March 17, 2008
Viva Las Vegas?
The quiet dude from Penn & Teller finally speaks out in this hilarious zombie film. It seems the undead are a perfect fit for Las Vegas. His description of Penn's demise is particularly amusing. Definitely worth checking out ...
& Teller
Posted by Bob Benz at 5:12 PM | Comments (0)
February 17, 2008
Romero takes a bite out of the blogosphere ...
Here's a great interview with George Romero on his new Diary of the Dead movie. In the interview, he disses bloggers, contemplates the Planet of the Apes and pays homage to Christoper Lee's Mummy. What more could you ask for?
Posted by Bob Benz at 2:28 PM | Comments (0)
February 11, 2008
They're coming to get you again, Barbara!
George Romero is about to release another zombie film, as detailed in this New York Times article,. The reporter does a nice job of detailing what makes Romero stand head and shoulders above his peers ...
Great quote from Simon Pegg, who wrote and starred in "Shaun of the Dead":
“Other zombie movies don’t match George’s eye for satire or wit. Even films such as ‘28 Days Later,’ which I really enjoyed, delivered the allegory but with a very straight face. George seems able to scare, disgust, challenge and amuse, simultaneously.”
Yup. That sums it up nicely.
Posted by Bob Benz at 8:01 AM | Comments (0)
October 21, 2007
Crawl of the Dead
I guess it was only a matter of time before someone created a social networking site for zombies, Crawl of the Dead
Posted by Bob Benz at 8:03 PM | Comments (1)
June 29, 2007
Zombie turtles ...
Herb just turned me on to this very strange encounter between a zombie kid and a TV newscaster. Amazingly cool ...
Posted by Bob Benz at 3:22 PM | Comments (0)
December 28, 2006
The Dead ... part two
After posting about James Joyce the other day, I guess it's only natural that I sink immediately back into the dregs of pop culture. I've stumbled across four more zombie artifacts during the past several months ...
First, while shopping at the insanely cool Atomic Zombie in Albuquerque earlier this month, I found a Shaun of the Dead action figure, complete with his own cricket bat for bonking zombies. Needless to say, Shaun is now perched proudly on my office desk, ready to fend off attacks of the undead.
Then, on Christmas morning, I found a Captain Spaulding action figure under the tree (he's from House of 1,000 Corpses, Rob Zombie's brilliant bloodbath.) Sadly, the good captain probably isn't work friendly. The back of his shirt says "If I wanted to listen to an asshole, I'd fart." Nice. And he's motion activated, spitting out creepy wisdom every time you walk past. Also, kudos to Graveyard Records for working with Lara to get the Captain under the tree in time for Xmas.
Third, I found a pretty cool zombie book, Monster Island by David Wellington. I've generally steered clear of zombie fiction, figuring cinema is more than enough for my obsession. But a review of this book intrigued me. It features a talking zombie, a med student who, in the midst of the zombie plague, figures out that zombies are so freakin' stupid because their brain dies in the time between the person dies and reanimation occurs. So he hooks himself up to a dialysis machine, immerses himself in a tub of ice and voila. When he reanimates, he can think and speak. It reminds me, strangely, of John Gardner's Grendel, which is Beowulf written from the monster's perspective. The monster, Grendel, approaches humans looking for a friend and is met with hostility. So he responds in kind. Gary the zombie has a similar experience and goes on to lead an army of the undead. A few things about the book irked me. For instance, the Scottish bog zombie says things like "lad" and "wee bairns," even though I'm guessing those words weren't common in 1600 B.C. when he was sacrificed and tossed into the bogs. But that's nitpicking. There are plenty of plot twists. There's a small army of Somali teen girls with guns. And of course, numerous brains are eaten.
And finally, Tivo fetched a zombie movie that I'd never seen, Undead, a 2004 Australian film. It starts off great with a strange meteor shower and lots of slow-moving zombies (the best kind ... I'm a purist in that sense.) But it drifts into a strange alien thing that didn't quite do it for me. I kept waiting for the flesh-eating to recommence and it never really did. Still, it has plenty of gore, lots of amusing one-liners and more than a few zombie moments.
Posted by Bob Benz at 7:06 PM | Comments (0)
April 15, 2006
Apologies to the Mac Whore ...
To the office Mac Whore, I apologize. I apologize for taunting you and your Cult of Apple ways. I apologize for all of my crimes and insults against the Mac. And I apologize for my slurs against St. Steven Jobs.
I just purchased a Mac mini (the 1.66GHz version, with 1 gig of RAM). Wow. It's freakin' awesome. And I really haven't even done much with it yet.
The setup alone was a study in ease and elegance. I wanted to transfer all of my settings from a Powerbook that has anchored my home computing. In a little more than an hour, I'd transferred all the files and settings with no problem. Even when I thought I might have problems because I use a wireless keyboard and mouse, the Mini detected each during setup and sucked it into the new world.
Best of all, it's blazing fast. Major improvement over the Powerbook I was using. I can't wait to get my Stubbs the Zombie game to really put this machine through its paces. Time to eat some brains.
This is how computers should work. I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to run Windows on this machine, but I know this much: My next work computer will be a Mac. The only thing that really has held me back is that so many of our applications are Windows-centric. Now that I can run either system on a Mac, I'm there ...
Posted by Bob Benz at 7:31 PM | Comments (2)
August 14, 2005
Cool bunk on Boing Boing
Boing Boing has been on a roll recently, featuring several fascinating posts ...
1. A birdwatcher saw a praying mantis snag a hummingbird, and posted photos to prove it. My feeder has been drawing a lot of hummingbirds of late, so this was particularly fascinating.
2. A video ode to the American hillbilly. It's a long download, but it's worth the time. Sadly, I feel as if I'm living this some days, all the way down to the soundtrack of Deliverance playing in the background.
3. Details about a zombie flashmob in San Francisco. Where else?
4. And last but not least, instructions on how to put an elevator in express mode, allowing you to skip all those annoying stops between you and your destination. Haven't tried this yet, but I intend to ...
Posted by Bob Benz at 7:39 PM | Comments (0)
June 30, 2005
Land of the Dead
It took George Romero 20 years to file the fourth installment in his zombie series. And it was worth every second of the wait.
I went to see Land of the Dead not knowing exactly what to expect. I'd read that Romero didn't film in Pittsburgh, which was weighing heavily on me. It was that Pittsburgh tie that scared the hell out of me the first time I saw "Night of the Living Dead" as a child. But even though the production didn't happen in Pittsburgh, it still was set there. They refer to Mount Washington, and the city under siege clearly is Pittsburgh, up to and including the three rivers.
In this installment, the zombies are evolving and developing a bit of smarts, with Big Daddy leading the way. The film also is infused with the bizarre social commentary that has made Romero's flicks so much fun to watch. During it, I kept thinking about the Wall Street Journal's recent series of articles on the widening gap between rich and poor in America. Romero nails it in this flick.
Dennis Hopper is great, but John Leguizamo's portral of Cholo is awesome. Also loved the fact that Tom Savini had a role as "machete zombie." Don't need to say much more than that ...
The special effects are the best I've seen. The gore flows freely, and Romero doesn't jump on the fast-moving-zombie bandwagon of "28 Days Later." While I liked that film a lot, there's something about that tottering zombie amble in the Romero flicks that consitutes the definitive zombie.
This one is a must-see ...
Posted by Bob Benz at 8:29 PM | Comments (0)
April 19, 2005
How to survive a zombie attack ...
Dr. Zeus has posted a guide to surviving zombie onslaughts over on Kuro5hin.
Fortunately, someone pointed out that Max Brooks (Mel's son) already beat him to the punch. But Zeus offers several helpful tips, including the good advice of determining whether you're dealing with fast- or slow-moving zombies and a poll on the best place to survive a zombie attack (a boat and an underground military bunker currently lead, but I seem to remember the underground military bunker theory falling apart in an ugly way during "Day of the Dead.")
Posted by Bob Benz at 6:57 AM | Comments (0)
November 5, 2004
They're coming to get you, Barbra
I finally got around to seeing "Shaun of the Dead." I was dubious. It's billed as "A romantic comedy. With zombies." Somehow, I wasn't certain that even zombies could rescue a romantic comedy. Thoughts of "When Harry Met Sally" ran through my mind. But I purged them with high hopes of gore and brain eating.
The gore and brain eating won out. The film brought a neat English sense of humor to the table that was much appreciated. There also were a few nice allusions to the masters of zombie films. When Shaun and friends are talking to his mother on the phone, telling her the only safe place is the pub, he shouts, "We're coming to get you, Barbra." Definitely a toss to Romero's Night of the Living Dead. Also, not sure if it's intentional or not, but Shaun's buddy, Ed (Nick Frost), has definite echoes of Gnaghi, the faithful sidekick in Cemetery Man, perhaps the greatest zombie flick ever made, which features the incredible Anna Falchi, to boot.
Added bonuses: Lucy Davis from "The Office" is in the cast. And this is the first zombie movie I'm aware of where a cricket bat is used to dispatch the undead. Very cool.
Posted by Bob Benz at 6:48 PM | Comments (0)
February 1, 2004
When there's no room left in hell ...
Looks like a remake of the George Romero masterpiece Dawn of the Dead is in the works. My Tivo downloaded a preview that I watched immediately. Then I went to the website for more details. Not a lot there. But it looks promising. It's supposed to be released in March.
I do have some concerns, as every card-carrying zombie fan will after the remake of Night of the Living Dead. That remake just didn't stand up, but the original was a tough act to follow. I did like the way Barbara's character was recast from catatonic terrorized victim to an ass-kicking woman of the '90s.
I'm particularly interested in how the new Dawn will handle the whole consumerism/mall satire that the original did so well. Also, the original was filmed in a mall a few miles from where I grew up, which added considerably to my experience of the film. It was pretty cool seeing zombies feast on bikers in front of stores that I'd actually shopped in.
A few worthwhile zombie links:
Now Playing: Alcohol & Pills from the album The Fallen by Audrey Auld
Posted by Bob Benz at 2:12 PM | Comments (1)
December 23, 2003
The Zombie Survival Guide
My staff, incredible folks that they are, gave me a few Cuban cigars and The Zombie Survival Guide. Needless to say, I was on the verge of tears. Now I can survive an onslaught of the undead and enjoy fine Cuban cigars while I do so.
The book is by Max Brooks, Mel's son. Very deadpan. I was expecting it to be a bit more over the top. But what they heck. We are dealing with the undead here. In includes details about the undead, fighting tactics and general strategies.
"Don't be carefree and foolish with your most precious asset -- life. This book is your key to survival against the hordes of undead who may be stalking you right now without even knowing it."
Guess that could apply to Christmas shoppers, too ...
Posted by Bob Benz at 10:26 AM | TrackBack
August 1, 2003
media matters ...
Hit a triple with the three CDs I bought last weekend, and "28 Days Later," the zombie film I went to see, kicked ass. I love it when a plan comes together.
-- 28 Days Later: I saw the version with the alternative ending. Not surprisingly, I like the bleaker approach better. But I think it better fits the nature of the film. I also was amazed at how much it pays homage to Romero. The shopping spree harkens Dawn of the Dead, with all its shopping mall antics. The captured zombie and military angle are very similar to Day of the Dead. And the alternative ending brings a bleakness that Night of the Living Dead invoked. But 28 Days still goes its own way. I particularly like the whole rage thing, and the fast-moving zombies really are creepy. Not sure what effect they used to capture that, but it worked.
-- "Electric Bath," The Don Ellis Orchestra. This CD is awesome. Stumbled across a piece on Ellis and decided to check him out. He plays a lot of off time signatures -- 5/4, 7/4, 19/4 -- and gives jazz a dip in psychedlia that's really interesting. I'll be buying more of his stuff.
-- "Chinatown," The Be Good Tanyas. These three women are incedible. I have "Blue Horse" already and fell for it immediately. This CD is just as good. Great version of Townes Van Zant' "Waiting Around to Die," and the originals are really solid, too.
They can play.
-- "The Three Pickers: Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Ricky Skaggs." Another winner. Scruggs, to my mind, is the father of bluegrass music (and he was way cool on the Beverly Hillbillies). Alison Krauss also appears on a few tunes. Very nice. And thanks to Tivo (all praise Tivo) I also found a "Great Performances" of this show, so I got to see the video, too.
Posted by Bob Benz at 8:31 PM | Comments (1)
June 25, 2003
Zombies infiltrate the New Yorker ...
It pleased me to no end to find, lurking in the erudite prose and dry cartoons of the New Yorker, a review of the newest Zombie film that's been released, "28 Days Later." To wit:
"There are two drawbacks here. One is a shortage of superior zombies, although where one goes to rent extra zombies I have no idea. Whatever the case, Boyle cannot begin to match the remorseless ranks of walleyed staggerers who parade through George Romeros 'Night of the Living Dead.' Second, we have a serious shortage of fright. "
Walleyed staggerers. A reviewer who appreciates the genius of George Romero. What more can you ask for ...
Posted by Bob Benz at 7:07 PM | Comments (4)
May 16, 2003
The Dead Walk
Bought this book by Andy Black on zombie films with high hopes. Mostly, those hopes were dashed. It's poorly edited (though he has the audacity to thank his proofreader in the credits -- he should flog the proofreader). Too much plot summary, not enough analysis. His read on Romero is generally on target but superficial. Though I do think he hits Argento right on, and he does include plenty of detail on Cemetery Man (Dellamorte, Dellamore). Nice to see the greatest zombie movie ever made get some credit. Rent this film if for no other reason than to marvel at the beauty of Anna Falci. Wow. He also mentions Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things, another of my favorites.
My main complaint is that he spends too much time on stuff that really isn't "zombie." Plan Nine from Outer Space, etc. If it doesn't eat flesh, it ain't a zombie, dude.
Instead of buying The Dead Walk, go out and rent Cemetery Man and Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things. Buy a six pack of beer. Walk with the dead ...
Posted by Bob Benz at 9:09 PM | Comments (0)
July 12, 2002
Zombies and cool comics ...
Anyone who knows me knows I love zombie movies. I'm particularly fond of Romero's work, especially because of the Pittsburgh ties. I've found a great, Pittsburgh-based zombie site that's worth checking out -- ZombieGirls.net. It has a lot of reviews. Still needs work in places, but overall it's an impressive effort.
Another good, recent find in the living dead realm is ZombieKeeper. I particularly liked their "Best in Horror" section. There were several films there I'd never heard of. "Shatter Dead" sounded so interesting I went out and ordered a copy on their recommendations. They also have a positive review of Romero's "Martin," one of my favorites, even if it's not about zombies. They might not be able to spell Pittsburgh, but they know their horror flicks.
And finally, my favorite comic strip these days is Boondocks. It's definitely worth checking out. Aaron McGruder is one of the best artists doing comics, and the characters in the strip -- Huey Freeman and his little brother Riley -- are hilarious. Great social commentary. One of my recent favorites is the strip on Ann Kournikova.
Posted by Bob Benz at 9:40 PM | Comments (0)