Bishop Museum - Honolulu, HI

Mission Houses Museum - Honolulu, HI

'Iolani Palace - Honolulu, HI

USS Arizona National Memorial - Honolulu, HI

Go West - The Marx Brothers (1940)

Compared to 1937's _A Day at the Races_, the brothers seem to have abandoned their pause-ridden patter (developed for live audiences in their stage shows) for much faster-paced comedy dialog, undoubtedly influenced by screwball comedies at the time (Howard Hawks, Preston Sturges, et al). An early scene in the film depicts the two romantic leads sharing an intimate moment in close-up, with the entirety of their faces obscured by an errant horse. Makes one wonder if Groucho was directing that scene!

Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall - Bill Willingham, et al (2006)

Paprika - Satoshi Kon (2006)

I felt the portrayal of the dream state in Paprika was more realistic (can you say that about dreams?) than typical movie tropes. Things that characterize dreams for me are hyper-reality, baroque detail as well as non-sequitur. Paprika has these in spades. Made me wonder what Salvador Dali would have done with an anime studio...

The thing that bugged me the most about Paprika (and many anime films) is the continuous state of heightened emotion. After a short time I get inured to the screaming actors, extreme speed and intense colors. I suppose animators need to take advantage of their limited resources/screen time, but at what expense to the viewer experience? I'm no anime expert, but Hayao Miyazaki seems to be one of the few anime directors that understands this.

Seen at Kendall Square Theater

Hank Ketcham's Complete Dennis the Menace (2005)

Ketcham's flowing, open linework always leaves me in awe. The 1950s details in the background (refrigerators, tube tvs, pipe racks, barber chairs) keep the eye moving around the page, searching for more. Plus, he makes an excellent case for not having children.

Army @ Love #1 & #2 - Rich Veitch, Gary Erskine (2007)

Veitch imagines the war in Iraq as a marketing exercise. The good-ol US Army takes all of the good bits Apocalypse Now and turn them into recruiting tools. You can't keep a good soldier out of combat.

A Day at the Races - The Marx Brothers (1937)

Seen this before. Still a hoot but didn't remember the uncomfortable blackface gag put on by the three brothers.

The Dao of Zhuangzi - Tsai Chih Chung (1997)

Some of the teachings of the Dao presented as small comic book vignettes. The elegantly humorous appropriately conveys the alternately serious and funny elements of these parables. The more philosphical, less narrative sequences seem like more a stretch for the format.

In Harm's Way - Otto Preminger (1965)

You'll come for John Wayne and Kirk Douglass. You'll stay for Patricia Neal and Burgess Meridith. More mobile camera than I remember in most Preminger films, including a stunning moment when the camera moves seamlessly from a road-side pan to the back seat of a speeding convertible. Most of the intimate conversations are aurally layered with a buzzing/humming/ambient noise. An audio reminder of the larger-scale events driving forward the smaller scale interactions on the screen. Love those Saul Bass end credits building from bathtub splashes to mushroom clouds.DVD on Amazon

The Golden Age of Comedy (1957)

A compilation of silent film gags. Who knew Will Rogers worked the silent circuit? Harry Langdon with his evil baby face. Plenty of Ben Turpin and classic Laurel & Hardy
too.

Mauretania - Chris Reynolds (1990)

Reminds me of Paul Auster's early novels. Mysterious doings and unknown motives. Monitor has qualities of Dr. Mabuse as well as the Little Rascals.

Houdini: The Handcuff King - Jason Lutes, Nick Bertozzi (2007)

Written for young adults, but enjoyable by everyone. Nicely structured narrative. Beautiful cover illustrations.

Superman: For All Seasons - Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale (1999)

Top Shelf Asks the Big Questions - Anthology (2003)

The Boston Athenaeum - Acquired Tastes Special Exhibit

The Gentleman Tramp - Richard Patterson (1975)

Saps at Sea - Laurel & Hardy (1940)

Pirates of the Caribbean: at World's End - Gore Verbinsky (2007)

at the Boston Common Theater

The Cheat - Cecil B DeMille (1915)

Hot Fuzz - Edgar Wright (2007)

Kendall Square Theater