Random Art: Watch Out For That Tree…

Posted on July 23, 2015 by geelw

Boo. So I’m a bit bummed that Project CARS died on the vine for the Wii U after a few years in the works and that version only getting up to about 23fps despite the best efforts of the dev team. But it was a business decision at the end of the day despite some raging (and flat out STUPID) conspiracy theories about the publisher ruining the game. I’ll comment on this further in a more appropriate post, but here’s a tree to peek at while you wait. Or perhaps I’ll get a few other things done and get to the game’s cancellation over the weekend. No use beating a dead tire now, although it would be nice to hear the whole story one of these days from the horse’s mouths. Ah well… back to reality and (no true simulation-type racers on a Nintendo console in quite some time)…

The Bloom Is On The “Oh’s”: Bloom County Is Back

Posted on July 13, 2015 by geelw

For those who missed its nine-year run back in the 80’s, Bloom County was one of the main reasons to still check out the comics section in one’s daily newspaper. Writer/artist Berkeley Breathed bought a supremely sarcastic and subversive strip to the masses with an art style slightly similar to Gary Trudeau’s Doonesbury, but with a more oddball cast. Since I don’t hang out on ~~Hatebook~~, er, Facebook much these days, I missed the photo above as well as the first new strip below. Thankfully someone pointed me in the proper direction and made me do a happy dance for a hot minute or two. Good. Life just got better for millions and worse for a certain bigmouth with a wild coif who’s going to get taken down a few pegs. “THBBFT!” indeed, folks.

Welcome back Opus and company. You’ve been sorely missed. Hopefully, you’ll stick around for a while longer than the first go-round. But we shall see what happens…

Book Review: Film Noir 101: The 101 Best Film Noir Posters from the 1940s-1950s

Posted on July 11, 2015 by geelw

Thanks to a colorist probably following instructions to the letter about the use of the color red, Both Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall wear lipstick on the poster to The Big Sleep. The poster for White Heat almost looks like the one for the aforementioned film. Edward G. Robinson’s face is Hulk green in the poster for Scarlet Street. Richard Widmark doesn’t even appear on the poster to Kiss of Death, but in the one for Night and the City he looks as if he’s doing a “jazz hands, down!” pose. You miss these details when poking around online for some classic film posters, but in Fantagraphic’s beautiful Film Noir 101: The 101 Best Film Noir Posters from the 1940s-1950s, all you see is some amazing poster art for arguably some of the best film noirs of the era. Film Historian Mark Fertig has compiled quite a healthy list of films and their respective one-sheets here and the big 10.75″ x 14.25″ hardcover book will thrill film fans while possibly promoting a bit of discussion about some of the choices among others. Continue reading →

BUY IT! Silver Scenes Sells Stellar Stills

Posted on July 11, 2015 by geelw

"Let's see now. If I sell this dog and kid, I can buy ALLLL those movie stills!"

“Let’s see now… if I sell this dog and kid, maybe I can buy ALLLL those movie stills!”

(photo from Silver Scenes)

Want a piece (or a few pieces) of Hollywood history for a potential song? Even if you can’t carry a tune at all (and there’s no need to sing for your supper here), you can carry a wallet or purse and that means you can (and should) support classic film site Silver Scenes through their an awesome movie stills auction on ebay. The auction is off and running with a few bids already, so click on over to peruse the lovely selection of primarily black and white stills (only one is in color) and bid away at your leisure.

Prices start an an affordable $9.95 for each still and proceeds from the auction will go to the UCLA Film & Television Archive. So go do some charity work this weekend and add some beautiful black and white images to your collection. And hey, if you happen to strike it rich today in the lottery, make sure to spend some of Saturday’s Millions on tomorrow’s treasures!

Random Art: Sunday’s Best For Getting Some Rest

Posted on June 28, 2015 by geelw

Nothing to see here. Move along now. Git. Oh, and it’s not #LoveWins people. It SHOULD have been #LoveALWAYSWins because yeah, hate and the misguided opinions of the always wrong ones throughout history finally need to be shown for the insanity they are in this new century. Objections to the happiness of others based on blind ignorance handed down without consideration also need to be beaten to death by now. With love, of course. Just so we can move onto truly important stuff like making sure we all have a planet to live on. And NO, not freaking Mars. That sci-fi fantasy isn’t going to happen without bankrupting the rest of the globe just so a few people can go up there and die to prove an easy to see from earth point. We’re not ready because we still argue over stuff like human rights for ALL. Boo. Fix that and then we can play with expensive spaceships and grand ideas not just for one class of people to see the results of in the future.

Back tomorrow. I’m taking the day off if you haven’t guessed already.

Society Blu-Ray Review

Posted on June 26, 2015 by geelw

While I missed out on seeing Brian Yuzna’s Society during it limited run, I’d been hearing quite a lot about this 1989 film over the years while still managing not to see it until a review Blu-Ray popped up in the post. The outrageous “body horror” flick packed with intentionally campy performances, icky practical makeup effects by the legendary Screaming Mad George and a finale for the ages makes for one of those films that will cling to one’s grey matter for a while. Those squeamish to gore or sexual themes will be reaching for something to barf in, but there’s a definite “last gasp” of the 80’s Reagen era excess in the film’s themes and overall tone. Plus there’s just an overall sense of pure insanity that makes the film seem like both the best and worst nightmare you’ll ever have.
Continue reading →

Random Art, Madness & Watching No Paint Dry Division

Posted on June 9, 2015 by geelw

Gyaaah. So, it looks as if the roof repair project is going to take a few more days, there’s now some more water damage from that pipe behind a wall here, there still needs to be a floow-up inspection and I’m still figuring out where to store a bunch of stuff for the upcoming wall takedown/repair job. On the stupider front, I’m finding out that one reason repairs seem to be so damned slow here is this apartment has been in the family since 1976 or ’77 and it seems that the management is deliberately having the maintenance folks do crappy work as a means to make me crazy enough to leave. Why? Well, I’m certainly not paying market rate rent for this nice place, that’s why. Of course, the entire system for repairs here is SO damned ancient that I’m not going to be at all surprised when some newer tenants in buildings here take it on the lam after they deal with those inept dolts in the office and all that (waste of) paperwork that comes for even the smallest repair job.

Eh, I drew a tree yesterday after getting knocked out of bed early by some knocking on the roof. Enjoy it vicarously for me, as I was thinking of dropping a real tree on some people a few blocks up the street who need to get out of that office and see the awful work that’s been done up here. Boo on people who don’t see how the other half live because they just don’t give a crap.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Get the Coffee Table Book Treatment

Posted on April 7, 2015 by geelw

Okay, I’ll admit to not being much into He-Man and the Masters of the Universe way back when it was on TV and those beefy action figures and massive playsets were selling like hotcakes in stores. However, I was a big fan of Earl Norem‘s fantasy artwork as well as some of the cool animation Funimation had been doing since the late 60’s. As soon as I heard Dark Horse Comics was putting out a massive 300+ page regular and limited edition hardcover called The Art of He-Man And The Masters of the Universe, it went on my long list of books I needed to check out.

After getting a digital copy to peruse last week, color me impressed and a *kiiiind of* new convert to the old kid’s show. Granted, I’m not about to run out and buy up a box set and binge watch myself into a coma anytime soon. But thanks to the wonderful art and well-done interviews with many involved with the show, toys, comics and even that weird live action film, I respect the show a lot more on the art side of things. It’s still a big toy-selling chunk of nostalgia, but that sort of thing is why many now adults loved the show back in the day. I’m sure some of their parents had an eyebrow raised every time a new figure was requested and I don’t even want to think about holiday shopping for a hot new playset with a bunch of other parents eyeballing the same big box. Anyway, if one or more of those links floats your boat, go make a purchase. The regular edition is in stores on April 15 and the LE hits retail in May.

Oh, and someone needs to track down Earl Norem and send him a nice letter of thanks for all his gorgeous artwork, as his Wikipedia page is kind of depressing near the end. Personally, I think more people including younger illustration fans WOULD indeed be interested about the career of an 81-year-old artist. Hell, they’d better be, as his work was always consistently grand in just about anything he did.

Better Call Saul Digital Comic: Read The Fine Print, Please

Posted on April 4, 2015 by geelw

Okay, I had no idea there was a digital comic book based on AMC’s hit show Better Call Saul, but that’s because I waste less time online these days and spend more time trying to do stuff. That said, it’s actually a pretty good read if you’re into the show and the bonus “Super Saul” stories are hilarious send-ups of assorted superhero comic conventions with more of a legal bent.

If you’ve yet to see the show and wonder if it’s good (or as good as Breaking Bad was), fear not. Vince Gilligan and company are doing some excellent work and if you’re needing to catch up, AMC has a few suggestions. For starters, there’s a marathon of the first season running this Monday, April 6 at 12:15PM (11:15 Central) that leads directly into the premiere of the Season 1 Finale at 10/9c.

Yes, you should take Monday off and spend it in front of the TV because I said so. Hey, my lawyer said I can do this and not face any sort of legal retribution if you decide to do so and lose your job or whatever. Who’s my legal eagle of choice? Well, he’s got a very successful TV show that’s ending its first season on Monday night if you need a clue…

Random Art: Stuff You Do While Waiting…

Posted on March 27, 2015 by geelw

Had some medical checkup stuff to get done to-day, so posting will be limited until I return. Did this while waiting around for an EKG machine to free up. Amusingly enough, there’s usually a decent wi-fi signal here at the clinic, but it’s been dropping in and out to the point where staff asked people not to use devices or limit time to a few minutes so they could keep their work rolling smoothly. Good thing I can sketch offline and post within a handful of minutes once I get online, I guess. Okay, back later. This day is going on longer than expected and I’m missing some important stuff because of it, grrrr.