A Letter to the Silent Hill Fandom

Dear Silent Hill fans,

Yesterday, I saw Silent Hill: Revelation.

Let me get it out of the way: yes, the story was disjointed at times, some of the dialogue over-explained things (but then again, that is a trait in most low-grade horror films), the pacing was very off, the jump-scares weren't necessary, the special effects were abysmal, and it could've gone on longer (like another fifteen minutes).

But also... yes, the dialogue was funky at times (but it is Shakespearean compared to the first film), the acting is MILES better (with the exception of Radha Mitchell, WTF girl?), the sets were gorgeous and well-done, the music was great as usual, the monsters were neat (especially the mannequin spider), and the atmosphere was spot-on.

In the end, I really liked it. It was a decent film that fixed the flaws of the first movie, but ran into other problems. I love it for its flaws, but I love for what it did right. Hell, I may even see it again.

But I know I am in a humble-sized group with this opinion.

Everyone hates this movie, calls it a travesty and all sorts of other descriptive phrases to sum up that it was an atrocity upon celluloid. But I have to refute some of that.

Does the film have its flaws? Yes, it does. Is it faithful to the third game? Not really. Then again, the first movie wasn't faithful to the first game and for some strange reason, y'all are starting to rally around the first movie even when you tore it to pieces! You don't get to do that. My God, pick an opinion and stand by it!

For those who say that the director didn't play the games: yes, he did. He paid homage to several scenes in the third game, along with others (look out for them for fun Easter eggs!) But also, he was working with a film with its own canon (well, sort of, but you get the idea)! He had to stick close to it or else y'all would whine about that. Good Lord, Catch-22 much?

And my God, shut the f*** up about the cult. The cult was there from the very beginning. Don't whine that it takes away anything. The cult is scary! You all want the series to be something that it never was: this over-intellectual series about psychological f***-ups. Can we have that and a dash of the supernatural? What the hell is wrong with that? It doesn't make your precious games look philistine or anything. In fact, I love the corresponding forces here. We can explore all possibilities! For the love of all things holy and made unto the Lord, Silent Hill is a smart game, but it's not the Mensa member of the video game world. Chill, y'all. Your game is still smarter than the average one, and it's not stupid for having a cult in it. Fatal Frame is amazing with its cult, too, and I don't see y'all railing on it.

I hate fandom so much. The fans I've encountered act like their opinions are superior and that anyone outside the group (like film directors) will get called into question when the films don't match their impossible expectations.

No, don't tell me you deserve a good film and that Hollywood owes you one. I heard it before, from Resident Evil fans and Super Mario fans. So shut up and move on. Hollywood will never make a decent adaptation. Why start now? Your special game isn't the exception. There are better things to get angry at.

Yes, I am angry at something that essentially means nothing in the end. Yes, I have better things to get upset about. But you know what? If y'all can rant about how Pyramid Head is James' monster and cannot appear anywhere else (when he wasn't, I cannot STRESS that enough), then you know what? I can rant how y'all are arrogant gits who need to take a freaking break.

Come at me, bros.

Sincerely,
Lindsey, a disgruntled Silent Hill fan

P.S.: Shattered Memories is still an unnecessary existence, the first game is the superior one, and 0rigins is the Mirage of the Silent Hill series. /trollcomment

Midterm Elections (in which I sorta reveal my home state...)

Man, I'm not the least bit surprised how the elections went on in my state. The winner came to the surprise of absolutely no one, yet I'm still flabbergasted. Why the world do all my state-bound peeps still want Rick Perry? Are Democrats too scary? Do you like his fantastic hair? What is it?

Joking aside, I voted Democrat because I'm tired of my state being one of the lowest in education. I'm tired of having to hear the governor make ridiculous claims that we could secede. Don't even get me started on the textbook nonsense.

While I didn't like the Democratic choice, but it was anybody but Perry at this point. I want better education for this state. We deserve it. It's great that my state is surviving this economical depression so far, but that doesn't change much for the well-being of many. People still can't get jobs, higher education is expensive beyond hilarity, and we're not handling the border situation well at all. We can do better than this and we failed by reelecting Perry.

To all those who hate me for voting for White: I'm sorry that I believe in silly things like giving everybody a chance to have a good life.

~

Side note: I'm not as well-versed in politics as I like to be, but I'm slowly making amends to that.

Allow me to contradict myself...

After recalling this entry, and of course future entries like this one and also this, and this one... and the post below this one, I must proclaim the actual truth:

I am an Anti-Twilighter. I am not ashamed of this anymore. I was before, hence the entry back in November '08.

~

Lemme refer back to the initial entry:

"I hate the Twilight series. I had read the first book and thought of it as boring, unimpressive, peopled with unrelatable and flat characters, and fraught with lost opportunities. I have zero interest in reading the other books for the same reasons. I think the series' success is unjustified. The vampires sparkle. I watched the film online... and it wasn't even funny, it was just awful."

I also made attempts to read the second one and well...

"I tried, but honestly, I have better things to do. I can't finish New Moon. If I wanted to hear someone bitch, I would record myself and loop it."

I also tried listening to the third and fourth on YouTube (audiobooks, JSYK) I got to the honeymoon part in the last book. My sister and I, our faces were like this O_O the whole way through.

(Cont.)

"I mentioned to my manager the other day that I saw the movie. She asked me an interesting question: "if you didn't like the book, why did you see the movie?" I told her because I wanted to laugh at it. Now, it makes me realize that I should've left well alone. Moved on after reading the first book, instead of jumping onto the hatred bandwagon."

Well, I have nothing to gain by jumping on the Anti-Twilight bandwagon. I'm not gonna get new friends or anything like that. Nor will I lose anything either.

I tried the hands-off approach, but let's face it. I work at a bookstore. I see the books all time. I can't stay silent forever. I even have recommended other books when people asked me if Twilight was good for their teens.

"Look, there are better things to read and see. But, it's not my place to be so damn judgmental on people's choice of entertainment. If Twilight and the rest of the series tickles them pink, let them have it. I have my things and I'm pretty damn happy."

This is where I'm going to be contradictory. I really cannot understand how people can read them even for fun. Even with fun reads, I like my work to look like some damn effort was put into them. Note that I'm not saying those who read the books are not intelligent. All I'm saying is that I honestly don't understand why some people read books like this.

Maybe I'm a snob. Well, there you go. I am a snob.

Overall, like I said before, I'm never going to recommend the series. If I did, it would go against my personal ethics. Speaking of ethics...

"If you read the post I linked, you'll read that there are whispers of Edward and Bella's relationship being... well, unhealthy. I don't know what to really say about that. I just hope when girls read the books, they don't take what's been said and done as dating advice."

As a fledgling feminist, I have huge issues with the series for that reason. There seems to be evidence that Edward is controlling and a stalker. The sad thing is, some think he is romantic and everything he does is for the good of Bella. *spazes out* Last I checked, taking someone's engine out so they can't go see friends wasn't for anyone's good.

I'm gonna confess something. I have wrote about a guy who was abusive and made it into something romantic. That was before I knew better. So, yeah, remembering I made the same mistake and seeing it again in a published novel hits home.

Of course, the last sentence of that quote I still stand behind wholeheartedly.

"If reading this book has taught me anything, it was to make my characters stronger. Aren't books (even bad ones) supposed to teach writers how to write?"

In fact, I credit Twilight for helping me make some big changes to some characters I was working on.

~

Of course, I could go to list how the writing is just plain horrible and that an editor needed a red pen and a pitbull to attack the manuscript... how Meyer actually thinks her romance story is better than other famous ones... how some (not all) fans need to STFD (STFD = sit the fuck down) and realize that yes, people won't like the books and need to stop convincing them otherwise... and how some fans have actually committed physical harm against those who don't agree with their opinions.

Wait, I just did.

Long post is long. Seriously, I've been meaning to write this for a long time. I just didn't think about it until today. Nothing other than previous thoughts motivated me to do so.

I am 110% aware that not all Twilight fans are rabid and/or crazy. I know three very awesome, intelligent, well-read Twilight fans. You know who y'all are. And I just wanted to say that this is the best way I can explain my feelings about the series. If I were to speak it, it wouldn't be as articulate.

My intention is NOT to hurt other people's feelings. I just wanted to speak my mind, both honestly and fairly.

~

That's about it for me here. So, good night...

*leaves room*

It's time I told the truth...

This post inspired the following entry.

I haven't really been honest about something. So, here it goes.

I hate the Twilight series. I had read the first book and thought of it as boring, unimpressive, peopled with unrelatable and flat characters, and fraught with lost opportunities. I have zero interest in reading the other books for the same reasons. I think the series' success is unjustified. The vampires sparkle. I watched the film online... and it wasn't even funny, it was just awful.

I mentioned to my manager the other day that I saw the movie. She asked me an interesting question: "if you didn't like the book, why did you see the movie?" I told her because I wanted to laugh at it. Now, it makes me realize that I should've left well alone. Moved on after reading the first book, instead of jumping onto the hatred bandwagon.

Look, there are better things to read and see. But, it's not my place to be so damn judgmental on people's choice of entertainment. If Twilight and the rest of the series tickles them pink, let them have it. I have my things and I'm pretty damn happy.

If you read the post I linked, you'll read that there are whispers of Edward and Bella's relationship being... well, unhealthy. I don't know what to really say about that. I just hope when girls read the books, they don't take what's been said and done as dating advice.

If reading this book has taught me anything, it was to make my characters stronger. Aren't books (even bad ones) supposed to teach writers how to write?

I do extend an apology to my very good friend, who is also a big Twilight fan. I'm sorry that I hadn't been really honest.

I leave you, listening to Talking Heads' "Road to Nowhere"...

-Lindsey