It's a Stretch! Saturdays: The Mysterious Ticking Noise

This is a classic!  And extremely catchy.  Enjoy ;)

It's a Stretch! Saturdays: TREEVENGE!

From the self-proclaimed "World's #1 Halloween Website," HauntedHouse.com, comes TREEVENGE.  They recently tweeted it from thier Twitter account.  (Btw, you should "follow" mine ;) )

TREEVENGE is directed by Jason Eisener Jason Eisener and independent film maker from Canada who gained a bit of notoriety for his excellent "Hobo with a Shotgun" trailer he created for in a contest for the film GrindHouse. Watch his latest brilliant opus TREEVENGE below. Definitely NSFW.

I'm having some marital issues with my Mac right now.  I can't turn it on...  And my home desktop PC is a POS and the sound won't work.  LOVELY!  So, I'm posting this before I've even watched it.  Use discretion while watching it since I can't prewarn you about anything.  I hope it's awesome.

**I've since made up with my Mac and watched this.  You have to have the right kind of humor for this and a love for horror gore.  Luckily I have both!  I thought it was a little slow in the beginning but eventually worth the wait.  Completely effed up.  And, I now can't wait to go cut my tree down with the fam tomorrow at Linvilla Orchards!!**

It's a Stretch! Saturdays: Possess the desire to meet the Haunted?

Demons, ghosts, poltergeist, the possessed: all associated with Halloween whether in a curious way or an accusatory one.  Have you ever come in contact with something possessed or haunted?  Ever wanted to?  Try eBay!

No.  Joke.

A few weeks ago, I came across an immensely interesting lot on eBay containing a lot of pictures from some old asylum (in Germany, I believe.)  No one had bid on it so far, and the seller told tale of the old photos being haunted.  I couldn't help myself; I bid on them.

Over the next day or two, I became anxious and stressed!  Should I have willingly invited these items into my home?  Part of me just wanted the story, which was also the part that is a skeptic.  The other part of me fully believes these items were possessed.  Although I had wanted to win the lot, I became incredibly relieved when I got the email informing me that I had lost the bidding war.

And there lies the paradox.  We as humans are curious yet cautious.  More often than not our stupidity wins, (which is always more fun anyway.)  But at what cost?

If you're curious, like me, one of my "followers" on Twitter, WickedDolls, specializes[?] in locating eBay lots of haunted dolls for the interested buyer.  What on Earth is more creepy than that?  Even if you're not in the market for possessed objects... I recommend you read the stories for entertainment!

Do you have any stories of possessed or haunted objects?  Believe in that kind of thing?  More than anything, I want hear from you!

It's a Stretch! Saturdays: Body Worlds 2 & The Brain

This past week, I had the opportunity to sneak around Body Worlds 2 & The Brain at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.  I was fortunate to see the original BW exhibit when it came through a few years ago on the very last night, but the horse had already left, which apparently was the paramount of the whole show...  But this made up for it!

(Photo: www.fi.edu)

This version of the exhibit made possible by Gunther von Hagens focuses on the brain, with attention to the rest of the human body as well as those of animals'.  Take a minute to read up on the man and all that he's done: interesting and amazing!

When I first entered the exhibit, it all looked pretty familiar to me, but never-the-less exciting!  This is an exhibit that will never get old for me.  While I was the only one in there besides a guard here or there, I was not alone.  Spread out from each other were a pair of ice skaters, a gymnast, a slightly hefty man, a woman with child, a skateboarder, and much much more!

There was a moment where I had come to the exit and sighed in disappointment.  Had it shrunk considerably since the last version of the exhibit?  And then I saw it: "Exhibit Continues" with an arrow.  It continued right on up to another floor.  !!!!

As I entered the next room, it was as if I was a child again.  I forgot about the last toy I missed out on (the horse) and only saw what was in front of me: a camel.  Without saying too much, in hopes of provoking you to go see it for yourself, the gigantic camel (or is that how big they all are?...) was dissected and positioned in such a way as to create a wonderful illusion of an image.  You must see this!  Definitely my favorite part and the piece I tell everyone about most.

Even though I had seen the first Body Worlds exhibit, this was no let down at all.  If I've convinced you ;) or you've been thinking about going, visit the Franklin Institute website for more details.  Tickets can be purchased at the site, on Ticketmaster, or over the phone.  However you do it, just do it!

Have you seen Body Words 2 & The Brain?  Let me know what you think!

It's a Stretch! Saturdays: The Twilight Saga

As November 20th is quickly approaching, the wild roar of preteen screams is steadily growing.  That must mean New Moon is coming soon.

I have a love-hate relationship with this series.  The first time (yes, first time) I read through it, I fell in love.  Then I saw the film...  BOMB!  I'm not sure which hit harder: the shoddy directing, or the cringe-worthy acting.  Wait, maybe it was the awful screenwriting...  Well, it could have been any number of things or just the dreadful combination of it all.  Whatever it was that tipped me over the edge, my friend and I just couldn't hold back the raucous laughter from our sheer incredulity!

After that shitshow, (I believe) I immediately reread the series trying to fall back in love with it.  All I saw, though, was a love story surrounding two pathetically frustrating characters who would have done better to bang in the beginning, then go from there.  The reread just made it worse.

About one year later from when I was initially introduced to the Saga, and a fair bit after having seen the movie,  I read it all AGAIN.  The trailers for the second installation had me intrigued.  I thought the films should have been made by a man from the very start.  You heard me right.  Well, the third time through was a bit better.  I could take it for what it was: a fantasy series based on a contradicting character of a girl, (she is both oddly observant, yet particularly dumb,) and sparkling vamps.

I'm truly excited for the second film, New Moon, now.  I have a bit of a thing for Natives ;)  The whole animalistic, spiritual, nature thing?  I get that.  The directing looks MUCH better and I have high hopes that they've been able to hide the terrible acting better.  C'mon, it was bad.  Now I just have to find a good time to go watch it, when there aren't a bunch of screaming, stalking, hormone-heavy females drooling at the scream.  I'm scarred from the last film's midnight showing...

I'm really interested to hear what you think about the series.  Let me have it!

It's a Stretch! Saturdays: The Amityville Horror

While I head to see Mamma Mia! tonight, why not stay in and have a night of your own with Syfy?

Though the site doesn't say, I'm pretty sure they're showing the recently remade version of the "based on a true story" tale.  I happen to like both version made as they both have different endings.  I also love Ryan Reynolds..

Anyway, the possessed always have a place in Halloweenville!  Check out Amityville Horror tonight on Syfy (still trying to get used to that) @ 9/8c.  Also on Syfy tonight:

• Open Graves - 7pm
• The Amityville Horror - 9pm
• From Within - 11pm

Have a good night!  I know I will!!

It's a Stretch! Saturdays: Saw VI

Will it ever end?

Probably not.  Looks like Saw is just the next franchise in the likes of Halloween, Friday the 13th and The Land Before Time.

Despite the lack of film quality, these movies ought to at least always provide the cheap shock factor.  Hey, I'm up for that.  The last film in the series, Saw V, always came out around Halloween time.  (In fact, I think it came out on Halloween night.)  Anyone want to make a guess at how long this franchise will go on?  I'm a little behind; I think I've reached Saw 4.  The first one made me laugh, the second one I liked, and from there they run together.

Has anyone gone to see Saw VI this weekend or plan on seeing it soon?

Sites:

• Official Website
• Franchise Site
• Official Saw Store
• IMDB

It's a Stretch! Saturdays: Paranormal Activty

Always connected with the concept of Halloween are spirits, ghosts, and other such "paranormal" entitites.

So obviously, I thought I'd mention DreamWork's Paranormal Activity.

PA has had one of the most interesting marketing skeem's I've seen in a long time. At first, the $15,000 film was only released in a few cities. Fans had to WORK for their movie! In partner with Eventful.com, fans had to basically beg for a wide release, which would only happen at the 1 Million mark. Fortunately that took merely days.

I haven't seen the film yet (nor for lack of trying) but I plan on it very soon. I love horror films, whatever the quality. This one is being raved as being better than Blaire Witch...which I admit, I haven't seen.

So now I have to ask: Do you think it's worth it?

It's a Stretch! Saturdays: Vampires!

Ah, the vampire. A blood-sucking, mind-ravaging, ancient sensation quite often related to Halloween. And boy, do I love 'em!

I thought I'd use today to mention which vamp craze I'm stuck on right now.

I love True Blood! (For those of you who didn't know...) After I got through Twilight and saw the film, I needed something to make me love the vampire again that didn't sparkle. I started reading Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire series, better known as the True Blood series. The plot is more involved, less pathetic, and a whole lot more grownup than Twilight, so be ready!

The best part about True Blood is that you can enjoy both the books and show. In the series of novels, Sookie is smart, aware, but not overly confident. While she's in her late 20s, the mind-reader has sort of just begun to be able to live her life. I find it interesting, funny, and trashy good fun! Not unlike the show...

In True Blood, the HBO special, the plot follows the general direction of the books but still leaves room for surprises. The writers are able to play around with the characters in a way that pleases the audience and appeases those who've already read the books. Sookie Stackhouse is marginally dumber in the show, but it's forgivable. I happened to already be an Anna Paquin fan when I first started to watch. And now, I can't wait for Season 3!

If you've read the books or watch the series, I'd LOVE to hear what you think!!

Links:

• True Blood on HBO.com
• Charlaine Harris Official Website
• Amazon.com True Blood Store
• Borders.com (New book of Sookie short stories just released!)
• HBO True Blood Store (I want most of these items!!)
• True Blood wiki
• Wikipedia.org
• American Vampire League (from the show)
• Fellowship of the Sun (from the show)
• Tru Blood (from the show)
• Blood Copy (from the show)

Also, if you're big into score, I HIGHLY suggest taking a listen to the True Blood score, performed by Nathan Barr. The albums is available on iTunes, which is where I got it - half as cheap as if you purchased a physical copy from HBO.com. Truly beautiful! I haven't stopped listening to it for a month. Bill's Entrance is one of my favorite tracks, but I love them all. (Except for the first one...) Let me know what you think!

It's a Stretch! Saturdays: A Universal Dream

Saturdays I use for posting tidbits about items often related to Halloween but not actually having to do with it. What's a better way to kick this category off than with Harry Potter?

Recently, Universal released a LOAD of new information on the upcoming Harry Potter theme park. Slated to open this Spring 2010, the park will include many pieces of the HP world that any fan would look for. From the official site:

• At the entrance of Hogsmeade, billowing steam and an iconic whistle signal the arrival of theHogwarts Express into Hogsmeade station
• Across the way is Zonko's, a joke shop with a collection of tricks and jokes, including Extendable Ears, Boxing Telescopes and Sneakoscopes
• Honeydukes is next door and full of treats like Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans
• The Three Broomsticks and adjacent Hog's Head pub will feature traditional British fare and drinks including Butterbeer and pumpkin juice
• Across from the Three Broomsticks is The Owlery, where owls roost and await their next delivery
• The Owl Post sends letters with a certified Hogsmeade postmark and sells official stamps from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Ollivanders wand shop is an incredible interactive experience where the wand chooses the wizard
• Completing Hogsmeade is Dervish and Banges, the magical instruments and equipment shop featuring Quidditch equipment, Triwizard apparel, Spectrespecs and Remembralls
• The first attraction, Dragon Challenge, features a twin high-speed roller coaster with many iconic elements from the Triwizard Tournament
• Next is Flight of the Hippogriff, a family coaster simulating a Hippogriff training flight over the grounds of Hogwarts castle
• Located in Hogwarts castle, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a thrilling new state-of-the-art attraction that uses entirely new technology to bring the magic, characters and stories of Harry Potter to life in ways never before experienced
• Before exiting back into Hogsmeade, Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods is full of Ministry of Magic and magical creatures merchandise, Omnioculars, and even remote control Golden Snitches

Make sure to check out this video for an exciting sneak peak. I know when I go, security will have an awfully tough time getting me out! What true fan won't be in tears at the site of this?