Fantastic Planet Of The Japes
...normally, I would do a lengthier rant about a graphic novel that I had recently finished. Whether I liked it or hated it, I try to get into the dirt with it a bit to continue my microscopic crusade of building awareness for both mainstream and off-kilter titles. But every once in a while, I just don't think I will have much to say on a matter. Such is the case with Last Days Of An Immortal by Fabien Vehlmann.
Truth...I am torn on this one. Generally speaking, I think Archaia puts out some of the most attractive products on store shelves. That alone makes me wish I could sing the praises of this book. When you peel back the cover, the art is simple, unique and striking. There is superb use of depth and shading amongst what are simple renderings. What holds me back from holding it up in earnest is the story itself.
The writing itself is not bad. Actually, it happens to be pretty well done. But the story feels fragmented to me. Maybe I read it too loosely or just read through clouded eyes, but it felt likes parts of stories that were related, but not tightly wound together. Which is a let down because I kept seeing a semi-Dali-esque influence that melded with a 70's adult animation vibe. Yet, a good amount of others seem to like what they've seen. Perhaps at some point I will give it another glance, just to be sure.
...at one point this past weekend, I thought I might have a lengthy rant settled in the chamber concerning the Oscars. Turns out that I don't. Maybe it just felt as if this was the case, but Gravity appears to have dominated the night. I somewhat expected it to rake in the technical categories, but Best Director? I will concur that Gravity was a good film and it was nice to see a science-fiction film do well, but how did American Hustle completely whiff in the face of this?
Another confounding aspect (to me) was The Great Gatsby winning two awards. Granted, they were for costume and set design but by that estimation, why not nominate something like Paul W.S. Anderson's The Three Muskateers? That film was universally panned as a terrible adaptation, but the trailer I saw seemed to have the costume design accurate. I (and I'm certain many others) have seen plenty of terrible films that had exquisite set decor. For my money, so much about this recent adaptation of The Great Gatsby was a misfire, including the sets that looked like a cross-dressing of Daredevil and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Next time, throw that nod to Thor: The Dark World.
My upside(s) were seeing Matthew McConoughey win Best Actor for Dallas Buyers Club. In the past, I have often rolled my eyes at him as abs for horny housewives, but he really deserved to win. Also, it was good to see 12 Years A Slave win Best Picture because though I have yet to see it, I was all Gravity'd out by that point. Beyond the effects (which were incredible), I just felt that the skeleton of Gravity had a little less meat of a story on it with which to earn so many honors.
Read: Witchdoctor Volume 1 by Brandon Siefert
Listen: Sheavy Synchronized
Watch: The Oscars
The writing itself is not bad. Actually, it happens to be pretty well done. But the story feels fragmented to me. Maybe I read it too loosely or just read through clouded eyes, but it felt likes parts of stories that were related, but not tightly wound together. Which is a let down because I kept seeing a semi-Dali-esque influence that melded with a 70's adult animation vibe. Yet, a good amount of others seem to like what they've seen. Perhaps at some point I will give it another glance, just to be sure.
...at one point this past weekend, I thought I might have a lengthy rant settled in the chamber concerning the Oscars. Turns out that I don't. Maybe it just felt as if this was the case, but Gravity appears to have dominated the night. I somewhat expected it to rake in the technical categories, but Best Director? I will concur that Gravity was a good film and it was nice to see a science-fiction film do well, but how did American Hustle completely whiff in the face of this?
Another confounding aspect (to me) was The Great Gatsby winning two awards. Granted, they were for costume and set design but by that estimation, why not nominate something like Paul W.S. Anderson's The Three Muskateers? That film was universally panned as a terrible adaptation, but the trailer I saw seemed to have the costume design accurate. I (and I'm certain many others) have seen plenty of terrible films that had exquisite set decor. For my money, so much about this recent adaptation of The Great Gatsby was a misfire, including the sets that looked like a cross-dressing of Daredevil and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Next time, throw that nod to Thor: The Dark World.
My upside(s) were seeing Matthew McConoughey win Best Actor for Dallas Buyers Club. In the past, I have often rolled my eyes at him as abs for horny housewives, but he really deserved to win. Also, it was good to see 12 Years A Slave win Best Picture because though I have yet to see it, I was all Gravity'd out by that point. Beyond the effects (which were incredible), I just felt that the skeleton of Gravity had a little less meat of a story on it with which to earn so many honors.
Read: Witchdoctor Volume 1 by Brandon Siefert
Listen: Sheavy Synchronized
Watch: The Oscars
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