Fett, Boba Fett

A couple of ebay pieces I whipped up for auction...

CM
http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/batmason

The Bride!

The Bride of Frankenstein, with a lot of Elsa Lanchester thrown in!
I'm not entirely happy with the way this one came out - I may go back and do some additional fine tuning.

CM

Franky, The Creature & Dracula!

Three of my most recent pieces - Acrylics on canvas board 9x12.
Franky was painted in about 4 hours and based on a quick-sketch I did about 2 years ago, while Creature was done in about 7 hours - originally I had the Creature sucking on a big-gulp cup through a straw, but visually is was distracting - so I swapped out the straw for Nemo... I think it came out much funnier! Dracula, you can't think Dracula and not think Lugosi - wanted a little bit of him and wanted to do Drac without having to show fangs!

These are the first of a series of Famous Monster caricatures I hope to exhibit and sell!

CM

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

Based on Joss Whedon's smash internet musical hit, featuring Neil Patrick Harris (Dr. Horrilble), Felicia Day (Penny) & Nathan Fillion (Capt. Hammer) - If you haven't seen the film (where have you been?) you should treat yourself to it right now!

This piece is up for sale on ebay, or contact me direct if you are interested in buying it.

Watch the film here: http://www.drhorrible.com

CM

MAD MONSTER PARTY - Original Art

One of my all-time favorite movies - These are a number of original pieces I did featuring the cast from the classic Rankin-Bass film "Mad Monster Party."

Some were sold on ebay and others were commission pieces sold to a MMP collector!
I think I ended up doing 20 portraits...

Feel free to contact me with any commission work!

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Picture of the Week!

Eye see you....

CM

Picture of the Week!

"And I thought they smelled bad on the outside!" - Han Solo: The Empire Strikes back

How freaking cool is this?

This high-quality sleeping bag looks just like a Tauntaun, complete with saddle, internal intestines and glowing lightsaber zipper pull. Now when your kids tell you their favorite Star Wars movie is "Attack of the Clones" you can nestle the wee-ones snug in simulated Tauntaun fur while regaling them with the amazing tale of "Empire Strikes Back".

You can buy one HERE

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Picture of the Week!

This will learn ya!
Cute and cuddly with a mean right hook - BAM!

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Picture of the Week!

No idea what the hell is going on here... it's just creepy and I love it!

CM

PUSH is the Shit!

And by shit I mean S H I T !

I saw the film PUSH last night... the film is described as - and I quote the studio press release...

"A riveting action-thriller, "Push" burrows deep into the deadly world of psychic espionage where artificially enhanced paranormal operatives have the ability to move objects with their minds, see the future, create new realities and kill without ever touching their victims."

Nothing could be further from the truth..
Riveting? Action-thriller?? Really?
I would describe it as a steaming pile of SHIT! - I love bad movies and I'll watch almost anything, even the worst films have some redeeming value, PUSH has one - it's locations. The film was shot in and around Hong Kong, they say "location is everything" but even this not enough to save this film.

I went with a friend and we were both bored out of our minds during the flick... I literally wanted to walk out after the first hour. The film's plot has a lot of promise, super-powered people... the trailers attempt to make it look like a cool movie! My instincts on this film were right on the money, I knew going in not to expect too much - but come on! About 15 minutes into the film I checked out - there was nothing to keep me interested... the characters, plot, direction & editing were all BORING! The film is a repetitious series of cool set-ups that never pay off... the audience is treated to a great set-up, some anticipation a tease of action - then we are treated to disappointment when nothing happens - again and again... WTF?!

The acting in this turd is beyond bad - Chris Evans as the "hero" lacks any and all humor or charm of his his past films and is just so blah... Dakota Fanning, sometimes referred to as one of the best 'kid' actors in Hollywood is laughable in this film. She walks with a strut in her step in an attempt to be more adult & hip, but it just comes off as silly. The only amusing part of the film is when her character gets drunk in order to use her super-power, the scene is funny for all the wrong reasons - and serves as the perfect example of why this film fails!

In a day and age when the technology of filmmaking is at it's peak - there is NO reason to make a bad movie! Push tries to overcome its short-comings with it's style and locations, but falls flat on it's celluloid face. Films Like Indiana Jones and the Krystal Skull and the Star Wars prequels are examples of great ideas turned into shit... There is NO reason for it!

Push is a film that will die at the box office, and at the end of the day not really worth me getting all worked up over it, but it is so disapointing...

So spare yourself the agony of PUSH and go see a good movie like TAKEN!

CM

Bale goes all Bat-Shit and Stuff!

You may have heard the audio clip of BATMAN actor Christian Bale loosing his cool and going all dark-knight on the set of the new Terminator set last July. Well if you haven't you can check it out HERE.

Basically Bale had enough with the cinematographer Shane Hurlbut when he walked into a scene while the actor was 'acting' - the tirade lasts nearly 4 minuets and is full of F'bombs and heated language heaped at Hurlbut. While I can understand an actor being in the moment of a scene, and having a member of the crew walk into a shot can be distracting, for that I don't blame him him. I've seen directors loose it on set many times and I have personally been on the recieving end of an Academy Award winning director's fury*. It's NO fun to be sure, but listening to this audio just cracks me up... Bale is paid millions of dollars to 'pretend' - certainly there is a lot of pressure when you are the center of a big-budget movie, but there no reason to go off and verbally attack and threaten bodily harm to a member of the crew, no matter how much the poor bastard may have deserved it...

This incident preceided his arrest in July '08 in London over accusations he attacked his mother and sister at the city's Dorchester Hotel before the British premiere of The Dark Knight!

So I guess the lesson here is, if a big-name actor is having a bad day, don't walk into his key-light!

Now comes the re-mix - If you want to enjoy the whole tirade in a YouTube dance mix - Click HERE!

CM

Ricardo Montalban dies at 88.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Ricardo Montalban, the Mexican-born actor who became a star in splashy MGM musicals and later as the wish-fulfilling Mr. Roarke in TV's "Fantasy Island," died Wednesday morning at his home.

Montalban had been a star in Mexican movies when MGM brought him to Hollywood in 1946. He was cast in the leading role opposite Esther Williams in "Fiesta." He also starred with the swimming beauty in "On an Island With You" and "Neptune's Daughter."

A later generation knew Montalban as the faintly mysterious, white-suited Mr. Roarke, who presided over an island resort where visitors were able to fulfill their lifelong dreams. "Fantasy Island" received high ratings for most of its 1978-1984 span on ABC television and still appears in reruns.

In a 1978 interview, he analyzed the series' success:

"What is appealing is the idea of attaining the unattainable and learning from it. Once you obtain a fantasy it becomes a reality, and that reality is not as exciting as your fantasy. Through the fantasies you learn to appreciate your own realities."

My 2 cents...
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Montalban when a friend of mine and I snuck onto the Paramount Studios lot (its a long story) and we were able to get onto the Star Trek 2 The Wrath of Khan set... He made quite an imposing figure as KHAN the arch nemesis of James T. Kirk. He was as nice a person as I have ever met, and seemed from the few scenes I was able to see filmed, he was such a professional... My kids know him as Grandpa Cortez from the SPY KIDS movies.

He will be missed!
CM

Picture of the Week!

This weeks picture features a vintage photo from 1939!
Envisioned as a look into the future, this is what we are supposed to be wearing according to designers in 1939! This stylishly awesome gent is wearing a futuristic gray jumpsuit, metal antenna-like hat, and wide metal belt with pockets...

Sign me up for the FUTURE!

"Get off my lawn!"

I just saw GRAN TORINO and loved it!

Clint Eastwood's latest film and his first acting roll since 'Million Dollar Baby' - Clint knocks this one out of the ball-park... He continues to prove that he is a solid filmmaker making memorable films and Torino is no different, the film is a true testament to his ability as both actor & director.

If you haven't seen the film you should. Eastwood takes the roll of Walt and makes him a very sympathetic old curmudgeon, in any other actors hands the character could have been just a parody of some fowl-mouthed old racist bastard!

"Eastwood plays retired auto worker Walt Kowalski, an iron-willed veteran living in a changing world, who is forced by his immigrant neighbors to confront his own long-held prejudices. The people he once called his neighbors have all moved or passed away, replaced by Hmong immigrants, from Southeast Asia, he despises. Resentful of virtually everything and everyone he sees, Walt is just waiting out the rest of his life...until the night his teenage neighbor Thao tries to steal his prized '72 Gran Torino, under pressure from Hmong gang-bangers. But Walt stands in the way of both the heist and the gang, making him the reluctant hero of the neighborhood--especially to Thao's mother and older sister, Sue, who insist that Thao work for Walt as a way to make amends. Though he initially wants nothing to do with these people, Walt eventually gives in and puts the boy to work, setting into motion an unlikely friendship that will change both their lives."

Gran Torino pulls no punches with it's language, and there are many moments in the film where you will say - 'did he just say what I think he said?!' But there is an honesty to the film that I haven't seen in a film in a long time. To say this could be Clint's best work, would be unfair to whatever he may be doing next...

Enjoy,
CM

Picture of the Week!

It's no secret to the people who know me... Oh wait, yeah it is kind of a secret!
OKAY, I admit it -I like vintage photographs of monkeys or chimps wearing clothes, and I have an interesting collection of bizarre B&W images that I've collected over the years! I find something very entertainingly sad about chips forced to dress up in people clothes and pose! It makes me laugh when I see one, but they also make me think too - after all we are only separated by a few small bits of DNA! Anyway I thought it fitting to kick of the new blog and "Picture of the Week" with a costumed chimp!

Enjoy,
CM

"The Tale of Shasty McNasty"

The following actual account is based on an event that actually took place...
(you have been warned)

Alright, now we've all one time or another had to GO - I'm not talking about going to the market, or going to the bank... I'm talking about having to really GO!

Let me just say that I've seen a lot of crazy things in my time on this planet, I spent 7 years working at AMERICAS FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS as the head of the screening department - so really nothing surprises me... well almost nothing!

THE TALE OF SHASTY McNASTY
On a recent trip with the kids to Disneyland I was a sorry witness to God's cruelty to man. We had just finished lunch at the Blue Bayou and as we headed for the New Orleans train station we hit the mens restroom a short stones thrown from the Haunted Mansion... being the after lunch crowd it was pretty busy in there - both the kids went in to their stalls and I stood watch as they did their business, I was holding the door for my daughter as a line quickly formed for each of the 5 stalls. It is at this point I noticed an Asian gentleman about 35 years old come rushing in all humped over... he had that desperate look of panic on his face, you know that look - we parents have seen it a hundred times on the face of a 2 year old that has waited till the absolute last min to use the toilet.

This poor bastard was pinching his cheeks and seeing that all the stalls were "occupodo" began a dance of doubled over pain and proceeds to circle the bathroom like a caged beast while pinching his ass-cheeks moaning, OH GOD OH GOD... my son exits the stall the next guy in line (showing no sympathy) enters the stall, so my new 'about to explode' friend does what any grown adult would do... he drops his shorts and proceeds to SHIT on THE FLOOR in the OPEN DOORWAY for ALL to see in a PUBLIC THEME PARK RESTROOM!!!

Now I've seen lots of crazy crap in my time, but this has to be one of the greatest things I've ever seen - this poor bastard was an E-Ticket ride... In a way I felt sorry for him but at the same time I was totally disgusted while holding back my laughter. I'll spare you the gory details of the puddle of liquid dookey... but DUDE what the fuck!?! When the event was over, the guy hitches up his shorts and whithout so much as a wipe or look back - makes his quick exit just as a janitor walks in! Mind you I'm totally into whats going on as the kids wash their hands - the inner laughter builds inside me! The look on the janitor's face as he entered the doorway to witness the shitty event was simply priceless, he walks past this runny mound of shit without so much as a double-take... which begs the question: has he seen this sort of thing before?

I know we are all uman and we've all had to GO real bad, I have a sensative tummy and if the food is even remotley tainted, it'll hit me hard - but never in all my drunken days as far as I can remember have I ever been forced to drop my shorts and shit in public on the floor at Disneyland for craps-sake!

The kids were oblivious to the whole incident, but when we exited and I said "Don't step in THAT!" - I couldn't hold it any longer - my laughter burst out and I had to tell them what just happened - I had to tell somebody - right?

I have this vision of that poor bastard going back to his family... what did he tell them? Did he tell them what happened? I imagine instead he returned with his head hung low in shame saying nothing at all...

So, there you have it - The Tale of Shasty McNasty, so dubbed by the kids. Needless to say in the years since this event, every time I visit the restroom near the New Orleans train station I enter with a fond chuckle to my pal Shasty...

*(this story originally posted on MySpace Sept. 2006)

2008 THE YEAR IN REVIEW – OR WTF HAPPENED?

Jan: New Years ’08 - CM watches the ball drop all alone – notes that Dick Clark looks a lot like Ryan Seacrest since his stroke – adds “more veggies” to resolution list - Amy Winehouse enters rehab – quickly exits rehab - After a long dry spell, CM dating again

Feb: CM replaces “more veggies” with “pizza” - CM sells a few more copies of his book, still not able to retire – CM buys self Valentine’s Day candy - chokes

March: Benjamin turns 10 – CM gets more gray hair – birthday party at the Reptile place, kids are given education on pig reproduction and lesson in how not to hold a tortoise so it won't projectile poop in your face - one kid learns the hard way - CM adopts the ‘NO pants Fridays’ rule

April: the Tax Man cometh the Tax Man taketh away

May: the definition of the word “dating” is called into question – single again - CM swears off girls – then quickly swears off boys - After nearly 20 years Indiana Jones returns in The Kingdom of the Krystal TURD - CM joins ‘top secret group to kidnap George Lucas and force him to retire’ (aka: TSGTKGLAFHTR) – security at Skywalker Ranch very tight – TSGTKGLAFHTR disbands – CM watches the original INDY films on DVD

June: CM makes a killing on ebay selling Batman toys – squanders ebay loot buying 1960’s VINTAGE Batman toys – school is out, what to do with free time – new apps on facebook - CM goes on super-poke rampage

July: Angelina Jolie gives birth to twins – despite rumors to the contrary CM is not the father – CM gives birth to another kidney stone

Aug: CM starts mural at school, students later ask where is Pokemon – NO Pokemon

Sept: Salma Hayek also gives birth , CM also not the father - Hannah turns 8 – more gray hairs - CM’s 46th comes and goes like a fart in church – CM adds Pokemon ball to mural – in a fit of lack of self control CM consumes an entire apple pie

Oct: Mr. Bonez hands out record number of Halloween candies totaling 900 – CM receives AFTRA residual check in the amount of $4.00 for his superb TV acting in 1994

Nov: With the one deciding vote CM elects the new president – massive turkey consumption - stuffing & cranberry coma follows – cold weather comes, ‘NO pants Fridays’ rule is rescinded

Dec: CM has potentially life altering epiphany! – forgets to write epiphany down, can’t remember epiphany – Suits up as Santa to meet every runny nose & cough at school – spends xmas holiday alone with a cold – xmas sleep over at moms, family drama ensues - then spends second xmas with the kiddies – AND ALL WAS RIGHT WITH THE WORLD!