Seeing red

Red has the most visceral impact amongst all colors.  You stop when you see its sign on the road. It sends chills down your spine when you see blood.  It indicates danger: the red button is what you push to start a nuclear war, and it’s the Commies’ favorite color.  For the alarm it brings, red somehow isn’t a popular choice for home interiors.

Yet, red had been on my mind when I was designing my place.  For me, it represents energy and vibrance.  But somehow it had never figured in the whole set-up until yesterday.  Bought these two Chinese pieces at Justin’s Treasures in White Plains, Q.C. They’ve livened up my place which had had too much gray and black.

Now, let’s bring it back to the movies.  Zhang Yimou’s greatest film, Raise The Red Lantern (1991) is an obvious inspiration.

But the single most memorable use of red in the movies must be Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980).  Also, one of the best trailers ever.  Local movies should learn from Kubrick -- how to make trailers intriguing and spoilier-free.