Black Panther opens tomorrow! I am so excite! I’ve been looking forward to it since forever. Ok, not forever even if it feels like it; something to the effect of July last year is more like it.
To me, visuals have been one of the most interesting aspects of this installation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here are a few of the costume design articles I found most useful.
After a 6-day headache, I could use something cheerful today. Lo, and the world delivered. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, via the Internet, a turtle sneeze video:
Now, I donât typically go for horror or zombies, but Iâm actually looking forward to this one: the trailers and clips make PPZ look kick-ass. Check âem out:
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies | official trailer #1 US (2016) Lily James Matt Smith via moviemaniacsDE
âMy daughters were trained for battle, sir, not the kitchen.â â Mr. Bennet
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Official Trailer #1 (2016) – Lily James Horror Movie HD via Movieclips Trailers
(There seems to be a bit of perv cam action going on. I hope this is as much as there is.)
I know nothing of the 2009 novel by Seth Grahame-Smith, but I do love some of the movie adaptationâs stars: Lily James as Elizabeth Bennet (James is no stranger to elegance based on her work in Downton Abbey) and Matt Smith (of the 11th Doctor fame) as Mr. Collins, and, finally, Charles Dance and Lena Headey (most lately, in genre interest, of the Game of Thrones excellence) as Mr. Bennet and Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Ugh, pretty gruesome. Then again, it is a truth universally acknowledged, that to see and enjoy Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, one must be in a suitable frame of mind.
Bennet sisters in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Via Showbiz Junkies.
Iâve been vaguely aware of the Swedish-Finnish movie production The Girl King (Finnish title Tyttökuningas), which is remarkable for having been largely (according to some sources, almost entirely) filmed in Turku, Finland, including the local castle. Itâs one week from opening night now, and reviews and interviews are starting to roll out. Yay!
The movie is about Queen Kristina of Sweden (1626-1689), of the Vasa lineage, directed by Finlandâs famous Mika KaurismĂ€ki. In the main roles weâll see Malin Buska, Sarah Gadon (whom I liked in Belle), and Michael Nyqvist (familiar from the Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series). A description from KaurismĂ€kiâs website says:
âMika KaurismĂ€ki is currently developing a feature film project about the Swedish Queen Kristina, starring Swedish actress Malin Buska. Set in the 17th century, the film paints a portrait of an extravagant and atypical queen, who was the ruler of her country from the age of seven until her startling abdication at 28.
âThe film is scripted by Canadian award-winning screenwriter Michel Marc Bouchard and the cinematography will be by renowned Christopher Doyle (In the Mood for Love, Hero).â
At the time of Kristinaâs life, Finland was a part of Sweden, and Turku (Ă bo in Swedish) was the oldest and largest city in Finland. The Turku Castle dates from late 13th century, but it was still inhabited and garrisoned at the time; in the modern period, itâs been restored to its Renaissance state, so itâs an appropriate location even though Kristina didnât actually live there. (Tidbit gleaned from a news article in Yle uutiset: Kristinaâs parents visited Turku early in 1626, and itâs said that she was conceived at the Turku Castle.) Also, kuningatar Kristiina has a special place in the Finnish memory because of her efforts to end the 30 yearsâ war which was hard on Finland, and because she at the suggestion of one of her statesmen (and twice Governor General of Finland), Per Brahe, founded the first Finnish university in 1640.
The official trailer (with Finnish subtitles) is out, and looking gorgeous:
Frock Flicks has a interview with the costume designer, Marjatta Nissinen, and a review that includes insights into the costuming. Thereâs also a documentary on the costuming, with background information from KaurismĂ€ki and closeups of some of the outfits in the latter half (Finnish with English subtitles):
As an early history geek who lived in Turku for a number of years, Iâm very curious to see The Girl King â for freaking once I get the native advantage in location spotting! đ
Turku historical mashup, clockwise from top: 1700s-1800s houses at LuostarinmÀki; bell tower of the cathedral seen from the river Aura; Vanha Suurtori with empire style and neoclassical houses; closeup of the cathedral bell tower. Center: Turku Castle.
But seriously, what I can see of the sets and locations, especially the Renaissance floor of the castle, looks fantastic. Hereâs hoping that The Girl King will have a reasonably wide release in the U.S.!
The unknown creator did a great job pasting various movie clips together into an arc and forming a cohesive trailer with music and everything. Like Haley’s title sequence, this is professional grade work. I’d go see that movie! I recognize snippets from at least Iron Man1 and 2 [oops, not the first IM], Winter Soldier, Avengers, Age of Ultron and Lucy. I haven’t seen other Jeremy Renner movies besides his Marvel work, so I couldn’t I.D. any of those. What did I miss?
P.S. The end âcreditsâ are a hoot! Definitely pause the vid to read through.
Note: I wasnât paid or perked to mention this; just passing along a good thing.
“Cut off one head, two more shall take it’s place… For this speculative title sequence of a Black Widow film I decided Black Widow’s villain would be… Black Widow. Yelena Belova, to be specific. Belova believes herself to be the superior Black Widow, and in some ways she is right. Swift and ruthless, Belova is the most talented assassin to graduate from the Red Room–and now she is Hydra’s most deadly weapon. At Belova’s side is a super-soldier of her own, Alexi Shostakov–the Red Guardian, who also happens to be Natasha’s former lover. When the new heads of Hydra make a play for the power of the infinity stones it is up to S.H.I.E.L.D.’s top agent to stop them.”
I just love it! Besides containing obvious homages to older James Bond title sequences, which work really great, it also seems to nod to the Captain America: Winter Soldier titles. The music selection (Sour Times by Portishead) is fantastic, too â apprehensive and a little threatening, befitting the world of spy games. Great job all around, Christopher!
And a small neat note: actor Samuli Edelmann, whom was cast as Alexi Shostakov (Red Guardian), is a fellow Finn. I also like Rosamund Pike a lot. Seeing her in a Black Widow movie would be awesome. đ
Note: I wasnât paid or perked to mention this; just passing along a good thing.
Happy Holidays to one and all! I’ll close off this blogging year with an appropriately Dwarvish-sounding and utterly, delightfully nerdy version of the 19th century carol We Three Kings:
Not only that, I ran into this fabulous fan composition: Who Am I? (12th Doctor’s theme by James Jarvis).
It went straight into my geeky playlist! One of the comments called the theme âdark yet mysterious.â I’d add that it has potential for contemplation or reflection, even melancholy. Even though we still don’t know much about this incarnation of the Doctor, it sounds like reflection of the past is the theme (or one of the themes) for season 8. The official trailer gives some clues (at approx. 0:25-0:35) when the Doctor says:
Doctor: I’ve lived for over 2,000 years. I’ve made many mistakes. It’s about time I did something about that.
And later, on the Tardis steps (at approx. 0:45-0:55), there is this exchange between Doctor and Clara:
Doctor: Clara, tell me: am I a good man?
Clara: I… don’t know.
Jenna Coleman’s hesitant delivery of Clara’s line is brilliant, as are Peter Capaldi’s pensive facial expressions picked for the trailer. James Jarvis’s composition captures the attitude of the trailer very well â try playing the trailer without sound with Jarvis’s theme in the background.
Can’t wait for season 8!
Note: I wasnât paid or perked to mention this; just passing along a good thing.
There are many definitions of creativity. Despite the differences, most include originality or novelty and imagination, and the creation of something new. However you parse it, this video by MIDIDesaster of playing âEye of the Tigerâ through a dot matrix printer(!) definitely counts.
âThis old 24-pin dot matrix printer has been converted into a MIDI compatible sound generator. Up to 21 notes can be played simultaneously. It features up to 16 MIDI channels with individual volume and pitch.â
The rest of the technical information is way beyond me. However, I cannot but admire the effort that went into this project, starting from the concept (I. Cannot. Even!) and all the way to solving the pragmatic issues.
The curiosity, creativity and imagination of us humans never ceases to amaze me. It’s thrilling to see what we’re capable of!