Speaking of Shiny Objects

With the long holiday weekend (thank you very much) comes a share of time to kill, and what better way to put that time into its grave by exploring early holiday sales. So far, here’s what I’ve got (and mind you, all this stuff is for me; my X-Mas shopping list is very short, and thus, obtainable later):

• Books of Blood: Vols 1-3 by Clive Barker
• The Best of Rob Zombie (CD)
• The Stephen King Collection – Stories From Night Shift (Audiobook)
• Hell Girl – Volume One – Butterfly

So CHV, you say, planning a martial arts spree of destruction anytime soon? Not exactly.

For starters, while I’m not a huge fan of Clive Barker’s work, I think his prose is beautifully direct – with nary a hint of the passive voice that tends to plague my own writing. So why not get a huge source in one shot, and hope it rubs off? Secondly, for years I’ve heard a particular Rob Zombie track played on radio with no idea of what the title was. But I always liked it. Now, with the purchase of Rob's Greatest Hits CD I finally know what that title is ("Living Dead Girl") and can listen to the song at my leisure.

Thirdly, having enjoyed Frank Darabont’s adaptation of “The Mist” so this past week, I decided to revisit Stephen King’s short stories on audio - which on this version are read by John Glover (“Smallville”), an actor whose narrative voice I could listen to all day.

And at last, the “Hell Girl” DVD is something I picked up on a lark while browsing movies at Best Buy. It’s sharp anime, and packs a plot which truly personifies James Kirk's dreaded "no-win scenario," as described on the back of the packaging:

Beyond the veil of midnight lies a website: HellCorrespondance.com. Type in the name of one upon you which you desire retribution – And it will be served.

If you truly desire to take revenge upon those who have wronged you, just untie the scarlet thread from the totem’s neck. Pulling this thread will bind you into a covenant with Ai Emma, who will ferry the soul of your tormentor straight into the depths of Hell.

However, once vengeance has been served, you will have to deliver on our end of the bargain. There always has to be a price to pay. When you die, your soul will also belong to Hell. You will never know the joys of Heaven.

The decision rests with you.

-----

Gee, I wonder if Disney won't be adapting “Hell Girl” into its next Broadway family musical extravaganza anytime soon? And at $24.99 on DVD? Who wouldn’t snap that one up in a twitter?

Semi-seriously, I’m noticing a trend concerning the Japanese culture’s take on the supernatural: there are no such things as friendly ghosts, or in this case, schoolgirl emissaries from Hell. Both are constantly pissed off, and lacking a shred of mercy (sounds like Clive Barker, doesn’t it?).

But at any rate, I think “Hell Girl” was worth a sampling.

Uh, oh....

For further updates on my buying history, provided I haven’t scared the hell out of all of you (I also snagged the DVD box set of “Doctor Who – The Complete Third Season” this weekend, just so you don’t think I’m completely deranged, and wake up every morning saying “I don’t believe in fairies!” to enjoy the cheap pleasure of knowing I’ve begun my day by striking one of the spritely little bastards dead. Well, that’s not true – I do enjoy killing fairies each morning) I may add another item of two on a few shopping trips here in the near-future.

So stay tuned.