> and I still think it is a must see for the season. That old stage version is overwhelmingly creepy, horrible, and wicked, with stunning performances. I love it. However, the Tim Burton version with Depp as Todd still has some charms, and it gives me the chance to include Sweeney Todd in my 'revenge' post without being (too) redundant.<p></p><p>The best parts of this version are the costumes and sets. The scenes are so gritty you want to wash your hands - you can feel the dirt, smell the sooty air, and quickly start longing for any oasis of color to let you breathe. When the blood starts pouring it's almost a relief. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OfAsdhHezKA5S7GXfmgphQeEdDzMApTUqq1nHTw6yhFj820FAubVZZBJOWCrCuC43D-cCuXqXxZT7Rfb4asVZjKqfzFOEf9M__DKatdRlYW4icUkfxkyblPNZWDBP6hXPBS-52TgLlM/s2048/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+3.33.24+AM.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="2048" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OfAsdhHezKA5S7GXfmgphQeEdDzMApTUqq1nHTw6yhFj820FAubVZZBJOWCrCuC43D-cCuXqXxZT7Rfb4asVZjKqfzFOEf9M__DKatdRlYW4icUkfxkyblPNZWDBP6hXPBS-52TgLlM/w200-h109/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+3.33.24+AM.png" width="200" /></a></div>Depp can play bizarre characters with a particular charm, and his version of Todd is no exception. His voice isn't quite up to the role - Todd has one of the most challenging low (bass-baritone) parts ever written. But he's nicely brooding and his thousand-mile stare goes right through you. <p></p><p>Bonham-Carter looks perfectly at home in the fantastical setting as if born there, which is nearly true given how often she was type-cast in period films requiring corsets and lace. Unfortunately her voice distracts too much. This is a movie, not theatre, so Bonham-Carter's voice could have been dubbed, augmented, or mixed differently. The choice to leave it as is means it is overwhelmed by the music and sometimes barely audible. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkNTztptpgDNgUVN-0apwB1JrO0lx2qE9JQlqGvO5smkKq_ohpLcNIpYVos4EzjqTN37ZXUwAdYQMGJTY54A8y1IxbZSKqPJlhuOXvezcTmDvBXwl5fafZH6g_yvrdPI99jECIoe1ZgY/s1713/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+3.40.47+AM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="1713" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkNTztptpgDNgUVN-0apwB1JrO0lx2qE9JQlqGvO5smkKq_ohpLcNIpYVos4EzjqTN37ZXUwAdYQMGJTY54A8y1IxbZSKqPJlhuOXvezcTmDvBXwl5fafZH6g_yvrdPI99jECIoe1ZgY/w200-h159/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+3.40.47+AM.png" width="200" /></a></div>My favorite performance here is by Rickman, who plays the despicable Judge Turpin. This Turpin is evil and he knows it. In fact he's almost bored with it. He sees the whole world as evil, and Rickman does a fantastic job of playing Turpin as a reflection of Todd. You can see more clearly how much alike they are in their depravity. Neither of them takes responsibility for their choices nor for their consequences.<p></p><p>Todd is a devious planner who spends all his time scheming his revenge. He's also intelligent enough to be able to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. He has not a shred of regret or remorse, only showing human emotion when he mistakenly kills his own wife. Todd knows revenge is damning, but obviously gave up on any ideas of god or heaven long ago - there is only hell for Todd in life, so he hardly has a reason to think death will be different. He doesn't really care. His revenge is all that matters to him. And as the words above say, Todd gets his revenge on everyone in the end, even on himself after a fashion.<br /></p><p><b><u>12. Theater of Blood - 1973</u></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2WRRwlA6sOi07UHOQxZilatT1xHOwvuYVoQbWdhqJL1hLgDbcZbK4MXliTpMk2nQeEJhacgjquOSWgAe6H0ckLQjMu9O9FkcYOnjn_J1rKcn4mNR3Fr8aiVLts7j9Amxf93oN-h05YI/s800/theatre.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2WRRwlA6sOi07UHOQxZilatT1xHOwvuYVoQbWdhqJL1hLgDbcZbK4MXliTpMk2nQeEJhacgjquOSWgAe6H0ckLQjMu9O9FkcYOnjn_J1rKcn4mNR3Fr8aiVLts7j9Amxf93oN-h05YI/w150-h200/theatre.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>If you love old-school horror you can't miss this relentless, spiteful little foray into the mind of a deranged actor. The glorious Vincent Price stars as Lionheart, who has had his performances in Shakespeare's plays panned one to many times. After being denied a coveted award, Lionheart throws himself off of a balcony in despair. His body is not recovered, and he is assumed dead. We suspect Lionheart is a ghost or has somehow survived and has now dedicated himself to fantastical revenge. <p></p><p>This movie doesn't really have any tension; for a short while you wonder exactly who is doing the dastardly deeds, but not for long. You can predict that Lionheart will get his revenge pretty thoroughly, and the only question is if his very last victim will survive. You don't actually care - you are kind of rooting for Price both because it's Price, and because the movie paints theatre critics as pompous, ignorant, and selfishly cruel - more prima-donna than the actors they review.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YysgFSQHpDcdly4EVM1jHJdk2D3MHIHmi0V7uXSebHmBS-Rnu_yDWTdtWYjoIBwICpiLhqAa07XOJ9eywPWL_M2C-m9o1xBzhvjl4sDJxGs3OqYYeZwbaBKZmsIa2XPHtCmqfUJuFZo/s1282/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+4.21.40+AM.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="1282" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YysgFSQHpDcdly4EVM1jHJdk2D3MHIHmi0V7uXSebHmBS-Rnu_yDWTdtWYjoIBwICpiLhqAa07XOJ9eywPWL_M2C-m9o1xBzhvjl4sDJxGs3OqYYeZwbaBKZmsIa2XPHtCmqfUJuFZo/w200-h176/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+4.21.40+AM.png" width="200" /></a></div>No one is terribly likable in this thing, except maybe Lionheart's daughter (played by the always amazing Diana Rigg) who after having witnessed her father's distraught suicide is a bit unhinged herself. Lionheart might be seen as more sympathetic if he weren't having so much sadistic fun with his murders. Price plays his role with both deep hatred and a sense of irony, as if
his character is aware on some level that his 'performances' have gone a
bit over the top. <p></p><p>The joy here is the nature of Lionheart's revenge. He is playing out the murder scenes from his last season of Shakespeare plays, and each is more inventive that the last. Some have required clever set-ups lasting many weeks, and are timed to fall perfectly into place. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltFXOjPOrvLXv9KyKuH6IQwqMNRLYn-d6qNdVpdKpISx-Hf-T5cen_DAuwLWXpFoONPzCnpVZVOdlpbxqrmUVI_SzvrLEqadJZ1F1gCSdhNjMEixjM1LXAAwE48G23JR834pTpseX-50/s1752/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+4.15.38+AM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1384" data-original-width="1752" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltFXOjPOrvLXv9KyKuH6IQwqMNRLYn-d6qNdVpdKpISx-Hf-T5cen_DAuwLWXpFoONPzCnpVZVOdlpbxqrmUVI_SzvrLEqadJZ1F1gCSdhNjMEixjM1LXAAwE48G23JR834pTpseX-50/w200-h158/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+4.15.38+AM.png" width="200" /></a></div>Lionheart does not see himself as evil; he claims his revenge is justice for all the lives ruined by the careless comments of critics. He loses everything in the end, but there is no indication he thought the ending would be anything other than one of the tragedies he played so many times before. His only regret is the death of his daughter. Before falling into the flames with her body in his arms, he quotes from King Lear:<p></p><span> </span><i>"Had I your tongues and eyes, I’d use them so <br /><span> </span>That heaven’s vault should crack. She’s gone forever. <br /><span> </span>I know when one is dead and when one lives.<br /> <span> </span>She’s dead as earth."</i><p>Even at this last moment, the remaining critic is so detached from this tragedy of Price's last words, he smiles and says, "Of course, he was madly overacting, as usual." You wonder what the horror really is - perhaps it's that a person can live through all of this and have gained not an ounce of sympathy or perspective.</p><p><u><b>13. Death Becomes Her - 1992</b></u></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1XCrKwx1KkRi_ju8YzT1SuHy-2uM3cbl4BpXjgKzjQNsOVMApbcsXXVd1_OqJMSnHv9xXk-d40Zb7ruwY3oOFxdpG3wcaXfhoIH_Z9_qByuxdN-r45XgWNI-m-Cvk8qBXOrrJF1FIOQ/s436/deathdvd.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="296" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1XCrKwx1KkRi_ju8YzT1SuHy-2uM3cbl4BpXjgKzjQNsOVMApbcsXXVd1_OqJMSnHv9xXk-d40Zb7ruwY3oOFxdpG3wcaXfhoIH_Z9_qByuxdN-r45XgWNI-m-Cvk8qBXOrrJF1FIOQ/w136-h200/deathdvd.jpg" width="136" /></a></div>I have a soft spot for this morbid, freakish comedy. The cast is fantastic, with Meryl Streep (Madeline), Goldie Hawn (Helen), Isabella Rossellini (Lisle), and Bruce Willis (Ernest, playing so off type as to be hardly recognizable.) The film suffers from some misogyny and fat shaming, but within the context of the film these might play as commentary on our dysfunctional addiction to our physical appearance, and the systems that created and continue to enable that addiction. <p></p><p>Madeline and Helen are high school rivals who can hardly remember who slighted who first, but who have spent years performing ever-escalating acts of revenge. The final straw is glamorous Madeline seducing Ernest away from Helen. Madeline actually hates Ernest and verbally abuses him for the next 14 years. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiET0MBACuSUCHrJCRNrAPsO0tQhHgYjafsdndnXuwXkyt4CsGVWbGLKPRkmI_he-85OykuW9ddEJzvFmnAVSxL55qoKFpBzTuX3WhJleDysdWZzC1oNfhq3WqH2LWwI5nti5KQrH97e1g/s620/threestarsdeath.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="620" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiET0MBACuSUCHrJCRNrAPsO0tQhHgYjafsdndnXuwXkyt4CsGVWbGLKPRkmI_he-85OykuW9ddEJzvFmnAVSxL55qoKFpBzTuX3WhJleDysdWZzC1oNfhq3WqH2LWwI5nti5KQrH97e1g/w200-h146/threestarsdeath.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Enter the complication, a potion provided by the ever intriguing Rossellini (Lisle) that is supposed to make one young and immortal. Lisle might be a witch, a demon, or the devil himself, but it doesn't matter. Both main characters take the potion without knowing the other has done so. But as with all of these shady bargains, there is a catch. The potion does not actually stop you from dying, it just keeps you conscious and animate if you do.<p></p><p>Before Helen can enact her plan of murderous revenge through Ernest, Madeline breaks her neck falling down the stairs. Helen is shot through with a shotgun in another act of revenge by Madeline. Helen and Madeline continue beating on one another until they realize there is no point since they are immortal and can't feel physical pain. They also realize that their bodies are dead now, and have already begun to decompose. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-bElq0oW1uKVhyfAjYC_TVZYwDKZsBtpqt9BPaxynd1Ls4SWvNSdwxCSEUFlRQAjSDHJDvpb2i-Amv42riAwD_TWhkEsry4KkX4mOuYrMrBj2RqePEGqoV6HsLXiK_NSuOhCcaIpYY4/s1036/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+5.06.23+AM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1036" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-bElq0oW1uKVhyfAjYC_TVZYwDKZsBtpqt9BPaxynd1Ls4SWvNSdwxCSEUFlRQAjSDHJDvpb2i-Amv42riAwD_TWhkEsry4KkX4mOuYrMrBj2RqePEGqoV6HsLXiK_NSuOhCcaIpYY4/w200-h158/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+5.06.23+AM.png" width="200" /></a></div>They talk Earnest into using his skills as a mortician to make them temporarily look normal, and eventually the three of them wind up at Lisle's big party, where she tries to talk Ernest into drinking the potion. He refuses, even to save his own existence, as he falls several stories through a glass window and into a pool. Helen and Madeline are shunned by Lisle and her community for being unable to get Ernest into the fold. They realize they are now wholly dependent on one another, since they each alone can't do the complicated makeup necessary to hide their decay. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqOf-9LlRXKT1B66w90VcFl0DkiGNbMBVpk1RgSZvHpABrqQ-NnVToLj3HJGGQYb2MzYTJ5dOHHIDxLn9f4SVBG_WgLR4bZWsQGZuGWFXOyRGJOnNOZZxPcP7t5sj6pE90DcO5S4EDPo/s1126/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+5.18.48+AM.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="1126" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqOf-9LlRXKT1B66w90VcFl0DkiGNbMBVpk1RgSZvHpABrqQ-NnVToLj3HJGGQYb2MzYTJ5dOHHIDxLn9f4SVBG_WgLR4bZWsQGZuGWFXOyRGJOnNOZZxPcP7t5sj6pE90DcO5S4EDPo/w200-h99/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+5.18.48+AM.png" width="200" /></a></div>Thirty seven years go by, leaving them with no remaining 'flesh' - they are instead dense, crumbling layers of paint, acrylic, and glue in the shape of people. They attend Ernest's' funeral, where they learn he went on to marry, adopt, have six kids, travel the world, and give to charities. When the minister suggests that thus Ernest found the secret to eternal life, both Helen and Madeline laugh. The sound is derisive, sarcastic, and full of despair. During a final act of petty revenge, the two get tangled up tripping on a paint can, fall down the stairs and their bodies shatter at the bottom into dozens of pieces. With only their crusty faces still intact, Helen asks, "Do you remember where you parked the car?"<p></p><p>This is a great view of the nature and price of revenge. Our characters
get chance after chance to make different choices, to set aside pride
and ego, to turn their backs on society's broken standards, and only Ernest finally does so. It may be intended as further commentary that it is the man, not the women who has the power and privilege to do this. Revenge hasn't damned Hawn and Streep to hell - they can't die. Their revenge instead has made them something other than human. They are undead, a kind of zombie. They have either ultimately succeeded perfectly (their rival is a hideous inhuman monster), or failed perfectly (they themselves are now a hideous inhuman monster.) </p><p><u><b>14. Carrie - 1976</b></u></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZ7Ox3fJsSBnLUSNI8PQ4ViOTSA3iYNVvO2UgV-VlI4Jf7bzaU9IFga66a_2tSDhFxE2EI2G1j4SqSCLNBOLIc7V6WdsQHclDLl-m8Z5YY0IlNTveL2CaATHDUAPAukzMMrtW48BGX4I/s436/carriedvd.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="291" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZ7Ox3fJsSBnLUSNI8PQ4ViOTSA3iYNVvO2UgV-VlI4Jf7bzaU9IFga66a_2tSDhFxE2EI2G1j4SqSCLNBOLIc7V6WdsQHclDLl-m8Z5YY0IlNTveL2CaATHDUAPAukzMMrtW48BGX4I/w134-h200/carriedvd.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><p>As I noted in my previous post of Stephen King re-watches, for some reason I've never really resonated with most of the adaptations of his work. The 1976 Carrie is more or less faithful to the novel, and has some excellent performances as well as iconic scenes, but suffers from ultra-slow pacing and over-the-top acts of cruelty. Carrie's mother is a religious fanatic who abuses Carrie at every turn. Even the 'nice' gym teacher physically assaults the mean girls when they show disrespect. The alpha mean girl is so warped she goads her boyfriend into slapping her, and then coos back up to him. It's a mind f*ck on every level. </p><p>The ultimate squick-out is knowing that director De Palma and his bros (like Spielberg) used the filming to cruise chicks. Spielberg asked several of the young actors on dates before getting a yes from Amy Irving. Yucko.)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvflNUwEvHUHIC0u32gH8gIXioQ8i3HVUmPLrBKuz-Pd2GIe3wAfsO1oTs0uVcgwgsOk8oTcydhBSIyTrbfmUw1oWlP_sp2NmiA5rbrvuqsCrPJli5qYBdMCTpZMZBQC7xpw6vFpoHm24/s530/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+12.19.22+PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="530" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvflNUwEvHUHIC0u32gH8gIXioQ8i3HVUmPLrBKuz-Pd2GIe3wAfsO1oTs0uVcgwgsOk8oTcydhBSIyTrbfmUw1oWlP_sp2NmiA5rbrvuqsCrPJli5qYBdMCTpZMZBQC7xpw6vFpoHm24/w200-h185/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+12.19.22+PM.png" width="200" /></a></div>This means there is no one you can root for - you can't invest yourself in any of the characters, especially knowing that Carrie is going to go full on murderer by the end. The people trying to 'help' Carrie are doing so because of their own issues and never bother to get Carrie's consent. There is nobody actually giving Carrie any agency, including the remorseful Sue (Amy Irving.) Sue might be the one you root for, but she does not have enough screen time for the viewer to identify with her.<p></p><p>But as for revenge horror flicks, <i>Carrie</i> remains a classic. Carrie has a crappy life, and the one time she's given a chance to try to fit in with her peers at prom, she is pranked so cruelly that her sanity temporarily snaps. She imagines everyone is laughing at her, even though very few people are doing so. Most are appalled at the prank. Carrie uses her telekinetic powers to bar the doors, kills folks with a fire hose, or by electrocution, or with flying furniture, and then burns the place to the ground. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy67wumTbvCENYbvQKvJc4BtlNsxhlj_kW-wPHPTxq0WqPWU1GxDMuAWB83pQ6wTardLDVzTrPtyJ7zeJf1YUPDpzDsS5vTQfoJgow8awU95qiZ6WKmmAaIuui3WFzBZIWdapGnaSCjGA/s690/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+12.24.45+PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="690" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy67wumTbvCENYbvQKvJc4BtlNsxhlj_kW-wPHPTxq0WqPWU1GxDMuAWB83pQ6wTardLDVzTrPtyJ7zeJf1YUPDpzDsS5vTQfoJgow8awU95qiZ6WKmmAaIuui3WFzBZIWdapGnaSCjGA/w200-h156/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+12.24.45+PM.png" width="200" /></a>By the time she gets home, she's sane enough to wash off the blood and go cry in her mother's arms. But Mom has decided that Carrie is possessed of Satanic power and stabs her. Carrie has to kill her mother in self defense, and then it seems she burns the house down around them, although it is not entirely clear that that is intentional.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Unlike the other movies mentioned here, Carrie does not plan her revenge. It is done entirely in the heat of the moment, when Carrie has lost her grip. There is no inherent evil in Carrie at all, and given her life to this point, she's surprisingly rational most of the time. Carrie's revenge is treated more like a force of nature; it is the expected result of cruelty so extreme it must by some means burn itself away. As noted, it's hard to root for someone who kills the innocent and guilty alike, but Carrie's lashing out under extreme circumstances seems like something we can understand. Does this kind of revenge end with Carrie damned or not? The sense of the times would be yes, reinforced by Carrie's hand bursting from the ground and grabbing Sue in a dream. But just before that, Sue is leaving flowers at Carrie's grave, showing her own sympathy and remorse. </p><p><u><b>15. Pumpkinhead - 1988<br /></b></u></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0jXhFN0YyBNmbw_KLtnn6sfb10uSyyEb6HR5a23qsjxy_AeF7vI1bC5XK-vIpzKynrBzCC9N0UDf-TJr-1yDVKRI6X-dKCiUkvC4Kn6rlyK1YYufnMBJKVhKzbD2DvWB-I_YQMAitro/s436/pumpkindvd.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="291" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0jXhFN0YyBNmbw_KLtnn6sfb10uSyyEb6HR5a23qsjxy_AeF7vI1bC5XK-vIpzKynrBzCC9N0UDf-TJr-1yDVKRI6X-dKCiUkvC4Kn6rlyK1YYufnMBJKVhKzbD2DvWB-I_YQMAitro/w134-h200/pumpkindvd.jpg" width="134" /></a></div>I saved one of my very favorite revenge horror flicks for last. You'll laugh, but it is <i>Pumpkinhead</i>. If you haven't seen this recently you need to give it another try, almost entirely because of the performance of Lance Henriksen as Ed Harley. The plot is a twist on the 'bargain with the devil.' Deep in the woods, there's a demon you can summon if you've been wronged. It's not something done lightly, as it's pretty clear summoning it is a terrible act of evil. But when Ed Harley's cherished son is killed in a hit-and-run by teens from the city, Ed chooses to visit the local witch and get his revenge on them all.<p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiho-ZThr3kZ0mmDwdXFPD2SsTNhHtoVOEX8oAuGzuxziyWC_8ozkNK2z13qFtSIqfthCt8hot6bvEBle6hUY3Eyar-_ZiAChliy2LQDtuqGASCpZQxr1RR9t9t9zR68UuJXHuk4MQYt_k/s2029/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+2.26.20+PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1375" data-original-width="2029" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiho-ZThr3kZ0mmDwdXFPD2SsTNhHtoVOEX8oAuGzuxziyWC_8ozkNK2z13qFtSIqfthCt8hot6bvEBle6hUY3Eyar-_ZiAChliy2LQDtuqGASCpZQxr1RR9t9t9zR68UuJXHuk4MQYt_k/w200-h136/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+2.26.20+PM.png" width="200" /></a>The witch tells him the price is high, but he insists. At her bidding
he digs up a corpse and she infuses it with blood from both him and his
dead boy. It turns into a giant monster and stomps off. Ed almost
immediately regrets his choice, as when he's driving home he has a
vision of his dead son waking and saying "What did you do, Daddy?" <br /></p><p>The demon starts taking out the young people. Ed sees and feels each kill as it happens, and his regret intensifies. He goes back to the witch who tells him she can't stop it, and if he tries to stop it himself, he'll just "pay the final price that much sooner."</p><p></p>Ed resolves to destroy the demon. He eventually heads home with the last teens to get better equipment to fight, and there Ed gets a good look at the demon's face. It is starting to look like him, and he is beginning to change to look more like it. When he accidentally steps into a pitchfork, he sees the monster react with the same pain. He realizes that the only way to kill it is to kill himself. With help from the last standing teen, Ed is dispatched and the demon goes up in flames. The fantastic last scene is the witch putting Ed's withered and curled corpse into the same grave he dug up earlier.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YkbY3mr6VV3msKgTxIBym7-t1utK183wQOEgxqHIiylNQgbw3jaWDjFkmwMMpdGbLd-oAG9uIHU3LL7C4zYvleiSYLTy12o16AjeiW8KJitOa7zLAF0fY6fClwmGcLczFGgvEfceVWA/s1888/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+2.19.43+PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1359" data-original-width="1888" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YkbY3mr6VV3msKgTxIBym7-t1utK183wQOEgxqHIiylNQgbw3jaWDjFkmwMMpdGbLd-oAG9uIHU3LL7C4zYvleiSYLTy12o16AjeiW8KJitOa7zLAF0fY6fClwmGcLczFGgvEfceVWA/w200-h144/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+2.19.43+PM.png" width="200" /></a></div>One thing I adore about this flick is that you get a good look at the demon, and relatively early. I like it when the monsters are in full view, and are even scarier for it. I'm disappointed by a 'payoff' where we spend 2 hours afraid of the thing in the dark and then when we see it it's no big deal. Pumpkinhead looks like it owes some of its design to the Xenomorph from <i>Alien</i>, but it still has enough of its own unique features to be creepy in its own right.<br /><p></p><p></p>This movie shows the person taking revenge as human and relatable. Ed's grief overwhelms him, and his desire for some kind of justice is understandable. But Ed realizes that what he's getting isn't justice, instead he sees he's committing a far greater crime than the one that took his son from him in the first place. Our take-away here is that once revenge is set loose, it has a life and a will of its own, and mere regret can't stop it.<p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Credits: First pics are shots of dvd covers for each movie. Following are promo pix or movie still ads for each film.</span><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-55502178981078929722020-10-21T10:23:00.002-04:002020-10-24T04:14:19.050-04:00Halloween Movies of Choice 2020: Movies 8 to 10 - Rewatching Early Stephen King<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ev5TMZpSsNkUnfv1dFMfjlUVNG_UZXj9zLFQjTNCcKjQgsyurAyTdAD1qslCWJlDuI7fbQzOyoq-E21hNdNUZrpz7CijYczPCdCo0AbmnMXfAfEbnijmJEngJh5jhoF8KaHkv7hHSJ0/s1158/Screen+Shot+2020-10-21+at+4.57.13+AM.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="790" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ev5TMZpSsNkUnfv1dFMfjlUVNG_UZXj9zLFQjTNCcKjQgsyurAyTdAD1qslCWJlDuI7fbQzOyoq-E21hNdNUZrpz7CijYczPCdCo0AbmnMXfAfEbnijmJEngJh5jhoF8KaHkv7hHSJ0/w136-h200/Screen+Shot+2020-10-21+at+4.57.13+AM.png" width="136" /></a></div>Modern horror is in many ways "King's Monster." King dug up the pieces of the genre, stitched them together, added lightning, and a gloriously gruesome entity emerged. Given this, it's always baffled me that I was never a big fan of King's works. I'm a writer and aficionado of all sorts of strange stuff, so why is it that most of King's writings and their adaptations never struck a cord with me? I decided I'd take my October 2020 movie party to re-watch a few of his early flicks, and consider my impressions more deeply.<br /><p></p><p>Okay, I'm not utterly without certain King favorites. King has written a gigantic number of novels and stories, and some of these I have definitely come to like such as those that have seeped into movies via anthologies (<i>Creepshow 2)</i>, or via other genres than direct horror (<i>Stand By Me, Danse Macabre</i>.) <i>Creepshow 2</i> in particular has King starring in a solo performance that I have always loved. I'll post about that later ...<br /></p><p>So let's take a look at three of these early King-novels-as-movie adaptations: <i>The Shining </i>(which I remember not liking at all) <i>Salem's Lot</i> (which I remember liking a little) and <i>The Dead Zone </i>(which was the only King movie of the time that I remember liking a whole lot). Now that I've just re-watched them, maybe insight shall be gained. </p><p>SPOILERS OF ALL KINDS! Total SPOILAGE! But seriously, I think anyone interested in this post is gonna be pretty familiar with these already.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrev9Ka03Q4Q-U6p4GvXNegSIGEl2OmGkt1XatIgXFKhd_5cKmfBITCUXCZwuapCAaG6Jv4T0CZa2T6YlKfhF7IjP9oVAEUHM___edN6ZyurYGTJtbe-qehkwJ8RMkGixLTTMCipVxX8M/s675/81jqGGaTBtL._SX522_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="522" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrev9Ka03Q4Q-U6p4GvXNegSIGEl2OmGkt1XatIgXFKhd_5cKmfBITCUXCZwuapCAaG6Jv4T0CZa2T6YlKfhF7IjP9oVAEUHM___edN6ZyurYGTJtbe-qehkwJ8RMkGixLTTMCipVxX8M/w154-h200/81jqGGaTBtL._SX522_.jpg" width="154" /></a></div><u><b>Movie 8 - The Shining 1980</b></u><br /><p></p><p>This is of course the story of a caretaker, his spouse, and his son who winter over alone at a resort. Wendy hopes for the family to reconnect, while Jack hopes to find writing inspiration. We have no idea what Danny wants. The one sentence plot is that Jack is possessed by evil spirits from the house, tries to kill his family, and ends up freezing to death in the hedge maze outside as his wife and child flee to safety.<u> </u></p><p><u>Things I liked:</u> Upon re-watching, I enjoyed the filming itself much more. The long shots, camera angles, colors, and lighting are all highly effective, making the inside of the resort feel more like a hospital than a plush hotel. Duvall is believable as a woman who is unable to leave her abusive husband, exhibiting well-known behaviors such as defending him in conversation by saying his breaking his son's arm was an understandable accident.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqfVEX2XREO4B_5TCosU1c0nU_P5W_tSS9y9r7CQ4_6mHsfWKKgRtFSP0YB2i4bFaHNsddFnWfQns9B_cqBzaIW8Hv2epDsKLPI9M_-4VQvqRP-BUXejipRBkjhWUWoFcFylY_2rKI88/s678/twinstrike.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqfVEX2XREO4B_5TCosU1c0nU_P5W_tSS9y9r7CQ4_6mHsfWKKgRtFSP0YB2i4bFaHNsddFnWfQns9B_cqBzaIW8Hv2epDsKLPI9M_-4VQvqRP-BUXejipRBkjhWUWoFcFylY_2rKI88/w148-h200/twinstrike.jpg" width="148" /></a></div>The character of Dick, who also has the Shine, is particularly likeable as the only person who attempts to actually bond with Danny. Last, a ragingly possessed Nicholson on a rampage with an axe is some of the most alarming scenery-chewing you will ever see.<p></p><p><u>Things I didn't like:</u> Why cast Jack Nicholson in this role? The actor had already developed a reputation for playing twitchy characters (as in the 1970 <i>Five Easy Pieces</i> famous 'chicken salad sandwich scene' and the entire movie of <i>One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest</i>.) We are also told early on that Jack is prone to outbursts of temper and has battered both his wife and son. Listening to him whine to the bartender is painfully pathetic. Unlike in King's novel, the movie-Jack does not have a late moment of understanding and regret; he is wholly unsympathetic. One look at Nicholson and the question isn't "will" he try to kill you, but "when."</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvOO7SDglKdHtoS-l7GNJ4ifHMiYmPeWrdKMaRR4_loS6ZUfJKyMg1gT4M7Ympynz7vqPwCankIS7H-5MDKCi2-jeGyCjCvHs8A9dNWbLqKQT1riFVeqFjgeO7Z4TNxeE_FtkSneN-RM/s1198/Screen+Shot+2020-10-21+at+6.22.49+AM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvOO7SDglKdHtoS-l7GNJ4ifHMiYmPeWrdKMaRR4_loS6ZUfJKyMg1gT4M7Ympynz7vqPwCankIS7H-5MDKCi2-jeGyCjCvHs8A9dNWbLqKQT1riFVeqFjgeO7Z4TNxeE_FtkSneN-RM/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-10-21+at+6.22.49+AM.png" width="320" /></a>There is absolutely no chemistry in this family. They all act like complete strangers to one another. Danny has no personality, and the addition of the invisible friend "Tony" does not serve any purpose. "Redrum" spoken over and over devolves into babble, and writing a word backwards to be seen in a mirror is a old prank predating this movie. Duvall screams so often I wasn't even hearing it anymore. Dick, the only interesting character, spends half the movie both realizing there is a problem and then getting back to the hotel, only to be killed immediately upon arrival.</p><p>Overall, this thing is an awesome-looking mess. I can see why King didn't like it, as this is not the story he wrote. Although I don't feel any connection between the people in book, either, and am not compelled by King's recurring theme of places being evil and attracting evil. The movie has no ... charm maybe? No cleverness? Except for Nicholson's ad-libbed "Here's Johnny" line, the movie takes itself too seriously, allowing for no shifts in tone that might enhance the viewers' sense of perspective on the story.<br /></p><p><u><b></b></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorh5OeCvMttEp5qugegXPg3HDD2qTvOJi__JJ5b9pTFOtUd9HuIvPIi_0rL5qrzR-dkwINNSt4L-2hpFt1FbXpzn3afs_baXmFAk6bBDwOM6MAj6lwcgIxvoUbLYUQPQy5hFM28bKygM/s770/Screen+Shot+2020-10-21+at+6.40.16+AM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="510" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorh5OeCvMttEp5qugegXPg3HDD2qTvOJi__JJ5b9pTFOtUd9HuIvPIi_0rL5qrzR-dkwINNSt4L-2hpFt1FbXpzn3afs_baXmFAk6bBDwOM6MAj6lwcgIxvoUbLYUQPQy5hFM28bKygM/w133-h200/Screen+Shot+2020-10-21+at+6.40.16+AM.png" width="133" /></a></b></u></div><u><b>Movie 9 - Salem's Lot 1979</b></u><p></p><p>I love a vampire flick, and it was interesting to revisit how the TV mini-series of <i>Salem's Lot </i>worked with the old gothic tropes, as well as with Stoker's conception of Dracula. This is of course the story of Ben who returns to his childhood hometown to write about a creepy house there, which unbeknownst to anyone now hides a vampire. The townspeople are eventually converted into vampires, including Ben's girlfriend, before Ben and local teen Mark can stake Master Vampire Barlow through the heart and burn the whole place down.</p><p><u>What I liked</u>: Even now the vampire eyes are a very good effect. Some of the townsfolk are sympathetic, and the girlfriend Susan is intelligent and self-possessed. The floating vampire boys tapping on the windows are still a creepy sight. Watching the people get picked off one by one is also chilling as they leave cars abandoned in the streets and tricycles overturned in their yards. There is actual interpersonal chemistry between the school teacher Jason, Ben, and his girlfriend's father Bill (who seems relieved his daughter didn't pick a loser for a change.)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoDdSW93lJgPAsvq7dfNvBfjfsuhOSqIYmj1wHxC7gjSYKwVHI65e1pFOh2yc2FXAizKhM4V1MXy9SWLXQWQOfGBOMey9GjeeVWWCKvRun88rY0SliWRliuVm_m7U1Fuy1IYqnP2eM5Q/s1324/Screen+Shot+2020-10-21+at+6.43.31+AM.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="1324" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoDdSW93lJgPAsvq7dfNvBfjfsuhOSqIYmj1wHxC7gjSYKwVHI65e1pFOh2yc2FXAizKhM4V1MXy9SWLXQWQOfGBOMey9GjeeVWWCKvRun88rY0SliWRliuVm_m7U1Fuy1IYqnP2eM5Q/w200-h174/Screen+Shot+2020-10-21+at+6.43.31+AM.png" width="200" /></a></div>PLUS this film can claim one of my favorite scary scenes of all time - while Ben is driving a stake into Barlow's heart, his undead minions are slowly but surely crawling across the floor towards Matt, who is oblivious. There are no jump scares and nothing is hidden, it's all right in front of you and the tension is fantastic. <br /><p></p><p><u>What I disliked:</u> Why did they put "Hutch" (who still looks and acts like a police detective) in a Jeep if he doesn't know how to close a Jeep door? He tries to slam it in almost every scene, and once even goes back and slams it again. It's some of the only humor in the film and it's clearly not intended. I'm assuming Hutch kept forgetting this wasn't his and Starsky's beat-up Torino.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIak7Ar_u_tT4vu6-8jScDFV90fFScHNJCrL78fn1dfDAGFB8vmLbRTqXsFZ01zA2gBoFLUdDiKpwaf0C5XoAKfY-I27LITlNv_5FrgGvhbDphgfaYGJhAShvnrjR5f_aCGiBttzm_NtM/s1498/Screen+Shot+2020-10-21+at+6.48.30+AM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1264" data-original-width="1498" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIak7Ar_u_tT4vu6-8jScDFV90fFScHNJCrL78fn1dfDAGFB8vmLbRTqXsFZ01zA2gBoFLUdDiKpwaf0C5XoAKfY-I27LITlNv_5FrgGvhbDphgfaYGJhAShvnrjR5f_aCGiBttzm_NtM/w200-h169/Screen+Shot+2020-10-21+at+6.48.30+AM.png" width="200" /></a></div>Susan, who is otherwise portrayed as intelligent, goes to the Marsden house for absolutely no reason when she's supposed to be getting her mother to safety. She must have inherited this from her father, who for absolutely no reason walks upstairs without Hutch and of course gets waxed. The pushing-four-hours of running time is filled with people driving places and going in and out of doors and setting up conversations. I cut out almost 25 minutes just by making people walk fast. <p></p><p>The music that plays over most of the "action" seems to have been composed by the ghost of Wagner. And as usual for horror movies, there's too much pointless non-horror-related-violence; such as one dude who thinks it's okay to beat his wife for infidelity, and Hutch who physically throws Mark on the ground and into furniture whenever Mark doesn't do what Hutch says. The choppy editing and continuity gaffs make the production appear almost B-movie level.<br /></p><p>But overall, this is an interesting and occasionally even fun vampire flick with some trope-defining moments. If you use a bit of fast forward you can avoid the slow spots and much of the irritating music, getting to the scenes with actual character interactions and some good vampire freaky-ness. There is in fact a dash of charm to be found, as we feel some of the director's (and no doubt King's) affection for this dysfunctional small town and its increasingly undead populace. We encounter good, bad, and a lot of in-between in the humans of this town, and it puts the utterly inhuman elements of vampiric evil in stark relief.<br /></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9YC3h5XaORYpwVLzvFYPcf5EkADalttDSs9__bpezIUPa2LTMpWrDEyxD5kL1JAglRxdDAuidFd8i-2Qmhyt3wgTGvA7L6fl3XLt00jE9pGj0CUUCpJibVgFwWtSQc3N0uS9eIANRro/s500/deadzonecover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="356" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9YC3h5XaORYpwVLzvFYPcf5EkADalttDSs9__bpezIUPa2LTMpWrDEyxD5kL1JAglRxdDAuidFd8i-2Qmhyt3wgTGvA7L6fl3XLt00jE9pGj0CUUCpJibVgFwWtSQc3N0uS9eIANRro/w143-h200/deadzonecover.jpg" width="143" /></a></b></div><b>Movie 10 - The Dead Zone 1983</b><p></p><p>Johnny Smith wakes up from a five year coma and finds out his girlfriend has married, has a child, and that he now has developed psychic powers. He saves some people from terrible fates, solves crimes, and eventually stops nuclear Armageddon by ending the prospects of a narcissistic presidential hopeful, although at the cost of his own (Johnny's) life.<br /></p><p><u>What I liked:</u> This movie has aged well, and I love it as much as I ever have. It conveys a constant, thrumming dread - the sense that
something has been touched that is too intense for any human to bear for
long, with consequences that cannot be predicted. The film contains complex and believable relationships, genuine warmth, nuanced characters, and some good performances. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaHpoYvY5RJwT_7hI80XXHPuCdFTGIsRyVLMAGsM1aaf1zJDQvAThiUxSM1GVJQHVgBKmEJvfof7FGzxnZ4mBVPAtqXnID5lE0ahViCDsmEtXGGtP60GVQiwEHfMIA7wMn4l0ixvLfNw/s934/Screen+Shot+2020-10-21+at+9.57.15+AM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="934" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaHpoYvY5RJwT_7hI80XXHPuCdFTGIsRyVLMAGsM1aaf1zJDQvAThiUxSM1GVJQHVgBKmEJvfof7FGzxnZ4mBVPAtqXnID5lE0ahViCDsmEtXGGtP60GVQiwEHfMIA7wMn4l0ixvLfNw/w200-h118/Screen+Shot+2020-10-21+at+9.57.15+AM.png" width="200" /></a></div>Christopher Walken is, as usual, fantastic in every way. He carries this movie, totally selling how his experience changes him, his feelings of isolation, and his motivations for his choices. Even Walken's physical performance is a standout, as over the course of the film he recovers his mobility even as he is slowly drained by his powers. The way Johnny's visions are shown is not high-tech, but the sort of "flashback" mechanism works well. By the end of the film we can feel Johnny's exhaustion as he tries to hang on to this world that has felt so alien to him since the moment he awoke. Oh, and Martin Sheen is also a lot of fun as the smarmy candidate for senate - holding up a baby as a shield so he doesn't get shot. The very bottom of the moral barrel.<br /><p></p><p><u></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcllTKAv15c7b2r5rfkXrtXEGpPeA41itSSDvlAm6WiV6rtOaK7GgKCjMctOFV2C_rMeuNub-RW9Hs90GG-ky9kejNiacp5zBm_6qy-l3eLKM75ElKonACoZSme5IDynsW4acYCP0PjAA/s1072/Screen+Shot+2020-10-21+at+9.58.14+AM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1072" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcllTKAv15c7b2r5rfkXrtXEGpPeA41itSSDvlAm6WiV6rtOaK7GgKCjMctOFV2C_rMeuNub-RW9Hs90GG-ky9kejNiacp5zBm_6qy-l3eLKM75ElKonACoZSme5IDynsW4acYCP0PjAA/w200-h138/Screen+Shot+2020-10-21+at+9.58.14+AM.png" width="200" /></a></u></div><u>What I didn't like:</u> I never liked the ending. It is believable, but I feel that Johnny's journey is unfinished. The vignettes in the movie give a smattering look at his powers, his choices, and the changes he undergoes, but I still feel that there was much more to explore with this premise, and especially with Walken's performance. This leads me to how much I didn't like the doctor's idea that he shouldn't talk to his long lost mother because "it wasn't meant to be." I find this fatalist attitude to be entirely self-defeating, and it undermines the subtlety of the premise. I can understand him saying, "I can't open that door and be sure I'll survive. It was hard to lose my mother, and I feel I can't take that emotional risk." But saying "it wasn't meant to be" is a real chicken-out move. Should the nurse not have heeded Johnny's warning and left her daughter to die? Is this a whole "monkey's paw" situation? This gives the impression that Johnny's powers are simply evil, rather than a chaotic but creative force that can be used for good.<p></p><p>Overall, there is so much warmth, humanity, and yes, charm in this film that we can't help but like the characters and find ourselves rooting for (or against) them. There is genuine laughter and humor, which works very well to sharpen the edge of the frightening, mysterious, and violent moments, giving them extra punch.</p><p>In conclusion of my lengthy post here, it seems pretty clear what I think is missing from some of these stories and films - humor to provide perspective, warmth to contrast the horror, and charm to allow us to engage emotionally with the characters and their world. I can see why it is I identify with the work of people like Tim Burton, who use more of these elements, rather than King, who is apt to give us something deeply horrific from page one and not let up. Obviously most horror lovers want that sort of thing, since King is, well, the King of Horror. But there are also folx like me whose appetites lie more towards the quirky, inky, ironic, and endearingly freakish realm of the genre.<br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Credits: King's pic from his amazon author page. DVD covers for all three movies. Other images still shots from movies or promo pix.</span><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-31730724084762526482020-10-13T01:58:00.001-04:002020-10-24T04:13:35.338-04:00Halloween Movies of Choice 2020: Movies 4 to 7 - Vampires!<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3wvGiKRuRvX61WamR6Pejaa2SxwVJrCpwNlfnehDKU_zQf7eZxs-kQe1JvFSyU5doWLghcKWEl0rNos7eYbxvh09j81Mes9rlvtFg8oRyD6sN0aKVhllCf336_jthJmVUgq4ipsIYug/s1688/publicvamp.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1688" data-original-width="976" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3wvGiKRuRvX61WamR6Pejaa2SxwVJrCpwNlfnehDKU_zQf7eZxs-kQe1JvFSyU5doWLghcKWEl0rNos7eYbxvh09j81Mes9rlvtFg8oRyD6sN0aKVhllCf336_jthJmVUgq4ipsIYug/w116-h200/publicvamp.jpg" width="116" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vampire time!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>It's October 13 and I've only posted <a href="http://onewritersmind.blogspot.com/2020/10/halloween-movies-of-choice-2020-movies.html">reviews of three of the movies</a> I've watched so far, so it's time for some catch up posts. Let's dive in with the best possible subject: vampires! <br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">For me, vampires are the pinnacle of gothic glory. In my last series of posts in 2017, I reviewed the movies: What We Do in the Shadows (my current favorite to start Halloween season), Nosferatu, Fright Night (the old one), and Let Me In (American version). These are solid vampire flicks, and well worth a watch depending on what you are seeking, such as dark humor, film noir, 80's creepy camp, or maybe something truly disturbing. I have a massive backlog of vampire movies to watch, so I'm glad to have this excuse to do that and then wallow in their gory glory.<br /></p><p>SPOILERS! LOTS! (No really)<br /></p><p><b>4.<span> </span>Let the Right One In - 2008<br /></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxaPp8JOhAG7k_Kl9qeAKfW4pS9BpKqudN0Wu2xqlif76DCs8u67_xTwV3ddfxrL8PRp5g_mnAvSpwn2gAiZMo8dKTFncN5jfSzLUAJIHyFcYtY_ST0WT8c6xo3T7XAh6tVHRTRBbYtA/s436/rightcdcover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="327" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxaPp8JOhAG7k_Kl9qeAKfW4pS9BpKqudN0Wu2xqlif76DCs8u67_xTwV3ddfxrL8PRp5g_mnAvSpwn2gAiZMo8dKTFncN5jfSzLUAJIHyFcYtY_ST0WT8c6xo3T7XAh6tVHRTRBbYtA/w150-h200/rightcdcover.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>If you are looking for "I want to be deeply rattled by a vampire movie" then this will probably do the trick.<br /><p></p><p>As I mentioned above, in my first series in 2017, I reviewed the <a href=" http://onewritersmind.blogspot.com/2017/10/halloween-movies-of-choice-movies-10-12.html">American remake of this movie (Let Me In - 2010</a>).
It was one of the most disturbing vampire movies I'd ever
seen. I decided to revisit the story through the lens of the original
film. The remake is basically the same movie, but there are
enough differences that comparing them reveals more depth to this depraved tale.<br /></p><p>Both of these movies deliver a wallop of vampire
horror that will leave you reeling. Certainly the movies ask the
viewer, "What makes a monster?" both in terms of how people
become monsters, and how we define that word. In spite of the American
version being more outwardly violent, this original film is more
emotionally brutal and unforgiving, showing the hideous truth of
vampirism with an unflinching gaze. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbpi688XINoLU2zZ9LJXJInmdfOlLc8N-7XSFJstLwLFXK42406PuMHzALaQsrJSf_Xj3tt81X0mdW2Up55hK2CeMNbcbXPQT_ZuNFOYz3rsRJcH8jagTJ1ZFdB-YQc6y9rdPMx12OBU/s938/Screen+Shot+2020-10-12+at+8.45.49+PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="938" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbpi688XINoLU2zZ9LJXJInmdfOlLc8N-7XSFJstLwLFXK42406PuMHzALaQsrJSf_Xj3tt81X0mdW2Up55hK2CeMNbcbXPQT_ZuNFOYz3rsRJcH8jagTJ1ZFdB-YQc6y9rdPMx12OBU/w200-h157/Screen+Shot+2020-10-12+at+8.45.49+PM.png" width="200" /></a></div>Oskar is a twelve year
old boy whose life is rife with neglect and abuse, particularly from
constant bullying at school. On one hand, he seems sensitive, mild, and
good-natured. On the other, we see evidence that the cycle of bullying
is already in motion, as Oskar,
who is obsessed stories of murders, acts out pretend revenge with a knife. In the remake, the same boy (Owen) does not appear so antisocial.<br /><p></p><p>The
vampire child Eli has a generally androgynous aspect, but wears dresses
and appears to everyone to be a human girl. She is cold to her
henchman Hakan, ordering him about as she fixates on her growing
interest in Oskar. The remake shows the vampire (Abby) to have more
apparent compassion for her henchman Thomas, although we cannot know if
some or all of this is feigned. The remake has removed other creepy
content including a hoard of cats attacking a newly made vampire, and
that same vampire intentionally allowing themselves to be set on fire by
sunlight.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGN880OlzYYVbFYYQn5gGEdc1i-uWyJ6EISnsuUNPQc2XjVm_fy92QHTLn1S4a4O_YoMkZSCDlB8Hq8PuvC5GzROQ2268JPla1ZueUfD2kIj23GJDHrCgurnC2ntvAOBc3vrQk4l2WjeA/s1257/letmepic.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="1257" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGN880OlzYYVbFYYQn5gGEdc1i-uWyJ6EISnsuUNPQc2XjVm_fy92QHTLn1S4a4O_YoMkZSCDlB8Hq8PuvC5GzROQ2268JPla1ZueUfD2kIj23GJDHrCgurnC2ntvAOBc3vrQk4l2WjeA/w320-h139/letmepic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So while the remake shows us a vampire slowly
exploiting the vulnerability of an isolated boy, the original shows us a
vampire encouraging and exploiting a boy's already extant antisocial
behavior. Either way, each film ends with the
disturbing certainty that history has repeated itself, and the vampire
has once again successfully ensnared a human to become their murdering
henchman. So <i>don't be fooled</i> by reviews describing this movie as
"sweet" or "romantic" or other <i>total nonsense</i>. Eli is a merciless killer who
dismembers children. No amount of potential affection (and it's never
clear if there actually is any) that Eli has for Oskar can outweigh her
leading him into lifelong bloody servitude. Overall, I prefer
this original to the remake. It handles greater emotional brutality
with more subtlety, and the actress playing Eli is simply sensational in
the role. Definitely a must see for vampire fans, especially those
looking for something new under the "sun."<p></p><p><b>5.<span> </span>Queen of the Damned - 2002</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhel4NrYzNaF41fDTxDl1PQ6w_PoIYwEpnLTDLyRp1dIfZunhOycjTAf2aOamOtLJSOra3j5vqWbcIi0TJRYEtNz81pP1Fp3r7CbDNxQzLerW0eeYUy4z9lcJIxvchgIRr1fdpzR8TCkjk/s1486/queencoverdvd.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1486" data-original-width="1098" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhel4NrYzNaF41fDTxDl1PQ6w_PoIYwEpnLTDLyRp1dIfZunhOycjTAf2aOamOtLJSOra3j5vqWbcIi0TJRYEtNz81pP1Fp3r7CbDNxQzLerW0eeYUy4z9lcJIxvchgIRr1fdpzR8TCkjk/w148-h200/queencoverdvd.jpg" width="148" /></a></div>If you are looking for "I want a vampire movie with cool music that's not otherwise demanding" this one fills the bill.<br /><p></p><p>In spite of my vampire addiction, I've never been an Anne Rice fan. I tried several times to read some of the novels and stories in her vampire universe, but I've found them kind of boring. The characters are all so unrelatable that I never cared what what happened to them. Lestat, the main vampire of most of the stories, is particularly useless. He is utterly unsympathetic, and as I tried to read the stories I kept hoping he'd get immolated at some point. Then realized he was going to be a main, continuing character; I lost interest.</p><p>So why did I bother with "Queen of the Damned?" <i>The soundtrack</i>. I found the soundtrack years back and added a bunch of songs from it to my gritty Halloween playlist. I finally decided I'd just watch this movie and see if it had any redeeming qualities in addition to the music.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-_EcVpF-LTY0W0vcttJpW5a0S8edScd7QGqhxGD3i89fBDre_KNz-Sldy78XYak40BAm5aMaeIrsya42AWM8YFE6WyCBBxQW3YBgm6yFSE7WnBmRfRHqn5j93-2tFl9XoDSpvHKOpbQ/s589/bigscreen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="589" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-_EcVpF-LTY0W0vcttJpW5a0S8edScd7QGqhxGD3i89fBDre_KNz-Sldy78XYak40BAm5aMaeIrsya42AWM8YFE6WyCBBxQW3YBgm6yFSE7WnBmRfRHqn5j93-2tFl9XoDSpvHKOpbQ/s320/bigscreen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Well, there are a few, but not enough. Lestat continues to be a literal pain in the neck. The actor portraying him does a great job, and has the voice, the look, and the arrogance down pat. It's just that the character itself is a classic depiction of spoiled white royalty; he's a whiny, privileged, mopey baby in a man's body and ... yuck. But even more of a pain is the bait-and-switch of the promotional images. The promos show the "Queen of the Damned," a black woman vampire, who is front and center with Lestat behind her. She looks awesome and very not your typical vampire and I hoped she'd give Lestat the what-for.<p></p><p></p><p>Nope. Instead this movie is sort of about Lestat deciding that mortal life is precious from an I-can-destroy-humans-whenever-I-want-to-and-isn't-that-beautiful view. It does not make him more palatable. The glorious Queen only shows up near the end of the movie. She's looking for Lestat to take him as her King; a kind of consort-slave-trophy to enjoy as she dominates humans and vampires alike. The actress is terrifyingly perfect, lithe, and lethal. At a glance you know this thing is not human and only sees you as furniture, at best. Once you see her, you realize she's the only real vampire in the flick. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia57W5LsuzOyGPIBWe1-pAWEqyZukaTpm0O9k1URKSdMiJAlcx2dhIeaxlb1TN6gj9iXxosCYgkasBR1oAOrjtyxfThnLEMAhonUZKRtVYdWZVYi6It2Ke2xK2RgpLGlLAD92-TjkeW_U/s548/Screen+Shot+2020-10-12+at+9.10.20+PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="548" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia57W5LsuzOyGPIBWe1-pAWEqyZukaTpm0O9k1URKSdMiJAlcx2dhIeaxlb1TN6gj9iXxosCYgkasBR1oAOrjtyxfThnLEMAhonUZKRtVYdWZVYi6It2Ke2xK2RgpLGlLAD92-TjkeW_U/w200-h166/Screen+Shot+2020-10-12+at+9.10.20+PM.png" width="200" /></a></div>Sadly, at the end she's ganged up on and destroyed by wishy-washy vampires who prefer the skulking-in-shadows lifestyle. This scene is appalling from a social-justice/feminist perspective - as it is mostly white men and women (vampires) destroying a black woman (vampire.) No. Just no. The apex of all vampiric power has quickened as female, black, confident, carnal - and of course white patriarchy is like "we can't have that, can we?" and down she goes. Any real vampire would worship her. Our take-away is that these vampires are still human enough to identify more with their prey than this glorious Queen of wretched evil. Bah.<br /><p></p><p>I still suggest the movie if only for the one scene where she literally tears the heart out of another vampire and eats it. She does not look angry or happy as she kills him - that would be too human. Instead, she's entertained, and perhaps mildly pleased with herself. But neither he nor the twenty other vampires she kills in that scene are worth a second thought to her. She does not, as they say, even break a sweat. The other reason to watch is in fact the soundtrack, which is indeed quite fine. Otherwise, this movie does not work as either camp, or dark humor, or real scares, or an exploration of mortality, or parody, or an examination of the nature of humanity, or really anything at all ...<br /></p><p><b>6.<span> </span>Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter - 2012</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbT78RDaecTOhUNS7JIY0xAprhAygxAdkNFZOhFHBnaGX_41MrfM-zofd6vgWVmUOnvSDNFwomEqpDXkWdyUyxsQ2stHxVqDe0I1G1EBDrlBOzJZBIWvUAsf6eGlJLdJnXT1VJUUTpr0/s1500/blueabe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1190" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbT78RDaecTOhUNS7JIY0xAprhAygxAdkNFZOhFHBnaGX_41MrfM-zofd6vgWVmUOnvSDNFwomEqpDXkWdyUyxsQ2stHxVqDe0I1G1EBDrlBOzJZBIWvUAsf6eGlJLdJnXT1VJUUTpr0/w159-h200/blueabe.jpg" width="159" /></a></div>If
you "want a campy, action-movie-style vampire flick with cool effects" then this is one to check out.<br /><p></p><p>I had a great time watching this movie in spite of its many problems. I'll start with what I liked. The special effects are pretty good, and the vampires look totally gruesome. The scenes of the Gettysburg battlefield aren't realistic, but are impressive anyway. Having Lincoln as an action hero with a classic tragic backstory puts you right into the comic-book plot of the film. The training montage is over-the-top axe-wielding fun. There are all kinds of fantastic moments where the bad guys get pwned with improbable, cheer-inducing magnificence. The women in the film such as Harriett Tubman and Mary Todd are shown as intelligent, bold, and resourceful. The surprise ending to the climax is actually quite satisfying, and I think for once I won't spoil it.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYF-e8qzKQJTjONgHS0qz7FTcy9kHsYxH9mT-pa3MOapqiaE4VWsu4jhBMQ55bAgXKozQjNelFbViqC5SKvqp3iq5RngR71GL9n57Eyu-dZb8Ryz8duM_Vs5FuNDKpivB61pWrT3DMcgA/s468/fangman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="468" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYF-e8qzKQJTjONgHS0qz7FTcy9kHsYxH9mT-pa3MOapqiaE4VWsu4jhBMQ55bAgXKozQjNelFbViqC5SKvqp3iq5RngR71GL9n57Eyu-dZb8Ryz8duM_Vs5FuNDKpivB61pWrT3DMcgA/w200-h169/fangman.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>There was stuff in the movie that was both good and bad, in the sense that having it there both added and detracted at the same time. The movie posits what might happen if vampires lived in slavery-era America. The vampires see slavery as a means to obtain lots of disposable people, and they create empires in the south filled with slaves and the vampires that feed off of them. That is plausible given the setup, but very problematic because it tempts us to dismiss the great evils of slavery as a product of demons, rather than of very real people in the real world acting demonically. The movie takes an appropriately ethical stance in that it is certainly anti-slavery, but by conflating the evils of vampirism with the evils of slavery, it serves to potentially diminish the contributions of people like Tubman. I mean, I love a good parody, but this movie can't decide if it's campy, vamp-killing fun or a serious commentary on the blood-sucking nature of slavery.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAVFmuiVwKVh-MYNLD7MKv6-opGqPi_37C-av2xpgXGtiHP8M9hrWND-IncuNEXPR-wHJsgTabemgfBbEQOb2G91g8s1a0oVwvJwfAl0G7mJFL-dOdripWrMqmOylGdGFZurU5xFKI9c/s1486/tubmantodd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="1486" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAVFmuiVwKVh-MYNLD7MKv6-opGqPi_37C-av2xpgXGtiHP8M9hrWND-IncuNEXPR-wHJsgTabemgfBbEQOb2G91g8s1a0oVwvJwfAl0G7mJFL-dOdripWrMqmOylGdGFZurU5xFKI9c/w200-h129/tubmantodd.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This leads us to the problems. First, as noted above, the tone is totally inconsistent. Is this a farce or a pointed take on civil-war America? To be both, which is possible, one would need to apply a more nuanced hand than is given to this film. I was getting whiplash trying to figure out what sort of roller-coaster I'd boarded. The special effects as noted are cool overall, but the CGI stuff is overdone and not well blended. The pace is slow then fast then slow then break-neck; the ride on this thing is uncomfortably unpredictable.<p></p><p>It's not unsurprising that I feel compelled to compare this movie to its parody, the 2012 "Abraham Lincoln vs Zombies." <a href="http://onewritersmind.blogspot.com/2017/10/halloween-movies-of-choice-movies-13-16.html">I reviewed that one in 2017</a>. That is a movie that knows exactly what it is trying to do and hits the bullseye. Plus the Abe actor is utter perfection. If you are looking for camp-parody-dark-humor-fun and don't mind trading vampires for zombies, then go there. If you want a bigger budget, slicker production, and a race-to-the-finish climax, then this vampire flick is where you want to be. In spite of the issues, it's a great addition to the genre.</p><p><b>7. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night - 2014</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDK_AmmF22Cfrl8pilgxXFdVbvev3rQzPZykCztOckv9ZzaQGk24oHeXgcsmrRTXtrlVnSevUVJfNC_ozafF6Y0ogRuUHbCbFIZjgcIkmoUF0PHBbEK6xOOKUmaXMPZROOIq9LD_RA_oY/s800/dvdcoverwalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDK_AmmF22Cfrl8pilgxXFdVbvev3rQzPZykCztOckv9ZzaQGk24oHeXgcsmrRTXtrlVnSevUVJfNC_ozafF6Y0ogRuUHbCbFIZjgcIkmoUF0PHBbEK6xOOKUmaXMPZROOIq9LD_RA_oY/w150-h200/dvdcoverwalk.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>If your mood is "I want a vampire film that feels brand new and yet timeless, that engages the brain and the emotions, that is dreadful without being overly gory" then give this one a try. <p></p><p>Actually, it does not matter what mood you are in, you should give this a try because it is nearly flawless.<br /></p><p>This film is so visually captivating that I probably should just post a pile of images here, rather than any words. That would be consistent with the bare-bones dialog. Everything is spoken in Persian, and the English subtitles rarely wrap to more than one line on the screen. It's all in black and white, and every single shot is a tiny masterpiece. This film is described by many as a vampire/ spaghetti-western, as it includes elements like violence, irony, anti-hero(es), a rough-and-tumble setting, deceit, lack of social order/stability, terror, and many of the visual cues and trappings of both of those genres. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5-6XwBJ2xM4tdKYy5D4F4PvsK32GvIIDTgiFc3VQ3zq9V9uYkYxrJg6wv39fmtQq9qhoQ2jV7czX5zVgrQRDwtD4Xnqn1QeZkePRVY-MI5Y-F8lofzPpUrcYjRrs39aDYI15JHSYKk8/s1189/girlcat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="1189" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5-6XwBJ2xM4tdKYy5D4F4PvsK32GvIIDTgiFc3VQ3zq9V9uYkYxrJg6wv39fmtQq9qhoQ2jV7czX5zVgrQRDwtD4Xnqn1QeZkePRVY-MI5Y-F8lofzPpUrcYjRrs39aDYI15JHSYKk8/w200-h195/girlcat.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>That categorization doesn't tell you anything, though. And before <i>I </i>tell you anything I probably should watch it at least ten more times so I can figure out some of what the symbolism and imagery is trying to convey. I mean, the cat for example. The cat is a critical character in this film, even as it appears only a few times, but those times are pivotal. Oh yeah, the cat is not mistreated and survives just fine, so you can feel free to watch this movie and see the humans get drained without worry. <p></p><p>The setting is a fictional Iran, with a town so bleak it's called "Bad City." A place where there is an open channel filled with bodies that never decay, and no one gives it a second glance as they walk by. The strong prey on the helpless amid a town of squalor surrounded by desolation and oil rigs pumping endlessly up and down like vampires draining the ground of life.<br /></p><p>The pace is slow, sometimes even literally slow-motion. I can't usually sit still for tense scenes where I can't predict what might happen, but I was mesmerized. This is a terrible beauty that comments on wealth, class, status, materialism, family, duty, revenge, feminism, power, age, desire, patriarchy, ambition, need, and most of the rest of life and death, too. Just having the titular character skateboarding down a street with her open chador flowing out behind her like bat's wings is enough commentary to fill an entire book.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3EHqV1hJLjqO7hxsifXKgJ_xObiVFje0RKkaAsZPBMh0X3MAgzRk82fYTmJqO50Ca0DSXGx0rJotJU12Z82vzslAlMVSCcBT5ST0Y9JUjyTdnathbykODRit2j-2m9p_5L536RAQ3pI/s1875/seriously.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="1875" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3EHqV1hJLjqO7hxsifXKgJ_xObiVFje0RKkaAsZPBMh0X3MAgzRk82fYTmJqO50Ca0DSXGx0rJotJU12Z82vzslAlMVSCcBT5ST0Y9JUjyTdnathbykODRit2j-2m9p_5L536RAQ3pI/w200-h126/seriously.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>My favorite scene, although it's super hard to choose, is the one where our "heroes" meet by the power plant for a "date." They've already spent the night together, but he has no idea who she is or if she's interested in him beyond that one-night-stand. He's enthralled with her, and presents her with a pair of diamond earrings that he stole. He notes her ears are not pierced, and says it's too bad she can't wear them. She wordlessly (she almost never speaks) hands him a safety pin. Surprised and also rather weirded-out, he does the job and she puts the earrings in. You do not see her without them after that. It's bizarre, tense, and feels utterly vulnerable. It strikes me that this is their real "sex" scene. This is the moment of consummation in their relationship. <p></p><p>I could obviously go on and on about this vampire-art-noir creation, but it really would be better if you just watched it and enjoyed this refreshing and transformative take on the vampire genre.<br /></p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Credits: Wampire from publicdomainpictures.net. Let Me In cd cover, promo pic, and movie still. Queen of the Damned dvd cover, movie still, and gif shot from ihorror.com. Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter dvd cover, gif shot from horrorpix.com, and movie still. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night dvd cover and stills from the film.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-75630109340660840752020-10-05T15:30:00.002-04:002020-10-24T04:12:56.231-04:00Halloween Movies of Choice 2020 - Movies 1-3 Creepy Good Surprises<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyCV_xJL9gWd30msaezCdqMJDc6rT-_NEeiNcGGcc5vSHD1qt1hKnNw6fLYpm9FIL8BGLqRttR3lm5laoZBQdEbXrdtXr8yM9d6fODb3DPb7lgyrz7XW9YIEAC0WKklzmp1DdbCD_4Z4/s878/Screen+Shot+2020-10-02+at+9.42.37+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="878" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyCV_xJL9gWd30msaezCdqMJDc6rT-_NEeiNcGGcc5vSHD1qt1hKnNw6fLYpm9FIL8BGLqRttR3lm5laoZBQdEbXrdtXr8yM9d6fODb3DPb7lgyrz7XW9YIEAC0WKklzmp1DdbCD_4Z4/w200-h174/Screen+Shot+2020-10-02+at+9.42.37+PM.png" width="200" /></a></div>So 2020 is turning out to be a year fraught with it's own kind of
horror, and for those of us with a creepy mindset, one of the best ways
to take a break from real horrors is to engage with fake ones. In 2017 I
did a blog series of 31 Halloween movies in 31 days, and I think the
time is right for another round.<br /><br />The <a href="http://onewritersmind.blogspot.com/2017/10/halloween-movies-of-choice-movies-1-3.html">first post of my 2017 movies is </a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">here</a> - so if you need even more ideas, go check out that and the posts that follow it.<br /><br />So here we go!<u> </u><p></p><p><u>Movies 1-3 - Creepy Good Surprises!</u><br /><br />My
theme for these first three movies is merely that they were much better
than I had thought they'd be. Nothing like a "pleasant" surprise.<br /></p><p>Note: As always <b>spoilers</b> abound! Watch before reading!<br /><br /></p><p><b>1.<span> </span>Sucker Punch - 2011</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHL2Sngx-AIbo1KRYWDUD3zlQ7ZN847fV6Jc5vOHNCqqEWBrHbvd-G0MrZhhAJO74fJxcDl0lEfUZtefQXCLJ9o8OAva6e_O7X46Rdql8uDWAhPujmIkgM66VWjwNx_lCmtIkB0nItyCI/s1152/Screen+Shot+2020-10-01+at+11.57.59+PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="840" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHL2Sngx-AIbo1KRYWDUD3zlQ7ZN847fV6Jc5vOHNCqqEWBrHbvd-G0MrZhhAJO74fJxcDl0lEfUZtefQXCLJ9o8OAva6e_O7X46Rdql8uDWAhPujmIkgM66VWjwNx_lCmtIkB0nItyCI/w146-h200/Screen+Shot+2020-10-01+at+11.57.59+PM.png" width="146" /></a></div><p>I
originally avoided this movie because I heard there was a subplot
related to trauma and mental illness, along with a setting in a sort of
'50s insane asylum. As someone with mental disability and PTSD, I
didn't want to be dragged through another ableist slog of a horror
film. But I finally decided to give it a chance, and wow, I'm glad I
did. This movie is a wonderfully bizarre blend of film noir, period
piece, steampunk, horror, action, weird, sci-fi, fantasy, manga,
thriller, and pretty more. The special effects, soundtrack, and much of
the acting are gritty and great.</p><p>Our heroine "Babydoll" sees her
father in law murder both her mother and sister, and then he frames
Babydoll for these crimes and packs her off to a private institution
that still practices lobotomies as a form of "treatment." We, and
Babydoll, overhear him bribe a slimy orderly to see to it that Babydoll
is lobotomized almost immediately. She seems to retreat into a complex
fantasy world with multiple levels, imagining that she is working to
free herself and other inmates from a human sex-trafficking brothel.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuU9aEp0luzvSsrxib3KmFtqMB6Larg9eXH5N2_RRdsMgPCsKPaNV2PywLHTXAu-e7GM7UZNM6KqqmsVTqaUh08k7qdFrDPnFWi-AXnWngf7XibfM2JFRR1xHHdzxKk702GTX-rY9pdU/s1234/Screen+Shot+2020-10-02+at+12.04.58+AM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1234" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuU9aEp0luzvSsrxib3KmFtqMB6Larg9eXH5N2_RRdsMgPCsKPaNV2PywLHTXAu-e7GM7UZNM6KqqmsVTqaUh08k7qdFrDPnFWi-AXnWngf7XibfM2JFRR1xHHdzxKk702GTX-rY9pdU/w270-h112/Screen+Shot+2020-10-02+at+12.04.58+AM.png" width="270" /></a>I'm
not sure why this movie didn't make a bigger splash, because it seems
have a lot to offer. Perhaps it has to do with the various ways in
which 'sucker punch' can be interpreted; maybe it's realizing that the
'fantasy' Babydoll conjures is actually playing out in the 'real' world;
or maybe it's the way in which the team members die; or maybe it's the
ultimate confirmation that even Babydoll does not escape her fate. </p><p>The
movie is also disjointed, moving through three levels of perceived
reality. Perhaps it's too triggering for some. Certainly, I found
Babydoll's situation to be agonizing, but I was able to finish the film
because it depicts people taking control of their fate in even hopeless
circumstances. In the end, I was captivated by the total weirdness of
it all, the honestly gruesome plot, and the fantastic action worlds of
the meta-fantasy filled with mechs and monsters. Sucker Punch is
perfectly appropriate Halloween fare, and worth a watch (or rewatch)
this season.<b><br /><br /><br />2.<span> </span>Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - 2016</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CYJiorzMfJYquNjOywlQMWKuKwl8HeXrV2vUrLiINl9tlHHF9uQMOVWiFKfnjKVotWruYJ9sZ8HfFxX_yVHfrayp6ZeUFVVN8cBI2-MvFTww4z8e1FdFp1FJYxSO5ti-qzbMmZu-8ZU/s990/Screen+Shot+2020-10-02+at+1.08.55+AM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="698" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CYJiorzMfJYquNjOywlQMWKuKwl8HeXrV2vUrLiINl9tlHHF9uQMOVWiFKfnjKVotWruYJ9sZ8HfFxX_yVHfrayp6ZeUFVVN8cBI2-MvFTww4z8e1FdFp1FJYxSO5ti-qzbMmZu-8ZU/w141-h200/Screen+Shot+2020-10-02+at+1.08.55+AM.png" width="141" /></a></div>Why,
oh why, did this film not get all the super kudos? Yes, the plot is
obtuse and sometimes impenetrable, but the filming is amazing, the
costumes are perfect, and every single actor has completely bought in
and gives their all. Are the reviewers not genre-savvy? I see all
sorts of criticisms out there about the predictability and lack of
surprises and do the reviewers not realize this is a parody and it uses
well-known tropes as part of the vehicle for that parody? Sigh. <br /><p>Anyway,
I loved this thing. It's ridiculous and beautiful. If you are not
captivated by the scene where Elizabeth and her future husband resort to
hand to hand combat as a result of a failed marriage proposal, then I
don't know what you want from a movie. I was doubly sold when a friend
who has a squeamish tummy <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvRCbKDusQobQ-WJiB8Om-M7EWiH6LmnueWkNJ2WXTyPBvT1FqNb1U0yjYqIDEyGI3oUgxXr7hS0HhS2wCH1k6xk2HT7qbYkgeflUs0MLOnxqtudS48Lw1psHgqizUp1fC11uIEyuVQs/s1290/image.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1290" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvRCbKDusQobQ-WJiB8Om-M7EWiH6LmnueWkNJ2WXTyPBvT1FqNb1U0yjYqIDEyGI3oUgxXr7hS0HhS2wCH1k6xk2HT7qbYkgeflUs0MLOnxqtudS48Lw1psHgqizUp1fC11uIEyuVQs/w200-h154/image.jpg" width="200" /></a>couldn't
even make it through the beginning exposition with the paper-pop ups.
She saw all the paper-depicted-gore and turned green. Then she vetoed
the movie on the grounds that it looked disgusting. Which it is. It's a
zombie movie, right?<br /><br />This is a seriously excellent zombie flick
with dedicated performances. Some of the landscape scenes are simply
haunting. The fight scenes in gowns are wonderful. Oh, and the riffs
on Austin's work are spot on, and often word for word from the book.
This romp is well worth your time for Halloween. Enjoy the zombie glory
and don't worry too much about the point and you'll have plenty of fun.
<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br />3.<span> <span> Vampyr - 1932</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span><span> </span></span></b><span> <br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95cl8kmy_1Ltsr6NKhg4cc3gAiZbc4jYb2pT871i8006yWMCU6ww7ztOpS791Y1UzeaikoAXun1cC8qMFoS2ny7OcwrnaprtH6LazIdYa3IjeOAibA4RG-FQt421q2YdDFXqzGVCFN2g/s570/vampyr.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="406" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95cl8kmy_1Ltsr6NKhg4cc3gAiZbc4jYb2pT871i8006yWMCU6ww7ztOpS791Y1UzeaikoAXun1cC8qMFoS2ny7OcwrnaprtH6LazIdYa3IjeOAibA4RG-FQt421q2YdDFXqzGVCFN2g/w143-h200/vampyr.jpg" width="143" /></a></div>I
generally enjoy old black and white horror films, the earlier the
better. Film was precious enough and novel enough in the first decade
of the 1900's that it was often used for projects of some importance or
cultural significance. By the 1930s, things were already changing, and
it was more common to find film used for "less vital" topics that the
producers did not imagine would be of interest a hundred years later.<br /><br />The movie Nosferatu 1922, which I reviewed in my <a href="http://onewritersmind.blogspot.com/2017/10/halloween-movies-of-choice-movies-10-12.html">last series here</a>,
has consistently captivated those of us who love the vampire genre. I
had not heard similar praise for Vampyr, and given the later 1932 date I
thought maybe it just wasn't up to snuff. So I put off watching it.
That was a mistake since this is an absolute gem, with tons of
disturbing imagery and a deliciously foreboding tone.<br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvDWsq6xkgfaa_7po2VwS1_wn7F7q83RGvCykng8hGO3_XD0ydfKMJPneYIKhQicxSNMMTlcxEFjOhIm4l0LxSXFFggXHes34gPIQSHiTNsHuEJeqDh50QpwIvp96eA3E7qDiej74gXI/s246/index.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="246" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvDWsq6xkgfaa_7po2VwS1_wn7F7q83RGvCykng8hGO3_XD0ydfKMJPneYIKhQicxSNMMTlcxEFjOhIm4l0LxSXFFggXHes34gPIQSHiTNsHuEJeqDh50QpwIvp96eA3E7qDiej74gXI/w200-h167/index.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></span><span>Our hero stumbles upon a family cursed by a vampire. As the </span><span>lord of</span><span> </span><span>the
house is killed to keep him quiet, our hero reads the old man's journal
and uncovers the nature of the curse. The younger daughter of the lord
assists him in his searches for the prime vampire, who must be </span><span>destroyed to free her sister before the sister </span><span>becomes a vampire, herself. <br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpiFQYE6Y61nlv6EWOy8iNuCknWaQwNC5rO6L_dVQ0PB35rUZMYsmD8AQijUE-6uCFuQ9kAYGel_KoAanIXKsG3xvp6Wb4RXWLmGIdSUfR2SbSbQx0VBLNxLFf72XsuuZvVfoWLLwveY/s299/images.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpiFQYE6Y61nlv6EWOy8iNuCknWaQwNC5rO6L_dVQ0PB35rUZMYsmD8AQijUE-6uCFuQ9kAYGel_KoAanIXKsG3xvp6Wb4RXWLmGIdSUfR2SbSbQx0VBLNxLFf72XsuuZvVfoWLLwveY/w200-h112/images.jpg" width="200" /></a><span><br />Along the way is all the great, creepy scenes, and a really very
disturbing end for the village doctor, who was in league with the
vampire. I'll mention that only once before have I seen so</span><span>meone offed in this manner, and I thought it was horrifically original. Nope, here it is all the way back in 1932.<br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiustAB0AXFC9tQ6A9Wn5JM1Iq8R0TJI28akM5ZAyJby3WaDq-GKELQ_ayjWr1p8cwHldcr6eipPNyrGM59adTy4L0qtuux8OOga-01ByD0sfwSnNLb3Wlp2UsCULtx_8wdbLayOt_zBjY/s259/index2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiustAB0AXFC9tQ6A9Wn5JM1Iq8R0TJI28akM5ZAyJby3WaDq-GKELQ_ayjWr1p8cwHldcr6eipPNyrGM59adTy4L0qtuux8OOga-01ByD0sfwSnNLb3Wlp2UsCULtx_8wdbLayOt_zBjY/w200-h150/index2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></span><span>This
aged beauty of a film is worth the watch, even with the grainy, blurry
texture of the remaining prints. Definitely put it on your watch list
for the season. </span><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image
Credits: Sucker Punch I own this CD case and also from
https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/stitching-together-sucker-punch . PPZ CD
case and then studio promo image. Evil Dead II movie case and action
shot from http://www.bookofthedead.ws/website/evil_dead_2_props.html.
CD case for Vampyr images from screen shots.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-34506455695040981142020-04-01T06:09:00.001-04:002020-04-01T06:09:08.186-04:00NaPoWriMo 2020 - Poetic Brainplace #1<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CyvXgD0BJ9TPWuy7rY5yvkze8R88OqkacsBHXpxnqga3zRwlMT6uXS5uSztSZwyinmPt5rZ-Y7r1mMh_lFYHwmc1TkvDmiLFICVMIvcSFJBy5DF3QKVWZjwgE6xjt32JVq2ETu4EsHA/s1600/862px-A_Coy_Smile_by_Rajasekharan_2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="862" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CyvXgD0BJ9TPWuy7rY5yvkze8R88OqkacsBHXpxnqga3zRwlMT6uXS5uSztSZwyinmPt5rZ-Y7r1mMh_lFYHwmc1TkvDmiLFICVMIvcSFJBy5DF3QKVWZjwgE6xjt32JVq2ETu4EsHA/s320/862px-A_Coy_Smile_by_Rajasekharan_2019.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Nothing makes us happier than ... "</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Hello Poets!<br />
<br />
Welcome to the first of 31 little portals into the "Poetic Brainplace" that lives in all of us.<br />
<br />
Today's poem to read is "<a href="https://poets.org/poem/rabbit">Rabbit</a>" by francine j. harris. Go give it a read, and then come back here. In fact, I'll go read it with you :) https://poets.org/poem/rabbit<br />
<br />
Ok, let's look at the last few lines:<br />
<br />
<span class="long-line"> <i>We linger the dark </i></span><i><span class="long-line"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="long-line">until it is safe to come out. To offer a nose. </span><span class="long-line"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="long-line">a cheek for touch. the top of a crown. Nothing</span></i><br />
<i><span class="long-line"></span><span class="long-line">makes us happier than another rabbit. </span></i><br />
<br />
<span class="long-line">In that phrase "Nothing makes us happier than another rabbit,"</span><span class="long-line"> we find ourselves confronted. This is a bold statement, and one we may instinctively agree with or may reject. Any direct statement like this in a poem will tug at us - to agree, to scoff, to open our eyes wide and say, "I never thought of it like that."</span><br />
<span class="long-line"><br /></span>
<span class="long-line">Write this on a page "Nothing makes us happier than <u> </u>." Fill it in with five different words that bring out different feelings, like something that disgusts you, something outrageous, something nonsensical, something humorous, something that's a lie, etc. Don't concentrate on meaning, just <i>feel</i>. Sit with those feelings a moment ... this is a poetic brainplace.</span><br />
<span class="long-line"><br /></span>
<span class="long-line">Now go ahead and use any prompt or idea for the day for a topic/subject, and see where this feeling leads! If you are stuck with no ideas or prompts, here's one you can try ...</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://onewritersmind.blogspot.com/2017/04/napowrimo-2017-prompt-1-moment-of.html"><span class="long-line">NaPoWriMo Prompt 1</span></a><br />
<br />
<span class="long-line">Cheers, JA</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="long-line">Image: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Coy_Smile_by_Rajasekharan_2019.jpg">A Coy Smile</a>, CC-4.0 Attribution Share Alike International</span><span class="long-line"> </span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-64542500938536598492020-04-01T05:34:00.000-04:002020-04-01T05:34:33.283-04:00NaPoWriMo 2020 - Poetic Brainplace Introduction<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vinhyphenhyphen8WImjRs8WdPPs9gLFgautwzBw6o2i2Gawye4jMqbInqGXXHjrojUTFBWH6RULtjcOWIQULQ0GI_2HL7-kGsAx5Y8YQIjNY4V7Dp6WVOZyiizKVgS5QoWaeYfCBEuzzermQgHUA/s1600/Lady_Reading_Poetry_by_Ishibashi_Kazunori_%2528Shimane_Art_Museum%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1055" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vinhyphenhyphen8WImjRs8WdPPs9gLFgautwzBw6o2i2Gawye4jMqbInqGXXHjrojUTFBWH6RULtjcOWIQULQ0GI_2HL7-kGsAx5Y8YQIjNY4V7Dp6WVOZyiizKVgS5QoWaeYfCBEuzzermQgHUA/s320/Lady_Reading_Poetry_by_Ishibashi_Kazunori_%2528Shimane_Art_Museum%2529.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing inspires poetry <i>writing</i> like poetry <i>reading</i>!</td></tr>
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Hello Poets!<br />
<br />
Prompts will abound this National Poetry Month, and mostly they will be of the "write a poem about such-and-such a topic" variety. Those prompts can be frustrating sometimes, since they don't actually help with that tricky, actual "poem-ing." It's pretty straightforward to write about a topic from a factual point of view, but how do we end up with a poem-sort-of-thing at the end? How do we get to that place inside that makes poetry - that "Poetic Brainplace?" (and yes I said 'brainplace' not 'brainspace' because I like the way it sounds.)<br />
<br />
How do we turn this:<br />
<br />
"Life decisions can be difficult to make under any circumstances, but particularly when you don't have much information about the material differences between your choices up front, or the consequences that will result later. We expect that regret or second-guessing will somehow be inevitable no matter what we choose. Even so, we can't avoid making those decisions, and facing those consequences."<br />
<br />
Into this:<br />
<span class="long-line"> (Excerpt from "<a href="https://poets.org/robert-frosts-road-not-taken"><i>The Road Not Taken</i></a>" by Robert Frost) </span><br />
<br />
<i><span class="long-line">I shall be telling this with a sigh</span><br /><span class="long-line">Somewhere ages and ages hence:</span><br /><span class="long-line">Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—</span><br /><span class="long-line">I took the one less traveled by,</span><br /><span class="long-line">And that has made all the difference.</span></i><br />
<br />
<span class="long-line">I believe that part of the challenge is that poetry comes from a very different part of the brain than almost any other thing we do or think about. It somehow uses words to bypass words, to bypass our higher thinking, and suddenly presents <i>truth </i>with immediate conviction. We don't even really need to understand what the poem 'means' to access that truth, that knowing, that sudden sense of "ahhhh" that somehow uses words to talk to places inside of us that formed before language.</span><br />
<span class="long-line"><br /></span>
<span class="long-line">There is, as I see it, only one sure-fire way to enter and abide in that particular "poetic brainplace," and that is by <i>reading</i> poetry. And note, it does not take much reading at all to move you from your "today I have to clean the bathroom, write a report, and take my vitamins" brianplace into the poetic brainplace. A single phrase can do it - but the more you read it, the easier it gets to write it. And note, once you start reading poetry, well, it feels like feeding a part of yourself that's always been hungry.</span><br />
<span class="long-line"><br /></span>
<span class="long-line">So this month I'm going to provide little jump-starts for you that will take only 5 to 7 minutes each. They will include reading a short poem or excerpt, and then a suggestion or two for using that as a portal inside your own poetic brainplace. Once there, whatever prompt you choose for the day will resonate much more clearly inside, and hopefully, poetry will flow!</span><br />
<span class="long-line"><br /></span>
<span class="long-line">Ok here we go, a post a day, so read on!</span><br />
<span class="long-line">Cheers, JA</span><br />
<span class="long-line"><br /></span>
<span class="long-line"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Public Domain, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/from%20https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lady_Reading_Poetry_by_Ishibashi_Kazunori_(Shimane_Art_Museum).jpg">Lady Reading Poetry</a> </span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-63143510695048906232019-08-25T16:32:00.001-04:002019-08-25T16:32:19.039-04:00Return of the Skeleton Key swag! <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN21tUTdhaNNeSuLpgmgF4CXoRHqXi9U0K6Cei7cE_9kC5m0VD0YwdvEs2Y5IRNf6tK_0gx7wNM0B7uVXQBpyJWQm5LIdnLFtdila0h6UDRpgr74_pGYXQBodOfs0OyyPY7TwLOeWh69I/s1600/SkullyReturn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1077" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN21tUTdhaNNeSuLpgmgF4CXoRHqXi9U0K6Cei7cE_9kC5m0VD0YwdvEs2Y5IRNf6tK_0gx7wNM0B7uVXQBpyJWQm5LIdnLFtdila0h6UDRpgr74_pGYXQBodOfs0OyyPY7TwLOeWh69I/s200/SkullyReturn.jpg" width="134" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Skeleton Key!<br />Called "Skully" for short, <br />I've made piles of these ...</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before I headed out to WorldCon 2019 in Dublin, I considered what fun stuff I might want to bring along to share. Business cards are of course a must, since little slips of random paper torn from the schedule upon which people scribble your twitter handle do quickly get mixed with the dirty socks in the suitcase and are never seen again (except as shreds of unknown origin emerging from the dryer.) A colorful business card has a better chance of being retrieved before being lost to the laundry, and perhaps even of surviving the extra rinse cycle, too.<br />
<br />
Years ago I had gotten myself some cool business cards, which were very fun to hand out and seemed to mostly serve the purpose of an information source with a certain durability. But then before the HallowRead Horror Con in 2018 I decided that it would be even better if it could be promoted to actual swag. You know - a nice little free bonus that would be fun and useful to make getting someone's business card a time of joy instead of "crap I now have tons of these things." That's when I made the Skeleton Keys, as noted in a <a href="https://onewritersmind.blogspot.com/2017/10/hallowread-skeleton-key-swag.html">previous post</a>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJKYfdQH55-gXXLk4jQqNUhd9qcw7QnHEnxNzo-jPne4DTsQQu66Kt9J4MQmTkbnafHx6sSu-0_tvOBOdXHVMTy-92BYbX9l22lWpy0yl9OKiuns60KiOlOWyg3qskqbY7QKQqMrZzgM/s1600/NewCardKey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="982" data-original-width="1600" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJKYfdQH55-gXXLk4jQqNUhd9qcw7QnHEnxNzo-jPne4DTsQQu66Kt9J4MQmTkbnafHx6sSu-0_tvOBOdXHVMTy-92BYbX9l22lWpy0yl9OKiuns60KiOlOWyg3qskqbY7QKQqMrZzgM/s320/NewCardKey.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Skeleton Key with traditional skull charm, as well as<br />moon phase charm, and dragon charm.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Skeleton Key (or Skully) consists of four important parts: The business card, the key ring, the aluminum key-shaped bottle opener (probably breaks on first use) and the charm (stone skull and crystal bead.) Definitely cool swag. Plus, if you don't want my card, you can ditch that part and just keep the bottle opener, or use the charm as a zipper pull for your jacket, or at the least have a backup key ring. No one has yet objected to getting my card in this form, and instead they seem to think it is at the least something different.<br />
<br />
I've now made tons and tons of Skullys (not 'Skullies' that seems insulting to the powerful Skully) and handed them out whenever I give workshops or presentations, and have them on hand at Cons to trade with other scientists, writers, and fans like me. So of course thinking I was heading to my very first World Science Fiction Convention, I made about 60 and hauled them across the pond.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvAtb1JKKwVB_C2UxNywU9dOhmvJBdFKhIWH12hcMcYJrwq1y3KuTMo-60HN2wJ2kss7wX3CiPKS-DXHPJcloplgwoYBjanrYHrr7E4YwRgZlud-qsZSvJSDApzZqwHIuj7_De7CV310/s1600/KittyKey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvAtb1JKKwVB_C2UxNywU9dOhmvJBdFKhIWH12hcMcYJrwq1y3KuTMo-60HN2wJ2kss7wX3CiPKS-DXHPJcloplgwoYBjanrYHrr7E4YwRgZlud-qsZSvJSDApzZqwHIuj7_De7CV310/s320/KittyKey.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Skully" updated with kitty charm<br />and special blue crystal butterfly!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Given this was not specifically a horror Con, this time I created a few different variations, all with a small crystal accent. First I played off of the design of the card itself and attached not only skull charms, but dragon and moon charms as well. Then I kind of lost it and started putting on all kinds of weird things like little pewter light bulbs, blue stone star beads, little metal flower charms, and whatever else I had on hand. The most highly prized of which became the cat with the special blue butterfly crystal!<br />
<br />
But as it turns out, WorldCon Dublin was so hectic I hardly got a chance to breathe as I was swept from one panel to another. While I managed to share some with my fellow panelists and a few fans, I ended up bringing most of my dear Skullys back home with me. They were bummed they did not get to spread their joy and power.<br />
<br />
However, this does mean I now have Skullys on hand, and will probably be dragging them everywhere for a while. So if you see me at a Con or panel or workshop (or anyplace at all), ask for a Skully! It might even be a skull, but no guarantees ...<br />
<br />
Cheers, JA<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Image Credits: Me!</i></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-15854274797632872622018-12-16T17:25:00.003-05:002018-12-16T17:25:12.804-05:00Plans Piling Up for 2019 - Science and Writing and Education, Oh My!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFs1Py8vGOpwhnvOwpHqRuWUFGJmz0hd0dv-Sx7K-aZDUCUn97fsmN2vo2AGeIOqAA_29itar-jvR6-kTahBiCX2ALBcj5nbON1oJOds38XhMDmZx_dE1CuUyJJfBKRVjAPKZ6np9uMRU/s1600/time-1842674_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="1401" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFs1Py8vGOpwhnvOwpHqRuWUFGJmz0hd0dv-Sx7K-aZDUCUn97fsmN2vo2AGeIOqAA_29itar-jvR6-kTahBiCX2ALBcj5nbON1oJOds38XhMDmZx_dE1CuUyJJfBKRVjAPKZ6np9uMRU/s320/time-1842674_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time does it's thing. 2019 is on the way!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Hello Folks!<br />
<br />
2018 has been filled with ups and downs, but overall I'm calling it a win. That might be because, as the years go by, I'm becoming more of an optimist. This seems impossible under the present circumstances of the world, and yet I see it happening to myself. With some surprise, I see my old cynicism being overtaken by a sort of circumspect, determined hopefulness. A sense that things can and will change, and that I can be a meaningful part of making the world a better place.<br />
<br />
Now, I'm not sure my schedule for 2019 is really a reflection of my trying to improve the world, or just a result of my having some amazing opportunities to share science, education, writing, poetry, and more fun stuff. It is all hard work, but I love it so much.<br />
<br />
So here just a bit of the intense geekery that this scientist/writer/poet/advocate hopes to have on tap for 2019 ...<br />
<br />
<u>Women in Space Conference, February 2019, Arizona</u>. <a href="http://www.womeninspacecon.com/">http://www.womeninspacecon.com/</a><br />
I'm working with some amazing science and education colleagues to present a talk entitled "Space Ethics and Our Expanding Vision for Exploration: Core Conversations," as well as a poster about "Remote Mentoring of Postdocs - A Preliminary Look at Effective Approaches to Increase the Accessibility of Postdoc Opportunities." Haven't heard yet if I might end up on a panel there, too, but that'd be great if so.<br />
<br />
<u>Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 2019, Texas</u>. <a href="https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2019/">https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2019/</a><br />
One of my two big science conferences every year. Okay, the abstracts are not in yet for this, but I'm planning to submit for a talk about our research into the needs and barriers of scientists who want to engage in public outreach. We're just finishing up the manuscript, so now is a good time to share. I'm also planning to get in on a poster with colleagues from our SSERVI TREX group about the maturity of the lunar regolith. AND I'll be in on a poster about looking at the relative age of impact crater ejecta in different wavelengths. No doubt I'll be helping out new-timer students and postodocs with reviewing their talks and posters. I'll also continue to be a part of the group that makes sure the Susan Neibur Women's Networking Event happens every year - it's a fantastic event. Busy, busy meeting.<br />
<br />
<u>Balticon, May 2019, Maryland.</u> <a href="https://www.balticon.org/wp53/">https://www.balticon.org/wp53/</a><br />
I have so many ideas for this, and I really have to get my stuff sent in! I've an idea for a fun science panel, as well as a presentation on "Planetary Impacts: From Creation to Destruction." Also a writing presentation about "Making Science Work in Your Fiction: Beyond Facts and Research to the Heart of Your Story." So I'll get those ideas in and see what the programmers might like ...<br />
<br />
<u>World Science Fiction Convention, August 2019, Dublin</u>. <a href="https://dublin2019.com/">https://dublin2019.com/</a><br />
My first WorldCon! I've been talked into this by a good friend who has gone for years. (Note pre-twisted arm.) Plus I've never been to Ireland. So this could be a lot of fun. She and I have an idea for a fun panel and some excellent panelists for the science track. And we are going to propose a tag-team science talk that should be very thought provoking and get lots of audience response! So stay tuned to see what the programming committee decides on our stuffs.<br />
<br />
<u>Hippocamp, August 2019, Pennsylvania</u>. <a href="http://hippocamp2019.hippocampusmagazine.com/">http://hippocamp2019.hippocampusmagazine.com/</a><br />
This is an excellent creative nonfiction conference that I've had my eye on since my memior-writer sister pointed it out to me. I've proposed a session on a topic that is near and dear to my heart, "A Glorious Alchemy: Blending Science and Nonfiction to Create Writing that Readers Crave." Hope the programming committee picks it up because I'm so stoked to present it! But even if not, this will be a great place to become more in touch with the nonfiction community, and learn more about my own nonfiction process.
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<br />
<u>AAS Division for Planetary Sciences Annual Meeting, September 2019, Geneva.</u> <a href="https://dps.aas.org/">https://dps.aas.org/</a><br />
The second of my two big science conferences each year. In 2019 we are meeting internationally, joint with the EPSC in Switzerland. Many plans still in the works. This is going to be great ...<br />
<br />
<u>HallowRead 2019, October 2019, Maryland.</u> <a href="http://hallowread.com/">http://hallowread.com/</a><br />
Near and dear to my heart, this little horror writers' conference is not to be missed by anyone in the DMV area. It is mostly home to paranormal romance, but any stripe or flavor of horror is welcome. Relaxed, casual, and very welcoming. I've been the only poet going, and so the organizer named me her Poet Laureate, which makes me smile from ear to ear. I have plans to do a "Science in your Horror" workshop this year. I have a reputation to uphold, as people keep asking me what I'm going to do to top my last two workshops. This, as you can see, is a very positive and friendly group!<br />
<br />
Other possibilities I really have to make a choice about VERY SOON ... can't do everything (can't I?)<br />
<br />
Muse in the Marketplace, April 2019.<br />
Stokercon, May 2019.<br />
Readercon, July 2019. <br />
<br />
And more! Gonna have to work to carve out my science research time, and my actual story writing time! I want to see myself do a lot of submitting this year, so I've got my work cut out for me!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Credit: Free download from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/time-moondial-time-machine-1842674/ found via Creative Commons CC 3.0</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-31787301649079390302018-02-28T11:31:00.002-05:002018-02-28T11:31:34.152-05:00Writer Interview - A.L. Kaplan<div style="text-align: right;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVBezJN5lZjOWKJUxzvYKU8d5QcGE1iI8NEotS1sZEY1MEYA1RVK2aLF8JJIXpxjM8meGPbVXUGOXRP4D2BwWXFRHqyICil60Wez-7m8wS-I7smtLQw3DojK7zYPigfVcG6weWNZo75c/s1600/Amy+E14+adjusted+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVBezJN5lZjOWKJUxzvYKU8d5QcGE1iI8NEotS1sZEY1MEYA1RVK2aLF8JJIXpxjM8meGPbVXUGOXRP4D2BwWXFRHqyICil60Wez-7m8wS-I7smtLQw3DojK7zYPigfVcG6weWNZo75c/s320/Amy+E14+adjusted+small.jpg" width="256" /></a>Today I'm pleased to bring you a writer interview with speculative novelist and poet A.L. Kaplan! A. L. Kaplan’s love of books started as a child and sparked a creative imagination. Born on a cold winter morning in scenic northern New Jersey, her stories and poems have been included in several anthologies and magazines. Her novel, Star-touched, was released October 1, 2017. She is the Maryland Writers’ Association’s Chapter/Board liaison and served on the Howard County Chapter board for several years. A. L. is a member of Broad Universe and holds an MFA in sculpture from the Maryland Institute College of Art. When not writing or indulging in her fascination with wolves, A.L. is the props manager for a local theatre. This proud mother of two lives in Maryland with her husband and dog. <br />
<br /><b>1. You have only three minutes to convince a stranger to read your latest work. What do you tell them about your writing, and about yourself, to get them interested? </b><br /><br />Eighteen-year old Tatiana is running from her past and her Star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population. Gifted with the ability to both heal and destroy, Tatiana seeks refuge in a town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble. <br /><br />I had no idea that we’d have so many natural disasters or that huge asteroids would be flying so close to earth this year when I wrote Star Touched. It’s rather frightening how many similarities there are to what’s going on now both environmentally and politically. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5ah8-2jxe0ih4IzMEwAwPDSjMtBA2m-wlN9Jjc3a97jfDcwS-Mt5MsmbCofLulSmnMqwQC4iyeAV_syOWxeb0TYxL59lKbgGd6anLcF3meGohFXXGDp5Ns-iMkNwQYBx9NoFjbn2aTU/s1600/Startouched+front+cover2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1004" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5ah8-2jxe0ih4IzMEwAwPDSjMtBA2m-wlN9Jjc3a97jfDcwS-Mt5MsmbCofLulSmnMqwQC4iyeAV_syOWxeb0TYxL59lKbgGd6anLcF3meGohFXXGDp5Ns-iMkNwQYBx9NoFjbn2aTU/s320/Startouched+front+cover2.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>2. Your spaceship can travel to any world, real or imagined. Where do you go? </b><br />
<br />
I’d love to travel inside my mind and find out what’s going on in there. <br />
<br />
<b>3. What was your favorite book you that read as a child? What have you read recently that you can recommend? </b><br />
I grew up reading James Herriot, Jack London, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Albert Payson Turhune, and of course J. R. R. Tolkien. <i>Lord of the Rings</i> may have birthed my love of fantasy, but there are three other books I read that were a huge influence: <i>Island of the Blue Dolphins</i>, <i>My Side of the Mountain</i>, and <i>Julie of the Wolves</i>. I guess I have a thing for kids surviving on their own in the wild. My favorite musicals are about orphans as well: Annie and Oliver. <br />
<br />
There have been several books I’ve read recently that have been really good. <i>The House on Moss Swamp Road</i> by M J Patrick comes to mind, as does <i>The Fuller’s Apprentice</i>, by Angela Holder, <i>The Enchanted Dagger</i> by Vonnie Winslow Crist, and <i>Dawn Study</i> by Maria V. Snyder. I don’t often read non-fiction, but <i>The Strong Woman Trap: A Feminist Guide for Getting Your Life Back</i> by Sasha Mobley was very enlightening. I could go on, but there is only so much space in your blog. <br />
<br />
<b>4. How do you meet and stay engaged with other writers? </b><br />
I’m very active in the Maryland Writers’ Association at the state and chapter level. I’m also in a critique group and am a member of Broad Universe. I’ve made some great friends at conventions like the MWA Writing Conference and fan-based cons like Balticon. This year I’ve been invited as a participant at Raven Con in Williamsburg on April 20 – 22, and Balticon in Baltimore, Maryland on Memorial Day weekend. I’m really looking forward to them. Book festival are a great way to meet people as well, and Facebook makes it easy to stay in touch and find out what other writers are up to. <br />
<br />
<b> 5. What is a quote that resonates with you - either from yourself or someone else? </b><br />
<br />
“Be who you are.” It’s an important theme in Star Touched. My main character, Tatiana, is afraid to be who she really is. It’s one of the quotes I sign in my books. It’s also on my license plate. (A birthday present from my husband this year.) <br />
<br />
<b>6. Do you have a personal symbol or icon with which you identify? </b><br />
<br />
I don’t know about an icon or symbol, but I do feel a connection to wolves. When I was in high school I had a dream about wolves. The next day I went to the library and started reading. The more I learned, the more I liked. My collection now includes books, art, toys, and a few odd things like a howling cookie jar. Wolves have also inspired several stories, including my short story, Wolf Dawn, which is in the <i>Young Adventurers: Heroes, Explorers, and Swashbucklers</i> anthology. <br />
<br />
<b>7. How do you find good new reads in your genres of choice? </b><br />
<br />
There are several places to find new books. Friends recommendations, perusing the stacks in a bookstore or library, Goodreads, and of course, talking to authors. There’s a lot out there. I also look for those free book days. If I like that first one I’ll by others by the same author. <br />
<br />
<b>8. What is one thing that really scares you? </b><br />
<br />
That would be tornados. I’ve never seen one, but they really freak me out. <br />
<br />
<b>9. Which conferences/book fairs/meetings do you try to never miss each year? </b><br />
<br />
Balticon has always been my go to. <br />
<br />
<b>10. You have a magic wand that can cast only one kind of spell. What does your wand do? </b><br />
<br />
My wand has the ability to cast unlimited heal spells that can also cure illnesses like cancer, AIDS, and depression. <br />
<br />
<b>11. Where can fans find you and your work online? </b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://alkaplanauthor.com/">https://Alkaplanauthor.com</a> <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorA.L.Kaplan/">https://www.facebook.com/AuthorA.L.Kaplan/</a> <br />
<br />
@ALKaplanauthor on Twitter <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Credits: All images provided by author and used w permission.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-82762702429270152342018-02-05T14:15:00.000-05:002018-02-05T14:15:14.962-05:00Writer Interview - Shadow Leitner<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvEEm-qt6AkV8lk-ObYNctwXsT5A1_jlnn1bQHJpNu5-MBM3PmDt6dPYkcbsUikaLXYBMnKQ13TWmPPuplMo4VtBeXKwDPe_55WeRnAW2gHgodsgGKnORoueNHRkVKhk7Htep1nwoLao/s1600/shadow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1041" data-original-width="1041" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvEEm-qt6AkV8lk-ObYNctwXsT5A1_jlnn1bQHJpNu5-MBM3PmDt6dPYkcbsUikaLXYBMnKQ13TWmPPuplMo4VtBeXKwDPe_55WeRnAW2gHgodsgGKnORoueNHRkVKhk7Htep1nwoLao/s320/shadow.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shadow Leitner - Beautifully Haunted Writer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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--</style>I'm honored to present a blog interview with Haunted writer Shadow Leitner! She graciously posted an <a href="http://shadowleitner.blogspot.com/2018/01/night-writer-ja-grier.html">interview with me</a> on her excellent blog <a href="http://shadowleitner.blogspot.com/">Dark Inklings</a>, and I'm so happy to have her here today - so read on to learn about Shadow, her haunted writing, and what really scares her :)</div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shadow Leitner spent over a
decade in the performing arts but left the stage for the page to write Paranormal,
Sci-Fi/Fantasy and Gothic Romance novels for Young and New Adults, and thoroughly
enjoys torturing her imaginary characters with love and other peculiar
things. </span><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She also creates beautifully
haunting art with her iPhone, consumes absurd amounts of coffee, and is enchanted
by all things vintage, old world and macabre. She’s also quite fond of
nonsense literature. Well, all sorts of nonsense really.</span><span style="color: #1d2129; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Shadow
haunts from Maryland, with her husband, their two spawn, and a menagerie of
mostly domesticated creatures.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1. You have only three
minutes to convince a stranger to read your latest work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you tell them about your writing, and
about yourself, to get them interested?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am Beautifully Haunted.
Eventually, the voices in my head make it to the page where they can haunt you,
too.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2. Your spaceship can
travel to any world, real or imagined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Where do you go?</b></div>
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I travel to a steampunk world where the cities and towns
float in the air. There I own a Victorian mansion which I open-up as bread
& breakfast for other airship travelers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkQZJn5bT1L1YqNTFX35U88J4ftTG6-EAG0ZXdvrGBU_ZL7x7fIZWkm9haVDH236pKeMNuB0tlN2SRqsK1FWOBD6coZh6eNWAEnOYNOhXfcLYLyJLRcIQQPN9CllS7tfOmTENWcMpdzc/s1600/book2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="764" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkQZJn5bT1L1YqNTFX35U88J4ftTG6-EAG0ZXdvrGBU_ZL7x7fIZWkm9haVDH236pKeMNuB0tlN2SRqsK1FWOBD6coZh6eNWAEnOYNOhXfcLYLyJLRcIQQPN9CllS7tfOmTENWcMpdzc/s200/book2.jpg" width="133" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3. What was your
favorite book you that read as a child?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What have you read recently that you can recommend?</b></div>
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I was a bookworm growing up, so I have many, many favorites,
but the first book I remember having a real impact on me was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shadow Castle</i> by Marian Cockrell. It’s
about a fairy prince who marries a human princess and trouble ensues.</div>
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Where to start, I’ve read so many great books lately. I just
finished <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Mara Dyer Trilogy</i> and
started the first book of its companion series <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Noah Shaw Confessions</i> by Michelle Hodkins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are YA and deliciously dark. I’m in love
and dying for the next one to be released. In the adult, more ghostly realm, I’ve
recently finished and highly recommend <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Haunting of Maddy Clare</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Silence for
the Dead</i> by Simone St. James.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4. How do you meet and
stay engaged with other writers?</b></div>
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Well, it works like this, I stalk my favorite authors,
wrestle them to the ground, chain them in my basement and like that we are
besties. Okay, not really, that would be creepy. Don’t do that. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FRwLttyETtkiaGVXFS9Cgvp3qAsd1xd8vqN7AXqY1DXjHBBF9W10u6jljFd1QUxCDiSwiFPfI_GxPzKq8JqPDNNXSGw90W4E-v3lLvp3wNsMGHs_wcXoiPvk1NUMAE2YlSwrvWcdxWE/s1600/book1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="770" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FRwLttyETtkiaGVXFS9Cgvp3qAsd1xd8vqN7AXqY1DXjHBBF9W10u6jljFd1QUxCDiSwiFPfI_GxPzKq8JqPDNNXSGw90W4E-v3lLvp3wNsMGHs_wcXoiPvk1NUMAE2YlSwrvWcdxWE/s200/book1.jpg" width="133" /></a>The real answer is I belong to author organizations and
attend meetings, conferences, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
write a blog for Dark & Gothic Writers called Dark Inklings where I get to
hang out with other cool Night Writers. And yes, I do totally stalk other
authors, but in the nice, safe (for them) environment of the internet and
social media.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5. What is a quote that
resonates with you - either from yourself or someone else?</b></div>
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So the darkness shall be the light. – T.S. Elliot</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">6. Do you have a
personal symbol or icon with which you identify?</b> </div>
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White spiders. Though I’ve never really thought of them as a
personal symbol or icon and I’m not particularly fond of them, either. However,
they seem to have an affinity for me and show up often. I certainly sit up to
take notice when they do. I’ve come to accept them, seeing them as messengers,
who let me know when I’m on the right track. </div>
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I’m also very fond of black hearts.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVJm6r6xLWZoYFlkU3beZAx1nHerkl3APlcLOK_6WQSsSVaXb-0GD7gW7wIW0xguR51a3mF025w2eFFZ4N4E7p5mS2UD3bNYdm_3tpE-KVzVm0MT6UFgUypIr6_vkw-7kfCqGRyDkZxw/s1600/book4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1342" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVJm6r6xLWZoYFlkU3beZAx1nHerkl3APlcLOK_6WQSsSVaXb-0GD7gW7wIW0xguR51a3mF025w2eFFZ4N4E7p5mS2UD3bNYdm_3tpE-KVzVm0MT6UFgUypIr6_vkw-7kfCqGRyDkZxw/s320/book4.jpg" width="320" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">7. How do you find good
new reads in your genres of choice? </b></div>
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Well, there is this place where all the available space is
covered in books and all of them are free. FREE. Maybe you’ve heard of it. It
is called the Library, and while I could literally set up a cot and live there,
I don’t have to, because I can take the books home with me. I promise this
place is not a figment of my imagination. It’s real. One should really check it
out. ;)</div>
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I refer to Goodreads a good bit, as well. Come friend me and
we can share all the books. Muahaha.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">8. What is one thing
that really scares you?</b></div>
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Being eaten alive by zombies and tornadoes, but then that
would be two things. So let’s stick with zombies because they really freak me
the f**k out.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">9. You can create the
perfect one-week writing retreat - describe what makes it ideal for you.</b></div>
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The perfect retreat would to be holed up in a historical
place, such as a Victorian mansion or castle with roaring fires and plenty of
coffee. Being in such a surrounding the stories almost vibrate out of me and
reverberate off the walls, but then that might be coffee. It’s hard to tell.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnmhTo2cvnaTnqEgDS7r90Ne8Fge_MSl6yNKgpT4XUNTZKyI1rpaRiSNyaSQGywh7r0iOLCiT96cApUixvrGOAY5GA7LbqD-5yXHs4Y1n0chBdmaDrjRjYzYuWizpsbKOVecgqZziZvQ/s1600/book3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1342" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnmhTo2cvnaTnqEgDS7r90Ne8Fge_MSl6yNKgpT4XUNTZKyI1rpaRiSNyaSQGywh7r0iOLCiT96cApUixvrGOAY5GA7LbqD-5yXHs4Y1n0chBdmaDrjRjYzYuWizpsbKOVecgqZziZvQ/s320/book3.jpg" width="320" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">10. Which
conferences/book fairs/meetings do you try to never miss each year?</b></div>
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A new one for me, but one I don’t plan on missing is
HallowReads. There are many others I haven’t been to but would love to attend.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">11. You have a magic wand
that can cast only one kind of spell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What does your wand do?</b></div>
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My wand transports me where ever and whenever I want.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">12. Where can fans find
you and your work online?</b></div>
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<a href="http://shadowleitner.com/index.html">ShadowLeitner.com</a>
is my main haunt, but I can also be found creeping around on <a href="https://twitter.com/ShadowLeitner">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ShadowLeitner/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shadowleitner">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/shadowleitner/">Pinterest</a>.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">13. What is the question
I should have asked?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Answer in the form
of a haiku or limerick.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
How reliable of narrator are you?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
When you've bats in your belfry that flut,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
When your comprenez-vous rope is cut,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
When there's nobody home</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the top of your dome --</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Then your head's not a head; it's a nut</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“The Nut” by Anthony Euwer</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Credits: All images provided by and used with permission of Shadow Leitner.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-53960115041009603412018-01-25T18:44:00.000-05:002018-01-29T14:10:43.488-05:00The Humanity Star and Critical Conversations in Space ExplorationOn January 21st of this year, Rocket Lab (on their debut launch) orbited several satellites, including a secret payload. This (no longer secret) object is named the Humanity Star - and it has the potential to be one of the brightest objects in the night sky (as noted <a href="https://qz.com/1187991/rocket-lab-electron-private-rocketeers-put-their-own-humanity-star-into-orbit/">here</a>).<br />
<br />
My usual reaction whenever I see science and art brought together is glee. I am a scientist and an artist, and I love both. But I don't feel gleeful about this particular piece.<br />
<br />
As both an astronomer and an education/communications specialist, I have some strong feelings about this object now orbiting our planet - especially because of the <i>way</i> it was launched. A secret launch means no important conversations take place about the object, how it will be perceived, and its eventual consequences. I'm going to repeat that, because this is the whole point of my post: <i>critical conversations with all stakeholders must take place as space exploration moves forward</i>. And if what you are doing can affect the whole planet, then the world becomes your stakeholder.<br />
<br />
In the <a href="https://qz.com/1187991/rocket-lab-electron-private-rocketeers-put-their-own-humanity-star-into-orbit/">Quartz article on the Humanity Star</a>, Peter Beck, the CEO of Rocket Lab is quoted as saying, "For us to thrive and
survive, we need to make big decisions in the context of humanity as a
whole, not in the context of individuals, organizations or even nations.
…We must come together as a species to solve the really big issues like
climate change and resource shortages.”<br />
<br />
These sentiments are certainly fine things, and I completely agree. But the Humanity Star may not inspire this kind of thinking. Will a person in another space-faring country, say India or China, look up, and upon seeing a new, bright satellite, think about our communal responsibilities for climate change? Will they imagine themselves as part of a global community? Will they be angry for an overbearing demonstration of technology? Will they be afraid at what we might do next? Will they be appalled at our lack of respect for the sacred night sky? Well, we don't know. We don't know <i>because those conversations did not happen in advance of launch.</i><br />
<br />
What about other kinds of stakeholders, say like space scientists? Well, that conversation didn't take place before launch either, since astronomers are expressing displeasure. Some people are describing it as "litter" or even "vandalism." This article in <a href="https://mashable.com/2018/01/25/rocket-lab-humanity-star-bad-for-astronomy/#O8u9QovhukqH">mashable.com</a> gives some details about the feeling of astronomers, and how Rocket Lab appears to be scrambling to put minds at ease. This reaction might have been completely avoidable had the conversation with this group of people happened as it should have.<br />
<br />
I am astonished at the last few sentences of the <a href="https://qz.com/1187991/rocket-lab-electron-private-rocketeers-put-their-own-humanity-star-into-orbit/">Quartz article on the Humanity Star</a>, which unintentionally serve to underscore my point. The article states: "The first artificial satellite, Sputnik, was a mission with a similar
effect: Its radio broadcast was designed to say “I’m here!” to the
world, as well as provide data to scientists on the ground. It turned
out to be a harbinger of a space race that created most of the space
infrastructure we have now. Is the Humanity Star a herald a new age of
commercial space flight and ambition?"<br />
<br />
This is an eye-popping interpretation of the intention and result of the orbit of Sputnik. The satellite was launched at the height of the cold war, and it engendered anxiety, fear, and apprehension in half of the world. It indeed began the space race - but this was not a time of good-natured exploration. It was a time of governments flexing their muscles and each attempting to demonstrate ideological superiority through technological advancement and achievement. Our space infrastructure came at this high cost. Will the Humanity Star have this kind of legacy? We don't know, because again, no one was asked how they might feel to have this object over their heads.<br />
<br />
Successful programs in space science education, communications, and outreach all have formal evaluation as part of their structure. Such evaluation allows a program, especially in the crucial beginning phases, to react and respond to input from stakeholders. The eventual program may look very, very different from the initial concepts because you found out things from your stakeholders that never occurred to you. (For example, when Gene Shoemaker's ashes were sent to the Moon, the <a href="http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1998/jan/15/navajos-upset-after-ashes-sent-to-moon-nasa/">Navajo expressed displeasure</a>, and NASA formally apologized. Such a disconnect is avoidable if channels of communication are open.) Why didn't the Humanity Star have an engaged, international evaluation program that allowed it to learn what would indeed inspire global unity? Why didn't it build a positive audience ahead of time? With the goals as stated by the CEO, such evaluation was <i>essential</i> to success. Evaluation didn't happen. Why?<br />
<br />
A few more things of note. The Humanity Star will burn up in our atmosphere within the year, so this situation is temporary. Yet the artist is planning to <a href="https://www.fastcodesign.com/90138472/youll-be-able-to-see-this-sculpture-as-it-orbits-earth">launch yet another, larger piece</a> of space art. There is no indication that critical conversations have happened around this piece.<br />
<br />
As we move forward with space exploration, we need to be as inclusive as possible, or the voices of most of the planet will not go forward with us into space. We need to have the tough conversations before each endeavor. If we do this right, we will indeed engender unity. As we have these conversations, we will discover our global vision for space exploration. It will be something amazing, a vision we cannot even conceive without the input of <i>all</i> kinds of people. So let's take the responsibility to seek out and have the conversations <i>now</i>.<br />
<br />
J.A. Grier<div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-2371141198515699922018-01-21T18:32:00.002-05:002018-01-21T18:32:55.179-05:00A Writer's Media Roadmap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQKWwukxJXSFoK2MUxU9905K3j26EFm4XyslEFGRR0qztxFFa8Giq_hU1BlOEtfBomUbjyYhTj91J0tOI14o8IZxlxZygRNELRko9jLNWMUsGH7juMeBcYaCahqnLINvhVzNo-i1P3bY/s1600/tiffanycarter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="637" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQKWwukxJXSFoK2MUxU9905K3j26EFm4XyslEFGRR0qztxFFa8Giq_hU1BlOEtfBomUbjyYhTj91J0tOI14o8IZxlxZygRNELRko9jLNWMUsGH7juMeBcYaCahqnLINvhVzNo-i1P3bY/s200/tiffanycarter.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
The Howard County Chapter of the Maryland Writer's Association had its first meeting of 2018 on January 18. We were treated to an excellent presentation entitled "<a href="http://www.mwahocowriters.com/uncategorized/creating-your-social-media-roadmap/">Creating Your Social Media Roadmap</a>" by Tiffany Carter. More than just an introduction to creating a media platform, Tiffany gave us some insight into how to make it really work for us. <br />
<br />
Here is just a bit of what she shared, starting with her approach of: Platform - Schedule - Automate - Connect. <br />
<br />
Platform - She listed six platforms as high priority for writers and authors: a personal blog, Facebook, Linked In, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram. The advice was to pick two of these and maintain them well, rather than try to do them all at a shallow level. She suggested the two most powerful platforms were: (1) having a website "home" with a personal blog and (2) an active presence on Goodreads. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix62ReumnykScktfctZ8cj6q2PDHHy9qpfOPYo4faX07x-3SfkIVO2B4CO7IWLeTmh2wRP015xETyxt77rP5Sn78zZM6SnqoKzMwC78PILPthzbvHCZ53leOguBpjnGbnwqsYMJMrz3PA/s1600/tiffanypresent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="1080" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix62ReumnykScktfctZ8cj6q2PDHHy9qpfOPYo4faX07x-3SfkIVO2B4CO7IWLeTmh2wRP015xETyxt77rP5Sn78zZM6SnqoKzMwC78PILPthzbvHCZ53leOguBpjnGbnwqsYMJMrz3PA/s320/tiffanypresent.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Schedule - But the emphasis regardless of platform was on consistency. Pick the platforms you can engage with the most robustly. Her advice was to create a schedule for posts/tweets/content and stick to it. This ensures that followers and fans know when and where to find your content. When is somewhat flexible, although she had recommendations (like posting once a day if doing Facebook or Linked In) she said the key was making sure followers were getting the content when they had come to expect it.<br />
<br />
Automate - Of course staying consistent with media is always a challenge. Tiffany gave us some tips for automation, like connecting blog posts to Goodreads and Linked In, and using tools like Buffer. I know I've used HootSuite in the past with some success to automate tweets. She said that once set up, a writer could spend as little as an hour and have the rest of the week's media scheduled and automated to post. I'd love to reach that point ... I'm certainly not that efficient now with posting. <br />
<br />
Connect - Connecting with fans and followers is obviously the point of all of this. Writers want to meet people and forge connections that lead to authentic interaction. Being efficient about posting means that time can be spent in the kinds of interactions that are rewarding for both writers and their followers. Tiffany said that a good foundation of quality content, delivered on schedule, including guest blogging, blog tours, and even pod casting would support more 'rapid' forms of exposure like live video/audio, book promotions, and giveaways.<br />
<br />
Finally, she emphasized that we are of course all readers. She reminded us that we already know what our fans want, because we are readers, too. We know what works with us - how we get engaged, how we have fun, and what we are looking for from books and authors. We just need to put those ideas into motion for ourselves as writers.<br />
<br />
I thought her presentation was really valuable, and certainly the rest of the room received it enthusiastically. I hope she comes back to the group and shows us more advanced techniques for making the most of our time online. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Credits: Publicity image of Tiffany Carter from MWA HoCo flyer. Image of Tiffany Carter from her workshop taken by myself and posted with permission.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-52227139580886786482018-01-07T11:59:00.000-05:002018-01-07T11:59:51.956-05:00Starting the New Year Right<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sG6gymsbRqZZAk4xf1RnADV4rJTpcw4w0VXn7knZSjR9QRGdaCtr6466R_WVjPKQ4Rw6n3RgRBfThMvkbtDAOX6YAvZDXYaGsnBh7Wg1pwg18_xm9wBlecZYYqJ_3CgcmxmnTVLkLXU/s1600/jenandypanel.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="1072" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sG6gymsbRqZZAk4xf1RnADV4rJTpcw4w0VXn7knZSjR9QRGdaCtr6466R_WVjPKQ4Rw6n3RgRBfThMvkbtDAOX6YAvZDXYaGsnBh7Wg1pwg18_xm9wBlecZYYqJ_3CgcmxmnTVLkLXU/s320/jenandypanel.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's me with planetary astronomer and asteroid<br />
scientist Andy Rivkin, waiting on the dais for the start<br />
of our Mars exploration panel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Someone said something nice to me on New Year's Day and I'm still floating with joy. <br />
<br />
Here's some context. I ended 2017 and started 2018 by attending an innovative private event with panels, talks, workshops, and much more - covering topics from science, to mental health, to social justice. Even as a first timer I was a part of two panels and gave a workshop. I met fantastic people and left with a mind full of ideas.<br />
<br />
But one of those panels I was on was a bit daunting - it was a Mars exploration panel. There were only two women (including myself) out of nine panelists, and represented on the panel were NASA officials past and present, an astronaut, and more. I was the only person on the panel I'd call a planetary surface scientist. I was the only one who could really speak to the research and analysis aspects specific to the lunar and Martian surfaces. Because of these factors, I felt a strong responsibility to hold my own amidst some strong personalities. I wanted to represent science and the women who do it, well.<br />
<br />
So, okay. The stage is literally set. We are up on a dais before a lunchtime crowd of about 250 intelligent and attentive people. My first major "intervention" is when someone on the other end of the panel says that basic science research is not as important to Mars exploration as engineering and propulsion research. I can't let that sit, and take the microphone. I remind him that without science we wouldn't even know something as basic as what we were landing on. I briefly mention dust as an example - the dust the Apollo astronauts ended up breathing and even eating when it made its way via electrostatic effects right into the lunar module. This is also the dust that will be gumming up gears and other mechanical devices in any exploration effort, lunar or Martian. And given it's insulating properties, this is the dust that explorers may be hiding under to escape temperature extremes and radiation hazards. We know a lot less about Martian dust than lunar. Research science to characterize this stuff is critical.<br />
<br />
My last major "intervention" happened when a panelist near me responded to the question, "What are the moral or ethical considerations of Mars exploration?" His response was basically, "Well, if there is no life already on Mars, then there are no issues." I was astonished and grabbed the mic, following up with something like, "Actually, there are a variety of moral or ethical considerations to space exploration. Here is an example. We impacted a spacecraft on the Moon that was also was carrying the ashes of a famous scientist. No cultural dialog was engaged before the decision was made, and when certain communities found out after the fact, they were very unhappy. Some Native American groups protested because they view the Moon as sacred, and did not feel placing someone's ashes there was appropriate. We can't continue to make mistakes like this. Scientists, engineers, and administrators are becoming more and more aware of the need to reach out and have diverse conversations as we continue to explore. We must make these conversations a priority."<br />
<br />
I left the dais at the end of the panel feeling a bit strange, and wondering if I'd done well in such august company, and achieved my goals of representing the voice of women scientists in a positive fashion.<br />
<br />
Okay, so punchline finally after all this. I was approached after midnight on New Year's Eve, just minutes into the start of 2018. The woman who addressed me gushed about the Mars exploration panel. She said how excited she was to see my good representation of women scientists, and how I'd done an excellent job - especially with the "morality and ethics" question. She shook my hand enthusiastically.<br />
<br />
Does this seem like a small thing to you? Or maybe I just don't have a habit of taking compliments to heart ... but this one hit home with a nice warm sparkle. Wow. So I'm headed into the New Year with a huge boost to my sense of agency in the world, and just general good feels. I'm wishing the same for you, as we continue to navigate our way through a challenging world this 2018.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Credit: Andrew Rivkin pic of Jen and Andy. </span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-10696398058144161652018-01-04T20:10:00.000-05:002018-01-04T20:11:22.813-05:00A Daily Twitter Challenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlU_sXNjZhE7gbpWjdnarc84nHKR_gb7fdXPGkVmTXsLhk8EEkTgPdeE18LCbYHYwh4AR1ltWRSP5bv2vr-_bBR02w-8mG2aycxrbbIgqYQedF8gJ1vltZ-90w7WEV4PoFd86gm-FZUa0/s1600/sunrise-1371391077dmN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="1579" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlU_sXNjZhE7gbpWjdnarc84nHKR_gb7fdXPGkVmTXsLhk8EEkTgPdeE18LCbYHYwh4AR1ltWRSP5bv2vr-_bBR02w-8mG2aycxrbbIgqYQedF8gJ1vltZ-90w7WEV4PoFd86gm-FZUa0/s320/sunrise-1371391077dmN.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new sun rises - What shall we tweet about today?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So back in 2016 I gave my best friend a gift - it was a promise of a new twitter question each day to which the two of us could respond. The idea was to get to know one another, and our interested followers, just a little bit better. <br />
<br />
Well, that lasted into March maybe, before we lost track and stopped. But it was, as they say, fun while it lasted. So now that the dust has settled on the start of 2018, we are going to give it another try this year. This time around we are going to use monthly themes to give us something to focus our thoughts, and to hopefully keep us going through all of 2018.<br />
<br />
The challenge, if you want to join in, is this: I'll tweet a question, and you tweet an answer, citing the original question. Give it the hashtag of #JATOTD - that's "Jen/Andy's Tweet of the Day." And that's all there is to it. Don't feel you need to take the question literally. Actually, feel free to tweet whatever works for you, just using the question as inspiration, if you like.<br />
<br />
We are going to try to see what we can do to be genuine, authentic, helpful, and maybe even uplifting. It's just a small space to connect, express, and be real.<br />
<br />
January's theme is "Travel" because it seems like that's pretty much what we do these days. I'm wondering how we can refocus on all this travel, and remind ourselves what it can to open our eyes, and more.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Credit: Sunrise, PublicDomainPictures.net </span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-72251007754794444022017-10-31T22:58:00.000-04:002017-10-31T23:00:35.070-04:00Halloween Movies of Choice: Movies 29-31<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFM0GC_RB73dS-x95cy6mvwc7MYHo_xDO62g59iCg3fYwhyL1ZQz4qNB_emX6wJMBNoEsjvyDvUpVd0cJilEP5T11YUIpZZrw73ozkcVsfWHlLTOLRvGbP0ro5gSp7yAQcfSvUZ7kWgqs/s1600/Kuerbisauswahl_Markt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFM0GC_RB73dS-x95cy6mvwc7MYHo_xDO62g59iCg3fYwhyL1ZQz4qNB_emX6wJMBNoEsjvyDvUpVd0cJilEP5T11YUIpZZrw73ozkcVsfWHlLTOLRvGbP0ro5gSp7yAQcfSvUZ7kWgqs/s200/Kuerbisauswahl_Markt.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween - Decorative Gourd Season</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well movie lovers, we have come to the end of the list! Thirty-one movies for the thirty-one days of October! More than enough to keep us all busy for this season and no doubt some years to come. I thought I'd finish up with a few movies that are my kind of sheer Halloween fun.<br />
<br />
As always, beware the SPOILERS below!<br />
<br />
<u>29. The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)</u><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6AMkfCiTz6cB4Y6jpMPVfiCW0chirM79yWmlERepkkSJ6FzZIb5pGQsh6HTG45zKo84VQdTzwTKMFazBmMiLisPbUY3XESmbbDHdu-DqBONEe8QrRkKNwvgMW3HdY65K153-XokoE40/s1600/91H9DlNdBtL._SY679_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="481" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6AMkfCiTz6cB4Y6jpMPVfiCW0chirM79yWmlERepkkSJ6FzZIb5pGQsh6HTG45zKo84VQdTzwTKMFazBmMiLisPbUY3XESmbbDHdu-DqBONEe8QrRkKNwvgMW3HdY65K153-XokoE40/s200/91H9DlNdBtL._SY679_.jpg" width="141" /></a>My love of all things stop-motion means I was already primed to love this claymation spoof of lycanthropic horror flicks. If you've seen the short films starring the inventor Wallace and his loyal and clever dog Gromit, then you know the kind of humor that awaits you in this full length movie.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IdJblUnpMWBkhlX0KJ1jSaFXOrVndUnEIoywhue38xzxlkxQRu8VWCYOJ3nGtG9wM9a-AWn31jGNA2dorwfG_AOBypcA4jktrKIqXh6ZM4B_fXLO6tP4u-YthzeRxRQDcugQ9V0ibN4/s1600/v1.aDsyNTAxODtqOzE3NTA1OzEyMDA7NzAwOzUwOQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="700" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IdJblUnpMWBkhlX0KJ1jSaFXOrVndUnEIoywhue38xzxlkxQRu8VWCYOJ3nGtG9wM9a-AWn31jGNA2dorwfG_AOBypcA4jktrKIqXh6ZM4B_fXLO6tP4u-YthzeRxRQDcugQ9V0ibN4/s200/v1.aDsyNTAxODtqOzE3NTA1OzEyMDA7NzAwOzUwOQ.jpg" width="200" /></a>Wallace and Gromit appear to be the only means of pest control for a small town of dedicated vegetable lovers. Self-proclaimed "simple folk," all the townspeople each dream that they might win the annual giant vegetable competition, and be awarded the golden carrot. It's a dream Gromit shares, as he tucks in his giant cucumber each night. "Pesto" pest control has the virtue of being humane, but this means that the house of W and G has now become home to what appear to be a hundred rambunctious rabbits. This can't end well.<br />
<br />
W gets the idea that to stop the rabbit pest problem he can brainwash the rabbits, that way they will no longer desire produce, and the town's competition will be saved. W hooks himself up to a machine with him at one end and bunnies on the other. Of course the experiment goes awry, and one rabbit named "Hutch" becomes rather much more than just a simple bunny. <br />
<br />
All this is a great setup for an amazing romp through the limits of clay animation, and more. The characters, like the clergyman, are engaging and fun. The horror tropes are exactly as one might expect for a werewolf horror movie, except it's all surrounding a wererabbit instead. The Clergyman makes a plea for repentance, saying it's the town's unnatural giant vegetables that have brought this curse down on them. It is he that supplies the bad guy with golden bullets (24 "carrot") to kill the rampaging beast. Meanwhile the hostess of the competition just wants everything to end humanely. W and G come to the rescue and, well, you better just go watch the movie for the punchline because for once I'm not putting it here.<br />
<br />
This may be the only really G rated movie on my list, because even Snow White or The Wizard of Oz are scarier than this. But it is all done with such humor, insight, and perfect horror-trope jokes that it never misses a beat. A definite must for Halloween viewing fun!<br />
<br />
<u>30. Young Frankenstein (1974)</u><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UzH8U2AHWts-7z2nq6nqZxfjPu978mHXhJ2l_r3YgW0riBirBw8zQk-8y-_Ap34xvJMnJmSQFsF5QJcTMKSDhcqeUpbMHchTT6RwEVP-NW3ewP0Q_juXdgUR-XhnSwZwuz4XmpPQNng/s1600/index.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="210" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UzH8U2AHWts-7z2nq6nqZxfjPu978mHXhJ2l_r3YgW0riBirBw8zQk-8y-_Ap34xvJMnJmSQFsF5QJcTMKSDhcqeUpbMHchTT6RwEVP-NW3ewP0Q_juXdgUR-XhnSwZwuz4XmpPQNng/s200/index.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
One of the greatest horror movie spoofs of all time, <i>Young Frankenstein</i> takes on the time honored Frankenstein's monster trope and takes it to the limit of comedic genius. This movie has aged so well one could imagine it being made exactly like this today. It gains much from being in black and white, just like the original movies it is ripping on.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGY5n__hI6OdmTAqZd720PN3e2VajiR3-krsHgfRCHei1n0NagDXUe9JexUu1SnWb5TzNSVkCMSY01fCleGFUpfKmj6UvSFXGvHluXBEP_t_Uqwp5n4ETBfVJyWN3xvmSRoUne__sIYTY/s1600/v1.bjsxNzg2MTM7ajsxNzUwNzsxMjAwOzI2NzU7MjAwNg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGY5n__hI6OdmTAqZd720PN3e2VajiR3-krsHgfRCHei1n0NagDXUe9JexUu1SnWb5TzNSVkCMSY01fCleGFUpfKmj6UvSFXGvHluXBEP_t_Uqwp5n4ETBfVJyWN3xvmSRoUne__sIYTY/s200/v1.bjsxNzg2MTM7ajsxNzUwNzsxMjAwOzI2NzU7MjAwNg.jpg" width="200" /></a>First of all we encounter Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, who does not believe any of that shlock about his grandfather trying to raise the dead. Or does he? After inheriting the castle, the young doctor can't resist playing around with the old man's notes and seeing what transpires. It's clear from the beginning, watching him accidentally stab himself in the leg with a scalpel, that Fred is not entirely sane.<br />
<br />
We meet his fiance Elizabeth, who cares more for her fine dresses than for Fred. We meet Igor, who (in one of my very favorite scenes) tries to eat Elizabeth's fox stole. We meet the assistant Inga, who becomes Fred's new love interest, and turns out to be surprisingly handy around the lab. We also meet the over the top housekeeper Frau Blücher, whose name causes horses to whinny in fear throughout the movie. Not to mention Inspector Kemp, who is hoping the new tenants of the castle aren't going to be raising any monsters. A bit late for that.<br />
<br />
In fact the new monster (created with an "Abby Normal" brain) can sing and dance, and is generally a pretty nice guy until fire is involved. He gets startled and rampages, encountering scenes from the first two major Frankenstein movies, and dealing with them in his own fashion. Eventually lured back to the lab, the monster and Fred have a bit of a mind meld that allows the monster to gain a measure of Fred's intellect. This and the monster's rather overcharged libido attract Elizabeth's attention, and they eventually marry. Fred ends up with Inga, and they get to enjoy the effects of the mind melt where Fred has gained some of the monster's rampant libido.<br />
<br />
<u>31. The Addams Family (1991)</u><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4BZGjx9SAb5pkzKbNSPmWo7jS9fuOsxYtBMn2gS_To9gBrOK3qbT4ks4RGDEtrwnUk2zQqu3T1HMbOwDXPxjjD1isRkOWJds1kqF4ZLfM-eztqs61aXLlsYkB-_rIJC_B9-7PYK-1vU/s1600/91xn%252BpVGnjL._SY679_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="484" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4BZGjx9SAb5pkzKbNSPmWo7jS9fuOsxYtBMn2gS_To9gBrOK3qbT4ks4RGDEtrwnUk2zQqu3T1HMbOwDXPxjjD1isRkOWJds1kqF4ZLfM-eztqs61aXLlsYkB-_rIJC_B9-7PYK-1vU/s200/91xn%252BpVGnjL._SY679_.jpg" width="142" /></a></div>
The Addams Family is one of my favorite Halloween movies, so it takes the position of number thirty-one on the Halloween list. The plot is totally unimportant here. What makes the film are the amazing characters, well acted and steeped in a fantastic environment. I find this movie even more entertaining than the original series.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlNPiatP084WXzMQ51s0Uy-x4qutcZq4bbVNq5S7CLpn3Aw4j94s0pmp6WjnfuCHI_5xecK_hf7C2hrqaWTE871Jh1aS46N8Rw0ohNPx7NpSM-FLQaBGnKTDrV0GG4LW_p2hVBf1ugQ8/s1600/v1.bjs4NDM3NzI7ajsxNzUxNDsxMjAwOzM3MzsyMTA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="373" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlNPiatP084WXzMQ51s0Uy-x4qutcZq4bbVNq5S7CLpn3Aw4j94s0pmp6WjnfuCHI_5xecK_hf7C2hrqaWTE871Jh1aS46N8Rw0ohNPx7NpSM-FLQaBGnKTDrV0GG4LW_p2hVBf1ugQ8/s200/v1.bjs4NDM3NzI7ajsxNzUxNDsxMjAwOzM3MzsyMTA.jpg" width="200" /></a>The couple of Gomez and Morticia are priceless. Deeply in love in a totally creepy way (having met a funeral where Gomez was still a suspect for the murder) they are equally endearing and unsettling. While Pugsley isn't given much of a part to work with, the character of Wednesday is fantastically, strangely goth and she plays it perfectly straight. Include the freakish Fester who finds himself oddly compelled by the weird dynamic, and all is nearly complete. Of course there is a disembodied hand called Thing, and some other key players to round it all out.<br />
<br />
It is all so over the top that it shouldn't work, but I find it does. The children playing in a lightning storm with a huge metal antenna, Wednesday trying to electrocute Pugsley to find out if there is a God, Morticia clipping the blooms off of roses and keeping the stems, Gomez driving golf balls into the neighbor's house, Morticia leading Fester through the family graveyard to help him understand the meaning of faith and unity ... it's all just too much fun. So if you want some extra weird and wonderful movie viewing for Halloween, work this one into your schedule. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Credits: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kuerbisauswahl_Markt.jpg cc 4.0 https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wallace_and_gromit_curse_of_the_wererabbit/pictures/ https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/young_frankenstein/pictures/ https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/addams_family/pictures/#&gid=1&pid=n-843772</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-86538286453850882592017-10-30T16:17:00.000-04:002017-10-30T16:17:03.568-04:00Halloween Movies of Choice: Movies 26-28<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYUY01Q-wT3PkB9dyQflkl5dkrIrTMVNlNA4S4D-Dk6xAIbTFMJfGj0mEPKMjrEoW-HV3OYAcFQ8OTDwbgmvyGEImdMo8VIXB36F3uEG2tUugA8MhaTvVESHkHZd8CTbnd4TWZyrzft8/s1600/Space_Pilot_X_Ray_Gun_made_by_Taiyo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1599" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYUY01Q-wT3PkB9dyQflkl5dkrIrTMVNlNA4S4D-Dk6xAIbTFMJfGj0mEPKMjrEoW-HV3OYAcFQ8OTDwbgmvyGEImdMo8VIXB36F3uEG2tUugA8MhaTvVESHkHZd8CTbnd4TWZyrzft8/s200/Space_Pilot_X_Ray_Gun_made_by_Taiyo.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sci-Fi Time!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since I've included a number of fantasy films on my list, dark and otherwise, I've decided it's time to dip into the nexus of horror and science fiction. So for today I have three sci-fi films that have something "good" to offer my Halloween movie list. So let us march forward with the sci-fi movie fest!<br />
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Again, SPOILERS abound.<br />
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<u>26. The Fly (1986)</u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivB3AzCqdqObOR1YF6DoxSNzMCrWWRa6PQKb9MtkFITEYbS1QYAILh3vJNlNyIhjaxr_cZ1muxx-t9Y0wd18iNdhHFivKox1KYy4ncFbrQ7hgFJD2IYqVtV78vza-ub5PCNjr8TZmwJE/s1600/v1.bTsxMTIwODUwOTtqOzE3NTg5OzEyMDA7MTUzNjsyMDQ4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="206" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivB3AzCqdqObOR1YF6DoxSNzMCrWWRa6PQKb9MtkFITEYbS1QYAILh3vJNlNyIhjaxr_cZ1muxx-t9Y0wd18iNdhHFivKox1KYy4ncFbrQ7hgFJD2IYqVtV78vza-ub5PCNjr8TZmwJE/s200/v1.bTsxMTIwODUwOTtqOzE3NTg5OzEyMDA7MTUzNjsyMDQ4.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
The modern remake of the old classic movie is a fantastic decent into monster madness. Don't be fooled by the seemingly silly idea of a fly-man, because this is a truly gripping, gross, and gory horror classic. The special effects are still effective today, and the love story serves to help drive the plot forward, rather than being superfluous as is the case with so much horror.<br />
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The performances by our protagonists Seth and Veronica are excellent, with Veronica acting in ways that make sense to us as Seth slowly undergoes his terrifying and inexplicable transformation. Seth is of course the canonical brilliant but eccentric scientist who has created a means of teleportation via pods. He accidentally transports himself along with a fly, and he and it get their DNA mixed together. As the days go by, Veronica sees Seth at first seem more healthy and alive than ever, but soon he begins to degenerate. It is the way this degeneration is handled that brings us some of the great horror in the film. Seth's body (and mind) fall to pieces. He is so gruesome by the end of the film that it is almost a relief to see the actual fly emerge from what is left of his body.<br />
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With good pacing and some serious social undertones about sex and more, this is a nail-biter of a film that's worth a place on anybody's seasonal viewing list.<br />
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<u>27. Mars Attacks (1996)</u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBhSYxAUgJvAr4xw88srIVgAtb6h8m7B8M3XJolEkx66-ZU0rC9ImPtSuyL3yG0iAV5Xs0l1hDiHdNkPRbSzsaDxy9tb8nK59LGw36woPjrMWeWgu59Y_lmwtgyVk_6P5FcM9dU7XSig/s1600/marsmovie.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="394" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBhSYxAUgJvAr4xw88srIVgAtb6h8m7B8M3XJolEkx66-ZU0rC9ImPtSuyL3yG0iAV5Xs0l1hDiHdNkPRbSzsaDxy9tb8nK59LGw36woPjrMWeWgu59Y_lmwtgyVk_6P5FcM9dU7XSig/s200/marsmovie.tiff" width="139" /></a></div>
A dark comedy with wacky plot and even whackier characters, <i>Mars Attacks</i> is a wild romp of a "B" sci-fi horror homage. Pretty much everybody dies in this ray-gun filled farce, which isn't a problem since many of the characters are so stereotypical they feel more like cut-outs than people.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfDrYzr3_Lyx9Qj9QJM7_phMFrHaBb7a4ih03aBsVjzrN76PTWLQ1W0D56YZZrmctfPUuALLYj-Pvvt_p_q_nfCp-SWaTy7SlU3QDe_uOxCjfG5UoCfmfeibMkL_pTq6-yM8342_O7mo/s1600/v1.bjsxNDQwOTk7ajsxNzUwNjsxMjAwOzc2ODs1NzY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="661" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfDrYzr3_Lyx9Qj9QJM7_phMFrHaBb7a4ih03aBsVjzrN76PTWLQ1W0D56YZZrmctfPUuALLYj-Pvvt_p_q_nfCp-SWaTy7SlU3QDe_uOxCjfG5UoCfmfeibMkL_pTq6-yM8342_O7mo/s200/v1.bjsxNDQwOTk7ajsxNzUwNjsxMjAwOzc2ODs1NzY.jpg" width="200" /></a>So the Martians have arrived, and the world waits to see what this means for humanity. We are introduced to our unbelievably star-studded cast, who are going about their various lives (including the President and his family, casino staff, scientists, reporters, and more). It does not take long for the brain-headed Martians to reveal their intentions - complete annihilation of all sentient life on Earth. They wipe out the US congress, and then move on to other nations, pretending to be interested in peace. Eventually they just start destroying stuff rampantly and conducting experiments on hapless captured humans. There is no hope until it is discovered that one piece of rather terrible music will make the Martians die gruesomely. The Earth is saved, although most of our cast has been vaporized, or had their heads removed, or been crushed by falling lighting fixtures.<br />
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Expect a cameo from just about everybody in this film. There are so many characters (some of which don't last very long) that there's space for a lot of names, like Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito, Martin Short, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael J. Fox, Rod Steiger, Natalie Portman, and even Tom Jones as Tom Jones. The movie makes no apologies as it irreverently brings the "B" sci-fi movie of the past into the CGI of the "present." It is just too bad that in the end the stop motion Burton wanted for this film was too expensive, but the Martians are still fun to watch, in spite of that.<br />
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<u>28. Alien (1979)</u><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKXPrWDOh7DG_43djVa8EV-i9xUvZRAAvu910tDebN0vIHjTF759dSYVogaf2zjdW0nvULLgCs6HK25PdCCB7SwDbBwRFIQvhrsRzmAiI0deHLY_7HVOVkJyY4pPZ_ehil3ao4NHLPl8/s1600/811Gxdwl9IL._SY679_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="386" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKXPrWDOh7DG_43djVa8EV-i9xUvZRAAvu910tDebN0vIHjTF759dSYVogaf2zjdW0nvULLgCs6HK25PdCCB7SwDbBwRFIQvhrsRzmAiI0deHLY_7HVOVkJyY4pPZ_ehil3ao4NHLPl8/s200/811Gxdwl9IL._SY679_.jpg" width="113" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQYiLPvM2Kjw0do6WYj1lRCCGUv8EmKnok8f3c7r71wVqtrZSLwHqiU0U5Qwe2e-W9h0NTUg77Ypq2JNB-XcadVVl2cLi_gObJ5DMo1pepk26nVZJh01bApSt5UFo3E4uj68oQTKyBCU/s1600/v1.bjs4NDM3NjI7ajsxNzUxNDsxMjAwOzQwOTI7MjczNw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1152" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQYiLPvM2Kjw0do6WYj1lRCCGUv8EmKnok8f3c7r71wVqtrZSLwHqiU0U5Qwe2e-W9h0NTUg77Ypq2JNB-XcadVVl2cLi_gObJ5DMo1pepk26nVZJh01bApSt5UFo3E4uj68oQTKyBCU/s200/v1.bjs4NDM3NjI7ajsxNzUxNDsxMjAwOzQwOTI7MjczNw.jpg" width="200" /></a>Well, I couldn't pass up the opportunity, especially on a sci-fi horror list, to put down my number one scariest flick of all. <i>Alien</i> is still the freakiest thing I've ever seen, and the xenomorph is one of the best creepy life-forms. Even after all this time, <i>Alien</i> feels relevant and even fresh. The suspenseful pacing is still effective, and the horror scenes remain horrific as the crew of the Nostromo get picked off one by one until just Signorney Weaver and the cat are left. (And thank God for that, I was really hoping the cat would make it ...)<br />
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Even the commercial for this movie was scary, carrying its now iconic tagline "In space, no one can hear you scream." Geiger's artistic style and vision create an environment that is both organic and mechanical, fusing odd elements to generate an unsettled feeling. And the alien? The monster first grabs you on the face, invades your guts, and then (immortalized in the unforgettable "busting out" scene) the creature explodes out your innards to start its new life. Who even knows what the thing is eating as it grows in size to seven feet high in the matter days. Don't cut it, cause it's blood is acid and could punch a hole through the hull and vent your craft into space. Just for grossness, it also drools goo and has two sets of jaws.<br />
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So if you haven't seen this one in a while, break it out and leave the lights on if necessary. It makes for perfect viewing at Halloween or anytime you need to remember what a genuinely scary movie feels like. Keep the cat close by. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Credits: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1007602_fly? https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mars_attacks https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/alien/pictures/#&gid=1&pid=n-843762 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Space_Pilot_X_Ray_Gun_made_by_Taiyo.jpg</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-68683686525810192432017-10-27T11:09:00.001-04:002017-10-27T11:09:28.946-04:00Halloween Movies of Choice: Movies 23-25<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GpjLS3Wr32UjGfyJ1WBVzwo___RtYmioQo3S0PNspGqIbKt1dNSxOFA5d0Tgbg5YstLx1nT7WChhm7T57AVOePeOfju0Eyfjg8tIH3khQOSCC17Cnvomy-tsNzTZi82-7aZwPK5RzNg/s1600/Rubens_Medusa.jpeg.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1599" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GpjLS3Wr32UjGfyJ1WBVzwo___RtYmioQo3S0PNspGqIbKt1dNSxOFA5d0Tgbg5YstLx1nT7WChhm7T57AVOePeOfju0Eyfjg8tIH3khQOSCC17Cnvomy-tsNzTZi82-7aZwPK5RzNg/s320/Rubens_Medusa.jpeg.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruben's Medusa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's time for a massive monster mash! Here are a few films filled with monsters that are good to break out during the Halloween season. None are horror <i>per se</i> (in fact these are really fantasy and sci-fi) but each is filled with bizarre creatures, and there are even a few genuinely scary moments here and there. So if you weren't over-saturated with monsters from <i>The Cabin in the Woods</i>, this is the place to be.<br />
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As always, many SPOILERS here.<br />
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<u>23. Clash of the Titans (1981)</u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NCSXQZR75PgOuxNO8NuYamEqvuFR6-ws7_rcKkoXEjf_JGHqr4KHnu7g32FzzOp5QURdgUiBhJLXg7Kx-l8SIxS1NsMdzXqMT7WXJ3Fi7sOagGSWlB61hMNguYbc_vt4ek27O5pWdiU/s1600/51-DvDXD1dL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="351" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NCSXQZR75PgOuxNO8NuYamEqvuFR6-ws7_rcKkoXEjf_JGHqr4KHnu7g32FzzOp5QURdgUiBhJLXg7Kx-l8SIxS1NsMdzXqMT7WXJ3Fi7sOagGSWlB61hMNguYbc_vt4ek27O5pWdiU/s200/51-DvDXD1dL.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
My love of 80's speculative films and my love of stop motion animation converge here in one seriously campy romp through the mythological past. Enter Perseus, son of Zeus, who gets embroiled in a plot to save the city of Joppa and its fair princess from the anger of the monstrous Calibos and his mother, the goddess Thetis. The plot isn't terribly important, nor does it bear particular resemblance to myth (after all we encounter a mechanical golden owl made by Hephaestus, indeed we have to put up with the freaking thing through half the movie) but there are plenty of monsters and such to be had. (Note that I haven't seen the remake of this film, which is fine since I can't imagine it could be this much goofy fun.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9AHC_y7SiamZ6g9PEdI9oIckhyPXP-qk53ypGt6z8TFhLkZOOAbLKpLSFcWH4SXjldWrVUmjXtPOgBXMmecvEdEkHRiZpfb4X7JpREwGGE1UFHniy-GzYQ4Zjd1J4reGblcoNqz_Gjo/s1600/v1.bjsyNDExMTc7ajsxNzUwNzsxMjAwOzE2MDA7MTIwMA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9AHC_y7SiamZ6g9PEdI9oIckhyPXP-qk53ypGt6z8TFhLkZOOAbLKpLSFcWH4SXjldWrVUmjXtPOgBXMmecvEdEkHRiZpfb4X7JpREwGGE1UFHniy-GzYQ4Zjd1J4reGblcoNqz_Gjo/s200/v1.bjsyNDExMTc7ajsxNzUwNzsxMjAwOzE2MDA7MTIwMA.jpg" width="200" /></a>We begin with Calibos himself, who was cursed by Zeus for hunting down his sacred winged horses, leaving only Pegasus. Then there's the giant vulture that carries Andromeda's spirit about the swamp, the Stigian Witches who share one eye between them as they cook someone in their bubbling caldron, and a two headed dog nominally guarding the gorgon Medusa. Medusa is of course a monster mix on her own, as she has writhing snakes for hair. After Perseus nabs her head, there are some giant scorpions to defeat (along with Calibos) and then they have to take care of the Kraken itself. Not bad for a monster mix. <br />
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It isn't even a little scary (although the scenes with Medusa have a reasonable creep factor), but the animation is great fun, and the monsters have some fine personality. So put this movie in your Halloween rotation as a good creature feature!<br />
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<u>24. Heavy Metal (1981)</u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYt2CLEUqt3B8r_Ie0lBS_vzriHqWBe7VwE7XvlPhczAhz4UyCrTpVX17Y3LFPhw5ucQMZkQpj9bFomrOzOvdgcGQtAwlRtmcq1W7zxPsswimPsAKqgA9UnEUUfcTH52gDuShRqTqtnUs/s1600/heavymetal.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="398" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYt2CLEUqt3B8r_Ie0lBS_vzriHqWBe7VwE7XvlPhczAhz4UyCrTpVX17Y3LFPhw5ucQMZkQpj9bFomrOzOvdgcGQtAwlRtmcq1W7zxPsswimPsAKqgA9UnEUUfcTH52gDuShRqTqtnUs/s200/heavymetal.tiff" width="133" /></a></div>
Now you are wondering what I'm really up to. But seriously, I count 1981's <i>Heavy Metal</i> as both a monster movie and horror, at that. Have you seen it recently? If you can get past the sophomoric, juvenile need for busty babes in every scene, there is some truly creepy creature weirdness to be had in this film. Not to mention the animation is fascinating and the soundtrack is actually pretty rocking.<br />
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The plot here is exceptionally loose. A framing device was used to tie together mini-stories that otherwise have no relationship to one another. The only commonality is the malevolent green orb known as the Loc-Nar. This orb narrates its past conquests to a terrified girl, and each of these becomes a vignette in the film. Having already melted her astronaut father to mush, the orb recounts stories such as how it converted plane-loads of soldiers into zombies, created war on several planets, and influenced people to act in malicious and evil ways. Most stories are populated with a variety of monsters and weird alien creatures that keep things interesting even when the plot flags. <br />
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It is the utter unknown that makes this movie so unsettling, as you can't even guess what's going to happen next, and it's usually something violent or otherwise unpleasant. Animation lets you do pretty much anything you want, and in this case it runs wild. So break out this old flick and see if its weird worlds and creepy creatures are what you need for a bit of Halloweeny viewing.<br />
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<u>25. Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King (2003)</u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxA6BAv-ZckZcmS1gcfNESXfuYsGvdH7Cen2_fLjASa0Uy9JuzNLqO7oGmjd5bBhO0KLnKdpmLNiWiwcHT44kQ-6I0ABmEa8uhRYQod_sqUdh3xPs8X4iaLSyamBCbf2gkbC1SPtcHsg/s1600/51DGSV7TTPL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="365" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxA6BAv-ZckZcmS1gcfNESXfuYsGvdH7Cen2_fLjASa0Uy9JuzNLqO7oGmjd5bBhO0KLnKdpmLNiWiwcHT44kQ-6I0ABmEa8uhRYQod_sqUdh3xPs8X4iaLSyamBCbf2gkbC1SPtcHsg/s200/51DGSV7TTPL.jpg" width="145" /></a></div>
Of course the <i>Lord of the Rings</i> trilogy is filled with fantastic monsters of all kinds, as well as some moments of true horror. I wanted to pick one film in particular, not just point to the whole series, but this is indeed tough. Still, this third and last installment seems to have tipped the balance on terrifying creatures.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_O8y9OkEiy4zCT6e0-OjoqFuAZRl3ihC2En4g76nc-vzxLMx_rV3W4iwaO0tJAAWWIiGnN2oaouU_758WoaVgODxwSPDBv6vK-tvOzyYVTo6kIdAGy6svXwK5MBxrHo0F9nLbgqdbpMo/s1600/v1.aDs2NTk3O2o7MTc1MDU7MTIwMDs0OTA7NzAw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="490" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_O8y9OkEiy4zCT6e0-OjoqFuAZRl3ihC2En4g76nc-vzxLMx_rV3W4iwaO0tJAAWWIiGnN2oaouU_758WoaVgODxwSPDBv6vK-tvOzyYVTo6kIdAGy6svXwK5MBxrHo0F9nLbgqdbpMo/s200/v1.aDs2NTk3O2o7MTc1MDU7MTIwMDs0OTA7NzAw.jpg" width="140" /></a>So the first film has goblins, a cave troll, and then a demon known as a Balrog. This in addition to the usual orcs, the quasi-monster Gollum, and then of course the terrifying Nazgul that are in all the films. But the third movie has a few extra special monster encounters. We start by learning Gollum's story - a once normal hobbit-ish person who was corrupted and cursed by the Ring to murder his only friend. Then we end the film with Gollum's demise, a twisted moment of glee before the flames of Mount Doom take him as well as the Ring. In the meantime, Aragorn has to obtain the help of the Dead Men of Dunharrow, ghost-skeletons of men who betrayed Aragon's ancestor Isildur, and who have been haunting the countryside for centuries. Then there is an up close battle with the Witch-King, leader of the Nazgul, whom Eowyn finally dispatches. <br />
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Finally, and what really makes the most monstery list for me, is the encounter that Frodo and Sam have with the giant spider Shelob. This is a freakish and terrifying sequence, where Frodo finds himself lost in the webs, and only survives because loyal Sam shows up at just the right moment. It's all quite gruesome and gross, which makes it perfect for a Halloween creature feature. So depending on the amount of time you have for seasonal movie viewing (the extended versions of the trilogy add up to like 13 hours of film) put one or all of these fine monster movies on your list.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Credits: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rubens_Medusa.jpeg https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/clash_of_the_titans/pictures/#&gid=1&pid=n-241117 https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_lord_of_the_rings_the_return_of_the_king/pictures/#&gid=1&pid=h-6597</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-58014645540285789892017-10-26T11:21:00.000-04:002017-10-26T11:21:58.278-04:00Halloween Movies of Choice: Movies 20-22<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOxFWOLgs_8siCQrTGTR-_MFkIZWenTHium_wWD5WdsII-UNSb0Rr460XK5-3NHxQEwRrhwjxaJqrMydCFj_ZKJgNzEkBDpybb4IZ7fuP_ISSbZ5ALlItXLUjSbXrS82aBZDUYhEBQGI/s1600/Image_of_a_ghost%252C_produced_by_double_exposure_in_1899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="648" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOxFWOLgs_8siCQrTGTR-_MFkIZWenTHium_wWD5WdsII-UNSb0Rr460XK5-3NHxQEwRrhwjxaJqrMydCFj_ZKJgNzEkBDpybb4IZ7fuP_ISSbZ5ALlItXLUjSbXrS82aBZDUYhEBQGI/s200/Image_of_a_ghost%252C_produced_by_double_exposure_in_1899.jpg" width="135" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A ghostly time!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is time for more horror tropes to follow up the vampires, zombies, and all the rest. This installment is dedicated to 80's horror about ghostly hauntings! I've chosen a few films that for me are prime Halloween viewing, with humor and horror both in the mix, as usual.<br />
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SPOILERS dost exist herein. Beware.<br />
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<u>20. Ghostbusters (1984)</u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwV_-YBt7599IimiaN5O0xFRhRr4Nz5OS6YcrV34TcRkBTNv6p6-FWgDh6HNrUqMpSQQTl9zAs4mhYe7Txyu1UgEm2LAj5qSOcMk6NdUVgsUt38TGrezoc0i0ag0szl-h9_9O6BrUs7fc/s1600/5194NHD1BRL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="348" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwV_-YBt7599IimiaN5O0xFRhRr4Nz5OS6YcrV34TcRkBTNv6p6-FWgDh6HNrUqMpSQQTl9zAs4mhYe7Txyu1UgEm2LAj5qSOcMk6NdUVgsUt38TGrezoc0i0ag0szl-h9_9O6BrUs7fc/s200/5194NHD1BRL.jpg" width="138" /></a>The sad truth is that I have yet to see the 'new' <i>Ghostbusters</i> movie made in 2016. Perhaps when I do this slot in my Halloween movie cannon will change to include both movies, or will bump this one off, who knows? But for now, the original <i>Ghostbusters</i> remains on my must view list for the season.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfI2ppaq3QuDhATcDW6nyQjYFonkyUZSiwSKmIa07kY8X9QHr5Z8TLfyT27AX7CzDSmEWq4MSaqsn5cJQoc6NnS1HYqaG0jQHz6rRNtT-ktju4PDOgxYySspRmhnqXpdMLnhYjh5k_B-I/s1600/v1.bjsyMjgzNzI7ajsxNzUwNzsxMjAwOzI4OTM7MTM5NQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="1152" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfI2ppaq3QuDhATcDW6nyQjYFonkyUZSiwSKmIa07kY8X9QHr5Z8TLfyT27AX7CzDSmEWq4MSaqsn5cJQoc6NnS1HYqaG0jQHz6rRNtT-ktju4PDOgxYySspRmhnqXpdMLnhYjh5k_B-I/s200/v1.bjsyMjgzNzI7ajsxNzUwNzsxMjAwOzI4OTM7MTM5NQ.jpg" width="200" /></a>After all, who can resist the lineup of talented comedians playing the ridiculous roles of paranormal ghost eradicators? The sexism is tedious, but there are enough really good moments that you can still enjoy the film. The idea of the gate to hell being in one's refrigerator still cracks me up. <br />
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The movie isn't about plot, although the scaffold hangs together well enough, it is about Murray's one liners and the astonishing situations in which the team find themselves. (Like antagonizing the ghost of a librarian until she attacks them, destroying the ballroom of a five star hotel, negotiating with an ancient demon, and of course fighting off a giant marshmallow man.) So once we get past the initial setup (which is slow paced) things get interesting as the actual ghostbusting begins. The special effects are dated now, but because of that they work perfectly to up the camp factor of the film. The ending, where they have to 'cross the streams' to shut the gates into Gozer's dimension, results in the explosion of said marshmallow man, coating the city in fluff. An apt metaphor for this just-for-fun romp into iconic 80's Halloween movie territory. <br />
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<u>21. Poltergeist (1982)</u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1McREQS-fzliYK28-Nkdbknz4MWhBMi4vis90KPUSaIZzP6g0_U3vCMSiDbTPw73CUAxRr7p8_129EZoofjmXDFHPfHgrlTnqJu609l5Bu0d64NGpHx1vSHhZE4EYriafsrSJo0SEPKU/s1600/index.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="192" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1McREQS-fzliYK28-Nkdbknz4MWhBMi4vis90KPUSaIZzP6g0_U3vCMSiDbTPw73CUAxRr7p8_129EZoofjmXDFHPfHgrlTnqJu609l5Bu0d64NGpHx1vSHhZE4EYriafsrSJo0SEPKU/s200/index.jpg" width="147" /></a></div>
This movie scared the pants off of me as a kid. It starts off with a 'normal' family, doing relatively normal things (although when I first saw the film I had no idea what was going on in the pot smoking scene). Then all hell breaks loose, literally. I didn't really get the details of the plot back then, but I certainly felt the impact of any number of horrifying scenes. <br />
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Where to even begin with this movie? Ok, how about the television? TVs with static screens were always weird to begin with, but now imagine they are communication devices to the land of ghosts. Then there is the scene where the gnarled, old tree busts into the children's bedroom during a lightning storm and actually grabs one of the kids. After that, there is the scene where the guy has an hallucination that he's pulling all the flesh off of his face. Then there is the mom going into the weird light and the terrifying monster face that emerges after her. Wait, I'm not done yet. Just when you think the house is clear we find mom rolling around on the ceiling and the son being attacked by the seriously most evil looking clown doll ever. Then skeletons start erupting out of the muddy ground after which the entire house is destroyed as it is sucked into another dimension. Recall this movie somehow got a PG rating.<br />
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Some of the film, now seen 35 years later, is unintentionally amusing. But a lot of the horror still works because it plays well into childhood fears (and who ever thought that a clown doll was anything but scary ...). When the dad pushes the TV set out of the hotel room in the last scene, it comes over as funny, but with a bite. At that point, I'd do the same thing. Overall, solid 80's Halloween ghostly viewing! <br />
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<u>22. Beetlejuice (1988)</u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycI53nm5cVFF3_yat4fEtlD7E0jNy08q3otANk4j6wZNPvyBm2dRj-cVWm7hqofQvJIpFbOhe2X3fljohQdUJi6VSTCSnq341C-1UahtAXClzX1B4nYOGM9KkSLJGL-jv3lWXQiBWHZY/s1600/91-p1AM4IgL._SX522_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="378" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycI53nm5cVFF3_yat4fEtlD7E0jNy08q3otANk4j6wZNPvyBm2dRj-cVWm7hqofQvJIpFbOhe2X3fljohQdUJi6VSTCSnq341C-1UahtAXClzX1B4nYOGM9KkSLJGL-jv3lWXQiBWHZY/s200/91-p1AM4IgL._SX522_.jpg" width="144" /></a></div>
Firmly ensconced on my Halloween movie list is <i>Beetlejuice</i>, an offbeat comedy that strays into horror territory just when you least expect it. I love it for the total weirdness, the amazing visuals, and the excellent performances of the whole cast. This is a ghost haunting not to be missed. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihO436ZU8Vki98xrvaYTgh5VMe5UrKzkBd8DsIa0B8k0tqT05Ha9qR8ZrOZHNJgPofKoYfYYnP7-d8mghV5g8vscnZJEaYHbQRhq_iAWfIDVxba4xTXsEtOqxcR-YYv7lGx1dDaJ3JqIE/s1600/v1.bjsyNDg2MTY7ajsxNzUwNzsxMjAwOzI1ODc7MTk0MA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihO436ZU8Vki98xrvaYTgh5VMe5UrKzkBd8DsIa0B8k0tqT05Ha9qR8ZrOZHNJgPofKoYfYYnP7-d8mghV5g8vscnZJEaYHbQRhq_iAWfIDVxba4xTXsEtOqxcR-YYv7lGx1dDaJ3JqIE/s200/v1.bjsyNDg2MTY7ajsxNzUwNzsxMjAwOzI1ODc7MTk0MA.jpg" width="200" /></a>If you remember this movie as having no bite to it, then give it another watch. First of all our protagonists Barbara and Adam become ghosts by drowning right at the start of the film. Then they realize they are trapped in their home by a no-man's land of desert and sand worm monsters. When they meet their 'case worker' Juno, the woman's cigarette smoke is leaking out of her slit throat. Helpless, our protagonists watch their home be invaded by new owners. More disturbing content includes Lydia contemplating suicide, and our protagonists rotting before our eyes after a family friend accidentally performs an exorcism. When Lydia summons Beetlejuice to save the day, he wreaks havoc of course, and ends up killing two of the family's guests. Before he can force Lydia into marrying him (ewwww) Barbara manages to banish him by getting one of the sand worm snakes to eat him. Combine this with Burton's bizarre visuals and you get a comedy that delivers some serous creepy content.<br />
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This one has aged well, I think. The actors do a great job, and give us a great 80's Halloween ride from start to finish.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Credits: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Image_of_a_ghost,_produced_by_double_exposure_in_1899.jpg https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ghostbusters/pictures/#&gid=1&pid=h-121533 https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/beetlejuice/pictures/#&gid=1&pid=n-248616 </span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-56121445333604905522017-10-24T21:35:00.001-04:002017-10-24T21:35:28.255-04:00Halloween Movies of Choice: Movies 17-19<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsVGanXhgj-OEsgRXy-yJbChxbizZWquaL49I8Cyf6wLC9zalr2tHjBdzf5t-B8iWGBzjs8HcDFSzEckmXclRXdpoYKI3lUocTmzd22ZgLvJgw3vrQiwT-MVeqeBIqA4_3lI6KttfYW0/s1600/200px-Music-GClef.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsVGanXhgj-OEsgRXy-yJbChxbizZWquaL49I8Cyf6wLC9zalr2tHjBdzf5t-B8iWGBzjs8HcDFSzEckmXclRXdpoYKI3lUocTmzd22ZgLvJgw3vrQiwT-MVeqeBIqA4_3lI6KttfYW0/s200/200px-Music-GClef.svg.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's horror musical time!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So much catch up to do ... so onward with the Halloween viewing! We've been through vampire and zombie themes, as well as some other fun tropes like the "Belle Dames sans Merci." So it's time to take a side-step into that oh, so beloved realm of horror musicals. What I list here are more than just movies, they were also stage performances that became iconic phenomena. So dive in and see if you agree that these make fine comic and/or creepy Halloween viewing.<br />
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As always, SPOILERS! So watch first, then read. <br />
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<u>17. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)</u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0W4k6paBoQD_W86zXbguZ6aBQjxPf499o3Sdu9rE4HOoOCZc7xGcbWnfM4gVnpInad3HSe38Y4NL95X6iyblpgCCwAGEQ3y8jn2qv1RsNl46U92Bdx39MPHLGMJToWPOJI1Cida8Yi4A/s1600/rhps.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="324" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0W4k6paBoQD_W86zXbguZ6aBQjxPf499o3Sdu9rE4HOoOCZc7xGcbWnfM4gVnpInad3HSe38Y4NL95X6iyblpgCCwAGEQ3y8jn2qv1RsNl46U92Bdx39MPHLGMJToWPOJI1Cida8Yi4A/s200/rhps.tiff" width="151" /></a>This is a true horror musical phenomenon. Both a movie and a stage performance, <i>Rocky Horror</i> has been engaging people at midnight movie showings for decades. It began as an onstage musical called <i>The Rocky Horror Show</i> in 1973, with Tim Curry playing the lead as the mad scientist Frank-n-Furter who creates "Rocky" - his vision of a perfect man. Just two years later it was adapted into a film, fortunately with Curry back in his role. It caught on as a cult classic almost immediately, with viewers getting into the act with props and dancing. The movie has had the longest running release in film history.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76YUqC4y7YSEqSK8j-2sooHqhTdjle75PMjUhPPdb53kvxq9q56A-jaUGjBQRsJr_9-9ClZ6bcd_QuM9w8PuJOgw2ywqEjZTJjlQTMIKxjSHwe94sCOQ5jVI2fbpI57I-nYodzd1ppJ4/s1600/v1.bjsxOTc1ODU7ajsxNzUwNzsxMjAwOzM0MDsyNTU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="340" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76YUqC4y7YSEqSK8j-2sooHqhTdjle75PMjUhPPdb53kvxq9q56A-jaUGjBQRsJr_9-9ClZ6bcd_QuM9w8PuJOgw2ywqEjZTJjlQTMIKxjSHwe94sCOQ5jVI2fbpI57I-nYodzd1ppJ4/s200/v1.bjsxOTc1ODU7ajsxNzUwNzsxMjAwOzM0MDsyNTU.jpg" width="200" /></a>Taken on it's own, it really isn't gripping viewing. The pace is erratic, and at times you really just want to get on with the story (such as it is). Fortunately Tim Curry is his usual fantastic self, and carries one scene after another. He plays his character with gusto - seductive one minute and threatening the next. There really isn't too much horror, just abject weirdness, although Frank the scientist does kill another character with what looks like an ice pick and then serves him for dinner. Some of the songs are easily forgotten, while others are impossible-to-shake ear worms. <br />
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What makes the experience is the zaniness and mayhem of it all. Frank gets into almost everyone's bed at some point, and the lead characters of Janet and Brad play it wonderfully straight. If you can manage to follow the plot, you find out that Frank and his estate staff are actually from another planet. Frank is executed at the end since "his mission has failed" although we never find out what his mission was. I can't say the movie needs to be viewed every Halloween, but certainly every few years or so it needs to be brought out and enjoyed for the unbridled chaos it lends to the season.<br />
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<u>18. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)</u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBCyq6EF_MFFy1c4cu_7glneGsSDsIpeb4ga1gyIQ3loH6MXGAWiroRCOo0R-TGzu5S7wFK7G7_p7EkiMH2cmIDE0YlHNCE93I9pF2Cyw-oabRWXMcpa1X6yygViCwkSvuefYt7HsX5c/s1600/littleshop.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="704" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBCyq6EF_MFFy1c4cu_7glneGsSDsIpeb4ga1gyIQ3loH6MXGAWiroRCOo0R-TGzu5S7wFK7G7_p7EkiMH2cmIDE0YlHNCE93I9pF2Cyw-oabRWXMcpa1X6yygViCwkSvuefYt7HsX5c/s200/littleshop.tiff" width="136" /></a></div>
<i>The Little Shop of Horrors</i> started in 1960 as a black and white film potentially based on any number of books or stories. I recall seeing it as a kid and enjoying the old-timey creepiness of it, especially the grim ending. In the 1960 movie, and later in the 1982 stage performance, the ending has the heads of all the plant's victims budding from the plant and opening up like flowers. This includes the head of the protagonist, who gets eaten along with everyone else in the film.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdLLwkmr-SRBHOWLM_TsUI7e4P2v4GtvjHzVZZGE4tffKKVQY2BNnE2eBSS5c-KXUnRCYy1dXWg58dvaB5-FYjeTE6EjhHysm9b2swxuX3jl8zHaC2R8nvQYtliAuLtHb84g_jMX5N-c/s1600/v1.bjsyMTQ5MDQ7ajsxNzUwNzsxMjAwOzY4Njs0NjU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="686" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdLLwkmr-SRBHOWLM_TsUI7e4P2v4GtvjHzVZZGE4tffKKVQY2BNnE2eBSS5c-KXUnRCYy1dXWg58dvaB5-FYjeTE6EjhHysm9b2swxuX3jl8zHaC2R8nvQYtliAuLtHb84g_jMX5N-c/s200/v1.bjsyMTQ5MDQ7ajsxNzUwNzsxMjAwOzY4Njs0NjU.jpg" width="200" /></a>So I wasn't sure I'd like the campy, colorful, happier version of the film created in 1986. Even the director Frank Oz wanted to keep the dark ending, but was defeated by pre-screenings where the viewers simply hated that the protagonist and his girlfriend get eaten. Yet even changed to be more "digestible" this movie has won me over as perfect Halloween fare.<br />
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The movie has great music, fun performances, and enough horror to keep the viewer always off kilter. For fun you have the hero singing lines like. "I have so many strong reservations. Shall I go and perform mutilations?" Steve Martin as the abusive and torture-loving dentist is inspired casting, especially with a cameo by masochistic patient Bill Murray (there are a lot of cameos in this). The three-woman "Greek Chorus" is fantastic, and some of their numbers are total sing-alongs, they are so catchy. <br />
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The plant itself is much of the joy of the film. With Oz as the director, it is no surprise that the plant is a puppet (many puppets, actually.) "Audrey II" grows from small to large as the movie progresses. By the end it's really an excellent monster, singing, demanding to be fed all the time, and way too lifelike. (Actually, the stage version of the plant is even more impressive, busting out of the stage at the end and threatening to eat the audience.) The voice of the plant is both crooning and cruel in turns, and it really works as another character.<br />
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So definitely keep this movie in your Halloween rotation as campy horror that won't quit, and be prepared to find yourself humming the soundtrack for the next week.<br />
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19. Sweeney Todd (1982)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95GdclSmMr7dkx9An2sza0pVoYeG2Hvo_AK1Qyz-6A_8Iq4oSB2xLatIrl9KwGMgsN_OJTYE9eyRBXj1Fdwz47JY0of5wsLg_PQ013OTEiIF0MnQYC2RAe2GjEfEiVG6P4fZaZug73jc/s1600/51EzScC2TQL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="352" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95GdclSmMr7dkx9An2sza0pVoYeG2Hvo_AK1Qyz-6A_8Iq4oSB2xLatIrl9KwGMgsN_OJTYE9eyRBXj1Fdwz47JY0of5wsLg_PQ013OTEiIF0MnQYC2RAe2GjEfEiVG6P4fZaZug73jc/s200/51EzScC2TQL.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
Although there have been stories, films, and productions that came both before and after, the version of this tale that fits my Halloween list is the movie that captures the 1982 musical stage performance. This is the one with Angela Lansbury and George Hearn. If you want to be truly entertained with a monstrous story told through mesmerizing music, this is the one to go for. Wow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZstQCOsvDg7lo-LICwHBkvXZj6czsSblPXVLkYOwmr4UFWshdqoFAnnGt70TETn06DfdvuXdsgL-l2dEhYTNHtRKK8TXUH4FupA6Z7iGEQcSvEIGvomJTTJWH2tKwyd0FwWVwzyOV4Q/s1600/sweeney+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="320" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZstQCOsvDg7lo-LICwHBkvXZj6czsSblPXVLkYOwmr4UFWshdqoFAnnGt70TETn06DfdvuXdsgL-l2dEhYTNHtRKK8TXUH4FupA6Z7iGEQcSvEIGvomJTTJWH2tKwyd0FwWVwzyOV4Q/s200/sweeney+copy.jpg" width="200" /></a>So a serial killer (Todd) and a pie maker (Lovett) team up and start baking people into meat pies. You can make a "serious" musical out of this? Yep. It works because around this gory concept is a convincing and talented cast of characters living out a tragic story. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOmUSqJ_DkFQ8CqUbZRtM2fsKG6PH1UWwmizRxIx4kWhF9Nxb5T9lHsJ72hvJCS25ikYv4bLtS0loOtJpY-QN1QuUZ_RdGijqiRGe4hCYT9SolUs53OWzPSlRZk8QDw08nPoq5l12pHs/s1600/86a5f46bfa4b162cdfb0239b00627b86--len-cariou-angela-lansbury.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="236" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOmUSqJ_DkFQ8CqUbZRtM2fsKG6PH1UWwmizRxIx4kWhF9Nxb5T9lHsJ72hvJCS25ikYv4bLtS0loOtJpY-QN1QuUZ_RdGijqiRGe4hCYT9SolUs53OWzPSlRZk8QDw08nPoq5l12pHs/s200/86a5f46bfa4b162cdfb0239b00627b86--len-cariou-angela-lansbury.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
The deranged Todd was once Benjamin Barker, a man sent off to an Australian prison by a judge leering after Todd's wife, Lucy. With the help of Anthony, a joyful and happy young man, Todd returns to London. He has nothing but revenge on his mind from the very first. You can see Todd is given plenty of moments where he could have made a different choice and changed his path, like when honest Anthony offers him his friendship. Todd shakes hands, but has no intention of ever seeing Anthony again. Indeed, it's not much later that Todd and Lovett talk about slitting Anthony's throat if that suits their purposes. Hearn can act and Hearn can sing - haunting, funny, and everything in between. His performance as Todd is chilling, and almost, almost has pathos. And then he will do something horrific and you remember what he is allowing himself to become. To be.<br />
<br />
Ms. Lovett is lonely, greedy, and full of ideas. She and Todd use and manipulate one another throughout their bizarre partnership, but it is Lovett who is holding information back from Todd, not the reverse. They both live in different fantasies of their own making, but again Lovett's is the most wretchedly off-base, as she dreams herself to be the warm, maternal figure to young Toby, and the doting wife figure to Todd. She is so invested in Todd that when Toby starts to figure out what is going on, she realizes she will have to arrange to have Todd kill him. So much for motherhood. Lansbury's performance is remarkable - alternately bouncing and bloodthirsty.<br />
<br />
The Burton film has it's moments, but for pure performance gold, for both acting and singing, this version is superior. The voices are stellar, especially from the supporting choral cast, who shine in the "narrative" numbers where they carry the story along. The last number, where most of them are dead and with their throats still bloody, is creepy in the extreme. All in all, a perfect choice for Halloween musical listening and viewing! <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Credits: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rocky_horror_picture_show/pictures/#&gid=1&pid=n-197585 https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1012515_little_shop_of_horrors/pictures#&gid=1&pid=n-214904 https://i.pinimg.com/236x/86/a5/f4/86a5f46bfa4b162cdfb0239b00627b86--len-cariou-angela-lansbury.jpg</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-1928305780424846292017-10-17T13:09:00.002-04:002017-10-17T13:09:52.412-04:00Halloween Movies of Choice: Movies 13-16<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrcOlp3z31qw0nL8MpW3rEbfBh1DgVJ850uLpnQtU_b8jHCoWkRm4-i017l-VEKOT_aMNlEvts6fCWifpCgKGZWTpIiIa8oP9jnBSVSuuLPE2vbGqJptcHM1Jyi6wzJ3VM6EcAiwR6SM/s1600/Will_you_be_ready..._%25284786369715%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1386" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrcOlp3z31qw0nL8MpW3rEbfBh1DgVJ850uLpnQtU_b8jHCoWkRm4-i017l-VEKOT_aMNlEvts6fCWifpCgKGZWTpIiIa8oP9jnBSVSuuLPE2vbGqJptcHM1Jyi6wzJ3VM6EcAiwR6SM/s200/Will_you_be_ready..._%25284786369715%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An obvious homage to the<br />
Evil Dead series.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's a four-movie post today in order to get me almost all caught up. I decided today's theme would be zombies! Of course there are about a ten thousand zombie-related movies, so choosing just a four for one post was a daunting task. The questions I asked myself were many. Which seem the most Halloweeny? Which are particularly fun or classic examples of the genre? Which bear repeat viewings? I'm sure my list will vary widely from yours, but below are those that for me stand out as either so classic, fun, bizarre, goofy, or even genuinely scary that I had to include them.<br />
<br />
Note - Many SPOILERS below. So, so many.<br />
<br />
<u>13. Night of the Living Dead (1968)</u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7B4FAkgJ6mYHumVGmStWnVICC6Em3MDrVRyOIwPgXkWqq-gvfjTQt_VG5wQg8MYZHXv_ihR4_jSamnDJWSbcuXtKpOYEiaPNqwvyjdWci29FBxX6LpjTz7uLasji2De46CwGxcLX2kQ/s1600/81%252BVdpiSuaL._SY679_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="488" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7B4FAkgJ6mYHumVGmStWnVICC6Em3MDrVRyOIwPgXkWqq-gvfjTQt_VG5wQg8MYZHXv_ihR4_jSamnDJWSbcuXtKpOYEiaPNqwvyjdWci29FBxX6LpjTz7uLasji2De46CwGxcLX2kQ/s200/81%252BVdpiSuaL._SY679_.jpg" width="143" /></a></div>
My choice for "classic zombie movie" is <i>Night of the Living Dead</i>. There are a bevy of "Night of Whatever" movies or "Day of the Whatever" or "Dead Whatever" movies, so it's almost impossible to keep track. Still, this is the one I think establishes so much of the genre, and is still a really excellent creepy Halloween movie today.<br />
<br />
This is a grim film from beginning to end, with no light humor to break things up. It takes itself seriously, even though the scenes where people are eating entrails are not particularly realistic. Still, they are pretty ooky and gory, even in black and white (definitely see the black and white version). The zombies come from everywhere in this film, both inside and outside. As the people in the house get killed, they get converted and start munching. People do the now-canonical freak-out thing where they threaten each other. When the ending comes, it is a total shock, watching how and why the hero loses. The movie comes off as both horror and tragedy, and today, what with our sensibilities so shifted, it also has moments of unintentional humor. For lots of creepy shambling zombie goodness, it doesn't get much better. All together it makes for good Halloweeny viewing.<br />
<br />
<u>14. Abraham Lincoln vs Zombies (2012)</u><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzc-BSlRiNEW1Ndc-C80t-Hy1q326uB4C5ojORUMQmwf7gr8t4PWX1a1fx8-EyOidLZ_fXx_yudii9P9-nNmj8eV0QP9J2VChQaOUkgLNlZr_yT-7KT3NAl9VwkoCwcrcmF0BDBnmS-y8/s1600/91alOb%252BPcaL._SY679_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="482" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzc-BSlRiNEW1Ndc-C80t-Hy1q326uB4C5ojORUMQmwf7gr8t4PWX1a1fx8-EyOidLZ_fXx_yudii9P9-nNmj8eV0QP9J2VChQaOUkgLNlZr_yT-7KT3NAl9VwkoCwcrcmF0BDBnmS-y8/s200/91alOb%252BPcaL._SY679_.jpg" width="158" /></a>This is just as good as a campy 'B' movie can get. Abe runs around through the whole thing with a specially "modified" scythe. Abe broke the handle in half when he was a boy, and now wields it much like a giant switchblade, flicking it open and closed with ease. There are a plethora of wonderful scenes in slow motion, with fog or smoke blowing around and zombie heads flying. When the zombie heads are not flying, that's because the zombies are being bashed to "death" with rakes, hoes, sticks, and anything else that's lying around.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
The movie works entirely because of the Abe Lincoln performance. The actor plays it completely straight, no side chuckles or winks. Whenever he is on the screen the movie is interesting, and there is no scene he does not steal. Even when the movie has Abe meeting his former lover, now turned prostitute, it is presented as a serious scene. The juxtaposition with the plot and all the zombie bashing is utter hilarity. <br />
<br />
There are some regrettably slow paced sections that could easily have been edited out, but they are good spots to go get more popcorn. The movie should also have ended ten minutes before it did, that is, right after Abe gives a very convincing Gettysburg Address. This might even have been moving if you hadn't already heard Abe using these and other rather more ludicrous lines during zombie combat, (i.e. "Emancipate this!" - Yes. This is said.) Overall, it's fantastic Halloween zombie fun.<br />
<br />
<u>15. Evil Dead II (1987)</u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsR34JzCrT1dnPWGiQKaJAVcNNhIFGLHNMlLGIVISJOkfCoE1u9qbVPK7Wo-vprL7dmTSglOS5QvTPIS2nQ3powicLgLnsS9NLhRIkbyxy3V17rF-auQ_eDg-Pl6DXf277s-elAwXH09U/s1600/v1.bTsxMTIwOTQ4NjtqOzE3NTQ0OzEyMDA7MTUzNjsyMDQ4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="206" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsR34JzCrT1dnPWGiQKaJAVcNNhIFGLHNMlLGIVISJOkfCoE1u9qbVPK7Wo-vprL7dmTSglOS5QvTPIS2nQ3powicLgLnsS9NLhRIkbyxy3V17rF-auQ_eDg-Pl6DXf277s-elAwXH09U/s200/v1.bTsxMTIwOTQ4NjtqOzE3NTQ0OzEyMDA7MTUzNjsyMDQ4.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
It took me a long time to come to the Evil Dead series, and I still haven't seen much of it. But it is obvious even from one viewing that <i>Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn</i> is amazing zombie spoof film making. Some might argue that these creatures are possessed corpses, not zombies. But since they do all the zombie trope things, and look like zombies, and no doubt smell like zombies, this film firmly fits the zombie category in my mind.<br />
<br />
I already mentioned I like stop motion animation, and there is some wonderful and goofy animation here. But the scene that sticks with me isn't filled with animation at all, it is our hero Ash struggling with his own possessed hand. Before he manages to sever it from his body, the hand smashes plates over his head, beats him in the face, and even flips his whole body over. It is an amazing bit of slapstick acting. <br />
<br />
There certainly isn't much of a plot - just a scaffold to get us from one zombie gore fest to another. We eventually find Ash heavily armed with both a buzz saw and a sawed off shotgun, to which he says "Groovy" and continues his struggle with the forces of evil. The ending is only there to tell us that there is going to be a sequel. But the movie works because all the scenes are over the top fun. For some trope-making zombie Halloween cinema, this is good popcorn viewing.<br />
<br />
<u>16. The Cabin in the Woods (2012)</u><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsCEuxSSxIffDkpgvmvxgSmC9zPtB3J2uI5oOlbD1DDA4LSI11cqr34bmiiBj4ciwkJD9cKXhzVocPPEE7hpFSckyPa0Lqry5O07x96hQKqDOWx1CfTK_-BHG9_LOOHVf39ddEcHnHzM/s1600/51CNxdWd45L._AC_US436_QL65_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="322" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsCEuxSSxIffDkpgvmvxgSmC9zPtB3J2uI5oOlbD1DDA4LSI11cqr34bmiiBj4ciwkJD9cKXhzVocPPEE7hpFSckyPa0Lqry5O07x96hQKqDOWx1CfTK_-BHG9_LOOHVf39ddEcHnHzM/s200/51CNxdWd45L._AC_US436_QL65_.jpg" width="147" /></a>Remember I said SPOILERS? You have to go watch this one and then come back here. Right? Good. <i> </i><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCVEEpiBOOfUJEFekFxkFc58qSZwQWKEBF6Zf5YhlHRs8GEHPtSWDUJtg26bRqTLRSFjPQI9zcvQMEf8riBHx4VNg1ln3ulW_MhA4ufpJrtIP7Qk1YUdwtxPw2Qbj7JhVQ3CnakkD7PU/s1600/v1.aDs4NTYxNTtqOzE3NDYwOzEyMDA7MzYxMzsyNDAw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="691" data-original-width="791" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCVEEpiBOOfUJEFekFxkFc58qSZwQWKEBF6Zf5YhlHRs8GEHPtSWDUJtg26bRqTLRSFjPQI9zcvQMEf8riBHx4VNg1ln3ulW_MhA4ufpJrtIP7Qk1YUdwtxPw2Qbj7JhVQ3CnakkD7PU/s200/v1.aDs4NTYxNTtqOzE3NDYwOzEyMDA7MzYxMzsyNDAw.jpg" width="200" /></a><i>The Cabin in the Woods</i> is a really stellar Halloween flick that starts with zombie attacks and ends up with more monsters than you can imagine. The movie opens as your nominal horror film with a group of young friends headed into the woods for a fun weekend off the grid. What's weird, though, is that the movie keeps bringing the viewer back to shots of the interior of some kind of high-tech facility, where people are milling about doing what might seem like mundane government jobs. This juxtaposition of scenes makes for great viewing, even on repeat viewings when we know what is happening. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnR_IIqZy88fo7HejnmlT_KR6kYVmJu6zBc5JGzWEOI3TdanS03zf4ODk_5KQwHnyCatmpB-Pj2QseGxqVKazLxgDI51Wg7PuXl5ghGQ-2aDxPbgyIrCnFq3IQd9bSg82XOrAfCFPHJQ/s1600/v1.aDs4ODYxMztqOzE3NDYxOzEyMDA7MTE5Mzs3OTI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="951" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnR_IIqZy88fo7HejnmlT_KR6kYVmJu6zBc5JGzWEOI3TdanS03zf4ODk_5KQwHnyCatmpB-Pj2QseGxqVKazLxgDI51Wg7PuXl5ghGQ-2aDxPbgyIrCnFq3IQd9bSg82XOrAfCFPHJQ/s200/v1.aDs4ODYxMztqOzE3NDYxOzEyMDA7MTE5Mzs3OTI.jpg" width="200" /></a>As the movie goes forward we see that the workers in the facility are manipulating the young people, and eventually lead them to unleash a horror on themselves. We go through some standard movie zombie attacks, but they are handled really well, with good pacing. And they are obviously designed to be so cliche that we are trapped between laughing and grossing out. The scenes of the workers reacting with a mix of reverence and nonchalance to the death of the first student is super entertaining creepiness. Some of the workers are just disgusting with their disregard for life, going so far as to bet on the means whereby the students will meet their end, and so you end up hoping they get some kind of comeuppance.<br />
<br />
We begin to understand that all this horror is some kind of rite, with the workers making sure that the young people all die, and even in the "right" order. The workers are gleeful when it seems that they have succeeded. Alas for the workers, one of the students (the Fool) has resisted their manipulations through copious use of pot. He and another of the students (the Virgin) find their way into the facility, which is built below the cabin. For me this is the best and most Halloweeny part of the movie, as the students find imprisoned in the facility all kinds of horror movie monsters, from ghosts and werewolves to an obvious "Hellraiser" ripoff. In an attempt to escape the workers trying to hunt them down, the students unleash all the monsters in an amazing scene of gory mayhem. <br />
<br />
The students finally learn that the rite is actually a sacrifice to appease the old gods, who will destroy all of humanity if the ritual fails. When she is put in a position to complete the rite (i.e. kill the Fool), the Virgin eventually declines, and she and her friend share some pot as the old gods come forth to finish off humanity. I sure wish this last bit had been given some more time on film. I wanted to see more of the old gods than just a giant hand. Still, it all comes together fantastically, and the scenes with all the monsters munching through the workers is worth many Halloween viewings.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Credits: Evil Dead Lego scene https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Will_you_be_ready..._(4786369715).jpg https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/abraham_lincoln_vs_zombies https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/evil_dead_2_dead_by_dawn/pictures/#&gid=1&pid=n-537393 Cabin in the woods, movie and from https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_cabin_in_the_woods/pictures/</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
Page protected by <a href="http://www.copyscape.com/dmca-takedown-notice-search/">Copyscape</a>.</div>JA Grier (ee/em/eir)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10733447921892286243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627256068921784962.post-59352446934545739892017-10-13T00:42:00.002-04:002017-10-13T21:15:59.933-04:00Halloween Movies of Choice: Movies 10-12<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZL0WIhppL6mT0ljVVkxQYCN8DCRUnm0OwBB3ZU71ENVhuOk-ki8PuKDOB_a04sdppNLWmOfhZot8CnZc-apRCIS7Wwrwkg5Ty0Mvz_cEqiTvbcFFuXnbRz9Tad08Ib8R90mQbvgRTo0/s1600/Edvard_Munch_-_Vampire_%25281895%2529_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1464" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZL0WIhppL6mT0ljVVkxQYCN8DCRUnm0OwBB3ZU71ENVhuOk-ki8PuKDOB_a04sdppNLWmOfhZot8CnZc-apRCIS7Wwrwkg5Ty0Mvz_cEqiTvbcFFuXnbRz9Tad08Ib8R90mQbvgRTo0/s200/Edvard_Munch_-_Vampire_%25281895%2529_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Munch's 1895 painting "The Vampire"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm behind again, but actually I'm thinking this three-movies-to-a-post thing is working out well, so I'm just going to go with it. Besides, this way I can continue to do posts with all three movies around a theme. So now it's time to focus on my favorite sort of paranormal-type horror creature, the vampire! <br />
<br />
I tend to prefer my vampires to be seen for what they are - blood-sucking demons of the night. That does not mean they can't be sympathetic, even romantic. But the "reality" needs to be there in some fashion for me to take interest. It'll be no surprise then that <i>Twilight</i> does not make my Halloween list. But neither does <i>Bram Stoker's Dracula</i> (1992). That's a gorgeous picture, but for some reason that movie just does not work for me. I'm not drawn to that Dracula, who is so over the top he's campy. The movie isn't bad enough to be so-bad-it's-good, and there are too many other actually intentionally campy vampire flicks to watch instead, if that's what you are looking for (like the already listed <i>What We Do in the Shadows</i>). It was really tough, but after much consideration, I picked the following three vampire movies that I think cover a lot of ground for good Halloween-vampire-viewing.<br />
<br />
Once again, SPOILERS abound herein, so watch first and read later. <br />
<br />
<u>10. Nosferatu (1922)</u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwWjq-CdBLQoxNrAwzmqk-sq16Kl39YRXvIUqK8Jk93R3u2Bh0joF2epZx2DfsVNfu12r769dEeejq12jZ6OtVbaGx8wn3YTMHv83vMbFwvykKthnxVNBJtoWIvS0AMRf-M8JqfKlyRE/s1600/v1.bTsxMTIwNTI3NztqOzE3NTQ0OzEyMDA7MTUzNjsyMDQ4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="206" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwWjq-CdBLQoxNrAwzmqk-sq16Kl39YRXvIUqK8Jk93R3u2Bh0joF2epZx2DfsVNfu12r769dEeejq12jZ6OtVbaGx8wn3YTMHv83vMbFwvykKthnxVNBJtoWIvS0AMRf-M8JqfKlyRE/s200/v1.bTsxMTIwNTI3NztqOzE3NTQ0OzEyMDA7MTUzNjsyMDQ4.jpg" width="135" /></a>There are a lot of old vampire movies, but this one is certainly the iconic vampire-as-malevolent-demon, whose influence is felt in every subsequent treatment of the subject. The film itself, of course, is amazing for any number of reasons, like the use of light and shadow. It is basically the story of Dracula, with a few adjustments.<br />
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When our hero Hutter first travels to the Count Orlok's lands, he is naive and jolly, thinking always of his wife and the coin he's going to make with this major sale. Watching him come to terms with what is really happening in the castle is excellent horror. After the sale, the vampire has himself, a lot of dirt, and hundreds of rats all boxed up and shipped off to his new home. The scenes on the ship are the most disturbing, with sailors dropping off one by one, and no chance for any escape. The rats as plague symbols are a nice touch, and the townspeople do believe that the plague is upon them. People keep dying, and almost no one knows who is truly to blame. In the end, well, it is up to the heroine Ellen to make the ultimate sacrifice to rid the world of this evil.<br />
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It's is a fine Halloween movie, and might really be the way to start off the season, depending our your tastes. I have it here holding the place for the old, classic terrors of the genre.<br />
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<u>11. Fright Night (1985)</u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68q9aJM0K0GCzwNXnjlA5rke8N2aArpjQ6087C4PhJoWV9lCgdM1NI36AOGPs5n_6om3pFKddlolVczn-Txj9odZoVRMCOXU_6LxE-YHfVIXa6e5buRryKaxOyJhseQUyi6yKBPKfNsw/s1600/513JR95C24L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="327" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68q9aJM0K0GCzwNXnjlA5rke8N2aArpjQ6087C4PhJoWV9lCgdM1NI36AOGPs5n_6om3pFKddlolVczn-Txj9odZoVRMCOXU_6LxE-YHfVIXa6e5buRryKaxOyJhseQUyi6yKBPKfNsw/s200/513JR95C24L.jpg" width="137" /></a>I have mentioned before my love of 80's horror. In that category, I don't think it gets any better than <i>Fright Night</i>. There are vampires, good performances, comic elements, and a nice, creepy buildup to a scary and satisfying finish. You might say, well, isn't that the same for <i>Lost Boys</i>, too? Well, I had to make a choice for my 80's vampire category, and unlike Charley in <i>Fright Night</i>, the character of Michael simply has no charisma. The <i>Lost Boys</i> soundtrack is great, but it can't make you care for the characters if they just don't otherwise appeal.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNagPLgPysuWQr7bSeRHRkc9ihjmvQ64xp78cWwQKoqWSBiLKM0xMUZdiL4_igWDA2d8_BJUP-0FrbzXabcw-EwNM4CfJVNMfzckNv9VjQ5zrLy4NRtu1EnUwy05m5Cp7YFkTNDYdZCg/s1600/v1.bjsyMjk1NjQ7ajsxNzQ2MjsxMjAwOzk2Njs2NDg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="773" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNagPLgPysuWQr7bSeRHRkc9ihjmvQ64xp78cWwQKoqWSBiLKM0xMUZdiL4_igWDA2d8_BJUP-0FrbzXabcw-EwNM4CfJVNMfzckNv9VjQ5zrLy4NRtu1EnUwy05m5Cp7YFkTNDYdZCg/s200/v1.bjsyMjk1NjQ7ajsxNzQ2MjsxMjAwOzk2Njs2NDg.jpg" width="200" /></a>You get far more personally invested in the characters of <i>Fright Night</i>. Good-natured Charley, his strange friend "Evil," and his girl-next-door love interest Amy are all pretty stereotypical, and yet each is played to sincere perfection. The most compelling character, however, is the washed-up, horror-host-has-been of Peter Vincent. It is really Peter's journey of finding his faith in himself, and in his own strength, that makes the film so engaging. Add in vampire Jerry, who is both unremittingly evil and yet shows momentary glimpses of the human he once was (like when Jerry tells Charley that Jerry is going to give him a choice to keep quiet, and implies that Jerry himself had had the choice to become a vampire made for him.)<br />
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I think the film makes for a perfect Halloweeny offering. I have <i>Fright Night </i>here holding the place for the "modern" vampire movie, which includes a bit of camp and comedy along with solid scares, and a good-guys triumph kind of ending.<br />
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<u>12. Let Me In (2010)</u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlHjAqqSJdRDGrrm7jQxqoG6jzMfp7JetkVpm92kR6SQX8w5mcI43aPuyfKiaDaE4enPsfgCN3-YOpPsmoPiFVpjXThjNYoBtepHVdhBRdq4Neb1BQG_ykV9qS27JGoJKEkajFR8jP7c/s1600/51XgcBgVVXL._AC_US436_QL65_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="325" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlHjAqqSJdRDGrrm7jQxqoG6jzMfp7JetkVpm92kR6SQX8w5mcI43aPuyfKiaDaE4enPsfgCN3-YOpPsmoPiFVpjXThjNYoBtepHVdhBRdq4Neb1BQG_ykV9qS27JGoJKEkajFR8jP7c/s200/51XgcBgVVXL._AC_US436_QL65_.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
I thought hard about what movie I wanted to be my sort of "post-modern" cerebral vampire flick. There were a few contenders (say like <i>Only Lovers Left Alive</i>), but I wanted to pick something I thought might stand up to repeat Halloween viewings, and at the same time highlight the complex but ultimately nasty nature of vampires.<i> Let Me In</i> contains so very much of interest to unpack. I think the most telling aspect of the film is viewed through the trope of the "vampire henchman." It is through this lens that we understand Abby's deep brutality, and the depths of her feral nature.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJuyI1zOLIGqY7n7lIBHhXxWjQVLGMhWPh4KLltnDOlHP27ziythBu5Ehap6IN8J4NLQ3shddbPIp68ziTrctM-ON1FFlvxqtqKjyC51C1KfXgSgFwnLZg5flDVQZ0ON5JV5rXYI3Bpk/s1600/v1.bjs5MTU0NjtqOzE3NDYxOzEyMDA7MjA0ODsxNTM2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJuyI1zOLIGqY7n7lIBHhXxWjQVLGMhWPh4KLltnDOlHP27ziythBu5Ehap6IN8J4NLQ3shddbPIp68ziTrctM-ON1FFlvxqtqKjyC51C1KfXgSgFwnLZg5flDVQZ0ON5JV5rXYI3Bpk/s200/v1.bjs5MTU0NjtqOzE3NDYxOzEyMDA7MjA0ODsxNTM2.jpg" width="200" /></a>The idea of a vampire and their loyal followers is well worn, starting with Dracula's follower Renfield. For Nosferatu there was Knock. For Jerry there was Billy Cole. For Abby in <i>Let Me In</i>, there is Thomas, a man who by day poses as her father, but by night kills people and brings their blood back to Abby.<br />
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As Thomas methodically goes through the motions of killing and collecting blood, he shows little emotion other than weariness. He admits to Abby that he is getting careless, perhaps on purpose, because part of him wants to be caught. It becomes clear that he does this work only because he has deep feelings for Abby, to the point that when he does get caught, he burns his face off with acid so the police cannot use him as a trail back to her. His last act is to offer her his blood. Abby takes the injured man up on the offer, allowing him to suffer enough blood loss that he tumbles unconscious from a window and dies.<br />
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Enter the neighbor boy Owen. Isolated and bullied, he is highly vulnerable and easy to manipulate. Abby appears to be genuinely fond of Owen, but more, she desperately needs him. Old photos show Abby with a young Thomas, and the implications are that she groomed him from childhood to be her helper. Behaviors repeat in this movie (like bullies creating more bullies) letting the viewer know that this "creating a henchman" is another repeating pattern. By plan or by mere circumstance, she slowly enures Owen to the sight of blood and violence, to the point of him allowing her to kill someone right in front of him. This culminates when she saves Owen from bullies (who are all tweens or teens themselves) by tearing them into literal pieces, and Owen smiles. When he and Abby run away together at the end of the film, the viewer knows with dread certainty that this once sensitive boy is doomed to Thomas's future of lies, deception, and murder.<br />
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This movie isn't scary, it is instead utterly horrific. While I'm still not sure it is exactly Halloweeny as I usually define these things, it is the most unique and effective film I've seen for expressing the terror that is the vampire, and thus finds it's place on this list. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Credits: The Vampire by Edvard Munch, public domain , from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edvard_Munch_-_Vampire_(1895)_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg Nosferatu https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/nosferatu Fright night , my movie and from https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1007910_fright_night/pictures#&gid=1&pid=n-229564 Let Me In my movie and from https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/let_me_in/pictures/#&gid=1&pid=n-91546</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2009-2012 <a href="http://www.onewritersmind.blogspot.com/">One Writer's Mind</a> by J.A.Grier. All Rights Reserved.
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