The Top 10 Scariest Movies I've Seen ~ by Heather Oster

Halloween is upon us and it seems like I should have something in my blog to do with the "holiday".  I don't really like to call Halloween a "holiday" because I don't like how gruesome its become over the years.  But, my boys and I do enjoy dressing up.  They aren't allowed to wear anything thats scary or bloody.  There is just something wrong with dressing your children up to look like a mutilated dead person.  I don't want to see them look like that, not in costume, not in life, not ever.  They understand and are happy to abide by the house rules. 

Another house rule is no scary movies.  As they grow older, I obviously will have less control on what they view, but given their current age, its not appropriate for us to watch those.  However, I have had several adult years to watch some eye covering movies that have left me shaking in my fuzzy socks and checking the doors more than once. 

As such, here is "The Top 10 Scariest Movies I've Seen". 

10.  The Blair Witch Project.  1999.  This movie is about 3 student filmmakers who hike into the Black Hills and set up camp near Burkittsville, Maryland (previously known as Blair).  They were there to film a documentary about a local legend known as the Blair Witch.  They vanished within a couple of days.  The only thing found, besides their campsite that was next to a cemetery, was their film footage, approximately 1 year later.  Most of the movie is shown through the "recovered footage" and was not embellished or added to.  Its complete terror, from beginning to end, of the heard and unseen. 

9.  Scream.  1996.  While this movie is on my 10 scariest movies list, I have to say that since I've watched it several times now, I really don't find it scary anymore.  However, the first time I watched it, I made a mental note to stay away from the Jiffy-Pop, lock the doors and refrain from answering the phone.  This movie is about a high school girl, Sydney, who is the target of a ghost-masked killer.  The killings, ironically, start around the anniversary of her mother's death.  Student, after principal, after girlfriend, after jock are stabbed and filleted as the psychopath gets closer and closer to Sydney.  Will Sydney survive her own horror story?  You tell me. 

8.  Pet Semetary.  1989.  This movie is one I've never forgotten, probably because I had never seen a movie where the villain was a toddler who could take down a grown man.  But, I guess that's a Stephen King thriller for you, right?  The story is about a doctor and his family who move from the big city to a quaint little farm-like setting.  Unfortunately, their home's front yard runs right next to a deadly highway which ultimately claims the life of their little boy.  In an effort to bring his boy back to "life", the good doctor buries his son in a secret Indian burial ground.  The magical burial ground was said to give "life" to those that were buried there - it just didn't specify what kind.  The results are not only horrifying, but deadly and I can promise, you'll never look at a cat the same way again. 

7.  The Thing.  1982.  I admit I didn't see this film until recently - like 4 months ago.  I hadn't even heard of it.  But, it caught my interest (as Kurt Russell usually does) and I watched in anticipation of who was "The Thing".  A film filled to the brim with deception, survival and out and out paranoia against an alien who can take the form of anything it kills.  Is your friend still your friend or is it "The Thing"?  Light a fire and see what happens if you have any doubts.  Odds are, you'll be next. 

6.  It.  1990.  Another Stephen King thriller.  While this wasn't made into a box office movie, it was made into a television mini-series, which is where I watched it.  I didn't think it would be that "scary" because it had been adapted to regular television.  I mean, you're talkin'  a 7:00 show on a Tuesday.  How bad can it be?  Ummm, yeah.  I am going to cheat here and give you the prologue, as written by "Wikipedia", because I think their description sets the tone to the movie just perfectly.

"In the opening scene, a little girl rides her bike down the street happily singing. Her mother tells her to come inside. Just as she is about to go inside, she hears a clown giggle. She turns and spots a clown standing in her backyard. The film then cuts to her mother looking for her, and then finding the girl (off camera) dead in the backyard. This prompts Mike Hanlon to call across the United States looking for his six friends, telling them that "It" has returned and their promise from years ago that if "It" ever comes back, they will fight it again. The film is then told in separate flashbacks among the seven friends."

Will I honk a clowns nose or smell his pretty flower?  Not likely . . . at least not before checking his dentures from a very safe distance.

5.  Jaws.  1975.  "You're gonna need a bigger boat."  The most quoted line from the entire movie made us all smile for a moment.  The movie as a whole made us look at water in a whole different light.  To this day, when I get in any water (outside of a swimming pool), this movie comes to mind and I can't help but get a little freaked out by what lurks in the deep, dark blue just under my feet.  I suppose I probably shouldn't have snuck out of my room, as a very small child, and watched part of this movie, hiding next to the couch.  I suppose I should've gone to bed, like I was told, as my parents enjoyed a late night movie.  But, I didn't and the memories of that man-killing shark will likely be with me no matter how big a boat we have.

4.  Poltergeist.  1982.  Another movie about being manipulated and terrified by things you cannot see.  Spirits bending silverware, speaking through the static on your t.v., furniture moving and alas your youngest child disappearing.  These are all things that would scare me right into another place to live.  If this movie wasn't frightening enough when it came out, maybe how many of the actual actors in it died in freakish accidents after its release?  Some say they were cursed.  Others say its just coincidence.  Either way, every time I hear the words, "They're here.", my mind rewinds to the night I put this VHS video in the VCR and pushed play.  So much for Casper the friendly ghost.

3.  Psycho.  1960.  Probably one of the best psychological thrillers ever.  I mean, it was directed by Alfred Hitchcock afterall and contains one of the most pivotal scenes in cinematic history - the shower scene.  This movie has it all, embezzlement, investigation, murder, personality disorders, grave robbing and the lot.  Two key points I took home, never go to dinner with strangers and take a shower in some desolate motel in the same night.  The Bates Motel will forever be in the minds of those who spend their days and nights traveling, even if they aren't $40,000.00 heavy.  My favorite line from the movie:  "Uh-uh, Mother-m-mother, uh, what is the phrase? She isn't quite herself today."  Well, thanks for clearing that up Norman.  You usually aren't when you're dead . . .

2.  The Shining.  1980.  All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.  All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.  All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.  All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.  All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.  All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.  All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.  All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.  All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.  If your husband was supposed to be working on a novel, while your family is being caretakers for a hotel, and this is what you found him typing, over and over and over again, would you run to the bathroom and lock yourself in?  I would, especially if I was stranded in the midst of a snow storm that took down all communication and travel.  What would be even worse is if your husband then came after you with an axe, chopped through the bathroom door and crooned in his madman state, "Heeeere's Johnny."  Not only do I love this movie for Jack Nicholson, its edge-of-your-seat thrills, twists and turns, but also because there's a little bit of Montana in it.  That's right, the opening panorama shots and scenes of the beetle going up the road to the hotel were filmed from a helicopter in Glacier National Park, Montana, on the Going To The Sun Road.

1.  The Exorcist.  1973.  This film is, unfortunately, based on a true story.  Because the actual victim's story lacks much detail, it is hard to say how closely this film follows his accounts.  In any event, I found this film absolutely horrifying - not because anything that happened was really scary (so to speak), but because its my belief that this CAN happen and DID happen to a young boy.  I have only watched this film one time and that one time was enough.  However, I had to put it on my list because, it is indeed, the most terrifying movie I've seen and reminds me of how blessed I am to be under God's protection as a follower of Christ.  If you want to see how destructive, deceiving and alarmingly paralyzing the presence of demons can be, this film is all yours.  Watch at your own risk.

I'm sure you noticed that none of my Top 10 were made within the last 10 years.  There's a good reason for that.  With all the computer capabilities, special effects and so on, the horror movies that come out today are just plain gruesome to me.  Blood and/or gore doesn't scare me.  What's scary is when you are psychologically affected by a story to the point you don't get in water, you dont' touch a t.v. screen or go into your closet, you're a little weary of caretakers and clowns and you wash your face with your eyes open.  My point is they didn't have special effects in the 1960 film, "Psycho" and they choose not to use them in the 1999 film, "The Blair Witch Project", both of which I found to be monumentally more frightening then, say, "Saw" or "Paranormal Activity".

So, if you want a good old fashioned scare this Halloween, watch any of my Top 10 movies.  I can guarantee you'll have a scream of a time.  Jiffy-Pop, anyone?

Superhero's Live Again ~ by Heather Oster

Are you ready for this?  It seems "Superhero's" still exist in today's society.  I'm not talking firemen or police officers, but real-life hero's who dress up in costume and fight crime. 

This week, I found a story that literally made me stop reading and laugh out loud.  It seems that in Seattle, there is a man who patrols the street, in full costume, toting pepper spray, keeping the general public safe.  Yep.  This is the real deal, folks.

Instead of telling you about this story myself, I am going to simply attach the link and let you read it for yourself.  Be sure to watch the video clip as well.

The only thing I am going to add to this story is, nearly every city has professionally trained and paid individuals who are sworn to protect the peace and serve their communities.  While I admire this individuals desire for the safety for his fellow man-kind, no costume is going to protect him from getting shot and he does not have any super-powers that are going make those bullets fly a different direction.  Just sayin'.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44891979?gt1=43001

Newsworthy? I don't think so. ~ by Heather Oster

I searched and searched and searched this week for something that was reported as "news" and really wasn't.  I was not coming up with anything.  It didn't help that I've been ill half the week and haven't been online to do any real searching.  But, the Internet seldom disappoints, and today, I found my story.

There is probably nothing more I can't stand than those who applaud themselves.  I mean, there is a huge difference between someone else honoring you for something well done and you honoring yourself for being yourself.  That is completely different - in my opinion anyway.  Its arrogant, assumptive and lacks class.

I read today, that in Thal, Austria, Arnold Schwarzenegger opened up his very own museum - featuring noneother than himself.  According to the article (I've pasted the link below), there is a huge bronze statue of him outside his childhood home.  Inside the home is a museum, complete with his first barbell, life sized mannequins of himself as "The Terminator", the bed he slept on as a child and his Governor's Desk, along with some family photos of better days. 

I know there are plenty of "icons" that have these kinds of things set up all around the world - but most are in memory of so and so, not in celebration of me and, oh yeah, me. 

The article states that Arnold just wants everyone to know their dreams can come true as long as they "stay hungry" and he hoped his life, as displayed in the museum, would be a model for young people.  Are you kidding me?  I can think of so many other people I'd rather have my sons look up to, that are far better than Mr. Universe.  I'm not knocking the guy for his mistakes.  God knows I've made my own and plenty of them.  However, I would rather my children learn these life lessons from the meek and humble.  Not the boastful and self-admiring. 

I completely understand he came from small beginnings and made his way to stardome.  I'm just not sure his self-made museum relays that message clearly enough, if at all.

To quote him:  "My personal success has less to do with millions of dollars or with the headlines in the media that are not always positive and also not with being clapped on the shoulder by Barack Obama and other world names," he said. "Personal success is the result of determination, hard work and stubbornness."

Well, if his success had less to do with his millions of dollars or being clapped on the shoulder by Barack Obama and other world names, then why mention it?  Does it matter then?  Why be specific?  Why not say, "I've been blessed in my personal success through God's grace and mercy and I am so very thankful for it all."? 

But that's me.

If he wanted to encourage young people to "be all they can be", which I personally think is a fantastic idea, I think there were several other available avenues he could have successfully used.  But, I guess that would have required him to terminate that universal size ego of his.

See Matthew 5:5.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44816119

Newsworthy?  I don't think so.

Newsworthy? I Don't Think So ~ by Heather Oster

Do you enjoy reading the news?  Do you appreciate knowing what is going on in our world at the click of your mouse?  I do.  I admit I don't read EVERYTHING.  Sometimes I just read the headlines; but, for the most part, I expect news to, in fact, be "newsworthy". 

Unfortunately, I was sorrily disappointed and completely dumbfounded early this week.  As such, I've decided to start including a post, every Friday, entitled, "Newsworthy?  I Don't Think So."

I don't know about you, but I can't believe the "stories" that qualify as "news".  To the credit of web news, and in my humble (of course) opinion, most of what they post is indeed helpful and/or informative.  However, more often then I'd like, I am confounded by what has been labeled "news".

For example, earlier this week, I read the headline (in the Editor's Pick section no less), "Holly Madison Insures Her Breasts."  Seriously?  This is news?  Why?  WHY do I need to know that? 

The simple answer is, I don't . . . and neither does anyone else.

I feel our world has become extremely diluted, uneducated and filthy to the point our judgment and overall integrity is impaired, both individually and as a society.  Pathetic, if you ask me.  I hate to speak of "50 years ago" (especially since I wasn't around), but can you imagine what sort of response, a "news story" like this, would have received in 1955?  Keep in mind it would have been published in a newspaper, not on the Internet.  I can't even begin to imagine the number of church meetings that would have ensued.  I'm serious!  This sort of an article would have been published in "Playboy", not an "Editors pick" on your homepage website 66 yrs later.

Disgusted yet?  Read on!

I did not open the aforementioned story.  I simply read the headline and thought to myself, "For crying out loud, who cares" and moved on.  However, I have to say, that for some reason, its been nagging my brain every since.  So, today, I went back and looked for it.  I did not find the original "Editor's Pick" story, but I did find a similar one that confirmed I read the title right.  Since I decided I was going to blog about this subject, I thought I should probably read the article first.  I opened it up.  I was stunned.

Do you know how many people insure their body/body parts?  For up to the millions of dollars?  Its ridiculous.  From legs, to breasts, to teeth, to hair - all, of course, done by multi-millionaires, who are either Hollywood stars (I use the term "star" loosely here) or athletes. 

The vanity.  The monetary recklessness.  The inevitable irony.

I have included the link below: 

http://tv.yahoo.com/news/holly-madison-other-stars-insured-body-parts-084002627.html

To this I simply answer:

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing..." ~ Proverbs 31:30. 

"In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return." ~ Genesis 3:19: 

I'm sorry people (with more money then sense) but no matter how much insurance you take out on your body, here's the unavoidable reality of human kind in a nut shell: 

You WILL age
Your boobs WILL fall
Your legs WILL get varicose veins
Your hair WILL turn gray and fall out

 . . . with or without insurance.

Newsworthy?  I don't think so.