Oh yeah, I did like 28 Days Later, but would not have gone to it without prompting (from Theodosia), and liked it in a way that was extremely particular to that one movie (i.e. had practically nothing to do with the zombies).

So, although I've heard that, say, the original Something of the Dead movie was a brilliant comment on something, possibly bourgeois shopping habits, I actually don't know what the traditional appeal of the zombie movie is.

Hmm. I've only seen Night of the Living Dead in that genre, and I really liked it. Don't know if it was for reasons inside or out of the genre.

I know that there was some brief chat about Celeste in the City earlier, but I want to add my .02.

DREADFUL. DREADFUL. DREADFUL.

I wanted to turn it off in the first 15 mintues because the character was so damn stupid, but I kept it on to see NB. Thank Joss for Tivo, so I could fast forward. NB's character was awful, totally stereotypical, as were his friends (though the appearance of "Deborah" Gibson character was a refreshing surprise) I know that it was ABC family, but the story and ending were trite and unbelievable. I want my two hours (okay 45 minutes Tivoed through) back.

Vortex, yup. I also loved the part about how getting a makeover is the key to success in both one's love life and one's professional life. Especially a makeover that makes you look like a hooker.

Redeeming qualities: 1) Ethan Embry was pretty cute. 2) The running gag that we developed about how everyone should be set on fire or else made over as Robocop.

I'm a little unclear on what the not-parody appeal of a zombie movie is.

Blood and scary things?

I saw 28 Days Later, and had to fast-forward through a lot of it. I'm not good with horror.

I'm getting sucked into Stargate, even though it's not very good. But it is, as Katie says, rather like... instant oatmeal. Comforting and unstressful. Even when they should be all worked up, like when Daniel's trapped on Anubis' ship and the froonium thing is gonna turn off and he'll get captured, and Jonas was captured, and yet he's all casually snarky with Jack on the radio.

These people are kinda messed up, I think. And not in the fun, Farscapey batshit-crazy way.

Speaking of Farscape, I finally saw BAD TIMING. Pretty good except for that ending. Yikes. Even if it had been coming back right away, that would have been a lame season ender. As a series finale? Lamer than a thing that is lame. The equivalent of "...and then the monster jumped out and ate them. The end."

We definitely need the movie/mini-series now. Ending on skittles would be such a bad thing.

I think (was it Katie that said this?) that Stargate's unambitious. So, without casting aspersions, I think it's hitting pretty close to its mark many weeks.

And it's not a bad mark -- it does manage to make me sad or giggly or fuzzy with reasonable regularity. It's just not art. I can't explain the distinction, though.

I dunno about not worked up -- it might just be a humour thing. Because Sam is a bit of a crier, and Teal'c takes his family very personally, and when Jack snaps in an effort to hide things -- it's just that they're not very protective of themselves.

No, not that healthy, but to me the Farscape batshit wasn't remarkably fun either. It was just a thing. In fact, when I think of batshit-crazy Farscape I do think of Stark, and that leaves a sour taste.

In fact, when I think of batshit-crazy Farscape I do think of Stark, and that leaves a sour taste.

See I've managed to block out Stark - even when he's on the screen, it seems - so when I think batshit-crazy Farscape, I think Crichton employing his insane-fu.

Celeste in the City made me feel sad for NB, MD, EE and everyone else involved in that train wreck.

They can find better roles, right?

Vortex, yup. I also loved the part about how getting a makeover is the key to success in both one's love life and one's professional life. Especially a makeover that makes you look like a hooker.

oh! and let's not forget (though I did) the 15 minute commercial for shoes, makeup, and hair products. (i think that they called it a "makeover" in the movie)