Weekend Update:
Well, it was a full weekend of doing home owner type of stuff. Pretty sad when you have to come back to work to get some rest.
1) Dry wall purchased and delivered.
2) New door purchased and hung.
3) New insulation installed in exterior living room wall.
4) Weather proofing finally completed.

Movie Update:
Yep. Saw the remake of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” this weekend as well. There is so much that I could say about this movie, so I will save you all the rambling of a horror film lover’s opinion on the death of the horror film ’cause it would just bore you. “Chainsaw” is a good example of what is wrong with horror films. Now don’t get me wrong … it has its moment and when they happen they are really, really good. But on the whole the film is sacrificed to “atmosphere” and “mood” to try and scare. The art direction is a little overdone. Every single location is done up to be menacing and creepy. What makes the first film work so well is that all the locations have the appearance of normalcy until all the mayhem starts happening. The family’s house looks very average from the outside … but then you enter and find the killing room. The music for the remake is also overdone as well. Silence is a far more effective tool at unsettling viewers than constant ominous music. The original “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” used very little music and when it was used it is a “noise” that is very effective (see also “The Exorcist” for great usage of the silence to set up scares). The casting of R. Lee Ermey in a major role is also a problem for the film. He does his typical “Full Metal Jacket” schtick which comes off more as parody instead of being truly unhinged and unsettling. When I saw the movie his character got more laughs than anything. I know, I know. I shouldn’t be comparing the original to the remake … but to see what works about older horror films and doesn’t work about new ones, the comparison of the old “Chainsaw” and the new one is a good place to start. Before the film started we were treated to a trailer for the new “director’s cut” of “Alien.” Even with a few minutes of crappy new footage this film will be far more terrifying than the new “Chainsaw” could ever hope to be.

Travel Update:
In one week I leave for the wilds of Missouri. Whee!