I'm finally ready to take the advice of a friend of mine and review movies as a set instead of all hodge-podge like. I have mentioned my biker/zombie loving/punk rocker friend in past entries but I think it’s time I gave him a name. No he’s not imaginary, he’s just stealthy and there is a “no name drop” clause. I was going to call him Dr. Know after the guitarist for the Bad Brains but he decided a more fitting name would be John Doe (of X fame). Mr. Doe and I spent many hours discussing the inns and outs of zombies. Thank you John Doe for your continued support and insite….Evil Dead II here we go!
While roaming the beer isles in search of a budget friendly bomber of beer (a BUFBOB) I saw a beer that has been on my “yea I’ll get around to it” list for a while. I put it on my list when Solarjinx mentioned he was drinking Total Dommination (another awesome beer I will be reviewing soon). This was none other than Ninkasi Tricerihops DIPA. In my dyslectic (and partially drunken) stupor I had wandered by this beer dozens of times. I had always mistaken it for Nikiski. They both start with N and end in I. The rest I smudged together. Five bucks….done! Thanks Solarjinx!
The first time I watched this movie I was confused. It seemed just like the first one? Granted, it's not totally the same but it was close. Instead of 5 people there is just the 2 but they go to the same cabin and find the tape recorder with the translation of the book of the dead on it. I did some reading and found out that this was the movie that Sam Raimi wanted to make the first time but didn't have the budget to. The camera work is of the same high quality and creative nature as the first but this time it's a little more fun. It starts much faster than the original. In fact it almost starts too fast. Within 5 minutes the evil spirit has captured Linda's soul (his girlfriend). Raimi doesn't waste a lot of time with the drive to the cabin, discovering the cabin, and Ash giving Linda the necklace. It's just "wow what a nice cabin" then "oh shit evil spirit possessed talking zombie things!!!" Just like that. I mean....Ash hears glass breaking.....his girlfriend is gone.....then when he finds her outside with crazy white eyes he immediately chops her head off. No questions, no hesitation, just WHAM!!!! NO MORE HEAD. If everyone had this sort of no-nonsense decision making skills I wouldn't worry so much about the zombie apocalypse.
I take every evaluation seriously. I take all the proper steps and follow the procedures laid out by those before me……most of the time. Tonight was not one of those nights. I drank four or five Deschutes Inversion IPAs and hate a Chipotle burrito with extra hot sauce. So what I’m saying is that my taste buds aren’t at their purest most sensitive state. My taste buds are a Michael Spinks in the embarrassing 31 seconds of my heavyweight title fight. But, somehow, bravely, I fight through. I pop the cap and pour that lazy peach colored liquid into my narrow tulip glass and silently admire as the tiny bubbles form a dense bread like head. I’m cowering in fear as the rush of grapefruit, salty pine, and orange smash explode in my nose like a face fuck of flavor. Yea I said it. Pineapple and honey overtake me as I slip further into the glass. I sip…..masterful. Even with my salsa stained tongue I can clearly taste the sweet bready malt, covered with honey, and dripping with hops. It’s much more balanced than I expected and much less bitter than I hoped. It was unexpectedly refreshing. As an IIPA I think it was less bitter than the Inversions I drank earlier (but maybe that’s the beer talkin). It finishes smooth and long but without that little bite on your tongue. My fear has subsided (of the beer not the movie, the movie is still terrifying (sort of)). I welcome everyone with an extra five spot to experience this beer as a nod to the art of beer making. It’s crafty. But as a masochist I am left missing the pain that a Double IPA should bring. I mean where’s the abuse in that?
The special effects on this one are vastly superior to the first movie. It’s as if Evil Dead got all stoked up on coke and speed and decided to rob banks naked. That’s what this film is. And who took the muzzle off Bruce Campbell. That bit of restraint that he had in the first film is completely demolished. I’d go as far to say it’s not even the same guy. His expressions are as over the top as the special effects. The second movie adds some twists like the bit with the chainsaw (threw me for a loop the first time), the cool mirror effect, and the whole cutting off his own hand thing was pretty nice. Raimi took everything he did well and made it better. If there was a pipe that splattered him with blood in the first one, now it sprayed with the power of a fire hose.
It's horror and comedy smashed together into one of the most enjoyable performances I’ve ever seen. I clearly see why this one is a horror movie classic. If you haven’t seen it you NEED to see it. In fact you should probably buy it. I look forward to reviewing the fun but gentler Army of Darkness next and look out in the next couple years for Evil Dead 4! It's in the works.
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