I watched another “new” movie*, this time on my beloved travel dvd player whilst practicing using solid ink and an inkstone, more about that at another time, and I have both Thoughts and Opinions and Beliefs. Ok here they are:
- Wherefore are we always referring to The Creature as male, that is CLEARLY a woman.
- You have heard it said that “The Creature is horny” but I say unto you, she is simply A GIRL’S GIRL, she doesn’t want Kay to be hanging out with these DUDES who came into HER LAGOON and started SHOOTING AND POISONING HER. AND SHE’S RIGHT!
- Creature from the Black Lagoon ran (I won’t say walked) so that Jurassic Park could also run.
- The film hinges on digging up a significant fossil;
- Kay and David are a pair of niche scientists roped in to investigating a discovery that they do not fully understand;
- Mark is the funder and thinks spending lots of money means he’s doing good/deserves respect;
- A lot of discussions about how much do we REALLY know about the natural world and how much we should be in awe of it; and,
- Great creature design.
- In a film prominently featuring extractive colonialism they expect me to cheer for THE COLONIZERS???? Be so for real right now.
- “Who’s to say if this ancient and unknowable creature is sentient, I’ve got an idea, let’s put her in a cage” HUH???????
- Why are we calling her a monster YOU’RE BREAKING INTO HER HOUSE
If you look up commentary** on this film, you’ll find a LOT of chatter about the underwater shots and I gotta be honest here, even if you read all that and say to yourself “I guess the underwater stuff must be really impressive” you are simply Not Prepared for the beauty and the open-mouthed astonished “omg how on earth did they film this” of the underwater portions. James Cameron eat your heart out.
There were two people playing The Creature, one on land and one underwater, and have you ever seen a loon diving and also seen a loon trying to schlep its body up onto shore? Wait I have a quote from Kurt Vonnegut that illustrates my point:
I have been a writer since 1949. I am self-taught. I have no theories about writing that might help others. When I write, I simply become what I seemingly must become. I am six feet two and weigh nearly two hundred pounds and am badly coordinated, except when I swim. All that borrowed meat does the writing.
In the water I am beautiful.
The Creature is so so so so beautiful in the water. On the boat? Gurl get back in the lagoon. Actually, do whatever you want, you don’t owe anyone beauty!
All this to say: justice for The Creature, she has never done anything wrong once in her life ever.
*I don’t know where you watch this online but I DO know your local library probably has a dvd copy, I luv u physical media.
**read: letterboxd reviews
ggllyynniiss 
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