BuzzSugar

The Invasion: Still a Good Story, Boringly Updated

BuzzSugar — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 15:28:35 PDT

I recently had a conversation with friends about why the sci-fi thriller The Invasion of the Body Snatchers keeps getting remade (after the original 1956 movie, there was a remake in 1978 starring Donald Sutherland followed by a 1993 remake with Forest Whitaker). Someone pointed out that the movie continues to be relevant, that the themes within it can be interpreted and applied to current social or political happenings at any given time. With The Invasion, however, it seems there was no firm decision made about whether it should be a political commentary or a suspenseful horror film. So, it ends up trying weakly for both and accomplishing neither.

The basic plot is this: A space shuttle crashes on Earth covered in creepy microorganisms which, when touched by humans, cover said humans with a gooey, sticky film in their sleep. Upon waking, the humans are transformed into emotionless shells of their former selves, unaffected by sorrow or love. Psychiatrist Carol Bennell (Nicole Kidman), her friend Ben (Daniel Craig) and her young son Oliver (Jackson Bond) are among the few residents of Washington, D.C. who very rapidly figure out the whole deal and struggle to not get infected with the zombie disease (which disgustingly can be passed when one zombie projectile vomits on a non-zombie and then it's just a matter of falling asleep, perchance to congeal). More about this story and my take on it if you

read more In this version of the body snatchers story, it becomes apparent that Oliver is immune and can never become "one of them." So, rather than being simply a choice of whether or not to fall asleep and become a droid, it becomes imperative that Carol stay awake because her son would be killed by the zombies (who "have no need" for an immune kid) if she were not around to protect him. Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig commit fully to this movie, a stoic and noble move on both their parts seeing as it seems to be a waste of their supreme talents. If it were not for these two, this film might have quickly slid into the realm of campy horror flicks perhaps enjoyed by a cult following. As it is, though, it's just a middle-of-the-road movie - not too scary, not touching, but not utterly boring, either. With nods to the previous incarnations of Invasion of the Body Snatchers left and right (people in the middle of the road screaming crazily at cars rushing past them, the repeated phrase "My husband is not my husband; my son is not my son"), the original idea behind the work lurks somewhere inside The Invasion. Yet this version tries to modernize the story as well, heavily featuring text messaging between mother and son, for example. Also, Carol's apparent knowledge of how to Google things results in her extremely swift and total understanding of how this new "disease" works. Yet a disappointing new tweaking to this version is a removal of the bleak and chilling overtones. The ending is so neat and tidy it's like nothing happened at all during the previous ninety minutes. Thus, I found myself wondering why I'd spent those minutes with this movie. Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

Movie Preview: The Invasion

BuzzSugar — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 06:30:00 PDT

You may recall several months ago that there was news of Nicole Kidman getting into a minor accident on the set of a movie. Well, The Invasion is that movie, and the full, creepy trailer was just released. Also starring Daniel Craig (who, along with Kidman, has an American accent in the film), The Invasion is about a strange, zombie-like, extraterrestrial infection sweeping all of humanity, and a Washington DC psychiatrist (Kidman) realizes her son might be the only hope they have to find a cure. Opening August 17, we have some time to recover from the trailer, which is pretty darn chilling, so

Love-Filled Quotes From Sci-Fi Romantics

Kelly Schwarze — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:54:16 PST

Ah, love. Whether it's found on board an intergalactic spaceship, while running from a zombie invasion, or amid a battle of good vs. evil, love can be discovered in any science-fiction scenario. We've pulled together a sampling of our favorite sci-fi character quotes on L-O-V-E in time for Valentine's Day.

Now, this list is in no way exhaustive: we want to hear what your favorite lines about love are, whether it's from one character to the object of their affection or an observation of this sweetest of feelings. Just anything about the emotion that humans and aliens alike search the galaxies for.

Shop It Out: Covetable Shoes From The Hunger Games

Lucky — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:33:48 PST

Lucky magazine is one of our favorite sources for great shopping tips. We're thrilled to share this fabulous story on The Hunger Games costumes from our friends at Lucky!

When I first read The Hunger Games trilogy, I preferred to compare myself to story's brave heroine, Katniss Everdeen. But as much as I admire the resourceful tribute of District 12, I have way more in common with the image obsessed Capitol citizens. Let's be honest here: if similar events happened in New York City, you bet I'd be watching it go down on E! and loving every second of it.

It seems that the Panem masses and I also share another passion-a love of amazing shoes. Capital Couture, a fashion and gossip forum for the residents of the fictitious city, has a section dedicated to the footwear of well-heeled locals.

Although none of the shots provide shopping credits, I couldn't resist searching for these dreamy shoes in the real world. Some of the exact pieces are available online now and the ones that aren't have similar options available. Click through the slideshow below to get the looks for yourself.
Hot pink is an apt choice for attracting attention in the trend-obsessed Capital or, you know, next month's Fashion Week.

B Brian Atwood sandals, $325, shopbop.com

Click over to Lucky to see and shop the full story.

For more fashion and style from Lucky, here are more Lucky stories.

How to Fight Your Financial Demons

LearnVest — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:15:23 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

We all have our demons.

Some just lurk under the bed, but others bare their teeth as we go about our day - say, every time we pull out our wallet.

Financial demons are particularly vicious because their effects aren’t confined to the pages of our journal or emails to our best friend. Our finances permeate just about every aspect of our lives, from where we live to the job and lifestyle we choose.

And for that reason, our financial demons can be particularly invasive - and toxic.

But the good news is that demons can definitely be vanquished (or subdued, at the very least). As with anything, they can be worn down with the right tools and the right mind-set. Fortunately, we have both.

First, identify your demon . . . or demons. Then we’ll show you exactly how to send them packing.

If You Have Shopping Demons . . .

The Tools: As you know, “just stop shopping” isn’t helpful advice. Instead, look at your habit from the other end: Your closet. Your makeup bag. Or your gadget collection, depending on the spending that’s most problematic for you. Use our process from Priceless Style Boot Camp to evaluate your 10 most recent purchases. If lots of your recent buys are rated “not worth it,” it’s time to reevaluate your spending patterns. The first step is to avoid letting one bad spending choice drag you into a downward spiral. If you suspect you’re currently in such a phase, you can use this tool to spiral back up. If your purchases are all rated “worth it,” but you know you’re shopping too much, take a close look at your last month of spending and ask yourself whether you’re truly happy with everything you bought, or if that same amount of money could have been applied to a different financial goal, whether it's bulking up your emergency fund or beginning to invest.

Read on for more.

Critics' Choice Awards Trendspotting: Pastel Pop

Marisa Tom — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:56:12 PST

While the People's Choice Awards may have been privy to the technicolor invasion, we were flush with bright pastels at tonight's Critics' Choice Awards. Hollywood's leading ladies opted for candy-colored hues, which made for a playfully fun and whimsical red-carpet rundown. Elizabeth Olsen radiated in a sunshine-yellow beaded Pucci minidress and nude peep-toes; Diane Kruger flawlessly executed a bright mixture of grays and canary yellows in a floor-length Prada creation and added a hot-pink clutch as the cherry on top; and Jessica Chastain went soft and pretty with a cotton-candy-pink Balenciaga gown. These bright pastels allow for streamlined accessories, fresh-faced makeup, and, of course, killer shoes; and because of its styling simplicity, we think this is just the beginning of this Spring-inspired color scheme's appeal. Click through to see how other celebs wore candy-colored hues at the Critics' Choice Awards now!

What Might Change For Cosmetic Surgery in 2012

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:07:38 PST

Dr. Anthony Youn is one of the US's top-ranked cosmetic surgeons, and you've probably watched him on Rachael Ray or seen his memoir, In Stitches. But besides being one of the coolest doctors around, he's also an inexhaustible fount of knowledge on all things cosmetic and surgical. Here, Dr. Youn shares some big changes in the world of cosmetic surgery we might just see in 2012. Check out the interview after the jump.

It Came From Outer Space: Favorite Alien Movies of All Time

Michele Foley — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:03:15 PDT

The aliens have landed! Well, at least at the box office: Battle: Los Angeles, Paul, and Mars Needs Moms are all currently showing in theaters, proving that our fascination with the otherworldly is still going strong. While these three movies probably won't go down in the books as classics, there are plenty of movies about aliens that are spectacular - both in their genre and in film as a whole. Take, for instance, Ridley Scott's Alien. Totally creepy with incredible pacing and beautifully shot, this frightening sci-fi masterpiece still scares the bejeezus out of me. Thirty-two years later, it also stands the test of time. Keep on reading to see what other films made it onto my list.

What to Rent: New DVDs This Week

BuzzSugar — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:05:00 PDT

Captain America: The First Avenger

Chris Evans stars as Steve Rogers, a weakling who participates in a government experiment that transforms him into super soldier Captain America. Armed with his newfound powers, he fights on behalf of the US Army to stop German forces - all while finding the time to romance soldier Peggy Carter (Haley Atwell). The film has all the perks of a superhero movie, like intense fight and chase scenes, plus a relatable story about an underdog that's touching without being sappy. DVD extras include deleted scenes and featurettes, including a behind-the-scenes look at Chris Evans's transformation into a superhero.

78%

Father of Invention

After serving a prison sentence for selling an exercise product that caused bodily harm, inventor and infomercial personality Robert Axle (Kevin Spacey) finds his once foolproof pitches are out of step with the latest technology. He struggles to rebuild his fortune hawking his latest product, all while trying to reconnect with his ex-wife Lorraine (Virginia Madsen) and daughter Claire (Camilla Belle). While Spacey gives a good performance, the movie misses a lot of comedic opportunities. The DVD includes a behind-the-scenes featurette about the making of the film.

See one more DVD release when you keep reading

Link Time: Life in a Caboose, Fall DIYs, and Home Safety Tips in Case of Zombie Invasions

CasaSugar — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:00:46 PDT

Make this Fall felt leaves garland. - Stylelist Home
Create book shelves . . . out of books! - Real Simple
Would you live in a caboose? - Hooked on Houses
Protect your home in a zombie invasion. - This Old House
10 needed elements for a perfectly sized home. - Houzz
Book a landscape tour of Philip Johnson's Glass House - Garden Design