This story was kinda hard to get into. I'm not much of a zombie fan, so it was new for me to read about this zombie story. From the beginning of the story, it seems like each chapter was a new character that was telling the story. At first this confused me, but after a while It got interested to have a story that switches a person perspective of what is happening. It wasn't until when near the middle of the story that I started to figure out who is our main character and what was going on (the plot of the story). It turns out a plague has spread and turned most of the people into zombies and Manhattan has become a zombie-infested island.
There is a character that I do like, the doctor Gary that is a zombie. What makes him different is that he has control over his urges and tries to help the main character Dekalb and the group of teen school girls (East African girls with their AK-47's). The reason why he has control over his zombie cravings is that he did experiments on himself and the result was him turning into a zombie but still have his brain. This makes this easy for him to blend in with the rest of the zombies and not be attacked, and having him with Dekalb and the girls, makes valuable to have if they need him. There is a interesting kind of friendship or trust with between Dekalb and the zombie doctor Gary. Gary seems to be the only one that will listen to Dekalb and wants to help him and his group to get the medicine and get back on the boat. Even though Gary is a zombie, I think Dekalb is glad to have someone to talk to and think of plans of escaping/ killing the zombies.
I did fund that the parts with these trained girls with of guns killing zombies was a little bit funny. I just wonder why it was mostly girls and Dekalb, I think when gathering a team to go into New York, they could have found a boy (in his teens or older) to help and fight. If there were illustrations to this story, i bet the schoolgirls with guns would look a bit funny. Towards the end I feel bad for Dekalb, being the only adult in a group of young girls killing zombies (with a terrible battle plan), and he's never used a gun in his life. And he's risking his life to go into New York to get AIDS medicine. Then he and his daughter Sara will have citizenship and will be placed in the safes place in the world. Dekalb is trying his best to make it through this and to be back with his daughter, but no one on his team is taking the time to listen to him. Until when something happened to their commander and the rest of the girls are waiting for orders from someone. Like all they are able to do is respond to orders and fire their AK-47's.
There are two more parts to this story and maybe there is more detail to be discovered in the other books. As for this first part of the trilogy, I thought that the idea is interesting, but I would like more detail of the characters and about the settings (more detail to get an image of the story). I'm not much of a zombie fan to read these types of books, but it was interesting to read something different than what i usually read. I would say for anyone who likes stories about zombies, then they will be satisfied with this book.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
No Such Thing (the 2001 movie)
The movie 'No Such Thing' was an interesting movie. It wasn't what i was expecting but after watching it, it still is making me think more and more about it. I thought this movie had some similarities to both the story of Frankenstein and a little bit of Beauty and the Beast. The reason I say that is because we see this monster that was maybe created my this scientist called Dr. Artaud and he is the only one that can kill this monster. The monster has been alone for a long time, the only one of his kind. he's on a island in iceland and the local people leave him bottles of liquor to satisfy him (and to probably keep him busy from wanting to kill them). But you can see that he's tired of this and he wants to die. He angry and has full knowledge and speech (better than most monsters).
When we see our other main character Beatrice, (who is in Iceland to find her fiancee, but is killed by the monster) she's not screaming in terror of the monster, even when he is acting rude and breathing fire. She seems like a kind person, but she forgets that kindness when she is overwhelmed with the fame and attention she is getting for finding this monster and bringing him back to the city (I think it's New York City). Beatrice (and her fiancee) work for a news company, and her boss (played by Hellen Mirren) uses the monsters looks to get media attention and doesn't care how she gets it. Even if it mean torturing him (with all kinds of test to see what he is) and humiliating him in the streets (having the people of the city beat him down to ground, making him weak). Finally getting out of the spot light and seeing what's more important, Beatrice gets the monster and brings him back to Iceland and the scientist (and other doctors) are setting up the experiment that kills him.
This is where i'm thinking of Beauty and the Beast. From beginning to most of the film, the monster is mean and rude, he doesn't end up killing her. Because he thinks she can help him find the scientist. She helps him but he has to promise her that he won't kill anyone. Even if he really wants to, he keeps his promise to her. Just looking at them (to me) seems like they are Beauty and the Beast. At the end where he is about to be gone from the world that he couldn't stand. Beatrice goes to him (while the process of the experiment is going) and without saying anything, is just standing there and getting a last look at him before he's gone. At this point the camera is giving us a view of what the monsters last images are. We see flashes of light and different images in between the flashes. And then we see Beatrice just looking at him, like a person she's has come to care about (have some feelings for). She has a sad look in her eyes that this monster is finally getting what he always wanted. But I think at this point (right when the movie is about to end), she might have fallen for him.
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(even this poster could be something that came out of Beauty and the Beast)
This movie was good, but it could have been better. From seeing what this monster looked like, I was hoping for some more of what I mentioned before. The Beginning part is kinda boring and we don't really get a good introduction of who this girl is. Half of the time the movie has more of her being selfish and less of the monster. If there was going to be a remake of this movie, I would say keep the make up artist for the monster (I really love his design. Thats what drew me in to wanting to watch this movie. I want to know more about this interesting monster), and Just work better on spacing/ editing the story. This doesn't need any special effects, no 3d glassed just a real story that brings you into this world and makes you feel for the characters, especially the monster and his pain.
When we see our other main character Beatrice, (who is in Iceland to find her fiancee, but is killed by the monster) she's not screaming in terror of the monster, even when he is acting rude and breathing fire. She seems like a kind person, but she forgets that kindness when she is overwhelmed with the fame and attention she is getting for finding this monster and bringing him back to the city (I think it's New York City). Beatrice (and her fiancee) work for a news company, and her boss (played by Hellen Mirren) uses the monsters looks to get media attention and doesn't care how she gets it. Even if it mean torturing him (with all kinds of test to see what he is) and humiliating him in the streets (having the people of the city beat him down to ground, making him weak). Finally getting out of the spot light and seeing what's more important, Beatrice gets the monster and brings him back to Iceland and the scientist (and other doctors) are setting up the experiment that kills him.
This is where i'm thinking of Beauty and the Beast. From beginning to most of the film, the monster is mean and rude, he doesn't end up killing her. Because he thinks she can help him find the scientist. She helps him but he has to promise her that he won't kill anyone. Even if he really wants to, he keeps his promise to her. Just looking at them (to me) seems like they are Beauty and the Beast. At the end where he is about to be gone from the world that he couldn't stand. Beatrice goes to him (while the process of the experiment is going) and without saying anything, is just standing there and getting a last look at him before he's gone. At this point the camera is giving us a view of what the monsters last images are. We see flashes of light and different images in between the flashes. And then we see Beatrice just looking at him, like a person she's has come to care about (have some feelings for). She has a sad look in her eyes that this monster is finally getting what he always wanted. But I think at this point (right when the movie is about to end), she might have fallen for him.
(even this poster could be something that came out of Beauty and the Beast)This movie was good, but it could have been better. From seeing what this monster looked like, I was hoping for some more of what I mentioned before. The Beginning part is kinda boring and we don't really get a good introduction of who this girl is. Half of the time the movie has more of her being selfish and less of the monster. If there was going to be a remake of this movie, I would say keep the make up artist for the monster (I really love his design. Thats what drew me in to wanting to watch this movie. I want to know more about this interesting monster), and Just work better on spacing/ editing the story. This doesn't need any special effects, no 3d glassed just a real story that brings you into this world and makes you feel for the characters, especially the monster and his pain.
Suspiria (1977) movie
The movie Suspiria is a horror film made in 1977. Our main character is an American girl named Suzy Banyon who is coming to Germany (Europe) to study dance at the a dance academy that doesn't welcome her on her first day arriving in Germany. Its raining hard and Before Suzy can knock on the door or ring a doorbell, this frightened girl with her eyes wide open says something out loud (not to Suzy directly). But Suzy can't figure out the words because of the storm. someone from inside the school building isn't letting her her, saying that they don't know her and to go away. The frighten girl is Pat Hingle, she was expelled from the school and was going to her friends apartment to stay. But In her friends apartment (in the bathroom) Pat see's these eyes that are staring right at her through the window. She is then killed by this mysterious encounter. From there the film starts off at a slow paste to a point where you wish something would happen, and when something happens in the night (it always happens at night), it goes by quickly.
The movie doesn't give off any hints as to who is the villain in the story, not until the middle and end. But what the movie does do well is create that feeling suspense and horror, all from the sounds and the music that is played in the movie. For some odd reason while watching this movie, I was starting to think that this movie is similar to Nightmare on Elm Street (the first one more than the sequels). The reason for my comparing these two movies is that they not only have a horror them in cinema. But that they use music to create the fear and tension of the situation. The music in Suspiria is what scared me the most, more than the story. When it was a night scene in the film and I heard that strange, fast paste beating music (or slow and eery music), it does it's job well in getting the audience wrapped up in whats going to happen to the characters, as well as scare us with a sound thats unfamiliar. Nightmare on Elm Street does the same thing (only that movie has a better story and characters). Another thing that I find that both films share is that the main character hardly does anything in the beginning of the strange attacks (doesn't go an investigate). That is what bothered my in the Suspiria film I just watch. Half of the time, the only person that seems to be more scared and wants to investigate on the attacks (murders) is Suzy's friend Sara (who was friends with Pat and was the person that told Suzy on her first arrival to go way from the building).
In the middle/ towards the end of the film, we find out that everyone (the teachers and the lady that owns the building) are witches, a coven of witches and they gain power when they kill someone. In my opinion, it just seemed like they need to added something to give a reason for the killings, so they went with a witch plot. Maybe this film's story came from a German tale that I've never heard of, but the people who were apart of the film could have of more scarier things that would make people think it's witchcraft or signs of witchcraft (again just my own thoughts).
This films wasn't that bad, but it didn't leave me being that scared (as i would with most horror films that i end up watching by my friends, not my idea) as i was thinking it would. The story sounds interesting, but the film seemed to just drag on and the killings were quick. I understand that this is an old film and that their have been other horror films that do a great job at frightening people. But this one didn't have any affect on me. If some film company or studio was going to remake this film, i would suggest that they shorten or edit some scenes that aren't necessary and to build up the fear and death's that are happening in the building and to the characters. Also have the main character Suzy be more active than her supporting actors.
The movie doesn't give off any hints as to who is the villain in the story, not until the middle and end. But what the movie does do well is create that feeling suspense and horror, all from the sounds and the music that is played in the movie. For some odd reason while watching this movie, I was starting to think that this movie is similar to Nightmare on Elm Street (the first one more than the sequels). The reason for my comparing these two movies is that they not only have a horror them in cinema. But that they use music to create the fear and tension of the situation. The music in Suspiria is what scared me the most, more than the story. When it was a night scene in the film and I heard that strange, fast paste beating music (or slow and eery music), it does it's job well in getting the audience wrapped up in whats going to happen to the characters, as well as scare us with a sound thats unfamiliar. Nightmare on Elm Street does the same thing (only that movie has a better story and characters). Another thing that I find that both films share is that the main character hardly does anything in the beginning of the strange attacks (doesn't go an investigate). That is what bothered my in the Suspiria film I just watch. Half of the time, the only person that seems to be more scared and wants to investigate on the attacks (murders) is Suzy's friend Sara (who was friends with Pat and was the person that told Suzy on her first arrival to go way from the building).
In the middle/ towards the end of the film, we find out that everyone (the teachers and the lady that owns the building) are witches, a coven of witches and they gain power when they kill someone. In my opinion, it just seemed like they need to added something to give a reason for the killings, so they went with a witch plot. Maybe this film's story came from a German tale that I've never heard of, but the people who were apart of the film could have of more scarier things that would make people think it's witchcraft or signs of witchcraft (again just my own thoughts).
This films wasn't that bad, but it didn't leave me being that scared (as i would with most horror films that i end up watching by my friends, not my idea) as i was thinking it would. The story sounds interesting, but the film seemed to just drag on and the killings were quick. I understand that this is an old film and that their have been other horror films that do a great job at frightening people. But this one didn't have any affect on me. If some film company or studio was going to remake this film, i would suggest that they shorten or edit some scenes that aren't necessary and to build up the fear and death's that are happening in the building and to the characters. Also have the main character Suzy be more active than her supporting actors.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
The Conventions of Horror
The conventions that are found in horror stories are:
-science
-horror
-death
-murder
-monsters, creatures, deformed person that is called or acts like a monster.
-the want of more power or control over something or someone
-castle
-storms
-dark atmosphere and stormy nights
-myths and stories
-gothic theme
-sins of the father attacking/ affecting the presence
-Dark secrets that lies beneath
-Uncovering of what the secret is. Something that can't be talked about.
-the sounds of howling wolfs and the sounds of the owls at night.
-A secret passage way to the lair. The lair being deep below the castle or building.
-Evil laugh.
-Sounds that we are use to hearing that go with the mood. Hearing these sounds help to make people react to the moment.
-European tales take more part in horror stories.
-Body horror. Like Victor's creation, he was made and looks different. Because his outer apperiance is different, it's scares people and they think that the creation has some demonic evil.
-
-science
-horror
-death
-murder
-monsters, creatures, deformed person that is called or acts like a monster.
-the want of more power or control over something or someone
-castle
-storms
-dark atmosphere and stormy nights
-myths and stories
-gothic theme
-sins of the father attacking/ affecting the presence
-Dark secrets that lies beneath
-Uncovering of what the secret is. Something that can't be talked about.
-the sounds of howling wolfs and the sounds of the owls at night.
-A secret passage way to the lair. The lair being deep below the castle or building.
-Evil laugh.
-Sounds that we are use to hearing that go with the mood. Hearing these sounds help to make people react to the moment.
-European tales take more part in horror stories.
-Body horror. Like Victor's creation, he was made and looks different. Because his outer apperiance is different, it's scares people and they think that the creation has some demonic evil.
-
Class Notes- Formula for a Novel (Gothic Novel)
The Heroine- in most gothic novels, the heroine gets married to the upperclass (or higher class) and doesn't work. just to be a wife and have kids. Usually the marriage is a arrange marriage and their would be a age difference.
- The heroine is also under threat, or is with the wrong suitor. Then the pursuit happens.
- Has a companion, and discovers a connection towards the other person. Because she is being more active and doing more stuff than most woman, the companion is more attracted to her.
- Most likely she will be threatened. From threatening her and locking her up, it will keep her from finding the truth. Most villains in a story will do anything to keep the heroine from finding out their secrets.
- The heroine is usually in her teens like 17 years old. That is usually a good age to place a heroine in a story, because they are young enough to start figuring out problems and answering questions.
What makes a good story is when the author reverses the story around. Meaning they will make it seem that the real monster isn't the one who is different or deformed (the monster), but the one who started it all, the creator.
The Setting- The more scarier and dark the monsters and the environment is, makes a better place to have a horror story.
- The heroine is also under threat, or is with the wrong suitor. Then the pursuit happens.
- Has a companion, and discovers a connection towards the other person. Because she is being more active and doing more stuff than most woman, the companion is more attracted to her.
- Most likely she will be threatened. From threatening her and locking her up, it will keep her from finding the truth. Most villains in a story will do anything to keep the heroine from finding out their secrets.
- The heroine is usually in her teens like 17 years old. That is usually a good age to place a heroine in a story, because they are young enough to start figuring out problems and answering questions.
What makes a good story is when the author reverses the story around. Meaning they will make it seem that the real monster isn't the one who is different or deformed (the monster), but the one who started it all, the creator.
The Setting- The more scarier and dark the monsters and the environment is, makes a better place to have a horror story.
Frankenstein- by Mary Shelly (class notes)
Mary Shelly was eighteen when she wrote the story. Frankenstein involves science, horror, and death. This was the first science fiction novel that became a main classic in horror stories. She based the story a little bit on her fathers novel and of the mystic story of Prometheus. When Mary was born, the childbirth killed her mother. in a way, Mary and Victor from her story Frankenstein are the cause of death of the ones they love, even if they didn't intend to. Mary didn't intend to kill her mother at child birth, and Victor didn't intend his creation to kill someone from his family.
Mary wanted to make the reader understand the loneliness in the character of Victor's creation (Frankenstein). Being the only one of his kind and being feared by those who come across him, and automatically treat and call him a monster. You get the feeling of his pain and anger for being different.
Mary wanted to make the reader understand the loneliness in the character of Victor's creation (Frankenstein). Being the only one of his kind and being feared by those who come across him, and automatically treat and call him a monster. You get the feeling of his pain and anger for being different.
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