Two new pieces for a local motor cycle shop

Both of these designs along with a number of other T-Shirt designs I've done are available at www.zazzle.com/Kimwood

 

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Maybe I'd rather switch than fight?

http://www.thefrown.com/frowners/becomerepublican.swf

Fearless

The new Jet Li film is called Fearless. It will be out in the states in August. If you like Jet Li, go see it. He claims this is his last WuShu film. WuShu is a genre of historical martial arts movie thatJ et Li has done a number of. Drunken Master and the Once Upon a Time in China series are perfect examples. A good WuShu film will have a number of action set-pieces tied together with a plot that keeps the story going. Fearless does this very well. Jet Li's portrayal of Huo Yuanjia is very different than his portrayal of another historical figure, Wong Fey Hung. They will look the same on the DVD covers, but Jet Li actually does some acting here. Huo is a darker, more selfish character who has some learning to do. As charming as Jet Li is you probably won't like Huo at the beginning on the film.

Ronnie Yu, who directed this, is back doing what he does best. I will try to forgive him for Freddy VS. Jason. Hong Kong directors never seem to work well within the Hollywood system. Another intersting fact is that Micheol Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, SuperCop) was originally in the film and her entire appearance is gone. They removed a subplot involving her character that trimmed the picture by 40 minutes. I'm all for shorter films, but I"m all for films with Michele Yeoh too. We'll never know if it is better shorter, but I'm guessing it is. I think the only films that are actually better longer are the Long of the Rings Director's Cut DVDs. I agree with John Waters. Films shouldn't be over about an hour and a half long and songs shouldn't be over 2 1/2 minutes long. Sure there are exceptions to this rule, but if the Ramones and Hank Williams (SR) can do it in that amount of time, maybe others should as well. Y'know... films used to be a lot shorter. Check out the running time of the Universal Horror pictures. Some are barely over an hour. Home video makes longer films easier to take, but almost every film I ever see, I think it could use about 20 minutes off the running time. Don't you think most movies could use a bit of tightening up? Movies shouldn't allow you to look at your watch or go to the bathroom. Action isn't required, but good dialogue and plot development to keep things moving along will do. Just no dead spots or boring sub plots-PLEASE! Also, as long as I'm yelling out to no one my cinema desires... Let's have more black and white movies. Remember films in the 60's when people made both back and white AND color movies? They made B&W films either to save money, or because it was an artistic choice. Would ED Wood be as good in color? Hell no!!! Would Good Night and Good Luck work in color??? NO!!!! Now, if I can get a black and white animated flick. Those just aren't made any more. In the 4th Urotsukidoji film, they start with some B&W animation and it looks kick ass. Oh, and I mean good old flat cel animation. No computer stuffs. Actually the cool looking B&W computer animation in Toy Story two was pretty good.

Monday's Goth Girl

Kawajiri Is God!!!!

I make no bones about it, I love Yoshiaki Kawajiri's work.  He is the animator behind the second anime I saw after AKIRA.  Now, it is hard to top AKIRA.  Otomo hasn't done many films, and most are actually short films within other films.  But, thankfully Kawajiri keeps 'em coming.  After having my mind blown by AKIRA, I needed more.  This was back in the day when you got your anime in Japanese with no subtitles.  You didn't know what was going on, but the animation was so cool, you just didn't care.  My second anime after AKIRA was another masterpiece-Wicked City.  Also known as Beast City or Demon City-Yoju Toshi.  This film is wild, bizarre and not for the squeamish.  It ranks right up there with Kawajiri's best work, and from my first viewing, I was hooked.  I  now have all of Kawajiri's work, including his short subjects.  Ninja Scroll is very popular in the states, but much of his other work remains unseen.  In fact, some of his work hasn't made it onto DVD in the US at all. 

 Some might complain about the plot, or the characters... but is films have style to burn.  Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, The Animatrix, and Ninja Scroll are widely available.  Check out Wicked City if you like your aime with bizarre sex and violence.  It is R rated at least, and very memorable for its use of sexual imagery.  Too bad the sequel Beast City-Shinjuku was a PG-ish sequel that couldn't offend anyone.

 

Kawari has nearly finished work on a Highlander anime.  Yes, that Highlander.  The (in my opinion) lame fantasy crap series that nerds dig.  They already are complaining about the anime being all wrong.  Screw 'em.  It is Kawajiri and he rules.  Check out the trailer and see for yourself.  It's way cooler than the lame-o movies.

http://www.imagi.com.hk/movie/web/highc.htm

There has been kind of a trend lately for anime sequels/prequels to live action films.  Van Helsing, Chronicles of Riddick, and The Matrix all have had animated projects.  The last two are worth seeing and feature animation by Peter (Aeon Flux) Chung.

People shouldn't fear their goverments Governments should fear their people.

Wow.  What a concept, and it is in a major motion picture from a major studio.  V for Vendetta is a good-looking, and well-made piece of film that feels a bit light despite its subject matter.  It is much like a superhero version of 1984.  And, it will piss Republicans off...."Big Time".  I'm guessing O'Riley will call them traitors and say, "I'm not calling for a boycott of this film, but I won't be seeing it."  In fact most people trashing this film won't see it or read the graphic novel. There will be a Republican talking points memo and everyone on Fox news will use the exact same language to decry the ideas in this film and call it "irresponsible".

 The film could be interpreted by people of differing political views in varying ways, but hopefully it is simple enough and obvious enough to make even the dumbest viewer think about the world we are living in.  Are things as you'd like them, or do you fear your government?  Do you feel like your personal freedoms are in jeapardy?  Do you think your government is honest with you about their intentions?

I'm not suggesting you do this, but the next Viva Bush! sticker I see, I might paint a circle V right over it.

Corsetta