"Shaun of the Dead"

[andrew_jorgensen]

I met rahael at work yesterday and we walked over to Leicester Square to see Shaun of the Dead. I think I laughed more during that movie than at any movie I've seen in a theater since Soapdish (admittedly, I don't see many movies, especially comedies, in theaters). I am very happy that the movie was such a delight because, well, let's just say that ten and a half pounds seems a bit steep for anything that provokes a response less than ecstasy. I'll get the DVD (in America, presumably at Target) for less than ten and a half pounds! And since our evening viewing, at one of London's premier film-going locations, drew only nine people, I am convinced that it is time that theaters moved to a market-based pricing system. Why should a movie like The Chronicles of Riddick, which was hated by even buffyannotater, cost as much to see as Prisoner of Azkaban? I'm sure there are some people out there so driven to be the first to see Azkaban that they'd be willing to pay 10 quid 50 or more, but might be willing take a flyer on Riddick only if it were in the two-bob range. The airlines concentrate on capacity, on filling every seat on the airplane as efficiently as possible, and have developed a wealth of strategies for getting their seats filled at the prices people want to pay -- why should movie theaters not seek to maximize the capacity of their theaters?

The theaters could even adopt the techniques of internet commerce. I sat through twenty-two minutes of advertisements before Shaun of the Dead actually began. Certainly, some of this advertisement money must have subsidized my ticket somewhat (and I think Pearl & Dean, the ad brokers for London theaters, would be happier if their ads were being seen by more than nine people at a time). Perhaps the theaters could make the cheap cineastes sit through ad after ad before the movie, but offer a premium service where one could pay through the nose to just start watching the damn movie already.

Anyway, an extremely funny zombie caper. Shaun of the Dead won my heart when Shaun, the twenty-nine year old appliance salesman, pub habitue, and general underachiever, told his fellow sales staff that he would be acting in the capacity of manager because "Ash couldn't come in today." I also particularly loved the bit where Shaun and his best friend Ed, having to fight off the two zombies in their garden, start chucking vinyl at them. "Purple Rain?" "No!" "Sign O' the Times?" "God, no!" "The Batman soundtrack?" "Throw it." Bill Nighy shows up as a randomly addled non-sequitur of a stepfather; I can't tell if my pleasure at seeing him was residue from his being the only halfway decent thing about Love, Actually or just that his was the only face I recognized. And it has the sweetest ending of any zombie flick I've seen.

Exiting the theater into a crisp London evening -- the temperature must have had dropped fifteen degrees since the day before -- and noting the general listlessness of the few people we passed walking through Chinatown, I saw a slight post-apocalyptic side to the city last night. A group of kids way in front of me smashed a beer bottle and the sound reverberated down Gerrard Street. The cords of people stacked outside De Hem's staring vacantly into the pub -- are they just Dutch footie fans trying to catch a glimpse of the Euro Cup, or are they . . . the walking dead?

I hope that rahael stores a few blunt objects in her garden shed. Just in case.

Comments

[ponygirl2000.livejournal.com]

Isn't Shaun of the Dead by the same people who did the series Spaced? I'll definitely look for it.

I'll let you in on my zombie contingency plan - Detroit. Well-fortified downtown core, with a zombie population concentrated in the suburbs, and easy access to weapons. They've been doing post-apocalyptic chic in that town for years. Pass the plan on to those you trust.

Zombie contingency plans

[fresne.livejournal.com]

Heh, this would come under Karen and my, what would we do if Aliens invaded (now – we were hiking), at home, what we do if Zombies attacked now, (we were finished hiking and in the parking lot) or at home.

I believe our zombie (we’re at home) attack plan was to make for the marina and get in a row boat and head for Angel Island in the bay. Nice large island with shelter, a ranger station and a Mule deer. Plus, I like to imagine foraging for supplies in the numerous Sausalito house boats. And you know, the post apocalyptic civilization that develops two hundred years later from the decedents of the people living on islands (and several tankers) in S.F. Bay.

I think for Aliens we headed into the coastal mountains and hid. That was a more fractured fantasy as we devolved into conquest, dinner, or irradiate the planet.

Re: Zombie contingency plans

[ponygirl2000.livejournal.com]

The boat thing is an excellent zombie plan, since it's well known that zombies can't swim. The problem with aliens is that you have to assume they'll be targeting humans so you'd have to keep to pretty remote areas which turns into a prolonged camping trip - I prefer my post-apocalyptic scenarios to include looting and living in abandoned luxury. The Day After Tomorrow was a great source of ideas because how could the idea of an empty, albeit cold, New York not be fun? I certainly wouldn't be burning books at the library that's for sure.

You should talk to my brother - he has a complicated plan for surviving a tidal wave hitting New York that involves an oxygen tank and some surgical glue.

Re: Zombie contingency plans

[fresne.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes abandoned luxury. Definitely preferable to the livin' in them thar hills to avoid the aliens.

There is this very posh open air mall in Marin County that I have my eye on if there is ever the apocalyptic opportunity. Lots of archways and fancy stores for fancy food stuff looting. Mmm…imported food deli.

Although, living in an empty New York, huge buildings peeking through the snow. Burning furniture, not books for warmth, has a winter charm to it. With it that cold, at least the food’s not going bad.

The problem is I keep wanting to re-found civilization so there’s someone to make wine for me.

I get distracted from wandering around department stores on a bicycle to pondering ways to spread the soot (from all the furniture that I’m burning) on the snow to help warm things up a bit. Surviving the Titanic with a hammer, some nails and enough wooden doors and tables to make a really big raft. Okay, that one’s pretty far fetched. But I have some great ideas for fighting off the vampire horde attacking my mall fort with a stake/arrow gattling gun based off something I read about Archimedes.

So, an oxygen tank and some surgical glue you say? Well, if it’s really far fetched and complicated then I’ll probably like it.

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

I loved Soapdish. That movie was friggin' hilarious. But then I'm a soap-opera junky.

Glad to hear you're getting to spend both quantity and quality time with Rah!

[anneth.livejournal.com]

OOO, cool picture!

Thanks!

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

It's from a recent photo session a friend of mine did for me (she used to be a professional photographer). I got the pics back from her on Monday and I was both pleased and horrified with the results. "OK, cute, but I'm old! And I look exactly like my mother!!"

Re: Thanks!

[anneth.livejournal.com]

Hah! I had the "I look exactly like my mother!" experience this morning, as I was going through an old photo-album. It was - weird. Because I never truly believed I'd have it, I think. Then, Spaceman comes along and says something like, "your mom's a babe. Stop whining." and I feel all better. So, masq, your mom's a babe. No worries!

Thanks again...

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's just, I always thought I looked like my dad. But the older I get, the more I morph into my mom.

If I start displaying her personality, I'm going to committ hari-kiri!

[anneth.livejournal.com]

It cost how much to see a movie? That's... that's something like twenty dollars American! *staggered*

[dherblay.livejournal.com]

You know, that's what I said!

I'm extremely glad the movie was good.

[nzraya.livejournal.com]

*zeroes in on most important detail*
Rahael has a garden shed? Rahael has a garden?

...

I am totally enamoured of the graduated movie-ticket pricing idea.

[dherblay.livejournal.com]

Rahael has a garden in both the British and American senses (the one sense is contained within the other). She also has a garden in her front yard, which is not called a "garden" by the English. The yard, that is.

I'm completely confused now.

It's very pretty! And there are herbs, so it's dead useful too.

Graduated cinema pricing

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

I think the guy who runs the Easy chain of companies is trying to start that idea up, but he can't get any first run films off the distributors.

Did Rah get my e-card, by the way?

Re: Graduated cinema pricing

[rahael.livejournal.com]

Ooooh! No I didn't! It didn't appear in my Yahoo, and I don't think it was mistakenly sent to my junkmail......

Ah

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

I think I sent it to your AOL account. The subject should be something liek "Come and get your card", I think.

Re: Ah

[rahael.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I didn't receive it!!

But thank you for the thought!

Are you still on for Sunday?

Yes

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

Still don't know where and when we're meeting. Is there anything new up on TCH's thread?

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

OK, found it. Harbour City at high noon, right?

[rahael.livejournal.com]

Yes!

(Hope that location is okay for you)

See you tomorrow....