Each Thursday, 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?

December 6, 2001

Book of the Week: Illusions: Confessions of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach. What would happen if a man was a messiah, but decided he didn't like what we consider to be the usual trappings of the job--and quit? This is the story as Richard (himself a character in the story) runs into this reluctant messiah and learns what it really means to have such powers--and the responsibility one has to the world and oneself. Excellent and thought-provoking.

Graphic Novel of the Week: Strangehaven: Arcadia by Gary Spencer Millidge. Initially it seems like some bizarre cross between Twin Peaks and the aborted Big Numbers. And then you get further along in the story and realize, why yes, that's an apt description. But for those of you already scratching your eyelids, fear not--this is a good thing. Alex Hunter gets lost while travelling through the English countryside and comes across the town of Strangehaven. And, like the song says, he can check out anytime he likes--but he can't seem to ever leave. One of those few books where you really have no clue where the author is going--but it's so intriguing and the author seems to know what he's doing--you just lay back and watch the sights.

DVD of the Week: Pollock. Ed Harris' labor of love proves that, as tremendous an actor as he is, he's an even better director. The performances are startlingly good--not just Harris' dead-on portrayal of the artist, but also Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden's turn as Pollock's love. Worth it for the movie alone.

Off the Beaten Path VHS of the Week: Closet Land. Again, out of print, and not on DVD. A two-person movie filmed in a single room. Madeleine Stowe is a children's author who has been arrested in a nameless police state. She's accused of planting anti-government messages in her children's books. Alan Rickman plays the interrogator sent in to break her and make her confess. Intense and gripping, it'll make your brain stem ache.

CD of the Week: Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts... by Kula Shaker. A terrific fusion of Eastern influences, 60's rock and influences from everything ranging across Floyd to Beatles to Queen--it's a terrific sophomore release from the band, and sadly, their last...they appear to have broken up. Damn depressing.

Beverage of the Week: Extreme Energy Shot by Arizona Beverage. There's lots of energy drinks on the market. But this is the first one to come with a handy shot cup attached to the top that doubles as a sanitary cap. Or do we want to mince words? No. It may not have the best taste, but you can't go wrong with a drink that looks like a dildo.

Candy of the Week: Fast Break by Reese's. Ah, from the people who brought you Nutrageous comes another over-the-top candy bar that's sure to make your eyelashes twitch with anticipation. As you can see from the diagram, they're not fooling around. It's pure unadultered potential energy. Trust me. I bought five.