Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Friday, March 06, 2009
the case of the missing duck
Great little piece at The Guardian about the history and mystery of the first Hong Kong film ever made, "Stealing a Roast Duck". There is a small debate whether or not that was the first production or was the film, "Zhuangzi Tests His Wife". Reporter Matthew Scott talks to HK film critic Law Kar to try and get to the bottom of it all.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
wong fei-hung posters
Big thanks to Carol for pointing this one out to me. I realize that I don't read and talk enough about the great work Jean Lukitsh does with the Electric Shadows blog entries over at Kung Fu Cinema. It's always a source for regualr and in-depth postings. Some recent subjects have been:
The Tai Chi choreography of Yuen Woo-ping, Part 1And then there is this AMAZING gallery of posters/handbills for the old Kwan Tak-Hing Wong Fei-hung films. Be sure to check it out. I am only showing two of several images Jean has posted. I would so buy t-shirts of these film titles. Just a simple one colour screen would look so cool. And the translations of some of them are terrific. I'd pay for a ticket right away based on them!
Dressed to Kill: The Films of Lily Ho
The Real Deal: Donnie Yen and the Fu Legacy
The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam
(That one's a Canadian film! It is my patriotic duty to point that out)
Magic Taoism: 'White Bone Yin Yang Sword, Part 1
The Heroine Yu So-chau
Wong Fei-hung's Three Battles with the Unruly Girl,
How Wong Fei-hung and his Wife Eradicated the Three Rascals
How Wong Fei-hung Vanquished the Bully at the Red Opera Float
Wong Fei-hung's Seven Battles With Fiery Unicorn
match of the century
This is from one of the trade mags at the European Film Market, that just wrapped up in Berlin a few weeks ago. Currently in development. Who knows if this film will ever actually happen. Stallone is attached to direct. The Stallone - Chan project never worked out. Will this?
Monday, February 23, 2009
a year ago the fires raged
Roughly, a year ago, Toronto lost the Queen Street West location of Suspect Video, along with several other businesses. Hard to believe it was a year. Nothings happened with the space. Just rubble and memories.
Here is the post about the original tragedy.
Here is the post about the original tragedy.
Inside the pink cinema
No, I don't mean that kind of pink cinema, I mean this kind of pink cinema. Pal of Sticky Floors, Jason Gray posted about his experience going to one of the remaining pink cinemas in Tokyo over at his blog. You can also see some of the buildings in their surroundings in this post of his.
Friday, February 20, 2009
super (ultra) 8mm
There were put up for auction on eBay. I scored the one with the photo cover, but really wanted the other one as it came with an audio tape! Can't wait to spool up the old super 8 projector to check it out!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
random kicks
Going through some lobby cards and found these curious snaps from this junky flick, A STEP TO HEAVEN. I have no idea what is going on in that telephone booth...
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.
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
Straight Time
The Changeling
Critters
Don't Look Now
Short Circuit 2
Enter The DragonBukator - 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!"
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
Thursday, January 15, 2009
giant monsters attack flickr!
Here is a bookmark that I have been hording for a little while, a great gallery of Godzilla and other Toho giant monster artwork, including some of the anatomic chart style looks at some of our favourite city stompers! Flickr user "modern_fred" also has great galleries on pop art, '60s fashion, "vintage comics and books", "fantasy worlds of irwin allen", "toys in space", "spy guys", "vintage plastic model kits", and "buildings with considerable style"
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
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
i dream of criterions
Thanks for my pal Shan for tipping me off to this Chinese site featuring Hong Kong film titles getting the Criterion treatment in mocked up covers. Some nice work here.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
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