The Hobbit
J.R.R Tolkein
1937
The Hobbit, when I first thought about reading the hobbit I was a bit intimidated to be honest. I felt that the writing style was going to be like Lord of the Rings, a bit complex and EXTREMELY detailed. However I come to find that the hobbit was actually pretty easy to read and was not at all as complexed as I imagine it would be.
The story focuses on Bilbo Baggins, not Frodo like I was expecting, as he travels with Gandalf, which I was extremely happy to find about, (cause lets face it, Gandalf is like the most badass wizard to ever live.) and others to basically steal treasure. Which I find quite hilarious, considering that Lord of the Rings was all about returning. Bilbo is at first reluctant to go but sooner or later he his of course talked into going and precedes to go on his heros journey.
I never really read Lord of the Rings and I only watched the movies like twice. So I personally didn't know much about the world they were stepping into. Reading is something is different from seeing something. The world kinda reminded me of Harry Potters world, with elves, giant spiders, and just this world that you could only dream of. I like how this story explained how the ring fell into Biblo's procession, which I did wonder about in watching Lord of the Rings.. My favorite parts of the story was of course Gandalf coming in the save the day all the time. But I also really enjoyed the part when Biblo has to solve a course of riddle games in order to make it out the cave. I always love when characters have to think mentally and their thought process of how to escape their situation. It show grow and development of the protagonist and shows that muscles is not always the key.
Overall I think that I really injoyed the book and that I am kinda glad that I read this before picking up Lord of the Rings. I feel that I know and is comfortable with the world that J.R.R Tolkein has put his characters in. And that I won't look like a complete idiot whenever they reference from the Hobbit.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Frankinstein
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
1818
Frankenstein, I wanted to revisit Frankenstein for the whole semester. I was originally assigned back in 8th grade for summer read, but having the attention span of a fly I couldn't really glad ahold of what I was reading back then nor could I get pass the 2nd chapter. Now that I have had a chance to reread it I found that it is nothing like I remembered it to be and is completely opposite to what I imagined it to be. Coming in I had this precption that the monster (Frankenstein) would sorta be the villain but it lean towards more of Victor Frankenstein being the monster. But after reading this I feel that both were sort of the villain in there own right. I mean that I feel that neither can really justify their actions through out the entire story.
Yes, Victor was wrong and a monster himself for creating something that has no right in defying the natural balance and order of life. Once we die, we die, thats it. Victor disturbed that due to obsession and arrogance into thinking he could control it. Which was quite funny seeing him run away in terror after awaking to the monster towering over him. But still due to the error of his ways he ends up losing everyone he cares dear about. By the end of the story Victor is a broken hallow of a man fueled only by revenge and is left to die angry and unsatisfied. However I would like to note that I do commend Victor on not repeating his same mistakes twice. I like that he did learn from his mistakes, even though it might have been through shear fear, and did not create a bride for his monster.
However, when I hear about the monster (Frankenstein), I hear that he is the victim and that he doesn't do anything hardly wrong. Which in my opinion is complete BS. When I was little people called (Frankenstein) a monster because of his looks and background. No, (Frankenstein) is a monster because he has actually killed people, innocent people that had really no involvement with Victor and his experiments. Even through I see way (Frankenstein) is angry at his creator for what he has done to him. What gives this being the right to kill innocents that just happen to me tied to Victor in some from or fashion. He even infected damage on people without even realizing it with Justine Mortiz, whom died for his crimes.
In my opinion both are kinda monsters in there own way Victor for disturbeding the natural order of life and death. And (Frankenstein) for being aware of his actions and stilling killing people to meet his own needs and desires.
Mary Shelley
1818
Frankenstein, I wanted to revisit Frankenstein for the whole semester. I was originally assigned back in 8th grade for summer read, but having the attention span of a fly I couldn't really glad ahold of what I was reading back then nor could I get pass the 2nd chapter. Now that I have had a chance to reread it I found that it is nothing like I remembered it to be and is completely opposite to what I imagined it to be. Coming in I had this precption that the monster (Frankenstein) would sorta be the villain but it lean towards more of Victor Frankenstein being the monster. But after reading this I feel that both were sort of the villain in there own right. I mean that I feel that neither can really justify their actions through out the entire story.
Yes, Victor was wrong and a monster himself for creating something that has no right in defying the natural balance and order of life. Once we die, we die, thats it. Victor disturbed that due to obsession and arrogance into thinking he could control it. Which was quite funny seeing him run away in terror after awaking to the monster towering over him. But still due to the error of his ways he ends up losing everyone he cares dear about. By the end of the story Victor is a broken hallow of a man fueled only by revenge and is left to die angry and unsatisfied. However I would like to note that I do commend Victor on not repeating his same mistakes twice. I like that he did learn from his mistakes, even though it might have been through shear fear, and did not create a bride for his monster.
However, when I hear about the monster (Frankenstein), I hear that he is the victim and that he doesn't do anything hardly wrong. Which in my opinion is complete BS. When I was little people called (Frankenstein) a monster because of his looks and background. No, (Frankenstein) is a monster because he has actually killed people, innocent people that had really no involvement with Victor and his experiments. Even through I see way (Frankenstein) is angry at his creator for what he has done to him. What gives this being the right to kill innocents that just happen to me tied to Victor in some from or fashion. He even infected damage on people without even realizing it with Justine Mortiz, whom died for his crimes.
In my opinion both are kinda monsters in there own way Victor for disturbeding the natural order of life and death. And (Frankenstein) for being aware of his actions and stilling killing people to meet his own needs and desires.
Empire Star
Empire Star
Neal Stephenson
1992
Hiro is a very interesting character; even his introduction into the story was quite entertaining. Working as Pizza Delivery boy for his Uncle Enzo's CosaNostra Pizza Company. Which I find quite funny and reliving, that old establishments, such as pizza delivery would still apply in the far the future. Hiros description of a character is that he is a hacker, an expert swordfighter, and a pizza delivery boy. . . This is like every nerd's dream role model. Hiro's character is funny, cocky, and never really boring, to me at least. And the same can go for the other characters in the book. I found myself wanting to come back to this book, cause I actually cared and was interested to see what would happen to these characters on their journey. The pace of this story was easy for me to keep up with so I didn't have to struggle as hard to read to. The environment and technology in the story were really cool. And although the story was very dark at times I still felt an attraction to this story this book that only made me keep reading more until there was nothing left. Now I am not saying that this story is a masterpiece or one of the greatest books that I have ever read. I am just saying that it is a book that I found very entertaining and kind of a stress reliever.
Neal Stephenson
1992
Snow Cash was one of the funniest stories I had a chance to read this semester. I really enjoyed the plot, characters, and overall setting of the story. The plot is very simple: Basically try to stop the spread of a drug/virus that has the potential to kill everyone it touches. Snow Cash is what the drug is call and it is unlike any drug that I have seen before. Not only is it real virus but it is also a computer virus too, which is both weird and unique at the same time. This virus has the ability to literally fry your brain and its up to our hero, literally named Hiro, to stop this from happening of course.
The Star My Destination
The Star My Destination
Alfred Bester
1956
I would like to state first of all that, out of all the stories I have read this semester so far The Star My Destination was the most frustrating thus far. The main character Gully Foyle was too frustrating of a character to get pass his first developing stages of the novel. Everything about him just screams pain in the ass. He is not very caring or outgoing. He doesn't really have any good lifelong goals. He is lazy, dumb, sluggish, unmotivated, and is just literally the biggest jackass I had ever read up to this point. The description of him is: "Too easy to for trouble, too slow for fun, too empty for friendship, too lazy for love." My first though when reading this was "Jesus, how could this be our hero?" I felt like I was reading the description of some of my friends back in high school.
Okay It's guest me being impatient with his character which I think I was. I figure that I read this novel at a bad time and just didn't have the patience nor the will power to keep up with it. After reading the introduction of our 'hero' and the situation that he is in. The story is set in the future and our 'hero is currently stranded out in a wrecked spaceship for about 170 days. Now a normal person would think, I gosh, he must be trying everything to escape that hellhole. Nope, the expression I got from it was this was that Gully was simple waiting for someone to just simply rescue him.
This suspicion did not help do to the fact that when the ship, the Vorga, was passing by him and he sent out a distress to the ship, which completely ignored him. This scene basically was start of our 'hero's' motivation to go on this journey and kill everyone that was apart of that ship. This situation gives him the real motivation for the first time in is life to live: Revenge.
At this point of the story I feel like it is too early to just walk away from. I mean I wasn't even two-thrids into the story. So I continued, After awhile, Gully eventually fixes the ship best to his abilities and floats off until he is picked up by a these human that lives in the planetary asteriod belt between Mars and Jupiter. Gully while there is given a wife. Wait, what? He is given a wife? This came out of the blue for me and this get seems very, very sexist. Not only is he given a wife but he doesn't really take care of her. Nor does he care about the live around him as he blasted off in the space yacht. At this point of the story just could not take anymore and had to put the book down. I feel that I need to one day finish reading this cause I felt like it caught me in the wrong mood to read it.
Alfred Bester
1956
I would like to state first of all that, out of all the stories I have read this semester so far The Star My Destination was the most frustrating thus far. The main character Gully Foyle was too frustrating of a character to get pass his first developing stages of the novel. Everything about him just screams pain in the ass. He is not very caring or outgoing. He doesn't really have any good lifelong goals. He is lazy, dumb, sluggish, unmotivated, and is just literally the biggest jackass I had ever read up to this point. The description of him is: "Too easy to for trouble, too slow for fun, too empty for friendship, too lazy for love." My first though when reading this was "Jesus, how could this be our hero?" I felt like I was reading the description of some of my friends back in high school.
Okay It's guest me being impatient with his character which I think I was. I figure that I read this novel at a bad time and just didn't have the patience nor the will power to keep up with it. After reading the introduction of our 'hero' and the situation that he is in. The story is set in the future and our 'hero is currently stranded out in a wrecked spaceship for about 170 days. Now a normal person would think, I gosh, he must be trying everything to escape that hellhole. Nope, the expression I got from it was this was that Gully was simple waiting for someone to just simply rescue him.
This suspicion did not help do to the fact that when the ship, the Vorga, was passing by him and he sent out a distress to the ship, which completely ignored him. This scene basically was start of our 'hero's' motivation to go on this journey and kill everyone that was apart of that ship. This situation gives him the real motivation for the first time in is life to live: Revenge.
At this point of the story I feel like it is too early to just walk away from. I mean I wasn't even two-thrids into the story. So I continued, After awhile, Gully eventually fixes the ship best to his abilities and floats off until he is picked up by a these human that lives in the planetary asteriod belt between Mars and Jupiter. Gully while there is given a wife. Wait, what? He is given a wife? This came out of the blue for me and this get seems very, very sexist. Not only is he given a wife but he doesn't really take care of her. Nor does he care about the live around him as he blasted off in the space yacht. At this point of the story just could not take anymore and had to put the book down. I feel that I need to one day finish reading this cause I felt like it caught me in the wrong mood to read it.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Harry Potter
Harry Potter
J.K Rowling
I am glad that I was able to revisit the Harry Potter universe this semester. Harry Potter is a mind blowing cultural phenomenon. Taking old legendary tells of the witch, wizards, and basically sorcery bring them to us in a relatable manner. The world of Harry Potter is written a way that you can literally feel like your there or more like you wish to be apart of that world, and in a way it has been. I see Harry Potter having a larger and more dedicated audience then any other fandom in the world, more than Star Wars and Star Trek. I see Harry Potter lasting for generations amongst our culture.
And I cant talk about one Harry Potter book without talking about them all. The simplicity of the series is what attracts me the most. What I mean by simplicity is that the overall plot of the story is very simple. Boy destroys evil before evil destroys boy. Its a very simple theme to follow.Plus their world is get insteresting. I would always find myself re-reading the ingredients to how a potion is made, or spelling being cast and how they effected the person casted upon. Also one of the neat things of the Harry Potter universe is that the characters are very relatable, especially to my generation. We might come from different world their problems are just like ours. Having reading of them going threw the years and make decisions big and small, especially the small ones, make me relate to them and draws me in even more.
There themes ever also very interesting. Even though Harry Potter started out as a children's book the themes in there could be considered very dark for some viewers. Even there overall theme of the story to me wasn't about power or even really killing Harry Potter. To me the overall theme and driving force behind the story was. . . racism. Its all about racism, racism started this whole thing way back before even Voldermort was born. This whole issue about whom's born is better and purer then whom's. Racism to me has always been ridiculous to me I mean I bleed the same red blood that you bleed, regardless of blood origin or skin tone. This theme alone has kept me into the Harry Potter universe for so long even threw a young age I wanted to see how J.K handled this situation, which I felt that she handled it with grace. However after reading threw her books I know that there is always going to be one that tries to bring that hate to the surface and it is up to us as human beings to not fall into that circle of hate.
J.K Rowling
I am glad that I was able to revisit the Harry Potter universe this semester. Harry Potter is a mind blowing cultural phenomenon. Taking old legendary tells of the witch, wizards, and basically sorcery bring them to us in a relatable manner. The world of Harry Potter is written a way that you can literally feel like your there or more like you wish to be apart of that world, and in a way it has been. I see Harry Potter having a larger and more dedicated audience then any other fandom in the world, more than Star Wars and Star Trek. I see Harry Potter lasting for generations amongst our culture.
And I cant talk about one Harry Potter book without talking about them all. The simplicity of the series is what attracts me the most. What I mean by simplicity is that the overall plot of the story is very simple. Boy destroys evil before evil destroys boy. Its a very simple theme to follow.Plus their world is get insteresting. I would always find myself re-reading the ingredients to how a potion is made, or spelling being cast and how they effected the person casted upon. Also one of the neat things of the Harry Potter universe is that the characters are very relatable, especially to my generation. We might come from different world their problems are just like ours. Having reading of them going threw the years and make decisions big and small, especially the small ones, make me relate to them and draws me in even more.
There themes ever also very interesting. Even though Harry Potter started out as a children's book the themes in there could be considered very dark for some viewers. Even there overall theme of the story to me wasn't about power or even really killing Harry Potter. To me the overall theme and driving force behind the story was. . . racism. Its all about racism, racism started this whole thing way back before even Voldermort was born. This whole issue about whom's born is better and purer then whom's. Racism to me has always been ridiculous to me I mean I bleed the same red blood that you bleed, regardless of blood origin or skin tone. This theme alone has kept me into the Harry Potter universe for so long even threw a young age I wanted to see how J.K handled this situation, which I felt that she handled it with grace. However after reading threw her books I know that there is always going to be one that tries to bring that hate to the surface and it is up to us as human beings to not fall into that circle of hate.
Anansi Boys
Anansi Boys
Neil Gaimen
2005
I would like to first start off by saying that before I picked up and read Anansi Boys that I already had pre-knowledge about Anansi and his background. As a child my mother used to read to me the Anansi stories retold by Eric. A Kimmel and illustrated by Janet Stevens. I was well aware that Anansi was a very LARGE African spider god, known for his mischief and manipulation of animals around him. However I was not expecting what got when reading the first couple of chapters of Anansi Boys.
It starts out with our main character "Fat" Charlie Nancy. I was not surprised about the nickname for Charlie figured that Anansi was known for being quite the the glutton so I was not surprised about any of his children developing the "thickness". At the start of the story Charlie is in London preparing for is wedding when he is interrupted because his father has suddenly passed and heads to florida to take care and settle things. At this point I am a little confused. I figured that the main characters are human and are living normal human lives but I was surprised from this beginning for a number of reasons. One why are we not in Africa? I mean Anansi is a African god. I was quit surprised at the settling of the story is in London and not Africa and Mr. Nancy, who I assume is Anansi, is in Florida. I am also quite surprise to find out that Charlie actually knows is father. Typically I see the tale in which a boy grows up and then one day they find out who their real father is and go on this epic long quest. To follow in their footsteps to save the world or fulfill their destiny. You know, the same story that has been told a million times before. So the fact that he knew is father right off the bat was a bit of a revealer in hopes that they don't follow the formula.
I was interest to find out that although Charlie knows his father he doesn't know the whole truth about him of corse. His father was actually a reincarnation of Anansi and that although he does not have any powers his brother, Spider, whom he didn't know he had, does. Basically they end up becoming rivals while fighter another rival and surprisingly there is hardly any involvement with Anansi. Which is good in its own way. I mean he was there at times but the story focused more on the journey of Anansi's boys Charlie and Spider. The themes were good. The characters were excellent, expect Coats, who I found quite annoying threw the story. And I felt overall that Neil Gaiman did an execute job in telling a tale of what Anansi and his demigod children would be like in the 21st century.
Neil Gaimen
2005
I would like to first start off by saying that before I picked up and read Anansi Boys that I already had pre-knowledge about Anansi and his background. As a child my mother used to read to me the Anansi stories retold by Eric. A Kimmel and illustrated by Janet Stevens. I was well aware that Anansi was a very LARGE African spider god, known for his mischief and manipulation of animals around him. However I was not expecting what got when reading the first couple of chapters of Anansi Boys.
It starts out with our main character "Fat" Charlie Nancy. I was not surprised about the nickname for Charlie figured that Anansi was known for being quite the the glutton so I was not surprised about any of his children developing the "thickness". At the start of the story Charlie is in London preparing for is wedding when he is interrupted because his father has suddenly passed and heads to florida to take care and settle things. At this point I am a little confused. I figured that the main characters are human and are living normal human lives but I was surprised from this beginning for a number of reasons. One why are we not in Africa? I mean Anansi is a African god. I was quit surprised at the settling of the story is in London and not Africa and Mr. Nancy, who I assume is Anansi, is in Florida. I am also quite surprise to find out that Charlie actually knows is father. Typically I see the tale in which a boy grows up and then one day they find out who their real father is and go on this epic long quest. To follow in their footsteps to save the world or fulfill their destiny. You know, the same story that has been told a million times before. So the fact that he knew is father right off the bat was a bit of a revealer in hopes that they don't follow the formula.
I was interest to find out that although Charlie knows his father he doesn't know the whole truth about him of corse. His father was actually a reincarnation of Anansi and that although he does not have any powers his brother, Spider, whom he didn't know he had, does. Basically they end up becoming rivals while fighter another rival and surprisingly there is hardly any involvement with Anansi. Which is good in its own way. I mean he was there at times but the story focused more on the journey of Anansi's boys Charlie and Spider. The themes were good. The characters were excellent, expect Coats, who I found quite annoying threw the story. And I felt overall that Neil Gaiman did an execute job in telling a tale of what Anansi and his demigod children would be like in the 21st century.
Lilith's Brood
Lilith's Brood
Octavia Butler
1987-2000
Dawn
I was a little surprise that Lilth;s Brood stems from a collective series of books rather then just one. I was only able to read Dawn and found it rather good as I expected. I am aware of Octavia Butler was a great author so I had really high exception. This was the first novel that I had ever read from her collection and I am sure it will not be my last.
I read Dawn of Lilith's Brood, which was about the human race has basically almost killed eradicated itself with nuclear warfare. To me this settling I ultimately see mankind coming to. People try to say its going to be aliens or a natural disaster that wipes out mankind, like 2012. But I see things differently, mankind. I ultimately think that mankind will end due to greed and power that two things that can and will ultimately destroy any man. I then go on to read that not only do aliens do come later on after the humancide on earth.
These aliens call themselves the Oankali, and basically do what we imagine happens if aliens do come to earth happens but not in the way we expected. Yes they do come and basically try to enslave us, but its not to mine for minerals or anything. These Oankali exactly come to exchange genes with us, which to me, at first, didn't really made any sense at the time. I mean why would anymore want to exchange genes with the most one of the most imperfect species in the universe, to the point that they almost destroyed themselves? Why? I later come to find out that despite how "superior" the Oankail are they need the human in order to give their own genes diversity. The Oankail's perfection is actually there greatest weakness. Which I guess makes sense, It would be horrible if humankind had no diversity whats so ever and where just mindless sheep moving along.
I also come to find our main character Lilith whom in not only a basic slave for the Oankail, but she is also a recruiter for them also. Lilith's is a very conflicting character. She is torn between what her desires are and what is right to do. To either choose between accepting the superior species and their benefits or helping out her own species and break away the oppression of the Oankail. Her choices with the Oankail though are very limited. While reading I notice a lot of the themes of this book I see were sexism and racism. Two of themes that mankind never likes admit doing but continues to do so and tries to act like they are innocent about it. I never got to finish all three parts of the book but I hope one day could sit down and finish reading them.
Octavia Butler
1987-2000
Dawn
I was a little surprise that Lilth;s Brood stems from a collective series of books rather then just one. I was only able to read Dawn and found it rather good as I expected. I am aware of Octavia Butler was a great author so I had really high exception. This was the first novel that I had ever read from her collection and I am sure it will not be my last.
I read Dawn of Lilith's Brood, which was about the human race has basically almost killed eradicated itself with nuclear warfare. To me this settling I ultimately see mankind coming to. People try to say its going to be aliens or a natural disaster that wipes out mankind, like 2012. But I see things differently, mankind. I ultimately think that mankind will end due to greed and power that two things that can and will ultimately destroy any man. I then go on to read that not only do aliens do come later on after the humancide on earth.
These aliens call themselves the Oankali, and basically do what we imagine happens if aliens do come to earth happens but not in the way we expected. Yes they do come and basically try to enslave us, but its not to mine for minerals or anything. These Oankali exactly come to exchange genes with us, which to me, at first, didn't really made any sense at the time. I mean why would anymore want to exchange genes with the most one of the most imperfect species in the universe, to the point that they almost destroyed themselves? Why? I later come to find out that despite how "superior" the Oankail are they need the human in order to give their own genes diversity. The Oankail's perfection is actually there greatest weakness. Which I guess makes sense, It would be horrible if humankind had no diversity whats so ever and where just mindless sheep moving along.
I also come to find our main character Lilith whom in not only a basic slave for the Oankail, but she is also a recruiter for them also. Lilith's is a very conflicting character. She is torn between what her desires are and what is right to do. To either choose between accepting the superior species and their benefits or helping out her own species and break away the oppression of the Oankail. Her choices with the Oankail though are very limited. While reading I notice a lot of the themes of this book I see were sexism and racism. Two of themes that mankind never likes admit doing but continues to do so and tries to act like they are innocent about it. I never got to finish all three parts of the book but I hope one day could sit down and finish reading them.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Audition
Audition
Takashi Miike
1999
Audition is a 'classic' Japanese horror film directed by Takashi Miike. Like most of Japanese horror to terror lies mostly in the suspense while the violence is just the icing on the cake. If there is one thing that American horror movies don't focus on it's the suspense. Which is why 1 out of 10 horror movies that come out in America are just mindless gore-porn and end up falling short of a wait-til-it-comes-to-the-RedBox films. True horror can leave a deep scar in your mind that keeps the view always thinking bout it, mouths, even years later. The Japanese are perfecting this art in their films, so much that just the mere mention of watching a Japanese horror film sends people for miles just from the sheer rumored horror stories about the psychological effects it leaves.
Audition does this so well that the first hour and a half was just all suspense leading up to it climax. No real violence was dealt with until the last 20 mins of the film. The story focuses on Shigeharu Aoyama, whom in the beginning of the film lost his wife, but years later is encouraged by is son and friend to start dating again. He holds mock-auditions for the 'role' of his wife. Yes, this is a deceiving method of leering in a girl but he doesn't really hits on girls for kicks he genuinely wants to be happy and is looking for a soul-mate not a quick role in the hay. Asami, whom is the antagonist and is the women that Shiegeharu wants to be with, focuses on hurting people, based on her abusive past. And thats what takes up most of the film just trying to unravel Asami's and find out who she truly is. The film ends with a mind whopping conclusion that asks the view, was that all really real?
Takashi Miike
1999
Audition is a 'classic' Japanese horror film directed by Takashi Miike. Like most of Japanese horror to terror lies mostly in the suspense while the violence is just the icing on the cake. If there is one thing that American horror movies don't focus on it's the suspense. Which is why 1 out of 10 horror movies that come out in America are just mindless gore-porn and end up falling short of a wait-til-it-comes-to-the-RedBox films. True horror can leave a deep scar in your mind that keeps the view always thinking bout it, mouths, even years later. The Japanese are perfecting this art in their films, so much that just the mere mention of watching a Japanese horror film sends people for miles just from the sheer rumored horror stories about the psychological effects it leaves.
Audition does this so well that the first hour and a half was just all suspense leading up to it climax. No real violence was dealt with until the last 20 mins of the film. The story focuses on Shigeharu Aoyama, whom in the beginning of the film lost his wife, but years later is encouraged by is son and friend to start dating again. He holds mock-auditions for the 'role' of his wife. Yes, this is a deceiving method of leering in a girl but he doesn't really hits on girls for kicks he genuinely wants to be happy and is looking for a soul-mate not a quick role in the hay. Asami, whom is the antagonist and is the women that Shiegeharu wants to be with, focuses on hurting people, based on her abusive past. And thats what takes up most of the film just trying to unravel Asami's and find out who she truly is. The film ends with a mind whopping conclusion that asks the view, was that all really real?
Monday, October 10, 2011
Thrist
Thirst
Park Chan-Wook
2009
Thirst is a Korean horror film that takes on this version of the vampire. This film succeeds in bring forth the legendary monster known to us as the vampire, where other modern films fall short. Most modern films focus on all the cliques of being a vampire, while Thirst focuses on a realistic approach to the vampire. The film is filled with settle yet intense violence, which in the end makes it scarier then your regular hack and slash. You are literally on your toes the whole time during the film. It really just seeks up on you at unexpected times so much that you start to think that very scene is going to have something freaky happen. However the film is to balance it out with an intense romance plot, which leads our leading characters too their doom.
By the end of the film one of the main themes that I personally felt repeated it self through out the film was the human limit. In this film when though you are a vampire and are no longer considered to be human in our world. You were still born as a human and you still grew up as a human, so human tendencies are all you really know. It's not like clique 'Oh I'm a vampire, guess I'm going to act like a vampire now' mentality at other film characters seem to have.
Our main character Sang-Hyun, whom starts off as a Catholic struggles with this the entire movie. Even through he knows that he is now vampire he still thinks in the mind set of a human as far of what is morally right or wrong. He tries not to kill people, he doesn't hold himself as a superior being, and overall he is his trying to live out his human life while adjusting to this whole vampire issues. And in the beginning he seems to have a strong will and determination. But this film show us that even the most strongest of wills can submit to temptation. Our protagonist falls in love which cause him to break every rule that he believes in, causing a lot of pain on the way. Unable to deal with the guilt and have the need to fix everything our protagonist ends up killing himself and her in order to make things right. Or could this suicide just be another part of his will just being broken.
Park Chan-Wook
2009
Thirst is a Korean horror film that takes on this version of the vampire. This film succeeds in bring forth the legendary monster known to us as the vampire, where other modern films fall short. Most modern films focus on all the cliques of being a vampire, while Thirst focuses on a realistic approach to the vampire. The film is filled with settle yet intense violence, which in the end makes it scarier then your regular hack and slash. You are literally on your toes the whole time during the film. It really just seeks up on you at unexpected times so much that you start to think that very scene is going to have something freaky happen. However the film is to balance it out with an intense romance plot, which leads our leading characters too their doom.
By the end of the film one of the main themes that I personally felt repeated it self through out the film was the human limit. In this film when though you are a vampire and are no longer considered to be human in our world. You were still born as a human and you still grew up as a human, so human tendencies are all you really know. It's not like clique 'Oh I'm a vampire, guess I'm going to act like a vampire now' mentality at other film characters seem to have.
Our main character Sang-Hyun, whom starts off as a Catholic struggles with this the entire movie. Even through he knows that he is now vampire he still thinks in the mind set of a human as far of what is morally right or wrong. He tries not to kill people, he doesn't hold himself as a superior being, and overall he is his trying to live out his human life while adjusting to this whole vampire issues. And in the beginning he seems to have a strong will and determination. But this film show us that even the most strongest of wills can submit to temptation. Our protagonist falls in love which cause him to break every rule that he believes in, causing a lot of pain on the way. Unable to deal with the guilt and have the need to fix everything our protagonist ends up killing himself and her in order to make things right. Or could this suicide just be another part of his will just being broken.
Monster Island
Monster Island
David Wellington
2006
David Wellington's Monster Island takes a very different approach to the horror genre. It is very rare (for me at least) to find any novels on Zombies that are good. When you think of zombies in any written form they are manly found in comics or graphic novels. Zombies overall are just a visual monster. It's almost like you have to see it in order to really believe it. Zombies just don't have the same structure as say Vampires or Werewolves. The characters just don't get that same reaction as they would with other monsters. I believe it is because of the inability to commutation between humans and zombie. That inability to communicate head on with the enemy leaves the story dry and the audience longing for something more, when reading a novel. Which is why you see more zombies on the big screen then in novels, unless it's that Jane Austen's parody, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
David Wellington's monster island is written a way that makes keeps you interested just because you get to hear from all sorts of character's personal points of view. When I first started read it, it sort of reminded me of the way Dracula was written. Not in a journal type of format but just jumping back and forth to people's personal point of view at first seemed to be a little intimating, but it was actually easier to catch on then Dracula and then the rest just flows out.
The character that I found most interesting is Gary Fleck. His character is something that I have personal never seen done when it comes from to the genre of Zombie. His character is zombie, however he is able to retain a high level of self awareness of his actions. So basically he is a person who knows that they are a zombie and is able to control themselves in actions and thought process. I have never seen a character like that, expect John Marston in Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare, but thats a video game, which is entirely different cause you play as the zombie. Anyway the reason I find it so fascinating, is because this is what people wish for in zombies apocalyptic situations. If a loved one is bitten they hardly care that they turn into a zombie. They care about the fact that their flesh is hanging off their bones. They don't care that their is blood and ooze coming from their mouths and that they now have taste for human flesh. No, they don't care about that. What gets most people is the fact that their minds are now lost forever, and if you mind is lost then you might as well be considered dead. That is when strings are severed and killing zombies seems much more easier. Cause without the conscious mind of a human then you might as well consider yourself shooting at dead cow meat.
David Wellington
2006
David Wellington's Monster Island takes a very different approach to the horror genre. It is very rare (for me at least) to find any novels on Zombies that are good. When you think of zombies in any written form they are manly found in comics or graphic novels. Zombies overall are just a visual monster. It's almost like you have to see it in order to really believe it. Zombies just don't have the same structure as say Vampires or Werewolves. The characters just don't get that same reaction as they would with other monsters. I believe it is because of the inability to commutation between humans and zombie. That inability to communicate head on with the enemy leaves the story dry and the audience longing for something more, when reading a novel. Which is why you see more zombies on the big screen then in novels, unless it's that Jane Austen's parody, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
David Wellington's monster island is written a way that makes keeps you interested just because you get to hear from all sorts of character's personal points of view. When I first started read it, it sort of reminded me of the way Dracula was written. Not in a journal type of format but just jumping back and forth to people's personal point of view at first seemed to be a little intimating, but it was actually easier to catch on then Dracula and then the rest just flows out.
The character that I found most interesting is Gary Fleck. His character is something that I have personal never seen done when it comes from to the genre of Zombie. His character is zombie, however he is able to retain a high level of self awareness of his actions. So basically he is a person who knows that they are a zombie and is able to control themselves in actions and thought process. I have never seen a character like that, expect John Marston in Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare, but thats a video game, which is entirely different cause you play as the zombie. Anyway the reason I find it so fascinating, is because this is what people wish for in zombies apocalyptic situations. If a loved one is bitten they hardly care that they turn into a zombie. They care about the fact that their flesh is hanging off their bones. They don't care that their is blood and ooze coming from their mouths and that they now have taste for human flesh. No, they don't care about that. What gets most people is the fact that their minds are now lost forever, and if you mind is lost then you might as well be considered dead. That is when strings are severed and killing zombies seems much more easier. Cause without the conscious mind of a human then you might as well consider yourself shooting at dead cow meat.
No Such Thing
No Such Thing
A 2001 film by Hal Hartley
No Such Thing, Let my start off by saying this; No Such thing is the most contradicting horror film of the 21st, that I have personally seen. Everything about human morals as time passes on through this film is LITERALLY turned on it's back. By the end of the film I, as a viewer was personally left feeling mad, confused, and somewhat betrayed by the false advertisement that this film opens up in.
The film starts out with a the monster in a somewhat silhouette setting. He is recording a message to the world saying the he is fed up with not only humans but himself as well and if humans don't do something soon to kill him, then he is going to go on a killing rampage and basically DESTROY EVERYONE.
This leads us to our main protagonist/ heroine/ damsel in distress, Beatrice. Beatrice works as one of those low ranking help for a new station. Whom is basically sent off to investigate this so called monster, but while flying on the way there she was involved in a plane accident over the Atlantic ocean.
And that it, this is what takes up half if not more of the whole freakin' movie. It's just her recovering from the accident. There are no screens that just cut to the monster, to even reestablish his existents. Hell, at this point of the movie I would not be surprise if the viewers even forgets that this monster is major part in this film. Anyway, during Beatrice's recovery she is approached by for snotty boss, who is a obvious clique of very big time reporter ever made. She is that one person that would do anything to get ratings and report the next big thing. She proposes to Beatrice to tell her story to the world about being the only lone survivor of the plane crash over the Atlantic. Of course she promises that she would be payed in full enough to cover all her hospital bill and more. Beatrice being the supposedly good noble girl that she is declines saying that she would not subject herself to be used as just an object to the world. This is just to add to her "positive" and "gentle" personality. Well later on in the movie these facts or limits to her personality changes and takes a complete 180 by the end of the film.
After taking up 2-3rd's of the film we finally see Beatrice on her way to track down the monster. They finally confront each other after Beatrice was welcoming tricked into getting drunk by the village people. They exchange a great screen in which they make a deal. If Beatrice is able to help kill the monster then she can live in peace. If she is unable to kill the monster then she will meet her end by the the hands of him. She of course agrees but on one condition, not only must the monster come with her, but he must also not harm anyone on their journey. This whole screen makes the viewer think that they are going to go on this amazing adventure together and experience major character development on the way.
With that in mind the Beatrice and the monster set out on their journey, of course getting strange looks form the villages on the way out. You imagine that based on Beatrice's character and the whole set up that they were going to go on this interesting adventure, but instead they do something that is completely counter-acts everything that leads up to this story. Instead of going on a classic on foot adventure, they have Beatrice call up her old new reporter station and basically sell out the monster to them in order to find the Doctor, who is going to help kill the monster. And to seal the deal with selling out the monster, the last thing she says in that scene is, "I think we are going to be famous"
And thats it a girl, whom a first seems like a human being so perfect and so nice and has no desire to be famous, suddenly does a complete 360 and becomes this greedy self adsorbed little girl, that doesn't really give two-f*cks until it is too late.
This factor right makes the whole story seem somewhat pointless. They focus too much on the girl and her recovery. Her character development is just off the wall, that by the end the viewer is questioning themselves like, "What the heck just happen?"The remanding characters are painfully, and I mean painfully clique in their own personalities. The only decent character in this whole movie is the monster. His development was approached much more differently and was way more original then the other characters. By the end his character teaches us that man is more so of a monster then he ever was. Which was exampled through the other characters throughout the film and even the main protagonist, Beatrice, seems more of a monster by the end of the film.
A 2001 film by Hal Hartley
No Such Thing, Let my start off by saying this; No Such thing is the most contradicting horror film of the 21st, that I have personally seen. Everything about human morals as time passes on through this film is LITERALLY turned on it's back. By the end of the film I, as a viewer was personally left feeling mad, confused, and somewhat betrayed by the false advertisement that this film opens up in.
The film starts out with a the monster in a somewhat silhouette setting. He is recording a message to the world saying the he is fed up with not only humans but himself as well and if humans don't do something soon to kill him, then he is going to go on a killing rampage and basically DESTROY EVERYONE.
This leads us to our main protagonist/ heroine/ damsel in distress, Beatrice. Beatrice works as one of those low ranking help for a new station. Whom is basically sent off to investigate this so called monster, but while flying on the way there she was involved in a plane accident over the Atlantic ocean.
And that it, this is what takes up half if not more of the whole freakin' movie. It's just her recovering from the accident. There are no screens that just cut to the monster, to even reestablish his existents. Hell, at this point of the movie I would not be surprise if the viewers even forgets that this monster is major part in this film. Anyway, during Beatrice's recovery she is approached by for snotty boss, who is a obvious clique of very big time reporter ever made. She is that one person that would do anything to get ratings and report the next big thing. She proposes to Beatrice to tell her story to the world about being the only lone survivor of the plane crash over the Atlantic. Of course she promises that she would be payed in full enough to cover all her hospital bill and more. Beatrice being the supposedly good noble girl that she is declines saying that she would not subject herself to be used as just an object to the world. This is just to add to her "positive" and "gentle" personality. Well later on in the movie these facts or limits to her personality changes and takes a complete 180 by the end of the film.
After taking up 2-3rd's of the film we finally see Beatrice on her way to track down the monster. They finally confront each other after Beatrice was welcoming tricked into getting drunk by the village people. They exchange a great screen in which they make a deal. If Beatrice is able to help kill the monster then she can live in peace. If she is unable to kill the monster then she will meet her end by the the hands of him. She of course agrees but on one condition, not only must the monster come with her, but he must also not harm anyone on their journey. This whole screen makes the viewer think that they are going to go on this amazing adventure together and experience major character development on the way.
With that in mind the Beatrice and the monster set out on their journey, of course getting strange looks form the villages on the way out. You imagine that based on Beatrice's character and the whole set up that they were going to go on this interesting adventure, but instead they do something that is completely counter-acts everything that leads up to this story. Instead of going on a classic on foot adventure, they have Beatrice call up her old new reporter station and basically sell out the monster to them in order to find the Doctor, who is going to help kill the monster. And to seal the deal with selling out the monster, the last thing she says in that scene is, "I think we are going to be famous"
And thats it a girl, whom a first seems like a human being so perfect and so nice and has no desire to be famous, suddenly does a complete 360 and becomes this greedy self adsorbed little girl, that doesn't really give two-f*cks until it is too late.
This factor right makes the whole story seem somewhat pointless. They focus too much on the girl and her recovery. Her character development is just off the wall, that by the end the viewer is questioning themselves like, "What the heck just happen?"The remanding characters are painfully, and I mean painfully clique in their own personalities. The only decent character in this whole movie is the monster. His development was approached much more differently and was way more original then the other characters. By the end his character teaches us that man is more so of a monster then he ever was. Which was exampled through the other characters throughout the film and even the main protagonist, Beatrice, seems more of a monster by the end of the film.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
The Next Big Thing In Horror
Through out time, especially in the 20th century we have seen a phase of whats in for horror. Every monster has had the spot light on them at some time or another. But the ones that truly stand out have the ability to make the whole world go through a trend (or phase) in which you see them non-stop.
This is the time in which everything and everyone wants to be that monster. For example Bram Stroker's Dracula, The legend of the vampire has evolved far and beyond what I believe Bram Stroker's original expectations were. Vampires are everywhere, from comics (Blade), to video games (Castlevania), to movies (Twilight unfortunately), to even across the sea in other counties, like japan (Hellsing), vampires are everywhere. They are even to the point that people have developed cults or societies in which the ACTUALLY BELIEVE that they are vampires. Even to the point in which I hear that they even partake in actually drinking human blood.
And it is not just vampires that have caused a cultural impact, werewolves,witches and wizards, zombies/infected, and of courses ghost have all seem to have left their internal imprint on the world that has manifested into something more which has became a daily impact in some peoples lives.
But whats the next big thing? Recently the thing that seems to be in is Zombies, or Infected if you will. I can't really recall when they started to pop up, but now they are everywhere and don't seem to be going anywhere soon. And it's not like we just invented zombies or anything. We have been adding little tweaks here and there, but we were far from inventing them. Which brings me to answering my previous question. I believe that the next big thing in for horror are Mutates or Mutated versions of those already existing monster.
Do you want to know why? It's simple not only are their endless possibilities with mutates, but mutates can be in a humanoid form. People love things that they dress as or imagine themselves as, and it is most easy to imagine yourself when your image has a humanoid shaped. I believe that people are more attached to this types of monsters cause somewhere deep down they believe that they have more in common with these monsters that meet the eye. Plus it just seems that everyone wants to jump on the ban wagon when something is in style.
This is the time in which everything and everyone wants to be that monster. For example Bram Stroker's Dracula, The legend of the vampire has evolved far and beyond what I believe Bram Stroker's original expectations were. Vampires are everywhere, from comics (Blade), to video games (Castlevania), to movies (Twilight unfortunately), to even across the sea in other counties, like japan (Hellsing), vampires are everywhere. They are even to the point that people have developed cults or societies in which the ACTUALLY BELIEVE that they are vampires. Even to the point in which I hear that they even partake in actually drinking human blood.
And it is not just vampires that have caused a cultural impact, werewolves,witches and wizards, zombies/infected, and of courses ghost have all seem to have left their internal imprint on the world that has manifested into something more which has became a daily impact in some peoples lives.
But whats the next big thing? Recently the thing that seems to be in is Zombies, or Infected if you will. I can't really recall when they started to pop up, but now they are everywhere and don't seem to be going anywhere soon. And it's not like we just invented zombies or anything. We have been adding little tweaks here and there, but we were far from inventing them. Which brings me to answering my previous question. I believe that the next big thing in for horror are Mutates or Mutated versions of those already existing monster.
Do you want to know why? It's simple not only are their endless possibilities with mutates, but mutates can be in a humanoid form. People love things that they dress as or imagine themselves as, and it is most easy to imagine yourself when your image has a humanoid shaped. I believe that people are more attached to this types of monsters cause somewhere deep down they believe that they have more in common with these monsters that meet the eye. Plus it just seems that everyone wants to jump on the ban wagon when something is in style.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Dracula
Dracula, one of the famous and beloved icon of the century. Dracula has inspired a whole new breed of monster in our pop culture today. From Nosferatu, to Blacula, to Blade, to True Blood, to even that disgusting piece of rubbish called twilight. The the legend of vampire is truly embedded into our society.
But how is this so? To truly understand the legend of the vampire we must look back at what started this all. Bram Stroker's novel Dracula written in 1897 launched a new wave of inspiration in horror for generations to come.
The novel starts out with one of our main protagonists, Jonathan Harker as he is currently on route to Dracula's foreign castle in Transylvania. He is a qualified English solicitor. His purpose is to help the Count with legal support for real estate transactions. He is greeted by Dracula, whom seems to have the appearance of an old man. At first sight Dracula is a warm and gracious host but thing soon turn ugly as Jonathan Harker goes through a series of misfortunate events: from having a deadly encounter with Dracula's Brides, to Dracula suddenly becoming interested in his fiancee, Mina, to ultimately being trapped within the confides of Dracula's castle.
It is very understandable why Dracula seems to keep Harker alive in the beginning. Dracula wants to keep him alive long enough to get all his transactions settled and learn as much as he can about England before going off to reek havoc and steal away Jonathan Harker's bride to be. But after all the transactions and important stuff are all settled and Dracula's finally off to England, he just leaves Harker to his brides, but doesn't kill him. Why would he just leave Harker alive with the slight chance that he might escape or send word out about his condition (Which he eventually does, and ultimately leads to Dracula's defeat). The best solution for Dracula would be to just kill him for he has nothing to lose in the process of doing so.
Dracula arrives in England and is after Mina and her friend Lucy, whom he has bitten and is slowly turning into a vampire. He also visits Mina feeding off her multiple times. During this process we are introduced to another key protagonist, or the hero protagonist,Van Helsing, who is aware of the legend of the vampire and if chasing after Dracula to put a stop to his terror.
Van Helsing and of characters of the novel set out to defeat Dracula after killing the Lucy, after she was turned into a vampire. Van Helsing and the others set out for Transylvania, where Dracula has retreated to. They chase Dracula down to the Borgo Pass where they capture him and impaled in his heart and decapitate his head.
And everyone lived happily ever-after...except Quincey Morris, whom dies shortly after being injured in the battle.
But how is this so? To truly understand the legend of the vampire we must look back at what started this all. Bram Stroker's novel Dracula written in 1897 launched a new wave of inspiration in horror for generations to come.
The novel starts out with one of our main protagonists, Jonathan Harker as he is currently on route to Dracula's foreign castle in Transylvania. He is a qualified English solicitor. His purpose is to help the Count with legal support for real estate transactions. He is greeted by Dracula, whom seems to have the appearance of an old man. At first sight Dracula is a warm and gracious host but thing soon turn ugly as Jonathan Harker goes through a series of misfortunate events: from having a deadly encounter with Dracula's Brides, to Dracula suddenly becoming interested in his fiancee, Mina, to ultimately being trapped within the confides of Dracula's castle.
It is very understandable why Dracula seems to keep Harker alive in the beginning. Dracula wants to keep him alive long enough to get all his transactions settled and learn as much as he can about England before going off to reek havoc and steal away Jonathan Harker's bride to be. But after all the transactions and important stuff are all settled and Dracula's finally off to England, he just leaves Harker to his brides, but doesn't kill him. Why would he just leave Harker alive with the slight chance that he might escape or send word out about his condition (Which he eventually does, and ultimately leads to Dracula's defeat). The best solution for Dracula would be to just kill him for he has nothing to lose in the process of doing so.
Dracula arrives in England and is after Mina and her friend Lucy, whom he has bitten and is slowly turning into a vampire. He also visits Mina feeding off her multiple times. During this process we are introduced to another key protagonist, or the hero protagonist,Van Helsing, who is aware of the legend of the vampire and if chasing after Dracula to put a stop to his terror.
Van Helsing and of characters of the novel set out to defeat Dracula after killing the Lucy, after she was turned into a vampire. Van Helsing and the others set out for Transylvania, where Dracula has retreated to. They chase Dracula down to the Borgo Pass where they capture him and impaled in his heart and decapitate his head.
And everyone lived happily ever-after...except Quincey Morris, whom dies shortly after being injured in the battle.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Key Elements in Horror
There are many key elements that you see in horror movies that all coincide with one another to make the stereotype genre of horror.
1.The setting is always in a dark scary looking place, usually a mountaintop. Surrounded by lighting and the feel of danger. In a place where a normal person is least expected to go. But due to unavoidable situation the "hero" is given no choice but to go.
2.The inside the cattle or setting, it is always infested dirt and cobwebs with creatures of the night like rats, mice, spiders, bats, and any other creature that has been a common fear upon man.
3. The hero or heroine some odd reason is always noisy. They are always indulging further into an area or situation that clearly screams death and danger. In essence there curiosity always overcomes fear.
4. The victim is usually a female or damsel is distress.
5.Horror always has the element of mystery behind horror. The suspense that always keeps us coming back for more. No matter how scary and disturbing it may be.
1.The setting is always in a dark scary looking place, usually a mountaintop. Surrounded by lighting and the feel of danger. In a place where a normal person is least expected to go. But due to unavoidable situation the "hero" is given no choice but to go.
2.The inside the cattle or setting, it is always infested dirt and cobwebs with creatures of the night like rats, mice, spiders, bats, and any other creature that has been a common fear upon man.
3. The hero or heroine some odd reason is always noisy. They are always indulging further into an area or situation that clearly screams death and danger. In essence there curiosity always overcomes fear.
4. The victim is usually a female or damsel is distress.
5.Horror always has the element of mystery behind horror. The suspense that always keeps us coming back for more. No matter how scary and disturbing it may be.
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