On the one hand, this post feels like someone playing poker while narrating their thoughts out loud to the table. On the other hand, you're not interested in bluffing and I suppose, in a way, this is the kind of open communication every couples therapist counsels. Best of luck to you and your boo (pun intended)!
We saw both Poor Things and Lisa Frankenstein. Kristi didn’t really like them but my daughter Jo and I did. Definitely recommend the latter movie. I particularly enjoyed that they set up stereotypes and then veered away from them. The vain cheerleader, the mean step sister, the clueless step dad, the angsty teen, the sensitive soul. Super well done.
Oh this was entertaining. I, too, loved Poor Things. By far my favorite movie of the year. But right, Bella Baxter is not a zombie. I came out of the movie feeling like Bella Baxter (especially awkward moving Bella; I had an urge to move like her) for quite a while afterward. I doubt I'm the only one who does this as far as performances, but what do I know? It has something to do with a deep identification with a protagonist, and a good actor can cast this spell on me. Gender doesn't seem to matter. It doesn't make me a zombie, but it does make me feel a bit "taken over" for bit, and maybe there's a touch of magic/possession involved. Regardless, it's kind of fun.
As for Mr. Romero, I'll confess seeing Night of the Living Dead many years ago when I was quite young and going through a very dire period of my life. Never seen anything like it before, and for years afterward I dreamed of zombies coming after me, trying to eat me and turn me into one of the undead. Plenty of psychological stuff to unpack here, but who's got the time?
Good luck with your zombie adventure, and also to your daughters, who I think will find appropriate places in their psyches to break down and file that great movie.
Now I have to watch all the zombie movies I reference. I love these projects. I'm glad you loved Poor Things too. Emma was incredible, especially in her movements. I think I also relate - still feel like I'm learning to walk love talk... I hope in time my kids will see something to appreciate in it, for now just mad-at-mamma.
You know, they can really really be gruesome and grim. That first Romero, Night of the Living Dead, was shot in B&W for a $114,000 budget (and plenty of free "extras" from Pittsburgh). The budget constrained so many aspects that it forced them to make smart choices. And nobody, to my knowledge, had ever done a movie like that before. That's a big reason it was so powerful - it came out of the blue and you had no defenses in place for it. I doubt it's as shocking today as it was before the proliferation of flesh-eating zombies, which are a mini-industry now, but there are still a number of scenes and images that I can recall in an instant. Also something about the B&W, which gives it more distance but also more spookiness. There's quite a bit of gore, but again, nothing like you'll get now. And a lot of terror. Also it's interestingly political.
So I guess I'm saying you don't need to see *all* the zombie movies - so many are still firing off of Romero's - unless you have some immunity. Lots of folks do. As for me, I spent years running from them in my dreams, so not a lot of immunity.
Emma was incredible. And yeah, maybe that's part of the identification - it touches the parts of us still trying to learn this stuff.
P.S. The kids will lighten up. It'll probably be one of those things that'll come up over the years though, "the time Mom took us to see Poor Things." If it wins some academy awards - and it damn well should - it'll help your cause. I think it's the best movie of the year.
Pre-Kristi, I was a master of reanimation. Multiple times with multiple women over the years. A drug, a pull, the comfort of the familiar, the selective memory editing and alas (for me) the relearning.
I truly wish you the very, very best. I thought your essay was exceptionally well written, poignant and evocative.
You certainly did come full circle! But love is complicated and humans (and I suppose robots, too) are as well, and i wish you and your zombie (maybe this should be the finale of calling him that!) the best of luck in your present and future.
On the one hand, this post feels like someone playing poker while narrating their thoughts out loud to the table. On the other hand, you're not interested in bluffing and I suppose, in a way, this is the kind of open communication every couples therapist counsels. Best of luck to you and your boo (pun intended)!
Boo!
Also I would def be terrible at poker for sure :)
We saw both Poor Things and Lisa Frankenstein. Kristi didn’t really like them but my daughter Jo and I did. Definitely recommend the latter movie. I particularly enjoyed that they set up stereotypes and then veered away from them. The vain cheerleader, the mean step sister, the clueless step dad, the angsty teen, the sensitive soul. Super well done.
Oh great, I can’t wait
Oh this was entertaining. I, too, loved Poor Things. By far my favorite movie of the year. But right, Bella Baxter is not a zombie. I came out of the movie feeling like Bella Baxter (especially awkward moving Bella; I had an urge to move like her) for quite a while afterward. I doubt I'm the only one who does this as far as performances, but what do I know? It has something to do with a deep identification with a protagonist, and a good actor can cast this spell on me. Gender doesn't seem to matter. It doesn't make me a zombie, but it does make me feel a bit "taken over" for bit, and maybe there's a touch of magic/possession involved. Regardless, it's kind of fun.
As for Mr. Romero, I'll confess seeing Night of the Living Dead many years ago when I was quite young and going through a very dire period of my life. Never seen anything like it before, and for years afterward I dreamed of zombies coming after me, trying to eat me and turn me into one of the undead. Plenty of psychological stuff to unpack here, but who's got the time?
Good luck with your zombie adventure, and also to your daughters, who I think will find appropriate places in their psyches to break down and file that great movie.
Now I have to watch all the zombie movies I reference. I love these projects. I'm glad you loved Poor Things too. Emma was incredible, especially in her movements. I think I also relate - still feel like I'm learning to walk love talk... I hope in time my kids will see something to appreciate in it, for now just mad-at-mamma.
You know, they can really really be gruesome and grim. That first Romero, Night of the Living Dead, was shot in B&W for a $114,000 budget (and plenty of free "extras" from Pittsburgh). The budget constrained so many aspects that it forced them to make smart choices. And nobody, to my knowledge, had ever done a movie like that before. That's a big reason it was so powerful - it came out of the blue and you had no defenses in place for it. I doubt it's as shocking today as it was before the proliferation of flesh-eating zombies, which are a mini-industry now, but there are still a number of scenes and images that I can recall in an instant. Also something about the B&W, which gives it more distance but also more spookiness. There's quite a bit of gore, but again, nothing like you'll get now. And a lot of terror. Also it's interestingly political.
So I guess I'm saying you don't need to see *all* the zombie movies - so many are still firing off of Romero's - unless you have some immunity. Lots of folks do. As for me, I spent years running from them in my dreams, so not a lot of immunity.
Emma was incredible. And yeah, maybe that's part of the identification - it touches the parts of us still trying to learn this stuff.
P.S. The kids will lighten up. It'll probably be one of those things that'll come up over the years though, "the time Mom took us to see Poor Things." If it wins some academy awards - and it damn well should - it'll help your cause. I think it's the best movie of the year.
agree! there's also the sad truth of: if ANYONE else took them, it might be fine, but since it's me...
And that's a great endorsement to focus on Night of the Living Dead!
Ha! Right.
Pre-Kristi, I was a master of reanimation. Multiple times with multiple women over the years. A drug, a pull, the comfort of the familiar, the selective memory editing and alas (for me) the relearning.
I truly wish you the very, very best. I thought your essay was exceptionally well written, poignant and evocative.
Thank you!!
You certainly did come full circle! But love is complicated and humans (and I suppose robots, too) are as well, and i wish you and your zombie (maybe this should be the finale of calling him that!) the best of luck in your present and future.
Yes we’ll be fully fleshed humans now. Thank you!