Words for Readers: Horns

I've never had to make a vow to not read a book before I went to bed. Until recently. Joe Hill has a special ability where he's able to freak me out. This sort of accomplishment is not easily done. I'm a trickster by nature. I work at a parking garage as a valet. I like to hide in places - i.e. the back seat of cars - and scare my co-workers. Many of them have tried their damndest to scare me in return, and nearly all have failed. What I'm saying is, I don't scare easy.

I didn't develop a love for the horror genre until recently. Two writers helped me fall in love with the art form: Stephen King (duh!) and a less well known writer, Dan Wells. Stephen King needs no introduction. Dan Wells is one of three hosts of the podcast Writing Excuses. His debut novel was one of the first horror stories I ever read. It's called "I Am Not A Serial Killer." (<--- Click the title) After reading both of the guys I decided horror wasn't at all like the poor imitation served out by Hollywood. You know, the thousands of Jason movies or silly Saw movies. Horror could really get in your head and take you for a fun ride.

Somehow or another, I'm not really sure, I found out about Joe Hill. If you don't know Joe is Stephen King's middle child, and has inherited his father's talent for scaring the crap out of people. I dare say that he may have taken to the family business a little better than his dear ol' dad.

The plot for "Horns" is pretty straight forward. The main character, Ig, wakes up hungover on the anniversary of his girlfriend's murder. He quickly notices a change about himself. He has horns growing out of his head. With the new addition to his body come a few special abilities.

I'm not sure which horror writer said this but I once read, "Monsters aren't scary. People are." That's the thing about "Horns." The emotional ride that Joe Hill takes you on is more terrifying than the fact that Ignatius Perrish has devil horns growing out of his head. Sure, that's freaky. But the feelings of pain and anguish that Ig feels over his lost love is more more horrifying. The fact that people to crazy things to hurt others makes me cringe more than the knowledge that a dude has horns coming out of his head.

This book showed a lot of maturity for Joe Hill. His debut novel "Heart-Shaped Box" was a fun read, but there were things that could have been better. While reading "Horns" I noticed that Joe doesn't even read like the same writer. The work that he's put into the improvement of his craft really shines. Joe seems to be a jack of all trades. His comic run with "Locke & Key" is one of the best things going on in the comic industry, and his novels are scary fun.

Okay, one final thing, I know a lot of people won't read Stephen King because of his tendency to be wordy. I'm mean, for real, the guy can take a three-hundred page story and stretch it out over a thousand pages with minimal effort. This seems to be something Joe didn't inherit from King. He's not wordy or descriptive in the same way as his dad. His novels are easily read and can be plowed through rather quickly. Being an avid fantasy reader, Stephen King's wordiness doesn't bother me. However, it is nice to sit down with a novel that isn't a huge tome. Sometimes three-hundred page stories are much more entertaining that the ones that stretch out over thousands of pages. Brevity plays a big factor in that.

I'm rambling. If you're looking for some fun (scary) summer reading then check out "Horns." It's a helluva good time. No pun intended.

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The Wonder of Super 8

I love movies filled with wonder. I believe the master of wonder has always been Steven Spielberg. Three of my all time favorite movies are from his catalogue. They are: JAWS, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, and E.T. The awesome thing about each of these movies is that they're about more than monsters, and they're about more than aliens, these movies are about people. All three of these movies are about people put in wonderful, or terrifying, situations. You follow these people and you feel their fear and excitement. You feel their hurt and their pleasure. You fall to the bottom with them, and you rise to the top with these characters.

One of my favorite moments from JAWS is when Chief Brody, Sam Quint, and Matt Hooper set out on Quint's boat to finally get rid of the shark. One night out at sea they're sitting together at a table, they've had a few shots, and Quint and Hooper begin to trade stories. They recollect every scar on their bodies and how they came to bear that badge. There is so much humanity in that situation and is a perfect build up for the final show down with the Great White. Super 8 has a moment like that, but I'll talk about that later.

It's been a long time where a Science-Fiction movie has taken kids and thrust them into the main roll of the movie. It's also been a long time since a Science-Fiction movie has filled me with awe. Joe Hill tweeted Friday night,

"No, but seriously: SUPER 8 is the happiest I've been in a movie since I was 9 and saw E.T. for the first time."

And he's right! I don't know if SUPER 8 will stand the test of time in the same way E.T. has. They're different movies. Super 8 is more about the characters than it is about the alien. I can already tell you there are going to be people complaining that the alien didn't get enough screen time, or J.J. Abrams didn't reveal it early enough. I don't get that. It annoys me that people feel like the thing needs to be flaunted, and put out front. One of the scariest things about JAWS is that you hardly ever saw the damn shark. There were startling moments during Super 8, where I nearly jumped out of my seat, and you never saw the alien. You caught short glimpses of him, maybe an arm, or maybe a quick shot of the face, but there was never a drawing back of the curtain. It thrilled me and captivated me. I watched in anticipation waiting for the next encounter, and I never gave a flip about whether or not there was a full frontal of the alien.

The movie is a love story. It's J.J. Abrams love story to Spielberg. It's about a boy and a girl discovering what love feels like for the very first time. It's about a man who's lost his love. It's about a father and a son, a daughter and her daddy, finding love that they've been without. It's about a kid's love for movies and his desire to make it his best.  Super 8 is exciting and will cause you to fall in love with each of its characters.

Finally, the movie is a mystery. It angers me that so many people have told me they won't see this movie because they don't know enough about it. Critics have predicted the movie's financial failure because the trailers didn't contain enough spoilers. At what point did we lose our sense of mystery and wonder? Why do we feel like we need to know how a movie is going to end before we decide if we see it? Why does Hollywood feel the need to spoil the climax of every movie with each new trailer? Even books nowadays are spoiled because the complete story is told in the synopsis. Not too long ago I was at the bookstore and  was interested in reading a book. I picked it up, glanced at the back, as I was reading what it was about the ending was revealed in the short synopsis. I put the book down and refuse to read it. A girl once told me that she doesn't read a book until she reads the last chapter first. Have people lost all desire for adventure? Is there no desire to go on a journey without knowing the road blocks you may encounter?

Super 8 is my favorite movie I've seen so far this summer. I'm excited for the day it comes out on DVD. I haven't bought a movie released to DVD since INCEPTION. It'll be nice to add this to my collection. This is a movie you'll want to see.

Next week I'm debating on whether or not I should see Green Lantern. I'm afraid for this movie.

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The Evolution of Xavier's Gifted Youngsters

Growing up my introduction to X-Men was the cartoon that ran from 1992-1997. Cartoons were my introduction to so many wonderful comic book characters. Besides the '89 Batman, with Keaton and Nicholson, a favorite cartoon was Batman: The Animated Series. Batman: TAS ran from 1992-1995. I have volume 1 on DVD, and watch it periodically. Kevin Conroy is the definitive Batman. Mark Hamill is the greatest voice actor to interpret The Crown Prince of Crime. One day when they make The Dark Knight Returns into a movie Mark Hamill would be the best choice of actor to bring the Joker back to the silver screen.

In 2000 the first X-Men movie was released. I was 16 years old. I was thrilled. I can remember that my mom took my brother and I to the theater, and the place was packed. Even though Hugh Jackman would not be my choice for Wolverine now at the time he was a dream come true. I was finally getting to see one of my favorite comic heroes on the big screen. Looking back X-Men hasn't withstood the test of time. The second installment, X2, has done a little better. The Last Stand is to the X-Men franchise that Batman Forever and Batman & Robin are to The Dark Knight's movie franchise. I thought the X-Men were dead after The Last Stand. That movie was horrid. I remember being offended after spending money to see that movie. Even now I fill disdain.

A few months ago I first heard about X-Men: First Class. Honestly I had no intention of seeing it. I figured that Marvel and Fox Studios (Fox Studios is my least favorite movie maker) were grasping at straws, and decided to jump on the band wagon of origin stories. Afterwards I ignored any news about this movies.

Weeks ago I saw the first trailer for the movie. I think I was seeing Your Highness. That was back in April. I decided then that maybe I should give X-Men: First class a second thought. Then my wife and I went to see The Adjustment Bureau - if I remember correctly - and this was when I saw the second trailer for First Class. It was then that I came to a conclusion that this was a must see for my summer.

On to my thoughts . . .

This movie has one of the best beginnings. Immediately we are introduced to Erik Lensher. A kid named Bill Milner plays a teenaged Erik. He has no thoughts about one day becoming Magneto. He's never me Charles Xavier. He doesn't even no he can manipulate metal. He's a scared kid who wants to be near his mom. When they're separated we see what type of potential Erik has when he destroys a big metal gate. Enter Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon). I believe Kevin Bacon is at his best when he plays a villain. Remember Sleepers? He was one effed up dude in that one. Here he's wanting to bring to surface Erik's abilities, and he'll do whatever it takes. This scene is one of the most powerful of the movie. I was awed, saddened, and sympathetic for Erik after this scene. Many applauds to Bill Milner. Wonderful performance.

Charles Xavier is going through life differently. He's in college trying to get his PhD. He's a party boy using his telepathy to pick up girls. James McAvoy has come a long way since he pranced around with hooves in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Some might hear this as blasphemy but I prefer his Xavier to Patrick Stewart's. Xavier seemed more human after watching McAvoy's performance. Patrick Stewart had the look for Xavier, but I felt like his performance was soulless. James brought soul and life to the one day leader of X-Men. I read that people would not accept this movie if James McAvoy could not bring Patrick Stewart to the viewer's mind. He did bring Stewart to my mind. I kept thinking about how superior he was throughout the movie.

The rest of the cast is spot on. I especially loved Nicholas Hoult as Beast, Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique, and Caleb Landry Jones as Banshee. It was fun watching the evolution of each of these kids throughout the movie. Seeing the become comfortable with their mutation, and grow in skill with their powers was one of the highlights of the movie. January Jones was beautiful as Emma Frost. I've been infatuated with her since the first time I watched Mad Men. She's dethrones Scarlett Johansson, for me, as the sexiest woman in Hollywood. The only problem is that she acted more like Betty Draper, in this movie, than Emma Frost.   Emma is not only sexy but she's witty. As Emma, January was sexy but her performance was stiff.

The story was exciting and the missile crisis of 1962 was an intriguing way to introduce these characters. Watching Xavier and Erik's friendship bud, bloom, and wither was a painful pleasure. Fassbender and McAvoy made you believe in this friendship. Even though you knew the inevitable was going to happen at the end of the movie you hope that they'll save it for the sequel. Picking out how different pillar's of the X universe came to be was fun. Each moment was like a lightbulb. Finding the origin of different factors of the X-World was better than a game of Where's Waldo.

I believe this is my favorite movie of 2011 at the moment. It had all the ingredients of a summer movie should have: entertainment value, fun filled, humor, an exciting story, and a great cast.

Grade: A+

Next weekend Super 8 finally hits theaters. I. Can't. Wait. I've been waiting for over a year. J.J. Abrams is one of my favorite modern movie directors. Alien movies from the 60s and 70s are some of my favorite movies. Especially aline movies made by Spielberg. J.J. Abrams says this movie is his homage to all those great Steven Spielberg science-fiction movies. My prediction is that Super 8 will be my favorite movie of the summer. I hope it lives up to the prediction. Here's the trailer:

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Words for Readers: Locke & Key, Your Doorway to a Wonderful Comic Series

I've been reviewing movies on the blog for a while. I read a number of books a year and thought it'd be a good idea to use the blog as a place to review the books and comics I read. 

I've already posted my review to my Goodreads account. I'll copy/paste it below:

LOCKE & KEY: WELCOME TO LOVECRAFT is a prime example of why I love comic books. Usually when I read a comic book I like to take it slow, break it up over a couple of days. I was to digest the story and the art. Once I opened this book and peered into the first pages I ate up L&K like a t-bone cooked to perfection.

Joe Hill deals a thrill ride from page 1. The story focuses on the Locke kids. They've been through a tragic time in their life and move to Keyhouse on Lovecraft Island just off of the coast of New England. To find out the rest of the story you need to find your local comic shop and buy this. You won't be disappointed. If you are I'll gladly pay your money back. I only make that offer on books I believe in, and I believe in this series. I only wish I had bought the rest of the series along with the first two volumes.

One thing that really shines about this story is the dialogue. The story is a gem, the artwork is so beautiful, and the dialogue tastes like a good cigar. Comics can be a frustrating medium because the dialogue isn't always up to par. Joe Hill didn't let me down. I will return to this comic again and again and again.

If you've never read comics - or believe that it's literary trash - this would be a great doorway into this medium of literature. The awesome thing about comics is that it's the only form of literature that stimulates both sides of your brain. Eat that, literary snobs! Ha! 

Tomorrow my wife and I are going to see X-MEN: FIRST CLASS. I'll post the review tomorrow afternoon.

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