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

Warning: This is a three-handkerchief movie. But it's great.

I was considering recommending to someone that they read Clyde Edgerton's novel, 'Walking Across Egypt'. It begins with an old lday getting stuck in a chair when the bottom falls out of it.

Clyde Edgerton is a superior brand of novelist from North Carolina. Not everybody who's worth reading is on the syllabus.

http://www.clydeedgerton.com/

I found the film, which we've just watched on Youtube. You WILL need tissues. Even if you're tough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKNirVRlGQU

Why should you watch this film?

- It tackles social issues in an uncompromising but often funny manner.
- It's comprehensible, but gives an inside look at rural Southern US culture. (Note to Florida Sailor: I was suspicious of the landscape, too. It's supposed to be North Carolina. It was filmed near Orlando, Florida. Talk about pine trash in the gutter, then show that red soil, hmpf.)
- It has Mark Hamill in. Star Wars fans, don't get excited. He lives in a caravan and works for Animal Control. Not as glamorous as following the Force.
- For fans of old movies, it has Gwen Verdon in. She used to be a glamorous dancer. Now she's a nosy elderly neighbour.
- It will make you laugh and cry.

If you're worried about the religious content, don't be. Edgerton doesn't leave a hair on church people. His first novel, 'Raney', got him run off his job at a Baptist college. He teaches at university now. In the film, note the definition Edgerton gives one of the characters for 'secular humanism'. The bit about them climbing in windows at night and 'doing secular things' to you just about got me.

In other words, I think you'd enjoy this film.

Now we're going to watch the other film based on one of his novels, 'Killer Diller'. Even though it's in pieces on Youtube, starting here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a697v2dwwFM

I'm expecting more fun, because that is another great book.

If you like blues, you'll probably like this one. In the book, he claims Wesley writes a blues song called 'Jesus Dropped the Charges'. I hope they ding that one.

Finally watched both films through.

I enjoyed Egypt far more, both for the story and characters.

The red clay has to be north Georgia, Florida is just sand. In the very opening I spotted a scrub palmetto when the dog runs past the old pick-up truck - I wouldn't have noticed except for your comment. The only other spot I really noticed the background was when they were fishing in the cypress lagoon, but I think that could be anyplace south of the Macy-Dixie

Killer Diller is a good story, but it just barley hooked me enough to get to the end, which I found a bit anti-climatic - but that is probably just me.

They reminded me of two movies that are high on my list 'Because of Winn Dixie" and 'In America' I looked, but all I could find on line are the trailers.



F S

Ah shame. That Winn-Dixie title sounds inviting.

I agree - the 'Killer Diller' film is a disappointmnet in many ways. It's not nearly as good as the book. In the book, the old lady is back, and they spring here from the nursing home on their way to Myrtle Beach.

I think this was just an excuse for some people to jam.

Yeah, that red clay looked more like home to me - my dad's folks were all in Middle Tennessee. That red clay looked awfully familiar.

I can't remember which of Edgerton's stories has the Vienna sausages. In one book, there's a silly teenager who wants to be a Satanist. He is hampered by the fact that this is just made-up. He's also too squeamish to sacrifice anything, so he goes to the butcher shop for offal. But the butcher is out.

So he crates an altar with Vienna sausages.

Brits: This is funnier if you know that:

- Vienna sausages are canned cocktail wieners.
- It's pronounced 'Vaaaah-EN-uh'. Or 'Vaaaah-EN-er', depending on your dialect.

I'll share the two trailers with you, but it is not a good a gift as you gave me

I don't think either of these were major cinema hits, I found them both on DVD;

This is the story of a girl who moves with her single father, who is a preacher, into a small North Florida town.

Because of Winn-Dixie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6wsxW8kw2M

This is a story about illegal immigrants - from Ireland who move to Hell's Kitchen, NYC
In America

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E7eZHSR60s

F S

Both of those look GREAT.

I will go a-hunting. Thanks for sharing the trailers.

You know, I think you've just illustrated something I was trying to tell Elektra after the movie we watched last night, which was filmed at a motel in the Mojave for about $15.95 and garnered yawns from critics, but which we happened to enjoy. (Called 'Beneath the Dark'. About redemption, no explosions, limited gunfire.)

I have a theory. This theory says that most people really want to watch films like these. Some eejits THINK we all want to watch another 'Batman' movie.

So, if you make a movie like 'Walking to Egypt' or 'Because of Winn Dixie', they damn it with faint praise, and kill it with neglect. If you make another superhero/action flick, they throw money at it and shower it with adulation.

I'm sorry - I'd rather watch that dog run through the Winn Dixie than Jason Statham punch out bad guys.

DG I have found you a full movie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBOE-HiJsxE

This is the same girl that starred in Winn Dixie
I believe it all takes place in your neighbourhood, the Carolina's

be sure to keep your handy, a handkerchief is probably not enough

The story and message are timeless, the end is not as happy as we might like. I'll say no more

Enjoy (unless you have seen it before)


F S

Thanks! We'll make a point to see it.

Good Evening Dmitri;

I just stumbled on this;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5adMl7Gzhg&nofeather=True

It appears to be a librarian reading the print version of Winn-Dixie.

I have only watched the first chapter so far, so I can't promise that it is all good, but I thought you might be interested. It opens with the dog in the supermarket

F S

A funny kids' book. Thanks! We listened to the first chapter. That will make a nice coffee break idea. Although I wish that lady wouldn't read quite so enthusiastically.

I does remind me of when we were kids. I never read kids' books myself - unless my sister found them. Then I'd read them to her.

She was a big fan of Beverly Cleary. I remember reading one aloud - I couldn't have been more than 11, because this was in Memphis. My sister, my mom, and I ended up nearly in hysterics. Ms Cleary has a deft touch. She knew exactly what would make kids (and adults) laugh.

I've gotten up to chapter eight, don't worry they keep switching librarians, some of them are less annoying than others.

It almost seems to be the movie word for word, although it misses the songs and special effects.

As you get further in the titles become scrambled and are not offered in the side bar, I find if you type Winn Dixie Chapter X in the search box it will come up.

F S