BREVITY AIN'T ALWAYS GOOD **********************************

I realize that the last MUTANT I sent out was quite clipped, and I 
had planned to do a couple feature articles for your entertainment.  
Therefore, here goes nothing!

IN THE MEANTIME ********************************************

Justin just finished a review of "SPACEBALLS"

CULT TV ****************************************************

by Justin Olivetti

Perhaps one day in the future the Mutant Reviewers From Hell will open our
doors to another branch of cult, known as the boob tube.  We all have our
favorite bizarre shows that for some reason get us banned from the dinner
table.  No, not *everybody* watches "ER" or "Dawson's Creek"; some of us
have taste.

I'd like to present some of my favorite cult TV shows, shows that may not
have had a long life, but they showed enormous promise and entertainment.

TWIN PEAKS

No, I wasn't caught up in the hype back in '90-'91.  At that time, I was
on the tail end of puberty and without cable.  It was last year, in 1998,
that I discovered this wonderful show... at the video store.

I rented the pilot, then the first seven episodes (all that they had).
When I brought copies back for my roommate to watch, we became hooked.  We
ordered all 30 episodes (2 seasons) from Amazon.com and became fervant
followers of a long-dead show.

What not to like?  Dale Cooper, the Zen-Buddist FBI agent, is tracking
down the murder of a likable (yet mysterious) small town girl in the state
of Washington.  Laura Palmer's death was only the beginning, a key that
unlocks Twin Peaks' secrets and ultimately fascinating characters.  Witty
dialogue, visionary television (even for now), and suspense that you just
can't get today.

PARKER LEWIS CAN'T LOSE

This "Ferris Bueller" on Fox lasted three seasons, and I was a huge fan of
the first two (the last season toned down and, IMHO, sold out).  Parker
Lewis is a kid who basically runs his high school with the help of friends
Mike and Jerry.  The show was surrealistic in a funny way, and featured
many memorable characters (such as Kubiak, who went on to ER).  It was
very pop and fun to watch (don't we all wish we could live our high school
years like that?).

OZ

If you don't get HBO, you're missing out on one of the best shows *ever*.
This prison drama plays out the lives of the inmates in a new type of
correctional facility, run by a world-weary educator and a tough-as-nails
warden.  Oz is at once brutal and philisophic; life and death are very
real issues here.  Plus, even though most of the characters are scum, you
get caught up in their lives and feel their pain.

VOLTRON

One of the best cartoons ever (which the Power Rangers unfortunately
ripped off of).  The only question: do you like the Lion Voltron or
Vehicle Voltron better?

FUTURAMA

I'm a converted fan of this new show, brought to the TV by Simpsons
creator Matt Greining.  It's the story of Fry, a 20th century guy frozen
and woken up in the 30th century.  His friends include a one-eyed alien
babe and a sassy robot.  It not only looks terrific (the graphics are
partially computerized for depth), but I laugh my butt off every week.
It's Star Trek with humor.  Definitely check it out.

RENTAL LIST ************************************************

A new feature of the MUTANT is to create a rental list that you can clip
and bring with you to the video store when you're looking for a strange,
off-the-wall cult film.  We include a little something for everybody, and
also add quotes from our reviews to refresh your memory.  So print and
thank us later!

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the MUTANT rental list (May 1999)

NEW MOVIES

_| American History X (1998 Drama/Action/Prison)
     "Incredible and throat-choking"  - Justin

ACTION

_| The Professional (1995 Action/Drama)
     "A few tips in there about plant care. And how to kill people with
sniper rifles"   - Justin

COMEDY

_| Crazy People (1990 Comedy)
     "I don't know how they got actual companies to let the filmmakers
abuse and present them in a very odd light, but I'm glad they did."  -
Justin

SCI-FI

_| Ghost In The Shell (1995 Sci-Fi/Anime/Action)
     "This movie is good. I liked it. It was full of action. I like
action. This movie was Japanese. Japanese animation is called 'ani-may'."
- Justin

DATE FLICK

_| Two Girls and a Guy (1997 Comedy)
     "The dialogue here approaches the speed of light"  - Justin

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Until Colorado (again),
Head Mutant Justin