Saturday, June 28, 2008

Good kids films anyone can enjoy.


This blog is becoming less about my artwork and more about crap that I like. I have a website for my art now so I guess its OK. By the way, I have a website now and if you want to see it (all two of you) click on the link to the left or here.
Anyway, I just saw some really cool movies these last few weeks and I want to recommend them.
First is the movie Wall-E from Pixar. I've always been a big fan of Pixar's so this was the only movie this year thus far that I allowed myself to have high hopes for. After seeing it yesterday I was not disappointed but I'm going to take a guess that it won't be the most successful Pixar film to date. The film in general for most part runs at a slightly slow burn so your average over stimulated idiot child or adult will probably get bored at some points of the film so I don't expect it to be a instant favorite for most people. Richard Roeper of "Ebert and Roeper" said in his review of the film that the first half of the film felt like I am Legend for the juice box crowd and I couldn't agree more. In fact Wall-E demonstrated the feeling of isolation far better then the lack luster adaption of Richard Matheson's amazing novel I am Legend of last year. As a character Wall-E is probably the most likable of any character in a movie I've seen this past year. The messages in the film were slightly heavy handed but I forgave it because most of it was commentary that needs to be addressed and Wall-E was such a likable character that I couldn't NOT be enthralled by the lovable robot. Wall-E the movie isn't just a good movie its Art. So please go watch Wall-E.

The other movie I'd like to recommend is Dreamworks' Kung Fu Panda. I'm not a big fan Dreamworks' animated films. I thought the first Shrek film had its moments but since then everything Dreamworks has dished out has been hopeless shallow marketing cash cows filled with pop culture jokes for the "adults" and fart/burp jokes for the kids. To be honest if I wanted to see that crap I'll watch a episode of the Family Guy. Kung Fu Panda on the other hand is a amazingly entertaining film that relies on its likable characters and story instead of gas and pop culture gags. At its core it has your very familiar theme of the underdog, just believe in yourself and you can achieve anything kind of astory but in many ways it transcends that with its likable and surprisingly complex characters. It looks like whoever directed this film really wanted to separate themselves from Dreamworks' usual fair and made something truly special and it shows. The acting, animation, and kung fu action sequences were all handled with great care and respect thus making not only a good kids film but a good film period. Go see it.

My other recommendations will be shorter.

IronMan: Surprisingly good. I hadn't expected it to be as good as it was and it turned to be one my most favorite super hero films to date. Go see it (or at least DVD it).

The Incredible Hulk: Again surprisingly good. This Hulk didn't try to be more than it was like Ang Lee's Hulk. This hulk was out to entertain and not be a Greek tragedy. Bruce Banner gets mad, Hulk smashes stuff with really loud noises while kids and comic fanboys in unison go "aww man thats cool!" The End. Go see it (or at least DVD it).

One movie that I can't and won't recommend is the most recent Indiana Jones film. My GOD was that film Rubbish! If you have any respect for the original Indiana Jones films or just good films in general don't watch this travesty. Period.

There is one more movie that I just can't wait to see and thats Chris Nolan's Dark Knight. Here's hoping its as cool as its hyped to be. Everything else after Dark Knight this year kind of gets a "meh" from me and that includes the new Cohens' film Burn After Reading and I'm a huge Cohen Brothers fan.

"The Dude Abides"

-E

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Watch this Documentary.


This has nothing to do with my art but I just watched a documentary I must insist that everyone go watch. It is Bill Guttentag's and Dan Sturman's:

NANKING

If you are not familiar with the Rape of Nanking you should definitely watch this film. It is one of the greatest uncommonly known atrocities to humanity of the 20th Century. I have seen a few documentaries about the Rape of Nanking but this documentary was one of the finest I've seen. Some of the other documentaries I've watched relied on the extremely graphic pictures that were taken during the japanese army's destruction and rape of Nanking China. This documentary didn't however and even though it didn't soften the evil and horror of it all it never felt exploitive or biased. The mixture of eye witness accounts read by actors, real film footage and personal stories of the victims are spellbinding.

Please, go watch it.

-E

Friday, June 20, 2008

I finally got a website.

I finally got a website.

Its a free site so there will be some weird ads along the sides but free is free right?

http://epalaciosart.xbuild.com

-E

Monday, June 9, 2008

Monday, May 26, 2008

Just two



A three hour life drawing from a workshop at Watts. I did one of Brook at the Bee but it didn't turn out so hot. Also, is a little three hour one of Cecelia at the Bee.
-E

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Read this quote!

"If you want to really hurt your parents, and you don't have the nerve to be gay, the least you can do is go into the arts. I'm not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heavens sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something."

-Kurt Vonnegut

I think every artist should take Mr Vonneguts advise on this one.

-E

Thursday, May 15, 2008

A Man Without A Country *

For no particular reason I was kind of feelin' down today. For those of you who know me (which is none of you) you are probably thinking "what do you mean you're down? Aren't you always down?" No, I'm usually Surly but today I was feelin' down. So I went to the only place I know I'll be treaded somewhat like a human being. No, not the IHOP.

The Library.

While I was there I was trying to draw up some roughs for a project that's due in a few days but I was hitting a wall mentally and wasn't able to focus on the project. Why? Because I was down! I thought I just explained that! So I then went to wandering the library for inspiration. What I found were two books The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and Kurt Vonnegut's A Man Without a Country. I took a pass on Conrad. I've already been reading some heavy stuff lately and I wanted to read something fun again and just like meeting a old childhood friend I see Kurt Vonnegut. Yeah, I said "childhood" friend. I was smarter when I was younger and in my early teens Kurt was one of my favorite authors. Breakfast of Champions and Slaughterhouse Five are still some of my favorite reads. Besides it was the title itself what drew me in instantly.

A Man Without a Country.

This is a saying I have used to self describe myself in my mind lately and all of a sudden I see a book written by one of my most favorite authors using this very same title. It was serendipitous!
So I start reading and after the first three pages I was hooked and better yet I was feeling better. So I checked it out and went to get some comfort food at DZ Akins and got a hamburger and and mint oreo shake. Holy SHIT! Its no wonder chicks eat chocolate and ice cream when they are depressed that shit actually works. I just usually just eat cooked animal fresh when I need comfort. So along with the chocolate shake and Kurt which I finished both in one sitting within an hour I suddenly felt better. Do yourself a favor and go read A Man Without a Country. Its funny and will probably make you feel better like it did me. Its a really quick read (141 pages) practically the length of a long winded magazine article. You won't regret it. Reading it I realized that Kurt died just over a year ago. I'm glad I read one of his last written works.

"Kurt is in heaven now"

Read the book and that will make more sense.

Well, gotta get back to work. Wait,is Lost on tonight? Fuck it. I'm gonna watch that shit. I gotta bust out the rabbit ears.


-E