Category Archives: Fun Stuff

Grand Prix–Are You Ready to Race?

Grand Prix, 1966

Grand Prix, 1966

I recently bought and watched the new DVD release of perhaps the greatest of the racing movies, Grand Prix. I remember seeing this as a kid of eight in 1966. (You do the math!) What an impact it had…the stunning cinematography and vibrating, road–level views of the famous Formula 1 racecourses really thrilled me! It also featured James Garner, who has always been a favorite actor of mine.

Having been years since I last saw this movie, I was really looking forward to seeing it again. I also wanted to see if it was as good as I remembered…to see if it still stood up after all these years. So…has it?

Well, in pure racing terms, it sure has. The DVD transfer is crisp and clean, the colors pure with no bleeding. And the racing scenes…fantastic! There is no other word for it. After all these years, it still has the most exciting racing scenes of any movie ever made, period! You get a view of the racing that actually makes you feel like a part of it. Another thing that makes the racing so special is that it featured the actual Formula 1 racing stars of the day driving in the racing scenes! If you’ve ever heard of Dan Gurney, Graham Hill, Jimmy Clark, or Phil Hill, well, they’re in here driving! And the cars of this period were so beautiful…It takes me back to those days as a kid collecting the Matchbox replicas of the cars that are featured in this movie.

But, on the negative side, I also didn’t remember the cheesy melodrama in–between all the racing scenes. Jessica Walter, of psycho–“Play Misty For Me” fame, really revs the cheese meter, and most of the “drama” really rings false, like something from daytime soaps. Luckily, James Garner is his usual likeable leading–man self, while Yves Montand also brings a likeable characterization as an “old–pro” F1 racer coming to the end of his career. Thankfully, this movie is mostly racing, so these temporary drama “breaks” aren’t too irritating.

This DVD also has some great special features, including some really interesting documentaries about the making of the film and the staging of the racing scenes. These scenes were staged at the same time as the actual Formula 1 races were being held, so there was a ton of prep work involved in this movie. And now that the sport has been highly corporatized and become super expensive, a movie like this will probably never be shot again, at least in true live–action! So if you are ready for some real Formula 1 race action, pop this in, grin through all the racing magic, and grit your teeth slightly at the melodrama in–between. Cheer up though, the next racing scene is just around the bend!

The “Rogue Voice” of California’s Central Coast

I first discovered the Rogue Voice in 2006 during the 2 1/2 year period I lived and worked in the San Luis Obispo area. Really interesting reading. And it looks like they’re expanding their online presence, so I can get my “Rogue” fix.

For a few months now, I’ve been enjoying a terrific monthly publication produced in the San Luis Obispo area… the Rogue Voice. It is an independent journal, put together on a shoestring I’m sure, (note the “newspaper pullout” printing) that is characterized by the best writing I’ve come upon in awhile.

There are a number of regular writers in this “Literary Journal with an Edge,” including publisher Dell Franklin (Cabby’s Corner…yes he does drive a cab, see Sisters from South Central for an installment), Ben Leroux (Window Washing Across America, see Santa Fe Pride for a previous installment), Tito David Valdez, Jr. (who writes about life in correctional facilities, currently at Soledad, see Jailhouse Pruno for a previous installment of Life in the Cage), as well as excellent fiction by various authors. What all the articles and stories have in common, along with an edge, is that they are extremely well–written, thought–provoking, and entertaining. This along with interesting editorials and reader letters makes me really look forward to each new issue. Please see their website (via Blogger) to read a few of their stories. You’ll be hooked!

Jack Kirby Museum…Redux

Back in 2005, I blogged about the then–new Kirby Museum on the Web. I just took a look and it is indeed going full–tilt, hitting on all cylinders! There are a ton of new articles, and most importantly, tons of great Kirby art to enjoy, such as this great take on Mickey Mouse as Doctor Doom. Awesome! The following is the original article in its entirety.

Jack Kirby Museum Logo

Cool Jack Kirby Museum Logo!

I just found this on the Make Magazine website…an online museum dedicated to Jack Kirby’s comics career, art, and life! This site was just inaugerated on August 28, 2005 and features a biography of Jack along with a smattering of his fantastic art. There is also the beginnings of a database that the museum promises will be a “complete, online Kirby ‘Catalogue Raisonné’.”

Fancy-pants terminology aside, from a design point of view, the web site is really clean with a nice tabloid “feel” to it. The developer is using nice clean XHTML with CSS…my kind of designer! The logo is also really nice. Those bits of “Kirbyesque” machinery in it are choice! Kudos to the designer!

I think this site is a great beginning. With a lot more of Jack’s art and a few more features, it will be a really strong reminder of just how great an artist Jack Kirby really was.

Indiana Jones Trilogy Pixelmashes!

Here are links to David Court’s great work on the Indiana Jones Trilogy. Enjoy everyone!

Raiders of the Lost Ark Animated GIF

Raiders of the Lost Ark

The new year started off really well when I received a nice e-mail from David Court, of Star Wars Pixelmash fame. In a previous post, I said that I hadn’t figured out who the creator of these great Star Wars animated GIFs was. Well, David was kind enough to let me know, and now you do too!

Temple of Doom Animated GIF

Temple of Doom

David also let me know about his new Pixelmash collaborations…Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and The Last Crusade! The Indiana Jones animations are in the same familiar, although slightly taller 129 x 94 pixel format as the Star Wars offerings, and if anything, they are even cooler and more detailed in their animations. There are tons of small animated figures and even more detailed facial expressions. The opening “Raiders” scene where Indy is being chased by the natives had me cracking up!

The Last Crusade Animated GIF

The Last Crusade

Finishing the Indiana Jones Trilogy, we have the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade pixelmash, “live and and in living color!” I love the zeppelin! Awesome job, David!

Needless to say, I’ve really been impressed with David’s efforts. Who knows what great stuff he’ll come up with next? Thanks again for the “heads up,” David!