From: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org (fegmaniax-digest) To: fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Subject: fegmaniax-digest V8 #290 Reply-To: fegmaniax@smoe.org Sender: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk fegmaniax-digest Wednesday, August 4 1999 Volume 08 : Number 290 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: fegmaniax-digest V8 #286 ["Andrew D. Simchik" ] Re: fegmaniax-digest V8 #289 ["Andrew D. Simchik" ] Re: Blair Witch Ripoff? [Vivien Lyon ] Eb needs you [hal brandt ] more on Mulholland [100%Lynch] [hal brandt ] Denver MABD [hal brandt ] Re: LA shows [DDerosa5@aol.com] Re: fegmaniax-digest V8 #289 ["Capitalism Blows" ] Re: Blair Witch Ripoff? [candl@journey.com] Re: [Fwd: Fwd: theory] [MARKEEFE@aol.com] Re: DE-posit, posit-IVE, COM-positE, etc. [ultraconformist@mail.weboffice] Re: Blair Witch Ripoff? [Vivien Lyon ] Re: LA shows [Capuchin ] Re: fegmaniax-digest V8 #289 [Jeff Dwarf ] Re: SP [Eb ] Re: Halzoku 9000 (warning: EWS spoilers) [Eb ] Why must Eb keep bashing me? [The Great Quail ] Re: Blair Witch Ripoff? [The Great Quail ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 07:12:27 -0400 From: "Andrew D. Simchik" Subject: Re: fegmaniax-digest V8 #286 >From: Michael Wolfe [snip] >though. And to the fellow that says that all movies are equally >good -- tell me, what color is the sky where you come from? It really undermines your attempts to appear intelligent and thoughtful when you can't even read the entire post. I added a footnote explaining -- I thought, quite clearly, but you're the second person to miss it -- that I don't really believe that all movies are of equal artistic quality, but that I found it an amusing way to preface my point about the difference expectations make when seeing movies for the first time. I guess I should just go ahead and assume that this list has more than its share of "thickies" and that I'd better not try to be funny or interesting, even if I do totally spoil the joke with footnotes. Although I'm now tempted to argue the point, since there seem to be so many people who take it seriously enough to respond to it. Drew - -- Andrew D. Simchik, wyrd@rochester.rr.com http://home.rochester.rr.com/wyrd/ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 07:30:20 -0400 From: "Andrew D. Simchik" Subject: Re: fegmaniax-digest V8 #289 >From: Eb > >Andrew: >>> I was so hoping that you would approve. >>> OK, let's stick with the >>> rimshot/titillation/soundbite ending, then. >> >>"Fellatio"? > >Huh? I don't see your point here. There is none. I was just positing another (sillier) option. "Fidelio" = "Fidelity" + "Fellatio" / 2 ? >>Like perhaps the godawful pat way Dr. Bill and >>Mrs. Dr. Bill wrapped it all up in a nice "here's >>the moral of the story" package and, oh, by the way, >>all this talk of infidelity is so kinky! It's got >>me so hot! Let's run home and screw! You mean >>*those* conventional details of the closing minutes? > >Heh heh. Well-put. But watch it...you may throw Hal into another indignant >fit. You gotta love *every* aspect of the film, or he gets very upset. I don't know about that. He seems dead focused on flaming you, and hasn't said a word to me. Yet. >Let's just see how many "Best of the Year" lists South Park ends up on. >Let's see how many people are still renting the film, in five years. Let's >see how many of these "brilliant" songs get Oscar nominations. Oughta be a >lock, since animated films always grab the Best Song nods, right? Naw. The Oscars, like, suck, dude. You can tell about as much from them as you can from the Grammys. >Speaking >of the songs, hit "STOP" after track#6 on the soundtrack album and you >really won't miss much. Except for..."I can change, I can change..." >No, in this particular case, I believe time will prove me right. I see it >as a here-today, pop-culture novelty film, far better than Beavis & >Butthead Do America, but no more likely to endure. Endure? I thought the question was whether we liked it, not whether it would live to be octogenarian. >People thought Ren & Stimpy was really hip and clever, a few years ago. Who >gives a damn about it now? What, now that John K. is no longer doing it and it sucks ass? >From: "Capitalism Blows" [South Park] >i was just looking, longingly, at the soundtrack today. fuckin' $17.99! >what is the world coming to? Dude -- try CDNOW, or better yet, your friendly local record store, where such things are more frequently $12.99 tops. You must not encourage the big chains in their $18-a-pop hubris. Especially with a nickname like "Capitalism Blows." [topical references] >but they're not what makes the movie funny! you could throw anyone in those >roles, and the movie's still hilarious. Actually, the Baldwin/Conan crap is the unfunniest aspect of the movie. Drew - -- Andrew D. Simchik, wyrd@rochester.rr.com http://home.rochester.rr.com/wyrd/ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 07:52:54 -0700 (PDT) From: Vivien Lyon Subject: Re: Blair Witch Ripoff? - --- "Jason R. Thornton" wrote: > I don't remember which Feg was talking about seeing > an indie movie that was > supposed to be a LOT like "The Blair Witch Project" > (this was awhile back), That was me. And it seems like a blatant ripoff of the premise of that movie: three young people in the woods, tracking a myth that dates from the time when the Puritans strode the earth unchallenged, frightening but inconclusive footage found later... Even without having seen TBWP, I would say that the similarities are too startling to be coincidence. Vivien _____________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Free instant messaging and more at http://messenger.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1999 09:23:55 -0600 From: hal brandt Subject: Eb needs you Eb's misguided, self-serving babble: > > watch it...you may throw Hal into another indignant > >fit. You gotta love *every* aspect of the film, or he gets very upset. I simply liked the ending that Kubrick created over the one that Eb postulated. Most people I've asked about Eb's alternate "Fidelio" ending thought it was ridiculous. I'm indignant at Eb's lack of ability to take a ribbing without launching into a pit bull act (especially if it's someone he holds a grudge against for past 'disagreements', like me). There are things I didn't like about EWS, but Eb didn't bother to ask, he just assumes his omnipotent insights are always correct and then gleefully spews them to the list. But that's our cuddly, competitive li'l Eb and we love him for it! Go fgz! /hal PS- I've been trying to keep this offlist and it worked for a few back 'n' forths, but Eb insists on bringing it back here. Otherwise, he won't be able to perform for you. Enjoy! ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1999 10:07:14 -0600 From: hal brandt Subject: more on Mulholland [100%Lynch] Someone asked for the scoop on David Lynch's new projects, so here's more: http://www.mrshowbiz.go.com/news/Todays_Stories/990802/lynch080299.html Here's the script for the Mulholland Drive pilot: http://www.lynchnet.com/mdrive/mdscript.html ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1999 10:29:57 -0600 From: hal brandt Subject: Denver MABD Report from the Ogden last evening: The Shirt: Black 'n' white polka dots w/blue pants (same shirt from the Rhino reissue promotional photo) The Show: Wayne from the Flaming Lips introduced Robyn by telling a story. He said Robyn likes to drink a little at the hotel and then he jumps in the elevator just before the doors close and begins to sing a cerse of Robert Palmer's "Addicted To Love" to his captive audience. Just before they have a heart attack or call the cops, he stops at the next floor and jumps out. As if to illustrate, Robyn began the set with a rousing rendition followed by a 'GH' twofer. The Setlist: Addicted To Love Gene Hackman Glass Hotel Cheese Alarm Dead Wife Autumn Is Your Last Chance Sally Was A Legend Freeze (w/Sonic Boom on SFX!) Interludes: He spotted a guy in the audience wearing a green shirt w/ a lantern on it and yelled, "Is THAT a green storm lantern on that shirt?!" and then bellowed a stream of conciousness midieval sounding poem about being on the watch for the Evil One. Later, in the transition from acoustic to electric, the acoustic was howling with feedback and he lifetd his arms spookily as if he was riding the feedback 'wave' until the soundman fixed the problem. Hilarious. He was in fine form and the altitude didn't seem to be bothering him. I liked ICQ (they are keeping the Theramin alive!), Sonic Boom was interesting (and sounded great on Freeze). I split before Sebadoh and the Lips. Robyn got the biggest applause when his name was flashed on the screen at the beginning of the show. Robyn's in-store performance is today at Twist & Shout @3pm. Details forthcoming! /hal ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 13:24:02 EDT From: DDerosa5@aol.com Subject: Re: LA shows Marc reported: Short set by Robyn (with Tim Keegan joining him) including-- Ghost Ship damn, I kept requesting this, but never got it. a new song (something funny like "I Don't Really Like You") is this the first we've heard of a new song on this tour? unless it was the deconstruction of "I Wanna Destroy You" he did in Chicago...sorta off the cuff. Later, during Grant Lee Phillips' set, Robyn joined him for "I = Feel Beautiful" and the set drifted into the usual improv/jam. They = created 5 songs about pigeons ( Haunted Pigeon, Haunted Carrier Pigeon, = Pigeon Lips, (?), Pigeon Pot Pie) did anyone get this on tape? Sunday started with the Rhino in-store (the best set of the weekend, I = think). Tim played on most of these also. Songs included: Mexican God Cheese Alarm (a "traditional song" about a knight meeting a young boy) She Doesn't Exist ooh, I'd love to hear acoustic version of the Perpex songs... Wind Cries Mary Jewels for Sophia Madonna of the Wasps Arms of Love Viva Sea-Tac Sleeping With Your Devil Mask Oceanside Then the final set of the weekend, the MABD show (with Tim on several = songs): Gene Hackman Cheese Alarm Viva Sea-Tac Madonna of the Wasps Queen Elvis I Feel Beautiful (with Grant Lee Phillips) Jewels for Sophia Freeze (solo, electric with some major guitar frenzy going on) this looks like a very canonical MABD set. Robyn was very well-received by the MABD crowd. I thought that IQU = was okay (I liked the way they used the neck of the guitar to control = the theramin). Barry Phipps from the Coctails used to play bass, theremin (with the neck), and foot keyboards. I teased him that all he had to do was strap a tambourine to his knees and he'd be the Lonesome Organist. by the way, when Jason asked >DID BLAIR WITCH RIP OFF IDEAS FROM ANOTHER INDIE FILM? > >Blair Witch Project, The (1999) has "haunting similarities" to Last >Broadcast, The (1998), another low-budget independent film, which was >completed in August, 1997, the New York Post observed today >(Tuesday). The newspaper quoted Broadcast's Lance Weiler and Stefan >Avalos as saying that the Blair Witch team had told them that they had >seen their movie "and that it was pretty wild, the similarities between the >two." Yeah, Viv and I both saw this last year at the CUFF. I was OK, not as well made as Balir Witch, and had a big flaw for me in that it wasn't film (nor, strictly speaking, a broadcast)--it was supposed to be people doing a live webcast from the middle of the woods, I suppose with a cell phone or something. As someone who has particpated in live webcasts and the beyond-myriad technical problems that come up, that aspect really weakened my "suspension of disbelief." It was about the Jersey Devil, which made it fun cause I grew up in Jersey, but for me fell apart before the end. However, CUFF had no problems lying to the audience, so they sold it as a documentary, which heightened the impact early on. And there can be no doubt that Blair Witch flagrantly stole some of the ideas. But, that's art, right? dave ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1999 11:32:55 PDT From: "Capitalism Blows" Subject: Re: fegmaniax-digest V8 #289 although eb's point about ten-best lists is well-taken. we may have to wait until then to settle the argument over whether the film has been nicely received merely because it exceeded expectations, or because it's a great movie. the *really* great part about that song was the choreography. and mustn't forget woj's favorite: "I'm super! Thanks for asking! All things considered, I couldn't be better, I must say!" not to mention that i can't wait to hear the violent femmes song. i think whether a movie stands the test of time is a valid indicator of its quality. i'm betting that it will. by the way, i saw Private Parts just recently, and liked it very much. of course, i also loved Talk Radio. i was at Cellophane Square, which is about as local as you could get. and friendly enough, i guess. i'll wait 'til it turns up used, though the wait will be somewhat excruciating. i dunno. the line, "if you want daniel, dial his extension...STUPID!" just cracks me up. as does the bit with conan jumping out the window and landing on the car, then the guy coming out to turn off the alarm. right! besides, it wasn't even intended to see theatrical release, was it? it was a student film, right? _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 14:57:55 -0400 From: candl@journey.com Subject: Re: Blair Witch Ripoff? >DID BLAIR WITCH RIP OFF IDEAS FROM ANOTHER INDIE > FILM? > >Blair Witch Project, The (1999) has "haunting similarities" to Last >Broadcast, The (1998), another low-budget independent film, which was >completed in August, 1997, the New York Post observed today >(Tuesday). The newspaper quoted Broadcast's Lance Weiler and Stefan >Avalos as saying that the Blair Witch team had told them that they had >seen their movie "and that it was pretty wild, the similarities between the >two." I caught "The Last Broadcast" on Sundance about a month and a half ago. It's a pseudo-documentary about two guys who produce this cable-access television program...in an effort to increase their ratings, they hire a slightly deranged psychic to help find the legendary "Jersey Devil" to be broadcast "live" from the woods. Of course, some freaky things happen and everybody ends up dead. The movie reconstructs the events leading up to the incident...while a computer expert salvages the electronic information preserved on the last videotape (destroyed in the melee) and reveals the "devil" responsible for the carnage..... It was an incredibly low-budget production, done on borrowed cameras, with no crew to speak of save for the actors (they ran all the equipment themselves). Weiler and Avalos were responsible for the script, direction, even the music. Most impressive. One of the more unique things about the film is the way it changes genres towards the end - it goes from pseudo-documentary to dramatic horror film. The genre flip is IMO a tad cheesy (albeit unusual) but it's at the very end of the film, and when you consider the talent and effort of the people who put the movie together, you might come off with a lot of respect for the work as a whole [anybody know of other movies that switch genres?]. Too bad "Blair Witch" got all the hype while "Last Broadcast" is still relatively obscure. As far as I know, it has not again been shown on Sundance. Any chance that it's out on video yet? Chas ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 15:00:53 EDT From: MARKEEFE@aol.com Subject: Re: [Fwd: Fwd: theory] Just got this forwarded from my dad. I'd seen it before and thought it was funny. In the context of readig a bunch of Fegmail, though, it struck me just how Robynesque this is. In fact, it's similar in theme to the bit about the people in England hovering over the ground and being mistaken for a bomb . . . that was on "Storefront," right? Anyway, the one that struck me as the most Fegical: << A contest was held for people to submit their theories on ANY subject. Below are the winners: GRAND PRIZE WINNER (Subject: Perpetual Motion): When a cat is dropped, it always lands on its feet, and when toast is dropped, it always lands buttered side down. It was proposed to strap giant slabs of hot buttered toast to the back of a hundred tethered cats; the two opposing forces will cause the cats to hover, spinning inches above the ground. Using the giant buttered toast-cat array, a high-speed monorail could easily link New York with Chicago. >> ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 14:06:39 -0600 From: ultraconformist@mail.weboffices.com Subject: Re: DE-posit, posit-IVE, COM-positE, etc. >i don't see "accessible" as the equivalent of "writing down." No, of course they're not equivalent. It's just that there are times when I hear that word and it makes me worry. I wonder if it actually means Keep It Simple Stupid. Incidentally, I did NOT think that's what you meant. I just wanted to make a point. Under the circs it was sloppy of me not to make sure that was clear. >empty words. in fact, out of that list, i SUBMIT (*grin*) that >"bricolage" is >the only one that would catch certain people off guard, which is not to >say you >should never use it, because it's nice when one's vocabulary is occasionally >upgraded. I figured as long as I was chanting words..... Have a look at this, last verse: http://www.summer.com.br/~pfilho/html/lyrics/b/ball_of_confusion.txt I think that'll clear up my intent a little bit. I was messin' around. Actually it was just that "deconstruction" just triggered the association and I was sitting there singing "deconstruction tax deduction city inspectors bill collectors" and it struck me as funny. >and maybe we're all stupid over here, >i'm also not trying to name drop. Now that's not anything I ever would have accused you of either. Dunno where either of these two came from actually. Love on ya, Susan 'Momus? That guy is sinister!' Marilyn Manson, as reported by Haig Bedrossian ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 12:10:56 -0700 (PDT) From: Vivien Lyon Subject: Re: Blair Witch Ripoff? - --- candl@journey.com wrote: > Too bad "Blair Witch" got all the hype while "Last > Broadcast" is still > relatively obscure. I saw it at the Chicago Underground Film Festival and was genuinely taken in by its documentary style, as were many people in the audience. Until about twelve minutes from the end of the thing, I was operating under the assumption that this was a real documentary (One of the reasons I don't like movies very much is that I suspend disbelief too easily and thoroughly). Then after the film, the two guys who made it walked out onstage to answer questions. For several people in the theater, this was a very strange experience indeed, as for the last hour and half, we had been under the impression that these guys were dead. Vivien I seem to remember that they made the film for under $10,000, but I could be wrong. _____________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Free instant messaging and more at http://messenger.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 12:57:44 -0700 (PDT) From: Capuchin Subject: Re: LA shows On Wed, 4 Aug 1999 DDerosa5@aol.com wrote: [Re: The Last Broadcast] > It was about the Jersey Devil, which made it fun cause I grew up in > Jersey, but for me fell apart before the end. However, CUFF had no > problems lying to the audience, so they sold it as a documentary, > which heightened the impact early on. And there can be no doubt that > Blair Witch flagrantly stole some of the ideas. But, that's art, > right? This is a very common idea circulated all over... that Blair Witch "ripped off" The Last Broadcast. From what I know, Blair Witch was, in fact, in production for three years. (No, I don't see how they justify that either, except for the fact that money for production is often a very long time in coming... particularly for post.)(I also foud it a bit odd how the one bit that DOES seem to indicate exactly when the thing goes down seems to be obvious and tacked on.) Also, both films are astoundingly like an Italian film called Cannibal Holocaust. It's likely a coincidence... It's not exactly a revolutionary idea. J. Now that I think of it... it doesn't even have to be a coincidence. Could be that the basic ideas were coincidental, but the Last Broadcast helped the Blair Witch people show that their film could get reasonable art house distribution and helped them speed up their finish that may have been stalled by lack of funds previously. - -- ________________________________________________________ J A Brelin Capuchin ________________________________________________________ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 14:30:59 -0700 (PDT) From: Jeff Dwarf Subject: Re: fegmaniax-digest V8 #289 Capitalism Blows wrote: sum one else sed: >>Actually, the Baldwin/Conan crap is the unfunniest aspect of >>the movie. > i dunno. the line, "if you want daniel, dial his > extension...STUPID!" just cracks me up. as does the bit with > conan jumping out the window and landing on the car, then the > guy coming out to turn off the alarm. and when terrance (or phillip) slaps brooke shields...... _____________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Free instant messaging and more at http://messenger.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 15:34:49 -0800 From: Eb Subject: Re: SP > > >the *really* great part about that song was the choreography. I think the lack of visuals hurts the soundtrack album, in general. *Most* of the film songs aren't as funny, on CD. Like, the multilingual segments in "Kyle's Mom is a Bitch" just seem like gibberish without seeing the characters sing. And the lack of Busby Berkeley choreography in "Uncle Fucka" and the missing blackboard visuals in "It's Easy, Mmkay" are also damaging. Etc. Eb ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 16:32:57 -0800 From: Eb Subject: Re: Halzoku 9000 (warning: EWS spoilers) More parasitic pipsqueaking from Hal: >> > watch it...you may throw Hal into another indignant >> >fit. You gotta love *every* aspect of the film, or he gets very upset. > >I simply liked the ending that Kubrick created over the one that Eb >postulated. Most people I've asked about Eb's alternate "Fidelio" >ending thought it was ridiculous. I didn't say that "Fidelio" would've been the best ending. I don't think it would've quite meshed thematically, since the film's fundamental tension was the contrast between Nicole's *fantasies* and Tom's flirtations with the real thing. If it was discovered that Nicole had been part of the ritual, the idea would have to be developed further beyond that single revelation. Just the one word wouldn't have been enough. And when you say "I simply liked Kubrick's ending more than Eb's," you're really twisting your past words. I didn't even mention my speculated ending in my initial post -- just questioning the existing climax alone was enough to get your blood boiling and you proclaiming "The ending made *perfect* sense, you artless Philistine!" Also, you (typically) overstate the absolutism of my comments. I only said that with me anticipating the film would end in one pivotal (?) word, "Fidelio" would've been more dramatic and less anti-climactic. Ideally, I would've preferred an ending of an entirely different sort -- like I said before, something grander, more cinematic and more imagery-based. Another dramatic confrontation with the Orgy Society, perhaps? I dunno. Something. But not just a cute couple chatting in a toy store, discussing when they'll bonk next. Anticlimactic. But you attempt to restate my views as "Pompous Eb is furious that Kubrick didn't use his ending, instead!" Nope. I just was unsatisfied with what he *did* use. A sentiment which others have echoed. Meanwhile, I'm picturing you pathetically badgering all your buddies, looking for support on this issue. "Isn't this guy stupid and wrong? Isn't he? Huh? Please, tell me! Validate meeee!" >I'm indignant at Eb's lack of ability >to take a ribbing without launching into a pit bull act (especially if >it's someone he holds a grudge against for past 'disagreements', like >me). Potkettleblack. As if you've *ever* forgiven me for dismissing the Grateful Dead and the tape-weenie ideology. Incidentally, if I'm so intolerant of opposing views, why have I let all the recent shots at Sebadoh, Of Montreal and Ben Folds Five pass, with hardly a word? Why haven't I attacked those who think Jewels for Sophia is fantastic? Why aren't I screeching at all the real-life hipsters who chortle when I say I love the Randy Newman album? Why didn't I attack any of the numerous Fgz who shrugged off Rufus Wainwright? You're overstating again, in your ongoing efforts to debunk the Eb Devil. Eb, who can't belieeeeeve that Quail, Unrepentant King of Arty Excess, hasn't seen EWS yet ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 11:25:21 -0400 From: The Great Quail Subject: Why must Eb keep bashing me? Eb says in regard to the "South Park" Soundtrack, >Speaking >of the songs, hit "STOP" after track#6 on the soundtrack album and you >really won't miss much. Hey! But . . . but the last track is by Rush, Eb! Oh, you wicked man, will you ever leave me alone?! - --Quail +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ The Great Quail, K.S.C. (riverrun Discordian Society, Kibroth-hattaavah Branch) For fun with postmodern literature, New York vampires, and Fegmania, visit Sarnath: http://www.rpg.net/quail "The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents." -- H.P. Lovecraft ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 12:08:44 -0400 From: The Great Quail Subject: Re: Blair Witch Ripoff? Vivien writes, >That was me. And it seems like a blatant ripoff of the >premise of that movie: three young people in the >woods, tracking a myth that dates from the time when >the Puritans strode the earth unchallenged, >frightening but inconclusive footage found later... (This post contains Mild Spoilers and an Unabashed Rave) Yeah, it certainly sounds like the Blair Witch Project borrowed from this -- but then to be fair, the whole premise was more or less lifted from Lovecraft anyway: Investigators delve into a New England wood to explore myth and slowly lose their sanity; nothing is fully revealed, only hinted at . . .and all that's left is the document of their descent into madness. In fact, the Blair Witch Web site is chock-full of Lovecraftian touches . . . ancient books (The Blair Witch Cult), eyewitness accounts from the Puritan times featuring strange hairy familiars, ritual dismemberments. . . . By the way, I am *not* bashing the BWP -- in fact, I fucking loved it, and so far it's my favorite movie this year -- probably the best movie I've seen in a few years. Rather I am applauding and admiring the producers for finally, finally getting the Lovecraft vibe down on film. No cheesiness, no kitsch, no over-the-top cultists and twitching tentacles -- no, a posthumous documentation of some fairly intelligent people having their sense of reality systematically destroyed. This is the first movie that really creeped me out since, I don't know -- Twin Peaks, maybe, and the first Alien movie. I think the genius of the film was not in the hauntings or the spookiness -- though that was amazing! -- but in the way the film-makers turned against themselves. It was the most convincing portrayal of raw fear and the gradual loss of reason that I've ever seen on film, and I was totally sucked in. For the first time in a long time, I cared about the characters -- hell, I almost cried in a few points. (And gee, I didn't cry during Titanic, not even once!) And by the way, if you haven't seen the movie yet, be sure to browse around http://www.blairwitch.com first. This site has got to be the best example of a "supporting Web site" around. It doesn't give anything away, and it really adds to the experience. - --The Great Quailthulhu np: Daevid Allen of Gong's solo CD, "Obsolete." I am not kidding. Right now he's barking in French, and spooky women are whispering about their pussies. Ah, Gong. +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ The Great Quail, K.S.C. (riverrun Discordian Society, Kibroth-hattaavah Branch) For fun with postmodern literature, New York vampires, and Fegmania, visit Sarnath: http://www.rpg.net/quail "The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents." -- H.P. Lovecraft ------------------------------ End of fegmaniax-digest V8 #290 *******************************