Ghoul-Aid Jammers and Slushy

As I mentioned in the Halloween Lunchables post, Kool-Aid Ghoul-Aid is not only back, it's returned in the form of a Jammer!  It's huge news for the season and, in my opinion, only falls behind the resurrection of Monster Cereals.  It's a great move for Kool-Aid and, from what I've read, fans of both the drink and Halloween are loving it.  Can you blame them?  Outside of Hi-C Ecto-Cooler, this is arguably the greatest Halloween drink of all-time!

I was finally able to find a box of Ghoul-Aid Jammers and everything about the package design is absolutely perfect for Halloween!  As I've said in the past, I believe there are only 4, true, Halloween colors - black, orange, purple, and green.  Occasionally, yellow works, too.  In this case, all 5 are used to create and amazing presentation!!  My love for graphic design probably makes me more subjective than I should be, but I think we can all agree that this is a piece of art.

Outside of September and October, I'm not a major Kool-Aid fan.  I never have been.  I get why so many people are, but I was too lazy to make my own drink as a kid.  I'd much rather have a can or bottle that I can just crack open and drink.  So, to be honest, this is the first time I've ever owned a box of Kool-Aid Jammers.  That's why I was so happy to see that these came in a box similar to that of Coke and Pepsi.  I can just pull the tab down and throw them in the fridge for later enjoyment.  It takes less time and makes everything easier.  That's always a plus in my book.

Just like the box, the foiled drinks are designed to look just as good in their Halloween costumes.  On the inside, we have "Scary Blackberry" just waiting to be sipped from it's temporary coffin.  If you've never tasted the flavor, then you truly owe it to yourself to purchase these beauties and make it happen.  If there was ever a year to support Kool-Aid and welcome Ghoul-Aid into our lives, this is it.  We need to prove to the powers-that-be that we're all in on seasonal products so that they'll continue to go above and beyond, just as Kool-Aid did with these Jammers.

You probably can't tell from the photo above, but this Jammer is actually frozen.  Why would I freeze Ghoul-Aid?  Well, it actually wasn't my idea.  As we were walking around Target, my Girlfriend said that we should toss one of the Jammers into the freezer to make a slushy.  Once frozen, we mash it up, then remove the foil.  Sounds like a plan, but would it work?

Oh. Hell. Yeah!  This was awesome and the only downside to it is that I didn't come up with the idea myself.  But because it's so good and worked out so well, I'm happy to give her the credit.  It took a while to freeze, and then defrost a little bit, before it could be mashed, but it was worth the time and effort.  Plus, it gives me yet another reason to post a picture of the Golden Boned Goblet.  

Before I end a fairly quick post, here's an image from the back of the box.  There are 10 differences between the two.  If you want to have some fun, take the time to find them.  It's pretty easy.

Finally, here's another game to hold you over and make a relatively boring post a bit better.  It's a "Wordfind," also known as a cross-word puzzle.  The words to find are on the right.  Best of luck.  

If you haven't found Ghoul-Aid Jammers yet, keep an eye open for them and be sure to make your own slushy if you have the time!

2013 Monster Cereal Retro Boxes

Finally, Halloween 2013's number one attraction has been found.  Since the official announcement by General Mills, I've been looking everywhere for the new Monster Cereal boxes.  As you've read, Yummy Mummy was found fairly early.  Frute Brute evaded me for a bit longer, but nothing aggravated me more than Target and their lack of Halloween supply.  Seriously, it's sad how angry I got when I walked into Target and saw those giant pencils still hanging from their ceiling.  They mockingly pointed me in the right direction, only to disappoint me with aisles of folders, notebooks, and way too many images of Justin Bieber.

But, on Friday the 13th, we ventured out to a Target in Linden, NJ because they seemed to have their stuff much more together than Jersey City.  Oh and did they ever.  Halloween galore!!  But nothing more important than the main event!

My girlfriend ran toward the boxes.  I walked rapidly in an attempt to look cool and act like it's no big deal.  It's just cereal, right?  Yeah, okay.. in my mind, I was squealing like the little girls who bought those Justin Bieber folders.  I guess these Monster Cereal characters are to me what he is to 13-year-old teenagers.  Not sure what that says about me, but I'll own it.  I was excited and couldn't hide it.  We even took pictures in front of the boxes.  Even I won't post those embarrassments, but I will say that I was caught posing with Frute Brute and Count Chocula by a man who couldn't have turned the corner any faster.  No shame.

The head honcho.  The leader of the pack.  The most legendary and well-known Monster Cereal character of 'em all - Count Chocula!  I love this box, and all the boxes, for the fact that they're so simple.  No shadows, no shading, just classic 2-D illustration and color.  I'm also very happy that they didn't slap on any "Limited Edition 2013 Box" tag on the front.  Other than the cereal bowl  and some text, this is as close to the original as we're going to get.  I just feel bad for anybody who ever spent more than $50 on an actual retro box.  Ouch, that's gotta hurt when I picked this up for $2.50.  My only complaint is that the Count was a bit bent in the lower right corner.  Unfortunately, they were all like that.

Frankenberry has always been my favorite character.  I love everything about him, but his retro version is the best incarnation of the monster.  I've seen plenty of classic images, but the color in photos pales in comparison to the color in person.  As soon as we saw them on the shelf, this guy stood out to me most.  He's a hot pink color with strawberry nails!  How can you not appreciate this guy?  In terms of flavor, he's held my top spot for years, but Frute Brute and Yummy Mummy have been giving him a run for his money.  I'll admit, it's hard to be objective when they're so fresh and new with all this hype around them, but their flavor is just as good, if not better, than my favorite monster cereal.

Boo Berry gets a bum wrap.  He was even put on the bottom shelf for nobody to see or care about.  Honestly, that's how I feel about Boo Berry at times.  He's my least favorite character and his flavor is usually the last one I go to.  But I really don't know why because, when I do pour myself some Boo, it's delicious and I ask myself why I don't have more.  Maybe it's part of the mysteriousness that comes along with being a ghost.  He's hard to find, isn't given a second thought, but strikes hard and fast when it's time to be noticed.  We'll go with that so we don't hurt his feelings, but at least he has an awesome box.  I love how the blue color pops off the box and it's 100x better than the modern General Mills version.

He's baaaaccckkk!  I have to thank General Mills for this box because, not only is it classic, but it's a quadrillion times better than the modern box.  If not for this retro return, I would have complained throughout my entire Frute Brute review because, really, he looks nothing like this on the 2013 box.  This is the way he's supposed to look!  Here, he actually looks like a wolf who's more into eating cereal than slicking his hair back for all the chicks at Arnold's (Happy Days, anyone?)

Yes! Fruity Yummy Mummy back in a retro box!!  This is awesome for so many reasons.  As I've mentioned in the past, I've always wanted to own the original monster cereal boxes, but they're way too expensive on Ebay.  The big three are reasonable for their age, but Yummy Mummy is the one I've wanted most and there was no way to justify spending over $100 on a cardboard box.  I would have had to get lucky or hope for a re-release.  Who woulda thought I'd get my wish and General Mills would re-release this unbelievable box?  Now, I finally have it and for only $2.50!  That's a steal, in my opinion, and it's only one reason why I'm happy to see this box back on shelves.  The other is the design itself.  I love everything about Yummy Mummy and this exact image is one that I modified for The Holidaze Halloween banner in 2012.  It's very cool to see him rise from the dead to make thousands of children and adults happy.  Some happier over cereal than they should be. *Raises hand*

This was the biggest story of Halloween and I'm extremely glad to see it executed by General Mills.  They truly did an amazing job on these boxes and marketed everything perfectly.  As a fan of the season and these cereal characters, I couldn't be happier with the results.

Of course, the thrill is in the hunt and that's over, so now I need to find something else to do with my free time.  I highly doubt that this will be the last time you see the Monster Cereals, because I have a few ideas in mind as we progress toward Halloween, but scouring store after store is done.  I'm just relieved that I actually found them.  There was so much hype attached to these cereals that I expected Ebayers to wipe Target out and sell them two-years from now.  That still may be the case, so make sure you get your boxes when you see them!!  We don't know if Yummy Mummy and Frute Brute will be back next year and, personally, I highly doubt the retro boxes will be released again, so let's enjoy this while it lasts!

Jones Soda - 2013 Halloween Flavors

The rumors are true - Jones Soda Co. have brought back their Halloween flavored sodas!

Even though Jones Soda has released different varieties of Halloween soda throughout the years, I've actually never tried any of them.  Before I started The Holidaze, I overlooked treasures like this because I didn't fully embrace the season.  When I first read about these on X-Entertainment in 2006, I was in my 2nd year of College and didn't have the time or patience to keep up with every new release.  Halloween hardly lasted a night, let alone a full two months! Looking back, I wish I did it differently, because I know how happy these things would have made me.  I even picked the cans up, looked at them, and put them back down.  While the review was enough for me back then, I've since changed my mindset to go out of my way and experience things first-hand to share them here for whoever wants to read.  It fully enhances, expands, and extends the season.  So when I read that Jones Soda was bringing their Halloween sodas back, I knew it would be high on my list of spooky priorities.  Luckily, my not-so-local Target is finally stocked for the season!

The can designs are amazing!!  I've talked about Halloween soda before, mentioned what I'd like to see and how I'd do things differently, but thankfully, Jones and I think very much alike!  First, we have a "Red Licorice" flavor featuring Frankenstein.  I absolutely love the way he's designed.  The red and green contrast should remind you of Christmas, but they used so much distress, and so many grungy brush strokes, that these cans could never be confused for anything other than Halloween.  They're works of art and I'm so happy they're back with new designs!

We had fun guessing what color the liquid would be before we popped the can open.  This one was obviously going to be red, but it's a beautiful red.  It's the type of color you'd expect from any red-dyed Halloween drink.  You want to pretend and imagine that you're drinking blood.  Act as if you're in "The Lost Boys" and are about to join the vampires by drinking bubbling blood from the Golden Boned Goblet.  That's what makes these flavors so special.  I love Cranberry Sierra Mist, which is almost the same color, but it doesn't pour from the head of Frankenstein and that makes a huge difference!

You have to use your imagination and associate these sodas with the season because the flavors are odd and, chances are, you won't like them all.  In this case, Red Licorice is a bust.  It tastes more like Robitussin than candy, but has enough sugar to know the difference.  It's not horrible, none of these flavors are, but it's not something you'd drink regularly.  But that's okay!  I wasn't expecting deliciousness, I was expecting a conversation starter and a Halloween boost.  If nothing else, that's what this can gave me.

Here we have the "Candy Corn" flavor featuring a werewolf.  It's gorgeous.  This werewolf looks a bit more deranged than your usual wolf man.  One eye is bigger than the other, his hair is very unkempt, and we're not sure if he's smiling, snarling, or ready to attack.  That's what Jone Soda can do to a man.  Actually, this might have been how I looked when I finally found Halloween aisles at Target.  The only person moving faster toward the products than me was my girlfriend.  It's kinda sad how excited we get over spending money on soda and cereal!

Before you look at the next picture, guess what color the soda is going to be based on the flavor name and can color.

Ahhhh that's just awesome!  Not only is it orange, but it's a bright, almost neon orange!  Seriously, the picture doesn't do this justice.  As soon as it settled in the cup, it was as if the liquid was actually glowing.  Between the visual and the aroma, this was guaranteed to be a hit.

As soon as we tasted it, my girlfriend and I both agreed that the Candy Corn flavor is actually that of Creme Soda with more sugar.  If you swish it around in your mouth a little bit, you can tell there's a candy corn flavor, but it's not very distinct and I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.  This is very good as it is and probably one of two that you'd actually drink on a consistent basis.

I've changed the order in which we actually tried these for a better (I hope) post, but "Caramel Apple" is actually what we tried first.  We were both very excited for this one because it sounded like a tasty flavor.  On top of that, just look at this can character.  What is he?  He looks like he's melting.  He's literally falling apart in front of our very eyes and we have no idea why.  His eye has escaped his socket and, from the looks of things, his left eye isn't too far behind.  Is he a zombie?  If he is, he'll be a skeleton before he knows it.  My only hope was that the flavor didn't do this to him.  Perhaps it was a cruel joke by Jones.  Time to guess the color and see for ourselves!

 

I was hoping for a green color.  I would have killed for a neon green color to match whatever juice is leaking out from Melt-Man's pores, but we get a dark brown color.  When it settles, it looks more maroon, but regardless it smells like Fall.

The flavor is unique.  You can tell there's a hint of caramel and apples, but it's also bitter enough to taste like Fall.  Again, it's not something I'd drink on a regular basis, but it's far from bad.  If I was having a Halloween party or camping out on a dark night, this would be the drink I'd offer friends.  They may turn it down for a Pepsi, but to truly embrace the Fall season, this is the type of drink you'd want to have.  It's not the best tasting Jones Soda , but it finds the perfect medium between Halloween and flavor.  In moderation, I like it!

In real-life and in this post, "Blood Orange" was saved for last because I had a feeling this was going to be the best flavor.  But before we get into that, we gotta give major props to Jones for another amazing can.  I love Dracula, but any Dracula colored anything other than white gets bonus points in my book.  In this case, we have a purple Dracula, with yellow eyes, and blood stains on his teeth and lips.  Plus, this is the only can that displays an actual pun associated with the can character. "Blood" Orange, get it?  I remember when Jones Soda used to do that with all their Halloween flavors, but I think they've realized they don't need to.  Just the fact that they're designed for the season with flavors associated with it is enough for us all.

I was hoping for a purple color, expected orange, but received something in the middle.  This is such an awesome color and confirms that whatever dye Jones Soda uses is better than anything I've ever seen before.  It's probably horrible for us, but so is everything else we eat and drink on Halloween.  I'll take my chances to drink a pinkish-red colored, Blood Orange flavored, Dracula canned, Halloween soda in the middle of September.  Sounds good to me!

As I assumed, this is the best Jones Soda of them all.  Imagine orange soda with a hint of something else to provide an extra punch of flavor.  I guess that's the "blood."  I've never actually had a blood orange before, but if it tastes anything like this drink then I have a new favorite fruit.  This is delicious and, along with "Candy Corn," this is something that I'd drink at any time.  If you're going to pick up any 4-pack of Jones Soda Halloween mini-cans, this is the one I recommend, most.

Finding these cans were a pleasant surprise.  As soon as I heard the rumor, I knew this would be my opportunity to finally try them.  After missing out on them so many years prior to now, I'm happy to have finally redeemed myself and picked these up.  In my opinion, these are the best can designs I've seen released by Jones and, if there was ever a year to join in on the fun, this is the one.  If we've learned nothing else this season, it's that this may very well be the greatest Halloween of all-time.  Of course, it's up to us to create memories and moments outside of trying candy, food, drinks, and cereal, but these companies are surely giving us enough gasoline to fuel our energy.

Frute Brute is Back!

As I noted in the Fruity Yummy Mummy review, the legendary Monster Cereals have made their return to store shelves.  On that day, I luckily found Yummy Mummy just as Walgreens received their shipment, but Frute Brute was nowhere to be found and, since, all 5 monsters have alluded me.  I thought that marked the beginning of their return, but it was just a tease.  For as happy as I was to find Yummy Mummy, especially in such an awesome way, I was bummed by going another two-weeks before anything else appeared.  Now, finally, for the first time ever, Frute Brute is mine!

Much like Yummy Mummy, Frute Brute's flavor has been changed since the original last lived.  Also, like Michael Jordan returning with a new number after retirement, Frute Brute has had a name-change.  Once known as "Fruit Brute," the iconic werewolf has returned from what we thought was his extinction and is now cherry flavored.  Because the cereal was discontinued in 1984, three years before I was born, I can't tell you what the original flavor tasted like.  Similar to Fruity Yummy Mummy, the original was an overall fruit flavored cereal and, from what I read, it was extremely popular.  My love for these characters didn't come from their flavors, it was due to their appearance.  I absolutely loved the artistic style and personality applied to these guys and while Frute Brute doesn't look anything like his original incarnation, his reputation precedes him enough for me to overlook his appearance.  I'm willing to overlook the fact that he looks like wolverine.. and Elvis.. and Fonzi.. and John Travolta.  I'm also willing to overlook his snout, especially with the retro boxes on the horizon.

As soon as I opened the box, I was surprised by the smell.  The cherry flavor flies right out of the bag and tingles your neurons.  Yummy Mummy had a healthy scent, as if you were really sniffing oranges, but Frute Brute is sweet, sugary, and seductive.  Yes, I just compared a breakfast cereal to seduction.  That's how good this is.

As for the flavor, I liked this a lot more than Fruity Yummy Mummy.  See, Yummy Mummy is cool because it tastes unlike anything else I've ever had.  The orange flavor is so distinct that you know it's new, different, and unique.  Although Frute Brute isn't anything out of the ordinary, it still manages to separate itself from cereals like Trix and Froot Loops.  It definitely reigns in a league of its own and I thought it was delicious.  Between the two of them, it really comes down to what you're in the mood for on that day and time.  This is why I'm happy they changed the flavors from the original to their new varieties.  Instead of buying two boxes for exactly the same results, we now have two new tastes to dance on our buds as we progress through the Halloween season.  Can't ask for much more from General Mills.

For the first time ever, the legends are together!  I might have mentioned it before, but these two have never been available at the same time.  Years ago, Yummy Mummy screwed over and replaced Frute Brute to make them bitter rivals.  But now, like Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart, the hatchet has been buried and they've made amends to join forces, reunite with their Monster Cereal brethren, and make this Halloween one of, if not the, greatest of all-time!

But, the question remains, what would cereal taste like if we truly did "unite" Frute Brute and Yummy Mummy?  Only one way to find out..

Combining all 5 Monster Cereals has already been dubbed "The Monster Mash," but I don't think I'd like that.  Between the chocolate and four fruit flavors, it just sounds like a waste of highly sought after cereal.  But, bringing Frute Brute and Yummy Mummy together to somewhat recreate what these two might have tasted like in the 80s sounds like a great idea.  However, it needs a name.  Yummy Brute? Fruity Mummy? Classic Crunch? I don't know, I used up all my creativity on the Hi-C Horror Boxes (cheap plug.)  But I can at least tell you what if it's any good!

It's difficult to tell the difference between the two cereals because they both share the same red "ghosts."  But Frute Brute has more of a yellow ghost while Yummy Mummy has orange.  Even though you may not be able to tell them apart visually, you will definitely be able to taste it.  Throwing them both into a bowl was a wonderful idea because, now, I've created more of a "fruit" flavored cereal.  As you're chewing, your tongue goes from orange to cherry and back again all in seconds.  If there was ever an "orange cherry" cereal, this is it.  I doubt this is what the original tasted like, but it may be as close as I'll ever get.  It's worth doing yourself if you buy enough boxes to waste a bowl.  By waste, I mean love.

Next up, the Retro Boxes.  When?  I have no idea.  If Target has given me any indication, probably by Christmas.

Friday The 13th!

Today is not the day to be camping.

Today is not the day to be a camp counselor.

Today is not the day to be in the woods, all alone, swimming, or drinking.

No, on this day, every horror rule you've ever learned is to be followed without sin because, today, Jason lives!

Happy Friday the 13th!!

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't celebrate this day.  It's not that I'm superstitious, but this is usually just like any other day with the inclusion of "Friday the 13th" films and popcorn.  But, this year, we're talking about a special occasion because Friday the 13th is so close to October and certainly a major part of the Halloween season.  We're in the thick of our countdown here on The Holidaze and it's only right that I wish you a very happy Friday the 13th.  For me, today feels just as much like Halloween as the 31st does next month.  There's an aura to this year's Friday the 13th and I'm embracing it.  I already stayed up watching classic Jason flicks much later than I probably should have.  One of the films I watched was Part VIII when "Jason Takes Manhattan."  As I soaked it all in, it gave me an idea for a bonus post on this eerie day.

 

When it comes to story, gore, and dialogue, this is probably my least favorite film from the franchise.  But, there's a reason why I watched it over and over again as a child and that's for the simple fact that Jason Voorhees ends up in New York City on Times Square.  For that one moment, nothing else in the movie matters.  Being that I live 20 minutes away from NYC (with traffic,) I used to be scared out of my mind knowing that Jason was only a train ride away.  I used to think, it's okay, Jason is tucked away at Camp Crystal Lake and has no interest in coming to find me in Jersey City.  Then, the next thing you know, he's rising from the subway station, standing in the middle of the city, and knocking over boom-boxes like he owns the place.  Even worse, nobody seems to care or even want to stop him.  As an adult, it's a thrilling thought, but when you're 7-years-old, it's absolutely terrifying.

The film was released in 1989 when I was only 2-years-old.  It's a part of the franchise that I've looked back on often for the nostalgia attached to the imagery.  Forget about the stupid ship and water scenes because I couldn't care less about that filler.  I'm talking about the moment Jason enters my territory and classic visuals were captured.  To celebrate this Friday the 13th, I wanted to take a closer look at this moment and focus in on Jason and the tiny details that surround the killer, himself.

One of my favorite scenes in the film is when Jason looks up at a billboard advertisement for hockey and essentially sees himself.  He turns at the camera and, while unable to express any emotion, we can read him like a book.  There's an underlying sarcasm here and Jason himself is saying, "really?"  Being such a ruthless killer, I think he may be breaking the 4th wall to ask the writers and director, but it's also a nod to the type of popularity Jason had reached by this point in the 80s.  There's a lot to be said about this one scene.

What really stands out to me is the "Eastern Hockey League" logo.  As a graphic designer and fan of logos, I immediately noticed that this was a modified version of the New York Rangers' logo.  I never took the time to pay attention before, I only looked at the mask, but that's why I wanted to write this post.  I wanted to look at the "NY" specifics.  I don't know why they couldn't use the Rangers logo but, for whatever reason, they went with this made-up incarnation.

Having some fun, myself, I wanted to make a clearer version of the logo Jason may have seen when he looked up at the copyright and gimmick infringement being presented to him in New York.  I did a quick Google search to see if one like this existed, but no results popped up.  Maybe this is the first?  It's nothing special and I finished it in a matter of minutes, but it would make an awesome t-shirt for the truly hardcore horror fans.  I fall into the category of "casual fan," but I'd love to know how many people would recognize this without reading this post, first.  I bet I'd be impressed by many of you reading.

As Jason chases Rennie and Sean on the moving train car, we see plenty of graffiti spread throughout.  While the interior shots weren't shot on an actual NYC subway car, the decor is a true sign of the times.  Come to NY now and you'll find relatively clean trains with little to no graffiti, depending on where you're going.  But even I know how different NY was back in the 80s.  I remember drug dealers calling out to my Dad as he took me to Madison Square Garden for WWF Fan Fest in 1994.  It was nothing compared to what it is now.  It was a scary place where only the strong and strong-willed survived.  That's why it was the perfect place for Jason to invade.  Even the toughest SOB's were in trouble with Mr. Voorhees on the loose.

I looked everywhere for a copy of the advertisement to the right.  They drew glasses, blush, and lipstick on somebody asking for blood, but the most noteworthy defamation of property is what's written below.  I would have never noticed without a screen cap, but it clearly says "Jason Lives" on the bottom.

It's a bit blurry, but you can make it out enough to read.  I love things like that, especially in horror movies.  For as great as some of our modern day horror films are, especially Insidious and The Conjuring, there's nothing like the classic 80s slasher flicks.  They're movies that can scare you, thrill you, and frighten you, but still manage to maintain a fun side that lacks seriousness.  The fact that somebody thought it would be cool or funny to write "Jason Lives" in a hardly seen area for a scene that only last seconds?  That's just awesome and I'm so happy I took to time to investigate and search for details.  It may not be new to you, but my jaw dropped when I found this.  Kudos to whoever did this in '89!

After Sean pulls the emergency brake and they escape, Jason emerges from the NYC subway platform.  Before he's pictured, there's a quick shot of the subway sign and stairs.  It's ugly, but represents an 80s NYC very well.  I'm trying to figure out what the sign on the right says.  I narrowed it down to "Word To The..," but that's as far as I can get.  I'd love to know what it says, means, and stood for.  Was it symbolic of the time, or just a throw-in?  For the most part, the other signs are all about moving.  My guess is nobody lasted long in NYC and wound up moving before they ever settled down.  With Jason unleashed, I'd be looking to move, too.  $18.95 is a small price to pay to keep your throat intact.

This, along with another close-up, is another scene that cracks me up.  Here, we have a ferocious Jason, who was believed to be electrocuted to death, back on the surface and looking for revenge.  He's standing there, angry, upset, and out to kill.  In the background?  A Kodak advertisement featuring three half-naked Polynesian girls!  It's hilarious.  How are we supposed to take Jason serious in this type of environment?  On one hand, it's realistic and the surroundings shouldn't change just because he's arrived, but on the other, you'd think somebody would try to shoot around images like that.  But again, perhaps it's a testament to the humor often found in 80s horror.  Because it doesn't take away from an already crappy story, I can appreciate the cheap laugh it gave me.

I love the way Jason stands there for a second, staring at his prey, before looking up and around at Times Square.  It's as if even he is impressed by the pretty lights and attractions.  I actually think it all might have distracted him from his intentions to kill because, whether he realizes it or not, there are thousands of people ripe for the picking.  Instead of taking them out, he continues onward after Sean and Rennie.  Does Jason have a soft spot for New Yorkers?  After all, they didn't drown him.

While there were plenty of ads in Times Square in 1989, it was nothing like today's industry.  Looking at the screen-caps, Coca-Cola is the first brand that really stands out.  It's the most recognized logo in the world and it's only fitting that it reigns prominent in Times Square when Jason visits.  The Suntory Whiskey sign is raised above Coke's with Sony on the sides.

To the left, we have Canon and AIWA.  I had no idea what AIWA was, so I had to look it up.  It's a Japanese consumer-electronics company from the 70s.  They went out of business in the early 2000s but, along with the other ads, it's obvious how much technology was taking over the country.  AIWA, Olympus, Kodak, Sony, and Panasonic were all prominently displayed in 1989 and, as somebody who doesn't personally remember the year, it's nice to see Jason rise in a technological renaissance.  It was really just the beginning.  Maybe that's why he was so surprised.

Have you ever wondered what guys like Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees eat?  Do they even need to eat?  Makes more sense for Michael than Jason, but I like to believe they both got hungry every now and then.  With all that killing, you're bound to build up an appetite.  Luckily for Jason, he was surrounded by food and, fortunately, it was all fast food.  Now he could make a quick order, take it to go, and get back to killing camp counselors and sexually active teenagers.  The question is, what would Jason go for?  Is he a Burger King guy?  McDonalds?  How about Sbarro?  I see him choosing burgers over pizza, but I think all three establishments should be considered Friday the 13th food.  Unless you're camping and grilling, these are the only food items associated with Jason and Friday the 13th.  That's it, I'm getting McDonalds later in honor of Jason.  Hopefully he joins me.

Here's another humorous scene outside the Marquis Theatre and Marriott.  As these four goons are blasting music from their boom-box, Jason walks down the sidewalk and kicks it over.  The kids get pissed and call him out on the New York City streets.  For whatever reason, they thought they could take him with the mask, but wanted no part of him after he showed them his face.  I'm not sure why Jason gave them a "don't-mess-with-me" chance and didn't just slice and dice, but it's pretty funny.  Even he knows he's so disgusting that it's enough to end a fight before it starts.

The other observance is the style of clothing.  Again, I was just a kid, but is this how we dressed in 1989?  The first thing I think of when I see them are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  I think of the 1990 film and the countless human cartoon characters who wore baggy clothes and sported the mohawk.  I guess grungy and dirty was the style, but it seems so odd, now.  20-years from now, I'm sure I'll have a kid telling me what I wore was ridiculous, and they'll probably be right.  But if nothing else, I love this scene for it's so many telling moments.  It gives me a laugh, says a little bit about Jason, says more about his intimidation, and screams nostalgia in 2013.

Finally, this may be the most awesome scene in the entire movie.  It's nothing more than a scenery shot, but it picks up an ad for another 1989 film - Batman!  This is like worlds colliding.  This means, in Jason's world, Batman also exists.  But, does he live in our world where Batman is a comic-book superhero, or does he live in the movie world where Batman is real.  This is nerdy heaven, people.  This lends the possibility that Batman and Jason could one day meet.  Forget the Joker, forget the Riddler, and forget Bane!  There's no greater villain to enter Gotham City than Jason Vorhees.  It would be an amazing crossover, but I believe Batman is just as fictitious in Jason's world as they both are in ours.  But it's even cool to imagine Jason watching the Batman trailer in 1989.  Maybe it played aloud as he hunted down Sean and Rennie through the streets of New York.  Regardless, it's awesome to see a film acknowledge it's own competition to maintain reality.

I've never done a "dissection" post like this before, but I've always wanted to and, given the date, I think "Jason Takes Manhattan" was the perfect way to start.  I don't know if I've written college essays as long as this, but I appreciate you reading if you actually did.  If you didn't, then just lie to me in the comments.  I'll even help you out.  Say "Wow, that part about Batman was sick!" or "Damn, I never noticed that logo!"  Even better, write "Come on, Cliff, we all know Jason would throw back some whiskey with his burgers!"  Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.

I hope you enjoyed digging deep with me and, if you're a casual fan like me, you might have actually learned something.  If not, we'll be back to candy and food in no time!

Happy Friday The 13th!! Here's to a lucky day!