The Maid is a new entry into the Asian Horror catalog from the Singapore. It doesn’t have a whole lot new to offer to the genre, but there is enough fresh here to warrant a look, if you like Asian horror.
The Maid is the story of Rosa, a young girl who comes from a rural area in the Philippines to work as a maid for a family who run a Chinese Opera and have a mentally challenged son. She arrives in Singapore just in time for the Chinese Seventh Month, believed to be the time when the gates of hell open and the spirits walk. There are lots of rules on how to appease the spirits, and many traditions and ceremonies that must be followed. However, Rosa is unfamiliar with these rules, and slowly she starts seeing spirits and other things she can’t explain. She fears for her life as she uncovers the true story of the maid who lived with the family previously, and the spirits come in for the final say.
There are no stringy haired ghosties in this story, but there are plenty of ghosts. Ghosts who want their families to recognize them, ghosts reliving last moments, and ghosts who seek vengeance for past wrongs. People are haunted by their traditions and their family ties. There is also a very well done subplot of the young, unsophisticated girl in a city, not only unfamiliar with the customs of city living and territory, but the customs of a culture.
Like I said before, there’s not a whole lot new in The Maid to offer the Asian horror genre, but there are plenty of nods to the masters to catch while watching and a couple of really good scares. (The scene with the food court and the next-door neighbor comes to mind.) I like Asian horror, and I really liked that the ghosts here weren’t of the Ringu variety that you see everywhere lately. I’d like to see more from the Singapore, just to see what they can offer the genre from here on out. The Maid is a good start.
Rating: 4 Purrs for the oh crap, that's a ghost moments
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
The Walking Dead Trades, Volumes 1-5
When I stumbled across this series on Amazon, my toes wiggled with happiness. Seriously. A zombie comic book? (okay, okay, graphic novel) Really! Really? I was intrigued, and I snatched up the first trades I could find at my local comic shop, Titan. When I got close to finishing Volume 3, I made my husband commit to an early comic shop visit so I could get the final two out in print. That’s how much I liked this series. I am chomping at the bit to get Volume 6, so hurry up Mr. Robert Kirkman and give me more.
The Walking Dead Volumes 1 through 5 cover a whole heck of a lot of ground. Volume 1, Days Gone Bye, introduces you to the new world, a world where, much like 28 Days Later, our hero Rick Grimes wakes up to find himself in a hospital, all alone. He wanders about and discovers the dead are walking, and his wife and son have disappeared. He heads to Atlanta to find his wife and son, and along the way discovers just how much he slept through, and not only are the zombies scary, but some people are too. Volume 2, Miles Behind Us, has Rick and his rag tag group of followers leaving their campground for safer digs. During their journey they hook up with some new characters, and come across a farmer who has a really bad way of dealing with the zombies. Volume 3, Safety Behind Bars, has the group of travelers moving into what looks like an abandoned prison complex, only to find out the few living people left are not guards but inmates. Can the travelers make their home here? What about the other groups of living people outside the complex? Volume 4, The Heart’s Desire, has the characters settling down into somewhat more of a normal life, with consequences. There’s drama when the inmates release a bunch of zombies into the complex, and a new girl shows up to the complex, bringing in some more tension to the otherwise settled couples. Volume 5, The Best Defense, has our hero Rick leaving the prison with some others to investigate signs of other survivors, and in doing so, gets scooped up by the sadistic Governor, who rules his group of folks with a scary determination. Volume 5, like the others, leaves off on a cliffhanger, and I am really anxious to find out what’s going to happen next.
I like how Robert Kirkman mixes horror with some real what if’s. The characters aren’t as well developed as they could be, but they are getting there. They face real concerns, like how can we eat, where will we stay, can I really sleep with the undead crawling around? You end up asking yourself, what would you do if zombies roamed the Earth? Cause you know, it could happen. You never know.
Rating: 5 Purrs, cause how can I not love a zombie comic with heart? And brains.
The Walking Dead Volumes 1 through 5 cover a whole heck of a lot of ground. Volume 1, Days Gone Bye, introduces you to the new world, a world where, much like 28 Days Later, our hero Rick Grimes wakes up to find himself in a hospital, all alone. He wanders about and discovers the dead are walking, and his wife and son have disappeared. He heads to Atlanta to find his wife and son, and along the way discovers just how much he slept through, and not only are the zombies scary, but some people are too. Volume 2, Miles Behind Us, has Rick and his rag tag group of followers leaving their campground for safer digs. During their journey they hook up with some new characters, and come across a farmer who has a really bad way of dealing with the zombies. Volume 3, Safety Behind Bars, has the group of travelers moving into what looks like an abandoned prison complex, only to find out the few living people left are not guards but inmates. Can the travelers make their home here? What about the other groups of living people outside the complex? Volume 4, The Heart’s Desire, has the characters settling down into somewhat more of a normal life, with consequences. There’s drama when the inmates release a bunch of zombies into the complex, and a new girl shows up to the complex, bringing in some more tension to the otherwise settled couples. Volume 5, The Best Defense, has our hero Rick leaving the prison with some others to investigate signs of other survivors, and in doing so, gets scooped up by the sadistic Governor, who rules his group of folks with a scary determination. Volume 5, like the others, leaves off on a cliffhanger, and I am really anxious to find out what’s going to happen next.
I like how Robert Kirkman mixes horror with some real what if’s. The characters aren’t as well developed as they could be, but they are getting there. They face real concerns, like how can we eat, where will we stay, can I really sleep with the undead crawling around? You end up asking yourself, what would you do if zombies roamed the Earth? Cause you know, it could happen. You never know.
Rating: 5 Purrs, cause how can I not love a zombie comic with heart? And brains.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and The Women Who Created Her by Melanie Rehak
Ever since I was a girl, I just loved Nancy Drew books. I started off reading my mother’s original printings that she picked up during her childhood, and from there, I was hooked. Nancy Drew is probably the reason I am still hooked on reading as an adult. In Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and The Women Who Created Her, Melanie Rehak writes a behind the scenes history of Nancy Drew and her creators. She asks why has Nancy Drew survived through the Depression, World War II, the sixties upheaval, feminism, and still captured the hearts and minds of girls throughout all of these changes in our social structure. Who created her, and how did they influence the world of our girlhood?
Melanie Rehak introduces us to the Stratemeyer clan, the creators of Nancy Drew and many other childhood 50-cent novels beginning in the early 1900s. Edward, the father, began writing stories like the Bobbsey Twins and developed the idea of Nancy Drew, but his daughter Harriet carried on the dream of Nancy Drew way into the 1980s. The Stratemeyer clan hired ghostwriters to work on their novels based on detailed outlines; Mildred Wirt Benson was hired to write the first Nancy Drews. Mildred created the character of Nancy, and she used much of her own character to build Nancy. After awhile, Mildred broke off her association with the clan, and other writers took over, including eventually Harriet Stratemeyer herself.
Harriet protected Nancy Drew through the years, including protecting her basic character during the1960s and forward, when publishers wanted her to be sexier and boy-crazy. Then came trouble in the business, and a big question over which author was the real creator of Nancy Drew. Melanie Rehak digs through all of the history to bring out the truth. She never judges and presents an equal side for each woman involved. She even follows the history of Nancy into the 80s and 90s, into the new Nancy Drew Files, the new novels I remember from my teenage years.
I loved this book. Not only did it bring back wonderful memories of Nancy Drew (I actually found copies of all the books and the Nancy Drew Files and added them to my Amazon Wish List), I found another series I remember from my aunt’s childhood that unexpectedly was written by Mildred Wirt Benson. I found out more about the girl who captured my imagination and the vibrant, intelligent, and forward thinking women that created her and formed so many girls hopes and dreams throughout the 20th century. Melanie Rehak wrote with passion but never overstepped and made judgments. If you ever loved reading Nancy Drew, or knew a girl who did, you should read this book.
Rating: 5 Purrs
Melanie Rehak introduces us to the Stratemeyer clan, the creators of Nancy Drew and many other childhood 50-cent novels beginning in the early 1900s. Edward, the father, began writing stories like the Bobbsey Twins and developed the idea of Nancy Drew, but his daughter Harriet carried on the dream of Nancy Drew way into the 1980s. The Stratemeyer clan hired ghostwriters to work on their novels based on detailed outlines; Mildred Wirt Benson was hired to write the first Nancy Drews. Mildred created the character of Nancy, and she used much of her own character to build Nancy. After awhile, Mildred broke off her association with the clan, and other writers took over, including eventually Harriet Stratemeyer herself.
Harriet protected Nancy Drew through the years, including protecting her basic character during the1960s and forward, when publishers wanted her to be sexier and boy-crazy. Then came trouble in the business, and a big question over which author was the real creator of Nancy Drew. Melanie Rehak digs through all of the history to bring out the truth. She never judges and presents an equal side for each woman involved. She even follows the history of Nancy into the 80s and 90s, into the new Nancy Drew Files, the new novels I remember from my teenage years.
I loved this book. Not only did it bring back wonderful memories of Nancy Drew (I actually found copies of all the books and the Nancy Drew Files and added them to my Amazon Wish List), I found another series I remember from my aunt’s childhood that unexpectedly was written by Mildred Wirt Benson. I found out more about the girl who captured my imagination and the vibrant, intelligent, and forward thinking women that created her and formed so many girls hopes and dreams throughout the 20th century. Melanie Rehak wrote with passion but never overstepped and made judgments. If you ever loved reading Nancy Drew, or knew a girl who did, you should read this book.
Rating: 5 Purrs
Recent Acquisitions to the Library
It's been a week since I posted. I have no excuse except for laziness and being head-first into catching up on my comics, books, TIVO, and NetFlix. Here's what I have recently grabbed and added to my shelves.
- The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt (by the same guy who wrote Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil)
- Beauty and The Beast by Marianna Mayer (One of my favorite illustrated children's books)
- Tears of the Giraffe, Morality for Beautiful Girls, and The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith (books 2-4 in the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series)
- Killer on the Road by James Ellroy
- In the Night Room by Peter Straub
- The Courage Constort by Michel Faber
- Taran Wanderer by Lloyd Alexander ( Book 4 in the Prydain series)
- Lisey's Story by Stephen King
- Eccentric Circles by Rebecca Lickiss
- 7 Steps to Midnight by Richard Matheson
- The String of Pearls by Anonymous (the original story of Sweeney Todd)
Sunday, January 21, 2007
The Descent
I kept hearing that the The Descent was the best horror movie out last year, and so I rented it as soon as it came out. I was definitely not disappointed. In fact, I would have to say it’s one of the only movies outside of some Asian horror (Audition) that actually made me squeal and cringe into a little ball on the couch. My husband kept laughing from upstairs in our loft at the little Media Kitten ball on the couch. I was much upset at him, but I forgave him when he came home one day from work with a sparkling new copy of the DVD of my very own.
In The Descent, a group of adventure loving women get back together for a spelunking trip after one of them has a terrible (and icky, awesome opening scene) accident the year before. Juno, the leader on this trip, promises a real adventure, while the others aren’t terribly sure of themselves, but they are friends, and game for trying it out. Things start out great, despite some discomfort and some sparks between Juno and Sarah (the woman who had the accident). Eventually, the women realize something is wrong when the cave starts looking unfamiliar. Panic sets in, things start coming out of the walls, and the survival instincts set in. That’s when things start getting really fun. Will they make it out alive?
All of the women were great and I really hated to see any of them get killed off. You don’t usually feel that sort of connection with characters in a horror movie, so it was surprising to me to actually get drawn into these women’s plight. To be honest, I’m not really sure which half was scarier, the part before the creepies came out and they were just freaking out to the different aspects of the cave or afterwards when they were fighting off the flesh hungry beasties. There is certainly plenty of gore to tide the blood lovers over and plenty of tension to make you crawl into a ball on the couch. The beasties are second-hand to the true horror – being trapped underground with no way out and no one to trust but yourself.
I can’t recommend The Descent enough. It’s creepy in almost every bit, the characters are well drawn despite the limited playing time, and the survivor instinct true to your heart. You’ve got elements of all sorts of films here, including Alien, The Hills Have Eyes, and a few other classics, but it doesn’t diminish from the worthiness of this film. I can only recommend you see the uncut version, and not the cut American version. Why test audiences always insist on a happy ending for Americans to see I will never understand. The original is so much more true to the movie.
Rating: 5 Purrs, it’s about darn near perfect, but the caught in a hole scene, the ouch my leg scene, and scenes at the end made my day
In The Descent, a group of adventure loving women get back together for a spelunking trip after one of them has a terrible (and icky, awesome opening scene) accident the year before. Juno, the leader on this trip, promises a real adventure, while the others aren’t terribly sure of themselves, but they are friends, and game for trying it out. Things start out great, despite some discomfort and some sparks between Juno and Sarah (the woman who had the accident). Eventually, the women realize something is wrong when the cave starts looking unfamiliar. Panic sets in, things start coming out of the walls, and the survival instincts set in. That’s when things start getting really fun. Will they make it out alive?
All of the women were great and I really hated to see any of them get killed off. You don’t usually feel that sort of connection with characters in a horror movie, so it was surprising to me to actually get drawn into these women’s plight. To be honest, I’m not really sure which half was scarier, the part before the creepies came out and they were just freaking out to the different aspects of the cave or afterwards when they were fighting off the flesh hungry beasties. There is certainly plenty of gore to tide the blood lovers over and plenty of tension to make you crawl into a ball on the couch. The beasties are second-hand to the true horror – being trapped underground with no way out and no one to trust but yourself.
I can’t recommend The Descent enough. It’s creepy in almost every bit, the characters are well drawn despite the limited playing time, and the survivor instinct true to your heart. You’ve got elements of all sorts of films here, including Alien, The Hills Have Eyes, and a few other classics, but it doesn’t diminish from the worthiness of this film. I can only recommend you see the uncut version, and not the cut American version. Why test audiences always insist on a happy ending for Americans to see I will never understand. The original is so much more true to the movie.
Rating: 5 Purrs, it’s about darn near perfect, but the caught in a hole scene, the ouch my leg scene, and scenes at the end made my day
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
I found A Dirty Job completely by accident. My paperback book club sent it to me because I forgot to send in my card. I find the most interesting books that way. A Dirty Job is one of the funniest and sweetest books I have read in awhile.
A Dirty Job tells the story of Charlie Asher. Charlie is one of those guys who fades into the background. He runs a secondhand store and is constantly imagining the worst. On the day his wife gives birth to their daughter, he returns to her room to see a tall man in mint green standing over her. His wife is dead, and now Charlie has another problem. People start dying around him, and random objects start glowing red. Charlie discovers he’s a Death Merchant, one who guides the soul of one person to the next. His daughter starts behaving weirdly, the agents of evil are trying to rise up into San Francisco, and his sister wants him to just find a girl to go to bed with. Life just keeps getting more and more complicated the more Charlie finds out.
Christopher Moore writes a multi-faceted story full of truth disguised in humor. It’s laugh out loud funny, but in the next minute you are so very sad. Charlie is one of those characters that sticks with you. He is Everyman, and his daughter Sophie is so much more complex than your normal 6 year old. Regardless of that, she’s never unbelievable. In fact, despite his characters being a part of a comedic story, they are never caricatures. They are honest, and the book itself is such a lovely story about death and dying. It addresses your fears and your sadness over lost loved ones, all while making you laugh. Rarely do I find something so good to read, with so much that sticks with me long after.
I really must get more of Christopher Moore’s books. A Dirty Job reminded me of Good Omens and the like. There’s a story there with a lot of good things to say, but it never preaches. It lets you follow along and discover the points of the story on your own. I’ve got to see if his other books are as good.
Rating: 5 Purrs for giant hell hounds, little animal dolls, lesbian sisters, and Minty Fresh
A Dirty Job tells the story of Charlie Asher. Charlie is one of those guys who fades into the background. He runs a secondhand store and is constantly imagining the worst. On the day his wife gives birth to their daughter, he returns to her room to see a tall man in mint green standing over her. His wife is dead, and now Charlie has another problem. People start dying around him, and random objects start glowing red. Charlie discovers he’s a Death Merchant, one who guides the soul of one person to the next. His daughter starts behaving weirdly, the agents of evil are trying to rise up into San Francisco, and his sister wants him to just find a girl to go to bed with. Life just keeps getting more and more complicated the more Charlie finds out.
Christopher Moore writes a multi-faceted story full of truth disguised in humor. It’s laugh out loud funny, but in the next minute you are so very sad. Charlie is one of those characters that sticks with you. He is Everyman, and his daughter Sophie is so much more complex than your normal 6 year old. Regardless of that, she’s never unbelievable. In fact, despite his characters being a part of a comedic story, they are never caricatures. They are honest, and the book itself is such a lovely story about death and dying. It addresses your fears and your sadness over lost loved ones, all while making you laugh. Rarely do I find something so good to read, with so much that sticks with me long after.
I really must get more of Christopher Moore’s books. A Dirty Job reminded me of Good Omens and the like. There’s a story there with a lot of good things to say, but it never preaches. It lets you follow along and discover the points of the story on your own. I’ve got to see if his other books are as good.
Rating: 5 Purrs for giant hell hounds, little animal dolls, lesbian sisters, and Minty Fresh
Monday, January 15, 2007
Italian Giallo Three-Fer
One thing I just love about Giallos is the wonderful title of each film. Another thing: Edwidge Fenech. She is such a beautiful woman.
5 Dolls for an August Moon
Mario Brava brings us a version of Agatha Christie’s 10 Little Indians. It’s a very stylish movie, with very modern furnishings and very 70’s chic fashions. A group of people are out on an island with a very wealthy scientist who has some secret that these various people want to buy from him. (Edwige Fenech stars as one of the guests.) He refuses, and one by one the different people are murdered. There’s plenty of blood to go with the twist ending. It’s an average Giallo, and you shouldn’t miss it if you are a fan of the genre.
Rating: 3 Purrs
What Have You Done to Solange?
A teacher at an all-girls school is having an affair with one of his students, and while they are out frolicking, the girl sees a flash of a knife and possibly a murder. After the police find a dead girl from the school in those same woods, the girl comes forward and then one by one, more girls are killed most brutally. A group of girls at the school seem to have a secret, one that someone wants to kill them for. It’s an excellent entry to the Giallo genre. If you don’t mind seeing movies with overdubbing, and you like a good mystery, check it out.
Rating: 4 ½ Purrs
The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh
Edwige Fenech stars in this lovely Giallo as the wife of a stockbroker with some seriously naughty sexual vices. A straight razor serial killer is stalking her and other beautiful women in Venice, and she thinks it could be one of the men in her life. Her ex-lover, Jean, is the one who used to satisfy her sadomasochistic vices, and he thinks he can win her back. Her husband may be jealous of her past life, and might be killing women to revenge his love. George, the cousin of a good friend is newly rich and very handsome, but he seems to be hiding something of his own. There’s lots of nudity in this one, and lots of razor slashing. The atmosphere is gloomy and mysterious. Jean is creepy, George is seductive, and Edwige is luminous if somewhat too trusting. The twist here is old school, but perfect. This is my favorite of the three I just watched. It’s very much worth your while.
Ratings: 5 Purrs
5 Dolls for an August Moon
Mario Brava brings us a version of Agatha Christie’s 10 Little Indians. It’s a very stylish movie, with very modern furnishings and very 70’s chic fashions. A group of people are out on an island with a very wealthy scientist who has some secret that these various people want to buy from him. (Edwige Fenech stars as one of the guests.) He refuses, and one by one the different people are murdered. There’s plenty of blood to go with the twist ending. It’s an average Giallo, and you shouldn’t miss it if you are a fan of the genre.
Rating: 3 Purrs
What Have You Done to Solange?
A teacher at an all-girls school is having an affair with one of his students, and while they are out frolicking, the girl sees a flash of a knife and possibly a murder. After the police find a dead girl from the school in those same woods, the girl comes forward and then one by one, more girls are killed most brutally. A group of girls at the school seem to have a secret, one that someone wants to kill them for. It’s an excellent entry to the Giallo genre. If you don’t mind seeing movies with overdubbing, and you like a good mystery, check it out.
Rating: 4 ½ Purrs
The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh
Edwige Fenech stars in this lovely Giallo as the wife of a stockbroker with some seriously naughty sexual vices. A straight razor serial killer is stalking her and other beautiful women in Venice, and she thinks it could be one of the men in her life. Her ex-lover, Jean, is the one who used to satisfy her sadomasochistic vices, and he thinks he can win her back. Her husband may be jealous of her past life, and might be killing women to revenge his love. George, the cousin of a good friend is newly rich and very handsome, but he seems to be hiding something of his own. There’s lots of nudity in this one, and lots of razor slashing. The atmosphere is gloomy and mysterious. Jean is creepy, George is seductive, and Edwige is luminous if somewhat too trusting. The twist here is old school, but perfect. This is my favorite of the three I just watched. It’s very much worth your while.
Ratings: 5 Purrs
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Scoop
I am not a huge fan of Woody Allen. I loved Match Point, and Manhattan Murder Mystery was great. But after awhile, I get tired of Woody Allen playing Woody Allen. Match Point was near perfect, and a great part of that was because there was no Woody Allen acting. Scoop was funny, but there was something missing from it. It had potential, but it fell flat in the end.
Scoop is a light comedy. Sondra Pranski is a journalism student in Lonodn visiting friends. Through a magic show, she ends up in contact with a dead journalist who has a tip. He thinks the Tarot Card serial killer currently active in London is a Lord’s son. Sondra decides to take on the job of getting the scoop. The trouble is, naturally, that she falls for the guy she’s investigating. Is he guilty? Will she care either way?
What did I like about Scoop? Well, there was Scarlett Johansson. She was funny and sweet, just like the journalism student role called for. Hugh Jackman was delicious as the aristocrat. Romola Garai was funny as Scarlett’s upper crust friend. Some of the dialogue was just hilarious, and some scenes between Woody Allen and Scarlett were right on. Ian McShane was funny in the scenes he had as the spectral journalist intent on getting his scoop even beyond the grave.
What did I not like about Scoop? I though the ending was off tone. Woody Allen hammed it up way too much. Scarlett and Hugh had very little chemistry, and for the majority of the time, the chemistry between Woody and Scarlett fell flat. Scarlett’s costuming was awful and just did not fit the character at all.
I’m not disappointed in the movie completely. It had its moments. I just feel that it could have been so much more than it was. It could have been another Manhattan Murder Mystery, which is what I was wanting. Unfortunately, to me, Woody Allen has become beyond a parody of himself, and with no Diane Keaton to play opposite (Nothing against Scar Jo; Love her. It’s just those two had chemistry. Bam!), the whole film was missing a big chunk of what would have made it perfect.
Rating: 3 Purrs for getting Scar Jo and Hugh in swimsuits, and a few Woody Allen perfect one liners
Scoop is a light comedy. Sondra Pranski is a journalism student in Lonodn visiting friends. Through a magic show, she ends up in contact with a dead journalist who has a tip. He thinks the Tarot Card serial killer currently active in London is a Lord’s son. Sondra decides to take on the job of getting the scoop. The trouble is, naturally, that she falls for the guy she’s investigating. Is he guilty? Will she care either way?
What did I like about Scoop? Well, there was Scarlett Johansson. She was funny and sweet, just like the journalism student role called for. Hugh Jackman was delicious as the aristocrat. Romola Garai was funny as Scarlett’s upper crust friend. Some of the dialogue was just hilarious, and some scenes between Woody Allen and Scarlett were right on. Ian McShane was funny in the scenes he had as the spectral journalist intent on getting his scoop even beyond the grave.
What did I not like about Scoop? I though the ending was off tone. Woody Allen hammed it up way too much. Scarlett and Hugh had very little chemistry, and for the majority of the time, the chemistry between Woody and Scarlett fell flat. Scarlett’s costuming was awful and just did not fit the character at all.
I’m not disappointed in the movie completely. It had its moments. I just feel that it could have been so much more than it was. It could have been another Manhattan Murder Mystery, which is what I was wanting. Unfortunately, to me, Woody Allen has become beyond a parody of himself, and with no Diane Keaton to play opposite (Nothing against Scar Jo; Love her. It’s just those two had chemistry. Bam!), the whole film was missing a big chunk of what would have made it perfect.
Rating: 3 Purrs for getting Scar Jo and Hugh in swimsuits, and a few Woody Allen perfect one liners
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
See No Evil
See No Evil is one of those non-important horror movies released in the last year, starring the WWE star Kane. It’s even produced by WWE. I saw this intro credit when the movie started, and I thought to myself, “Uh oh.” What an understatement of the year.
See No Evil involves 8 teenage delinquents and their minders, one of which, the cop, faced the same crazed killer in the past and lost an arm while doing so. These 8 delinquents are being offered a shortened sentence if they help clean up an old hotel that is being converted into a shelter for the homeless. These teens don’t care much for actual work; they’d rather drink whatever booze they can find, smoke weed, and fool around. Somehow, the crazy killer that the cop fought before has ended up in the hotel and he is now stalking the teenagers and their handlers. The killer seeks them out one by one and kills them because of their sins. He uses the normal big guy weapons: axes, big hooks, his body slams.
There are pluses and minuses to this movie. The movie has all of the elements of some nice gory horror, but it’s not very original in any way. There’s plenty of gore, worthy of a nice icky Italian horror (the killer has an affinity for eye removal). The site of the old Blackwell Hotel is nice and spooky. A few of the deaths are unusual. You are surprise at who lives, but not who dies. Some of the characters are just marked. As for the minuses, the characters are all your normal horror movie teens. There’s the rich blonde, the geeky kid, the tough girl, the Goth chick, the animal lover, the drug dealer tough, the hoodlum, and the red shirt (Yes, that is a Star Trek reference). The character list reads like The Breakfast Club. The bad guy is such a retread of almost everything else you have ever seen before, an extreme version of the “movie rules” from Scream. He’s not even scary, just a hulky beast, stomping around with a permanent growl. He’s even got Jason syndrome, with the torturous mommy in the background. The “twist” they throw in is just obvious. But my biggest minus is the fact that Kane, the big bad scary guy, throws his victims around like they are in the wrestling ring, accompanied with big boom, smack sounds. He does it to every single one of those victims. It’s ridiculous.
Overall, I wouldn’t waste a rental on this one, unless the idea of a big wrestler skulking around, slamming victims into walls, is your cup of tea. There’s not much original here, but I did like the Goth girl’s tattoos. It’s not as bad as some horror I have seen, but there is nothing really new here. You can do better, just rent one of the classics instead.
Rating: 3 Purrs for lots of icky eyeballs
See No Evil involves 8 teenage delinquents and their minders, one of which, the cop, faced the same crazed killer in the past and lost an arm while doing so. These 8 delinquents are being offered a shortened sentence if they help clean up an old hotel that is being converted into a shelter for the homeless. These teens don’t care much for actual work; they’d rather drink whatever booze they can find, smoke weed, and fool around. Somehow, the crazy killer that the cop fought before has ended up in the hotel and he is now stalking the teenagers and their handlers. The killer seeks them out one by one and kills them because of their sins. He uses the normal big guy weapons: axes, big hooks, his body slams.
There are pluses and minuses to this movie. The movie has all of the elements of some nice gory horror, but it’s not very original in any way. There’s plenty of gore, worthy of a nice icky Italian horror (the killer has an affinity for eye removal). The site of the old Blackwell Hotel is nice and spooky. A few of the deaths are unusual. You are surprise at who lives, but not who dies. Some of the characters are just marked. As for the minuses, the characters are all your normal horror movie teens. There’s the rich blonde, the geeky kid, the tough girl, the Goth chick, the animal lover, the drug dealer tough, the hoodlum, and the red shirt (Yes, that is a Star Trek reference). The character list reads like The Breakfast Club. The bad guy is such a retread of almost everything else you have ever seen before, an extreme version of the “movie rules” from Scream. He’s not even scary, just a hulky beast, stomping around with a permanent growl. He’s even got Jason syndrome, with the torturous mommy in the background. The “twist” they throw in is just obvious. But my biggest minus is the fact that Kane, the big bad scary guy, throws his victims around like they are in the wrestling ring, accompanied with big boom, smack sounds. He does it to every single one of those victims. It’s ridiculous.
Overall, I wouldn’t waste a rental on this one, unless the idea of a big wrestler skulking around, slamming victims into walls, is your cup of tea. There’s not much original here, but I did like the Goth girl’s tattoos. It’s not as bad as some horror I have seen, but there is nothing really new here. You can do better, just rent one of the classics instead.
Rating: 3 Purrs for lots of icky eyeballs
Monday, January 08, 2007
Gloom Cookie Trades, Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4
If you have ever been to a Goth club or have been a part of the Goth culture, then you will probably enjoy Gloom Cookie on some level. I picked up the Gloom Cookie trades, volumes 1-4, because I really like Ted Naifeh and his Courtney Crumrin character and this was recommended to me as being similar. It was in a way, with Ted Naifeh drawing Gloom Cookie Volume 1, and some similar subject matter, but overall Courtney still wins first place in my heart.
I really like Ted Naifeh’s art style, and a different artist drew each volume after Volume 1. I never really took to any of the other artists like I took to Ted. They just seemed overly messy, especially John Gebbia in Volume 2 and Harley Sparx in Volume 4.
The characters were all perfect examples of some of the people you meet in the Goth club, but that doesn’t mean you really like them, or even want to read about them.There’s the queen of the club, who’s Gother than Goth, her boy counterpart, her sidekick, who is much more interesting, of course, the pretty girl who isn’t as noticed and never seemed to get the guy she wants, and my least liked (because it’s oh so true) and yet, most funny character of Vermilion, the Goth poet who thinks he is a vampire.
The writing is downright awful, especially the dialogue. The plots themselves are a bit inventive, but you read these characters’ talking to each other and you cringe. I’ve never heard anyone, much less a Goth someone, call his or her friends “Sweetie” constantly, or say “Oogie.” It’s exaggerated baby talk. Thank God it lessens up in Volume 3 and 4.
Overall, Gloom Cookie is an okay lark, if you are familiar with the Goth culture. I won’t say that if you are, you won’t be offended, even though Serena Valentino is obviously a Goth herself. The writing is just too poor, and the art too inconsistent to give it more than a average rating. I’ve seen better, and it is Courtney Crumin.
Rating: 3 Purrs, but mostly because of Vermilion the Vampire Prince
I really like Ted Naifeh’s art style, and a different artist drew each volume after Volume 1. I never really took to any of the other artists like I took to Ted. They just seemed overly messy, especially John Gebbia in Volume 2 and Harley Sparx in Volume 4.
The characters were all perfect examples of some of the people you meet in the Goth club, but that doesn’t mean you really like them, or even want to read about them.There’s the queen of the club, who’s Gother than Goth, her boy counterpart, her sidekick, who is much more interesting, of course, the pretty girl who isn’t as noticed and never seemed to get the guy she wants, and my least liked (because it’s oh so true) and yet, most funny character of Vermilion, the Goth poet who thinks he is a vampire.
The writing is downright awful, especially the dialogue. The plots themselves are a bit inventive, but you read these characters’ talking to each other and you cringe. I’ve never heard anyone, much less a Goth someone, call his or her friends “Sweetie” constantly, or say “Oogie.” It’s exaggerated baby talk. Thank God it lessens up in Volume 3 and 4.
Overall, Gloom Cookie is an okay lark, if you are familiar with the Goth culture. I won’t say that if you are, you won’t be offended, even though Serena Valentino is obviously a Goth herself. The writing is just too poor, and the art too inconsistent to give it more than a average rating. I’ve seen better, and it is Courtney Crumin.
Rating: 3 Purrs, but mostly because of Vermilion the Vampire Prince
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Dario Argento, Asia Argento, and Three Mothers
I have known for awhile that Mr. Argento had decided to go ahead and finish up his Three Mothers trilogy, started with the most amazing Suspiria, but I just noticed on IMDB that Asia will be playing the lead, Daria Nicoldi will be back as Asia's mother, and Jessica Harper is rumored to be involved somehow. I think my head just exploded with happiness!
It definitely makes up for the fact that Eli Roth talked Edwige Fenech into being in Hostel 2. One of my favorite Giallo actresses being in Hostel 2 means I will have to see it, and this makes me mad at my OCD self for having to see everything she's in.
It definitely makes up for the fact that Eli Roth talked Edwige Fenech into being in Hostel 2. One of my favorite Giallo actresses being in Hostel 2 means I will have to see it, and this makes me mad at my OCD self for having to see everything she's in.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasen
Carl Hiaasen is one of my favorite mystery writers. He’s funny but never neglects the mystery or the characters. Double Whammy is one of his earlier works, but it still shines bright compared to the later books of his I have read.
Double Whammy is all about bass fishing. R.J. Decker used to be a professional photographer, but due to some bad luck he ends up working as a private eye and living in a trailer park guarded by pit bulls. Decker is hired by Dennis Gault to prove Gault’s big competition in the bass tournaments is somehow cheating. The problem is, the first guy he hired ended up dead. Decker ends up teaming up with Skink, a crazy hermit who loves to cook up road kill, to figure out who killed the first guy, who wants to kill him, and who wants to frame him for another murder. If that wasn’t enough, he’s still in love with his ex-wife, a TV evangelist wants his head and his fishing show to make the top of the list, and a crazed red neck with a dead pit bull attached to his arm wants a revenge kill. He has to figure out who killed whom, who benefits, and why before the FBI ends up arresting him. He ends up discovering that bass fishing is more than just a relaxation sport, in fact, the competition is fierce and violent.
Hiaasen creates the very memorable characters and places. Decker is a funny guy, but he’s not just surface. Hiaasen hints at some deeper characteristics that aren’t fleshed out as much as you might find in a different type of novel. Skink is over the top, but you also realize by the end there is more to the man that just the caricature he presents to the world. Coon Bog, Florida is just what you would expect a bass obsessed little Florida town to be like. It’s like the L.A. of James Ellroy with a bit of Margaritaville thrown in the mix.
I find Hiaasen’s work to be refreshing. It’s a good murder mystery without all of the dark, angry places you can get in crime drama these days. He’s a tree-hugger whose books always touch on some environmental aspect that Floridians face, but he never preaches. It’s part of the story; it’s matter of fact. I respect a man who has values, but decided to not beat you over the head with them. On top of all that, he makes me laugh. You can’t beat that package.
Rating: 4 Purrs
Double Whammy is all about bass fishing. R.J. Decker used to be a professional photographer, but due to some bad luck he ends up working as a private eye and living in a trailer park guarded by pit bulls. Decker is hired by Dennis Gault to prove Gault’s big competition in the bass tournaments is somehow cheating. The problem is, the first guy he hired ended up dead. Decker ends up teaming up with Skink, a crazy hermit who loves to cook up road kill, to figure out who killed the first guy, who wants to kill him, and who wants to frame him for another murder. If that wasn’t enough, he’s still in love with his ex-wife, a TV evangelist wants his head and his fishing show to make the top of the list, and a crazed red neck with a dead pit bull attached to his arm wants a revenge kill. He has to figure out who killed whom, who benefits, and why before the FBI ends up arresting him. He ends up discovering that bass fishing is more than just a relaxation sport, in fact, the competition is fierce and violent.
Hiaasen creates the very memorable characters and places. Decker is a funny guy, but he’s not just surface. Hiaasen hints at some deeper characteristics that aren’t fleshed out as much as you might find in a different type of novel. Skink is over the top, but you also realize by the end there is more to the man that just the caricature he presents to the world. Coon Bog, Florida is just what you would expect a bass obsessed little Florida town to be like. It’s like the L.A. of James Ellroy with a bit of Margaritaville thrown in the mix.
I find Hiaasen’s work to be refreshing. It’s a good murder mystery without all of the dark, angry places you can get in crime drama these days. He’s a tree-hugger whose books always touch on some environmental aspect that Floridians face, but he never preaches. It’s part of the story; it’s matter of fact. I respect a man who has values, but decided to not beat you over the head with them. On top of all that, he makes me laugh. You can’t beat that package.
Rating: 4 Purrs
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Books Read in 2006
Fiction – General
The River King Alice Hoffman
The Horned Man Robert Ladsun
And the Earth Did Not Devour Him Thomas Rivera
Dragonwyck Anya Seton
The Ice Queen Alice Hoffman
Less Than Zero Bret
A Dirty Job Christopher Moore
Fiction – SciFi, Fantasy, Horror
One Door Away From Heaven Dean Koontz
The Adventures of Samurai Cat
More Adventures of Samurai Cat
The Association Bentley Little
Reliquary Douglas Preston &
The Historian Elizabeth Kostova
The Resort Bentley Little
Prey Michael Crichton
The Collection Bentley Little
Coraline Neil Gaiman
Smoke & Mirrors Neil Gaiman
Velocity Dean Koontz
We Have Always Lived in the Castle Shirley Jackson
Lost Boy Lost Girl Peter Staub
For Us, The Living Robert Heinlein
Life Expectancy Dean Koontz
Anasi Boys Neil Gaiman
Dearly Devoted Dexter Jeff Lindsay
Cell Stephen King
The Return Bentley Little
The Door in the Hedge Robin McKinley
Fiction – Romance
Kiss Them Goodbye Stella Cameron
When the Storm Breaks Heather Lowell
The Color of Death Elizabeth Lowell
Decoy Jasmine Cresswell
Tell Me Why Stella Cameron
Light in Shadow Jayne Anne Krantz
Three Fates Nora Roberts
Firestorm Iris Johansen
Someone to Watch Over Me Judith McNaught
Truth or Dare Jayne Anne Krentz
Killing Time Linda Howard
Countdown Iris Johansen
No Escape Heather Lowell
Always Time to Die Elizabeth Lowell
Touching Evil Kay Hooper
The Secret Sister Elizabeth Lowell
Whisper of Evil Kay Hooper
Born to be Wild Catherine Coulter
Sense of Evil Kay Hooper
Kiss Me While I Sleep Linda Howard
Fiction – Mystery/Thriller
Codex Lev Grossman
State of
Deja Dead Kathy Reichs
The Mystery of the Blue Train Agatha Christie
Foucault’s Pendulum Umberto Eco
Murder in
The Italian Secretary Caleb Carr
They Came to
So Many Steps to Death Agatha Christie
Passenger to
The Alienist Caleb Carr
Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor Stephanie Barron
Death du Jour Kathy Reichs
Deadly Decisions Kathy Reichs
The Big Over Easy Jasper Fforde
The Angel of Darkness Caleb Carr
The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse Robert Rankin
Murder at Christmas Agatha Christie
The Hollow Agatha Christie
Blood on the Moon James Ellroy
Maisie Dobbs Jacqueline Winspear
Death & Restoration Iain Pears
The Big Nowhere James Ellroy
Double Whammy Carl Hiaasen
Murder in Retrospect Agatha Christie
Fatal Voyage Kathy Reichs
The Sultan’s Seal Jenny White
Classics
The Beautiful and Damned F. Scott Fitzgerald
A Passage to
In the
SlapStick Kurt Vonnegut
No Country for Old Men Cormac McCarthy
Deadeye Dick Kurt Vonnegut
In a Glass Darkly
The Haunted Hotel Wilkie Collins
The Master of the World Jules Verne (Audiobook Podcast)
The Road to Oz Frank L Baum (Audiobook Podcast)
The Woman in White Wilkie Collins
Nonfiction
Lucky Alice Sebold
I Knew a Woman: The Experience of the Female Body Courtney Davis
Allies in Healing Laura Davis
8:55 to
The Murderer Next Door David M Buss
Comics Read in 2006
Lenore: Noogies - Probably won't read any more of this series. Too little plot.
Lucifer: Game of Cards - Enh. I miss Sandman.
Graphic Classics Volume 1: Edgar Allan Poe - I love these Graphic Classics. Classic stores illustrated by different authors.
Graphic Classics Volume 4: H.P. Lovecraft
Graphic Classics: Bram Stoker
Fables 1: Legends in Exile - I love Fables. I want to marry it.
Fables 2: Animal Farm
Fables 3: Storybook Love
Fables 4: March of the Wooden Soldiers
Fables 5: The Mean Seasons
Fables 6: Homelands
Fables 7: Arabian Nights (and Days)
Gloom Cookie Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4 - I like this series well enough, but I really prefer Courtney Crumrin.
X 23 Volumes 1-6 - Recommended by the husband, a short series about a continuation of the Weapon X program, but this time in the form of a teenage girl. Pretty good.
Christmas Evil (aka You Better Watch Out)
I rented this delightful Christmas flick after seeing it mentioned on Come Play With Us, Danny. I simply had to rent a killer Santa movie to watch at Christmas. It was a moral imperative. After all nothing says Christmas like a lunatic in a Santa suit with a big shiny knife. I couldn’t find a copy of Silent Night, Deadly Night (darn you NetFlix!), so Christmas Evil it was.
What an amazingly silly movie; I loved every absurd minute of it. When he was younger, Harry’s little brother tells him Santa isn’t real, and he sees real proof by finding Mommy kissing Santa Claus and somehow his Dad isn't in his bedroom. This ruins the poor little guy for life, and really, who could blame him. He becomes obsessed with Santa Claus, and after getting promoted into a toy design job at the toy company he works for, he snaps after some of the line workers and his bosses use up all of his good graces. All of a sudden, Harry is Santa Claus, punishing the bad folks and rewarding the good ones.
My favorite scene in the whole movie is when Santa Harry comes across a group of parents and kids walking home, and the parents recognize Harry as the crazy Santa killer. After one of the dads pulls a switchblade to go after him like they are in West Side Story, the parents all come after him full on Frankenstein mob style with torches. I almost cried with happiness.
The acting’s really not good, and special effects are low quality, but this very silly but oh so enjoyable Christmas fest had me from the moment Harry saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus, and simply stole my heart when the torches came out. Christmas Evil has just become one of those movies I must watch every Christmas season, with the likes of Black Christmas and Night of the Comet.
Rating: 4 ½ Purrs
What an amazingly silly movie; I loved every absurd minute of it. When he was younger, Harry’s little brother tells him Santa isn’t real, and he sees real proof by finding Mommy kissing Santa Claus and somehow his Dad isn't in his bedroom. This ruins the poor little guy for life, and really, who could blame him. He becomes obsessed with Santa Claus, and after getting promoted into a toy design job at the toy company he works for, he snaps after some of the line workers and his bosses use up all of his good graces. All of a sudden, Harry is Santa Claus, punishing the bad folks and rewarding the good ones.
My favorite scene in the whole movie is when Santa Harry comes across a group of parents and kids walking home, and the parents recognize Harry as the crazy Santa killer. After one of the dads pulls a switchblade to go after him like they are in West Side Story, the parents all come after him full on Frankenstein mob style with torches. I almost cried with happiness.
The acting’s really not good, and special effects are low quality, but this very silly but oh so enjoyable Christmas fest had me from the moment Harry saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus, and simply stole my heart when the torches came out. Christmas Evil has just become one of those movies I must watch every Christmas season, with the likes of Black Christmas and Night of the Comet.
Rating: 4 ½ Purrs
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