FRAZETTA - PAINTING WITH FIRE -- Lance Laspina, dir

©2003
studio: Razor Digital Entertainment
production company: Cinemachine,Dark Kingdom Inc.
director: Lance Laspina
cast: Frank Frazetta, Eleanor Frazetta, Heidi Frazetta, Forrest J. Ackerman, Simon Bisley, John Buscema, Glenn Danzig, Bo Derek, Kevin Eastman, Joe Jusko, Dave Stevens, Angelo Torres, Al Williamson, David Winiewicz, Neal Adams, Ralph Bakshi, Mike Kaluta, Bernia Wrightson
screenplay:
documentary

A look at one of the most influential artists of the science fiction/fantasy/horror genre ever.

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As long as you have samples of his work displayed on screen, you pretty much can't go wrong with a film about Frank Frazetta. His work is fantastic.

I learned a few things that surprised me, mainly that he doesn't work with models or photographs! But equally impressive is that recently, due to a few strokes, he has begun drawing and painting with his left hand (having spent his career prior to this, painting with his right).

The only thing that I would have liked more of, would have been seeing him actually working on some of his paintings. We only got a glimpse of this with his left hand.

Still...a great documentary. Highly recommended.

CASINO ROYALE -- Martin Campbell, dir

©2006
studio: Sony Pictures
production company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Columbia Pictures, Eon Productions (as Albert R. Broccoli's Eon Productions Limited), Danjaq Babelsberg Film, Casino Royale Productions, Casino Royale, Stillking Films, United Artists
director: Martin Campbell
cast: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright
screenplay: Neal Purvis & Robert Wade

In his first mission, James Bond must stop Le Chiffre, a banker to the world's terrorist organizations, from winning a high-stakes poker tournament at Casino Royale in Montenegro.

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I'm not sure how I take to Craig as Bond. He's tough, and no-nonsense, but is that Bond?

Lots of action and lots of hints at character development, but little actual character. This gets a so-so rating for James Bond films in my book.

XANADU - Robert Greenwald, dir

©1980
studio: Universal Pictures
production company:
director: Robert Greenwald
cast: Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly, Michael Beck, James Sloyan, Dimitra Arliss, Katie Hanley, Fred McCarren, Ren Woods, Sandahl Bergman
screenplay: Richard Christian Danus, Marc Reid Rubel

A muse comes to life to help make the dreams of two different artists come true.

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Oh my goodness. Not only did I watch this, I actually own it. Why? I'm a huge Gene Kelly fan, and felt (feel) that I should have this, one of his last films.

And, dare I say it, I didn't hate it.

I saw the movie in the theatres when it first came out, and it hasn't necessarily improved with age, but it hasn't gotten any worse. There is still a terrible musical section when Kelly, Newton-John, and Beck go shopping and a crowd of David Bowie-wannabees goof around to some bad ELO sounds. Other than that, it is actually pretty watch-able.

The problem with the film is a lack of cohesive story. It's made out to be Beck's story, but ultimately it is Kelly's dream that is realized and Beck is coerced into believing that it's his dream as well. Why? No reason. Just poor writing/directing.

Kelly could easily lead the picture, but takes a secondary role to the unknown and poor actor, Beck. Nothing is ever made of the fact that Kelly's lost love looks an incredible amount like Kira, the muse.

A tighter script, more attention to actual focus could have made this movie a real hit. I hope that the Broadway remake has corrected this!