Wednesday, January 28, 2009

word trickling in on OB2

Simon Barrett, the screenwriter of the film Dead Birds, weighs in on his experience seeing the North American premiere of Ong Bak 2 over at his blog.

Greatest Movie Trailer Ever. Bruka Queen of Evil!

Just got this from the fab Pete Tombs over at Mondo Macabro. SO - MUCH - FUN!!!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

polish poster haters

So I've posted images of fab Polish posters and other variations on poster design, so this decent gallery at wellmedicated.com is nothing new. What is fascinating is the over 300 comments about the post, particularly the people who call these posters garbage. Thanks internet. Thanks for giving these morons power. I've excerpted some of the choice comments below as well as some positive ones.

Straight Time

The Changeling

Critters

Don't Look Now

Short Circuit 2

Enter The Dragon

Bukator - August 23rd, 2008
Are u ppl blind? These are garbage. It looks like they were drawn with pencil crayons and markers by a ten year old. We live in a world of photoshop now. These poters look to be drawn in Microsoft Paint. Get with the times man. I like vintage design just as much as anyone else but these are just terrible excuses for art. Very lazy designs here that seem to be whipped up in minutes by whoever created them. If this is what it looks like throughout Poland, then they are missing out big time.

jkillah1 - August 25th, 2008
Many of you may call these “art”, but maybe you are just giving them too much credit because they are old. To me, they just remind me of all those dirty, boring, drab things from decades ago. Like watching TV shows from the early 90’s.

I love good art, and don’t get me wrong. The modern hollywood posters are not that great, but at least they have some vibrant color!

Nowadays, all that these posters would do is depress people and make them think that the films were boring! I’m surprised that so many people like these. It just gives me a sinking feeling in my gut. Uggh!

Atama - September 14th, 2008
i thought some of these were really good,but most of them were just disgusting. the never ending story one for instance is lazy and uninspired. i mean really,its like the guy was commissioned,and the day before it was due,he got drunk and watched the movie and then doodled what he remembered the next morning while eating breakfast before he went to drop it off. the Gandhi one,though,was absolutely beautiful. very Dali-esque. but to call any of these posters better than American ones is pretty off,one because that’s a pretty broad opinion,and two,because every one of these paintings is completely and utterly destroyed by Drew Struzan and folks of his caliber. still very nice and interesting though:D

The Final Word - September 15th, 2008
It’s frustrating (though not surprising) to see the negative comments on this board. It’s too bad that so many folks are so put off by the unfamiliar, when we should all be embracing it. These are all truly remarkable pieces.

To those who suggest that these are poorly drawn: You’re foolish.

To those who suggest that these were created to skirt copyright: You’re incorrect. They were created because, believe it or not, America’s design sensibility is neither universal nor supreme. Poles respond to advertising that reflects their sensibilities, as they should.

Haters hate. Playas play.

John Peter Paul - September 19th, 2008
I grew up in Poland in 70’s and 80’s. These posters represent the dominant artistic mood of the whole country at that time. We listened to dark and complex music, we valued deep literature, we were a rather somber and serious culture- with a romantic twist. It was a direct reflection of political and economic suppression as well as the result of very dominant catholic religious culture. We also looked to England, Italy and France more than the USA for artistic direction and inspiration.
Things have changed since, but to look back at those posters brings back some good and some not so good memories.
As to the colors, the repro and printing technology was not great. Also, some of the posters were well aged by the time they were digitized for display here

Monday, January 26, 2009

sticky stars of the 80s

Happy Chinese New Year! This year the celebration totally caught me off guard and I'm kind of bummed. I usually celebrate by going up to one of the big Chinese malls in the suburbs or gorge on dim sum and congee and curl up to watch some old HK film faves. I only clued in when I started seeing Chinese friends on Facebook wish each other Happy New Year. Bah!

So here is my obligatory Year of the Ox post that just happens to have a tie-in. Years ago I bought these sticker sheets for 79 cents in Chinatown. Kind of strange novelty item as they are full letter size sheets, with no perforations on them.

Check out young Tony, who wishes you all, "Gong hei fat choi!"

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

"Slash! Kick! Chop! Violence galore!"

A two page ad for Kodak film taken from a 1970s cinema mag.

Thursday, January 08, 2009

turn on the Thai TV

Random selection of links uncovered these today.

Muay Thai kickboxing mint



Goofy Godzilla-esque gasoline ad



A great Sixties Shaw Brothers parody

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

enter the game of death tower!

Years ago someone gave me a Japanese fashion mag that had a CD ROM with it and a silly Bruce Lee send up. Doing New Years cleaning and ripped the page out and chucked the mag. Now I share with you, faithful reader... Click on it to check in greater detail the various floors, like the "Cooking Floor" and the "Grooming Floor".

Monday, January 05, 2009

Saturday, January 03, 2009

I am already breaking my resolutions

From a Playboy magazine circa 1977.