(Moé) Anthropomorphization and Hard Rock Park

So I recently came across this set of collectible pins with girls representing each of the “lands” of the new rock n’ roll theme park Hard Rock Park:

They are: “Cool Country,” the country-type music section of the park, “Born in the USA,” “Lost in the ’70s,” a wonderfully mod “British Invasion” girl, “Rock n’ Roll Heaven.”

(by the way…I am totally stoked about this park ^_^ because I LOVE ROCK and they also have a mod land.)

It really reminds me of moe anthropomorphization….

Moe anthropomorphization is the practice of drawing a “moe” (attractive and adorable) girl character to anthropomorphically represent a product, item, or concept. For example, the Fanta girls (the Fantanas). It is most commonly done in Japan among the anime nerd community (or officially with Chobits).  There’s a very very entertaining thread on the Lemmasoft forums where artists accept the challenge to “MAKE IT MOE!” and the results have encompassed everything from power drills to Mentos to a carrot.  There’s also the rare moe-hot-guy anthropomorph.

I suppose you could say a lot of my halloween costumes and little doodles of movie-me’s are sort of “girl versions” of stuff, it’s something somewhat related.

Save a Piece of Cinematic History!

Sign my petition to help save KQED’s 1973 film “Place for No Story,” a brilliant survey of the state of California presented entirely through source music, radio clips, and aerial/distance photography. It is currently deteriorating and unrestored; the magnetic sound emulsion is wearing off and the film may soon be lost forever.

The petition is here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/nostory/

Thank you!

Review - 10th Victim (1965)

The 10th Victim [La Decima Vittima] (Italy, 1965) dir. Elio Petri

10th Victim is a brilliant work of mod dystopic satire that comes off as “cool” and well executed in so many dimensions. It tells the story of a future in which one can join the “Grande Caccia” (Big Hunt), “mankind’s safety valve” designed to prevent wars and violence where one alternates being a “hunter” or “victim,” one’s opponent selected by a computer, and wins a million dollars on successful completion of 10 hunts.

“Why decrease births when we can increase deaths?”

“Hey suicides - there’s a place for you in the Big Hunt also!”

and other bitingly satirical remarks emanate from the speakers on the headquarters of the Big Hunt, an immaculate white building out of many masterpieces of midcentury modernism scattered throughout the film. The use of color is also quite notable within the mise-en-scene, as is the strange modern jazz and vocal music repeated through the film.

A hunter is told everything about his or her victim, who can’t kill just anyone chasing him either - outright murder outside of the Big Hunt still lands you in prison.

…which is where we find our protagonists, Caroline Meredith, an American huntress, and Marcello Poletti, her next victim. Meredith tails the cool and collected

The “Wright” Stuff

I really like Frank Lloyd Wright’s art and architecture. This is a little something I drew (one of my first attempts with a vector graphics program) inspired by his style:

(click for full size)

Thought about using it for a tshirt design, but decided against it. Let me know what you think!

Review - “Sayonara CP” (1972)

Sayonara CP [さよならCP] (Japan, 1972) dir. Kazuo Hara. (Documentary)

True fly-on-the-wall style documentary that follows a group of Japanese men and women with Cerebral Palsy (CP), juxtaposing dialogue from interviews with them over images of their daily lives, almost like the “documentaries” of British Free Cinema. Some moments are unbelievably touching (a married couple with CP talks about their newborn non-CP daughter growing up to be “just a normal girl with long hair and a miniskirt.”  A man with CP finds therapy through photography.), some are funny (several men with CP laugh about when they lost their virginity in red-light districts), some are shocking (one man with CP talks about how he goes without drinking water so he doesn’t have to use the bathroom and inconvenience others), while others are utterly heartbreaking (one man is unable to walk except on his knees: stumbling through the train station he tries to recite poems he has written. When someone finally draws everyone’s attention to the recital, a cop shows up and says “you’re disturbing people, stop it. This is a freakshow.”)

I don’t like documentaries all that much, especially the touchy-feely “inspiring” kind or the “shockumentary” expose (ala Michael Moore), but this film is nearly devoid of the pretenses of the modern popular documentary, presenting the people in their own words, the touch of the filmmaker virtually invisible. This writer, someone who rarely (if ever) cries during movies, was moved to tears several times during this one.

Sayonara CP is a shocking expose of the Japanese abandonment of those outside the group who are not “normal.” I’m sure the situation has alleviated itself somewhat in recent years, but this kind of discrimination against the handicapped still exists today in some form in nearly every country. This film is an important document of discrimination, much like the groundbreaking Titicut Follies (though less depressing and shocking) and a tendency to leave behind those who burden the rest of the group (”they must have their own group to take care of them.” “if we ignore an unpleasant problem, it effectively goes away for us and isn’t a problem anymore”) that unfortunately manifests itself in a lot of Japanese society in particular, though this type of apathy can be found in a lot of advanced societies.

Wonderful use of the film medium for emotional and social impact.

Rating: 8/10

-Recca 4/30/08

“Juno” and “Georgy Girl”

*WARNING - DON’T READ THIS POST IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN JUNO OR GEORGY GIRL AND DON’T WANT TO SPOIL EITHER FILM FOR YOURSELF.*

Juno, which came out last year, is a great little film. Georgy Girl from 1966 is also a great film. I wonder, had Diablo Cody seen Georgy Girl when she decided to write the screenplay for Juno? As far as their plots go, they’re almost the exact reverse of each other.

Awkward Juno gets pregnant by her awkward boyfriend Paulie and doesn’t want an abortion. She decides to adopt out her baby to Mark and Vanessa, a rich couple. Juno loves her boyfriend but he has started dating another girl. She’s a bit jealous. BUT…..Mark falls in love with Juno and divorces his wife. In the end, Juno has the baby and gives it to now-single Vanessa, and gets back together with Paulie. Everyone’s happy.

Georgy lives with her irresponsible friend Meredith, who goes out a lot and often cheats on her loving boyfriend Jos. Georgy is a single and awkward young preschool teacher who loves kids. Georgy’s dad’s boss James is a lot older than Georgy and seems to like her (despite being a married man) but nothing comes of it (not YET anyway). Meredith tells Jos she’s pregnant and asks what to do. She’s had a few abortions before. Jos is a little shocked about these theoretical kids of his she got rid of. Meredith decides to have the baby. Georgy and Jos are ecstatic about the future kid, watching videos and reading books with the fervor of a newlywed couple. Meredith is miserable and not too excited about being a mother. Meanwhile, James’s wife dies and he asks Georgy to be his mistress. She accepts, but only to get the money needed to buy things for Meredith’s baby. BUT….Georgy and Jos have been spendng a lot of time together. Jos has fallen in love with Georgy (and out of love with Meredith). They go to see Meredith in the hospital the day after she delivers. She doesn’t want the baby, so they adopt it and start living together. But Jos doesn’t want to be a father. He finds his new life terribly dull. Eventually he and Georgy split. Georgy decides to marry James so that she can continue to care for the baby she’s always wanted. Everyone’s happy.

**SPOILERS END HERE**

So in a way, Juno could be a modern-day spin on Georgy Girl. But they are different kinds of films in the end, with different kinds of protagonists.

So, opinion time. Do you think that Juno was influenced by Georgy Girl? Which film or protagonist do you like better (if you’ve seen them both)?

New “Cartoon”: Spoof of “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”

Here’s the latest product of RECCALUX “animation” studios (a.k.a. me).

Enjoy! And please rate the video on YouTube

It’s a parody of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, a famous German silent film. If you’re wondering about the irritating music: the DVD distributed by KINO used a crappy “modern” score done on synth and guitar that sounded just about as bad (if not worse) than the soundtrack I created by mashing up 2 unrelated songs. It’s about what the real thing sounds like >: )

Review - The Limey (1999)

The Limey (1999, USA) dir. Steven Soderburgh.

I recently picked up Groovy Movies at a discount book sale, and this film was featured in it. (It’s a great book for anyone else who loves the ’60s as much as I do) I’d also seen clips from the opening somewhere and really wanted to check it out. The unique style of non-linear editing and multi-plane narration make this a unique and daring film that is able to pull off so many things differently without losing a sense of plot or suspense.

The film follows Wilson, an English ex-con who comes to Los Angeles to investigate his daughter’s suspicious death in an auto accident.

We start with a great soundtrack, beginning the film with “The Seeker” by the Who and some original score that is quite experimental and modern in nature (but not in a distracting way), combined with stylish, loungey jazz. The film is suspenseful and exciting, but in more of a subdued, laid-back way (with periodic bursts of brilliant action scenes) , a lot like The Godfather. The sound design and sound editing are also quite well-done.

Terence Stamp is brilliant, as is the acting of his sidekick, Luis Guzman. Much like the film, he is calm and stoic until a situation necessitates his skills. He may be old, but he can still kick some ass. The action scenes are top-notch, the average fan won’t be disappointed.

Here’s an interesting tidbit that I noticed in the credits… the clips of young Wilson playing his guitar are actually videos of a young Terence Stamp from another film, Poor Cow from 1967 (which was Malcolm McDowell’s big screen debut; unfortunately all of his character’s scenes were cut from the film before its release.)

The film overall feels like it could be an artsy thriller from the ’70s (and I mean that in the best possible way). It has something for everyone, and the inner struggle of Wilson as a father is truly touching. Much like The Professional, The Limey strikes a great balance between action and calm, style and substance.

Rating: 7/10

Availability: Region 1 and 2 DVD available. “Special Edition” Region 1 DVD also available.

Trailer: http://youtube.com/watch?v=oyG-UPn77GQ

-Recca 4/13/08