Calvin's Canadian Cave of Coolness

Monday, July 2, 2012

Officer, I Am Offended. She Is My Sister!

If you have spend anytime on my blog you know that I am a huge fan of the superhero girls and the people who do cosplay of the characters. Brother M.D. Jackson created these images of street whores who know how to sell their wares in a way that would get me to turn the car around at least a couple of times.

Comic Panels Of The Day - G.I. Combat #1 (2012)

I remember absolutely nothing about the story except for the dinosaurs. Are tales about soldiers who don't fight dinosuars interesting enough for today's jaded comic fans? I think you can tell some really moving tales about loyalty and sacrifice without the T-Rex but what do I know? DC comics seems to be going into another direction these days. Pretty art and crappy stories are no way to build a fan base.

The RESURRECTION II - Painted Skin Trailer

http://hollywood-spy.blogspot.ca/

Claire Sinclair Vintage Photoshoot

Thanks to ArIv ReMo for the clip.

The Last Unicorn (1982)

My friend Danielle was talking this weekend about going out to her family's cabin. She brought with her the latest edition of the graphic novel based on the story of The Last Unicorn. After her ravings about the story, I decided to check out the graphic novel and the animated feature that came out in the 80s. It's not the usual thing I like to watch but I am glad I took a chance.

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle: A unicorn overhears some hunters saying that all the unicorns in the world are gone. Unicorns are immortal and can only be hurt or killed if they leave their forests—but the unicorn is desperate to know if she is the last, so she sets out on a journey to find out. Along the way she meets heroes and villains and uses her bravery to save herself and her friends.

(first paragraph)
The unicorn lived in a lilac wood, and she lived all alone. She was very old, though she did not know it, and she was no longer the careless color of sea foam, but rather the color of snow falling on a moonlit night. But her eyes were still clear and unwearied, and she still moved like a shadow on the sea.

The animated feature uses traditional cell animation behind gorgeous matt paintings. It's the way that cartoon features used to be made before the use of computers. I found myself charmed by the nostalgia in the technique. The movie plays like a Japanese animated features by Hayao Miyazaki and that is only one of it's many strength.

The script is strong and funny as are the famous voices (Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels, Christopher Lee and Alan Arkin) giving speech to the characters. There is even a pirate cat with a peg leg and eye patch who talks in riddles. That was worth the price of admission for me.

The songs are performed by the group, America.

The style and characters resemble the animated 'Lord of the Rings' half-movie that came out a few years before this one. That is not surprising because many of the same creators worked on both films.

I hated all the scenes from the grubby carnival because of the poor sick animals who were forced to suffer before the brave Unicorn came into their lives. If I was a young child I am sure that those scenes would have disturbed me and stayed with me for many years. I know those scenes are suppose to be there to make me appreciate the Unicorn's final victory all the more and they certainly kept my attention. I just hate to see any creature suffer.

The tale is surprisingly dark for what is essentially a children's story. I liked the way the story doesn't sugarcoat the evil in the world. It respects it's intented youth audience enough to take them on an emotional journey that is ultimately more satisfying in the end than an adventure that makes everything feel happy and safe all the time. I can see why this one is called a classic.

Here is some of the cover art by Renae de Liz from the six-issue adaptation fo the story from IDW Comics. The graphic novel I read was from this beautifully collected series.

8/10

Tumblr Girls Of The Week

Afternoon Captions

Which Is Right?

Women Be Thinkin' Too Much

"We can't launch a space yacht. It's far too difficult for a man!"

Star Maidens was an Anglo-German production of 13 episodes, starring Dawn Addams as President Clara of the Grand Council of Medusa. It consisted of women in slinky costumes, subjugating and dominating the male population of Earth in the future.

Apparently the German producers saw it as a sex comedy, while the English saw it as an intelligent sci-fi series that addressed gender reversal.

This resulted in confusion... and one online reviewer says it was all of the following: ludicrous, ambitious, confused, infuriating, cack-handed, staggering, limited, inventive, cheap, hilarious, camp, sexy, lurid fun! Gareth Thomas, Derek Farr and Judy Geeson also starred.

The women rule the world in this series that was unknown to me until today. I found it over at Space 1970 and if the first episode is any indication, I am in for a groovy time watching this one.

I am glad there is no grey in this female centered world. The women treat the men as if they are mere chatal, which is just how German women must have felt in the 70s, I guess. All the men are mice and fully dominated and all the women are vain ballbusters. I guess being in charge didn't make you girls any less cranky, did it?

You dames solved your weight issues so it suprises me you never got around to the pesky PMS 'issue'. Not that I am complaining. I love hearing women sit around and bitch about the ONE attractive man they can't control. I love seeing how it consumes their every waking moment. Set that bullshit in space and give me go-go boots and I am a fan.

Speaking of the outfits the female security forces wear - why can't our police forces run around in orange hotpants, halter-tops and platform boots? BECAUSE IT'S GOOFY THAT'S WHY. I love the look but it doesn't really convey that sense of authority that you want in your police force. Is this the way you gals would really parade around if you had all the power?? Also what is with the vibrator and oven mitt in your belt? You are sending me mixed signals here, baby.

It also helps that the woman in charge of retrieving our lost males is herself the stereotype of Aryan authority and rigidity. Octavia (Christine Kruger) hates men because she is almost one herself. Okay, I went way too deep into her character than she ever does. It's easy to be the superbitch when everything about men annoys you.

With some glaring exceptions, the design work on this series is spectacular. I have heard it called 70s Excess. It's exactly the way someone in 1975 would imagine the future to be. The minitures and other special effects are top rate for the time. The costumes and make-up are also interesting to look and often are spectacular. A great deal of effort was put into creating a believable civilization. I don't think they totally succeeded (and I think that is what will make this one great for me) but I appreciate the effort.

And now I get to the 'hero' of our little drama - Adam - the lone Alpha male who is gonna bring the whole system crashing down because he is upset to be treated like a sexual plaything. Well boo-hoo for you Pepe Le Pew!!

You live in a nice house, you are getting regular sex and you get to plan the meals. You can watch you stories and eat your bon bons all day long if you want. What the hell are you complaining about?

You know what, Adam, these angry bitches SHOULD kill you. They need to kill you because you are selfish and ungrateful and set a bad example for the other men. Just tell your Mistress what she wants to hear and take it like a man.

I hope you become less of a bitch as we go along here. I want to like you. I really do. Start with the hair. It's really too much. You don't need to keep auditioning for me...you GOT the job.