What do pumpkins, demons and a really crummy movie have in common? They are all mentioned in this post. Enjoy.
AZMouse's prize mini sugar skull/Art and photo Ryn Gargulinski
The good
Congrats to AZMouse for winning TC.com’s Pumpkin Decorating Contest. Her scary scarecrow and coyly peeking pumpkin took the win with 39 percent of the 33 votes. Jennatoolz’s Hungry Demon was a close second with 36 percent, while entries from KoreyK and Radmax tied at 12 percent each.
Thanks so much to all who entered their creative creations. Sawyer says AZMouse wins Rynart — a mini sugar skull named Terry Jr., which I fashioned after the Terry Sr. skull she admired in a previous post (unless, of course, she would prefer burnt pumpkin seeds).
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The bad
Paranormal Activity has been running away with box office sales. More than 1 million folks voted for the movie to go nationwide after its debut as a midnight-only flick in limited areas. Roger Ebert calls it “an ingenious horror film. It’s so well made it’s truly scary.”
Are folks so used to today’s incredibly wide array of crappy films that Paranormal Activity actually looks good?
This flick features a young couple who have enough cash to buy a house in San Diego although they never seem to go to work. They are too busy playing around with a video camera to try and capture the evil force they believe is invading their home and has been following the chick around her whole life. Ninety-nine percent of the movie is watching them sleep – or at least try to.
Even if the stars of the flick can’t sleep as some invisible, three-toed demon tramps through talcum powder down their hallway, the audience certainly can.
Paranormal Activity is truly a yawn. Yes, the premise is thrilling – what’s not to like about the possibility of demonic possession? But the execution is not. In fact, you kind of hope there will be an execution to speed things up a bit.
Perhaps that’s a bit unfair. The audience does stay awake. It’s hard to sleep, after all, when we were treated to that same choppy, disoriented, and headache-inducing camera work that has unfortunately become so popular following the Blair Witch Project.
You know the stuff: unfocused images, zooms to the corner of the ceiling, watching people’s torsos while they speak since the camera just so happens to be focused on their abdomens rather than their faces. It’s enough to make you seasick.
Highlight: Hope. Hope is the only thing keeping the audience alive. You hope something will soon happen. You hope you’ll get to see the three-toed demon. You hope this thing is winding down already.
Lowlight: Not being able to take a bathroom break since you don’t want to miss the possibility of some three seconds of action that you hope will happen soon.
Another lowlight: Rumor has it Paramount is talking about a sequel. Jaws 5, anyone?
Rating (1 to 10): 3.
While it’s not the worst movie I’ve seen lately, we are still annoyed we didn’t opt for our second choice about the weed-eating zombies.
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Demonic possession may sound fun but really isn't/Art and photo Ryn Gargulinski
The ugly
Demonic possession, although a thrilling concept, is not a very pretty thing. It’s quite rare, but common enough to pay attention. Below please find several warning signs of demonic possession taken from the very lengthy lists at Foundation for the Study of Paranormal Phenomena.
The site also warns: “Never mention to someone undergoing personality changes that they might be possessed. You can plant a dangerous seed by doing that.”
You may also offend them, no?
Hey, Ethel, you’re not acting like your usual self. Are you maybe possessed by a demon?
Warning signs of demonic possession:
Changes in personality, sleep patterns, weight gains or loss, lots of cussing, preoccupation with sex and aversion to religious objects or going to church.
Bad hygiene, change in what they eat or how they dress, outbursts of violence and hurling cats against the wall, nightmares and peeing on themselves.
Change in eye color, hair color, facial features, a habit of “gliding” along instead of walking, suddenly blessed with many talents, such as moving objects around a room, speaking languages they never studied or being able to levitate.
Have a nice day.
[tnipoll]
What do you think?
Did you see Paranormal Activity? Are you going to?
Is it worth all the hoopla?
What’s the best demonic movie possession you’ve seen?
Did you ever meet someone possessed by a demon?
Client feedback on email campaign written to drum up business for educational seminar.
Mornin’ Rynski. Yeah, PA is a stinker. I told my girlfriend something has to happen soon, alas, then it was over. The audience just sat in their seats at the end, in disbelief that this dud was over. Ebert is an idiot.
Oh! Congrats, az! I’ll get ya next year… 🙂
Thanks Maxxie. Just luck…
That Terry Jr is terrific though!!!!
mornin’ radmax. i WANTED to fall asleep SO BAD to make the movie move a bit faster, but the seats were too cramped. i was sitting behind someone who mashed the seat back into my foot. maybe ebert got free popcorn or something to say such wonderful things about the flick.
glad you like terry jr., azmouse! does that mean you want tj instead of the burnt pumpkin seeds?
Yes, please…Terry Jr over burnt seeds. lol
I sure don’t know how I won, with all that talent. I now know I need to do better next year, because they were all really good. Who knew Jennatoolz was like a pro=carver?!?
Terry Jr is awesome! Thank you so much! How cute will Terry Jr look next to cousin Fiona?!?! Thanks.
That movie sounds like a headache waiting to happen. I’ll check it out when it comes on cable.
Demonic possession?!?! Lots of cussing……preoccupation with sex…….
Oh sh*t!!!!! Where do I get help!!??!!
KIDDING
hahhahahhahaha!
nah, you’re too kindly to be possessed by demons, azmouse. unless, of course, you DO levitate and glide instead of walk??
tell fiona tj is on his way….
Well, thanks Ryn for the kind words, but my kids might claim I’m possessed on occasion. 🙂
Can’t wait to get TJ
P.S. I just added a poll….
Way to go azmouse!! 😀 Me? A Pro-carver? Not even close, lol. My work computer here won’t allow me to check out Terry Jr…they block “shopping” websites (yet I can still browse the hell out of Ebay..? Makes no sense) but I’ll have to check him out later when I get home! 😛
I kinda wanted to go see that Paranormal Activity movie, because it seemed interesting. But after reading this, I’m not so sure. Now it sounds quite lame! Lol.
Don’t waste your money Jennatoolz. I could have more fun watching Jello set. 🙂
Haha, that’s pretty much the conclusion I came to also! 😛
watching jello set!
hey jennatoolz,
your work computer gives me a headache! haha.
i know what you mean about wanting to see the paranormal activity movie – i was sucked into all the hype. if you do go – just make sure to bring a little flashlight and a good book to read – hahah.
it is lame but, alas, i’m sad to say i have seen MUCH worse…like fast moving zombies.
Your pumpkin was really cool.
“your work computer gives me a headache!” Tell me about it!! It’s super frustrating at times, haha. 😛
Reminds me of a time when my boyfriend and I first met, and he took me to see The Spirit. That movie was TERRIBLE! We were hugely disappointed. Ever since then, we choose the movies we want to see in the theaters wisely. It’s far too expensive to blow the funds away on crappy movies…lol.
never even heard of The Spirit….and i thought i must have rented EVERY crappy movie that was out there!
on a better note, i did rent Pelham 123 this weekend and found it enjoyable. john travolta is not bad as a heavyset ex con.
i have a son that has some problems and they are getting worse. it is more on the anger side of things hitting yelling kicking . it is really starting to get more intense what do i do .
Hi Chad,
How old is your son?