Zombieland Preview

Getting back to the roots today--a preview of a horror film. Well actually it's more of a "Zomb-edy." Thanks to friend, screen-writer, and fellow blogger John Rocks (yes that's his real name) for the tip on this movie. His blog can be found here: http://www.johnwritesforthescreen.com/

I will post the "Zombieland" trailer a little further down for your viewing convenience. Some points to consider about this movie:

1) "Zombieland" has fast zombies, much like the "Dawn of the Dead" remake and "28 Days Later" (though I know that they aren't zombies.) Fast zombies usually ramp up the horror factor at the risk of deviating from the usual characteristic slow and shambling hoard. Always a difficult choice to be made when stating up your zombies.

2) The star of "Zombieland" is Woody Harrelson. Given his appearance, yet distinctive voice it almost gives the impression that the hero will be a strange blend of Cheers bartender Woody Boyd and Crocodile Dundee. Not sure how Harrelson will be as the star of an action/horror/comedy such as "Zombieland," but time will only tell.

3) Reminiscent of "Shaun of the Dead?" The trailer clearly marks "Zombieland" as being a comedy. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of dark tones or panic stricken survivors but rather almost a "game show" like feel to the plague of undead. They even compete for the best "zombie kill of the week." A lot of people will compare "Zombieland" to "Shaun of the Dead" but from simply the trailer I think there will be a huge difference.


Although "Shaun of the Dead" is also a hysterical movie, it is extremely dark and moving film. "Shaun of the Dead" does make light of the zombie genre in the first two acts, but by the third, when they are in the Winchester, the film becomes so dark and serious, you forget how much you laughed earlier in the movie. "Shaun of the Dead" is very underrated and is quite possible one of the best movies ever made, technically speaking. There are so many subtle nuances and make the movie extremely creepy as to denote that people wouldn't notice a zombie uprising until it was too late. If anyone wants more on this, let me know in the form of a comment.


But in "Zombieland" the characters seem to be more lighthearted. They are swirling around an amusement park, make many quick quips, and other quirky things. I'm not saying that these will make for a bad movie, just it will be different in tone than "Shaun of Dead" and actually might let some people down who are anticipating something similar.


Overall, "Zombieland" will be funny, entertaining, light-hearted, and will poke fun at the zombie genre. However, if you are looking for the next zombie thriller that is more traditional...well you might have to wait until "World War Z" gets closer to completion. But please do not forget that this is all comming from soley the trailer. Trailers can sometimes decieve...if you want to know ask me what I think about the movie "Freedomland."

Agree with me? What do you think? Watch the trailer then leave some comments please.

Apologies

Hello loyal or first time readers. Apologies for lack of recent activity. There are actually two apologies here.

1) The past week or so I've been at my residency for my Wilkes Creative Writing Program. The Wilkes Creative Writing program is conducted mostly online but every six months the students have to go for a week long residency where they are involved in seminars, readings, etc. That is where I was the past week and I had no time online to write a well thought post.

Oh and I got a twitter: corybrin

2) I also apologize for not always sticking to the main point of this blog. I know I started this with the intention of taking a focus look at horror. That is still my paramount object, however given my time in the Wilkes Creative Writing Program, I've been spending a lot of time reading and writing non-horror things. So I apologize to all of you who come here looking for horror stuff and haven't quite found it. I promise to make a more conscious effort to do so in the future, while throwing in some interjections here and there about other things. I also resolve to update on a more consistent basis. Please don't count me out just yet.

Evil Sunscreen Corporations

Realization:

Sunscreen is important as it protects us from the sun's harmful rays. However, there has been a trend recently in terms of sunscreen products: Most now are sold via an aerosol can.

Now, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't aerosol release chlorofluorocarbons into the air? And don't CFCs find the ozone layer a tasty snack? And without an ozone layer...won't we die....or at the very least be more exposed to the suns harmful rays?

Does this mean that the sunscreen companies are purposely trying to kill our natural protection from the sun, so that we might have to come to solely rely on manufactured protection? Or are they just that stupid that they don't realize what they are doing to the only planet we have?

Here me people buy sunscreen that comes in pump bottles, or is dispensed like a lotion. Together we can bring down this evil corporation's sinister plans!

Movie Etiquette

Went to see "Up" again the other day. Still amazing. But due to the string of good movies that come out, I've been to the theater a lot recently and I have to say this:

If you are at a movie....and you have a cell phone...and you think about texting...


DON'T!

I will find you...I will hurt you.

The theater asks you specifically not to do it, yet seconds later there are always bright glows that are horribly distracting. Perhaps that's the most offensive thing: that people are so inconsiderate as to ignore a simple request, that affects everyone else.

Like seriously, if someone turned around and threw their soda on you, you would be annoyed, but I don't go around doing that...yet...but it would be equally as distracting and equally as inconsiderate.

So here is your warning: You start texting-----I start throwing

People who are talking are just as inconsiderate....but the two jerks who sat behind me already know what I think of them.

Review: Disney/Pixar's Up

The first thing I'd like to say is this: I am seeing a trend in Pixar Movies...they are slowly getting sadder and sadder. Wall-E made us sad as we watched this poor little robot all by himself, yet making the best of life. He was also such a willing hero to sacrifice himself for the better of the humans. The scene where he doesn't recognize Eve, is just well devastating.

That being said, before you see Up, emotionally ready yourself because at times it's devastating. By "Devastating" I mean like more than half of the movie tugs at your emotions worse than that scene in Wall-E that was mentioned above.

However, that does not mean that Up is not a phenomenal movie. It's hysterical, intriguing, sad, and well just extremely well written. The characters are well developed and realistic, especially the dogs. I never thought that "dog" could be an actual written dialect, but trust me, if dogs could talk, it would be like they do in this movie.

Up's pacing was also spot on. This movie progressed seamlessly and all of it's elements flow so well together. At one moment you are next to tears because you're sad, then suddenly you're next to tears because you can't stop laughing.

The only strange thing about the story is when Carl and Russel meet the antagonist. I don't want to spoil it, but the character that is the "bad guy," according to the time line that we seemed to be presented with, should be at least 90 years old...if not older. I don't know...it was just strange.

Lastly, don't spend the extra money on 3-D. There weren't all that many times when 3-D gave a unique perspective that made me go, "wow." Save yourself some money and get some candy instead.

Hell's Kitchen Finale!

Last night on the Hell's Kitchen finale, Danny beat Paula for rights to be head chef at the Borgata in Atlantic City.


Danny was my pick from the start.


2 key factors:


1) In one of the first services Ramsey said something like, "Danny that lamb's cooked nicely," then sous chef Scott commented that Danny's cooking was "spot on."


2) The code has been cracked...Last year during the theme song, Christina was the 9th chef to be named. This year, Danny was the 9th. Think about it.

Movie Review: Star Trek

Space: J. J. Abram's Final Frontier

I have two distinct points to make in my review for the new Star Trek movie.

1. Amazing.

2. Simon Pegg as Scotty = Brilliant.

Sorry if this seems like a cop out...but I'm serious...it's that good. Even if your not a fan of the franchise, it does a good job of orienting you and including you in the story and the excitement.