Hest-Fest tonight!

Yes, it's that time again.  Hest-Fest 2008.  The Charlton Heston Movie Marathon.  Or, perhaps put with more gusto, the Chuck Heston Mourning Movie Marathon, in celebration of his passing.

It's true - Chuckles passed away this last spring, and I remember getting the news in Spain and just wanting to pout all day long.  (In all honesty, I did - and Carolina made fun of me for it.  Regrettably - and to simply adding to her derision towards me - I didn't hear about it until way after the fact - nearly a month later - so my pouting was even more ludicrous.)

So, to honor this silverback gorilla of the Silver Screen, we prepare our burnt offerings (food and a candle) and get ready for our vigil.

We will begin by viewing Ben-Hur, most critics' choice as his Best Film Ever!™  As one who's never seen it from beginning to end (altho

ugh, I'm rather sure I've seen it piecemeal over the years), I'm thoroughly excited to see this (albeit obliquely) 'Tale of the Christ'.  I mean, it's worth seeing again if only for the iconic chariot race scene.  Plus, just look at that smouldering look on his face - it's power, I tell you, power!

It was a difficult choice between Ten Commandments and Ben-Hur, but ultimately we've decided on the latter because of its success amongst critics and the viewing public alike - as well as the fact that I've seen Ten Commandments every Easter since I was in utero (I'm pretty sure Mamma Jones must have watched it as I was gestating, a little Cletus the Fetus just burbling away in there).

But that's neither here nor there.  We will be following the viewing of Ben-Hur up with the inimitable, unique (and ridiculously AWESOME) Planet of the Apes.

Yes, it's true - we're watching Apes.  I love this film more than any other Chuckles film of all - it's got everything.  Kitschy special effects, iconic phrases that you'll be repeating for weeks to come, people in monkey costumes, beautiful mute nubile women, and a denouement that can only be described as The Coolest Evarrr in Science Fiction!™  This'll be the best Hest-Fest ever.

So thus it is - our third (and probably final, seeing as how I should be going to grad school far away) Chuck Heston Movie Marathon, accentuated with our oblations to the man at his passing.

You know you're all jealous that you're not coming.  And if you aren't coming, you should come - it'll be a night to remember.