I know it sounds like a long lost cause at this point, but I’ve found myself thinking a few times of late just how much fun Grindhouse was – it’s been a long time were I’ve had that sort of silly fun watching a film. This got me to thinking about Quentin Tarantino’s love of, well let’s just say the low art of cinema.
A few years ago one of the cable channels (maybe it was Ovation or IFC?) gave Tarantino an entire block of time for his own film marathon of sorts. And one of the films he dragged out was none other than Navajo Joe!
Before this I had never heard of the film before, but for some odd reason it’s stuck in my mind when I think of Tarantino. It’s a 1966 Italian/Spanish Spaghetti Western, directed by Sergio Corbucci. But the kicker is that it stars Burt Reynolds, playing a Native American! The film features a very campy soundtrack and goes on forever, and of course the focus is good old fashioned revenge Here’s the trailer:
Seen above (click to see at full size) are two tin robot toys which I spotted sitting in a Soho storefront window in New York City. Even though the robots shown are based on a very old school design that was a bit before my day, seeing these two always brings me back to my childhood (and an appeciation of a sense of wonder and play).
Photographed by Michael Pinto on February 17, 2007
Yujin’s Time Capsule series features a variety of well known characters like Astroboy and Disney characters, and now they’ve added a Spiderman series to their collection:
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 25, 2007 in Science
You know I’m half starting to think that while we may never meet alien lifeforms in my lifetime, that there may still be a shot at finding out where a few of them are hanging out:
“Astronomers have found the most Earth-like planet outside our Solar System to date, a world which could have water running on its surface. The planet orbits the faint star Gliese 581, which is 20.5 light-years away in the constellation Libra.
They say the benign temperatures on the planet mean any water there could exist in liquid form, and this raises the chances it could also harbour life. “We have estimated that the mean temperature of this ‘super-Earth’ lies between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius, and water would thus be liquid,” explained Stephane Udry of the Geneva Observatory, lead author of the scientific paper reporting the result.”
…by the way the potential planet is only 20 light years away, so start designing your warp drives now!
There’s some sad news for a poor fanboy in Japan, it seems his local tax dept. has decided to make him (and his valued toy figurine collection) an example:
“A tax office here has put a set of figures of young girls seized from a tax delinquent up for auction on the Internet “to deepen understanding about the prefectural government’s tax collection,” taxation officials said.
The figures, which were put up for auction by the prefectural government’s Otaru tax office, included characters from a love simulation game marketed in the 1990s. The figures are no longer produced and are considered valuable collectors’ items.
“Our aim isn’t to sell them for a high price, but to deepen understanding about tax collection in Hokkaido. We want to draw people’s attention,” an official from the tax office said.”
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 24, 2007 in Science
In Star Trek they’re always using deflector shields to protect themselves from hostile Klingon fire, but it seems that scientists may start to add deflector shields to protect astronauts from dangerous radiation in outer space:
“Magnetic “deflector shields” could one day guard astronauts against dangerous space radiation, if experiments now underway pay off. Exposure to energetic charged particles could put astronauts on lengthy missions at increased risk of cancer and even cognitive problems (see Future mars astronauts have radiation on their minds). The particles come from the solar wind and also from supernovae and still-unidentified sources outside the solar system.
The Earth’s magnetic field protects spacecraft in low-Earth orbits, such as the space shuttle and International Space Station, from such particles. But astronauts journeying to Mars or living on the Moon would benefit from no such protection. Now, US and European plans for long-term missions to the Moon and Mars have sparked renewed interest in the problem of radiation shielding.
One group at the University of Washington in Seattle, US, has just completed a round of experiments investigating one possible approach, using a bubble of charged particles, or plasma, as a deflector shield. Now, a second team has begun deflector shield experiments of their own. The team, led by Ruth Bamford of the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in the UK, hopes to eventually fly a test satellite surrounded by a cloud of plasma in space.”
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 23, 2007 in Star Wars
With the 30th anniversary of Star Wars fast approaching (May 25th), it ‘s time to begin celebrating the galaxy far, far away all over again. Images from ‘The Making of Star Wars, the Definitive Story Behind the Original Film’, to be released by Ballantine Books on April 24. Check out an amazing sneak peak at the book here:
Seen above is an amazing model dollhouse based on Lord of the Rings. I love the sheer amount of detail and loving craftsmanship that went into this project:
Shown above is the Supergirl vinyl statue designed by the Japanese manufacturer Kotobukiya. If you want to do the Ken/Barbie thing Kotobukiya also has a Superman statue too! For more details check out this article at Toy News International.
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 22, 2007 in Comic Books
Here’s yet another example how everyone in Hollywood needs to feel “creative” so they need to “improve” things, like the color the Incredible Hulk which will now go from green to gray:
“ust earlier this week the news hit the internet that Edward Norton would be taking on the role of Bruce Banner aka Hulk in the 2008 “redo” titled simply The Incredible Hulk. Some news has been creeping out about the film, which will hopefully be a better comic book adaptation than the 2003 Ang Lee movie, and it deserves to be mention since everything so far sounds like it’s going in the right directon. Marvel ex-CEO Avi Arad, who now heads up production on almost all major Marvel films and is currently out promoting Spider-Man 3 due out in a few weeks (another awesome Marvel adaptation that you should be excited to see), spoke earlier today and hinted that he may not be the same color as we saw previously. Although he wouldn’t confirm officially, the rumor is out that the Hulk may be grey this time.”
…I mean it’s not like the reason the last movie did so poorly had anything to do with the color of the Hulk!
UPDATE: Sorry campers! This internet rumor turned out not to be true, the Hulk stays green…
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 21, 2007 in Comic Books
Daredevil #97: Gladiator is on the loose, running for his life, and Daredevil is the only one who can stop him from – on never mind that! Take another look at that great cover art by Marko Djurdjevic (go ahead, click on the image to see it larger in full detail). The upside down composition of that illustration reminds me of an old movie poster or the cover of an old pulp magazine – you can taste the action (and maybe the rainwater too)! Marko Djurdjevic blog and website is also worth taking some time to gawk at some nice artwork (it looks like he has a DVD on the way too).
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 21, 2007 in Comic Books
Above: Spiderman goes to the disco!
The concept of a Spiderman musical sounds like the plot of a bad Bollywood film, except I’d expect that film to be more interesting to watch than this:
“He’s conquered the big screen and now Spider-Man could be swinging onto a Broadway stage. According to published reports, the popular comic book franchise is being turned into a musical — and there’s word organizers have already assembled a star-studded team behind the scenes.
Bono and The Edge of U2 reportedly would be in charge of the music, while “The Lion King” director Julie Taymor would lead the production. The musical could cost about $15 million to produce. Auditions will begin in July.”
…yup! Nothing like Bono teaming with up some Lion King lamers to get me unexcited about a project.
Meow! Seen above is the Catwoman vinyl statue designed by the Japanese manufacturer Kotobukiya. For all the full details check out this article at Toy News International.
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 20, 2007 in Comic Books
I was looking though a batch of Marvel covers and came across the gem above, illustrated by Ricardo Tercio (click on the image to see it at a larger size). What I love about this cover is the sense of whimsy and drama, along with Tercio’s bold use of contrasting bold with muted color choices. And I admit it, I like seeing a cartoony take on Marvel characters every now and then (it’s a nice contrast to all of the steroid realism that we tend to see all the time). I’d urge you to check out Ricardo Tercio’s website here.
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 19, 2007 in Animation
Twenty years ago today on April 19, 1987 the Tracey Ullman Show aired a two-minute animated short by Matt Groening that introduced the world to the Simpsons, a family from Springfield, USA. Here’s a well done interview with Al Jean on the subject that’s worth a read for any true Simpsons fanboy:
“As Homer and his family were being fleshed out in the first season, the show’s creators also began building the menagerie of side characters who inhabit Springfield. Despite the many smaller players he has helped create, Jean identifies his favorite without hesitation: “Comic Book Guy.”
“When we first came up with that character, I could not believe we were doing it,” he said. “A comic book guy as a featured character was unheard of. But everyone knew a guy just like him growing up.”
Obnoxious and condescending, “Comic Book Guy” mocks everyone—and everything—that crosses his path. Simpsons veteran Hank Azaria reached into his own past and found the perfect voice for one of the show’s most mimicked characters.”
“The idea of creating a balloon symbolizing the SW saga has been on my mind for a long time. But I was too shy to ask George Lucas (Lucasfilm) permission to do it.
Then I met with FanWars in 2005. They wanted me to make a Death Star – shaped PVC helium balloon. While discussing with FanWars leader Nicolas Lelong aka TK-9999, I spoke of my idea of a Darth Vader – shaped hot air balloon. For me, it was more of a joke and a fantasy, but Nicolas took it seriously and found the idea wonderful. He took contact with LucasFilm in order to try to get their agreement.
As soon as we got Lucasfilm’s approval, we made contact with the world largest manufacturer of hot-air balloons, specialized in special shapes and based in the United Kingdom. A Darth Vader helmet replica was sent to their engineers to help them recreate every detail. A vectorial file representing the Vader helmet in 3D was also sent to the engineers.”
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 18, 2007 in Animation
I just discovered this interesting animated film via Drawn, what’s interesting is that it’s not from Japan but from Korea and it came out last year (so it slipped under my radar some how). It looks like it’s got some nice quality character design and animation directed by Jo Beom-jin. By doing a bit of research I found that you can buy it on DVD at yesasia.com. Here’s the trailer from the film:
And here’s a quick plot summary from the New York Times:
“A futuristic city that is literally fueled by excrement provides the setting for this animated comedy concerning two dangerous delinquents who become inexorably tied to a deadly power struggle within the methane-laden metropolis. Soon after it’s discovered just how much power can be generated by fecal waste, the government installs special sensors on citizen’s anuses as a means of monitoring the production of the valuable natural resource.
Meanwhile, as the public becomes addicted to hallucinogenic and highly-addictive popsicles designed to keep them in line and stimulate even greater bowel movements, street thugs Aachi and Ssipak cross paths with a tough-talking porno star and incur the wrath of a dreaded group of outcasts known as The Diaper Gang.”
…and here’s the official website for the film (in Korean of course):
If this new film is good or bad will ride on the script and then the director, but I think Beckinsale has a good shot at making the role her own as long as they try to do something new (i.e. by going back to comic books rather than the film).
My favorite film with Beckinsale is Haunted from 1995, which i think is an under rated gem of a film, and one of the best haunted house movies that I’ve watched in a long time.
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 18, 2007 in Comic Books
I’m sad to say that Wizard of Id co-creator Brant Parker has passed away. As a kid growing up in the 70s I always loved his work because it was very approachable, and yet the humor had a nice sophistication to it. Sadly Parker joins his Id co-creator Johnny Hart who passed away recently. Although I think both gentlemen would be pleased to know that their kids have taken up the torch for a shabby beloved medieval kingdom called Id:
“Brant Parker, the co-creator of the comic “The Wizard of Id,” who portrayed medieval kingdom for more than 30 years, died in Lynchburg, Va. He was 86. Parker, who died Sunday of complications from Alzheimer’s disease and a previous stroke, passed away eight days after longtime “Wizard” collaborator Johnny Hart died of a stroke, the Los Angeles Times said Tuesday. “Id” and its quirky inhabitants appears in more than 1,000 newspapers worldwide since its launch in 1964.
Hart was drawing the Stone Age strip “B.C.” when he sought out Parker, whom he’d known for several years, to help coax humor from the Middle Ages. The collaboration lasted until 1997, when Parker turned over “Wizard” drawing duties to his son, Jeff.
Creators Syndicate, the strip’s distributor, said “The Wizard of Id” would continue as a collaboration between the Parker and Hart families. Parker said a two-year stint at Walt Disney Studios in the late 1940s was his main cartoon-drawing classroom. He worked on several Donald Duck shorts and the 30-minute “Mickey and the Beanstalk”.”
Above are two new posters for 28 Weeks Later, the first one is for the domestic market while the second one is aimed at an international market. I don’t know how good this follow up film can be, but let the hype begin…
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 17, 2007 in Pulp Fiction
Shown above is an editorial spread (click to see at full size) from ‘The Science Fiction Book: An Illustrated History’ by Franz Rottensteiner, published in 1975. The book went into great detail on almost every major theme that could be found in science fiction, including sex (or a lack there of). I love caption they have in the lower right hand corner:
“SF authors may generally avoid sex in their plots, but the details on these pages make it clear that science fiction illustrators do not feel the same reticence.”
I love this silly short film, in it the director has a plastic Godzilla model roaming the halls of a school making Beavis and Buttheadesque comments:
So after watching this mini Godilla epic, I had to do a quickie interview with the director!
First question, who are you?
Well, I’m Jeremy Eugene Jones, you may also remember me from my really bad Elimidate appearance or, more likely, as one of the writers and voice actors of “Zinwrath: the Movie.” (I wrote the dialogue for the Burakubuu character and also the crazy gnome speech in the middle, and did the voice for Burakubuu, along with some general script editing) I’m currently going to film school in San Francisco and working on film sets whenever I can.
…and what inspired you to make this short film?
Well, that’s an odd question. I started making Godzilla videos when I was bored one night and wanted to re-enact the death of two of my friends who weren’t, in fact, dead. But there was a banana, and a toy tractor, and some GI Joes and then, Godzilla. Given my lack of social wazoo, I later used Godzilla as a personal spokesperson to say to girls what I could not, myself, being a simple sterile ninja.
“Edward Norton has been set by Marvel Studios to play Bruce Banner in “The Incredible Hulk.” The Louis Leterrier-directed drama will be distributed by Universal Pictures, with an opening set for June 13, 2008.
It is a decided return to the mainstream for Norton, who recently has starred in such indies as “Down in the Valley,” “The Painted Veil,” and “The Illusionist.” Pic will shoot this summer in Toronto. Norton takes over a role played in the Ang Lee-directed “Hulk” by Eric Bana. Though that film opened strongly, it didn’t fare as well as other Marvel efforts, including “Spider-Man,” “X-Men,” “Fantastic Four” and, most recently, “Ghost Rider.”
Marvel Studios, which has a $525 million credit facility obtained through Merrill Lynch, made “The Incredible Hulk” its second film under that arrangement, and seeks to make a sequel that is less self-serious and more in line with the comic series and TV show. Leterrier directed the action-filled “Transporter 2,” and “Unleashed.” The new pic begins with Banner on the run, trying to avoid capture long enough to cure the condition that turns him into a misunderstood green menace.”
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 16, 2007 in Pulp Fiction
Shown above is the cover (click to see at full size) of ‘The Science Fiction Book: An Illustrated History’ by Franz Rottensteiner, featuring an illustrated layout by Thames and Hudson. In the mid-70s I was very much a Star Trek fanboy (and later a Space: 1999 fanboy), so my parents purchased this little treasure for me.
The book was published in 1975 and gives a detailed look at every theme to be found in science fiction from that era, however it doesn’t have the Star Wars photos since the film hadn’t come out yet.
Now that I live in the 21st Century the book cover looks rather charming and dated with it’s disco typography. And the irony is that the book explores what it views as the charming retro look of 1950s pulp magazines and the like. I find it somewhat ironic that in the year 2007 I loving look back at my dog eared version of a book about the future I live in. Now that I live in the 21st Century my only regret that I have is the fact that manned space exploration hasn’t advanced much since the 70s.
A side note on Franz Rottensteiner: I did a quick google and Mr. Rottensteiner is still very much alive and kicking in Austria. He did another book on Fantasy in 1978 and is the publisher of a liteary magazine.
