There's a monster outside my window.

Yeah I saw Signs yesterday and while it wasn't the greatest film I've ever seen it was ok. I was actually more impressed by the drama and humor of the flick than the horror element. I did like, however, the fact that Night gave us a lot of time to really sit and think about the situation. We had time to contemplate the enormity of what he was proposing and time to identify with and feel for the family that's focused on. In a way it kind of reminded me of the original "Night of the Living Dead" in that you had a global scale of horror narrowed down to the inhabitants of a single house. You take away the fighting back element, the machines, the weapons, the other humans, add a huge element of isolation and change the story from one of triumph to simple survival. In that sense, and in the sense that I could really feel for the characters it succeeded.

And I wasn't upset or offended by the blatantly schmaltzy elements of the story, not to mention the Christian slant. If I'd seen the film when I was younger I probably would've been vehemently opposed to it. I was raised an atheist and would've sneered openly at such sentimentality. These days I'm rather more mellow, and I think I see the importance of faith in my own life and am less likely to poo-poo it on the big screen. Or perhaps I'm just becoming a big softie in my old age.

After the flick I headed for Fry's wherein I purchased my beloved LOTR DVD and the latest issue of GQ with the all Vin all shirtless spread. Good gracious. So I had an evening with my beloved Frodo and my lust-puppy Vin and it was good. Did watch the extra goodies on the DVD but restrained myself with some effort and promised to watch the DVD tonight after chores. The extra goodies were, um, very nice. And let me just say now that I'm preordering the director's cut. The few bits and pieces I saw of the extended footage they're putting back in had me nearly hyperventillating.

The funny thing is I've seen the movie at least 20 times since it came out, but when I played the video for Enya's "May it Be" last night (which, I might add, appears to have been edited together by lemurs or perhaps spider monkeys) I actually got chills. The movie still gives me goosebumps, I just can't quite wrap my mind around that. I guess what it comes down to is that I've had two film series in my life that were absolutely essential to me, that I cherish and love, Star Wars, and now LOTR. George Lucas has done everything in his power to ruin the latter (though, thankfully we still have the original 3), but LOTR remains pure, pristine, and untouched...rather like Frodo. So now I have the single transcendent science fiction and fantasy film series, I am content.

And can I just say how yummy all of the boys looked in the footage? Good goddess!

Oh and before I forget, just heard about this today and if there are any other cat lovers out there who find this story horrifying, please considering signing the following petition:

http://www.petitiononline.com/delwin04/petition.html

Crunches: 90
Hormonal surges last night: Too many to count