Here’s an old post I put on my old Facebook page a few years back; it might make you laugh and explain the concept of proper chobbing to you, if you don’t already get it. Remember: there’s a very key difference between just watching bad films and proper chobbing. Read on.
by Luke Smitherd (Notes) on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 5:06pm
…well, today’s list, anyway. I’ve done this pretty much on the fly, and I’m sure I’ll look at it tomorrow and go ‘What was I THINKING?!’ but here it is. These are not just the selection of memorable chobs (otherwise In The Mouth Of Madness and The Kiss would be in there) but chobbing films that I look back on and think ‘Ah…that’s a great chobbing film.’
If you don’t know what chobbing is, it’s hard to explain, but the best way I can put it is there’s watching proper, quality, well-made films and then there’s chobbing. Chobbing cannot be performed solo, and due to the nature of the films involved, picking a quality chobbing film is hard (because the film itself really shouldn’t be quality.)
A common mistake is to get a shit film and think you can just laugh at how shit it is. This isn’t true. You will not find it funny or entertaining because it will be fucking boring. Plus, a chobbing film doesn’t necessarily have to BE shit, just a bit daft and over-the-top (see: Total Recall, Mortal Kombat, TimeCop.) The first key to a truly great chobber-from multiplex international releases to straight to DVD low budget efforts-is a distinct lack of logic or effort on the part of the filmmakers, and any other icing (poor acting, cliched dialogue and characters, hilarious deaths, and ridiculous character decisions) is a bonus. The second (and for the me, the most important of all, no matter what the chobbing film) is PACE. If it’s cheap and crap and badly acted,this won’t actually be so-bad-it’s-good, it’ll just be dull, dull, dull. BUT if it rattles along nicely, you will have a great chob; so-bad-it’s-good only works if the pace stops you getting bogged down in the shitness. If the Paceometer is through the floor the wrong way, you are in for a poor time.
Generally, horror, sci-fi, and martial arts films are your best bet.
So, to help you get started, here’s a sample of my current Top Ten Chobbing Films Of All Time, in no particular order. If I’ve forgotten any honourable mentions, do tell me:
1.Braindead (Believe or not, the director went on to become Peter ‘Lord Of The Rings’ Jackson. Paceometer off the charts.)
So, there you have it. Get some friends, some booze, some food, and rent any of the above for a great chob.
To learn more about MY books (Woo!) visit www.lukesmitherd.com where you can buy them for Kindle.
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