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[Chuck the plant]

Originally posted by Evad@Nov 16 2005, 02:00 AM
Classic B horror flics aren't really supposed to be scarey.

I beg to differ. Many of them were intended to be "scary" back in the day, it's just that they may seem "corny" by standards of modern day viewers.
NOTLD was one of the first times that things like the eating of human intestines were shown in a film, and you can bet that people regarded this as "shocking", "scary" and "disturbing" back in '68.

When battling zombies, you are still battleing something that is* somewhat recognizable. I would think the mere sight of an alien would shock someone to the point that they may not even think about defending themself..

Well, isn't that what happens more than once in Romero's films? That people are so shocked that they don't even fight back?
In fact, I personally find the thought of the dead coming back to live and humankind being too dumb to deal with it (still seeing them as humans, even more often as people they knew and loved) a lot more "scarier" than the concept of Alien.

I like to think either a decapitation would be instinctual in myself.

Yes, because you know quite some "stories" involving the classical zombie. You can't expect the characters in the movie to have that knowledge, though, and that's why it is a major mistake to apply YOUR knowledge to the people on screen and judge them by that standard when watching ANY movie...

And one more thing to consider: Is there a copy of "Alien" in the NY MOMA? There is one of NOTLD... :whistle:

[Evad]

well, about my statements. They were meant to explain my choice, which is of course aliens. I never expected everyone to agree with it. But seeing as it is 19 to 3 I feel the numbers strengthen my choice

"I beg to differ. Many of them were intended to be "scary" back in the day, it's just that they may seem "corny" by standards of modern day viewers."

Of course you have to expect that the sight of a zombie eatting the intestines of a sceaming helpless farm girl was shocking, as it is even still today, but how can you explain the fact that Aliens is still frightening, whereas notld is just plain humorous? If your premis is to hold any merit then it should also relate to the other movie.

"it is a major mistake to apply YOUR knowledge to the people on screen and judge them by that standard when watching ANY movie..."

Maybe, but why would anyone find a movie scary if they were not doing what you say here is a mistake? People know things because they can relate, and the only reason you would find something scary is if you could imagine it were happening to you. It would follow in this line of thought, the question, "what would I do here?"


"And one more thing to consider: Is there a copy of "Alien" in the NY MOMA? There is one of NOTLD..."

I'm guessing NY MOMA is some sort of movie museum or something. All I can say is that I own all the Alien movies, and that I wouldn't waste one dollar on notld for my library. That's what counts for me.

[TheGiantMidgit]

I agree that Alien is more frightening overall than NotLD, but the Living Dead has gathered a larger cultural following, being legendary in most horror film cult groups. It's more of a history piece than a film to be speculated about today.

[Chuck the plant]

Originally posted by Evad@Nov 16 2005, 04:06 AM
But seeing as it is 19 to 3 I feel the numbers strengthen my choice

Well, "Titanic" was one of the most popular movies ever... you mean to tell me that this shows the movies actual QUALITY? Does a movie get better just because more people like it? :whistle:

"I beg to differ. Many of them were intended to be "scary" back in the day, it's just that they may seem "corny" by standards of modern day viewers."

but how can you explain the fact that Aliens is still frightening, whereas notld is just plain humorous?

Because that's your plain personal opinion? Different people see this different as well, you know?

Maybe, but why would anyone find a movie scary if they were not doing what you say here is a mistake? People know things because they can relate, and the only reason you would find something scary is if you could imagine it were happening to you. It would follow in this line of thought, the question, "what would I do here?"

But as I said, in the case of NOTLD (and other Zombie-films), your considerations would stem from the "knowledge" you got from other zombie-movies, -stories etc., which you can't expect the characters in the movie to have. Therefore deeming them "stupid" because of that is somewhat spoiling your own fun...

I'm guessing NY MOMA is some sort of movie museum or something. All I can say is that I own all the Alien movies, and that I wouldn't waste one dollar on notld for my library.* That's what counts for me.

Of course it's your own opinion that counts for you... just don't try to make your sujetive opinion an objective fact then
BTW: "MOMA" is the "Museum of modern arts"

[Evad]

I think Aliens is a better movie.
I am not arguing that it is.
I am argueing that it is scarier.
But, the fact that the titanic movie was so popular, speaks volumes about the quality of the movie. I'm not a big fan of it, I never went to the theater 14 times to watch it, but it touched me, AND THE FACT THAT IT WAS A TRUE PART OF HUMAN HISTORY IS PRETTY INTERESTING.(sorry bout caps) the argument that a movie shouldn't be judged upon its popularity is a noble endeavour, but it is a losing battle. You can bad mouth pop culture all you want, but it will always rule the masses. Hollywood just happens to be one of the biggest pushers of it.
For the record, I loved all three of the evil dead movies. The biggest reason I loved ithem was because the director was wise enough to evolve. It was meant to be taken seriously at first, but after it was later revealed to be a humorous dark classic they adapted it and reaped the rewards. Romero's movies are good as well, but how far can you take something like that? The movies are anti-climactic to a fault and much like rob zombie's movies are just good for some all out desensitized mayhem. I found the intelligent zombie theme to be a little intriquing, but It was kind of like watching "2001 a space odyssey" meets "house of a thousand corpses."
I'm not saying a zombie isn't scary, my argument was that you can at least humanise a zombie, falsely or not. An alien however...

speaking of Rob Zombie, anyone watch "the devils rejects" yet? I watched it yesterday. Kind of interesting, and I actually laughed a bit.




(spoiler alert!!!!!) Don't read it it's a spoiler!!!!!(spoiler alert!!!)

I fOuNd It CrEePy HoW ZoMbIe HuMaNiSeD ThE ReJeCtS, AnD I BeLiEvE ThE sHeRrIf WaS A cOmMeNtARY oN FuNdAmEnTaLiSt ChRiStIaNs In ThE StAtEs.

Spoiler alert ending here

[Blood-Pigggy]

Boy, put yourself in the position Chuck.
You might be shock at the stupid zombies walkin' at you first, but then you'll just get bored, I mean, poking things in the head does get old after awhile.

But if a Alien, something you've never seen before comes after you, faster, smarter and stronger, hell, you're going to be scared.

This is just one thing, realize that, zombies are everywhere, because they want to eat your flesh and such. That's just cliche, I mean the Alien wants to do *who knows what* to you.

[Iron_Scarecrow]

Classic B horror flics?

Is that like Blood Diner, the funniest movie ever?
And Dagon, and Bad Taste?

[Chuck the plant]

Originally posted by Blood-Pigggy@Nov 16 2005, 03:07 PM
That's just cliche, I mean the Alien wants to do *who knows what* to you.

NOTLD was the first time when "zombies are everywhere, because they want to eat your flesh and such.", so your "cliche" wasn't really a cliche back then.

BTW: The "Alien"-Routine has become the same cliche by now...

EDIT @ Evad:

the argument that a movie shouldn't be judged upon its popularity is a noble endeavour, but it is a losing battle. You can bad mouth pop culture all you want, but it will always rule the masses.

That still doesn't mean that the majority is automatically right or that the majority's preferences are in any way "better".

And one more thing, Blood Pigggy: I don't think it's particularly witty when some snotty brat calls a grown man "boy"...

[A. J. Raffles]

Alien, because I've actually seen that one. Although it did take awfully long for John Hurt to die. I also really liked the fact that the chest-bursting alien was apparently dubbed by Jonesy the cat. Nice touch.

[Tulac]

Both of these film's are boring but then again I hate horrors, since they don't scare me...