Monthly Archives: November 2008

Announcements

Midnight Rec: Over the Top Christmas Displays

Leave a comment

No, this has nothing to do with writing. Yes, it is almost too good to be true. I will, however, attempt to imbue the post with significant literary style to justify its existence. Midnight Rec: Over the Top Christmas Displays Today, I worked non-stop from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM putting together Christmas displays. One was for my father, one was for my grandmother. I have painted his damn wood cut-outs for over a month till my fingers ached and did not want to uncurl. He wanted Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol for the front lawn, pictured here: Pretty nice, right? If a bit excessive? Yeah. What you don't see are the 12+ light up moving Christmas animals, the dancing Santa Clause, the Frosty the Snowman, and the clashing Christmas lights (flickering snowflakes + red bulbs + icicles = profit?) mere inches from the left of the frame. Tacky, no? And my grandmother wanted her LED lights on the awning, her giant second hand Christmas lights on the roof (not placed yet: I don't do ladders taller than five feet, thank you), and her nativity set (new outdoor outlet going in next week to accommodate). I decided to use some nice metallic and glitter shatterproof Christmas ornaments to match the mostly retro feel of the soon to be completed display, here. Intentionally kitschy? You betcha. Done with a wink and a nod to my family's unnatural desire to wear anything with glitter, sequins, and rhinestones? Absolutely. Wait until I add the wire Christmas trees lit from underneath to really make those suckers pop at night. But these pale in comparison to the subject at hand. No, there are people who catch a sickness I call overkilldecoratingitisosis. Sadly, this disease is not recognized by the latest edition of the DSM, but I hope one day to increase awareness of this growing mental health condition. These are the people who think syncing Christmas Carols to every single lighted object available at Home Depot, KMart, WalMart, Target, and Michaels is a good thing. Take, for example, this tragic case. Christmas Lights Crazy Frog Jingle Bells It almost makes you want to cry, if you weren't too busy laughing at the excess. This creator is so embarrassed by his addiction that he has disabled embedding through YouTube to protect his identity. We really must stop mocking these poor fools. There behavior being encouraged has led to commercial units for synchronized lights being available for under $200 at Home Depots, KMarts, and other mass retailers nationwide. We must end this condition now. Please, if you must search for "Christmas Lights Music" on YouTube, do so to educate yourself. Personal experience is important, so I do recommend a quiet, leisurely drive by of your neighborhood Christmas displays, trying to define the line between cute/overkill. Be sympathetic to these poor souls, as they do have the best intentions in mind. They love the holidays so much they want to share the joy with everyone. Unfortunately, just like a freshman going to their first boozefest on campus, they don't know how to control themselves. Please, join the fight to end overkilldecoratingitisosis. Carefully plan out your lawn decorations and exercise caution in design. Otherwise, you may one day wind up on DIY Network claiming more is always better in Christmas decorations, as your yard is overtaken by 12 foot tall wooden soldiers and elves stirring cookie batter.

Labels: Midnight Rec

Film

Film Rec: Young Frankenstein

Leave a comment

Bonjour tout le monde! Heureux d'action de grâces! Mon ordinateur a traversé apparemment la chaîne et osé dans France pour les vacances, en passant par NJ. Remercie Verizon! Which should roughly translate to: Hello everyone! Happy Thanksgiving! My computer has apparently crossed the channel and ventured into France for the holidays, by way of NJ. Thanks Verizon! In more important news: Chiller is playing Rocky Horror Picture Show nonstop until 10:00 tonight. Now that's getting in the holiday spirit. Film Rec: Young Frankenstein A mini theme developing for the week with Frankenstein related moments? A mere coincidence, I'm afraid. I caught this film for probably the 50th time last night and couldn't stop laughing and crying. Laughing because it's so great, crying because the musical is closing on January 4th and was never even given a fair chance by the critics. If you can afford it, give it a shot. It's fun, it's funny, and it's really true to the spirit of the film. Young Frankenstein, for those who don't know, was one of two Academy Award nominated Mel Brooks films released starring Gene Wilder in 1973, the other being Blazing Saddles. It concerns the grandson of Dr. Frankenstein being drawn into the reanimation work of his predecessor once invited to take over the family mansion in Transylvania. What's so great about the writing in a film that really is a whole lot of slapstick? Much. The genius of the film is in the manipulation of the source material. While the premise would indicate that the story is not the same, the entire structure of the story is pulled from the pages of the book and the Universal film. Take, for example, this clip:
Yes, the material is broad. Every sentence is basically punctuated with a wink, a nudge, and a rim shot. Yes, much of it relies on physical presence and the quality of the performance. But what truly gets me about the film overall is how slowly these gags come about. Mel Brooks manages to build suspense towards the build up of jokes in a horror comedy, emphasis on the comedy. And not just suspense, Hitchcock suspense. In a previous scene we learned that Igor did bring home an abnormal brain, but Frankenstein does not. We know the bomb is about to go off before the characters do. Are we scared because of the suspense? No. But the payoff works in laughter the same way a traditional horror film would elicit a jump or scream. Brooks subverts the horror genre to prey on our expectations and create comedy at truly horrifying subject matter. I suggest you watch it. If not for what I wrote, than for Madeline Kahn and Cloris Leachman. And Gene Wilder. And the rest of the cast.

Labels: film rec

Vintage Sketchy Details

Book Rec: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Leave a comment

Apparently, my world tour now takes my computer to the UK, as youtube is now displayed as uk.youtube.com. Neat. I always wanted to visit the birthplace of Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare. Too bad I still haven't even left the state of NJ in over a month. Typos may exist, as I can't even run a spell check through Blogger now. [b]Book Rec: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley[/b] I'm a fan of the epistollary novel. The concept appeals to me. What better way is there to gain insight into a character, events, and relationships while silencing the "I refuse to read first person narrative" naysayers? There isn't any. What Mary Shelley achieved in her debut novel written as a teenager is nothing short of extraodinary. Alleged issues of outside editing and rewrites aside, Shelley managed to capture the darker side of human ambition. The issues discussed in Frankenstein, or Modern Prometheus, are still relevant today. From the opening lines describing a fateful sea journey to the latter confrontations between Frankenstein and the monster, the novel is extremely accessible and dripping with mood. No detail is left untouched, and no aspect of the human condition with even the slightest relevance to the plot is left uncovered. She even has a grotesque, and I'm a sucker for the grotesque in pre-20th Century literature. If you think you know Frankenstein from watching the Universal film, you are woefully misinformed. I can't imagine a library not having a copy of this novel, nor a bookstore that does not have some edition for under six dollars. You won't regret it.

Labels: book rec

Announcements

Midnight Rec: Check Your Prescription Medication

Leave a comment

No, it's not a horror film or short lived TV series. It's a serious suggestion. I just switched to a new doctor who was appalled that I had been placed, at eight years old, on a prescription allergy medication with a laundry list of side effects. The side effects were never disclosed to my family, and the bottle only listed the warning that it may cause drowsyness. While my new doctor can't guarantee that the allergy medication is the cause of many medical issues I have, he said the conditions for some of the following may drastically improve by going off the medicine: depression, anxiety, mood swings, uncontrolled weight gain, isomnia, blurred vision, dizzyness, muscle spasms, and migraines, among others. Which does add up. My weight didn't really start to go up until I was put on the allergy medication. Same with the trouble sleeping, the migraines, the depression, the anxiety, the mood swings, and vision problems. The muscle spasms and dizzyness were added to the side effects list with the new formula (still not listed on the packaging) and began appearing when I was forced by my insurance company to switch over. More damning evidence of a connection? When I first moved to NYC for school, I went off of the allergy medication since the city had so little plant life where I was living. I lost forty pounds in six months without really changing my lifestyle too much. I wasn't depressed, or anxious. I didn't require a new prescription for my contacts/glasses at my next eye exam, etc. When I went back on the medication because I had to spend more time in NJ as a sophomore, my weight started to go back up, I was depressed again, wound up in the emergency room a few times because of anxiety attacks, and my contact/glasses prescription needed a huge correction at the next exam. I didn't even think of a connection between the medication and these changes because they only side effect I was ever informed of was drowsiness. Ironically, that was never a problem for me. The new doctor really does expect to see a pretty significant change before I see him again near the end of December. We're testing out some natural alternatives for the allergies that are working all right. I'm not quite into the swing of it yet. It's a bit more complicated than one pill every day. So, my midnight rec is this: ask questions of your doctor before allowing him or her to recommend a prescription medication for you or a loved one. Read up on the potential issues with the medication and speak to your doctor if you think something might be up. Otherwise, you might not know until fifteen years later when for years no one could figure out the cause of the problems you were having.

Labels: Midnight Rec

Film

Film Rec: The Birds

Leave a comment

Wow. My computer really must be on a vacation. I'm back in Germany again by way of NJ after a brief stint in China also by way of NJ. Now, I know I haven't left the country, and I doubt the computer is logging in frequent flier miles. Keep it classy, Verizon. Film Rec: The Birds There is a major caveat to this recommendation. I feel it is a disservice to the material this Hitchcock classic is based on to not read Dame Daphne du Maurier's masterful novella before and after watching the film. Hitchcock made a wonderful film based off the premise, but it pales in comparison to the darkly suggestive narritive penned by du Maurier. I know I recommend a lot of horror films, or films with a horror sensibility to them. It is a reflection of my interest in cinema, but also of the intention of this blog. It's a blog about writing. In my opinion, the hardest type of film to write is a horror film. Fear is such a personal thing that finding mass appeal with quality writing is almost impossible. People constantly scrutinize the genre for its flimsy material or cheap tactics, but I see it very differently. The Birds is a perfect example to disprove the widely held beliefs of horror. Intelligent, darkly humorous, and violent, the fim never seems gratuitous. The mystery driving the film – why are the birds attacking? – is not answered to let the mind wander. Hitchcock gives the viewer free reign to see the film however they choose, except for one detail: birds are attacking humans. You can hate the Hitchcock blonde and love the school teacher. You could dislike every character but the woman at the diner preaching the Bible. It does not matter. The film has something for everyone to relate to, even if that something is just the fear of losing control. The dramatic arc of the film is near flawless. With so many major action sequences: the gas pump, the school yard, the house attack, among others, it never becomes predictable. Since we don't necessarily learn why the birds are attacking, we don't know how, where, and when they will attack. The characters don't know anymore than the audience, which is key for accepting an us versus them mentality in horror. For those who argue that the effects are dated an Michael Bay really needs to remake the film, I honestly suggest you watch the film again. Those birds look real. There is no way CGI bird could look better unless they made it an animated film. Please watch it. The film doesn't bite, I promise.

Labels: film rec

Vintage Sketchy Details

#3: Dark Delicacies II: Fear, edited by Del Howison and Jeff Gelb

Leave a comment

There is only one important lesson to take away from the second Dark Delicacies anthology: Sequels are rarely as good as the original. It is almost impossible for me to diagnose exactly what disappointed me with the second collection of short horror from America's largest store dedicated exclusively to horror merchandise. Are the writers of a lesser caliber? Not really. Perhaps not as well known as the first collection, but no less skilled. Is it the presentation? Again, no. The book is physically presented in the same style, down to typeface and eerily suggestive cover. Then what could cause me to feel so let down by a new collection of horror stories? I think it might just be that I didn't enjoy as many as I normally do in anthologies. I really can't complain. There are so few quality horror anthologies left because there are so few horror markets left. And those horror markets are staying alive by publishing stories mostly from known names in the industry. Cemetary Dance goes so far as to dedicate four to six pages on Stephen King news whenever they actually get around to putting out another issue. In America, at least, it is a fading market, which is upsetting for new horror writers and fans alike. Dark Delicacies II: Fear made only one mistake as far as I can tell. They chose a theme. The first collection was considered an anthology of horror fiction on the outskirts of society. It was filled with the type of story that would get the 1/4 sheet form response for being too weird, or the even worse full page writers guidelines with the section about being clearly horror fiction highlighted for being too subtle or esoteric. This anthology promises nineteen tales about fear. That's a problem. Fear is such a broad subject that will not effectively hit everyone with every story. I think I enjoyed half of the collection, compared to all but two or three stories in the original. That said, there are five truly stand out stories for me that still haunt me. Barbara Hambly's "Sunrise on Running Water" is historical vampire fiction about one unfortunate Lord who attempted to cross the Atlantic as a passenger on the Titanic. It's suspenseful and hilarious, with excellent character development and a period tone that feels authentic. Max Brooks submitted a new tale of the Zombie War entitled "Great Wall." It describes one Chinese woman who permanently disfigured her hands attempting to stave off zombies with the creation of a new Great Wall made entirely of broken glass bricks. It might be better than any story actually included in World War Z. "First Born" has John Farris riffing on a cliche contract with the devil set in a posh Hollywood estate. The tone is bizarre, almost absurd, yet the execution chilled me to the bone. Speaking of bizarre, does Tanarive Due ring a bell? Her "Amusement" fulfills the "Macabre" portion of the subtitle (More Original Tales of Terror and the Macabre by the World's Greatest Horror Writers) with a strange tale about a eunuch. But not really about a eunuch. But built around a eunuch. And black lights. And indie film credibility. And sex. The last of my favorites is "I Am Coming to Live in Your Mouth" by Glen Hirshberg, about a family attempting to survive the last few day's of a man's destructive battle with cancer. I would recommend anyone who likes horror fiction try Dark Delicacies II, for I think I've realized why I was so disappointed. No one I knew surprised me. Joe R. Lansdale did a tale of wilderness survival. L.A. Banks wrote in a very formal tone filled with suggestive imagery. Steve Niles did a violent story. Even names I've already mentioned (Hambly – historical, Brooks – zombies, Due – insane) did things they are known for. The first collection seemed to have authors stepping out of their comfort zones a bit more. Is it bad to be so good at one thing you make an anthology like this? No. Might there have been other authors, emerging authors, so highly praised in the forewords and afterward that could have thrown in some much needed twists to a predictable collection? Probably, considering that afterward. Just try it. It's so broad in scope you are bound to find something you like. Currently Reading: Salem's Lot The Hunger The Dark Chamber Probably a few others I'm blanking on On Deck: Massive papers Sleep migraine

Labels: dark delicacies, horror, short stories

Vintage Sketchy Details

Book Rec: Bloom Edited References

Leave a comment

Good news, everyone. My Blaze review from my Cannonball Read site was just republised on Pajiba. Godtopus be praised! Now to put everyone to sleep. Book Rec: Modern Critical Interpretations: James Joyce's A Portrait of the Atist as a Young Man, edited by Harold Bloom I won't mince words here. I hate A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. I think Stephen Dedalus is undeniably one of the most irritating and unlikable characters ever created in the history of the English language. There's a reason why I am not including a post on that book on the blog: it's technically sound writing (I love the actual writing in the book) wasted on, to me, a completely worthless subject. Oh look, Stephen hates school. Stephen loves school. Stephen hates church. Stephen loves church. Stephen hates church again. Stephen writes a poem. Hooray? But that is not the subject of this post. The subject is a wonderful compendium of critical essays on Portrait pulled together by Harold Bloom. At first I thought: I must be too critical. Surely no one else feels the same way about Stephen as I do. Then I read this book while working on my Portrait paper. It was a revelation. The essays cover a wide variety of topics within the novel that basically boil down to the following truth: Stephen is supposed to be that insufferable because he is a young artist. I can't argue with that. Doesn't make me like the book more, but at least I'm not totally off base here. The most interesting essay is Suzette Henke, basically desribing Stephen's constant moral flipping as a way to recocile the Mary/whore complex. She suggests he tries to fill void within his personality swings by turning a whore into Mary and vice versa throughout the book. I'm not doing it justice. I just thought it was a very interesting and surprisingly readable (which was the point) selection of Joycian criticism that works to open up the book to other possibilities. Am I recommending you go run out and buy this? No. Borrow it from the library, even? Not unless you really have a desire to wade through Portrait again (or for the first time). Then it's the perfect side dish. And if all the html tags are messed up, I apologize. Blogger looks very strange on my screen right now.

Labels: book rec

Film

Midnight Rec: Poultyrgeist: Night of the Chicken Dead

Leave a comment

I apologize again about Thursday. I still don't feel particularly well, but at least I don't think I'm getting a migraine any longer. I hate casting. Midnight Rec: Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead The film is not for everyone. For better or worse, this is a Troma production. All I can say is that when I saw it, I really enjoyed myself. What's not to like about a musical horror film concerning a fast food chain building their latest franchise on an ancient Indian burial ground that turns customers into chicken monsters bent on revenge? The film does have all the nudity and violence and disgusting sight gags you would expect from Troma, but in a way it is addressing a more significant issue than usual, and it does it well. There's a reasons some reviewers are calling it one of the weightier, well thought out, politically minded zombie films since Romero's Dawn of the Dead. I'd link you to the clean trailer, but Youtube has that flagged as adult content, as well. For good reasons, if you ask me.

Labels: Midnight Rec