Bloody Valentine’s
Happy Valentines Day readers and writers. How did you spend your day? I guess if you’re reading blogs it probably wasn’t drinking champagne and snuggling up. Personally, I have had a lovely, quiet day filled with noodle bún from my favorite Vietnamese restaurant, jealously watching the Olympics wishing I was skiing, and reading poetry. Now that homework is done it is time for my favorite Valentine’s tradition: SLASHER FILM NIGHT!
from http://thisfoodismyjam.blogspot.com
I’m not quite sure what it is about this day filled with cards with bad poetry, overpriced roses, and those chalky candy hearts with the words painted on them that makes a good slasher film an absolute necessity. Maybe it’s a rebellion against consumerism and the stigma that everyone must find a date or else be branded a romantic failure. Some people say it’s an excuse for boys to get a little too touchy feely with their dates. Maybe the whole day is just so, dare I say it, cute that something has gory to happen to reestablish equilibrium like when you are reading a really cheesy book where the characters are so in love and they work hard and make all of their dreams come true and in the back of your mind your hoping that someone will step out from behind a brick wall with a machete and hack them up to pieces. Be honest, you know you’ve thought it too. Whatever the reason is a, good slasher film or scary book is in order. Here are my top five recommendations for both movies and books to spend your Valentine’s evening on.
Books:
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
- Maldoror and Poems by Isidore Ducassie (pseudonym: Comte de Lautréamont)
- After Dark by Haruki Murakami
- In the Box Called Pleasure by Kim Addonizio
- House of Seven Gables By Nathaniel Hawthorne
Movies:
- Picnic at Hanging Rock
- My Bloody Valentine 3D
- Lovers Lane
- Valentine
- Zombieland
I’m a big Kim Addonizio fan, so I’ll definitely check that out. And I agree, by the way, that Valentine’s Day is kinda ridiculous, and it’s not because I’m a bitter old maid, ’cause I’m not, but because it’s always felt contrived to buy that special someone gifts in shades of red because that’s what all the cool (not) kids are doing.
Never quite got the Valentine’s thing, maybe because I didn’t grow up with it. Aren’t you supposed to show your honey you care every day, not just on Feb 14?
I went to the UU Church dance the night before. It was a fundraiser for the Giant Ass Drum Core (GADC) and they put on an awesome performance during the dance. On Sunday I woke up and wondered when it was that I had somehow transported myself to Seattle. The rain and fog was so depressing, I spent the day reading good books.
Man, I love Picnic at Hanging Rock. Someday, when I post best-of-film lists for each decade (promise? threat? or grim portent of things to come?), the ’70s list will almost certainly include Picnic.