PETER JACKSON: The Good and the Gore
I must say, there is nothing more refreshing than doing the second part of a two part series, simply because you’ve already done half the work the previous week. It’s a lazy procrastinator’s dream. So anyways, I left off with the three films of Peter Jackson’s career that can be dubbed, “The Good.” These were films that all critics can agree on as being top notch; the cream of the crop; dang fine movies. But today, as a tonic to those shining bits of cinematic glory, I turn my keyboard toward three films that will, by most accounts, revile the average movie goer. Why? What darkness hath I wrought upon thee (It’s fun to write like that. Try it!)? These three movies drip from their collective celluloid with blood and gore. They ooze and squish, not unlike a garden slug or that one relative that never gets invited to Thanksgiving dinner.
As I’ve stated in previous articles, I love the horror film. It’s more fun than most other genre’s, with the possible exception of musicals, but that’s an entirely different article all together. In horror films, the impossible becomes possible. All of those monsters that you feared lived under your bed or in your closet really do and they are NOT happy about it. Hell, you wouldn’t be either if your home was littered with long forgotten Matchbox cars and stained Old Navy T-shirts. I mean seriously folks, when was the last time you ACTUALLY took a good look inside your closet? Nothing but ratty Brogans and ripped Heineken shirts, right? Okay, not the point… the point IS, the monsters are real and, in horror movies, they come after you with a vengeance. Which brings us back to the films of Peter Jackson, or more specifically, his “gore” films. Here now, is a breakdown of his finest splatter. Enjoy and for god’s sakes don’t eat anything while reading:
1. BAD TASTE (1987): This is a twisted little tale of four men from the Australian equivalent of the Air Force who take on a battalion of aliens hell bent on turning humans into the main ingredient for their intergalactic fast-food chains. Yes, I know, the plot is slightly similar to the Jane Austin classic “Sense and Sensibility,” but please pay that no mind, as this is truly an inspired work. The there is much vomiting, dismembering and splatting to be had in this film, making one wish for a nice cup of tea and some PBS television. It does bring up the thought that, “What if aliens want to turn us into food?” What are we, as Americans, going to do about it? My suggestion, begin a nightly ritual of basting ourselves in garbage, thus the aliens will find us so unappealing, they’ll move on to another species to turn into their version of a Super Value Meal. Plus, should this plot unfold as truth, can we PLEASE do better than a few Aussies as our main line of defense? I mean, sure, they can drink their weight in beer and wrestle dingoes, but shouldn’t we, the citizens of the good ol’ USA have at least a representative there for the battle? Anyway, just a thought. Moving on…
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