(Spoilers about to happen)
Zombie love stories. No one is more surprised by this topic appearing on my blog than me. If monster stories are the talk of the times, zombies have never been a favorite. As a rule, I give apocalypse literature a wide berth, and brains smeared across some scary dead face are not conducive to a restful night's sleep. I'm more of a mummy or werewolf kind of girl, and even then I'm not enthusiastic. However, when trailers for Warm Bodies surfaced, some twisted part of my conscience snickered and said "Fine. Let's give you a go."
A fair portion of my friends are zombie fans. The first time I met my friend Erin, she arrived at my dorm room in full-blown, startlingly convincing zombie makeup (theater tech majors are very awesome, by the way). Before college, I never knew it was practical to have a plan for the zombie apocalypse. I am now prepared, in case you were wondering. So this week, I am in Virginia visiting my friend Juwa, who happens to be rather brilliant in most areas of study, including zombie lore. When she surprised me with tickets to see Warm Bodies, I knew the film would either be very good (which we love), or horrendously cheesy (which we may love more). Lo and behold, this film surprised us both, and yes, you absolutely need to see it. Right now.
Why would you pay ten bucks to sit through another yet another teenage-monster movie? Typically, I would insist that you do nothing of the kind. I'd tell you to watch a clever indie film, or read something redeeming! There is, however, a first time for everything, and for the first time in my experience, the monster genre was satisfying and uplifting. I hate Twilight with every mitochondria in my cells, so let's compare this deliciously brainy (har har) film to the worst piece of fiction ever constructed in a peri-menopausal mind, shall we?
First, I need to blow up some assumptions. I would like to assure you that this film is not needlessly gory. Yes, zombies eat brains, but we don't see skulls splitting and guts flying in the air. This is not HBO or The Walking Dead. Also, it is important to note that Warm Bodies (unlike Twidumb) is not about necrophilia. The relationship between R (our zombie friend) and Julie (his human counterpart) begins as a very platonic friendship. He protects her from his goony buddies who'd like nothing better than to chew her face, and she protects him from her shotgun-happy daddy. If that doesn't sound like a typical teenage dating scenario...
Their relationship is not a sexual or lustful one. In fact, they don't even touch each other until halfway through the film, and that is just hand holding while running away from monsters. The relationship doesn't become romantic and politely physical until he becomes (spoiler) human again.
Secondly, on the subject of humanity, Warm Bodies (unlike Twistupid) does not put humanity down. No one wants to become a zombie; there is nothing sexy or mysterious about it. It's rotting, drool-y, gory, and smells bad. R wants to be human. He wants to connect on some level with the people around him, but his condition makes it impossible. Julie is not interested in sacrificing her soul to be like him, and never even hints at wanting to birth his undead demon babies (Bella, you stupid, stupid child). Humanity is seen as a desirable, wholesome state of being that is flawed, but honest and natural.
Thirdly, these characters are likable. R cannot speak, but his internal monologue is delightful. I kind of love him a lot. He thinks like a typical young adult, human male, and is never portrayed as a dark, suave, unrealistic hero. In fact, he's clumsy, awkward, and has severe hand-eye coordination problems. We like that he is earnest, considerate, and wants to do the right thing. Julie is brilliant. Unlike Bella (who can't function on any level no matter how remotely simple), Julie is a capable and funny young woman, and her value does not come from landing a man, dead or otherwise. Her value stems from her ability to better her society and protect the people she cares about it. When her human boyfriend patronizes her, she graciously corrects him, and she shows love and respect to her father without accepting his paranoia and bitterness.Together, these characters are playful, endearing, and genuinely interested in the welfare of others.
Fourthly, their love is not selfish. With Twilight, you have these two people who are so self-centered and self-absorbed I want to punch their stupid faces. They repeatedly put others in danger, and use people they claim to love without remorse. No cost is too high for their nauseating, obsessive co-dependency, and the whole blessed plot revolves around whether or not they will have (ahem) relations. R and Julie want to better themselves, and are concerned with the welfare of society as a whole...well, what remains of it. They realize that their relationship is good for everyone, and put the needs of the other person/zombie before their own. Never do they insist that the other person change who they are to keep the relationship afloat, and when R says he will protect Julie, he actually does it. Chivalry, apparently, is undead.
Finally, this film is a true love story. Let that not freak you out. As I mentioned, R becomes human because of Julie's friendship, and it is their love for each other that jump-starts many dead hearts. This isn't just romantic love; R and Julie love their family and friends. They never say "I love you" to each other (unlike Edward who has a verbal incontinence of cheeseball love metaphors and feigned martyrdom...idiot vampire). R and Julie's love is shown through their sacrifice and selfless respect. They are smart, conscientious people who don't love superficially, but love wholly.
So, yes. The snobby English major is telling you to see this zombie movie. It's freaking adorable, and one of the best portrayals of love that Hollywood has produced in years. Go see it now. That is all.
BRAINS
Fourthly, their love is not selfish. With Twilight, you have these two people who are so self-centered and self-absorbed I want to punch their stupid faces. They repeatedly put others in danger, and use people they claim to love without remorse. No cost is too high for their nauseating, obsessive co-dependency, and the whole blessed plot revolves around whether or not they will have (ahem) relations. R and Julie want to better themselves, and are concerned with the welfare of society as a whole...well, what remains of it. They realize that their relationship is good for everyone, and put the needs of the other person/zombie before their own. Never do they insist that the other person change who they are to keep the relationship afloat, and when R says he will protect Julie, he actually does it. Chivalry, apparently, is undead.
Finally, this film is a true love story. Let that not freak you out. As I mentioned, R becomes human because of Julie's friendship, and it is their love for each other that jump-starts many dead hearts. This isn't just romantic love; R and Julie love their family and friends. They never say "I love you" to each other (unlike Edward who has a verbal incontinence of cheeseball love metaphors and feigned martyrdom...idiot vampire). R and Julie's love is shown through their sacrifice and selfless respect. They are smart, conscientious people who don't love superficially, but love wholly.
So, yes. The snobby English major is telling you to see this zombie movie. It's freaking adorable, and one of the best portrayals of love that Hollywood has produced in years. Go see it now. That is all.
BRAINS
No comments:
Post a Comment