Startling Realizations

[RoninFox]

Was about to post that Micheal Moore is listed as the second unit director for Raiders of the Lost Ark, but it looks like it's a different Micheal Moore.

[Junkyard]

Another odd one I found while researching for my Film Class Paper:
Richard Matheson's book, "I Am Legend," has been the basis for a full 4 films: Last Man on Earth, Omega Man, the upcoming I Am Legend, aaaaannnnddddd Night of the Living Dead.

Why is this so interesting? Because before Night of the Living Dead, zombies were dead bodies controlled by sorcerous puppet masters. We only know zombies as mindless, wandering beasts fueled by base hunger because that's what we see in the movies, and we only see that in the movies because everybody copies Romero. And Romero made his zombies like that because he was basing his movie (loosely) on I Am Legend, where a lone man has to survive alone in a house while a legion of half-dead, mostly mindless vampires wait for him to let his guard down so they could feed on him.

That's right- VAMPIRES. They sucked blood. They hated Garlic, mirrors, and religious symbols. But they behaved like we think of zombies behaving, because of Romero's take on Matheson's book.

So Richard Matheson--> I Am Legend---> Night of the Living Dead--> Every damn Zombie Movie made.

I don't know- It blows my mind to realize that Matheson is basically the grand pappy of an entire genre.

[mrbasehart]

I remember being completely floored when I heard Bart Simpson was voiced by a girl.

[whoopdefndo]

I just realized Jeff Daniels, Alan Tudyk & Dave Coullier don't share ANY DNA!

At least, they're not related. I'd hate to put the hoodoo on a possible narcissistic gay 3-way they might plan.

[RoninFox]

I remember being completely floored when I heard Bart Simpson was voiced by a girl.

As was I, as well as the fact that the girl in question is from Kettering Ohio, the city right next to my hometown of Bellbrook.

[Junkyard]

I was suprised to discover that the sit com "Step By Step" took place in my current town of residence in Wisconsin. I am still looking for all the flat, green, California- like areas they used for their outdoor locations. You spit anywhere in Port Washinton, and you're going to hit a hill.

[Tripe]

Back to Matherson for a minute:

I was amazed when I first found out that Somewhere in Time is also based on one of his books.

Oh and I was also surprised to realise that I live two minutes walk from the High School that Paul Feig went to and which is the basis for the school ijn Freaks and Geeks

[Junkyard]

Matheson also wrote What Dreams May Come and Shrinking Man. Wow, aninteresting series of random movies have been made because of him.

[Tripe]

But you know the books are rather more cohesive than the film adaptations thereof.

[Junkyard]

Isn't that always the case?

[Tripe]

Not if you Alan Dean Foster (the part about cohesive oeuvre I mean)

[Junkyard]

I'm sorry, but I found myself laughing at your last line. You follow a sentince containing the term "cohesive oeuvre" with a winking smiley. Somehow that seems wrong.

[Tripe]

We're talking Alan Dean Foster here.

[BEERxTaco]

West Side Story is Romeo and Juliet !

[Tripe]

One of the funniest realizations isn't one I had but one that Tom Paulin, a cultural critic I hate, had on national TV. He was discussing Clueless and a minute into the discussion declared "It's Emma isn't it?" to which the host of the show said "Er yes Tom, that was pretty clearly explained in the info packet, didn't you read it?"