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 26, 2004
Book of the Week:
by Cory Doctorow. Welcome to the Bitchun Society, where if you think you can do something better than the people
doing it at present--just waltz in and start doing it. That's how the ad hocs have taken over Disney World, where our
protagonist, Jules, is living to fulfill a dream from his childhood. However, all is not well. Another ad hoc looks to be muscling
in on Jules and his buddies' territory--with sometimes (temporarily) lethal results. Clever, funny sci-fi that nevertheless
makes some interest points despite yourself, you can buy using the links or check out Doctorow's website to download it.
Audiobook of the Week:The Dragon Seekers: How an Extraordinary Circle of Fossilists Discovered the Dinosaurs and Paved the Way for Darwin
by Christopher McGowan, performed by Stuart Langston. It's hard to believe that there was a time in which people didn't
believe in evolution. I mean, you know, unless you live in Cobb County, Georgia. But in the 19th Century, a group of
people started working through some whacked out animal remains; imagine if you didn't know that dinosaurs existed, but stumbled
upon some fossilized bones of them--talk about a wild time. McGowan brings that to life in his writing and Langston brings
it across perfectly in his reading on this Blackstone Audio release. For those who find themselves stopping and starting,
they do track breaks every three minutes or so--very thoughtful. Click to go their website to buy or rent for your own
commute.
Graphic Collection of the Week:
by Brian Michael Bendis & Alex Maleev. Marvel's underlying idea that secret identities suck isn't necessarily
a bad one--it just needs context. Well, Bendis provides that context in spades as years of Murdock's identity getting leaked
finally come to fruition: he's outed as Daredevil. Now what the hell does he do? Sue, of course. Sound lame?
Well, it's Bendis, folks. Maleev's artwork is choice as well. If you haven't been following this book, catch up now.
Comic Book of the Week:Wanted #3 by
Mark Millar & J.G. Jones. You're an ordinary shmoe being used as the world's doormat. Then one day you find out that all
the comic book stuff you read as a kid was real--and that you're the heir to the estate of the best super-villain assassin
in the world. And your inheritance says step up and take up the mantle--or get a bullet in the head. Sound fascinating?
Well, it is. It's nasty, it's out of control, and it's harsh. And we're only three issues in, for God's sake. Be happy:
this is Authority-Millar and not Ulty X-Men-Millar. Buy.
TV DVD of the Week:
. Taking the CGI dinosaur movement to the next logical step, which lies somewhere between the Disney film
and Walking With Dinosaurs, you get four stories featuring different dinosaurs--a velociraptor, a pyroraptor, a
daspletosaurus, and a saltasaur--in four areas of the world, all set between seventy and eighty million years ago. While
the animation isn't the smoothest you've ever seen, there is some worthy docu stuff to be had in this Artisan release.
DVD of the Week:
. Okay, sure. This one isn't going to stretch your brain in any new directions, but this Buena Vista release
does feature Needcoffee fave Diane Lane, who's so good we even pardoned her for Judge Dredd--and that's saying something.
This slice of life story comes complete with a director's audio commentary, making-of featurette and deleted scenes.
Anime DVD of the Week:
. This release from Central Park Media will show you why playing around with magic markers can get you into
some serious trouble. This sci-fi comedy features the title character going off to retrieve a friend, who has run off with
a rock star and taken a holy relic with her. Along the way he runs into a renegade space pilot, gets accidentally hitched
up her, and then finds himself on the run from evil. Crazed anime? Right here, buddy.
Adverse Video of the Week:
. While Vivica A. Fox has some moments in this that are worthwhile, otherwise it's a great example of how to
take pretty much every kind of action-adventure flavor and run it through a blender. While that might sound like it has
promise--don't be fooled: such genre smoothies can sometimes taste very nasty. Like this one, in which Duane Martin's
character has very little in the way of consistency to match his plotting. If you want to see how not to mix it up, here's
a great case study.
Music DVD of the Week:
. What happens when a Dublin promoter puts together an Irish R&B band? Some kick ass music and a classic
movie. Fox has come out with a respectable special edition this go-round, with commentary by director Alan Parker, making-of
and "looking back" docus as well as a docu on Dublin itself, a music video of "Treat Her Right," and more. Any fan of the
flick will want to at least revisit it here.
Animation DVD of the Week:
. The Transformers completist is going to want to finish up the original animated series with this boxed set
from Rhino Home Video. Watch your screen get filled up with wall-to-wall Autobots and Decepticons. The set comes with
the ability to watch the final three-parter straight through cutting out a lot of the deadwood, and there's also a very
amusing interview with writer David Wise.
Music CD of the Week:
by Ben Arthur. Remember back when we told you this was hitting in March? Well,
consider it hit--it's available now from Bardic Records. Singer-songwriter Arthur brings you this menagerie of
heartfelt (but slightly askew) songs that may hit close to home for some of you. It's the lyrics that put it over the top
for us, personally. If you don't believe it, check out stuff like "Mary Ann" and "Keep Me Around." Nab samples and
more at Ben's official site.
Book of the Week:
by Cory Doctorow. Welcome to the Bitchun Society, where if you think you can do something better than the people
doing it at present--just waltz in and start doing it. That's how the ad hocs have taken over Disney World, where our
protagonist, Jules, is living to fulfill a dream from his childhood. However, all is not well. Another ad hoc looks to be muscling
in on Jules and his buddies' territory--with sometimes (temporarily) lethal results. Clever, funny sci-fi that nevertheless
makes some interest points despite yourself, you can buy using the links or check out Doctorow's website to download it.
Comic Book of the Week: Wanted #3 by
Mark Millar & J.G. Jones. You're an ordinary shmoe being used as the world's doormat. Then one day you find out that all
the comic book stuff you read as a kid was real--and that you're the heir to the estate of the best super-villain assassin
in the world. And your inheritance says step up and take up the mantle--or get a bullet in the head. Sound fascinating?
Well, it is. It's nasty, it's out of control, and it's harsh. And we're only three issues in, for God's sake. Be happy:
this is Authority-Millar and not Ulty X-Men-Millar. Buy.
