h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi

Just a quick note before my seasonal perusal of the latest Galliano pics - apparently, the dress worn by Karolina Kurkova was so voluminous, she got stuck in the exit & had to be helped off the runway. (Karolina has a special place in my heart as she shares my birthday.)

Mawk Factor Ten - Have you seen the film "Mission To Mars"? I watched it Monday night on ITV2.

Oh dear oh dear. Certainly the most mawkish SF movie I've seen in ages.

Dr Pepper and M&Ms used as problem-solving tools. A stranded crew re-planting the U.S. flag before they ensure their own survival. A weeping Martian as homage to the "Weeping Indian" litter ads. And the Mars Face - or, as many geologists (and Areologists) have explained, there are many facial features in the natural landscape of Earth, but they are NOT conclusive proof of intelligent life on the planet!

Most interesting part was seeing real-life astronaut Story Musgrave as part of the space station crew in the movie.

For an intelligent use of the Mars Society's findings, check out the novel "The Martian Race" by Gregory Benford.

And if you're planning to watch "The Edge" with Hopkins & Baldwin, I recommend reading...

"What Just Happened?" by Hollywood producer Art Linson

...which contains eye-boggling anecdotes about Alec Baldwin's beard, Gwyneth's chin (from "Great Expectations") and the sight of ashen-faced studio executives staggering from a preview of "Fight Club." Art Linson's book is written in the form of restaurant-table dialogues between himself and Jerry Bruckheimer who was (at the time) a tad tetchy about losing his job.

On the subject of Bruckheimer & biogs, I also enjoyed:

"High Concept: Don Simpson and the Hollywood Culture of Excess" by Charles Fleming

...in which the name Heidi Fleiss crops up quite frequently. Fascinating chapter about the nightmare logistics of the Tom Cruise race-car flop "Days of Thunder."

Ah well, back to the Dior pics...