We finished watching World On A Wire, Fassbinder's 3 1/2 hour SF production for German television back in 1973. The film has been restored, and came with 90 minutes of extras, including interviews (from 2010) with actors, the cinematographer, and the script writer. It turned into a pretty neat film, part Philip K Dick, part film noir, and part James Bond thriller. It was certainly the most entertaining Fassbinder film we have seen so far in his retrospective now showing on the Criterion Channel.
After that we watched a very silly Jackie Chan movie from 1978, called Spiritual Kung Fu (my fault). Played strictly for lowlife laughs, Jackie is still likeable, and watching him in action in his youth is a study in how hard the man trained, and how good at it he really was. His stick fighting technic against 18 monks has to be seen to be believed. And we have been watching all of the Brothers Quay animation now showing on Criterion, including Street of Crocodiles, one of the most fascinating films ever made. Only 18 minutes long, it has the feel of an epic one. Very twisted and very enjoyable, with some of the best stop motion animation ever put on film, and sets that are incomparably creepy and nightmarish, this is a must see film. It had been many, many years since we had last seen it. As to the dozen of so others also showing, I don't remember any of them, even though we have also seen The Cabinet of Jan Svankmajer, also a classic one.
Jackie Chan stars in a silly movie.
Scene from Street of Crocodiles.
Scene from the Cabinet of Jan Svankmajer.
In other news, I have had two clear nights in a row, right at the start of the new session. This means that the moon rises early and puts a stop to things, but this time after moonrise I had a chance to observe Mars, which is at its closest approach to Earth for the next 20 years or so. And it is very close! I had outstanding views of the surface, with more intricate detail than I have ever observed before, in a lifetime of observing. On two previous optimum oppositions, including two years ago, dust storms have swirled, obscuring nearly the whole planet. But this time conditions are perfect on Mars, and the views are simply breath-taking! I also sought out Neptune, which is remarkably bright in a 12" telescope. It is cloudy tonight, but very mild, so I am home blogging instead of observing.
And now, for a few works of art from the collection of the DIA (will I ever get there again?). Christian Rolhfs (German, 1849-1938) is well represented in the DIA, though the graphics are rarely shown. Sun and moon, here we have two opposite works by the master. I love them both, creating moods that reflect their subjects, and making us think a bit about night and day, sun and moon, and light and dark. As an astronomer I live comfortably in both worlds, but I love the bright sunny days as much as I love the dark, starry nights. We truly live on a wonderful planet, possibly one of the finest in the galaxy. Wish the same could be said for more of the human inhabitants...
Sunflowers, 1935, Christian Rolhfs. Water-based pigments on heavy wove paper. 19" x 26".
Violet Moonlight II, 1935. Watercolour, 30" x 21.5".
Collection Detroit Institute of Arts.
Mapman Mike
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