Shaun of the Dead review

What's the best part of Shaun of the Dead? As of December 21st it’s available on DVD!

I give the movie a solid 10 on the Pint-O-Meter and not just because I've had a solid 10 pints; the commentaries are almost as funny as the movie; the outtakes are hilarious and show how much of a giggler Simon Pegg is; and the TV Bits are so much fun you may forget that there's also a movie to watch.

Simon's Video Diary gives a view of the movie-making world that the public doesn't usually get to see. Top marks -- excuse me! -- full pints for giving us that.

The movie itself gives the world the kind of hero that we all could be; one that tries to do the right thing and save the people that he loves.

Question Stolen from Tavie's Blog, Answers Taken From My Head

1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
I accepted an invitation for a date after the holidays.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any resolutions, haven't for years.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Wonderful writer, Bill and his wife, Julie, had a son in July.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.

5. What countries did you visit?
No, I'm pretty much a home body.

6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
The ability to accept love as willingly as I give it.

7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 19th and 20th, I went to Las Vegas with amy and had a really great experience with the folks at Celebrity Poker Showdown and The Palms. Very nice people.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I went back into therapy and am working towards happiness.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Ongoing self hatred.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Depression, colds, and flu.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Laptop.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Joe. I can't say why because it's private but he's done some amazing work this year.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
American voters and some bookers.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills, computer, and food.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Joe headlined the Punchline in February, I was thrilled about that.

16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
I don't know.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier, because I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
b) thinner or fatter? About the same, which is a little disappointing.
c) richer or poorer? Poorer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Feeling happy,.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Beating myself up.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I went with Joe to his friend, Gene's family's Xmas eve dinner, crashed at his house, and on Xmas we went to see What The Bleep Do We Know? which was an amazing movie.

21. How will you be spending New Years?
I think I'm going to Cobb's Comedy Show - but who knows I may decide to stay home. I'm not going to do what's stressful.

22. Did you fall in love in 2004?
I have a new crush, but no love.

23. How many one-night stands?
None.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
I don't know, I really like Joan of Arcadia, but I don't think I'd call it my favorite.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not that I can think of.

26. What was the best book you read?
The deVinci Code, by Dan Brown, it opened my eyes to new possibilities.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Didn't have one.

28. What did you want and get?
Shaun of the Dead DVD and Spaced DVDs.

29. What did you want and not get?
The saw I need to start making metal jewelry and a boyfriend.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Either Shaun of the Dead or What the Bleep Do We Know?

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Had dinner on Joe at the Stinking Rose and a show at the Punchline with Diane; Joe was one of the comedians. I turned 43.

32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I had found a way to get my depression disorder under control.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
I got contacts and started wearing make-up. I tried to understand what styles look best on my body type.

34. What kept you sane?
The meds and good friends.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Simon Pegg. Full on yumminess.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The war.

37. Who did you miss?
Theanna, my goils, and Rick.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
My shrinks, Brooke and Chrissa; both are wonderful at what they do - and are sweet, caring people.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004:
It would have to be that I need to change how I think about myself before I can hope to find a guy who will see me in a favorable relationship light.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
No.

Epiphany

Yesterday, in therapy, I surprised myself.

See, last week I was talking about how people who have had a lot of tragedy in their lives seem to be fuller in how they are. The way they talk, the way they express themselves in general, and as I was leaving Chrissa says I said something that made her believe that I thought she had lived a charmed life. She brought it to my attention and asked what I had meant.

I thought about it. I don't remember saying it, but I do think she lives a charmed life. Then I realized that I didn't get anything from her that lead me to that conclusion, I just wanted her to be living a better life than I have because I liked her and cared about her.

As I finished saying this to her, I started to tear up. When Chrissa asked why, I told her that I surprised myself; after all I've been through I still have the capacity to care that much about someone I haven't known all that long. It was as I said it that I realized it.

It is an epiphany to me, that I can feel this much love after feeling nothing but fear for so long. As I look at my friendships, I can see that it's true but it never occurred to me to be any other way. I can see now that the man that I love will be loved fully and completely. I can finally see that the man that loves me will be lucky.

As I tear up again, I sign off.

I almost forgot...

Happy Winter Solstice, y'all!

Now, go out and buy Shaun of the Dead in a mad Pagan celebration, because the solstice is all about zombies.

Look it up.

Help me get Shaun pints

Click on the link to the left and view the Shaun of the Dead Holiday Card. If nothing else, it's really funny.

As it comes to me

I'm celebrating the holiday season like any sane person by watching zombie movies.

Yesterday I watched Night of the Living Dead and Shaun of the Dead while working on a sewing project. One day I'll post a picture of this project but it's for someone that might read this and I want it to be a surprise.

Today, I think I'll watch The Star Wars trilogy. I've owned it for ages and haven't watched it yet. I think I'm afraid to see that Lucas has further fucked with the movie that changed my life. I wish he'd just left it alone. Sure, put out a Director's Edition -- that is a time honored right -- but let the film that was released to the theaters be put out on DVD, too. I saw it so many times when I was a teenager that when I see the "updated" version it makes me dizzy.

The same thing happens when I watch Monty Python with commercials and "edited for television" versions of O Brother, Where Art Thou?

I'm such a Virgo sometimes.

A new link

Charles has pointed this out to me on my flog and I loved it so much that I have to share it with you. My Cat Hates You Dot Com.

Feel free to send me any of your favorites.

BTW, what the fuck am I doing adding links about hateful cats at 1:08am?

I'd appreciate any information you might have on this subject.

Amazon has lost its mind

Based on the things I've looked at, ordered, or put on my wish list, Amazon.com has decided that this is something I'm likely to desire.

I worry for the future of humanity.

Link update

I have finally have taken eva8's advice and gotten myself a Fotolog. I'm hoping that it will encourage me to get out and take more pictures. I say this as I sit here in my jammies at ten past one in the afternoon.

It's not that I've stopped loving Donnie Darko...

It's just that I want to show my Shaun love for a change. The DVD is coming out on December 21st--I have mine pre-ordered at Amazon.

If I were you (which clearly I am not) I would pre-order one too. Even if you haven't seen it yet. If you read this blog, you are prone to my values and loves (shut up!) so take my word for it and get it.

Out From Under the Weather

Sorry for the radio silence, I caught a cold and have spent a lot of time in bed or slouched down in front of the tv.

I'll give you a quick run down on what's been going on; through a series of randomly asked questions I found out what airline, what day, and what time Joe was coming back from what I will refer to as "that 'contest'" and met him at the airport with his favorite candy bar (white chocolate peanut butter cups) a bottle of water (because I had just flown back from Vegas and remembered how thirsty air travel made me) a BART ticket and a warm friendly smile. He was not only surprised by my appearance, but touched to the point of having tears well up in his eyes. I'm really glad I went.

Charles has given me, as a belated birthday gift, the box set of David Sedaris CDs, which all together run about 14 hours. I've put them on my iPod and have been listening every time I go out.

Ben has had his last day at Cobb's and has moved to PA to manage a comedy club called Helium. He'll be back on the 22 for his birthday and holiday celebrations, but it's not the same. Looks like I'll have to go to visit him. Last week's showcase show was all about Ben, it was fun even though I made the last BART train with only 2 minutes to spare. Eek!

I can't remember any other news to impart upon you all so I'll trundle off and write more when it comes to me.