It is, I kid you not, 6;30 AM and here I am awake and updating. It was one of those things: I went to bed sort of early last night, woke up at 6:00 to use the bathroom, and as 6 AM is when I'm usually up ... well, now i'm wide awake.
Just a few odds and ends...
The other night, my wife and I watched Dawn of the Dead, the new one. Two things about it. First, I'll admit that I like this one better than the Romero original. I know - that's like some kind of blasphemy. I really like the original Night of the Living Dead - it's a great use of creepy build-up, subtle social commentary (notably on race and the "state of nature" in a crisis situation), and some gorgeous use of gore as well as black and white film.
But, the sequel - Dawn - just *looks* like a B-movie, the '70's action/horror does just not hold up (not in the way that '70s psychological horror - a la The Exorcist or Rosemary's Baby do; this is the same problem that - honestly - makes Tobe Hopper's Texas Chainsaw Massacre sort of boring too, IMHO), and the social commentary is a little heavy handed to be interesting (yea, consumer zombies, *yawn*). I feel like the *new* Dawn is just fun and scary. I have a better time with it.
The second thing about it is, more broadly, a query: Why do people fucking die in zombie movies? Dig it: If you're going out "in the world" and there are zombies and you *know* zombies want to eat you and *further* are aware that zombie bite = become one of the living dead, why would you go outside in a goddamned short sleeved T-shirt? Seriously? If one is trapped in a mall, one might toss on some thermal underwear, a sweatshirt, a fucking leather jacket? Maybe some heavy jeans and work boots? Perhaps a stocking cap or helmet of some kind for the head? There is *no excuse* for being zombified once you know what is going on. Fucking assholes. I would totally kick ass in a zombie apocalypse.
On the whole, had an awesome weeked...
Last night, the wife and I went to Frontera Grill, which is like our favorite place in the city to go eat. We don't go a *lot* - as it's expensive. But it's just the best - it's very traditional Mexican food cooked with a sort of modern twist. It's rigtheous. The chef, Rick Bayless, has a show on PBS, only he's not annoying because mostly he just talks about the history of the food he's making. He's actually interesting, not just trying to schuck some crap on you. We get all giddy when we see him *at* the restaurant - last night, just as we were leaving, he was coming to the table NEXT to ours. We cursed our bad luck for leaving at that second. But it was all good - we got fat on good food and tipsy on the best margaritas *ever.*
Then, we checked out Red Eye, just because we wanted something fun. It was actually pretty good. I like that Wes Craven has, at least since Scream (another movie I actually really like), realized that unstoppable villains and cannon-fodder heroes are boring. I like that his protaganists have a chance and his bad guys screw up sometimes now. It makes every conflict more interesting, rather than a pre-ordained sacrifice that is about style not story - as in The Nightmare on Elm Street stuff. It also keeps the movie from having that bad taste of "woman as victim" theme that so many horror flicks relish in.
Also: I picked up Layer Cake on DVD. Woohoo! Sadly, Oldboy was sold out at the Virgin Megastore. I think I'll try the local Coconuts today.
This was like our last big night out for a while. My wife starts her anatomy class next Saturday, as part of getting ready for pharmacy school. Man, I hope she gets into a good program - she's worked SO hard for this, but it's SO competitive. I'm such a worrier. I've got my (metaphorical and literal) fingers crossed though...
All right, I'm gonna go try and lay down again... have a good one.
Just a few odds and ends...
The other night, my wife and I watched Dawn of the Dead, the new one. Two things about it. First, I'll admit that I like this one better than the Romero original. I know - that's like some kind of blasphemy. I really like the original Night of the Living Dead - it's a great use of creepy build-up, subtle social commentary (notably on race and the "state of nature" in a crisis situation), and some gorgeous use of gore as well as black and white film.
But, the sequel - Dawn - just *looks* like a B-movie, the '70's action/horror does just not hold up (not in the way that '70s psychological horror - a la The Exorcist or Rosemary's Baby do; this is the same problem that - honestly - makes Tobe Hopper's Texas Chainsaw Massacre sort of boring too, IMHO), and the social commentary is a little heavy handed to be interesting (yea, consumer zombies, *yawn*). I feel like the *new* Dawn is just fun and scary. I have a better time with it.
The second thing about it is, more broadly, a query: Why do people fucking die in zombie movies? Dig it: If you're going out "in the world" and there are zombies and you *know* zombies want to eat you and *further* are aware that zombie bite = become one of the living dead, why would you go outside in a goddamned short sleeved T-shirt? Seriously? If one is trapped in a mall, one might toss on some thermal underwear, a sweatshirt, a fucking leather jacket? Maybe some heavy jeans and work boots? Perhaps a stocking cap or helmet of some kind for the head? There is *no excuse* for being zombified once you know what is going on. Fucking assholes. I would totally kick ass in a zombie apocalypse.
On the whole, had an awesome weeked...
Last night, the wife and I went to Frontera Grill, which is like our favorite place in the city to go eat. We don't go a *lot* - as it's expensive. But it's just the best - it's very traditional Mexican food cooked with a sort of modern twist. It's rigtheous. The chef, Rick Bayless, has a show on PBS, only he's not annoying because mostly he just talks about the history of the food he's making. He's actually interesting, not just trying to schuck some crap on you. We get all giddy when we see him *at* the restaurant - last night, just as we were leaving, he was coming to the table NEXT to ours. We cursed our bad luck for leaving at that second. But it was all good - we got fat on good food and tipsy on the best margaritas *ever.*
Then, we checked out Red Eye, just because we wanted something fun. It was actually pretty good. I like that Wes Craven has, at least since Scream (another movie I actually really like), realized that unstoppable villains and cannon-fodder heroes are boring. I like that his protaganists have a chance and his bad guys screw up sometimes now. It makes every conflict more interesting, rather than a pre-ordained sacrifice that is about style not story - as in The Nightmare on Elm Street stuff. It also keeps the movie from having that bad taste of "woman as victim" theme that so many horror flicks relish in.
Also: I picked up Layer Cake on DVD. Woohoo! Sadly, Oldboy was sold out at the Virgin Megastore. I think I'll try the local Coconuts today.
This was like our last big night out for a while. My wife starts her anatomy class next Saturday, as part of getting ready for pharmacy school. Man, I hope she gets into a good program - she's worked SO hard for this, but it's SO competitive. I'm such a worrier. I've got my (metaphorical and literal) fingers crossed though...
All right, I'm gonna go try and lay down again... have a good one.
VIEW 5 of 5 COMMENTS
If you like Freaks and Geeks you'll like this. Did you like Anchorman? It is similar in tone but significantly better.