Happy Holidays from Prime and Prejudice!!!

Happy Holidays from the Pride and Prejudice Family!  Wishing you a happy and healthy 2011!

Metrodome roof collapses!

This video is insane!!!!!  It is the roof of the Metrodome in Minneapolis collapsing after getting 20 plus inches of snow since Friday.  The Vikings game that was to take place there today has now been moved to Monday night in Detroit.

Trailer Alert! Transformers: Dark of the Moon!!!!!

Yeah...it's the Transformers 3 teaser.

"HEY GUYS, WE LANDED ON THE MOON!!!" - Optimus Prime, 2011

Mark your Calendars- Mean Girls 2!

Mark your calendars and set your DVR because Mean Girls 2 is premiering on ABC Family on January 23rd at 8:00 pm!!!  The thought of even watching this movie is about as bad as the thought of Sarah Palin running for president (sorry to our Republican readers). I am surprised Lohan is not in this as she appears not to have any other projects to do in between her stints in rehab.  I do have to admit I did like the first Mean Girls.  On a side note:  Has anyone noticed that a good chunk of the shows and movies on ABC family are not family-oriented at all!  Nothing says family time like watching a group of stuck up girls!

Mega Shark vs Crocosaurus Trailer!!!!!

I MUST SEE THIS!  And yes, that is Jaleel White aka Steve Urkel!   It is a crazy world!

Linus and Lucy Christmas Lights

This appears to be the same house as posted in the video below.  I am curious if this is the light show they play before the kids go to bed, and once the kids are in bed, it is Slayer time!  Craziness!!  I am thinking these people may have a little too much free time!

Slayer Christmas Lights

Oh the silly things people will do during the holidays!!!!!  The lights on this house are synced up with Slayer's  Raining Blood .  Beware...this is kind of scarey.  It is almost something that should have been up during Halloween.  If you are epileptic, you should probably stay away from this house!  Happy Holidays!

New Green Hornet Trailer!!!

My First Love

A tribute to my first love, Prince William, who is now officially engaged.  **Tear**

New Green Lantern Trailer!!

Things That Bring The Happy: John Belushi as Joe Cocker

I wrote about my love for John Belushi once before, but it bears repeating because this is the first time I've found my personal favorite clip of John's SNL tenure online.  In it, Belushi portrays rock legend and avid partier Joe Cocker, singing a spot on version of "A Little Help From My Friends" (as heard on The Wonder Years) while appearing completely inebriated and potentially psychotic.

I am relatively sure that I've laughed at this ridiculous performance more often than anything I've ever seen in my life.  As those Aerosmith peeps say, just hit play!

john belushi - joe cocker  |  Movies & TV  |  SPIKE.com

And, as an added bonus...here's Belushi singing alongside Cocker later on SNL!!!

          
Joe Cocker & John Belushi por nakavideos no Videolog.tv.

"Crazy Train:" A Clapping Before Christmas

Here's the deal OPP fans, we've all been at that live sports event enjoying a game. There is a time out on the court...and some Ozzy Osbourne "Crazy Train" pops on over the speakers. The crowd sits docile doing there thing which is: eating, talking, walking up and down the stairs for a food run, or sittin and staring into space. Then, like "The Night Before Christmas," my wondering eyes found this:


Twas two months before Christmas and all seemed mundane,
No one was jammin' along with that Crazy Train.
When what, to my wondering eyes should I see;
But that one lone ranger, clapping with glee.
I thought to myself oh God what shame,
Dude's lost his mind, he must be insane.
He's dancing, he's prancing, he's laughing; I'll hit him.
He's clapping and jiggling; cripes, dude, get some rhythm.
As his hands clasped in an uneven refrain,
I felt sorry for Ozzy and his crazy-like train.

YOU KILLED OZZY FOR ALL, EFF YOU DUDE, GOODNIGHT!



That poem was to you 55 year old guy who claps out of sync. I see your gross early 90's Guess Jeans with a tucked in horizontal stripped orange and blue polo shirt, a gray hat from a trip that you took to Denver, and all white old man tennis shoes. You already stand out...you don't need to literally stand up and stand out at a sports event. Dude, don't be that guy. Don't be that guy that has to try so hard to "be into" something when in reality you are trying to be a college student again. Don't be that guy who pretends that he is musical, "hip," and can dance, when in reality your hands can't hit a beat if that beat was tea-bagging your chin. Finally, don't be that guy to ruin Ozzy by going off the rails on a crazy train.

Narcosleepy Out

Trailer Alert! Cowboys & Aliens are Coming!

If you know The Mike, you know that Iron Man is kind of his homeboy, which makes him a big fan of actor/director Jon Favreau.  Today, we've got the unveiling of the trailer (via Yahoo Movies) for Favreau's next film: Cowboys & Aliens, a graphic novel adaptation starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, and Olivia Wilde as Cowboys (and Cowgals) who of course take on aliens.  (The title kind of writes the description for us, doesn't it?)

Check out the teaser below, which hints that Craig is going to continue to be a bad man aside from Bond films, and also suggests that this might very well be the first good Harrison Ford movie since The Fugitive in '93.  The film's set to release on July 29th of 2011, which is surprisingly late in the summer for a Sci-Fi epic, but I'm not judging.  What say you, our beloved AustenBots?

Welcome to The Biff Tannen Museum!

Yes, we all love Back to the Future as a trilogy.  It goes without saying.  But personally, I've always had a very soft spot in my heart for the second film in that series.  Yes, it's mostly filler that bridges the gap between the future and the past and the distant past, but as a child in the '80s the film's inventiveness (Hoverboard, anyone?) and vision of a stylized future made my young mind race like a German's does when they see David Hasselhoff.  And, if you're like me, you still vividly remember the harrowing footage of the alternate future in which Biff Tannen, using the sports almanac that he brought back in time to himself, has become the richest man in Hill Valley; owning his own tower and the Biff Tannen Museum within. 

Now, 21 years after the film was released, someone who knows someone who was family with someone who worked on the movie has brought forth the full footage of the welcome video that was shown outside the Biff Tannen Museum in the film.  Never before released on any home version of the film, this three and a half minute clip nicely fills the gaps for anyone who wants to know the full details about Biff Tannen's rise to power.  Click below, and gaze in wide wonder!

Introducing the Phrobi!!!

Watch out Snuggie!  The latest in the wearable blanket craze is the Phrobi-"The Ultimate Cozy Blanket Robe That Keeps You Warm From Head To Toe And Has Your Back!”

In case you were wondering where it is exceptable to wear this, the website offers some suggestions.

“Because it's stylish, you can also wear it out to many occasions such as dance parties, sporting events, boating excursions, evening bbqs, music festivals, camping, beaches at night, first dates, bar hopping, walking to class on college campuses, dropping your kids off to school, rooftop gatherings, you name it!”

I'll admit to being a Snuggie owner, but I think this is doing a little too far!!

Uwe Bolls Blubberella Trailer

You will have to watch this for yourself.  I have no words...............................

Wheel of Fortune Puzzle solved with one letter=craziness!!

The Guide to Getting Through Your Post-Halloween Lull

If you're like The Mike - and I wish you the best if you are - you probably go into a bit of a funk as November begins.  To the horror fan, October is our Super Bowl, and when it ends we often have some trouble figuring out what comes next.  In that regard, it's like the ending of The Truman Show (which is an awesome movie).  We blink a few times, we stare at each other, and then we shrug as if to say "Hey, do you know what comes next?  I don't know what comes next. *pause* Thanksgiving?  Bad football and too many people eating too much food then trying to sprawl out in a single room because they're too full?  Really?"


Alas, I've got some ideas that could help you through these dark days that bridge the gap between All Hallow's Eve and the Curse of Black Friday. (More on that curse later this month....)

1) Make Your Choice - The first thing to determine when you hit November is whether a) you need a break from the ghoulishness of horror cinema after the constant bombardment that occurred around Halloween, or b) you're still craving more of that ghastly goodness.  For the hardcore horror fan, the choice is usually easy, but there's no shame in taking a break and looking at what the rest of the world has to offer.  This is especially important for the casual horror fan or the non-horror fan who jumped into the dark side of cinema for the Holiday.  If you do need a break, you have several options.  First of all - there are other movies out there in other genres, and you can watch those if you like.  You may have ignored some good entertainment during October while you were focused in on Horror, and this is your chance to make up for lost time.  Also, if you're a fan of genre and cult cinema, it might be a good idea to switch from horror to sci-fi and give that genre some love, since we don't have a cool holiday that brings it to society's eyes...yet.

(The worst option for cinema during this lull?  Christmas movies, which are already all over the shelves at your local stores.  Seriously - YOU CAN NOT WATCH CHRISTMAS MOVIES AT THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER.  You just can't, it's wrong - unless it's Die Hard.)

2) You Chose Horror?  Now Choose Wisely! - If you're one of those non-horror or casual horror fans, it's entirely possible that the taste you got in October has you craving more.  But, the films are gone from your TV stations and the recommendations are gone from your store shelves.  One of the greatest mistakes those looking to get into horror make is going forth uninformed, picking up any old horror flick because of a cover image or a cast member.  As much as I love horror, I admit entirely that this behavior is a recipe for PAIN.  The best horror covers and most interesting casts often are a huge let down.  If you don't believe me, check out Liam Neeson in The Haunting or that shiny copy of Darkness Falls, then come back here and apologize.

Thankfully, you're reading this.  And, if you're reading this, there's a good chance you can access the internet - which is a great place to find horror recommendations that don't suck!  We did our own 31 days of horror here during October, but there are also hundreds upon hundreds of great horror blogs out there that have wicked suggestions for you.  There's a ton of them listed in our list of links on the right side of the page, and I strongly recommend the 31 Days of Favorites posted over at Fascination With Fear to anyone who wants to get deeper into the good side of horror.

3) Find Other Options - Maybe you want to do something besides watching movies?  That's an option, I guess.  The weather's starting to turn bitter in my neck of the woods, but there are still some good days to be had if you're an outdoorsy type.  College Football Season is entering its stretch run (before slowly crawling to the finish line with 1,945 Bowl games), so have some fun there like us Cyclone fans are!  You might have other interior hobbies too.  I enjoy video games, so I've spent a bit of the first week of November catching up with my XBox 360.  Whatever it is you like that isn't movies, you could focus on it for a while.

4) Walk With the Dead - Switching the focus back to those who still crave horror, I hear you might enjoy checking out AMC's new series which adapts the graphic novel sensation The Walking Dead.  I don't watch the television unless football's on or there's a DVD in my player, so I can't comment first hand on the alleged zombie epic, but if you want horror in small doses a six-episode season of a one hour series could fill your needs.  And it's from the guy who made The Shawshank Redemption, which you love.  I hear it's on Sunday nights, and you might enjoy checking it out.

5) DON'T PANIC - No matter which choice you made, you need to stay cool.  Though we were all united in October, when November starts you will find that many others are on the other side of the horror fence now.  Don't force it if they don't want it, and don't cause a fuss when other suggest it if you don't want it.  This is a difficult time for everyone, we have to stand together or we will die alone.

Keep the faith!  Remember, it's less than 360 days until next Halloween.  Eyes on the prize, boys and ghouls!

The Beaver-Movie Teaser Poster

 

This is the just released movie teaser poster for Mel Gibson's upcoming movie The Beaver .  Co-starring and directed by Jodie Foster, the film is yet to have a release date.........

Quote of the Day

I won't be a rock star. I will be a legend.
Freddie Mercury

Music of the Day-Queen-Somebody to Love

Twisted Metal!

Half-Life :)

Movie Review-Babies

 If you like babies or even learning about other cultures, this is a fascinating documentary.  By Thomas Balmes, it follows the early development of four babies from different parts of the world.  It starts with the birth of four babies from Namibia, Mongolia, Japan, and the United States and follows the babies until a little over the age of one.  It is a great illustration of how different cultures are, yet how similar and precious human life is.  Without narration and very little dialogue the film really capturea the preciousness of these four babies with simply filming their actions, interactions with others, and expressions.  It is a wonderful film and I highly recommend it!

For the Cyclone Fans!

A Texas fan, a Nebraska fan, and an Iowa State fan were out riding horses one day. At one point, the Texas fan pulled out a bottle of expensive bourbon, took a long swig, threw the bottle to the ground, pulled out a pistol and shot it.

 

"What are you doing?" asked the Nebraska fan. "That was perfectly good whiskey.""In Texas, we have more whiskey than we need," said the Longhorn fan, "And bottles are cheap."

 

They rode along for a while, and the Nebraska fan was thinking. Then he pulled out a bottle of champagne, opened it, took a swig, threw down the bottle, pulled out his pistol and shot the bottle."What are you doing?" asked the Iowa State fan. "That was perfectly good champagne.""In Nebraska," said the Husker fan, "We have more champagne than we need, and the bottles are cheap."

 

They rode along for a while, and then the Cyclone fan pulled out a bottle of beer, drank the whole thing, put the bottle back in his saddlebag, pulled out his pistol and shot the Nebraska fan."What are you doing?" asked the Texas fan.

 

"In Iowa, " replied the Cyclone fan, "we have more Husker fans than we need, but bottles are worth a nickel a piece."

October Horror Movie of the Day #31 - Halloween

The Film: Halloween
The Director: John Carpenter
The Cast: Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, P.J. Soles
Release Date: October 25, 1978

It's Halloween, yo.

So that's all I've got for the October Horror Movie of the Day list.  Sorry for the delays at times, life has a way of being annoying.  Hope you've enjoyed the recommendations and blurbs.  Stay scary, boys and ghouls!

October Horror Movie of the Day #30 - Arsenic and Old Lace

The Film: Arsenic and Old Lace
The Director: Frank Capra
The Cast: Cary Grant, Priscilla Lane, Raymond Massey
Release Date: September 23, 1944

OK, this isn't a horror movie.  You got me.  But it's set on Halloween, and it's one of my favorite movies ever.  It talks about Karloff a lot and features murders, mad doctors, plague victims, and dead bodies in window seats.  And it's hilarious.  So you should watch it, even if it's not a horror movie.

I mean, if Teddy can't make you laugh, check your pulse.

Fun size this: Up yours Reese's

Life, my friends, is a journey for us not to understand. It is a series of random events, and we make it through each day not knowing what tomorrow will bring. However, on this planet, there is a certainty that is pissing me off. Every year, Reese's Peanut butter cups get smaller and smaller. I used to be able to count on a cup that will quench my chocolate craving. Now, my sacred cup has shrunk to the size of a testicle. They say the only certainty in life is death and taxes. Well, like an old man's boner with Erectile Dysfunction, Reese's Peanut butter cups are shrinking to a flaccid poof. Like Sodom and Gomorrah, I'm going to rain fire up in this motha.

Halloween is a time of joyous decadence and a menagerie of masquerades. However, F*$K YOU REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS. You place this term on your cups: "Fun Size." There is nothing fun about your size. It is a piss me off size. You take a bite, and half of it is gone. You take another bite...and you are left feeling empty, lonely, and depressed. You lick the black paper thing the cup comes in to try to get more, but this lickage is met with failure. Like a heroin addict boiling old spoons, I scrape and lick in anguish for more of your chocolate peanut buttery high. I once loved you Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, but your CD (Cuptile Dysfunction) has me searching for new candies. We had a good run.

I bid you farewell Douche Cups.




Narcosleepy

October Horror Movie of the Day #29 - Psycho

 

The Film: Psycho
The Director: Alfred Hitchcock
The Cast: Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, Janet Leigh
Release Date: August 25, 1960

There are few movies that stand alone like Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho does.  Though it's seen as the grandfather of the slasher genre, you'd never mistake it for Friday the 13th or Happy Birthday to Me.   You could also say it belongs with serial killer films like The Silence of the Lambs or The Hitcher, but that doesn't quite fit either.

But it doesn't matter what else is out there, because Psycho offers a completely unique experience in horror.  A lot of that is due to Anthony Perkins' performance as Norman Bates, which is as good as any performance in any movie.  But the film's plot, featuring that famous mid-film shift in perception, and the masterful eye of Alfred Hitchcock, also stand out.  This shouldn't be news to anyone who's ever read anything about Psycho, and there's not much new to say about the film 50 years later. 

Except that you'll never seen anything like it.

Chaplin's Time Traveler!!!! Must Watch!!! Crazy!!

October Horror Movie of the Day #28 - Gremlins

The Film: Gremlins
The Director: Joe Dante
The Cast: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Judge Reinhold, Dick Miller
Release Date: June 8, 1984

People don't like to admit it, but Gremlins is 100% a horror movie.  Seriously, it's about crazy little monsters that terrorize a town.  Yes, I know Steven Spielberg's name is on it and you loved it as a kid.  And yes, Gizmo is THE cutest thing to ever be put on film that wasn't named Elisabeth Shue.  But that's not the point.  It's a horror movie.

And maybe it's a little bit more of a Christmas horror movie than an October horror movie, but that's OK.  You can start thinking ahead this time of year, because in a few weeks your Grandma's going to want a Christmas list anyway.  And if you're not into Christmas, just watch the scene in which Phoebe Cates gives a darkly hilarious monologue about her worst Christmas.  And laugh at the scene where the Gremlin uses a puppet and goes "beepu beepu beppo" and stuff.  It's hilarious.

But it's still a horror movie.

October Horror Movie of the Day #27 - Suspiria

The Film: Suspiria
The Director: Dario Argento
The Cast: Jessica Harper, Udo Kier, Joan Bennett
Release Date: August 12, 1977


Recently, a blog I loved asked horror fans to give a list of their 20 favorite horror movies, thankfully in no particular order.  When I compiled my list, using many tactical measures, I could not, for the life of me, get under 21 movies.  Obviously, 21 > 20, so I had to cut something from the list and, in the heat of the moment when I started thinking that tons of people would pick it and I wanted to get one of my less known favorites on the list, I cut Suspiria from the list.  I'm not proud of it, but it happened.


The thing is, it's easy to underestimate Dario Argento's masterpiece, which is one of the most beautiful nightmares ever filmed, because the plot is just so darn odd.  But that's not the point.  On a visceral level, I can think of only a select few horror films that are as gripping as Suspiria.  Definitely not 20.  I shame me.


My point, I guess, is that you should see Suspiria.  It's awesome.  (And, if you want to see what that list of 20 looked like, you should check out my friendly blog on Halloween!)

Lebron James asks "What Should I Do?", and promptly drops The Corporate Elbow on Sports Fans

Growing up, I was a big fan of what is known as professional wrestling and what was known as the WWF.  OK, so maybe I still check it out on occasion when I'm flipping channels on a Monday night.  Don't judge me, because that's not the point.

The point is Lebron James' latest Nike ad, in which he asks all of us what he should do with his life.  Maybe he doesn't have the charisma of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (then again, who the heck does?), but Lebron has just cut himself one darn good heel promo.  I almost want to like where the guy's coming from, because it seems he put some heart into this one, even if he is blaming everyone else for where his image is at.

Of course, just like professional wrestling, there are always writers, and Nike stands to gain just as much (if not more) from this spiel as Lebron does.  But with the NBA season underway again, it's at least a nice attention grabber to check out.  And you can do so here:

RIP: Paul the Psychic Octopus

Editorial Note from The Mike:
This is exactly what's wrong with society.  We had a goddamn psychic octopus, and all we used him for was stupid SOCCER. 

Shame on you, humanity.  SHAME.

With Love,
TM

October Horror Movie of the Day #26 - Creepshow

The Film: Creepshow

The Director: George A. Romero

The Cast: Hal Holbrook, Adrienne Barbeau, Leslie Nielsen

Release Date: November 12, 1982

Perhaps the greatest horror anthology ever made, the combination of Stephen King and George Romero has a ton of fun with this one.  The stories told vary from a jealous tale of adultery featuring Ted Danson and Leslie Nielsen to a case of alien plant life attacking a farmer to a dangerous crate and a professor who is sick of his demanding wife.  Oh, and there's plenty of cake, too.

For me, the film peaks with the fourth segment, The Crate, in which Hal Holbrook and Fritz Weaver deal with a giant monster.  It's hairy and got teeth and claws, and is played by Adrienne Barbeau.  (Oh, also there's a beast in a crate, too.)  Also, King's turn as plant loving Jordy Verrill is a lot of laughs, and Ed Harris' dance moves should make you a little too excited.  I say it's one of the best "comic book" movies ever, and you should see it!

In Book News.....Here's the Situation

Next week you will all be thrilled to know that Jersey Shores Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino is releasing his first book titled Here's the Situation.  Here are a few excerpts from this literary masterpiece:

"The best sex is often with a grenade — because she's so grateful."

"Chicks do dig guys with shaved legs . . . maybe they're into the Michael Phelps look."

"Before any chick gets into my bed I make her slide into a 200-degree Jacuzzi to sterilize any microbial bacteria that might endanger my health."

If this advice is not enough, Mike also graciously provides a prayer he says:

"God grant me the stamina to satisfy hot chicks, the courage to deny grenades, and the wisdom to know the difference."

I know I can't wait to run to the store to get my copy of the book (not!).  This book is just another example of how sad the world is becoming!

Music of the Day-Willow Smith

Here is the video of 9 year old Willow Smith (daughter of Will Smith) singing her song Whip My Hair that has apparently taken the world by storm (and I am not sure why)!

October Horror Movie of the Day #25 - Frozen

The Film: Frozen

The Director: Adam Green

The Cast: Kevin Zegers, Shawn Ashmore, Emma Bell

Release Date: March 25, 2010

I went in to this movie thinking it was going to be a snowy on land version of Open Water, a movie I was not so much a fan of.   I was pleasantly surprised about how much I actually enjoyed this film and how much it made me think.    It was refreshing to have a horror film with no bad guy(s).  It was simply an intense story of man vs. nature.

The film takes place at Mount Holliston, where three young skiers (played by Emma Bell, Shawn Ashmore, and Kevin Zegers) don’t have enough money for ski lift tickets, so they bribe the attendant for reduced price tickets.  At the end of night they beg this same attendant for one last run down the mountain.  As they are going up the ski-lift the attendant has to step away.  With the replacement not knowing the skiers are on the lift, he shuts it down.  Not only was it shut down for the night, but would not be open until the following weekend.  With blizzard like conditions, freezing temps, no food or water, and hungry wolves below, the skiers find themselves having to make life or death decisions.  Do they freeze to death or try to get down from the ski lift?

  

It made me really think of what I would do if I was stuck in a ski lift.  Would I jump or stay put?  Being a situation that could potentially happen to someone in real-life really put the scare in me (minus the wolves…that was a little unrealistic)!  This is a movie I would say is definitely worth a view!

October Horror Movie of the Day #24 - Pumpkinhead

The Film: Pumpkinhead
The Director: Stan Winston
The Cast: Lance Henriksen (!)
Release Date: January 13, 1989

I'm still not sure I really like Pumpkinhead as a movie.  I've grown to appreciate it over the years, but the execution seems a little sloppy at times.  I mostly attribute this to the fact that Stan Winston - the most skilled effects man to ever walk the face of the Earth - was directing for the first time, and the fact that the script doesn't give the film much help.

What I am absolutely sure of is that I am madly in love with the monster that Winston created here.  Pumpkinhead, the demon, has always given me chills.  The man created the Alien, the Terminator, Jurassic Park's gorram dinosaurs, and almost every great effect you saw in the '80s and '90s.  But I have no problem calling the Pumpkinhead monster one of his greatest creations.  Despite the cast (except for the amazing Lance Henriksen, of course) and script, the creature and some great lighting make this an occasionally terrifying tale of demonic revenge.

Book Review - Dr. Dale's Zombie Dictionary: The A-Z Guide to Staying Alive

(2010, Written by Dr. Dale Seslick)

I'm a little tired of waiting for the zombie apocalypse.  It's been more than 40 years since George Romero promised it, and all we've gotten out of it are some incredible films and books surrounded by a lot of really crummy knock-offs.  In the last decade, particularly, zombies have been all over cinema screens.  For every Shaun of the Dead or Dawn of the Dead remake, there seem to be 7 awful indie zombie flicks out there too.  They're even invading our TV sets, thanks to the upcoming The Walking Dead series on AMC.

I must admit that, under these circumstances, I'm also awfully tired of hearing about the "inevitable" zombie apocalypse.  I can't take zombies seriously right now, because there are too many of them out there, and some of them can now randomly run or jump or spit or teleport.  (That last one's on you, Lucio!)

So when the fellow behind this book - Dr. Dale's Zombie Dictionary - got in touch with me about a review, my instant mental reaction was to wonder if we really need more zombies.  I mean, if you've seen a handful of the myriad of z-films (or read any zombie literature), you probably have a pretty good understanding of them by now.  What more is there to offer?  Can a Zombie Dictionary released in 2010 really sustain itself and not become a one-note joke you've already heard?

I'm happy to say that yes, it can.  Because Dr. Dale's Zombie Dictionary is a very, very fun read.

It seems to me that Dr. Dale - if that is his real name - has a pretty good understanding of how saturated the zombie market is right now.  He arms himself with this knowledge, and parlays it into an understanding that most people that would be interested in this type of book already know the basics.  With this in mind, he focuses on things you might not have considered about the zombie apocalypse, and keeps things light.

For example, I've certainly never considered how the Utilitarian Furniture Mart known as IKEA might play in to the zombie apocalypse.  Dr. Dale has.  I've never given much consideration to how pixies or "Spiderman Zombies" might or might not come into play, but he has.  Dr. Dale covers a  lot of things that I have occasionally considered, but gave me new info on them, too. For example, whether or not I'd wear a helmet whilst fighting zombies has crossed my mind, but Dr. Dale's reasoning about helmets took my breath away.

I was mostly laughing while losing that breath, but that's the charm of the book.  It makes sense along with zombie lore (making sure to reiterate the fact that running zombies don't exist), but has a lot of fun with how to deal with the undead.  In a time when George Romero is up to SIX Dead flicks, we need to maintain a bit of comedy about the topic to keep it fresh.  He also peppers in some hilarious analogies using pop culture.  Some of it is very British humor, and I may have been a little to yankee to get all the gags entirely, particularly when he talks about London's road planning.  It's also worth noting that the book is very up to date, referencing last fall's Zombieland and plenty of recent pop culture names.

Dr. Dale's trying pretty hard to give us a lot of entertaining information here, and some of the topics in the 300+ page text do fall flat.  But the book still provides a lot of laughs, and there are plenty of truly interesting ideas inside the book too, including how Freud's idea of the Id might come into play.  Maybe it won't invade your psyche too deeply but, if nothing else, the book will come in handy to lighten the mood while you're dealing with zombies.  If you're reading this blog, you probably have a decent understanding of what you need to do when there's no more room in Hell.  But Dr. Dale has most certainly considered some things you haven't and his method of sharing them works well.  I highly recommend it.

If you want more info about the book, check out the official website here.  And, if you like, you can pick up your own copy at Amazon.

Iowa State vs Texas: And this is why I am a Cyclone Fan!!

October Horror Movie of the Day #23 - The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

The Film: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
The Director: Tobe Hooper
The Cast: Marilyn Burns, Jim Siedow, Gunnar Hansen
Release Date: October 1, 1974

Look, there are about a billion reasons I could pick The Texas Chain Saw Massacre here.  I've already covered most of them over at my blog.

But really, I picked this movie for today because a massacre is exactly what happened when Iowa State's football team took out Texas today.  BOO-YAH!

October Horror Movie of the Day #22 - The Pit

The Film: The Pit

The Director: Lew Lehman

The Cast: Sammy Snyders, Jeannie Elias, Sonja Smits

Release Date: October 23, 1981

This has to be the most fun '80s horror film I've found in a long time.  One look at that poster should sum up everything that's awesome about it but, in case you can't tell (or in case you're blind, in which case I hope you're reading this in braille) allow me to point out that the poster promises a) a pit; b) an evil teddy bear; c) a potentially evil awkward blonde kid; d) underground creatures of some sort; e) ALL OF THE ABOVE!

Really though, I enjoyed the heck out of this film.  Young Sammy Snyders is fantastically odd and creepy in the lead, and his relationships with the underground "tra-logs" and his college age babysitter with the cute '80s hair and eyes are well worth following.  Plus it's all filmed in lovely Beaver Dam, Wisconsin - which I have no ties to other than being a Packers fan - which makes the setting seem adequately midwestern.  The Pit is truly a film I'm glad I uncovered, and I can't wait to see it again.

Oh, and THIS HAPPENS.  I know, it's a giant freaking spoiler, but if THIS can't get your blood boiling, check your pulse!