New and yet Familiar: A review of Trickster

TRICKSTER
Native American Tales – a Graphic Collection
Edited and Illustrated in part by Matt Dembicki
Reviewed by Ernest M. Whiteman III

I first heard of this through the Chicago Public Schools’ Department of Libraries and Information Services. They contacted my workplace about recommendations of Native-themed and/or Native-authored books for their department to recommend to all school libraries to purchase. While “Trickster” was not on the list they sent to us, it was inquired about due to the fact that Native elders told the stories.

“Trickster” is an anthology of twenty-one Native American stories that have been illustrated in a sequential format by comic books artists. Matt Dembicki writes in his afterword that he wanted to keep the stories authentic and written by Native storytellers. This piqued my interest, as I have seen the many varied results of keeping it “authentic to Natives”. So, seeing it in the resell bookstore and after some financial self-debate, I dropped $10 bucks on it to see what it was all about and to write this review.

When I think of comic books, I think superheroes immediately, as that is the dominant genre right now and has been for a long time. I could go into the same old shpeal about them being our new, modern mythology. Here in “Trickster” is a modern record of the old mythology from Native tribes across North America.

All of the stories have a Trickster character that is central to the story. Many are creation stories of how certain animals inherited traits, or of how certain landscapes are the way they are. Native American lore is full of creation stories of all kinds. Many of the stories are very colorful and well drawn. I enjoyed much of the stories like “Coyote and the Pebbles”, vey well drawn and told; “Giddy Up, Wolfie”, a hilarious tale of stealing girlfriends. I will always dig the animal trickster characters like Chuckfi. Also, I loved the simplicity of “How Wildcat caught a Turkey”. These stories feel familiar and new at the same time.

Some stories did have a large amount of text, almost defeating the purpose of it being produced in a comic book format. Also, other stories seemed hastily drawn and amateurish. What always takes me out of a comic book story is the rough and thick lines. You can always tell a practiced hand from an unpracticed one. I also disliked the near monochromatic coloring of some of the stories. That makes it boring. It evokes sepia tones. But what bugged me most, as always, is the depiction of Native Americans. I would have loved an artist to take a risk and set a story in contemporary times, or even out of time. As a Native, I know the story would transcend the look. It seems too easy to rely on the beads and feathers of long ago.

I am looking at this from the perspectives of being both Northern Arapaho and an artist. I am very much a proponent of Native American first-voice and self-representation in media and I find this a mixed bag. While the editor did his best to maintain the authenticity of the Native words, it felt sold out to the imagery of beads and feathers. The art is also a mixed bag with some very good renderings in the stories along side some not-so-good renderings. There were no risks taken and it all seemed played safe.

Still, the good outweighs the not-so-good in this “Trickster” collection. It is a more complete collection of first-voice narratives that I have come across in contemporary media. And it is the first Native collection in the comic book, sequential art format that I have seen, well, ever. With a respect and freehand given to the Native storytellers, this seems as good a place to start in the exploration of Native American Trickster tales and may introduce a younger generation of Native kids to these stories.

And for that purpose alone, I recommend Trickster. At least until we Native American Storytellers and Artists begin producing a series of Native stories by and for ourselves.

Recommended.

© 2010 Ernest M. Whiteman III

The Best of 2010 - Inception Review

INCEPTION
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Reviewed by Ernest M. Whiteman III

Chris Nolan has to be one of the best studio directors working in the Hollywood system right now. Nolan came up through Hollywood with a string of very capable and at times, complex films that captured the viewers’ attention; “Following”, “Memento”, “Insomnia” and “The Prestige”, a string of tightly constructed films that led viewers on a merry chase.

Nolan then garnered big movie laurels with his pair of film that revived a dying Batman franchise with “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight” which added depth and weight to what are on the surface comic book movies. So much so I overheard one little boy explaining to his father the reason he couldn’t see “batman” was because “batman is for grown-ups”. Yep, Nolan did that.

His latest “Inception,” about a team of thieves that enter your dreams and steal ideas is probably the best movie I have seen for 2010. Here, Leonardo DiCaprio hired by Ken Wantanbe, leads a team into the mind of Cillian Murphy to “plant” an idea rather than steal one. Through differing levels of Dream, DiCaprio is always trying to hide from his ex-wife, Marion Colliard who is out to ruin him.

What follows is a complex and action-packed heist on the level of Michael Mann’s “Heat”. Plus, like his other movies, no mater which direction the plot turns, you always felt like you were in the Now. And going for the ride has agreat pay off. The ideas and concepts in “Inception” are so twisting and turning with an ending that many still talk about today. Yep, Nolan did that.

It is also filled with many dazzling images and action set pieces; the Bond-esque snow chase and assault on the stronghold, the twisting and turning hallway as Joseph Gordon-Levitt floats through the air fighting off security and setting up his part of the plan. I came out of the theater smiling and thinking, how can I make a movie like that? And that is what makes a great movie for me. It has style as well as substance. Two things another big action movie lacked…

While many may think that it was not as strong as his past works, “Inception” remains stronger than anything Hollywood has put out in the last few years as a whole. It is the best movie I have seen this year.

High Recommendation

© 2010 Ernest M. Whiteman III

Wasted Talent

The Expendables
Directed by Sylvester Stallone
Reviewed by Ernest M. Whiteman III

I was so looking forward to this movie. I am a huge proponent of NOT adding nostalgia to current movies. But seeing the cast alone was enough to get me excited. Stallone himself is in a sort of filmmaking renaissance of late, with his directorial turns and returns with “Rocky Balboa” and the latest “Rambo”.

The movie is about a team of mercenaries made up of various action stars, including Sly himself, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, and Jet Li. They take a puppet dictator who is not really evil and… well, that’s about it.

It is supposed to be a throwback to the 80’s action genre with its stunt casting and histrionic gun battles. The editing was hasty and made the scenes nonsensical. Their camaraderie seems a bit forced and the dialogue felt ill-timed. Like the best shots were used but not trimmed, that I could feel the gaps of time between line readings.

Sly’s character eventually tries to rescue the depot’s daughter simply because she turns him on and the hastily composed showdown really amounted to nothing. Hell, even Eric Roberts “Power Behind the Throne” monologues about he and Sly BEING THE SAME! Come on. When Sly steps out of his comfort zones, like Rocky and Rambo, he tends to fumble. He fumbled this, big time. He looked tired and sad.

What angers me is the amount of effort put into this. Sly broke his neck filming the fight with Steve Austin. To see the fight a choppy, sloppy mess made me sad.

Now this movie has its defenders but that is because they want it to matter, to be justified in their liking “manly, macho” movies of the past. The idea of that faux-manhood presented in violence and explosions is supposed to be revered and something to strive for. But that is not the world today.

“It is what it is” not longer has a place in the new cinema landscape. We are building a tendency to promote and support mediocrity. We do not strive for excellence. We want nostalgic nonsense. As a result, trash like “The Room” and “The Expendables” gain cult status.

You know what? I was just so damned disappointed. I really was. Walking out of the theater I was mute and just sad. Yeah, the movie made me sad. “Wasted Talent” is what comes to mind now. I just don’t want to talk about it any more. I have more to say but you can just come up and ask me about it. (Well, maybe not.)

Do not recommend. At all.

© 2010 Ernest M. Whiteman III

"And then there's Rifftrax!"

“And then there’s RIFFTRAX!”

Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness
August 19, 2010
Landmark Century 18, Evanston, IL
By Ernest M. Whiteman III

There are times in your pop culture-consuming life when you switch on the television and come upon something so absolutely “You”, that you suddenly cannot fathom life without it. Nor could you ever remember your life before it. You got it. It gets You. That connection is made in spite of the makers and the viewers being thousands of miles apart. You feel and believe that this show, this program was made for you, specifically for “You”.

That was Mystery Science Theater 3000 for me.

I am sure that was Mystery Science Theater 3000 for You too.

It was compelling in its concept, which was very simple and clean: making fun of bad movies. Yet it was never savage or mean. Biting and funny, sure, but never savagely mean, as most of television programming has become. It was the last shining beacon of satire, wrapped expertly into a sci-fi puppet show.

A true fan of the show makes no distinction between the Joel Years versus the Mike Years as the core of the show itself remains true to You, and You got it.

You see? I love movies with every fiber of my being. I love them. As with any love you can stand the criticisms of your love. And this show understood that. It got You.

Then after a few troubled years being jostled by the very networks it helped, Mystery Science Theater 3000 ended. But its spirit lives on in such projects and Cinematic Titanic (from show creator Joel Hodgeson) and the Internet sensation Rifftrax, created by Mike Nelson and currently featuring latter day robots Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett.

Rifftrax is a downloadable commentary track, usually made by Mike, Kevin and Bill that can be synched with a DVD movie and enjoyed at home. Because of the technology of today these commentaries can be enjoyed with some current movies of today. Something MST3K was unable to due to rights issues. But because of Rifftrax’s association with MST3K, movie commentary is back.

And as a fan, I could not be happier for it. Sure, they could bring the show back but that is neither here nor there. Also, as a filmmaker, I found MST3K as useful as any film school course. Which is the highest compliment I could pay to that classic show.

On August 19, 2010 Fathom Events presented “Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness” at select movie theaters across the country. This is the third Rifftrax Live event I have attended in the theater after “Plan 9 from Outer Space” and their, “Christmas Shorts 'Straveganza”.

While I thoroughly enjoy the downloadable commentaries that I have seen, nothing beats seeing Mike, Kevin and Bill live and riffing on movies. Sure, there is a detachment from seeing it beamed into a local Cineplex but in essence that is how it should be seen, in a movie theater.

Plus, the energy of a live crowd seems to bring out an extra glee in the Boys. They are quick to adlib making for some great moments. With “Reefer Madness” they debuted three unseen short films, “More Deadly than Dynamite”, “Grass” (Which is earning, quite aptly, a cult status of its own among the fans.) and “Aesop’s Fables: Frozen Follies” which had nothing to do with Aesop as far as I could tell.

I have never seen nor purchased the “Rifftrax: Reefer Madness” DVDs so I was coming into this with a clean slate as I understand that much of the riffs are recycled from previous commentaries. They seemed to excel at riffing the short film as they contained the jokes that I remember most. It is always golden whenever Mike can work in a “There Will Be Blood” reference. I believe because they have a limited time frame with the short films that they come up with “A” material for those while at times the riffs in Reefer seemed like filler.

What made MST3K work was that they broke up the features with skits and judicious editing. It is like stand-up in front of a live audience where you are given a time limit and you can come up with great adlibs. With Reefer I found myself smiling more than laughing out loud like I did with something like “At Your Fingertips: Grass” which in between bouts of laughter I found myself proclaiming over and over “What the Hell?”

I did not care much for the shorts by Lowtax or any of the other guests they have had in the past. They seemed to be distracted and out of place. I would like to suggest, as a fan, Rifftrax come up with new material for the live movie events rather than recycle the DVD commentaries. It sounded practiced and not fresh and energetic. That would be my harshest critique of the event. Other than that, seeing Mike, Kevin and Bill interact with the audience and each other is always a fun and funny treat. What I enjoyed the most is the camaraderie between Mike, Kevin and Bill. That part is what endears the fans to the premise of Rifftrax Live.

I look froward to their next live event. Whether you are a fan of Cinematic Titanic or Rifftrax, it behooves you to catch any incarnation live. It is worth it to see old friends like Mike, Kevin and Bill, and Joel, Trace, Josh, Mary Jo and TV’s Frank still out there, dedicated, and providing you with what they do the best: getting You.

Highest Recommendation

© 2010 Ernest M. Whiteman III

My Avatar Review ...Finally!

(click image to embiggen for the full immursive experience!)

Get it?

© 2010 Ernest M. Whiteman III

The Best of 2009

THE TOP 10 (or so) of 2009

By Ernest M. Whiteman III

Once again we gather to take a look at what I thought were the best things this past year. I can hear you know. How come you didn't do this last year. You should know how I roll by now. I can also hear it now in the sense that I will have left off your favorite movie. Deal.

MUSIC:

Honestly, I did not buy much music this year. I don’t listen to much radio nowadays and what music is out there barely appeals to me, much less gets me to listen. People like to hold on to favorites and lord it over everyone that they have not sold-out their youthful leanings, but really, it is silly to hang on to such things as it simply prevents growth. I simply like what I like and though it is not popular I simply enjoy listening to it and I leave people to theirs. (I hope) But, anyone can say that. I just do not buy new music is what I am saying. Since I have barely bought anything this past year, I have narrowed it down to the only new music I bought or received this year.

3. Danielle Ate the Sandwich: Things People Do – This year I became a fan of pretty women and their ukuleles. Fortunately, Danielle Ate the Sandwich is a good songwriter and great singer. Her cover of CCR’s “Fortunate Son” on YouTube is one of my absolute favorites, as is “Handsome Girl” off this album, which she sells through her MySpace, her website and iTunes. Based out of Colorado, there is no chance of seeing her play live anytime soon, though. I feel a little stingy about sharing this artist. But hey, anyone who can invent Talent Chee-to's is aces in my book.

2. Saint Mike: S.O.S. – St. Mike epitomizes Native Rap for me now as his tunes and rhymes are original and different, apart from today’s Native Rap scene, which just seems to be emulating what is currently popular with the Rap Genre in general. “Saint or Sinner” is absolutely one of my favorite rap songs ever. I know, I’m a solitary Geeky mess, but I’ve been known to like original things. Plus, there are ample opportunities to see him live. I just have to get there.

1. U2: No Line on the Horizon, one of their strongest albums. What I love best about U2 is their consistency in songwriting, in playing and the fact that they remain together after 30 years. The title track, “Unknown Caller”, “White as Snow” and the fantastic “Moment of Surrender” prove that U2 still has what it takes to make great music. Despite being lumbering dinosaurs. I will be taking my Boo to her first ever rock concert and the U2 360 tour is the one we are going to! Still my favorite album this year.

DVD’s

Again, limited to DVD’s I bought or received this year not necessarily what came out this year. I threw in one that was released this year but I have not bought it, yet.

6. Buena Vista Social Club – Another one of those instances where, when I bought it I had to ask why I had not gotten it earlier. I saw this twice when it first came out. Directed by one of my favorite directors Wim Wenders, this documentary follows the search for Cuban musicians and singers that were popular in pre-50’s Cuba, an amazing story with awesome music.

5. Terminator Salvation – I list this because it was a gift from my Char. It was one of the movies we saw together at the theater. I remember that we were trying to get to the theater to watch one of the latest animated things, when at the last second she changed her mind and wanted to watch this. She enjoyed it. Anything with a mythology she can make connections to works for her.

4. Seven Samurai (3-disc Criterion Edition) – Finally got this one as well. When I watched it again, it moved up to #4 on my Top Ten All-time Favorite Movie. This movie has everything in it. Ronin, bandits, swordplay, battle, a love story, social critique, and action. Kurosawa is a master. I highly recommend you getting this edition

3. Red Cliff: Special Edition (Blu Ray) – This is the very first Blu-Ray disc I have bought. Now, you will think it strange, laugh even, that I do not own a Blu-Ray player. But, this holds with tradition. I did not own a DVD player when I bought my first DVDs. I must have owned “The Business of Fancydancing” (The very first DVD I ever bought) and an import edition of Zhang Yimou’s “Hero” about six months before I was able to purchase a DVD player. So, this, besides being a fantastic movie, is sort of a thrown gauntlet to myself to start saving up to buy a Blu-Ray player.

2. Wings of Desire: Criterion (Blu Ray) – One of my fondest wishes is that Criterion, known for packaging great extras with great films, take on one of my favorite all-time movies. They did that with “Seven Samurai”, “The Killer” and others. But when Criterion broke out into Blu-Ray, one noticeably missing entry, which had not been in their standard format catalog, was suddenly one of the first they package as a Blu-Ray. “Wings of Desire” did not change my life, no movie should do that, but it introduced to me a flavor beyond what I was taking in on the Rez. Plus, the idea of an angel whom becomes human for love, falling to grace rather than from it summarized for me my own thoughts on falling in love. A great film now at the absolute best clarity possible. I will own this.

1. Red Cliff II – What more can I say about this remarkable comeback from the great John Woo that I have not already said in my review?

BOOKS:

I only read three new books of all the books I’ve bought. Mostly, Scholastic’s “Bone” reprints for my Charlotte. Which gets fifth place on the principle that my Boo loves, loves, LOVES the series.

5. Bone – Jeff Smith. My Boo and my Little Sister’s Favorite, ‘nuff said.

4. War Dances – Sherman Alexie’s return to adult fiction is surprisingly non-Native in voice. While some stories are about Natives, read it and you will see what I mean.

3. Mastering the Art of War – Zhuge Liang & Liu Ji, just reading the words of one of my new heroes, Zhuge Liang is something special to me that I cannot describe.

2. Book of the Five Rings – Mayamoto Mushashi, I related the story of why I bought this and the dead mosquito within. Still, its straightforwardness is absolutely insightful. Made me see things a bit more clear. I recommend it highly, even if we are all not 12^th Century Samurai.

1. Three Kingdoms – Luo Guanzhong, no surprises here. I simply started reading it again. Every time I open it up, how can I not be taken in by these fantastic stories of war, of battle, of personal sacrifice and honor, of villainous schemes, of betrayal and deceit, of marshal valor and marshal law, and at the center of it all a tale of brotherhood that bonds three men to death at each other’s side. No, no surprises here that when I would pick it up again, its story serves a reminder that it will forever be my most favorite book of all.

MOVIES:

Again, I will limit it to first-time viewings, mostly in the theater.

10. Monsters vs. Aliems/Rifftrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space (TIE) A cheat, I know but these are based on theater-going experience. MvA was awesome in that afterward, Char and I talked the movie the whole way home. Rifftrax Live was another awesome experience as Bonnie and I went and laughed our heads off. We enjoyed it so much that we went to an encore presentation a couple of months later.

9. Up – If this isn’t on your Top 10 of 2009 list, then something is wrong with you.

8. Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince – Nice to see the story and tone progressing. And to see Rickman getting his chance to shine.

7. Star Trek – I loved what JJ Abrams did with this reboot. Sure, it’s not to everybody’s liking but it attracted an audience beyond the normal (hah) Star Trek fan. Even my Bonnie liked it. She loved how they changed things up with the destruction of a major planet but also of how Spock has a love life! When I said, he is half-human. She replied, yeah, the bottom half! Ha! If it attracts my Bonnie to enjoy it, then it is a good movie.

6. Coraline – another smart animated film. I love how there are more sophisticated shows for children coming along. I hope it continues.

5. NINE (Dir. Rob Marshall) – I dug the holy heck out of this. Sure, there are scantily-clad ladies shaking their dinners at the camera, but at the core of it is a story of a man, a film director whom cannot conjure his next film because of all the women in his life. At the end he realizes that art is a truly shallow pursuit in the context of living a good life and being true to the love of your life. The very last sequence had me grinning like a fool. The last shot had me applauding before the credits rolled. Daniel Day-Lewis can do anything.

4. District 9 – one of the smartest, original sci-fi actioners to come along in a long time.

3. It Might Get Loud – I am teaching myself how to play the guitar because of this documentary. People do not realize the tough background that U2 comes from, the times they lived in as children, what they saw. Seeing Jimmy Page step out of his black limo in his shades and carrying his guitar was just so cool…

1. (TIE) Red Cliff (U.S. Release) – This Magonlia Pictures release garners a tie for first place on this list because it edited out great portions of the two Asian releases. This, long with:

1. The Hurt Locker – The two best war movies this past year and Kathryn Bigalow could teach Tarantino some lessons in high tension. (Yeah, I said that.)

I know, I know, what about this movie, what about that movie. It was great. How could you not like it? You’re a filmmaker! What about my favorite of all of historical cinema, the reason Thomas Edison invent this sh*t, “Inglorious Basterds”!?!?!

Well, I have a very peculiar taste and way of determining what makes a good movie to me. If you read WoS regular last month and seen the Redshade update you will understand what makes a good movie for me. In my humble opinion, people want movies like “Watchmen” and “Basterds” to succeed and be heralded mainly because it justifies their own tastes. Whether they are playing up the Indie, art house, non-conformist tip, or are vigorous defenders of the Geeky Popcorn Aesthetic, they want validation. Me? I could care less if what I like is art house or popcorn. I enjoy movies, and if they inspire me in that way where I want to go out and make movies, I can dig it. Besides, we all know that taste is the enemy of art.

And we all have our tastes in movies.

Make sure you look up my Best of the Decade in Movies. Maybe I will do a screening of my Top Ten of the Last Ten Years. Let me know.

Until next year.

MOVIES TWENTY-TEN

Wait, why not stick around a bit longer. To change things up, I think I'll post upcoming 2010 movies that I am looking forward to and are on my "Must See" List. All right with you? Good. Let's go...

1) Inception – Christopher Nolan (July 16): Nolan is probably the best director working the Hollywood system right now. His "Memento", "Batman Begins", "The Prestige" and "The Dark Knight" have made me a believer in his talent. I am so looking forward to this after seeing the twisty-turny, floaty hallway fight. I am there.

2) The Warlords – Peter Chan (April 2): I've been on a Chinese history kick that's now lasting well into a third year. This was released in late 2008 and only now is getting a US release. Another grand war epic about three oath brothers. Plus, Jet Li doing the dramatic acting he has always wanted to do. Team him with Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro and you've got me and womendom there.

3) Mulan aka Hua Mulan – Jingle Ma (released November 26 in Asia, awaits US distribution): Another adaptation of the folk-tale about a young woman whom disguises herself as a man to fight in the Wei army in her father's stead. In the story she was in the army for 12 years, rising to the rank of general, before revealing her identity to her soldiers upon returning home. This stars Zhao Wei, whom I am crushing on after "Red Cliff". A solid actioner it looks like.

4) Tron Legacy – Joseph Kosinski (December 17): If you were a geeky kid in the 80's, this is something you have to be excited for. Or else turn in your Starship Enterprise ID badge!

5) The Expendables – Sylvester Stallone (August 13): Stallone, Jet Li, Doplh Lundgren, Jason Statham, with appearances by both Arnold Schwartzenegger and Bruce Willis. No official tralers yet, but with this much muscle behind it, it cannot go wrong.

6) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – David Yates (November 19): First part of two in one of the finest literary finales. I cannot wait to see what they were able to cram into these films from teh crazy-ass ending the book series had.

7) Machete – Robert Rodriguez (April 16): Based on a fake trailer and because fanboys demand it. You know how good a movie is when fanboys get what they want. Look at Inglorious Basterds and Watchmen and the Star Wars Prequels (Yeah, I went there.). But, I'm a Rodriguez Fan. I'm looking forward to it. Hey, it is what it is...

8) Predators – Nimrod Antel (July 7): Produced by Rodriguez and directed by a guy named Nimrod. What's not to love? Supposed to be what "AlienS" was to "Alien". Cool.

9) The American – Anton Corbijn (September 1): George Clooney plays a hitman on the obligatory final job. I am happy to see Clooney play an aged hitman. As I hope to play one soon myself. (Told you, we both have the same problem.)

10) Kick Ass – Matthew Vaughn (April 16): The teaser trailer got me fired up. But, you know it's just wrong. But a fun wrong. Like cold pizza and Oreos.

Maybes:

Edge of Darkness – Martin Campbell (January 22): We'll see.

Iron Man 2 – Jon Favreau (May 7): Still cannot get over the glaring contradiction of the hero.

Robin Hood – Ridley Scott (May 14): Scott and Crowe (forgot his name for a second) have never steered me wrong. Have they?

Anyways, write me up and tell me what I got wrong and what you are looking forward to. Until next year.

Ernest M. Whiteman III