these things called "scary movies"

scary movies… horror flicks… they are like mushrooms that keep on popping up. some well produced and star some of the greats in hollywood. some are low-budget and feature actors we have never heard of. most horror films are dissed by movie critics, labeled as lacking substance. horror movies are often given short-shrift by film reviewers. at best, many film reviewers treat the horror genre with disregard, and at worst, they treat the genre with disdain. most comedy movies also get, at some point, get the same disdain from movie critics.
but why are so many scary flicks create blockbuster market? why are so many people so interested in watching all these gory, creepy and sometimes downright disturbing films?

nobody would completely understand and explain why but i think, for one, is that horror movies portray one of human being’s make-up. fear, whether real or imagined. im not saying that fear is a healthy emotion. fear, in reality, paralyzes us and clouds whatever faith and determination we have. so people watch these dreaded films not to get more fearful but to remind themselves that what they’re watching isn’t real. it’s just a movie. and people get relieved with that.

which leads me to my second and more practical theory. horror movies are form of escapism. people enjoy the fact that when they are watching a horror flick they are completely detached from reality. when completely engrossed in a film and sitting on the edge of your seat, it is kinda easy to forget everyday stresses and problems and therefore is a great way to unwind for an hour and a half. this is something you are unlikely to achieve from a light - hearted film as you can probably get distracted very easily. horror movies can give some adrenaline rush that can keep you feeling more alive (for the lack of more apprpriate word)

the second theory actually works for me in many occassions...

and it’s a fact that during today’s crisis everywhere, horror flicks are actually getting in more cash from moviegoers than other more substancial flicks. watch the weekly top movies and you’ll see.

and i think, it’s because the horror movies have variety of sub-genre that people can choose from… from supernatural (ghosts) , to vampires and werewolves, to the mind-boggling psycho thriller, to the gory slasher flicks. just to name a few…

dead poet's society code of ethics

i read this on a shirt that a passenger on a subway train was wearing. i found it amusing (though you might prefer "absurd") so i tried to memorize it. but since my cerebrum is not really good in memorizing, i typed on my cell phone the first few words for each line to help me remember them.

the print on the shirt goes like this:

dead poets society code of ethics

1. never underestimate the power of stupid people in large number

2. whatever happened, it’s not my fault

3. if at first you don’t succeed, destroy all the eveidences

4. it’s funny only until someone gets hurts… then it’s hilarious

5. it’s illegal only if you get caught.

personal annoyances

i just got back from a one-week trip to phnom penh cambodia for multiple reasons... get a holiday that i so longed for, visit some friends that i havent seen for ages, get a thai visa, and most of all, get to see the changes that the country has been going through for the past few years.

that's what i really want to blog about. but instead i am writing about this annoying cough that i've been having since yesterday. my body, for some i-don-understand-why-me reason, is built with sensitivity to allergens. dust, smoke, pollen, weather changes... name it!

cambodia, while already facing a lot of progress, especially with the road, is still mildly to moderately dusty (in some part of the capital city as well as the provinces). for most people, it wouldnt be bothersome. but since i got allergic rhinitis, the slightest of dust can make me sneeze. prolonged exposure to dust or cigarette smoke means trouble. big trouble...

what started as a mild irritation in my throat a few days ago has turned into irritating, frustrating dry cough and sttuffy nose. you know how it is... one of the most irritaing thing for one to hear is somebody coughing constantly, especially if you're in a public place or on a public transportation. it's not just for the fact that some coughs are contagious, but the irritating sound loud itself. if one is irritated by the sound of constant coughing, imagine the dismay of the one who is actually coughing. the irritaion in the throat that i want to get rid of. the emabarassing sound that im making. and more embarassment of the fear that i inflict on others. you know, people might think i've got pulmponary tubercolosis (TB) or some other air-borne disease (thnik about h1n1). it's like i should make a sign that says, "dont be afraid of my coughing... it's just allergy."

coughing... non-stop coughing... irritaing, annoying to those who hear it. embaraasing, mortifying and and totally frustrating to those who have it.

......................................................................

what is that one or two things that others do which can annoy you to your guts?