Showing posts with label Habibi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Habibi. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Comic Review: Habibi
If nothing else, Craig Thompson’s massive tome is a heck of an achievement. More than 600 pages, written and illustrated by Thompson, and deeply researched. Is it my kind of book? No. Is it what I wanted when I first picked it up? Not at all. But it is a good example to use when pointing out to people that comic books and graphic novels are about more than caped crusaders, and that they can be as literary as any other book. This is a real graphic novel, as sprawling and tragic as any more traditional book.
The story of a young girl, sold into marriage, thrown into slavery, and her young adopted son begins as a kind of adventure story. Though there are hints of a darker future (and clear vision of a dark past), there’s something thrilling about the two finding a boat in the middle of the desert, and making a home. Of course, as this book frequently does, it is quickly tainted by the outside world, by brutal and ugly (inside and out) men.
The story and the art are interconnected throughout, as page layout and images blend with language and mystical theory. Numbers, letters, and sacred symbols fill the pages, along with human horror, sparks of hope, depths of sadness, and images from a world running down to its last few cycles. That’s an odd thing about the book, too. It looks like some kind of Arabian Nights story if you briefly flip through, but if I’m reading it right, it actually takes place in a future where the world has gone past the tipping point, is drying up, and wasting away. The gap between rich and poor is as bad as it’s ever been, and most people are surrounded by the filth and refuse of a dying or dead civilization.
I’m sure I didn’t take away the same thing others might from this book. But what I kept thinking through the whole thing was how messed up and silly religions are, especially when it comes to all the mystical stuff. All the stories to explain things, all the blah blah about sacred numbers and divine squares; what you can't eat and what you can't wear. Oh, and of course, the nearly universal hatred of women. It’s all so pathetic. So small. So childish.
I can’t say I liked or enjoyed Habibi. It’s not my sort of book, and I’m not likely to seek out anything more from the author. But it’s something I can recommend to some folks I know. And it should help break down some of the walls of contempt that ‘serious’ authors have build around the comic medium. It’s about as far away from X-Men or Superman as you can get. And it’s depressing enough to win awards (only depressing material can be good in the eyes of the Literary Establishment, so far as I can tell).
Habibi
Author/Artist: Craig Thompson
Publisher: Panthion
ISBN: 978-0-375-424144
-Matt
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Matt’s Week in Dork! (8/19/12-8/25/12)
Not too much new this week, I guess. Couple of chunks of downtime, so a lot of movies.
Doll Face: Oh, spousal abuse. Comic gold! A huckster boyfriend (and advocate of lady punching) and a smooth talking writer vie for the attentions of a dancer with stars in her eyes. Based on a Gypsy Rose Lee play, I’m sure she drew on her own history for some of the bits. The excitement and romance of bury-Q revealed!
The Duke is Tops: Lena Horne has a thousand watt smile, a sweet voice, and gams that just won’t quit (sadly covered in this film). What she doesn’t have is an ounce of acting talent. Still, it’s nice to see a movie from the late 30s, featuring black actors, that doesn’t feel exploitative (except that one musical number near the end), condescending, or outright hostile. Some fascinating characters and good performances, too. The Cats and the Fiddle were crazy, man. The whole snake-oil sales subplot was unexpected, and kept reminding me of Carnivale. The depression must have been a weird time to live through, beyond the obvious economic and environmental problems. Not only did it foster the rebirth of American religious obsession (religion being the drug people run to most in times of trouble), but it seems to have been a great time for get rich quick schemes, self-discovery and creation, and outlandish personality. Extreme and obscure fads popped out of every corner as people were desperate to escape the reality of their lives.
Hi-De-Ho: Cab Calloway is a lady slapping cat who sings up a storm but can’t act a bit. His violence prone lady friend isn’t having any of Cab’s new, mousy agent. Calloway has a ton of charisma while he’s performing music, but once his band stops, so does most of his charm. His dance during the song ‘Hey, now.’ looked familiar. I realized it’s because he dances like me. Did he have a time machine? There’s a great tap number near the end, too. And I’m not much of a tap guy. The music in this one is awesome, but the in-between bits are kind of awkward and goofy.
Game of Thrones Season 1: I’m generally not a huge fantasy fan, though I often do enjoy the genre in film. And I’m really, really not a fan of the ‘death of trees’ fantasy sagas that seem to be the fashion of the day. All these post-Tolkien, 10 book, 900 pages per volume series that cry out to the heavens for an editor. And after watching this series, I have absolutely NO interest in reading the books. But, this was a good show, and I can’t wait to see the next season. It makes me wish more books (especially ones I actually do read) would get this kind of respectful treatment (Herbert’s Dune series? Howard’s Conan? Burroughs’ Barsoom? Robinson’s Mars? Oh, the possibilities). Doing this 10-12 episode, season per book adaptation is a great option.
The Deadly Trackers: Richard Harris faces off against Rod Taylor in this brutal, ugly, and sadly, kinda boring Western. It’s got some really good bits. But the whole thing meanders through a lot of ‘seen it-done it’ pilfering. The opening 20 minutes are probably the best, setting up for some crazy revenge. But the actual procedural (that’s how it feels) of tracking and killing the baddies gets tired fast. Requisite Mexican buddy, prostitute, and dumb villagers are all present. Just missing a priest, really.
Man in the Wilderness: If nothing else, the image of a boat being hauled through the forest that opens the film is dramatic. The bear attack…less so. I had actually read about the events dramatized in this film during my Western Month a couple years back. A testament to human endurance, to say the very least. Richard Harris does a good job of looking physically destroyed, and he’s able to carry much of the film with little more than grunts and gasps. There is some seriously beautiful scenery. If you weren’t in the mood for a lot of dialog, this would be a good companion film to Jeremiah Johnson or maybe The Grey. Though I guess the way it plays out is more ‘cinematic’ than the real events, but I kind of wish they’d stayed with history on this one. The spirit is about right, but the details all wrong.
Viva Las Vegas: I’m not the biggest Ann-Margret fan, but YOWZAH! When she appears in those white shorts…I think my eyeballs fogged up. Vegas is a city that holds no magic for me, either. But showgirls are showgirls and they’re A-OK with me. Elvis and his Italian friend’s club-crawl looking for Ann-Margret’s perfect posterior is kinda awesome. And her swinging 60s dance number at the gym; crazy! I’ve never had much skill reading women. But I get what her body language was saying in that dance…and you can’t say that stuff on television (not even on FOX). I think I need a cold shower. The final race is horrifyingly explosive, though. Like some crazy Car Wars action. Everybody’s smiles and sunshine at the end, but I’m pretty sure two or three of those drivers are super dead.
The Eighteen Jade Arhats: “Well miss, your kung fu is good.” This dvd would make a great example of why ‘pan & scan’ is the devil’s work. As far as the actual movie goes, I have no f’in idea what was going on here. Lots of random dialog, lots of bad cutting and sudden zooms, and awkward sound effects like you just don’t know. Who is anyone? Why are they doing things? What are they doing, exactly? Is that Asian Julie Newmar? I don’t know. Somebody’s dead. I guess some folks are trying to find out who did it. Some old guy kills people with his palm…but I guess it wasn’t him. Watch out for old dudes in wide hats who sound like they’re in a Don Blooth movie. DEMON ATTACK!!! It’s all right…they’re only men dressed up. Birth Gate or Death Gate?! Surprise funeral! Monk wants a little head! Light Kung Fu!!! Conditional killing!!! (Glad it’s not raining!). Is that an apron? Is he gonna make cookies later? Don’t worry if it doesn’t make sense. Two thirds of the movie doesn’t actually matter. I don’t know if it’s the transfer (which is terrible) or the way the film was shot, but it’s WAY too dark most of the time, so many fights are really hard to watch. Not one of the better 70s chop socky movies I’ve seen.
The Creature with the Atom Brain: A wacky scientist and an angry dude get together to use science-zombies for theft and murder. Can a pipe smoking doctor and his hat wearing chums solve the mystery of the glowing fingerprints? A lot of the film is pretty typical Atomic Horror stuff, with all the Mr. Wizard exposition and explanation. But it’s well filmed and the cast is charming. I love that when doctors get together, they sure enjoy smoking those Bob Dobbs pipes.
The Venture Bros. Season Two: Holy crap. What levels of bad taste and surreal madness will this show not descend to? None that I can see. The glory of the Monarch and Dr. Girlfriend. Brock Sampson’s sweet mullet. A Blackula hunter and a sex changing Hunter. Good sweet crap, this show is amazing. And finally, the true identity of the Sovereign will be revealed! Zoinks!
The Giant Claw: “Atomic spit-balls.” Is it a flying saucer? NO! It’s a giantass space bird and it’s coming for you. This movie has some cool stuff in it, and some great Atomic Horror dialog. But the creature never really works. It looks like a strung out punk rocker mixed with a buzzard, and moves like Fiona Apple. The movie is a little over long. And though I know it would never be handled right, and general viewing audiences are too cynical to enjoy the madness, but part of me would love to see this remade today.
Bye Bye Birdie: “Who wants respect from a ten year old kid?” Conrad Birdie (basically Elvis) has been drafted, and he’s gonna make some young woman’s existence mean something before he heads off. He’s gonna kiss her on TV. The cult of celebrity is explored in musical numbers, as women go totally apenuts for the gyrating, gold jumpsuited rocker. Ann-Margret plays the lucky girl, and she does that all American Teen girl thing very well. I love how she can look so sweet and prim in one shot and so…not, in another. And who would expect that Gone With the Wind battle aftermath joke?
Lockout: “You want some in your mouth?” This movie is SO Luc Besson. And I don’t think I mean that in a good way. Awkward humor, wacky action, somewhat fun, but not as good as it should be. When that dumb chick from Lost and that Australian guy who can’t seem to make the right career choices end up on the worst prison ever made (in SPACE!!!), full of Luc Besson-style criminals, run by the crappiest cops this side of Keystone, you know there’s gonna be a bunch of…well, cliché behavior. This really, really needed to be R-rated. More Crank and, less No Escape. It’s basically Escape from New York, but written by 12 year olds, which is too bad, because Escape from New York in Space could have made for a cool flick. I wish more movies of this type were made. I could watch semi-low budget space-based science fiction films all the time. But since the few that are made aren’t usually very good, I doubt that’ll happen.
Fun in Acapulco: “No man really wants to get married.” Ursula Andres looks like she stepped out of a Wagnerian fantasy land. She should be clad in golden armor with a spear in one hand and a shield in the other. Elvis finds her in a Mexican hotel where he gets a job as a singer and lifeguard. You know. That old story. There’s a lady matador, a kid more connected than Ma Bell, and a champion diver who isn’t having any of it. Though still a lot of fun, this movie is not up to some of the King’s other films. Still, he’s like the Superman of Song. A song needs to get sung, and he’s on it like chronic. Elvis is kind of a dick in this, though. He doesn’t really treat the ladies too good. Though I think at one point, he could have had them both at the same time if he’d asked. What’s up with that?
Die Nibelungen- Siegfried: Fritz Lang’s silent fantasy film is another tale about dudes who should ‘just say no’ to chicks. A great hero and a great king become best friends, but an amazon shrew and a blabbing blond spell a bloody end to what should have been a solid friendship. There are some pretty cool scenes in this movie, but they’re weighted pretty heavy to the first half. Once everyone comes back to Worms and the women get to work ruining everything, it’s mostly just standing around in castle rooms and chatting. One credibility issue the film has is the ladies. They’re…um…well, they’re…in the words of poet Austin Powers, ‘a bit manish.’ They kind of look like the Monty Python guys in drag. Kriemhild is supposed to be a woman of such beauty that stories of her make Siegfried kill dragons, battle ugly dwarves, achieve huge honors, and brave all kinds of danger. Personally, I’d be looking into ‘lemon laws’ if she was what I ended up with (and that’s before the whole, ruining my epic friendship and getting me killed part). If she made up for her lack of looks by say, not getting anyone killed, or ruining everything she touches, it would be a different story.
How could I resist? Found Magnum P.I. season 2 for 10 bucks. Oh, yeah. Love this show. It was cool seeing Tales of the Gold Monkey’s Corky in another episode as a local, by the books Navy guy.
I checked out the first two episodes of the UK show Zen. It’s always a bit odd watching shows as conspicuously and specifically placed in a certain geographic region where the accents are so wrong. It’s one thing when ancient Romans all sport British accents, or medieval knights (even the French and German ones); but a bunch of British accents coming from members of an Italian police force? It’s odd. Made more so by the inconsistency. Still, it’s always good to see Rufus Sewell working.
While watching Cab Calloway in Hi-De-Ho, this past weekend, I got the idea for a great piece of art. I want a painting of Calloway punching Hitler (perhaps over a table in a nightclub). In the background, several members of his band are blasting Nazis with tommy guns, while the others continue to play. Maybe Josephine Baker should be there, blasting some Gestapo goon with a derringer. Berlin could be burning in the background. The more I think about it, the more I like it.
On Friday night, Lisa hosted another gathering of the graphic novel book club. Habibi was the book of the night, and as expected, it brought out some strong opinions. The book deals with some fairly rough subjects. There was some spirited debate about sex and religion, about the portrayal of men vs. women in the book, and about the depiction of different ethnicities. It was an interesting night.
-Matt
Labels:
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Venture Bros
Friday, August 24, 2012
Matt’s Week in Dork! (8/12/12-8/18/12)
Busy week, but not much in the way of Dork. I did finish off some TV seasons, though.
The Red House: If Edward G. Robinson tells me not to do something, I bloody well don’t do it. That’s science. Who cares if anyone calls you yellow. Stay out of the danged evil forest (Ox Head Wood). Stay away from the Red House. I kept feeling like those inbred freaks, the Peacocks, form that X-Files episode were going to show up with Momma on her little roller thingy. I’d also be nervous whenever a giant, strapping young letch lurked around my farm (I’m looking at you, finger pointing Rory Calhoun). And if you’re a straight shooting, swell young chap, don’t date a fickle, sex-charged harlot (or anyone named Tibby). This movie is extremely moody, and the first half builds a ton of tension. The reveal isn’t quite as interesting as I’d have liked, but it’s still good. And it’s not the Scooby-Doo, rum-runner/communist plot I was expecting.
The Return of the King (Extended): The final entry in the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy is as grand and dramatic as you could ask for. Beautiful effects and an excellent cast combine with a script that cuts out much of the books’ excess, creating a work I actually consider superior to its source. Tolkien’s world is imagined with nearly unprecedented grandeur and detail. Some complain that the movie goes on too long, but I like all the various wrap-ups of tales. My only real issue is a hold over from the book. I think the ghost army that helps in the penultimate battle is kind of a cop-out, deus ex machina sort of thing.
The Girl from Rio: “What kind of a space age sorceress are you?” About half way into this, I found myself saying something I say all too often while watching Jess Franco movies; “What the F&*% is going on?!” Lots of moderately attractive, extremely European looking women wear lots of skimpy outfits (and occasionally less). Lots of bad editing. People look like they’ve got spray-on tans. There’s a lot of awkward focus adjusting. It’s all classic Franco. His films are frustrating because they seem to have a lot of the right elements for making something entertaining…but then he shows up and mishandles everything.
The Occultist: On an exotic island…which looks suspiciously like an abandoned warehouse in New York, a bunch of bad actors and extras from Breakin’ 2 (yes, Electric Boogaloo), spend a lot of time dancing. In the meantime, some of those sweater wearing jerks from Brat Pack movies like to watch. Oh, yeah. And a guy who looks a lot like Dave Coulier is a cyborg or something. News flash. This flick sucks. It’s mildly entertaining, and almost certainly better with friends.
The Bourne Legacy: I’ve enjoyed the heck out of all the Bourne films so far, and though perhaps not as good as some of the earlier entries, this one does the job. With a new super-agent gone funny, and lots of governmental conspiracy, there’s not really anything new, but it’s fun to watch play out, none the less. There are two strikes against the film for this viewer. First, Rachel Weisz, who is one of my very favorite actresses, and who usually plays interesting characters, is little more than the pretty girl our hero spends his time defending. Ugh. She’s less vacuous than the damsel in distress tends to be, but it’s still kind of beneath the actress, and in this day and age, beneath the writers. The second problem is the climactic chase scene. It goes on for WAAAAY too long, and is almost as choppy and motion-sickness inducing as the Hunger Games. Pull that danged camera back, and put it on a tripod, for the love of all that is good and holy. When will this obsession with ultra-close, hand-held camera work end? Not flippin’ soon enough. Still, the cast is good, most of the action is good, and the first two thirds of the film is very enjoyable to watch. The end is somewhat unsatisfying (in part because of that final chase), but it‘s worth checking out.
The Expendables: Lots of blood, sweat, muscles, and mayhem explode on the screen as action heroes old and new come together in the tropics to get some killing done. A lot of the mad violence promised by 80s trailers, but never delivered, is here and flying at the screen in bloody chunks. While not nearly as violent as Rambo, it’s still part of the new trend of making R rated action films that actually deserve it (not the hardly worthy of PG-13 stuff they were passing off as R rated in the 90s). You want complex characters and a meditation on the human condition? What are you doing watching movies like this? Check it out if you want to see stuff (and people) blowing up, and big dudes bashing each other.
Eastern Promises: “I am just driver.” Viggo is the strong silent type. And typically Vincent Cassel is the sniveling punk. Together they set London’s underground on fire, Russian mob style. Part of David Cronenberg’s late, drama period, this movie still features his signature graphic ultra-violence. Using his harsh, stretched leather features to their full advantage, Viggo creates a rugged beast of crime that no amount of naked, bathhouse slaughter can keep down. Though I don’t love this film like I do A History of Violence, it is pretty badass.
La Ronde: I guess you don’t call ’em French maid costumes when the movie is French; just maid costumes. This semi-whimsical sexual romp through pre-War (WWI) society is well filmed, I guess. And the cast good looking (unlike a lot of French film, the guys don’t look like trolls). But I couldn’t get into it. I’m actually not sure why I queued it up in the first place. It’s all very French (in other words, a bit pervy and kind of boring, with more sexual repression, dysfunction, and frustration than a Televangelist at a truck stop). There’s something oddly charming about bits of the film, though, especially the very end. Still, not my thing.
The Expendables 2: Jumping right to the top of my 2012 movie list, this movie has so much testosterone pumping through it, I think most of the audience went away pregnant (and not just the female half). Kind of like Crank 2 was to Crank, this was to the first Expendables. To say the least, they turned it to 11. Old action stars keep popping their head in, as bullets keep popping bad guys. Blood and explosions spray everything and the one-liners and self-referential jokes never let up. I was giddy for an uncomfortable amount of time while watching (and after). Fan-freakin’-tastic. Now, where’s my meal of baby seals and whale ass…in the summer? Now when is Expendables 3 coming?!
The Bionic Woman Season 1: This spin-off of The Six Million Dollar Man is perfectly enjoyable, but to a degree, just more of the same. The episodes are well done, and it’s got tons of those folk you see in every TV show made during this time. Awesomely 70s. Not as campy as Charlie’s Angels but still plenty of fun.
Magnum P.I. Season 1: The man has a mustache you can not argue with. A dashing rogue, a difficult friend, a white knight looking for a cause. Magnum is all of those things and more in this awesome bit of 70s crazy. One of those awesome shows that lives up to my memory of watching it so long ago.
Blue Hawaii: “On you, wet is my favorite color.” Keeping with my recent spate of Hawaii set entertainment, I popped in this classic Elvis movie. Hawaii in the 60s and 70s held this kind of sway over pop culture. An exotic and mysterious land that was somehow still part of the United States. A tropical paradise filled with beautiful women, excitement, and wonder. Elvis just wants to surf, not be a wealthy scion of mainland imperialist agriculture. You can certainly see Elvis’ charm, and while he might not be an amazing actor, he’s got good comic timing.
Stage Door Canteen: “Are you Ray Bolger?” I’m not sure who the audience for this film was. It’s about departing troops, heading to Europe to fight Hitler & Co (or the Pacific to battle Tojo, maybe). Was this meant to reassure those left behind that their boys weren’t up to too much sin and mischief while they were out of town? It features a bunch of celebrity cameos and performances, which I hate to admit didn’t excite me as much as they might have. I’m fairly familiar with the entertainment crowd of that era, but not enough, I guess. A lot of familiar faces, but a lot of folks I didn’t know at all. It all felt very ‘of its time,’ and ultra-sanitized. But it’s still somewhat charming. “Buy War Bonds!!!”
Let’s go Collegiate: Keye Luke as a frat boy. That’s just not something I ever thought I’d see. This OK bit of fluff from 1941 is enjoyable, but no classic. Frankie Darro is typically up to no good, frequently abusing his…servant? played by the cringe inducing Mantan Moreland. All kinds of college wackiness is on display.
I made Ben watch the first episode of Game of Thrones. He seemed to enjoy it quite a bit. I’m looking forward to finishing the series in the next week or so. Can’t wait for season 2. I’m curious where it all goes.
And I started up season 2 of Batman: The Animated Series. Darned fine show. I wish there were more like it. And I popped in the first episode of Coupling, the surprisingly charming British sit-com. I forgot that it had a laugh track/live audience, though. Man, I hate those. But it’s not too overpowering.
In preparation for the next meeting of the graphic novel book club, I re-read Habibi. It’s an interesting book. The story does not go in the directions you would expect, or even want. It’s rough, but kind of beautiful. The art is really something special.
-Matt
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Comic Review: The Finder Library Volume 1
I have to give full credit to Carol Speed McNeil for world building and art/story synthesis. Like last year’s Habibi, I found myself marveling at how she alone melded solid art and design with the flow and mood of her story. And the world she created is vast, multi-layered, strange, and seemingly internally consistent. And I’m quite sure that it will find a special place in many readers’ hearts. Sadly, I’m not one of them.
The first story, Sin-Eater, which dominates the volume (just under 400 pages of the total 600) introduces elements of the setting, and a cast of oddball characters, central among them, Jaeger as ‘Finder.’ The story deals with all kinds of stuff, from Jaeger’s wanderlust and mental instability, to the family dynamics of a crazed ex-soldier, his spaced out wife, and troubled kids. Along the way, there are tons of allusions, hints of depth, surreal events, and weird cultural and technological themes. Again, like Habibi (which Finder predates by a good many years), it presents a broken future that feels like the past more often than not. A semi-fantasy, semi-science fiction kind of thing. The problem I had with this story was one of connection. I pretty much get where she’s going with the setting, and I guess I get the story. But I felt no connection or identification with any of the characters. Their motives remained alien, and their actions almost random. I’m fairly certain there were rational reasons for much of it, but I never quite tuned to the storytelling channel.
The second story, King of the Cats was very different plot-wise, but remained out of reach. Again, I found Jaeger to be less than sympathetic lead. I guess I get that he has trouble fitting in, but he doesn’t seem to have much reason, other than maybe being a jerk(?). But, as I said, I don’t think I ever quite tuned in to what McNeil was going for. I can certainly imagine folks getting really into this book. But it started to resemble beer for me. I understand that people like it, but I don’t understand why they like it.
Now, the third story, Talisman, I got. I understand why the gentleman who wrote the introduction would find himself recommending it to new readers. It is a story for and about book lovers and would-be writers. The frustrations, elations, depressions, and ultimate joys of hearing stories and of telling them. I see myself in Marcie, as I’m sure other writers and book lovers have and will. The evolution of Marcie from a kid who can’t read but loves to listen to books being read, to an older teen and adult who struggles to understand her own need to put stories down on paper, especially in a world where so few people seem to want to read them.
There are copious notes to explain many of the references and allusions, as well as some of the specifics of the setting. They’re occasionally handy for figuring out what the heck is going on in certain scenes. And following them, there is a cover gallery, which has some very nice images.
So, while I do think this is a fine achievement; a heck of a grand work of comic literature, it just isn’t my cup of tea. Talisman made the whole worth my time, and was a welcome exit from the volume, leaving me with a much better feeling than I’d have had without it. But, if you’re looking to read something very different, and not at all in line with the DC/Marvel superhero soap opera kind of thing, you may want to give this one a try.
The Finder Library Volume 1
Author/Artist: Carla Speed McNeil
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
ISBN: 978-1-59582-652-7
Pages: 664
-Matt
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