Each Thursday (or Friday, since some weeks we seem to be running behind on everything), Needcoffee.com's staff of whackos will wrack our brains to give you interesting and new things to do over the weekend. Books, movies, whatever. We'll throw them out, you do with them what you will. And hey...if you have something you want to recommend--whatever it is--drop us a line.
Incidentally, we've provided links where we can for you to buy the stuff or find out more if you're interested, courtesy of those Amazon types. Hey, come on, we can't be totally selfless in this, can we?
March 14, 2003
Book of the Week:
by Eric Bogosian. Ah, a lovely series of monologues from one of our favorite Law and Order guest stars.
Here you get plenty of the title subjects in a variety of wicked pieces that any actor (the guy writing this for example)
would kill to play for an audience. And yes, it's everyone's favorite, but the piece about the exec is freaking classic. Not an actor?
Who cares, read it anyway.
Audiobook of the Week:
by J.K. Rowling, performed by Jim Dale. The first book is still a flat out classic and the series as a whole
ranks up there with C.S. Lewis and L'Engle when it comes to fiction for youngsters. And, beautifully enough, it's just as
good a read for adults as well. And to add severe points to an already grand total, Jim Dale rocks the hell out of the mic
in reading this thing. Every voice distinct and every one acted to perfection, it's a great listen to reacquaint yourself
with the first book while getting ready for number five.
Comic Book of the Week:
The Ultimates #9 by Mark Millar & Bryan Hitch. Ah, nothing
like some domestic carnage to spice up your life. Ulty Cap (who we find much more interesting than unleaded Cap) gives
Giant-Man a nice big whoopass sandwich and Nick Fury and crew get ready to suit up and go to war against the Ultyverse's
version of Skrulls. Now if the books would only come out on time, we'd be in heaven.
Graphic Novel of the Week:
by Steve Niles & Ben Templesmith. If you like your horror comics visceral and wicked, then welcome, these two
guys would like to f#*& with your head for a while. And welcome to Barrow, Alaska, where once a year the sun goes down
and stays down for...you guessed it, thirty days. Now, for people like you and me who are night types, sounds like
heaven, right? Well, yeah, until the vampires show up and decide to throw a different kind of block party. Vicious writing
accompanied by artwork that's a strange blend of Ralph Steadman, Bill Sienkiewicz and Ed Gorey. No, trust me, it works.
DVD Boxed Set of the Week:
. It's Britain in 1940. England's freaked because their friends, the Axis, might be dropping by any minute with
large amounts of ordinance. Everything's turned on its ear. Into this melee comes Christopher Foyle, a detective who
wants to enlist...trouble is, he's such a good detective his superiors want him stuck on the homefront chasing after
killers. Michael Kitchen turns in a great performance with this series that's not just another historical whodunit.
Region 1 DVD of the Week:
. Twisted perfection, it is. Steve Buscemi is just your average indie director guy, desperately trying to get
his movie made. He has to deal with a very angry midget, an incredibly vain star (the exceptional James Le Gros), and
the fact his mom's wandering about. And then it gets worse. This disc comes chock full of stuff: director's commentary,
deleted scenes, and an interview with the director and Buscemi. Thanks to Columbia-Tristar for finally getting this sucker
on DVD.
Region 2 DVD of the Week:
Ghostwatch.
For our friends across The Pond, this is source of great outrage and fear. Back in 1992, the BBC decided to do a live
broadcast from a haunted house--and do it totally straight. Right. On DVD after its only airing (because it pissed so
many people off) thanks to the British Film Institute, it comes complete with a commentary by writer Stephen Volk, producer
Ruth Baumgarten, and director Lesley Manning. Not to mention a feaurette and some nifty DVD-ROM bonuses.
CD of the Week:
by The Mediaeval Baebes. If you like Miranda Sex Garden and other goth-ambient-orchestra bands, then you'll love the Baebes. They play historically-inspired tunes on a combination of historical and modern instruments, along the way adding in their own sensibilities and style to create a fusion that could be horrible but ends up being magical. From the sublime "Dringo Bell" to the moving and melancholy "I Am Eve," this CD is a winner for anyone.
Zine of the Week:
WayzGoose.
This magazine takes its name from a printer's holiday--a holiday with a typo in it. This sense of humor and
irony, not to mention learnedness, wends its way throughout the pages of this "feast of arts and letters." In its
pages, readers will find an intriguing mixture of history-related arts and crafts, artistic motivation, creative
writing and more. The premiere issue, for example, contained a play, info on wearable books, and more. Upcoming
themes include Maying Traditions, Candles for Candlemas, and a Labyrinth Issue. Readers can email WayzGoose@rulise.net
for details or visit the website.