I went to see Zombieland land tonight. Gratuitous violence aside, it was a great movie-- witty dialogue, believable characters (at least believable for a world run amok by mad zombie disease) and an under current of a worthwhile theme: loyalty and devotion builds the strength to overcome life's greatest challenges. Blood-vomiting cannibals included. I also came out with a new motivation for cardio exercise.
What I DID NOT appreciate about my Zombieland experience, however, was the fact that I was carded by the acne afflicted, angsty youth taking tickets on the way in. I look under 17?? Really??
A second really for the evening:
The "New Moon" trailer was one of the few shown before the feature show this evening. I saw "Twilight" first, and then read the book. I've been accused of literary snobbery before, but I don't think I'm alone in saying that Stephenie Meyer will be no contender for the Booker. And I'll admit it-- it's a great guilty pleasure. Furthermore as an English teacher, I feel obligated to read what my students are reading. So after the movie, I bought the book New Moon to read between now and the next movie.
One of my biggest problems with Meyer's book (besides the ridiculous repetitiveness of her descriptors) is that Bella Swan is quite possibly the WORST role model for young girls. At the age of 17 she spends her time cleaning up after her bachelor father (who apparently did nothing for himself in the what, 12 years she lived with her mother) and developing an obsessive relationship with a "boy" who is a little too "protective" (read: controlling and manipulative).
While waiting to check out, I flipped the book open to a random page. And I quote: "I spent the morning cleaning the house waiting for Jacob to call. When the phone rang, I dropped the toilet brush and ran downstairs."
Really, Bella, REALLY?? I'll take snooty Hermione any day.
I'll let you know when I finish the series.
8 comments:
It's a guilty pleasure, but great points on the Stephanie Meyer books. I do love them though.... :)
"Literary snobbery" - ha, love that phrase. I know several people I can peg that title on.
Meyer may be no contender for the Booker... but I doubt she cares on her way to the bank. I can't imagine how how much she's racking in for this series.
Please do read the rest of the books - I'd be curious to know if your opinion changes at all. I thought the last book was wildly creative, highly addictive, and slightly annoying because of those two reasons.
I don't need to read the whole series, Chels... I'm sucked in. If I turn off the lit major in my mind, the technical aspects that make me gag are suddenly overwhelmed by one addicting story.
I think it might be a bit like JK Rowling. Her writing talents (or her editors??) improved dramatically over the series. I know what I'll be doing the next few weekends, even if Bella does need a good dose of feminism.
"besides the ridiculous repetitiveness of her descriptors" -Lol. That was one of my biggest literary issues with 'The Lost Symbol.' By the end of the book I was ready to poke my own eyes out if one more person's "eyes widened in horror."
I really really wanna see Zombieland! Im glad it was good.
OH MY GOSH!!
JESSI!! I LOVE YOU!!
I dislike the Stephanie Meyer's series, too! FOR THE SAME REASONS! Don't worry, it gets worse as the series progress.
(I love the way you described it. Have you read Gerald Lund? He has this book Fire of the Covenant which is really good except about 20 people "Felt the fire of the covenant burn deep within their bosom". Ugh.)
And more. Such as - if Edward is a vampire and doesn't eat, pee, sweat, or sleep how does he produce semen (book 4)? What about Bella having periods? Hello. I hate the way the parents are distant and stupid. I don't think it's okay for Edward and Bella to be sleeping together even if that's all they are doing. Sleeping together is a very intimate thing.
In my opinion Book 4 is Rosemary's Baby all over - cannibalistic and pornographic. Some critics have said smacking of pedophilia but I disagree with that.
They are all what I call Mormon Porn and I am amazed at how many women opening discuss that they fantasize their husband is Edward (or the smart minority Jacob - I've always preferred dark men) and the husbands are like, OKAY! One Mutual group (in Utah of course) even went to the movie as an activity! The bishop went home and read the books and was not happy with the YW president.
I could go on and on. My Spokane blog has a post about it and I was blasted in the comments. So does my good reads.
And yes, my dear, you look like you could be 17. Sorry. I was 25 and pregnant with Rachel when Larry and I were at the Mall in Utah and an older couple walked by and said, "I am sick of teenage pregnancy being flaunted like that!" I looked around and realized they were talking about me. haha!
Hard to believe I left something out but I did - I did like the series as a fast, cheap thrill of easy reading, if I could get all the glaring problems out of my mind. Have you read "The Host"? I'm interested what you think about that. My sister and I took wildly different opinions.
Jessi, Jessi, you truly are my kindred spirit. I loved Zombieland. I saw it with my sister and we screamed and laughed through the whole thing. I admit it lagged a little during the BM scenes and I was infuriated by the Pacific Playland parts (must all horror movie characters do things that no one with even a pea-sized brain would consider?), but on the whole, it was a repeater.
I feel the same about Stephanie Meyer. She has great ideas, but I hate her writing. I'm also ashamed of her depiction of relationships. I definitely understand the horrifying strength of irrational teenage emotions, which she hits on the nose, but she makes them seem IDEAl instead of completely dysfunctional. I have 6th-grade students who have read the books over ten times. I don't want their little minds polluted with such garbage. But I realize I sound like an old prude now so I'll stop now.
I'm also sorry your mind has to be polluted with such garbage. Reading the whole series was a loasthsome chore I deemed necessary for an English teacher, but New Moon is the WORST one of them all. Good luck!
PS I made one of my students refill my water bottle today and I thought of you.
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