Ok - it sounds like I’m setting you up for one movie review….and not several….
My bad.
Last night - we saw “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” After the film - I headed across the street to the Tower Records store and bought the first two books in the Douglas Adams series. I’ve tried to read the first book - before. But I kept falling asleep. I suppose I just picked bad times to read the book. Plus - I read the first part in Mark’s huge 1,000+page collection of all the Douglas Adams books - so it was a bit scary to plow through. The second time I tried to get into the series was on a road trip up to the Bay Area. Steph brought it along and we took turns reading it to each other. By the time Arthur Dent made it on to the Volgon ship - I was out like a light. Cars make me sleepy.
[image from allposters.com]
I had a blast at the film - it had 3 dudes from Love Actually. The English bloke who plays the hero of the movie, Arthur Dent, is was the guy who did the body stand-ins for other actors in love scenes, in Love Actually. Alan Rickman was perfect as the clincally depressed robot with a brain “the size of a planet.”
Douglas Adams also wrote the screenplay for the film. According to one of his fans, my honey, the film translated the book quite nicely. I think the audience was a nice mix of sci-fi fans and Douglas Adams readers.
The earth is blown-up - but it’s quiet demolition is only the beginning of this intergalatic adventure and quest for the ultimate question. It’s a great ensemble of characters - from the repulsive and buearcratic Volgons to the multiple personalities of the President of the Galaxy.
It had good advice for the novice hitchhiker - don’t panic….don’t forget your towel. When the book had more information on travel quirks and alien profiles - it was inserted into the narrative with dry wit and animation. Arthur Dent takes in his hitchhiking experience with a hefty dose of paranoia, morality and humor. Not bad for a man who saw his planet blown away so that a galatic highway could be built through our solar system.
Another nice bonus - checking out the trailer for the last Star Wars film. Finally.
“So long and thanks for all the fish…”
Last Wed - we checked out the 
.
It’s a new one…about six years old. They had a nice collection of shorts at Fashion Island - “Sex, Drugs and Rockin’ Shorts.”
We got to vote on the ones we want for the festival’s audience favorite award. Plus we had a q/a session with filmmakers Will Cannon and Carl Laudan.
Here’s what we saw:
“Old Faithful”
Directed By: Trond Fausa Aurvag from Norway
8 min
Typical European flick - hardly any dialogue - barely any movement out of the house….and a sad…pathetic ending. It kinda gave me the same vibe that I got about Little Otik by Jan Svankmajer. I didn’t like that one either.
“Pity 24″
Directed By: Amanda Kerley from Australia
16 min
“Rock On”
Directed By: Ramsey Mellette from United States
19 min
This was Mark’s favorite - an office drone get’s a White Snake’s song stuck in his head - and he’s upset about it. I thought it was cute.
“Youngster”
Directed By: Will Canon from United States
8 min
It was a short film and Mark thought it needed a resolution. I was blown away by this little boy - a drug dealer with too much callousness for his age. Will said one scene was inspired by an old sailor’s tale. His co-writer heard that the sailor would use coke to wipe down his “unit” after doing his business with a hooker. So - that made it into the movie. The little boy was so real in his role - I expected him to have some experience with that culture. According to the director - he was a good actor.
“Allison”
Directed By: Jeff Drew from United States
8 min
Funny film - with the director in the lead role. He marries Allison - a doll with a barbie face and body. He even entertained “Allison’s” friends for dinner and stuff like that. The dude needs help. And it was funny.
“Bachelor 37″
Directed By: Jay Gormley from United States
11 min
Hated it. What happens to a guy who sees his ex-gf after 10 years? Forced acting and a BS storyline.
“How To Ace An Intervention”
Directed By: Ned Farr from United States
12 min
“The Big Thing”
Directed By: Carl Laudan from Canada
10 min
By far - the most beautifully shot film. Carl said he used super 35 mm film and a whimsical European set that was about to be torn down by another film project. It’s about Lucifer and the Archangel Gabriel - trying to bring about the end of the world. The music was down by the Tiger Lillies - a nice macabre cabaret sound. The film was lit to make the dusk/evening scenes look rick and lucid. The whole thing was quite droll and creepy….and plenty of innuendo.
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