Timer

I really enjoyed the concept of this movie. What better way to prove your love is the real deal then by having a device confirm it for you. To turn something as unpredictable as love, and make it into a timer implanted onto your wrist. This small gadget pretty much determines your love life. Whats the point of going out and meeting new people when you can wait until the clock's number ticks to the due date. It inhibits you from discovering love on your own. But the ending was a bit intriguing, since the two "destined" for one another went to the same running track, so perhaps they were bound to meet one way or another without the aid of the timer.
I also love the little sprinkling on top; that in order for the device to work completely you must "lock eyes" with your soul mate and then the timer will ring. Love at first sight is completely justified with this work of science.

Dawn- Octavia Butler

This novel was very outside of the realm of my usual pick of books.
The aliens and their interaction with the humans. There is no clear cut definition of who's right and wrong. And the aliens. the usual suspects weren't the ones responsible for the end of humanity. Human beings are deeply flawed in this book, many have an intense sense of hatred and are for the most part belligerent.
A deep understanding of isolation permeates the entire story. Lilith, having been "saved" by these aliens must grow accustomed to their ways all by herself. All of the people she was familiar with are gone and can rely on no one except for herself. Even when other humans are introduced to the story, they are very wary of her and even grow to despise her. Since she is neither fully human or alien, she is utterly alone.
Her desperation to be rid of the responsibilities handed to her, is a common response to fear. She continues to deny her fate, but is the only one capable of surviving and retain a level mind. Against all circumstances, she still pushes against opposition, at first it came from the aliens but by the novel's end her enemy became her fellow humans.
It would be interesting to see what is in store for Lilith. If she will become more and more like the aliens and ultimately become fully assimilated in their world. This book was pretty slow at some parts, and some of the characters didn't feel as developed as they could have been. While of course much information is given on the protagonist, I would have liked to have more in depth description of the other human survivors. As for the aliens, I had a very difficult time trying to grasp what they looked like exactly. All I could picture was a mound of tentacles

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

     The entire story is a build up to the eventual discovery of how Snowman ended up being the sole surviving human in this wasteland of a world and surrounded by a mutated imitation of nature.
   The people of this time play god by the splicing of animals and the creation of dangerous chimeras. Bodies can be reconstructed and customized accordingly, a concept that is not so far-fetched today. In this book, war and vulgar acts become video games for the the two boys and everyone else in this world. Entertainment comes in various forms, but for the most part going to the extreme, anything to gain a reaction. In this future the value of life is trivialized. For a world that seems to be falling apart, society is still focused on appearances which is horrifying. There is also a clear division in status, the split of the poor and the rich. There is no attempt to remedy any economic problems, rather time and effort is spent on such frivolous things that make the rich richer. The majority of the English language had been discarded and replaced with spliced words, devoid of meaning but sound pleasant enough.
     The transition from the perspective of Jimmy to "Snowman" kept me reading at a faster pace, since it did not dwell on one point in time too long. When Jimmy goes to work for AnooYoo (A New You), he just adds to the problem by writing the copy for false advertisement on enhancement products. This fits his personality, since he thrives off of gaining people's attention and manipulating the emotions of each of his girlfriends. It's his nature to advertise, and unknowingly advertises the very product responsible for human extinction.
     There are various comments on medication, especially on the views we hold about prescriptions today. More studies reveal that the medications that we have become so dependent on have multiple side effects. In order to cure the source of the disease, one needs to risk the possibility of contracting other problems when taking any kind of medication.
     In the novel Crake takes the game of "Extinctathon" and turns it into reality, by gathering all of the top scoring individuals of the game and puts them to work on projects. They create new animals and a deadly virus which is distributed through BlyssPluss. Crake even created "people" who could not succumb to violence, think for themselves, or supposedly create. These skewed people were supposed to replace humanity, when they lacked various cognitive abilities and were complacent with their entire situation.
     I had mixed feelings about the ending. Of course a bunch of humans wouldn't just spring out of nowhere and everything would be fine and jolly, but even still it was depressing notion that humanity would be replaced by these manufactured imitations. Although it is mentioned that the Crakers show signs of self expression that could possibly mean that they may begin to think for themselves. This hope, added to the discovery of a few rogue humans leaves the novel ending on a pivotal question of what will happen next.

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

    I enjoyed this novel immensely. Not only did it have a compelling story, but had a colorful array of characters. The inclusion of "Breath" and the religion attached to it creates a dynamic concept. I had never seen or read about souls being treated in that manner. It felt like Sanderson was writing this novel for artists, with all the emphasis that he placed on color. Even some of the characters, depending on how much Breath they have, can determine the particular shades of each hue in the world around them. Aside from the intricately woven tapestry of the world, the characters intrigued me even more. The story revolves around the perspectives of three main characters, limiting our knowledge on the other characters around them. Each of these characters Siri, Vivenna, and Lightsong are pretty much ignorant whether by choice or circumstance. A young princess with a lackadaisical attitude who gets sent to wed the God King, another princess who was prepared for that task is left questioning her worth, and a god who doesn't even believe in himself. Even after the author fooled me about the intentions of one character, I still continued to get surprised every time a "good guy" was revealed to be the "bad guy." 

    I enjoyed the complex system of how to properly use the Breath. Only certain commands could be used and only organic materials could be controlled. The entire religion around the god was interesting, since they are only worshiped so they could one day sacrifice the entirety of their Breaths and then pass on. Other than that, they don't really contribute the welfare of the people of Hallendran. Lightsong seems to be the only one questioning his state of godhood, while others readily accepted the life. His attitude goes against the grain, and really questions the whole existence of the gods. At times his cynical view frustrated me, while other times he fulfilled his roles as the comic relief character. The two sisters, Vivenna and Siri, have their roles reversed. Neither one prepared what they had to eventually face and both handled their new life in unexpected ways. While Siri matured and came to accept the fact that she should be more involved in securing the safety of her homeland, Vivenna completely deteriorated. I was not very fond of the character, Vivenna from the beginning. She never intended to save her sister, she may have tried to convince herself of that in the beginning, but once she was in the city it was all about her. For someone who was educated to take on a queenly role, she was very inexperienced with dealing with others and her gullibility cost her and others suffering.

     I was a tad disappointed by the end, mainly because it was abruptly over but also the story wrapped up a little too cleanly. We are supposed to gladly assume that the army of the stone Lifeless reach and stop the other Lifeless army in time to save the city of Idris. Also, I felt like the explanations of the Five Scholars and finally the revelation of their true identities was just pinned on in the end. Overall this book held my attention The conflict of religious ideals, and how closely it reflects reality with monotheism vs. polytheism, gives this fictional world a link to our own. The treatment of souls is viewed differently in each city; in one city the soul is coveted, while the other sees it as a form of commerce.

           

The Color of Magic Ep. 1 & 2

     The only literature I have read by Terry Pratchett was Good Omens, which he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman. So I knew it would delve somewhat in the realm of comedy, if not entirely. Bits of the storytelling reminded me of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. There is an ultimate, universal question that just needs to be answered. In this case the question is as silly as "What is the gender of the turtle?"  It shares the same random twists and turns and most unexpected occurrences. The main characters are pushed into an adventure, and ultimately wind up saving the world after completing their quest.
    The two travelers, TwoFlower and Rince Wind are quite polar opposites. Two Flower is the optimist tourist, stepping into the face of danger with a care or worry. He is only curious about where he is and the functions of the surrounding. Rince Wind on the other hand, is the unfortunate guide who has plenty of near-death experiences thanks to Two Flower.

     It is definitely full of common fantasy references, but distorts them into something else. There was a bit with the enchanted sword that has a strong desire to slay dragons. The sacrificial maiden who was angry when she was rescued from the hands of death. The "Cohen" the Barbarian character is a toothless, man who is as old as dirt. And yet he still wins favor with a woman who is decades younger than he.  I  also enjoyed the sprinkling of modern influences, especially the stereotype of the tourist. His bright Hawaiian shirt, huge suitcase, and his constant need to take photographs. I would love to have luggage that was loyal and could defend itself.

War for the Oaks by Emma Bull

     There is something very enticing about the genre of urban fantasy. The possibility that the world of Faerie coexists with modern society does not seem so far-fetched when reading one of these novels. Works such as Tithe, by Holly Black, and Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman, are able to hold my complete attention. I become so enraptured by the story that I forget that I'm reading. War for the Oaks had the same effect, with its interesting characters and engaging plot. This story focuses mainly on finding one's own path.
Eddi is presented vulnerable, left her boyfriend, quit the band and is left in a financial mess. Although she is a victim of a circumstance, she soon transforms into a heroine of sorts. This novel was delved fully into female empowerment. The two courts of Faerie are led by intimidating queens. While the characters of Willy and the phouka seem to be in charge, Eddi reverses that with her own domineering qualities as the story moves along.
  
    The relationship of Eddi and the phouka mimicked the tale of Beauty and the Beast. The phouka, besides having the ability to transform into creatures, has a very agressive personality. He is constantly making a nuisance of himself, and purposely annoys everyone. It is interesting that he is never given a name. By calling him "the phouka" the author reminds us that he is supernatural. While, Eddi is not described a gorgeous woman, she has attractive qualities and is able to command the attention of others. And just like the tale, she is unhappy with the phouka's constant presence at first but unknowingly develops feeling for him by the end.

     After I finished reading, I found that I was a bit disappointed by some of the story's elements. While each character was very unique, there was little to no background information presented on any of them. The ending was quite abrupt, and the "battle" of the bands seemed a little strange after all that had occurred. While music played a major role as the base of the story, it was employed as an unconventional tool in deciding the fates of Faerie. The dramatic atmosphere came and went in the span of a couple of pages, and felt rushed. I felt that the mood was disrupted by some unnecessary, sporadic silly comments by the minor characters.

     Aside from that, I found this to be a great urban fantasy novel. I had never heard of the title or the author prior to seeing it on the recommended reading list. Using music as a source of power fits so well into the realm of fantasy. Melodies can manipulate a person's mood, and thus can control people. I have read other fantasy tales that utilize music as their primary theme, but this book really dove into the heart of it and presented it very well.

Being John Malkovich dir. Spike Jonze

I liked the concept of the movie, but the way the story was conveyed was... bizarre, to say the least. I think there was an attempt to jam pack too many side stories into the span of a few hours. It was interesting to see the purpose of the portal though, with the elderly man being able to become in a way immortal. It is the very oddity of this film that made it interesting to watch, but at one turning point it became a bit overwhelming.

There was a clear parody of John Malkovich career, when even some of the characters didn't know him by name. I had seen him other movies, but he was always in minor role and would only appear briefly. But in this movie he soon becomes a god-like figure in the eyes of the characters that discover the portal. For Lotte, it is her opportunity to discover herself, and what she really desires. For Craig he was able to fully use his skills as a puppeteer on a living being. To see the puppet master take over John Malkovich was surreal, and involved a lot of superb acting on Malkovich's part. Maxine, the antagonist, brings out the worst all of the characters.  Maxine gets the great idea to sell the "John Malkovich experience" and soon becomes a drug of sorts. Their thoughts influence his actions, and thus he appears as a figure struggling with multiple personalities. Although Craig is the puppeteer, the real one pulling the strings is Maxine. She is manipulative and overall cruel, until the end where her personality changes completely. 

     It had an appealing concept, but overall it was too twisted. This movie became too surreal for me, and about halfway through the movie, I tried to stop making sense of it. It remained creepy right up until the credits began to roll.

The Magicians-Lev Grossman

     For a fantasy tale, this novel was very grounded in concepts of reality. Magic is not as simple as the flick of the wrist, but rather something to be pain-painstakingly studied.  As I read on I couldn't help but compare Brakebills to Hogwarts, but I soon discovered that the latter was much different. The idealized world of Hogwarts sends you a pretty invitation and magic is something that all the students can do no matter what their level of knowledge is. At Brakebills, a test must be taken in order to prove your worth before you can even hope to dabble in magic. So instead of being a part of the elite, a preselected group that is allowed to do magic, Brakebills only lets in those who pass individualized standardized tests. This hits all too close to home, having taken tests, creating portfolios, and accomplishing all the work that came with college applications.

     The scene where the Beast suddenly appears, after Quentin made someone falter in his incantation, was pretty frightening. To go from a dull, class lecture to a kid being gobbled up by this creature was quite an engaging shift of pace in the book. It was scenes such as this, although quite horrid, that were even more out of the ordinary than a school of magic.

     There is a clear influence of The Chronicles of Narnia throughout the book. Instead of the god-figure being a lion, Fillory had two rams, which feel less intimidating. Kids travel to this otherwordly land that is assumed to be a paradise, only to discover they don't truly belong there. One of them, Martin Chatwin, refuses to believe this and remains as an intrusion in the land. Because really who wouldn't want to stay in a magical land such as that? Later in the story, Ember, one of the rams, brings up a great point, that the human kids don't belong in Fillory and only see the place as a source of entertainment. The repercussions of greed are clearly shown in Martin, who has distorted himself into a monstrous being. The Watcherwoman revealing herself as Jane, one of the Chatwin children who had arrived to Fillory long ago, was a good twist. Her rewinding time and going through multiple, and different scenarios to end her corrupt brother, Martin.

     I had competing emotions while I read this novel. On one hand, I appreciated the fact that it touched upon the grim aspects of reality, unlike previous fantasy stories I have read. I knew from the beginning that this book would delve into the dark side of fantasy, but even still there were just too many scandals for my liking. This book had a grave tone, from the grueling labor of studying magic to the explicit drug use. I think too many Disney movies have engraved into my mind the desire for a happy ending, so I was a bit disappointed by this novel's ending. But overall it was an engaging work of fantasy, and very memorable.

Labyrinth dir. Jim Henson (Dance Magic, Dance!)

    Wishing your baby brother would turn into a goblin seems pretty harsh. The movie established from the beginning that Sarah has quite an imagination. Her room is riddled with fantasy novels (with goblin bookends), toys, and even a miniature scale of a labyrinth. It encapsulates everything a fantasy movie should be, fairies included. It has all of the necessary obstacles. The age old riddle of two doors (or pathways) where one guard lies and the other tells only the truth.  There was the age old lesson that one should never cross decrepit-looking bridges, especially ones over a lake of stench. There were various characters that either helped or distracted her from main goal. David Bowie's character as the goblin king is obsessed with crystal balls, singling with goblins, and tight pants. He shares an odd relationship  with Sarah, even at one point dances with her in Sarah's drug induced dream.

     I quite enjoyed this movie with its art direction. All of the puppets were pretty impressive and all the sets were very diverse. Although it is a labyrinth, the environment shifts constantly so it isn't just a continuing stone wall. Although if I were a kid when I watched this, I'm pretty sure I'd be freaked out by some of those puppet faces, especially the ones that sang around the campfire in the forest scene.

     I found it funny how Sarah's attitude changed once baby Toby was abducted and was then after desperate to find him. Sarah's entire journey was to come to terms that she needs to mature, and accept responsibilities. One part that  the scene with the hoarder puppet, where Sarah desperately grasps at all her toys and most prized material possessions. She comes to an epiphany  and realizes what she actually holds dear. But even though Sarah accepts that she has to grow up, she still holds onto her imagination.

The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien

     This was my first time reading any of Tolkien's works and I've only watched bits and pieces of Peter Jackson's film adaptations of the series. I am a big fan of fantasy, mainly reading urban fantasy tales such as those by Neil Gaiman, but I was really fascinated by "The Hobbit."
The part where the journey really began for me was when Bilbo was separated from the group in the mountains. We get some time to be alone with Bilbo and see what he is truly capable of without anybody's assistance. Bilbo's encounter with Gollum displayed his swift thinking and was a clear indication that he would demonstrate his wit more throughout the story. At first, Bilbo came off as an annoying character, always complaining about not having any food, but he soon proves to be the most essential member of the traveling group.

     I enjoy the fact that Bilbo does not fit the stereotypical idea of a hero. He is not brave,  not clad in shining armor, and is not searching  for a damsel. Although there is a dragon involved, Bilbo is not the one destined to slay it. Instead Bilbo is small in stature, employs wit instead of brawn, and most of the time is in a dreadful mood about his situation. Bilbo, at the age of fifty, was already set in his ways in his comfortable little hobbit hole until he was forcefully urged to go on this quest. In one respect, this reflects the fact that even though adventure seems like a wondrous idea, we are sometimes unwilling to make that first step outside of our comfort zone. The character, Gandalf, felt like a guardian angel for the for the dwarfs and Bilbo. The wizard conveniently appeared in times of need and was their constant source of guidance on the quest.  I loved how practical their journey was, with the group consistently running low on food. Such a small detail is overlooked in other fantasy stories I've read. In other tales it is assumed that they can travel without the troubles of hunger, but this addition made Tolkien's story feel believable. I'd always get hungry while reading these passages.

     I can see why there is such a strong attraction to the atmosphere of Tolkein's Middle Earth. Even with all the perils that the protagonist encounters, he is always able to escape in the end. That aspect, combined with the presence of magic and creatures makes this world so appealing. I guess I was  adamant to read this series because of its popularity and huge following.  I am kicking myself now for not reading this series. I rarely read "traditional" fantasy, since I assumed that I knew exactly what plot format to expect; a hero goes off to save a princess in some castle. I have never been so grateful to be wrong.

Time Bandits dir. Terry Gilliam

What a baffling plot, I thought as I watched the end credits roll to a pleasant song after what had to be one of the most dramatic endings to a kid's movie. I found the t.v. show to be quite hilarious, about answering the questions or the penalty was death. It was a pretty accurate foreshadowing as to what was to be expected from the rest of the movie. This movie didn't take itself too seriously, especially since the intended audience is for a younger crowd. The boy's love for history was reflected in jumbled up time periods, meshing fantasy into reality until the scenery became completely random. And by the end of the film we see that it was all a part of God, or the creator of the universe, plan. It was just a test and the boy was just a pawn. This movie showed no mercy.


The low budget effects didn't bother me, I can look past that if there is a good story to be told. I am a devout fan to the genre of time-travel, and I love it in all different forms of media; books, games, t.v. shows and movies. The chance to look at the events of history, not altering them of course because you can't truly change the past... but just to be a fly on the wall would be enough. So while I enjoyed the ride of time travel in this movie, I did not see any true plot. There were no morals for the boy to learn, since he was a decent enough kid who liked history. He doesn't even get a reward after the whole quest, except maybe the memories of that crazy experience. I mean really, a kid gets swept on a great adventure and comes back home and a minute later becomes an orphan. Reality bites. And Sean Connery just left him there all alone.

A Wild Sheep Chase - Haruki Murakami

Compared to what I've seen from J Horror movies, this novel was at the other end of the horror spectrum. The only disturbing moment, although predictable, was the revelation that the Sheep Man was dead (that and the simple, yet creepy illustration.) I was a tad adamant to read this at the beginning, but as the chapters flew I by, I completely forgot that it was a horror novel. But like the J Horror movies I have seen, the story is mainly built up slowly, adding suspense up until the climax at the very end.
      The protagonist intentionally ignored names, instead giving general titles to identify an individual. Choosing to have the characters remain nameless made everyone feel a bit lifeless. By labeling them with titles such as Boss, chauffeur, the Rat and girlfriend, I feel that they are only defined by their roles and nothing more. The narrator, lacks a title, adding to his unaffected state of being. He hardly expresses any emotion, for the most part being numb to all of the happenings around him.
     There was a running motif of marine animals, comparing humans to red herrings and relating this incredulous search for a sheep to that of the chase after Moby Dick, constantly referring to his experience at the aquarium. The narrator openly declares that he leads a dull life, and he actually complains once an adventure presents itself to him. The girlfriend and her ears, endowed with the gift of premonition, was the most interesting character in this entire novel. It wasn't until the chase began that he gained insight as to what he held dear. He didn't consider anything to be particularly valuable, hence the lack of labels, until that girlfriend with the ears came along. What is it with the ears? Are they like a beautiful frame to boring canvas of a face? Well it brought a spark of interest for the narrator, allowing him to find pleasure in his humdrum life until it was taken away.
     As satisfying as it was to read, the end left me partially confused. Not much was explained about the character "the Rat" and it was because of this that I found him to be the most intriguing of all the characters. His involvement, little though it may be, brought some excitement to the story. There was much mystery around his death, with getting possessed by that special sheep. The Rat said that by ending his life, that the sheep would go with him but I doubt such a supernatural being would be extinguished so easily. It makes me wonder about the man in the suit and his arrival at the end, and that maybe he would be the next "victim" of the sheep. I believe the sheep was the "ideal life," but once it's gained it can corrupt a person.
      The sheep chase itself didn't seem to be the main purpose, but instead was an opportunity for the narrator to examine his almost-30-year life. The whole story was a reflection of the narrator's accomplishments, or lack of. By the end of an eventful journey, the impact of all that he has lost finally strikes a nerve with him, but does nothing to try to regain any of it.The vague ending left me feeling empty, like the narrator's state of mind at the end of all these ordeals.

Audition-Takashi Miike

      I have only ever seen one other Japanese horror film,"Dark Water" by Hideo Nakata, and I remember being shaken up a bit after watching that. Well, "Audition" trumped that film. The beginning of the film was very slow moving, a convincingly "normal" movie about a widowed man who is looking for a new love. The transition from shot to shot were quite unexpected, so I constantly felt that something eerie would jump up on screen. This cinematography, and the lack of background music, except for the few parts of disturbing noises, added to the disquieting ambiance of the film.
The character, Asami, has a very unsettling aura about her with her small, delicate voice and her subtle movements. These qualities and the choice to dress her in white made it all the more surprising when we see what horrors she is capable of.
      This movie commented on our preconceived notions on gender roles.
     The storytelling was done quite well, with seemingly ordinary scenes contrasted with red tinted, angled shots of gruesome scenes. Overall I found this to be an interesting horror movie with a great deal of built up suspension. I was enjoying it up until the part Asami went to Aoyoma's apartment at the end. From that point forward all the scenes were too sickening and disturbing. Aoyoma should have listened to his friend, and the ghost of his wife from the dream, and stayed away from that woman.
 
My last thought after watching this movie: WHY?

Night of the Living Dead dir. George Romero

Oh joy, more zombies. I was consoled by the fact that this was a low budget movie, filmed in black and white with overly dramatic characters from the 60's. But I have to admit, I screamed a bit when the camera cut to the half-eaten face in the house. 

One thought bothered me in the beginning. Where were the guns? The house in which they were stuck in had a room fully devoted to animal heads, so the owner had to be a hunter or taxidermist. Thankfully the character, Ben, found it before I became too flustered over the fact that they didn't know how to search a house. But then again, they didn't even check the cellar, where four people were hiding.


Barbra was very irksome. Her role seemed pointless, she had nothing to contribute and just sat moping about. Even the people gave up on trying to talk to her, and just moved her about the house like an object in their way. She kept sputtering nonsense the entire film, only adding to everybody's paranoia. With all the fires they were starting, I thought for sure they'd accidentally set the house aflame. But instead just instead they just set the car on fire. Common sense seems to disappear when all of the characters start to panic. The first thing my roommate and I thought as the zombies began to eat the first two victims was; BBQ. The little girl becoming the zombie and devouring her parents was pretty creepy, but the stabbing scene wasn't well executed with the mother's echoing scream and the strange blood splatter on the wall. These were by far the quietest zombies I have ever seen in film, they didn't groan or yell much.

That was an expected, but depressing ending. The only person who could act was killed off. By the way all the townspeople were firing at anything that was moving, it was clear to see that Ben would be following the fate of all the others soon enough.

I felt that I was watching a long Twilight Zone episode, a conflict of interests amongst strangers in a trapped space in reminiscent of some of the episodes such as "The Old Man in the Cave" and "Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?" (and oddly enough both episodes end in the death of the characters.) There is something about confined spaces that adds to the tension and people begin turning on one another. It was just missing Rod Serling appearing on screen with his cigarette, giving the audience the moral of the story.

Monster Island- David Wellington

Of all the supernatural beings, zombies creep me out the most. I have tried to avoid zombie-related movies, books, and games but to no avail. There is something about their decomposing bodies that bothers me, not so much their hunger for living flesh. I have a very vivid imagination, and so it such descriptions concerning the dead make me imagine the worst possible images.

Wellington does a great job of fleshing out each individual character, from their personalities, histories and appearance. His use of imagery had me grimacing quite a few times though. Explanations of the deterioration of each of the zombies' bodies and the use of analogies makes me want to gag. There was a recurring theme of food. There was the food that Gary was desperate for, finally settling on stealing the essence of the living. And of course the food analogies. Wellington constantly compared food substances to the most vile and grotesque things. Least to say, I didn't have much of an appetite after reading these parts. 

I did enjoy the irony of the nature of the main characters, Dekalb and Gary. Prior to the Epidemic, Dekalb's career was primarily focused on weaponry and as it turns out he had no combat knowledge. Gary, who was once a doctor, had chose to become a zombie and later made his sole purpose to devour mankind. I liked the dark comedy that was sprinkled throughout each chapter, as well as the cynical attitude of some of the characters. Additions such as that kept it from being a taking itself too seriously, so I had an easier time accepting such ridiculous notions as controlling the dead with mind control. That dark humor coupled with all of the unexpected turns in each chapter engaged my attention. There wasn't one point where I was bored reading this story, which is very rare in the many books I have read. Most of the time I reach a point a novel where the pacing slows down and I lose interest.

I was a tad disappointed that the setting for the novel was New York City. It seems that every time there is an apocalypse story, whether it be novel or movie, New York City becomes it's stage. I have never been there myself, but I guess it seems like the perfect American city to survive. Personally, if I was caught up in a zombie apocalypse, I'd choose a rural environment. There would be less places for them to hide, and at least you would see them approaching across the wide open spaces.

The aspect of the entire book that I particularly enjoyed was the back and forth of the different perspectives. It was clear that the protagonist was Dekalb, since he was narrating his own story. But it was a little unclear as to who was telling Gary's story, which was told third-person. So it was a pleasant surprise to find out the reasoning behind these perspectives, that Dekalb had become just like Gary, retaining his mind in his undead state.

This book changed my outlook on the zombie genre... in novels at least.

Let the Right One In- Director: Tomas Alfredson

This was quite an interesting movie. The slow pacing became very tedious in the beginning but I hardly noticed it after Oskar met Eli. It was a nice change from other horror movies. But by the time the movie ended, I felt little had been accomplished.


The tone of the movie became progressively creepier, while at first I watched it without apprehension. By the end I found myself glancing away at the quiet, and deliberately at the slow scenes. The pool scene was gory and at the same time achieved in a subtle way, a head falling in the water and a disembodied arm following after. This was the only moment out of the entire film where I felt a twinge of fear.

The movie didn't really engage me. The two characters that we were supposed to be invested in didn't have much of a personality. Oskar has one of the most inattentive parents in the world, with the vampire coming and going from the apartment. His mother is completely oblivious to the fact that he had been bullied at school. But this the extent of my sympathy for his character.  While yes, I pitied Oskar for all of the bullying he put up with and his strained relationship with the divorced parents, there wasn't much else. Eli shares none of her backstory, so the audience doesn't have much reason to feel empathetic with her. By the end of the movie, I was dissatisfied by the fact that nothing was really explained. Oskar just hopped on a train with a chest (Eli inside) and escaped all of those murder scenes? No police appeared. No investigations into the various, out of the ordinary deaths.

I left this movie with one predominant thought; I do not want to visit Sweden.

Frankenstein- Mary Shelley

"It's alive! It's alive!"
Like many others, I believed that Frankenstein was about a raving, mad scientist who created a giant, hideous man (with bolts in his neck) who went around terrorizing the local villagers. So I was surprised that the book lacked an aging castle, a hunch-backed assistant, and lightning bolts capable of generating life.  Since I had seen so many film adaptations of Frankenstein, I had no inclination to pick up the novel when I passed by the Classics section at the bookstore. I was glad when I discovered that the book didn't meet any of my expectations. I really enjoyed reading it, although I found Victor Frankenstein's  reflections quite tedious at times. Then again I might only feel this way because I didn't sympathize with his character as much as the others.

I found it interesting to compare the creator to the creation. Victor Frankenstein consistently proclaims his grief and laments over the fate that has befallen him. But it was his own fault, his self-destruction began with by the abandonment of his creation. He is very distant, dismissing the company of family and friends to fulfill his scientific ambitions. Victor, fueled by a foolish motivation to prove himself, achieves his goal of granting life to the dead.  After he is done playing god, he abandons this creation. Victor spends the majority of the time incapacitated by his own anguish, all the meanwhile being cared for by those who love him. Instead of telling others about his creation, he hoards this secret, allowing it to plague his mind and put others in harm's way. Even when he had the opportunity to end  his and the monster's misery, he refused. He could have  created a companion for the monster or put an end to his original creation. It is the accumulation of all of Victor's errors and his unwillingness to face them that he comes across as a very selfish being.

On the other hand, the monster himself sought the company of people, but was unable to create any relationships because of his cursed appearance. Unlike Victor Frankenstein, he feels a strong desire to be amongst humanity and share their experiences.  Upon discovering that this will never happen, he directs his actions towards taking vengeance on his creator. In a way the monster is Victor's guilt incarnate. It never stops following him, and grows stronger throughout the story, destroying everyone Victor held dear and continually plaguing his mind up until his death.

It is refreshing to read a book with a conclusion that doesn't wrap up with a happy ending. It was ironic that the monster was easier to relate to, in terms of his desire to be integrated into society. Victor had everything under the sun and yet foolishly created his own demise. I am not accustomed to reading horror novels or tragic endings, so I found this to be a good introductory novel into this genre.

Conventions of Horror

1. Mad scientist
2. Crazy amount of lab supplies
3. Some type of undead (zombie, vampires, etc.)
4. Graveyards
5. Candles, just enough to keep a room dim
6. Secret passageways
7. Eerie music
8. Death brought on by the undead or creatures
9. Dark forests with creepy animal noises (crows cawing, wolves howling...)
10. Decrepit castle with lighting illuminating
11. Some weapon to ward of the evil (wooden stake, silver bullets, fire, etc.)
12. A lot of "biting" to transfer the effects of "evil"
13. Transformations
14. Full moon
15. Angry villagers with pitchforks
16. Massive amount of cobwebs (No one seems to have time to dust)
17. Haunting the living
18. Always night time
19. Screaming (usually by a woman)
20. Hunchback/deformed assistant
21. Creaking doors and floorboards