Gab and I watched Salem’s Lot (1979) over the weekend. I generally prefer horror movies to 4th of July festivities. Fireworks are ho-hum, but gore’s never a bore. Salem’s Lot was pretty good, though perhaps we shouldn’t have watched the uncut version. It could have run a bit peppier. But I did enjoy it. I did some doodles inspired by the show while I was taking breaks at work today.

All were done with pencil on paper. Color and texture added in Photoshop.

I spent some quality time this weekend making my best/worst movies lists of 2009. I saw 39 new releases in 2009, which isn’t as many as I’d like, of course, but not too shabby for a lady who has a lot of business to take care of. Without further ado…the Best and Worst Movies (I’ve Seen) of 2009!

1. Inglourious Basterds
2. A Serious Man
3. Up
4. The Hurt Locker
5. The Road
6. Star Trek
7. Surveillance
8. Fantastic Mr. Fox
9. Julia
10. Humpday

There are a few (presumably) mighty excellent movies that I haven’t seen yet, but plan on seeing. Any of these could easily knock out some of my current top 10. These are in order of how much I think I’ll like them.

Movies I Think May Be Good That I Haven’t Seen:

1. A Single Man
2. The White Ribbon
3. Moon
4. Big Fan
5. The Informant!
6. Precious
7. Good Hair

1. Adventureland
2. Adventureland
3. Adventureland
4. Adventureland
5. Old Dogs

Oh my goodness, I hated Adventureland with every fiber of my being. I’m not usually one for insisting on sympathetic characters; however the main character struck me as so pathetic, despicable, detestable, melodramatic, self-serving, selfish and self-righteous. And I think the intention was to have him be at least a little sympathetic. I was not rooting for him in the least; in fact, I kept hoping that the movie would end with him, fast-forward 40 years, surrounded by cats in his hovel apartment in New Jersey, eating cat food out of a tin and babbling to his only friends, “Hey, Fluffy, let me tell you about the best summer of my life…” Damn it, I hated that movie.

Movies I Think May Be Bad That I Haven’t Seen:

Bride Wars
He’s Just Not That Into You
Avatar
Crazy Heart
Everybody’s Fine
Brothers
The Blind Side
The Box
Paranormal Activity
Jennifer’s Body
The Time Traveler’s Wife
I Love You, Beth Cooper
My Sister’s Keeper
The Ugly Truth
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
The Soloist
Confessions of a Shopaholic

These all looked horrible, but it’s not as if I’m gonna force myself to see them just so I can put them on my worst of list. Also, I’m not listening to you, everybody, Avatar looks like sentimental crap.

Okay, Movies of 2010, you’re on notice!