I Love 'I Am Legend', I Hate 'I Am Legend'

I very recently read I Am Legend by Richard Matheson. It's a great book. I was genuinely stressed while reading it, which is how I know. In Nicole's world, everything is measurable by emotions.

Last night, we sat down to watch the latest movie adaptation because Evan finished up reading the book. I knew it was going to be nothing like the book - both because everyone and their mother hinted at it and because of seeing the trailers for myself. Some changes don't bother me as long as they make sense when translating a novel to film. Of course, modernizing a story from the 1950's is a must. The typical movie-watching minds can't handle anything "old-fashioned". I don't begrudge Hollywood that. Gotta make money. But, while I understood certain changes (ie, adding the dog from the beginning just to give him someone to talk to and develop character), I am sad that they put such a respectable title on that pathetic excuse for a movie. It was loooooosely based on the novel, at best.

Am I biased? Of course I am! One of my favorite Vincent Price movies is the original movie based on Matheson's book. They called it The Last Man on Earth. While it was dissimilar from the novel in many ways, it was still far more worthy of the I Am Legend title than this Will Smith nightmare.

A note about CGI. I hate it anymore. I hated the boring, screamy, annoying creatures in this movie. There was nothing interesting about them at all. I'll take those hammy looking zombie things from The Last Man on Earth anyday! Makeup and acting, please! No more shitty CGI creeps. And exactly where did the inspiration for them come from (if there was any)? Certainly not from the book.

And let's not forget about The Omega Man from the 70's. I love that movie, too. It was also loosely based on the novel, but they had the decency not to put the same name on it.

I think my bitterness against brainless entertainment is the reason I read what I read. I read classic horror and sci-fi because it is philosophical. It makes you think. On top of that, it scares you and stresses you out. Bonus. And I get irritated that many movies are so vapid. Especially when they drag respectable entertainment down with them.

I Am Legend was about mankind moving on. It was about one man's emotional roller-coaster and survival - not about monsters. They're just the dramatic and exciting backdrop that the real story is played against. It ultimately ends with Robert Neville's realization that he's the freak now, the last of his kind, the legend. Remember that Twilight Zone episode called "Eye of the Beholder?" Kinda like that. I see none of this in the movie I watched last night.

Why so pissy, Nicole? What does it matter? It doesn't. But it's what I think. Haha.

I Love Watchmen

We finally got to see Watchmen on Saturday. Evan and I decided to forgo the Obey house movie night and go out just the two of us. The night was hectic only because we usually go to the South Side on weeknights. We forgot how crazy crowded it gets and how long you have to wait to eat. The movie didn't even start until 10:15 so we thought we were good. FAIL! We ran around so long trying to find a reasonable wait for dinner that we ended up leaving and heading to the Waterfront for a 10:40 show. Haha. It worked out well even if we did end up dining at the Munhall Subway. Ick.

I always say if you are going to blow $10 per person on a movie, make sure it's one worth seeing in the theater. Comedies can wait to be watched on the couch, at home for free. They don't need to be loud or big. Watchmen definitely needed to be loud and big. It was ear beating (awesome) and full of sights that I want to see larger than life. And NO I am not talking about Dr. Manhattan's wiener!

The whole movie was great. It lived up to my expectations - sadly not exceeding them. But hey, I expect a lot. My favorite performances were Rorschach (I spelled that right on my first try, holy cow) and the guy that I call "Owlman" even though that's not his name. The chick was good, too. Not even sure what any of her names were...Miss Jupiter? That sounds right. Her clothes were notable to me because they were very contemporary (i.e., leggings with gladiator shoes and long sweaters with skinny belts)- even though the movie was set in the 80's. I liked how they did that. For that reason, it will be a weird movie to watch 20 years from now.

What's that? You say you want to know more of what's going on with me lately? Well, pull up a chair...

I decided to take the intermediate sewing class and make a further fool of myself. My dancing skeletons table topper is hilariously uneven. It will do the job, and no one will even (pun?) notice, but I will not be bragging about making it. That's for sure. My current project is a purse. I got the inspiration from a bag we have at DSW that looks like this:
If mine turns out OK, I will post a photo of it. I'm scurred.

Aaaaaaaaaand, I've been a shopaholic since starting at DSW. I just got a great deal on some ridiculous fuchsia, sequined pumps. I can't find a picture of them to post. Grrrr. I wore them out on Saturday and quite a few ladies stopped me to say they loved them. I find it funny when people say, "I love those but I would never wear them!" Then what is it that you love about them? Seeing them on someone else is enough for most folks, I suppose. I live for attention, so it works out. What?!?!?! Did she just say that she lives for attention? I think you already knew that. People don't blog, Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, and yadda yadda yadda if they don't enjoy attention.

I will be buying these shoes on Sunday...already on sale...new markdowns happening at the Dub on Sunday...plus my discount...can't say no:


I love to shop. I always buy little things when we take Ivy to the mall. I never spend much. It's mostly clearance stuff. Today I went a little crazy but still didn't spend a lot. My real problem is that I have too much of everything and not enough space for it all. I always try to get rid of things I don't wear a lot but it's tough. Because I really MIGHT use things at any given time. It's no joke. Something might sit for a year until inspiration strikes me and I figure out just how to wear it! Jewelry, clothes, shoes - it's an art form really. That explained, can you imagine all the stuff I am hoarding in my costume stash?

In a nutshell - my life is soooooooo goooooood! Kyrie Eliason!

I Love Wes Craven, But...

The Last House on the Left is rough to watch. It's disturbing with no real redemption as far as being a quality film. I did like the heroin addict guy, though. And the scene when the mom bites the one guy's weiner off is hilarious. Let me just say that it was my MOTHER who told me to watch it. That's pretty funny.

Fear.Net featured Wes Craven for the month of January so Evan and I watched every flick that was free On Demand. We laughed, we cried, we critiqued. It's been a good month. I'm not kidding you when I say that we have spent the last 3 weeks watching random movies. Every night we have watched at least one when Ivy goes to bed. We need it. It's cold out, treacherous to drive, and watching free movies is about all we can afford to do right now. Hehe.

Of all the Wes Craven madness we absorbed, I have to tip my hat the most to The People Under the Stairs. I had seen that a million years ago and was worried that in adulthood I would find that it wasn't as good as I remembered it being. I was wrong. I still love it. I particularly enjoy both of the actors that play "Mommy and Daddy." They make the movie. NOTE: I don't wear hats, so my tipping of one means nothing.

The Wishmaster was a favorite when I was young. My friend, Bernie, and I watched it a million times. It's just pretty to watch. Lot's of great makeup, costumes, and what I like to call "real" special effects. Not all that CG stuff. But Wes wasn't the director on this one. It was Robert Kurtzman, special-effects make-up specialist. Creature features have always been my favorites. Watching it now, I realize that it is a very weak movie aside from the visuals. The best acting was by the guy who played the Wishmaster. I wonder what ever happened to him. I'll have to look into it.

Swamp Thing was dumb. Hehehe. But it was pretty funny to watch and I realize it was supposed to be bad as an homage to the old 50's mad scientist flicks.

The Serpent and The Rainbow was the last one we watched. I cannot really make up my mind on that one. The whole time I was watching it I kept thinking, "I have no idea if I am enjoying this or not." At least it had Lonestar...er, Bill Pullman in it. I guess I will go ahead and say I liked it. Yeah, that seems ok to say. I'm comfortable with saying that. I'll say it again...I liked it.

Other recent viewings include...Donnie Darko (first time, loved it), Batman Begins (love), the other Batman with Heath Ledger (meh, too much hype), Werewolf (old and not that great), Firestarter (never had seen it, it was good), Robocop (bajillionth time watching, always a favorite), The Family Stone (love story *puke*, but still good).

Did you know that I love movies? I don't know if you could infer that from this post so I thought I should mention it. Just in case you're not the sharpest crayon in the box. But, hey, don't feel bad. There are a lot of other uses for dull crayons.

Did someone just say, "get off your ass and do the dishes?"