Character of the Week: Dexter Morgan

This week's character of the week is the title character from the most addicting television show ever. I don't think I've ever watched an episode of this show on actual television, but I've seen all of seasons one through four on DVD a few times. I love Dexter! My former roommate when I lived in Seattle got me hooked on this show, and I've gotten my mom and my current roommates hooked on it. I just love it because it is interesting, suspenseful, and really funny at times. The main reason, of course, is because of Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan. What makes Dexter such an interesting character is that he is an unfeeling almost inhuman serial killer, and yet you like him and never want him to get caught. Like in the first two seasons, you end up disliking Dokes even though he is the actual good guy, while Dexter is really a bad guy. It isn't just because he only kills bad guys though, it is because he has charisma. He is both clever and charming and that is what makes you like him more than anything else. Probably the only time I was pissed off at his character was when he was banging that skanky British chick in season two...I just hated Lila and I was really happy that she didn't make it to season three. Anyways, here is one of my favorite Dexter moments...

Song of the Week: Criminal

Spotlight On: Beck

This week's spotlight is on Beck, who is one of my all-time favorite musicians. Every album he puts out is completely different from the rest of them, but they are all absolutely brilliant in their own way. I moved to Seattle in the fall of 2008 and a few months before moving there I saw that he was going to play Bumbershoot, so of course I bought tickets. Bumbershoot was actually the weekend after I moved there and I had no idea where I was going in Seattle and was all by myself. I ended up waiting in line for around three hours so that I could be in the front to see Beck. That was just the line to get into the mainstage. I also had to wait how every many hours for the opening band to play, watch them, and then wait for Beck to come out. And you know what? It was TOTALLY WORTH IT!!! Here are some of my favorite Beck songs.



Stereopathetic Soulmanure



One Foot In The Grave



Mellow Gold






Odelay








Mutations



Midnight Vultures




Sea Change




Guero




The Information






Modern Guilt










I basically love all of Beck's songs, but these are just the ones that stuck out to me at this particular moment in time. If you asked me tomorrow what my 25 favorite Beck songs were, I would probably tell you something different. He has such a great tone to his voice, and he is a very interesting songwriter. He actually wrote a bunch of the songs in Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, which is one of my favorite movies from last year.





I actually had no idea that he wrote these songs until I saw his name in the end credits. It just made the movie that much cooler...

Iconic Horror Scene: Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

This scene, from the 1974 film Texas Chainsaw Massacre, is one of the most iconic scenes in horror history. It is the first appearance of Leatherface on film, and is one of the more chilling scenes in the movie. What makes it interesting is that there is no score. You really only hear Kirk's voice, the sound of pigs, and other various background noises. Even when Leatherface arrives, there is no swell of dramatic music, he is just there. You see a quick glimpse of him, then it cuts back to Kirk. Then there is the iconic close-up of Leatherface lifting his weapon.

You see many similar shots like this in films such as Silence of the Lambs (during Lecter's escape scene) and Misery (during that film's most iconic scene.)

Then you just hear an awful CRACK sound when Leatherface hits him in the head and Kirk starts shaking on the ground. The fact that there is no use of nondiegetic sounds in this scene makes much more unsettling, since it gives it a sense of realism. Then, of course, is the most frightening part of the whole scene. Leatherface pulls Kirk into the room and slides the door closed. It is very disturbing because it is so sudden. He slowly pulls him in and then BAM! You don't know why he shut the door, you don't know what happens next or what he's going to do to him, but the image of this scary, mask-wearing man sliding this metal door shut is just frightening!

Movie I Want to See: Peep World

This is a movie that I want to see simply because of its great cast. Sarah Silverman, Rainn Wilson, AND Michael C. Hall? Perfection! I am a huge fan of all three actors. I love The Office, I love Dexter, and my roommates and I are seeing Sarah Silverman's stand-up show in a few weeks. All I had to do was look at the cast list to know that this movie was going to be awesome. The trailer doesn't disappoint either. This movie looks really funny and interesting, and the I'm liking the rest of the cast too.

Character of the Week: Lydia Deetz

A few weeks ago my character of the week was Wednesday Addams, so I guess you could say that I have a thing for little goth girls. They don't come any more goth than Lydia Deetz from Tim Burton's Beetlejuice. Having just moved with her family from New York to a house in Connecticut, she is the only one who can see the ghost couple living in the house. The reason why she is the only one who can see them is simple...she is strage and unusual.




I've always loved this movie, and besides the title character of course, Lydia was always my favorite character. She is also one of Winona Ryder's best roles along with her roles in Edward Scissorhands, Heathers, and Girl Interrupted. She also says one of my all-time favorite movie quotes.

Song of the Week: Chick Habit