The IT spot: Uno, Dos

So, filming is about to begin for part 2 of IT. It's also been confirmed that the story will progress in a linear fashion, like the 1990s mini-series, since the director is afraid audiences would be confused.

"Me too stupid to understand flashbacks!"

I'm not happy about the decision, but I can understand it. It's obvious the kids live to adulthood, so there's no surprise element lost there, but the juxtaposition of events in the past and present is part of the brilliance of the novel.

I admit it; I'm biased. IT is my favorite book. I still have my original copy, sans the cover (repeated reading wore it off). I'm possessive of it.

It's almost impossible that the interpretation could be worse than the 1990's miniseries. It wasn't a great series, but the acting was good from the kids, John Ritter, and of course...

"Wah-HA! Wah-HA! Wah-HA"

I'm no fan of the new costume, but I can't judge the new Pennywise until at least a trailer drops. I'll hold onto my cautious optimism for now.

Coming home to roost

Last year I watched one of the scariest movies I've ever seen. One so disturbing that neither I, nor my watching companion Grizz, will be watching again soon, if ever.

The Babadook.

Spoilers will be in effect, so if you haven't seen this film and still intend to, stop reading. I'll have another blog soon.

The Babadook is, on it's face, a story about a strange entity haunting an odd little boy, and his emotionally distant mother. Once you dig in, it's the story of how grief and depression will never truly leave you, how you can let it make you into a monster, and how it may be tameable, but never beatable.

This movie handled those complex topics so well, I don't know if the monster was real or not, AND I DO NOT CARE.

Caring about if a monster is real or not is sort of my thing.

There are plenty of horror movies with roots buried in societal fears; zombie movies are 'us vs. them', as is Pod People, and any other number of flicks. Argument are made about horror movies encouraging virginity, abstinence, and female empowerment with the use of idyllic Survivor Girls. Freddy Kruger is adult fear that that cannot protect their children, fear of coming out of the closet, or any other number of things. But the subtex is just that' subtext. The Babadook screams its message along with it's croak of "Ba ba dook...dook...doooook!"

Which brings me to Get Out.

I'm seeing this film tonight with friends. Jordan Peele, the write and director, and half of one of my favorite comedy teams, has said his film is about liberal white racism, and that he hopes to make a slew of 'social demon' horror movies.

The reviews and box office have both been positive for Get Out, and I'm excited to see it. Overt social commentary handled skilfully could be the next big thing for horror, and if The Babadook is its herald, I'm all for it. The industry needs a shot in the arm, and the slew of tired remakes we've been subjected to hasn't helped.

Presented without comment.

I'll post a proper review of Get Out when I'm able, but for now I'm prepping for a night of scares and thought. Excited these are going hand in hand once more.

Meanwhile

In better news, I finished watching Breaking Bad and begun Stranger Things.

I know, I know.

I'm only a few episodes into Stranger Things, and just as I was told, I'm really loving it. Aside from great acting and an intriguing story, it's chock-full of references to pop-culture. Posters of Jaws, The Evil Dead, AND John Carpenter's The Thing? Perfect!

It's nice to have an idea of what's going on without being too confused, or able to call every single thing that's about to happen. I'm looking at you respectively, LOST and Friday the 13th part VI Jason Lives.

It's right in the title!

I've heard season two will have Ghostbusters references.

I've also finished Puella Magi Madoka Magica...

Fuck this thing

Begun the post-Moore Swamp Thing run...

Don't fuck this thing.

And the so-so FNAF; The Silver Eyes.

Spoilers; it's full of teens who sound like they're twenty-five.

Even with my limited free time (AD for 12 Angry Jurors eats up a bit), I'm finally catching up on a lot of books, shows, and movies I've missed out on. I've still got 70+ books to be read, but at least I'm making a dent!

Now, if I could get caught up on my comic books...

Broken News 2.0

In the few hours that have passed since my last blog, Trump suggested that Jews themselves are making the bomb threats.

A spokeperson already's covering for Trump, stating "He means (he) was referring to protesters."

Steven Goldstein has said it better than I can:  “If the reports are true, President Trump has gone over the Anti-Semitic deep end,” Steven Goldstein, the executive director of the Anne Frank Center, said in a statement.” "Mr. President, have you no decency? To cast doubt on the authenticity of Anti-Semitic hate crimes in America constitutes Anti-Semitism in itself, and that's something none of us ever dreamed would disgrace our nation from the White House,” Goldstein added. “If the reports are true, you owe the American Jewish community an apology."

People are going to die, and this MONSTER is blaming the victims. Classic abuser move.

Broken News

Hey, so I haven't made a depressing blog about antisemitism yet.

It's still going on. Headstones wasn't even the beginning; there's been a spike in antisemitism, with 67 bomb threats in 27 states. Yes, that includes the mitten.

After months of threats and desecration, Trump stated it was "horrible" and vowed to take unspecific action. He also refused to call these hate crimes antisemitism. Much like he refused to address that Jews died in the Holocaust. Maybe that's because President Bannon is a not-so-closeted white supremacist.

The Anne Frank Center has decried Trump's inaction several times. Today they stated Trump is at least partly to blame. Steven Goldstein, executive director of the Anne Frank Center, said: "Mr. President, it doesn't matter whether you think you are personally responsible for the continued acts of hate against Jews, including today's latest bomb threats. Rightly or wrongly, the most vicious antisemites in America are looking at you and your administration as a nationalistic movement granting them permission to attack Jews, Jewish institutions, and sacred Jewish sites. Mr. President, you cannot just say this is not your fault. Slow and inadequate responses can make it partly your fault. You must do more than belatedly condemn antisemitism. You must act to prevent it as if all our families were at stake."

Trump has Jewish grand-kids, remember. He can't even muster up the courage to condemn something that DIRECTLY AFFECTS HIS FAMILY.

The Anne Frank Center has condemned Trump and his reactions (and lack thereof) before. They're saying what I've been saying; Trump's (in)action is NOT ENOUGH.

We've seen what happens when these sorts of acts are unaddressed, or half-heartedly condemned.

Maybe there's too much going on for him to address this, you say?



Yeah.

Trump's silence isn't just on this issue. There's been no word from the White House about the fatal terror attack on a Kansas man. Instead he whines about FAKE NEWS, the NY Times, and his cowardice about the White House Correspondence Dinner. And he has the gall to say the media doesn't report terror attacks?

I'm getting off topic.

There's two ways this ends; someone actually kills a Jewish person, or the threats stop and nobody gets hurt. I'll pray for the latter.

I'm prepping for the former.