I’m not a visual artist, but have gotten interested in graffiti in recent years. Watching this docInfamy just now, I realized there is something for the voyeur too. And I’m not talking about the thousands of lame pieces you’re gonna see day in day out, but something really weird in a cool place, (for me I guess seeing Botch in the abandoned prison in ATL), then seeing other works by the artist. Touching a bit of the obsession. But for all of the lame ego tricking that goes on with the game, there is genuine curiosity in the mix sometimes.

Like it wouldn’t really change anything to meet the people doing these things, and who you feel you get a glimpse into their lives or style, but it would be cool anyway.

This film has gotten much hype and acclaim, all of it deserved. It stands now as a further memorial to the demolished towers, and a beautiful quixotic event in another bleak economic period. I also think it’s really interesting that there was another toll or cost from the event, in terms of the lost friendships and love, which are honestly discussed. A must see! I’ll probably read Philipe’s pick pocket book at some point as well.

When I was traveling around Northern Italy in the Spring of 2004, I kept seeing a book by this American con. Thus began my introduction to Edward Bunker. I read a few of his books soon after, including The Animal Factory. I knew Steve Buscemi made a film version in 2000, but I only recently got around to seeing it. Why this film, with Willem Dafoe and Edward Furlong, wasn’t better received I can only count to the prison subject matter. But I thought it was really well done, including a soundtrack from the enigmatic John Lurie. One IMDB review I saw complained of the plot being “unbelievable”, but it’s completely true to the novel…I think the real complaint was Furlong was too good looking to not get punked, but whatever.

So I’ve been in contact with an English school in Jinan, China and am awaiting my invitation letter, which will land me a work visa, and a move on the the next chapter of my life. Unfortunately I heard from the school yesterday, that the Chinese govt. has slowed way down, if not halted the issuing of such visa over lingering fears of swine flu. A little searching around elsewhere confirms this. So my wait will be a bit long and future a bit less certain. But I’m not in such a bad spot right now, have other work in the meanwhile. Things could be worse.

I don’t have the swine flu, and am ready to stand before a panel of Chinese doctors to confirm this. Just give me a chance ya’ll!

I guess they actually had quite a challenge, with all the franchise history, to go back and tell the pre-story, esp. against the backdrop of all of the technological changes that have come about since 1966. I would have gone with some serious high end set designers to get the perfect combination of 60’s technicolor style against the 21st century audience expectation, and kept the CG shit to a minimal. But that’s not what summer blockbusters are made of. The only time they get seriously wrong is during a gratuitous monster scene. Common with the absurd over the top CG monsters already! We can’t be scared by a large monster…it has to be a crazy large monster, with red reptilian skin in a snow environment no less? Not buying it! The casting was OK, other than Simon Peg being too heavy a pick for comic relief, and the Chekov guy a total miss. Also, negative points for absurd, anachronistic use of a Beastie Boys song.
But the script is OK, and wisely hides behind “alternate timelines” to clear up some would be slop. Not sure why the new and old version of a character have to meet one another, but I guess that’s throwing a bone to the trekkies. But since you went with the PG 13 rating would it not be OK to have some boobs in there? Yeah I know, there are kids in the audience, but if you consider most every film between 1978-1983 had at least a few seconds of boobs and we turned out OK, what’s the problem? After all, those rogue Romulan miners might be the deciding factor in some of the kiddies making unfortunate decisions to get facial tattoos. Boobs never hurt anybody, and I’d argue the real James T. Kirk would approve.
In the end, do they manage to bring the franchise into the 21st century like Batman and James Bond? Yeah I guess, but without the “darkness”, and I rather like the darkness.

I’m gonna have to make the trip to check this out when I get back over there. This has bizarre photo op written all over it.

*update 5-19-09* Oh no! But I’m not really surprised…

from Juxtapoz

Another super cool animation based on JG Ballard work. Found here.