"Someone like Jean-Luc Godard is for me intellectual counterfeit money when compared to a good kung fu film."
January 30, 2004
Interesting, scholarly, but eminently readable piece by literary "anti-theorist" Franco Moretti that methodically details in which nations American films are popular, and what kind of films are popular there. For example: Jamaicans seem to love American action films; they're Jamaica's favorite movie genre. At the other end, Austrians could care less.
posted by Sean on 1/30/2004 11:16:00 PM| link
January 25, 2004
Just how far can special effects go, merely as an end to itself? There appears to be a very fine line between something that can be awe-inspiring, eliciting oohs and ahhs from the sugar-drunk masses, and mere ludicrousness (a racing bike whipping around a palm tree in Torque). One can lament the the dearth of the human element in movies, but spectacle is probably cinema's oldest tradition, dating back to its origins in exhibitions in carnival tents, spectators ducking and scurrying as the Lumières' train pulled into the station at La Ciotat, the magic tricks of the illusionist Méliès. One can rail against the carnival ride aspect of a lot of modern movies, but that would be as fruitful and wise as charging Hollywood with putting a dollar before art, which is the same as complaining about the weather.
posted by Sean on 1/25/2004 11:59:00 AM| link
January 24, 2004
An incredible piece of television archeology. Read about the star studded extravaganza the Ford Motor Company sponsored on CBS in 1957, The Edsel Show! Then marvel at the perseverence and success of one man's search for the program's original video tape. Then feast your eyes and ears on a Quicktime snippet of the show's opening. The sound quality of the broadband version is quite incredible!
posted by Sean on 1/24/2004 12:00:00 PM| link
January 23, 2004
For only a penny Vampire Bubble Gum can be yours. Maybe these monster candy cigarette packages can be yours for the same price. A lot of fun stuff at Tick Tock Toys.
posted by Sean on 1/23/2004 11:50:00 PM| link
Images of Amon Duul live in 1968. Pictures of other Krautrock luminaries too.
posted by Sean on 1/23/2004 11:35:00 PM| link