Friday, November 7, 2008

It came from Illinois

It's been said one of the best ways of judging the Zeitgeist* of any particular age is to look at the horror films it produces.

Certainly during the Bush era there were a spate of films (28 Days Later, War of the Worlds, Cloverfield, Sex and the City) which featured ordinary citizens as the victims of forces they cannot understand or control, malign beings that leap out of the darkness and rip your head off as you're going down to the shops to get some milk.

Which seems to sum up the Bush era rather nicely, come to think of it.

Now, with Obama heading to the White House and the Democrats in firm control of Congress, it will be interesting to see if this flows on to the entertainment industry.

We'll have to wait to see if Hollywood brings out a film in the near future, where some hideous alien comes from dimensions beyond and buys you a beer or something.

*Why does German have all the cool words? Zeitgeist, schadenfreude, angst, weltschmerz, blitzkrieg - all crackers.

32 comments:

Natasha said...

German is also fantastisch for cursing in, it adds some emphasis you just can't get with English, no matter what tone or volume you use.

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

Yiddish is also ace for cursing.

wari lasi said...

I just hope that we don't wind up in a situation where we all remember where we were when we heard the news .....

Melba said...

I worry about that too, Wari. If you're talking about what I'm thinking about.

I fear for him.

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

we all remember where we were when we heard the news

I'll probably be down the pub.

I usually am.

Perseus said...

I can't wait for Barack Obama to chat with the Fijian President, Frank Bainimarama. I'm easily amused.

*

Horror Movie: 'Laughing Stock': a disgraced former VP candidate who has a penchant for guns, goes on a murderous rampage through Washington (wearing only her bikini) with a band of Alaskan Hillbillies.

*

Maltese cursing doesn't sound very good, but translated they are very imagnitive: "You sperm!" is a popular one apparently, as is, "You Virgin Mary's Smelly Cunt."

*

I have three dates lined up: Been busy. One's with a Nappie Deliverer in Ballarat, one with a Project Manager, and one with a PhD Dr. Chick. If I actually score with one of them, it could be: "Where were you when Perseus finally got a root?" God knows it'll be momentous for me.

*

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

Wait a minute.

I recall you claiming you had a root not so long ago.

I put it to you sir, you twist and turn with the truth like a twisty, turnie thing.

wari lasi said...

Yes Melba, I'm talking about what you think I am, and it concerns me greatly. The loony right in the US are as dangerous as any fanatical movement, Muslims (fundamentalists ok?) included.

And Ramon, chances are I'll be at the pub too. Or club, as we tend to frequent here.

Perseus said...

Yes, I got a root about a month ago. I was on drugs, and very drunk, and it was 7am, and although technically it was a root, sexually it was a miasmic blur. I don't count it.

Natasha said...

And, because you're here now Pers, I would like to say (if you haven't checked my comment already) that I'm loving your review of the Bible... My only problem here is that you stopped after book 2.

Get your arse into gear! 7 months is more than enough for Leviticus ;P

Perseus said...

Yes, you're right. I've read Leviticus, but am only half way through my review. I'll speed it up... but I'm also reviewing the Costello Diaries in the coming week. It's a toss up as to which of the two is the more ridiculous.

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

Looking forward to the Leviticus review, Pers old son.

Pepsi said...

We saw a film during the Sydney Underground Film Festival in Sept that fits into the docu-horror genre, George Gittoes The Miscreants, it was unfinished and uncensored and focused on the filming of a bollywood type action adventure film in the North of Pakistan - I dont know what scared me more, the director playing an extra in one of the films or the sight of a 13 year old boy solider chopping off the head of local with a knife and holding the head high and being celebrated for the way he dealt with an 'infidel'. The action film was banned from the stores, the propaganda solider boy piece was not.

I am going to watch Dumbo now, then I'm off to my local for a few pints of a local ale called Green Star which I have grown quite fond of, we feel the need for a celebration & we will commence sketching the first draft of Pepsi Productions new horror flick Obama in the City, I need to weave Michelle's pretty red and black dress into the story somehow - I think it will be the talisman I may tie back to Leviticus.

Perseus, Sir, I am still pimping for MCL so if the three all fail, just let me know.

Mad Cat Lady said...

settle petal

squib said...

So that's what the ears are for

Melba said...

Coitus is coitus, it all counts, no matter the hour. I bet the 'lady' counted it?

I can say fuck your mother in Cantonese - phonetically it would be diyo-laylo-mo!

Also very hot penis = ho yi BANJOW!

You must shout on the penis bit, it's required.

Perseus said...

Pepsi, according to Melba, you may very well be MCL, in a sort of Fight Club way. I trust Melba's instincts.

I am not dating MCL in any case.

Augie March only have 2 songs I like, and just like chocolate, if those two songs were taken away from my life I wouldn't care.

Pepsi said...

When he is the bucket getting pissed with Timothy and he starts slapping his trunk on the water in a drunken lazy fashion........ ho yi BANJOW!

then the pink elephants start dancing & skating & going stripey & I need a cold shower.

patchouligirl said...

A friend of mine with a Thai wife reckons the word for pumpkin in Thai is 'fuck'. He had an embarrasing moment at Paddys when his non English speaking mother in law called out loudly for him to 'get fuck' as he headed off to the vegetable stall on an errand.

patchouligirl said...

just like chocolate, if those two songs were taken away from my life I wouldn't care Thats because you are male pers. I wouldn't care if I never saw a race car, football match or beer again. But chocolate . . . thats entirely different.

Melba said...

Something quite radical happened to Pepsi between 4:48pm and 6:15pm.

Unknown said...

Why does German have all the cool words? Zeitgeist, schadenfreude, angst, weltschmerz, blitzkrieg ...

... Dudelsack

Garn. Google it.

Mad Cat Lady said...

Melba: Radical - I think it's the flu medication.

I promise am not Pepsi. My evil inner voice is named Ethel and even she is tamer than Pepsi.

Pers: I am also not dating you. Not even in my imagination.

Perseus said...

Back on topic almost... I went to see I Am Legend hoping to for a thought-provoking document of one man's struggle to carry humanity into the abyss, and what I got was a stupid zombie film.

But then a mate said to me at the time, "Oh, I saw I Am Legend ... grouse zombie film!" which caused me to re-think my position. I watched it again on DVD and decided: Yes, it is. It's a grouse zombie film.

Melba said...

I quite enjoyed I Am Legend, but I'm not sure it was as good as the original Omega Man. I did cry over the dog.

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

I Am Legend (the book) is also worth a visit.

patchouligirl said...

I was disapointed with I am legend. It could have been so much more. I really enjoyed The bank job and Burn after reading though, both good fun.

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

Burn After Reading was indeed ace, but I kept being distracted because Tilda Swinton's hair-do was exactly like Julia Gillard's.

I kept wondering why the Deputy Prime Minister was being such a bitch.

Puss In Boots said...

I didn't think it was that great. I mean, it was ok, but the rest of the cinema seemed to think it was absolutely hilarious, and I felt like I was out of the loop. It was mildly amusing, but that was about it.

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

You worry me, Puss.

You really do.

Melba said...

I LOVED Burn After Reading, saw it Saturday night. I thought Tilda's hair was better than Julia's. I enjoyed the unexplained George Clooney wedge - for sex? for his lower lumbar during sleep? Brad Pitt was excellent, oh fuck they were all good.

Angelina said...
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