Stuff and Things

My last post was on Halloween so that shows how well I keep up with this thing. Although once I did go a couple of years without an update sooo compared to that length of time, I'm doing pretty well!

First thing's first. In case you missed my Halloween costume this year...

WHOA!

I know what you're thinking. "Those two are pretty awesome!" You would be correct.

Since Halloween I've had more car issues. My poor baby. My '97 Camry is on its last leg methinks. At least this time it wasn't as serious. I just needed a new battery. That still sucks though, especially when you've been at work all day, and all you want to do is go pick up some pizza and beer on the way home. Then you go out to your car to discover that the battery is dead. I mean, I had to wait until after work the next day to get pizza and beer! My life is so hard! Fortunately I have a handy dandy mechanic for a roommate. Or at the very least she can replace a battery. So there's that! Note to self: learn how to be butch.

Thanksgiving dinner '13

This winter at work I have 3 days off. That's right. I'm a 4-day/10-hour cast member with Tuesday Wednesday Thursday off. The point of all this? Guess which holidays are all on a Thursday this year?! Thanksgiving, Christmas, AND New Year's Day!! I've already booked my flight to go home for Thanksgiving, and I am SO EXCITED! It will feel wonderful to be back at 61 Lundy St having dinner with the immediate family including my uncle John and grandfather, Mr. Diddy. Hopefully this is going to become an annual thing again. That would be lovely.

Last year was the first time I spent Thanksgiving dinner with my family since 2006. We spent it in Charleston where my sister Emily lives with her Freddiehusband. We listened to Christmas music. We took family pictures. We stuffed ourselves with food and wine. I felt all warm and bubbly inside, and that feeling wasn't from the wine. The feeling was great, and I can't wait to feel it when I see my family next week!

Umm let's see... MOVIES!

Don't see Maleficent. Unless you have in which case I feel sorry for you. To be fair, I didn't hate it as much as I thought I would. It's certainly better than both Snow White and the Huntsman and Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. The changes to the original story didn't bother me. The movie just didn't grab me in any way at all. Blah.

Do see Interstellar. It is our generation's 2001 though it isn't anything at all like Kubrick's classic. While Kubrick's film was opaque and weary of the human race, Nolan's film is all heart, full of hope that the human race will survive. The relationship between Matthew McConaghey and his daughter is the heart of the film, and if you don't cry once, you have no soul. Then there's the visuals of course. They are absolutely astounding, as is Hans Zimmer's booming score. See this flick on IMAX to get the full experience. It's totally worth it.

Okay I think that's more than enough for now. If you'll excuse me I'm going to enjoy the rest of my night off before my third day off this week. Yay for being a 4-day! Deuces.

Hide Behind the Chainsaws!

First things first.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, Y'ALL!

I dunno if you could tell from my past couple of posts, but Halloween is my favorite time of year. Hands down. It's wayyy better than Christmas. I mean, sure you can get candy and watch Christmas-themed horror movies then too (hello Black Christmas and Gremlins!), but Halloween is where it's at yo! And yes I just said "yo". I'm constantly living in the past.

Here are some things I've learned this Halloween season:

1) Don't put off checking on your car.

Seriously. There was one Tuesday I was going to go get my oil changed and tires rotated, but I decided to be lazy at home instead. Bad idea. What followed is a week and a half of broken timing belts, cooling exchanges, spark plug housing problems, battered coils/cylinders, random tax liens from 2007, and remembering what it was like to be a CP i.e. life without a car. *SPOILER ALERT* It's not pleasant. 

So stay on top of your car care, people. You need it running when there is a serial killer after you. 

2) Don't dismiss movies so quickly.

I've never been a big fan of Hocus Pocus. It's all just too silly, and I prefer my Halloween movies to have more bite. However, over the past couple of years, I've come to find myself liking it. The trio of witches are wonderfully hammy. Bette Midler hasn't had a decent role since Winifred, and Sarah Jessica Parker has never appealed to me except here. She's beautiful, silly, and kinda sexy. Also there's a lot of adult humor that of course flew over my head as a kid. Kinda surprising for a Disney film. However I still question how on earth these witches would suddenly know how to work modern technology AND know modern music. And that line about the driver's license is just awful. 

I watched it at the Enzian this year with a packed house. People were sitting in the bushes watching this beloved film from their childhood, and I'm sure they're showing it to their kids. I guess what I'm trying to say is... good for you, Hocus Pocus. You go, Hocus Pocus.

3) Decide what you're dressing up as before Halloween week.

I'm sure I didn't actually learn this lesson. Next year my costume choice will be just as late. Also this year I was kinda limited with car repairs/lack of sufficient funds. I will say that despite the stress, my costume will be fairly awesome. Definitely not as awesome as last year, but if you have an affinity for late 80s/early 90s TV shows, you'll get a kick out of it.

Oh! I know you guys are oh so curious so I'll let you know that The Abominable Dr. Phibes, starring Vincent Price, is one odd ditty of a film. It was made in the early 70s, when horror movies didn't have much of a plot but a string a bizarre scenes that border on the macabre. Think an ahead of its time Final Destination and that's basically Dr. Phibes for you. So if that meets your fancy, check it out!

Alright everybody enjoy your Halloween! Dress up all slutty, nom on all that sweet sugary goodness, and get crunk off your favorite pumpkin beer/ciders. But keep your wits about you, just in case...

Head For the Cemetery!

It's October! It's Halloween season! There really isn't any time of year I like better. Christmas is cool and all, but it's so commercial and overrated. I mean let's be honest. Some hooligans out there are probably already decorated and/or listening to Christmas music. Enough, people! You only have to wait 40+ more days before that is officially acceptable. You can do it!

If you didn't know already, I am a huge horror movie buff. I watch horror movies all year round. The Halloween season is just an excuse to watch even MOORE horror movies (horror TV shows as well. I'm talking to you "The Walking Dead"!). This year I've decided to watch one horror movie each day. I've been mostly successful with this quest, except on days when Disney schedules me 13-hour work days. Thanks a heap, work. Don't you know I have better things to do?!

I'm trying to watch either movies I've never seen before or movies that I haven't seen in a while. The only flick from horror mastermind Dario Argento that I've ever seen is Suspiria. I've got two of his other flicks (Inferno and Phenomena) sitting in my Netflix queue. Then there's all the genius cheeseball movies from the 80s such as Re-Animator, Creepshow, and House. You think you've seen them all then 10 more pop up either on TV or Netflix, and it's like the heaven opening up its pearly white gates and the angels singing in chorus "Ahhhh horror movies you're welcome AHHHH!" Or ya know something like that.

There's nothing more terrifying than deep V-neck sweaters

There's a few movies I'm rewatching. I've already watched what is arguably my favorite horror movie, The Others. It was the first horror movie I ever saw. If it wasn't for The Others I wouldn't even like horror movies today. Okay that's not true, but that movie was a great launching pad. Another couple of my favorite movies from the turn of the century are The Ring and Signs. A lot of people bash Signs because of the ridiculous ending. Yes, the ending is ridiculous, but there's so much more to that movie than the ending. There's themes of faith, very dry humor, and crazy Mel Gibson... I mean what's not to like? Also how about that kid's birthday video? Scary stuff!!

I'm going to the Enzian later tonight. Every year they show different horror movies for free out on the lawn. Tonight's model is an oldie from the 70s: The Abominable Dr. Phibes, starring Vincent Price. I've never heard of it before, but it's supposed to be awesome. I'll let you know what I think.

Scariest movie ever

Enough about me though. What say you all? What are some of your favorite horror movies? Do you have any that you watch every Halloween season? Of course there's the classics such as Halloween, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Psycho, and Poltergiest. (I'm saving all of those for Halloween week.) Or maybe you have obscure horror movies you watch? Let me know in the comments below. Enjoy the next couple of ghoulish weeks!

September Shenanigans

I haven't really written a lot this month. That's because I've been out actually having something of a life. And working. Mostly working. 

Goofy out-pimping Pluto at Studios

September is the transition month. The transition from summer to fall. Or in Orlando's case the transition from hot as balls to insanely hot. Movies that are released aren't really very good. Just like January and February, September is the "dump month" for studios. I have watched a few very good independent movies plus a lot of "so bad, they're good" movies at home. Otherwise movies released in theaters are kinda meh.

The one good thing about September is MY BURFDAY!!! It's at the beginning of the month, but I never wrote about it so it's like it didn't even happen. I decided at the last minute since I already had some vacation time that I would spend it back home in the Nan (that's Newnan, Georgia for the uninitiated) (that's a half hour outside Atlanta for the unaware). 

AHHHHHHH

I had a wonderful time with the familia of course. I saw my mother very scantily clad in my hometown's production of "Sordid Lives". We took a long, sweaty trek down Stone Mountain in 100 degree weather. We saw Bill Murray at his deadpan best in Ghostbusters... on the big screen! I got a new tattoo (!!!). For those who don't know, I LOVE the 80s band Tears For Fears. They are my favorite forever and ever. They don't have a symbol for their band so I grabbed something off one of their album covers. The original sun from "Sowing the Seeds of Love" is all golden, but the tattoo artist thought adding some color would make the tattoo POP more. So I said, "Go ahead, man. You're the pro." It looks absolutely amazing!

Let's see. What else? 

The Halloween season is upon us. No pumpkin flavored references here. Except experience Ben & Jerry's Pumpkin Cheesecake ice cream if you never have. Okay let's move ahead. 

*hums Halloween theme*

I have already attended Halloween Horror Nights once. I decided to buy a Frequent Fear pass yet again even though I probably won't be able to attend the event as much as I usually do. *cue sad face here* However, I will definitely try to go as many times as possible. I love Horror Nights!! The big update this year is that for the first time ever they have a Halloween (as in the 1978 classic) house!! I geeked out the entire time walking through that house. It was amazing. I giggled and screamed with glee. I will definitely be walking through that house the next 2 or 3 times I attend the event.

The Food and Wine Festival at Epcot has also begun. I haven't attended yet, but I do intend to on Friday after I get off work. Starship is the band playing that night, and 80s music is my favorite ever (in case you couldn't tell up above) so obviously I will be there no matter how tired I am after work. I need to jot down the other artists who will be performing for the rest of the event and plan accordingly.

So yeah that's September in the life of Joe Moore. Not the most exciting month ever but nearly the most awesome by default. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go be a hooker at the Kingdom.

A Little Known Fact

WELCOME TO MY BLOG POST!

Something you may not know about me: I love movie soundtracks. Seriously I love them. Soundtracks are how I've gotten most of the tunes in my music collection. In my teenage years I used to listen to the soundtracks for Dick and Charlie's Angels all the time. Both of these albums contained numerous 70s hits, some still popular today and some more obscure. Donnie Darko was the movie that launched my LOVE for all 80s music, especially anything new wave. The montage set to Tears For Fears' "Head Over Heels" introducing most of the main characters is possibly one of my favorite movie scenes of all time. You can check it out here!!

GAH. That was awesome!!

Okay moving on.

Last year's The World's End (you may remember me gushing about that film here) had an excellent soundtrack jam-packed with new wave 80s and 90s songs both Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg remembered from their college years. Apparently they listened to said songs while they were writing the film's screenplay. This is a genius idea, and it's something that I've started doing while writing my coming-of-age flick.

2014 has been a great year for movie soundtracks! This summer's huge gamble/most successful movie Guardians of the Galaxy takes the cake for best soundtrack of the year. Its jumble of 60s/70s tunes is probably more obscure than both Dick and Charlie's Angels combined, and you know what? I love listening to new music! Granted I did already know at least 4 songs on the album, but others have quickly become personal favorites.

A couple of other little known flicks released independently have also flown through my radar. John Carney, director of Once, released his second feature film called Begin Again. Sure it's basically Once with bigger stars and a bigger budget, but it still has a lot of heart and an awesome soundtrack. Who knew Keira Knightley could sing? I sure didn't. Her cover of "Lost Stars" (also sung by Adam Levine in the film) is beautiful and a must listen right now.

A more obscure film is God Help The Girl. It just had an extremely limited release this past week. It's written and directed by indie band Belle & Sebastian's frontman Stuart Murdoch. The film is based off Murdoch's 2009 musical project also titled "God Help The Girl". Apparently the film is a straight up musical, and it looks adorable. Kind of like That Thing You Do but with even more music. Oh! The soundtrack... right. I haven't listened to the whole thing, but the title track is pretty awesome. I can't stop listening to it.

Oh, and while we're on the topic of indie movies, I cannot wait to see Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig flex their acting muscles in The Skeleton Twins. The trailer already has me both in tears and stitches. Their lip-synch to Jefferson Starship's "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" will probably be one of my favorite scenes of the year. That is not even an understatement. I cannot wait to watch that scene!!

I could keep going on and on about even more movie soundtracks that you should all check out, but I'll stop there. I hope this has at least peaked your interest, and you'll look into some of these movies and the AMAZING music that comes along with them. 

So. There ya go. That's a little known fact that now... YOU KNOOOW!!!