My blog
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YES: Google Maps, Dogs, Pooping
Saturday, Jun 7, 2008 12:27AM / Standard Entry
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YES: Art NO: The Old Bait and Switch
Wednesday, Jun 4, 2008 1:17AM / Standard Entry
I decided to attend the opening of Project 4’s group show “The Sublime Landscape” on Saturday night before the ZP show, first because I like to get my art on, and second because I was excited to see new paintings by Jeff Soto, whose dark take on character designs and environments are both surreal and fun. The show features ten artists in total, but thanks to Soto’s current it-boy status courtesy of tastemaking publications like Giant Robot and Juxtapoz, his work is prominently featured on all the promotional materials for the show, even down to utilizing the blacks and grays featured in his latest series. In fact, I almost thought it was a solo show the first time I glanced at the Gallery's site. Well, imagine my surprise when I get there: not only is this 2-floor space smaller than everyone’s favorite Arlington bar, but the two small paintings by Soto are tucked away in the office area at the very back of the space, where they were casually hung on a tiny wall above a countertop littered with cheap wine and plastic cups. Way to keep it classy, Project 4.
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NO: There Can Be Only One
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 2:54PM / Standard Entry
Video: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=kq4SqgxIKM0
OK, a quick glance around the multiplex and the internets makes it pretty obvious we’re living in a time of creative bankruptcy when studio heads can think of nothing better to pump into theaters than reboots of 80s film franchises, from the great (Batman Begins), to the promising (Jason Segel’s upcoming take on the Muppets), from the meh (Casino Royale) to the utter bastardization (Michael Bay’s guaranteed-to-suck Friday the 13th). But now comes news of possibly the worst idea of them all. Production company Summit Entertainment has secured the remake rights to what many (your humble blogger included) consider the Holy Grail of crappy 80s movies: 1986’s Highlander. How could anyone even dare to mess with this wining formula? “Actor” Christopher Lambert stars as Connor MacLeod, an undying Scotsman who roams the centuries decapitating his fellow Immortals in a quest for “The Prize” (which is never defined but is apparently totally awesome), aided by his Immortal Spanish mentor Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez (played by Sean Connery, who can’t be bothered to attempt the correct accent). Much cheesiness and swordfighting ensues. Oh, and did I mention Queen composed the soundtrack specifically for the film? Yeah, anyone who even attempts a remake of this gem is pretty much guaranteed an instafail.[via Beyond Hollywood]
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Wong Yu: 1955-2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 1:11AM / Standard Entry
It's a sad day for fans of martial arts cinema, as website Hong Kong Cinemagic updated their front page yesterday with the news that Shaw Brothers veteran actor Wong Yu has passed away at the age of 52. Not to be confused with Jimmy Wang Yu, the star of the One Armed Swordsman, Wong Yu is nonetheless highly regarded for his supporting roles in films from the heyday of the Shaw Brothers studio. Some of his finest work was for director Lau Kar-Leung in films like Challenge of the Masters, 36th Chamber of Shaolin and Dirty Ho (Wong is on the right in the DVD cover above, with Gordon Liu). HKCinemagic has a pretty detailed biography for Wong, but no details surrounding his death. Has anyone seen this reported in any Chinese language media? Please reply with any details.
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Ashes of Time (Partial) Reunion
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 5:19AM / Standard Entry
Pictured from left to right are cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Charlie Young, Carina Lau Kar-Ling, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, and Wong Kar-Wai in Cannes at a press event on Sunday to promote Ashes of Time: Redux. Wong has meticulously reworked and re-edited his classic martial arts tale of love and loss and decided to debut this new version at this year's Cannes Film Festival. I think Ashes of Time is Wong's most poetic film, my enjoyment of which only deepens upon repeated viewings. Sony Pictures Classics has already secured the rights to distribute this new version, which means a first chance (for me) to see it on the big screen. Hopefully this will also lead to a deluxe DVD release, as a decent print of this masterpiece has never been available on VHS or DVD abroad. Thanks to the official Cannes web site for the photo, to Glenn for the heads-up on said photo, and of course to the inimitable Grady Hendrix for the details.
