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

Hey guys. Sorry its been so long, Ive just been sitting around playing way too much Super Nintendo and watching way too many films. Havent been to the theater too many times this summer, but I have been having a great old time renting films. Here are some of my favorites that I have seen in the last few months:

#1; The Audition (1999, Horror/Suspense) [Subtitled]
Director: Miike Takashi
Starring: Ryô Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Tetsu Sawaki, Jun Kunimura

By far the creepiest film I have seen yet this summer. Although it started off almoast unbearably dull, my patience was rewarded around halfway through the film, and my senses satisfied all the way from there until the end. Its not often that I recomend a movie that was so dull to start with, but that should tell you how f*****g good it gets later on. The more I tell you about this one, the more it will ruin the fun. I will tell you this: If you have a weak stomach or a problem with blood, dont bother. If you thrive on gore, youre in for a treat. For maxximum effect, dont even read the back of the box. Just watch it.

#2; Wet Hot American Summer (2001, Comedy)
Director: David Wain
Writing Credits: David Wain, Michael Showalter
Starring: Michael Showalter, Joe Lo Truglio, Michael Ian Black, Ken Marino, Amy Poehler, Janeane Garofalo, Molly Shannon, David Hyde Pierce.

By far the funniest film I have seen all summer. In fact, Id wager to say its probably the funniest movie I have seen since Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy. As you may have noticed, it is writen by, directed by, and stars the partial cast of beloved long lost sketch comedy show, THE STATE. Also starring UCB member Amy Poehler, and a couple people who usually carry the comedy in the films they participate in, but are delightfully scarce in this film. For the most part, the state cast members carry the film, and the entire thing is f*****g hilarious from the second it begins. The film is set at a summer camp in Maine in 1981. It is a well done spoof of some of those old eighties camp films, but at the same time it takes on a life of its own as does everything the geniuses we call THE STATE seem to touch. It is set up like a series of state sketches that kind of all meet up in the end. Such glee. Such beautiful satire. I definately reccomend this film to anyone who liked the state. Even if you didnt, youll probably enjoy the film. Annother of my favorite things about this one is the fact that the dvd has lots of extras. Loads of hilarious deleted scenes and outtakes, as well as talent files that tell us what everyone in the state has been up to since we last heard from them. Overall, I think this film has made me happier than any film I have seen in a very long time.

#3; Waking Life (2001, Animation/Art)
Director: Richard Linklater
Writing Credits: Richard Linklater
Starring: I think everyone and their brother was in this film one way or annother. In fact I wouldnt be surprised to find out I was in it somewhere. If you want a compiled list, http://us.imdb.com/Details?0243017

The most surreal film I have seen this summer. I believe it was written and directed by the same guy who brought us Dazed and Confused. But (and im only saying this as an analogy, because I think its the best way I can really describe it, and I hope nobody gets offended.) if Dazed and Confused was designed for viewing while stoned, this film was probably designed to make the most sense while on acid. The content is fantastic, but its got a real short attention span. Mostly split up into short scenes featuring monologues and conversations between different people that almoast end up sounding like spoken word poetry. The dialouge is astounding, and features everyone from Ethan Hawke and William S Burroughs. It doesnt even begin to make sense until the end, and then it never really finishes. It leaves you thinking, and you get to decide what the hell it all meant. It also features the most unique style of animation I have seen in quite a long time. It looked to me like he shot the whole film in real life first then drew over the real film in flash for the final product. Kind of a really lush computerised rotoscope look. Its really cool cause you kind of recognize everyone, but you get to see them all as cartoons. There are also alot of beautiful layering effects in this film, but anyone who has vertigo symptoms and cant watch Dr Katz or Blair Witch should probably take caution. Finally, the film features the best soundtrack I have heard since Amelie. Performed by the Tosca Tango Orchestra, the sounds of stringed instruments and accordians make a perfect background for this particular film. Over all, really fantastic film and an overwhelming experience of sight, sound, and philosophy.

#4; Johnny Stecchino [Johnny toothpick](1991, Comedy)[Subtitled]
Director: Roberto Benigni
Writing Credits:Roberto Benigni, Vincenzo Cerami
Starring: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi

This film is in a class of its own. From the writer, director, and star of 1997's "Life is Beautiful", the stories are similar in that they both take dark subject matter and turn it into rip roaring comedy in a truly original way. However, this film is not nearly as depressing as "Life is Beautiful". It is sort of a love story, sort of a mafia story, and it is serious, dramatic, and hilarious all at the same time. The story takes place in two parts of Italy, and on top of being really really funny, it showcases some fantastic architecture, interior design, and landscapes from around Italy. This film made me want to sell everything I own and move to Italy.

#5; Battle Royale (2000, Horror/Action/Drama) [Subtitled]
Director: Kinji Fukasaku
Writer: Kenta Fukasaku
Starring: Beat Takeshi, Tatsuya Fujiwara, Taro Yamamoto, Masanobu Ando
Kou Shibasaki, Chiaki Kuriyama

Its the dawn of a new millenium. Japan is in a state of unrest, being that employment is at less than fifteen percent, and school violence has escalated to uncontrolable proportions. The government responds with the BATTLE ROYALE act, which states that a random group of ninth graders is chosen every year to be sent to an isolated island for three days of fight to the death. Each person is issued a backpack stocked with a weapon (some more useful than others), some food, some water, and a map. They are also outfitted with exploding tracking devices around their necks which are detonated when the student is within the announced "danger zones" at a certain time. The game lasts three days, and only one may survive. If by the third day more than one person exists alive on the island, all neckbraces are detonated and nobody survives. Imagine what would happen if you were in that situation with YOUR ninth grade class. This film is really bloody, violent, disturbing, and overall insane. If youre into that kind of thing, I highly suggest you check it out. I thought it was brilliant.

#6; Shaolin Soccer (2001, Comedy/Action) [Subtitled]
Director: Stephen Chow, Lik-Chi Lee
Writer: Stephen Chow, Lik-Chi Lee
Starring: Stephen Chow, Vicki Zhao

Yes, annother foreign film, but you have to admit theres not much choice but to turn abroad for decent filmwork nowadays. It seems everything thats getting done in the states right now is either a sequel or some other sort of rehash. I still watch alot of it anyways, but when I really want to see something original I often have to turn to the east. My boyfriend found Shaolin Soccer on Divx quite awhile ago, but I only recently decided to sit down and watch it. Quite hilarious indeed. Its about a group of former Shaolin monks who reunite and form a soccer team using their Kung-fu skills. Not your average Kung-fu flick. Its a complete farce. I laughed my balls off. Make sure you try and see this one soon, cause before long it will be appearing in a theater near you, edited to hell and back, re-titled "Kung-Fu Soccer", and probably badly dubbed. So yeah. Try and catch the original Chinese version.


#7; Rejected (2000, Short Animation/Comedy)
Director: Don Hertzfeldt
Writer: Don Hertzfeldt
Starring: Robert May

This film was featured at Spike and Mikes as well as like a hundred other film festivals this year from what I hear. I caught it the other day when someone sent my boyfriend a link to download it in mpeg form. Its only about nine minutes long, but I PROMISE YOU, YOU WILL LAUGH YOUR A$$ OFF. The animation isnt anything fancy, but the topic matter almoast made my eyeballs pop out of my head. Apperantly, its available on dvd. I doubt it can be found for rent, so I would suggest looking for it on Kazaa or something first. But youll probably want to buy it if you have any sense of humor at all.


Well folks, thats all I have for now. I hope this gets you talking. If not that, I hope it gets you watching some decent movies. Either way, let me know what you think.

thanks for listening,
Missy

*some info obtained from http://us.imdb.com