I'm Not Dead! + Book Reviews

I meant to publish this weeks ago, but time is just flying by, what with all the moving preparations. And somehow I've managed to gain followers?? You guys are amazing. My parents sold their business so now we should be ready to go in about a week. I can't wait! Also, thanks to      akumaxkami  for tagging me in the 5 things post~ I already did said post here, but I appreciate the tag ^^ Anyway, today I've got a few quick book reviews for you all.

Runemarks by Joanne Harris

Now I love Norse mythology. This is an undisputed fact. I received a book of Norse myths for Christmas which I reread whenever I'm bored. That being said, any books that are influenced by Norse mythology are quickly snatched up and read. So when Runemarks was suggested to me online I went running to my library. Now this book's plot is convoluted to say the least. BUT in a very good way. You'll start reading it and immediately roll your eyes, thinking that you've already got a good idea of where the characters stand (Heck, even who they really are) only to be completely thrown for a loop. Again and again and again. Another plus is the strong protagonist. The strong girl protagonist. I'm very sick of the weepy pining-after-my-supernatural-love-interest trope that so many books fall into nowadays. Maddy is headstrong, sensible and she feels like a real character. Then there's Loki. Loki. I've rooted for him since I was a kid who thought he just needed a big hug. After that I discovered Marvel comics where I could appreciate him as a good villain, and THEN those darn movies came out where he really needs a hug and should stop looking so damn gorgeous. I never wanted to jump the God of Mischief till Tom Hiddleston came around. Where I'm going with this, is that Loki is actually written as a sympathetic character and he's written really well. You don't trust him, but you can emphasize with him. All in all it's a great book with a unique take on Norse mythology. And it throws in plenty of goblins and magic to boot.

The Alienist by Caleb Carr

We could call this book historical crime fiction I suppose, considering it bases a lot of the premise around real people and places. The book primarily follows psychologist (Or "alienist" as he's known back then) Dr. Lazslo Kriezler and reporter John Moore with their investigative team as they attempt to solve a string of gruesome murders in New York. They're somewhat of an experiment, considering the group attempts to stay disconnected from the city's corrupt police force and use new, unproven methods such as psychology and fingerprinting to catch their killer. Said killer has been targeting immigrants, young boys who have turned to prostitution in order to support themselves, and he's leaving quite a mark on the city. This is another book that will keep you guessing until the end, as its easy to jump to conclusions pertaining the evidence they have until they uncover more. As far as characters go, they're all very life-like, from the eccentric and seemingly detached Kriezler, to the gritty down to earth Moore, and best of all, determined, independent Sarah who is the first woman hired by the police force. The book explores some of the more violent aspects of humanity and delves into the nature of insanity so I feel obliged to warn you that it's very graphic at times. Still, it's one of the most gripping stories I've encountered as of late.

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

It seems I just wanted to bring you gruesome books today. Because the last book might be psychologically unnerving, but it doesn't even come close to the level of gore in this one. Not to mention, this book isn't exactly lacking in the 'psychologically terrifying' aspect either. Mr. Yancey certainly knows how to evoke horror. However, this book is more than just blood and guts and the blend of good characters, plot, and stomach churning descriptions makes for an exciting read. Will Henry's parents worked for Dr. Warthrop before they died and now he has been left under the Doctor's care. 'Care' being the subjective term here as the Doctor might be brilliant, but he's cold and severely lacking when it comes to taking care of himself, let alone others. In fact, it's hard to see why Will Henry maintains such dedication to the Doctor when he drags him into his dangerous research and yet barely spares him a passing glance. It's only when you see those brief flashes of humanity in the Doctor that you even find him a character worth liking. The Doctor is a 'Monstrumologist' who devotes himself to researching horrifying creatures that people assume only exist in their imaginations. Now a group of Anthropophagi is terrorizing the town (And just you wait till you find out what an Antropophagi is) and the Doctor has taken it upon himself to rid the town of the nasty creatures. Which isn't as easy as it sounds. Not to mention, he has to figure out how in the world they reached New England in the first place. With Will Henry bravely trailing along behind him they resolve to reach the bottom of this mystery.

In other news, how about that 12th doctor? I for one, am ridiculously happy with the choice. I don't know much about Peter Capaldi, but from what I've seen he seems perfect for the role. I'm also glad that we've got an older doctor again, because maybe we can finally escape the whole female-companion-who-serves-as-the-damsel-in-distress trope. Probably not though, considering that's mostly Moffat. He can't write strong women to save his life. I never minded people falling in love with the doctor before he came along (in fact, I enjoyed it) because at least they were strong characters in their own right who had their own motivations and didn't just exist to stroke the doctor's ego. Honestly though, I'm not surprised that Moffat can't write good female characters considering all of the misogynistic tthings he says aout women on a daily basis...*takes a deep breath*

Anyway, I've made much progress on my mask! It's finished, though I have to find a good material to black out the eyes that still enables me to see well, which could be a problem but I'll figure it out.

And I've got to dirty it up of course.

Outfit Dump + Greetings from Jupiter

Well I'm still chillin' over here in West Palm (Jupiter to be more specific. Florida, not the planet.) with nothing much to do. The remnants of the passing tropical storm finally blew over, so that's a relief. I've mostly been lazing about in my PJs and when we've gone out I've just rehashed old things you've seen before, so no new outfits to share this week. On the other hand, I can't seem to stop buying things when I'm out! My parents are going to regret leaving me with money, but there are just so many lovely things over here. I did spend some of the money on my mom and best friend, which eases the guilt a bit. And I managed to separate myself from two lovely scarves at Macy's and a million things at H & M, which I think shows a small degree of self-restraint. *coughs*

Food by the way, has been fantastic. Especially the Seafood. At this one restaurant alone we received Tuna, Duck, Mussels, Goat cheese torritzo(?), and Hog Fish. Suffice to say I was in heaven. And squid ink pasta! I'd never tried that before, but it was lovely.

The pasta was black!

Gelato anyone?

We were at the mall the other day and stumbled across Teavana, where they were giving out free samples. Well I'm not one to say no to fresh, steaming hot tea, no matter how small the sample cup, and wow was it good. They're based in Atlanta so if you reside in the southern states I'd seriously advise checking out their website and seeing if there's something near you. It was so nice to actually purchase a loose leaf brew as well, instead of cheap tea bags from the grocery store. Of course, it's a bit expensive, and I'm sure there's better, cheaper tea to buy, but it was readily accessible so it was worth it to me. I liked the Youthberry a lot, but ended up walking out with Dragonfruit Devotion. Though that may have been a result of the absolutely gorgeous employee in there. No seriously, this guy was smokin' hot. *fans self* And Teavana obviously doesn't care about self-expression on the job considering he had stretched ears and I spotted another Goth working the counter. If she hadn't been busy I would have complimented her ankh ;)

Anyway, I have a few outfits here from right before school ended that I thought I'd share with you guys. I got caught up in Red and Black Week and didn't have a chance to post them.

This shirt is flowy so it's perfect for summer
Bejeweled skulls? Of course I can be cheesy~

I don't own much white, but I love this jacket
I could only wear it because the air-conditioning at school was so cold

New dress! New dress! New dress!

So how about that new Star Trek movie? I can say it certainly made me happy. I'm a pretty big Trekkie/Trekker/Whatever (That debate is so pointless). I've seen all of The Original Series and will defend it to the death, and I catch The Next Generation reruns on TV sometimes. Personally, I think they're doing a pretty decent job with the new movies. Yeah, yeah, "The old stuff will always be the better" and all that jazz, but I'm whole-heartedly enjoying these films as well. I smiled all the way through Into Darkness.

 *SPOILERS*

A lot of people have been complaining about the whitewashing of Khan. Does Hollywood suck for it? Of course. Should they have cast a person of color to play him as the North Indian he's supposed to be? Obviously. I'm irked too. However, I'm also getting slightly annoyed at the people who are so angry that Benedict is white, that they downplay his performance. (Also, I'd like the be able to go on the Into Darkness tag on Tumblr without seeing only text posts and hate spewed left and right. I want GIFS dammit) He got the role because he was a good actor as well, and I think he did a marvelous job.

Point in fact, the new movie was a lot of fun and you should go watch it. There wasn't a boring moment, and sassy Spock is fabulous. Not to mention, there are a lot of parallels with The Wrath of Khan and little Easter eggs in this film. Tribbles anyone? 

They know you haven't seen it yet. They're judging you ;)

Goth-Friendly Anime

Anime. Oh, how I do love Anime. It started back in middle school with things like Ruroni Kenshin, (Which I still love) and Ouran High School Host Club, (Another still-favorite) and gradually as I branched out, I found Anime that lined up with my interests in more darkly inclined things. I've found that a lot of Goths tend to enjoy Anime, just like a lot of Goths enjoy comics, or sci-fi, etc. We're all pretty big nerds if you think about it, and I'm certainly damn proud of that. Not to mention, many Goths have an interest in Gothic Aristocrat, Lolita, and Visual Kei styles, which can lead to a fondness for Anime or Manga.

 But for people who haven't really watched much Anime and would like to, or are just looking for some new ones (Though I'm sticking to fairly well-known ones so you might have seen them) I've compiled a list of shows that I've seen that might tempt a few darkly inclined individuals. The summaries here aren't extensive by any means (Though somehow they ended up pretty long anyway...), and there's good anime and 'for fun' anime in there, but it should give you an idea of the respective shows. I'm taking care of the more popular ones first.

Hellsing- Oh boy. Where to start? This anime is bloody. Really bloody. When it centers around a vampire it's bound to be. Before I lay out the plot I have to clarify that there are actually two Hellsings. One is the older anime, which I think has better music, a better character design for Alucard, and more fun dialogue. However, the plot gets pretty bad around the midway mark because the manga hadn't been finished and they went off and did their own thing. Even the villain is rather...questionable. So while I like the older anime I think I'm going to recommend the newer OVAs, ten episodes that follow the manga pretty much to a tee. Hellsing is a secret organization who's sole job is to eliminate supernatural threats to England, meaning vampires. The irony being, their top agent is one. Alucard is bound to the Hellsing household and serves his masters by hunting down other vampires for the organization. He's charismatic, terrifying, flippant, violent, and just plain evil really. The series starts off with an ordinary police girl being thrown into all this vampire mess when her town is ravaged by ghouls. She has to adapt quickly to working for Hellsing, who will soon come up against never-before-seen artificially created vampires. Lots of fighting, lots of melodramatic threatening, and lots of vampire goodness. And then the vatican gets involved. And then Nazis. Intrigued yet? It's every bad cliche ever and it's fantastic.

 Death Note- Ok, I'm fairly certain anyone that knows even a little bit about anime has heard of Death Note. Heck, people who don't know anything about anime have heard of Death Note. It's just one of those animes that jumps to your mind because of it's extreme popularity. But in my opinion, that popularity is completely deserved. For those who know nothing about the plot it revolves around Light Yagami, who discovers a grim reaper's notebook. (a' Death Note') There are a few rules written down, but everything boils down to the fact that if you write someone's name down in the book they're going to die soon after. Light decides the best way to utilize the Death Note would be to rid the world of criminals, and thus begins his career as the soon infamous 'Kira'. The police of course, want to do everything they can to find Kira, and enlist the help of L, a genius who brings a whole new meaning to the word eccentric. From there the plot only thickens and thickens as Light and L dance around each other, L trying to learn Kira's identity and Light 'helping' them as he tries to remain anonymous and continue his work.

Kuroshitsuji/ Black Butler- Again really popular, but really great. This was probably the third anime I ever watched and it's still a favorite. I mean even disregarding plot and the fantastic cast of characters this show is hilarious. And then when we do consider the characters I don't know how you can't love characters like Undertaker (adorably creepy) or Grell (Everyone's inner fangirl. A kickass Grim reaper with a chainsaw. He's insane and has a penchant for heels.) Plot: After Ciel's parents were killed he makes a deal with a demon. Upon learning who is responsible for his parents' murder and killing said person, he'll allow the demon to devour his soul. In the meantime, Ciel acts as the Queen's 'guard dog', dealing with threats to England, and the demon (Christened Sebastian by Ciel) acts as his butler. Season 1 is utter perfection, though I'd recommend avoiding season 2. It all goes to hell from there. The ending to season 1 was great and then they went and undermined it.

Trinity Blood- Hey look, more vampires! This time with a sci-fi twist. I'm always a sucker for sci-fi vampire stuff. To me, this is one of those 'watch for fun' animes. It's not particularly special, but it's a whole lot of fun to watch unfold. Not to mention, I might have come for the vampires, but I stayed for Abel. This anime is set 9,000 years in the future. A huge war occurred between the vampires and humans, leading to the devestation of much of the planet. Currently, a cold war of sorts is happening between the Vatican, human government and New Human Empire (Vampires). Father Abel might seem like a bumbling priest, but he's actually a Crusnik, a vampire which feeds on other vampires, and the Vatican's most powerful weapon. Prepare yourself for political turmoil everywhere.  It's fun and worth watching, and I love that the bacteria that created the Methuselah (vampires) came from Mars. It makes me giggle.

There are no good pictures for this anime...

Pet Shop of Horrors- Okay, while there's a large chance some of you have seen all of the aforementioned animes because they're fairly well-known, hopefully, this is one you haven't. Pet Shop of Horrors has got to be one of my favorite animes. It's a short 4 episode OVA so it doesn't take much time to watch either.  It's an older anime, and the budget wasn't very large, so a lot of the animation is stills, but to be honest I hardly noticed. The mysterious Count D (No, he's not a vampire. Not everything is vampires with me you know) runs a pet shop in Chinatown. He sells 'rare' pets to his clients, though his motives are hardly pure. In reality he despises most humans and is much more fond of animals. The animals he sells often look human to the buyer, in their delusions, and the pets come with strict contracts. Break the contract and the consequences could be, and are, terrible. The atmosphere of the whole show just pulls you in. It's not horrifying in the sense of gore, it's more a study of the human condition and psychological horror than anything else. The episodes are separate stories, tied loosely together by Detective Leon, who attempts to figure out exactly what's going on with the pet shop and ends up forming an unlikely friendship with the Count.

Ghost Hunt- This anime follows the life of Mai Taniyama, who's curiosity leads her to stumble upon Kazuya Shibuya as he's investigating an allegedly haunted building. She nicknames him Naru for his narcissistic personality and becomes involved with the Shibuya Psychic Research Center. They pick up a cast of characters along the way and the rest of the series is spent in small arcs, dealing with various psychic phenomena. It's light horror for the most part, not particularly scary, though quite a few managed to creep me out. What can I say, I have this thing about dolls. Most of the arcs are pretty creative, and The Bloodstained Labyrinth seriously managed to freak me out so that's a plus. It's the one genuinely scary arc in there.

Of course, a lot of people will tell you to read the Manga instead of watching the shows, much like reading the book instead of the movie which I always tend to agree with, but I don't have much manga and therefore aren't an expert. You'll have to ask someone else about that. I've got another batch of Goth-friendly anime (About 6 I think?) but since I didn't want to drown you in one gigantic post I could do a part 2 to this. Anyone interested? If I'm just rambling to myself I could just throw them in a list at the bottom of my next post. Or I could do a proper part 2.

Before I go, I'm wondering if any of you know a good place to get a nice black capelet. I don't want to spend an awful amount of money on one, but finding a capelet that doesn't look cheap, or costume-y, or unflattering, instead of elegant, is proving to be difficult. Help me out? 

Movie Reviews~ Dorian Gray, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Young Frankenstein

I spent far too much time trying to think of a creative title for this. And in the end I went ahead and just flat out said what it was, as usual. I mean really. How creative can you get with movie reviews? I need to work on this...

Anyhoo, I recently bought some movies on clearance and I figured I might as well do some short reviews (Which turned into a long post as I got carried away) and put them on here. They've all got enough Victorian or spooky elements to possibly attract all of you ;)

I'm going to start with one I really advise against watching. I hadn't seen this one yet because my English teacher had warned me away from it, but I figured I'd give it a shot. Now, I adore The Picture of Dorian Gray as a book. In fact, it's hands down my favorite book of all time. I even used it as a basis for my FCAT Writes essay this year because I know it inside and out and could quote it in my sleep. Actually, some of the only quotes I have memorized are by Oscar Wilde, because I love his way with words and in all reality, he was brilliant. All of this is exactly why I personally can't recommend this movie to anyone.

 The characterization is weak for starters. The movie focuses on Dorian's corruption, that's for certain, but I noticed they focused primarily on the sexual aspect of it and didn't portray some of the other crucial ways his mind warps. Or if they did, they did it badly. You don't get the same sense of detached depravity that evolves in the book. Dorian is shallow and uncaring, but you still get a sense of complexity in the novel. Ben Barnes certainly isn't a bad actor. I think he does a marvelous job with what he was given. I just don't think the Dorian they created was true to bookverse Dorian and that's what the whole movie depends on. The evolution of his personality. (Which was also far too rushed in the movie. It's much more subtle than how they portrayed it) On the other hand, I did rather like Lord Henry and Basil. Sybil was a bit vapid, but she was like that in the book too so I can't complain.

Then there's the way they deviate from the plot. And oh boy, do they change quite a few things. They even add a completely new character in order to provide Dorian with a love interest (as per usual) and she didn't really manage to hold my interest. (Though that might be because I was too offended they had messed with my continuity) Her appearance in the movie allowed them to alter the ending in order to make it more dramatic, which I thought was unnecessary. The strained, lurking tension at the end of the book had it's own quiet drama that was much more effective. There also seemed to be a lot of superfluous filler where time could have gone into enhancing the storyline.

So was it a bad movie? ...No. I'm rather indifferent to it. It just wasn't possible for me to enjoy it, being so dedicated to the book. (Though Ben Barnes is extremely pretty. I'll give you that. And even though Dorian is blond I've always pictured him looking like that, complete with dark hair) However, if you want to watch a Dorian Gray adaption I'd recommend you go check out the BBC adaptions. I've seen quite a few of them and can't remember which is best, but they tend to use whole passages from the book which is delightful.

The second movie is The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Well, I can't say I've ever read the comics, but I can certainly say I wouldn't choose to watch this movie again. It was....flat. That's really all there is to it. I loved most of the characters individually, but when they tried to pull everything together with a plot (Or lack of) it all just sort of fell apart.

In theory, a group of literary characters actually existing in real life and banding together to fight yet another notorious literary character should be right up my alley. I mean there was The Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyl, Captain Nemo, Mina... It could have been a really good comic movie, but instead it fell short of average. This movie just couldn't hold my interest. It was convoluted and the CGI was sub par (I don't even like CGI so that made it worse) and the humor was just bad. Funny thing is, Dorian Gray appears yet again in this movie and he saved it as far as I'm concerned, namely because he added a level of snark (And extreme attractiveness. I mean really.) that kept me watching it to the end. All in all, it's definitely not a movie I'd recommend watching unless you've got absolutely no other options.

But well, there's always Dorian

 Finally, I picked up a copy of Young Frankenstein. I just about squealed when I found this because this movie is fantastic. Everything about it makes me laugh, I guarantee you that after watching this my ribs are guaranteed to scream abuse at me. The cast is perfect in their respective roles and the humor is so tongue in cheek, parodying monster movie tropes left and right. I especially love Igor *ahem* sorry I meant Eyegor. The black and white film really adds to the atmosphere, making it feel even more like an old monster movie, and they add to the wonderful cheesiness with well-timed lightning strikes and the occasional howling wolf or bout of maniacal laughter.

I'm fairly certain most people have seen it. It's older so it's been out long enough. But just in case here's the plot, which is fairly straightforward. Frankenstein dies and his grandson inherits all of his possessions. Of course, said grandson has been trying to cast off the legacy of his mad relative, but he decides to travel down to the castle anyway. He swears he's nothing like his grandfather, that he wouldn't be so ridiculously insane as to think you could reanimate the dead. And from there the movie catapults headfirst into a giant parody of Frankenstein and other assorted monster movies, as the Doctor finds out it's much harder to keep up his convictions than he originally thought.

This movie is corny and ridiculous, but I love it to death. They've taken all the things about the 1930s era Hollywood horror movies, the good and the bad, and turned it into something just plain hilarious. And again, just seeing Marty Feldman play Eyegor is enough incentive to watch this movie.

Isn't he charming?

Books with Bite: The Historian

Ok so by now we really know that I'm a sucker for a good vampire book/film. Especially if that vampire's name happens to be Lestat, the lovely Brat Prince. But I digress. Anything that references Dracula is obviously going to be snatched up by me (Bloodline for one, which I genuinely enjoyed. And reviewed! *cough*) so when I found The Historian in my school library I had to read it. It has quickly become a favorite.

Plot: The plot is beyond intricate that's for sure. A hunt for Dracula seems pretty straightforward, but all the traveling and delving into history that the respective characters do makes your head spin at times. The storyline is split into three main segments and it jumps around three characters' point-of-views. One is the daughter, who finds her father's letters and begins to learn about the tragedy that befell him as he sought Dracula. The second is of the father's history professor, who began the quest long before and gave up when he realized the danger. The third, (and the majority of the book) is the tale of the father's own long quest to find the now missing professor, uncovering deadly secrets and being hunted along the way. Unfortunately, the ending is a bit anticlimactic after all of the wonderful buildup, but everything else makes up for that.

Characters: The characters have very complex, developed personalities and I never dislike any of them (A huge bonus) The only complaint I have here is that perhaps the emotions of the characters tend to be a bit muted at times. There are exceptions, but sometimes their feelings seem sort of...detached? All the same, I liked all of the characters that you were meant to. I loved the portrayal of Dracula in particular.

Setting: Well she really nailed this one. The elaborate descriptions of every place they visited took my breath away. I felt like I was actually there experiencing things firsthand, and it definitely encouraged my interest in seeing more of Europe beyond Sweden.

Romance: Yes! A book that doesn't just focus on the romance between the characters. Don't get me wrong, I love a good romance, but I'm so sick of it being the focus of every book currently written. This was a nice change. A few small scenes, nothing huge that takes away from the wonderful vampire-tracking plot. And they're all meaningful relationships! Hurray!

Additional Details: Being a bit of a history enthusiast, all of the tidbits thrown in about various cultures and the focus on Constantinople made me squeal with delight. It's ridiculously accurate and detailed when it comes to the backgrounds of the people and cities they travel to. I learned so many things about Europe that I'd never even heard of before. Also, you hear bits of history from many different points of view. You recognize the bias some of the characters have, and can understand where it comes from. Then, there are moments where the history is told plainly, no sugar-coating, but not dehumanizing Dracula himself, as some adaptations have tended to do. Yes, he was a monster, but at some point he was very human. (We're speaking fictional vampire Dracula here) Everyone always talks about Dracula the Vampire. What about Dracula the soldier? Or Dracula the child and political hostage?

Also, this is either a bonus or a warning depending on the mood you're in, but this book is huge. Huge. I'm a really fast reader, but this took me a lot longer than normal. So if you're looking for something a bit more substantial to last you, this is the book for you.

So summary. Really good book. Completely recommended. Lots of vampires. Go read!

Young Dracula

 Me and my vampire shows right? I've seen 'em all. Normally, they crash and burn or just get ridiculously boring/disappointing (Anyone seen Moonlight?) This one however, is different. I first saw it when I was probably about 7 years old. We were in Sweden and my cousin was watching TV so I plopped down and joined him. I was completely fascinated by the vampires and ended up watching a couple of episodes. Of course, being so young I forgot all about the show as soon as we got home. About a year ago I had a flashback to that trip and remembered the show. I couldn't remember the name of it, so I set about googling until I finally found it. And thus, my love of Young Dracula reappeared.

First off it's British and played on CBBC so if you're over there you might get reruns every so often. Secondly, it's a kids show. Do I care? Not really. It's so over-the-top cliched and campy that I'm laughing too hard to even be bothered with the fact that it's for "children". Hey, I'm sixteen. I can play that card right? Not to mention, they'd never let us have a kids' show like this down in the good old USA. We might scar our children after all.

So what's it about? Well, the Dracula family has been driven from Transylvania and have decided to start a new life in England. Vlad wants nothing more than to lead a normal life, which is rather difficult to do when your father (Count Dracula himself) is trying to turn you into a "dark creature of the night". The Count spends half his time trying to corrupt Vlad and get him to accept his heritage, and the other half bullying Renfield to find him a 'peasant' to drain.  As you can imagine, they don't really fit in. Throw an evil (No, really) jealous sister, vampire obsessed neighbor, and wanna-be vampire hunters into the mix and you've got an even bigger problem.

Ok, so it's cheesy. Horrendously so. But I love it so much. The Count is my favorite character, he cracks me up. If you want a silly, quirky, vampire-themed show to waste time on then you definitely need to check this out. The second season is even better than the first, it gets rather dark actually. The third season targets an older audience, mostly teenagers. Also, the budget is much bigger so better effects. I believe season 4 is coming out sometime in October and I'm anxiously awaiting it.

In other news I recently discovered that Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston (LOKI. Eep!) are teaming up to do a vampire movie. That high pitched squealing you hear is the sound of my fangirling and will probably stop in a few days...probably. No promises.

Dark Matters: Twisted but True

 I was feeling really lazy with the start of school and all so I thought I might hold off of a new post for a few days. Then I came on and saw I had gotten a few more followers and I told myself to get off my lazy butt and write. Thanks for the motivation everyone! Still, I've got an AP essay to start on so I'm afraid this is going to be a quickie.

There's a show on the Science Channel called Dark Matters: Twisted but True. It's hosted by John Noble, who some of you might know from Lord of the Rings or Fringe. Basically they go and dig around in history and find notes/records of experiments that question human morality.  Then they broadcast them. It's normally about the real "mad scientists" who've existed and caused massive controversy with their actions, about the horrific turn science can take if people let go of their inhibitions. But sometimes, it's just creepy events and occurences that make you rethink a few things in life. Things like...

• The invention of the lobotomy.
• Brain surgery creates a perfect amnesiac who can't remember his own life from day to day
• A man who has a hole blown in his stomach and is kept as a living science experiment.
• Alien hand syndrome.

I like the show because they don't go after the typical doctor horror stories we've all heard. Not to mention, they're all real! They really dug deep to find some of these. It's not always scientists experimenting, as with the Hungarian 'Suicide Song', but they're all interesting and have a medical aspect to them. What I like best about the show is that it makes you question what's right and wrong. Where should science draw the line?

It's my personal opinion that the stories in season two are far more fascinating than season one. So if you stick with the show it gets better. Of course, it doesn't really matter what order you watch them in and there are reruns all the time. A warning though, the show can be pretty gory if the occasion calls for it, so if you're squeamish do not watch the episode with the man with the hole in his stomach. The reenactment isn't very....pleasant.

Today Has Been a Vincent Price Kind of Day...

Today has just been one of those days where I had the chance to simply laze about and do nothing of importance. It was rather nice actually. So I decided to have myself a themed movie marathon. Vincent Price themed! He always plays the madman so well and most of the horror movies he's in make me laugh at their absurdity. (In a good way!)  So if you haven't seen any of these movies I'm going to recommend them to you.

1) The Pit and the Pendulum (1962)

One of eight films done using the works of Edgar Allen Poe. This is a horror movie people who aren't normally fans of horror movies can enjoy. The violence/blood/gross things are kept to a very extreme minimum, leaving everything to the imagination. A man receives news of his sister's death and is suspicious of the vague details he receives. He travels to the castle to investigate and discovers the ghost of his sister might be haunting the place. But not everything is as it seems...
The atmosphere is done extremely well for such a low budget production and the Gothic castle is dark and elaborately decorated. Vincent Price plays the meek man wonderfully and then rises to his other part with arresting enthusiasm. (Nearly overacting I'd say, but without seeming ridiculous.)  The movie keeps you in a constant state of suspense and the plot is decent.


2) Theatre of Blood (1973)

A Shakespearean actor (Edward Lionheart) is insulted and overlooked for an award and as a result attempts to commit suicide. Failing, he is discovered by a bunch of meth-addicted tramps (Yes, I'm serious) who he manipulates into helping him exact his revenge on the critics. He makes each murder into a performance and reenacts deaths from Shakespeare's plays. This movie is just so amusing with the frenzied actions of Lionheart and his perverse enjoyment in killing each critic. It's campy and fun with just the right amount of horror thrown in.


3) The Masque of the Red Death (1964)

 This is my second favorite Vincent Price film that I've seen to date. Once again, he's playing an insane man (Can we say typecasting?) but the madness is more subdued. Prince Prospero, a devil-worshiping sadist, mistreats the plagued villages and hides in his castle with his shallow courtiers for entertainment. Francesca is a peasant girl he takes an interest in and brings back to the castle with the intent of corrupting her and making her renounce her faith.  The best part is towards the end, when a stranger crashes the masquerade he's holding and it turns into a danse macabre. Prospero learns that not even his 'master' can protect him from the Red Death he so fears.


 4) The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)

This blows Theatre of Blood away in terms of campiness, (it borders on ridiculous at times) but all the same it's my favorite of the lot. Dr. Phibes, hideously scarred from an accident works to get revenge on the nine doctors he feels are responsible for his wife's death. Dr. Phibes is manic in his obsession, completely mad. He bases the deaths around the plagues of Egypt and utilizes 'darkness' in the finale and his own end. And seriously, Phibes had to be the inspiration for Jigsaw. The scene where he places the lead surgeon in a race against time to save his son is a predecessor to the traps in Saw and much more entertaining. (I've never found the Saw movies very good.)  Granted, it's pretty unrealistic (Especially the locusts) but this horror-comedy really is a must see. I personally wouldn't recommend the sequel, it gets too supernatural for me and I think it ruins a perfect end to the first one.

To wrap it all up and break the Vincent Price pattern I decided to go and watch Carrie. Now I remember why I was so freaked out the first time I saw it. Don't denounce old horror movies. I swear all I'll be seeing is her face in my windows tonight. (Note to self: buy curtains). Her fanatical, abusive mother created a monster and both of them creep me out beyond belief. And you almost forget the film is a horror movie until you get to the prom scene.

Books with Bite~ Bloodline

The last post didn't end on such a cheery note so I'm back to make it up to you with a sappy vampire novel. A while back I read Bloodline and I believe I promised a review. If I didn't, well you're getting one anyway! An itty bitty one, because it's hard to not give anything away.

Overview: The book is kind of an 'unofficial' sequel to Dracula. It centers around a few of the descendants of the original people who faced the Count. Like Dracula, it's written through letters, journal entries, etc. In particular, the book focuses on John Shaw (Who's parentage you discover later) and Mary Seward, the daughter of Dr. John Seward.

John returns from WWI, injured and delirious. He has visions of his time in the trenches and the monstrous actions of his commanding officer Quincy Harker. He barely believes some of the things he faced in the war and confides in his nurse and love interest, Mary. When Harker shows up in town and begins to seduce his sister (Lily) John has to face his fears and Mary sets out to unravel the secrets surrounding Harker.

What happens next is reminiscent of a second Dracula, as the characters go through the trials their predecessors did. They'll have to sacrifice much to prevent to House of Dracula from rising again.

Characters: You're supposed to hate Quincy Harker, but you're not without sympathy for his plight. I honestly like him best out of anyone in the book. He has reasons for what he does and he's undoubtedly charming. John is supposed to be sweet, brave, and noble, but I saw through to the real cowardice far before it affects the events in the book. Lily is sweet, gentle, and generally brainless, the mental reincarnation of Lucy. (Which happens to be the reason I detest her in the original Dracula. Sorry.) Mary is logical and hard-headed, a nice break from novels set in older eras where the girls flounce about and swoon constantly. The other assorted villains and friends are a bit flat. But they do their job and move the plot along.

Plot: Normally, I can predict most of the events in a book, but this one honestly got me a couple of times. It gets rather complicated and there are plot twists a plenty, but I really enjoyed the end result. She certainly doesn't let the suspense drop for one second.

I'd give it an 8 out of 10 as far as vampire books go. It's fairly original, vividly descriptive, and the vampires aren't fluffy fangless wimps. I love how she stayed true to the original Dracula, but managed to create a unique twist that really made it her own. Seeing the different points of view of the characters creates a world that isn't black and white. The deal closer for me though, is the description of John's time in the trenches. That's definitely worth reading the book for.

The sequel, Bloodline: Reckoning, is even better than the first in my opinion. I might do a review for that eventually, but suffice to say if you like this one, and you end up liking Quincy Harker, then read the sequel. It actually made the romantic in me squeal a bit.

Can we get an enthusiastic cheer for real vampires?

Alien Movie~ District 9

 Well I'm by no means an expert on alien movies. Honestly, I believe the only ones I've watched are the original Alien, Aliens, and Alien 3. (And I love them very much) Those aside, I'm not normally one for movies with the extraterrestrial and normally prefer more supernatural elements. However, District 9 has quickly become one of my favorite movies.

It's a South African production on a modest budget and featuring an unknown cast. The CGI is extraordinarily good though, and I love the fact that we aren't staring at familiar faces on the screen. The movie is influenced by acts that took place during the Apartheid and focuses on segregation and xenophobia. The beginning is styled a bit like a mockumentary, but don't let that throw you off. It's cleverly done to show the attitude of the people against the creatures.

In many alien movies it's the aliens that are the enemy. Here it's reversed. The morality and prejudice of the humans against the aliens is the real problem. When the ship first appeared people were caught up in the excitement of the visitors. However after the novelty wore off, the aliens (who are essentially workers. Apparently the 'intelligent' ones have died) are placed in a ghetto called District 9 where they live in horrendous conditions. The people harbor mostly contempt and hate towards the aliens and refer to them as "prawns".

An Alien.

A prawn. Yeah, ok.

Wikus, the head of a private military company is put in charge of forcibly evicting the aliens out of District 9 and to the new District 10, located farther from civilization. He becomes infected by an unknown substance and he slowly begins to mutate and acquire 'prawn' features. Ironically, the less human he becomes the more he develops his sense of humanity and goes from being an absolute ass to a mostly likeable person. On the other hand. the behavior of the humans is absolutely inhuman in the treatment of the aliens and Wikus.

The movie isn't for the weak stomached. There isn't necessarily lots of gore, (Though there are disgusting moments) but the twisted morality of the people and realizing what humans are actually capable of might put some people off. I loved it. So if you haven't seen it and are in the mood for a gritty, realistic sci-fi then give District 9 a shot.

Quick Dark Shadows Review

Eeeeeep!

I could really just leave it at that, but you deserve a bit more elaboration. ^^

It's been getting average reviews but don't let that put you off, I thought it was pretty good. Was it new? Revolutionary? No, but it was another psychotic trip into the craziness that is Burton's mind. A lot of people are sick of Johnny Depp playing the pasty-faced, quirky character, (Do I even remember what Johnny Depp looks like without makeup..?) but I think he brought new life and character to Barnabas Collins. No, its nothing like the original. At all. However if you keep an open mind I think you'll find the film enjoyable.

The movie had me cracking up in that whole "This is so awkward I can't help but laugh and hide my face in my hands" kind of way. And they kept the best parts out of the previews that's for sure. It just goes to show you can't judge a movie by what they advertize. I especially loved the Alice Cooper shtick. And how many of you honestly kept a straight face when Barnabas hypnotized someone? Seriously, the fingers! (I CAN'T believe I couldn't find a gif for that...)

There were a few parts they could have left out. Like Carolyn's "problem". I didn't think that added anything to the movie really. And sometimes instead of going for campy humor they could have given a scene a darker undertone.  They never really found the right balance and it frustrated me because this didn't quite live up to its amazing potential. But they really were pulling out all the stops with fun cliches.

I also really liked the wardrobe choices.

This dress. I want this dress. While we're at it I'll take the necklace too.

How many people searched for Barnabas' cane after watching the old series or movie? I fell prey to the urge and frantically googled only to find that replicas are $400. Oops. Dream crushed. Brb, crying. T.T

All in all, it isn't particularly creative for Tim Burton, and the second half is a bit disjointed and pales compared to the first, but if you have some time to kill I suggest you pop on down to the closest theater and give it a go.  I think its worth seeing and Depp is a riot.

New Books

I got new books! This is always an occasion for sharing :3

We'll start with the most known one. Cassandra Clare's books have been spreading with widespread popularity lately. This is the second book in her Infernal Devices series. I've been meaning to get this for a while actually and I devoured it in one sitting. While I think The Infernal Devices series is a bit too similar to The Mortal Instruments I actually prefer it.

Reasons to read this:

• Tessa and Will seem to spout literary references left and right
• There are little snippets of poetry at the start of each chapter
• 18th century London. Need I go on?
• Tessa's two love interests (Of course...) are both charming in their own ways (though my heart goes out to Will)
• There are nods to steampunk EVERYWHERE.

If you haven't read the Vampire Chronicles then shame on you!  I'm taking your goth card right now. Hand it over. ;)
No but seriously, Anne Rice is a genius. When I first read Interview with the Vampire way back when, (that means I can't actually remember when) I fell in love. Poor younger me was scarred for life when she read The Vampire Armand and learned a few things.

Reasons to read this:

• Lestat is charming as usual .
•  Listening to him describe his outfits makes you want to start desperately searching the interwebz for said items. (The Lady of the Manners said something like this on her livejournal and I just spazzed out in agreement...)
• We get to see a *ahem* different side of Lestat. I find the time spent in his predicament awkward every single time I read it but I do love it.
• Beautiful writing. I'll admit sometimes I scrunch up my nose at some of the things described (Ahhh I would elaborate, but I don't want to give anything away just in case...), but her style is captivating.

 

After rereading Silence of the Lambs I remembered just how much I love these books and bought Hannibal. It's...this is one of those books that really sucks me in. I think its a million times better than the first and will stand by that no matter what other people think. Its just...I don't even know...

I have a confession to make. As amazing the acting was by Anthony Hopkins in these movies I hate him in the role. I'm not putting down his performance, its just that my fixed image of Lecter (Lithe, sleek black hair, etc.) just clashes so much with Hopkins. He was really 15 years too old for the part when he played him, thus exaggerating the age difference between Lecter and Starling more than it was, and causing them to change the end of the movie from the book. I'm sorry, I want the Cannibal and FBI agent together. I can't help that I'm twisted.

Reasons to read:

•  Hannibal Lecter. That's it really. That's all you need to read this. 
•  Its far more disturbing than the first book I think. It gave me chills, in a very good way.
•  Not everything is black and white in the whole good vs. evil struggle.
•  The conversations, psychoanalyzing, and banter between Clarice and Lecter bring up some thought-provoking points.

World Goth Day is coming up! What's everyone doing?