The World Has Been Bitten

So I hate to say it, but I have to comment on the the world's latest obsession with the pale-skinned, blood-sucking sexiness that is vampires. It started with True Blood on HBO and then blew out of comsic proportion with a little phenomenon called Twilight. The latter will continue to draw immense attention and fanfare with its new installments: New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. So that's like three more years at the least with all the craziness surrounding the popular Stephanie Meyers series and the two introverted stars leading the cast. The latest new sensation is the show The Vampire Diaries on CW, which is basically a semi-soap opera drama about, none other than a girl who meets a vampire boy and falls for him. Wow, they really went for a far stretch from Twilight's initial plot. Anyway, the fact is that there must be something that just really sucks people in (excuse the pun) to wanting to continually see more of these devilishly enchanting tales of the interaction between humans and vampires. Plus, sex sells and for whatever reason the theme of vampires seems to always bring about plenty of sex appeal, with all the neck nibbling and drawing the victim in closely to drain them of the elixir pulsating throughout their veins. It's just an intoxicatingly easy plot to reuse and elaborate on. Plus, it gives a variety of acclaimed handsome leading men (Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise of the 90s vampire flick, An Interview with A Vampire, and new guy Robert Pattinson) the chance to explore their dark side and as usual, make women melt all around the world. Vampire movies are ultimately an example of Hollywood taking advantage of the a very predictable and easily satisfied audience. They've done pretty well and seem to have a bright future in the delightfully, dark subject.
-Courtney

80s Movies: A Genre All It's Own

So desite my not being around when this incredible era of movies were made, I have come to develop much admiration and delight in these classic, feel-good awesome movies that more than exemplify and offer an honest, ultimately touching look in to the teenagers' life. Movies like Pretty in Pink, Say Anything, The Breakfast Club, Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Sixteen Candles are packed with teen angst, relation issues and popularity. They are still somehow so relatable and real-to-life, even twenty years later. What is crazy is that this decade is pretty much the only one to be considered its own genre. It also is the source of some of the most memorable movie moments, including the dancing in the library in The Breakfast Club and when John Cusack's character holds the stereo above his head to serenade his love interest in Say Anything. These movies have so much to offer, from a look at real-life situations and the overly dramatic life of American teenagers to outstanding soundtracks with tunes you can't help but sing with.
I seem like such an 80s lover, but I have just recently come to realize how much this genre all of its own is actually very wonderful, amusing and truly classic.
-Courtney