Travis Simpkins

Sunday, July 19, 2015

House of Flying Daggers (2004): Zhang Ziyi in Tang Dynasty China

Co-written and directed by Zhang Yimou, House of Flying Daggers (2004) combined acrobatic excitement and visual splendor in a winning combination that wowed critics and fans of the "wuxia" genre of martial arts films. Set in 859 CE, in the decline of the Tang Dynasty, a blind dancer is arrested as being suspected of consorting with the House of Flying Daggers… a rebel group of skilled fighters that steal from the rich and give to the poor. After being sprung from jail by a dashing rescuer, the lines of which side everyone is on begin to blur as the spree to escape unfolds. The fight scenes are astonishing and vibrant, an ocular delight, and the film relies heavily on color to set the mood… particularly greens and pinks. The sets, costumes and weapons are all well-chosen and fittingly designed, giving a pulsing sense of place in Ancient China. Zhang Ziyi is absolutely beautiful in the lead role, and she proves once again to be one of the most agile and graceful women on the planet, executing her stunts with both vigor and ease. The supporting cast is good as well, including Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro.

Zhang Ziyi

"House of Flying Daggers"- movie trailer

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Matthias Waschek, Worcester Art Museum Director. by Travis Simpkins

Matthias Waschek, 2015. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Matthias Waschek

Director of the Worcester Art Museum

by Travis Simpkins

Matthias Waschek- "Knights!" Worcester Art Museum

For more info, please visit:

www.worcesterart.org

Matthias Waschek. by Travis Simpkins. Knights! WAM

Cleopatra (1963): Elizabeth Taylor, Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire

Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Cleopatra (1963) was the most expensive film ever made at that point, costing $44 Million ($340 Million in 2015) and nearly bankrupted 20th Century Fox due to production overruns, setbacks and discords. The epic 4-hour film (supposedly based on the historical writings of Plutarch, Suetonius and Appian) tells the sweeping story of the seductive queen of Egypt, Cleopatra, and her love affairs and political relations with Roman officials Julius Caesar and Mark Antony in the 1st Century B.C. Historical fidelity is set aside for 1960's grand spectacle and melodrama. The sets, particularly those of Alexandria and Rome, are astounding in scope and scale… and although probably not very archaeologically authentic, give a proper sense of ancient architecture. Elizabeth Taylor is beautiful, delivering one of her most famous performances, as Cleopatra VII Philopator. Rex Harrison is great as Gaius Julius Caesar. Richard Burton is powerful as Marcus Antonius (Marc Antony). The supporting cast is great as well, including Roddy McDowall, Martin Landau, Hume Cronyn and George Cole.