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A look at the FRAZETTA: PAINTING WITH FIRE Documentary!
Hey folks, Harry here... I was lucky enough to get a screener of FRAZETTA: PAINTING WITH FIRE back before SXSW and folks... as a complete and utter worshipper of Frank Frazetta... this is the documentary to end all documentaries. As you sit there and listen to his childhood, the teenage friends... the gods of comic art, the E.C. years, the movie poster years, the Paper Backs... and the ascension to godhood, the strokes, the fighting back... It is such a great story. Finding out about the athletic background of Frazetta helped to understand just how his mind's eye knew how to freeze that ecstatic delicate instant that defines iconic motion in stillness... The tortured scarred muscles... Oh man, Frazetta... a true god in Comic Art treated exactly the way he should be. I met Frank numerous times as a small boy at conventions when he'd still do sketches back in the early to mid-seventies... Watching John Milius and Ralph Bakshi go bonkers about the man is just priceless... and when you see Bakshi trying to steal an original... there's a geeky nirvana shake of joy that just made me giggle like Joe E Brown. Anyway, here's the review...
Harry,
This is the first time I have written, but, as I have yet to see even a small mention of this on the site, I think the folks should know about this if they don't already. If they do, then they should get their copy if they haven't already! That means you too!
For about the past year and a half, this lifelong Frazetta fan has been drooling with anticipation for the Cinemachine documentary, "Frazetta: Painting with Fire" and, at the same time, shivering with fear that it would be a bloodless, "E" style video bio. I got my VHS copy in the mail today and nervously, excitedly, popped it in the VCR...
Harry, it is everything you could want in a film about the greatest illustrator of the second half of the 20th century! Well paced and laid out in a natural and ever revealing progression of segments over a full hour and a half, it eschews a narrator in favor of anecdotes and reminiscences from everyone from Fleegal Gang members Nick Meglin and Angelo Torres to "Illustrations Arcanum" publisher Glen Danzig. Frazetta's amazing art is, of course, greatly featured. "Doctor Dave" Winiewicz, as always, preaches to the long converted ( bless 'im!).
Of course, the real treat is the extensive interviews with The Man Himself. Frank is bold, brash, ever confident, and totally up front. Here is a man who, after a life threatening and debilitating thyroid condition and numerous strokes, has nothing to fear from anyone or anything. There is no holding this man back! He is as fully powerful a presence as his incomparable rendering of Conan! It is really fun to hear the tales from the Master's own mouth. And to see him working in the studio, now painting with his left hand (he's a righty)... Amazing stuff!
As you might have noted, I mentioned that this was a VHS copy. The DVD is still being worked on. Lots of additional features are promised. I'll be getting that too when it comes out. This great documentary was a wholly independent film and truly an amazing work of love from the folks at Cinemachine. Harry, this is a must own!
All the details are at Cinemachine's site:
With a big, stupid grin,
(Scortch)
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Dem are some sweet melons
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Need I repeat myself?
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Hell, I only started reading Conan because of the badass Frazetta covers. Thanks Frank.
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Yes, indeed I have heard of all the amazing talents that you mention and have a great love for all of them. I will certainly say that, as far a comic books go, Eisner's work FAR supercedes Frazetta's. However, to limit the classification of illustration to simply pen and ink work is not only wrong, but negates a lineage of great work from earler artists such as Wyeth, Parrish, Dulac and others who chose paint as their main medium of choice. Beyond that, I will certainly defend my choice of words. Frazetta's work reached people in a manner that no other illustator (again, yes, his paintings are that). He completely changed the way people look at fantasy art, influenced so many, and gained a peer respect AND a respect from the "legit" art world that is unequalled by any other commercial artist of his era. Yes, the greatest illustrator of the second half of the 20th century.
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I visited his museum in PA again last summer. Hes IMHO the one of the greatest of all time. Cant wait to see this.
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Last Summer my wife and I drove to the Frazetta Museum on their Estate. It is a MUST for all Frazetta fans, and though a small museum, worth the travel. (We'll be going back this Summer.)There is nothing like seeing his work in person. We didn't get to meet Frank, but we did have a wonderful conversation with Ellie, his wife. She is an incredible woman. We left with prints of Frank's John Carter, Warlord of Mars paintings, which now hang framed in our living room, and another one that hangs over the bed. Frank Frazetta changed the course of my childhood, even when I didn't know who was behind those incredible images. I can't wait to see this documentary, as I am sure it will be a wonderful addition to the very complete Frazetta books put out by Arnie Fenner at UnderWood Books.
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Many of Frazetta's most popular painted works were also created for illustration. You must remember that during the height of his cover illustrations for fantasy paperbacks, Frazetta was selling books merely for their cover art. All those Conan book cover illustrations were painted. You mentioned some excellent artists, but as far as illustration and not sequential storytelling goes- Frazetta wins hands down on this. Wrightson was a huge fan of Frazetta, and Schoonover was in the early part of the century. The only artist mentioned that had mass appeal would have been Kirby and even his work did not cross over to the masses as Frazetta's images. You saw Frazetta imitations on vans, motorcycles, other book covers, albums, tattoos etc. Less for the character depicted but more for the sheer artistry. His designs influenced live films and animation before Marvel characters who Kirby co - created made it to the level they have now in this century.
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Oh holy hell yes, I'll be getting this Day One.
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Absolutely worth the trip to East Stroudsburg, PA. Ellie Frazetta changes the exhibit every Spring. In many ways, for an illustrator who grew up and was inspired by Frazetta's work, entering the gallery was like walking into a cathedral. He is without peer in the genre; Bisley, Jones, Vajello, Freas, etc., all pale in comparison.
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Apr 18, 2003 12:35:34 PM CDT
Frazetta isn't just a God in "Comic Art", but of Art, period.
by smugbug
As what was mentioned, repeatedly in the documentary, Frazetta transcends fantasy and comic book art.
What I love most about his work (collecting his books since I was 11-years old; 26-years ago), is that it has encouraged me to find my own "style" to be the best artist I can be. I refuse to be another Jusko, Jones, Vallejo, or any other artist that has chosen to be a "Frazetta whanabe".
Like Frazetta I wanna choose my own road. Gawd, I love his work. Gawd he's an incredible artist. -
Frank's art has never really done much for me.....but I want to make it clear that I really do recognize his skill, talent and individual style. Much like Kid Rock, not my taste, but the Mo-Fo's got talent coming out his ass......
Always found Franks work a bit to muted and 'dark' as in 'dim' not the delightful moody that fanboys seem to crave. In GENERAL I'll take the work of the bothers Hilderbrant, but thats just me. It is nice for someone who's main topic has been medievial - fantasy work to get this level of respect. Good for him.....
Yub Yub -
I busted more nuts to Frazetta art than to Crumb's Comix.
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Lordy but I've loved his stuff ever since his John Carter of Mars paperback covers fell under the gaze of these Sooty Peepers. Deja Thoris...uhhh-ooohhh. Think I'll wait for the DVD though. Cool! Frazetta also did a really great looking Gollum (from The Hobbit) paddling up to Bilbo in his little boat. We wants our precious DVD now!
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I would buy a DVD documentary of Alex Ross. His impact in the comics world in momentous.
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i'll be looking for this.
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Those covers for the Ballantine reissues of the JOHN CARTER series in the early 60s were indeed the shiznit. Especially the Dejah Thoris cover. No beanpoles for Frazetta. His women had ample boobs and nice round bellies and asses.
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Frank Frazetta influenced a slew of illustrators in the comic field,then changed the medium of paperback book covers forever.Without his rendition of "Conan" Robert E.Howard would be lost in obscurity,and an entire genre of writers would be adrift at sea.
The pure power behind his painting is awe inspiring.Name one fantasy artist living who is not influenced in some way by this great American treasure.
In some ways Frazetta's work has inspired certain filmakers of today(now considered geniuses).They themselves offer his influence as proof of his greatness.LONG LIVE FRAZETTA! -
I doubt anyone will read this, but I'm watching this right now and it totally rocks. I don't know if it's just the pot talking here, but this is probably the best documentary about comics/scifi/fantasy type subject matter that I've ever seen. They get a ton of great people to talk about a true master in the field and it is all done quite well with tons of artwork. Great stuff!!!!
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