Jango Unchained by Austin Madison

I love this mash-up from artist Austin Madison. We Jango Fett instead of Django the black cowboy, sure... but that is not what I love about this one the most. I love that his victim is a bloodied Samuel L. Jackson, who played both Mace Windu & Stephen the house slave in Star Wars & Django Unchained. Love when mash-ups work on multiple levels. Great idea. Great execution. Check out more of Madison's work by clicking here, and click after the jump to see the full piece...

Djesus Uncrossed

I have not watched much Saturday Night Live over the past few years, but I do often check out show highlights when there is a guest host or musical guest I like. So this past week when Christoph Waltz was the host, you just knew there was going to be some sort of Tarantino themed skit. I had no idea it would be as fantastic as the faux trailer for Djesus Unchained, another revisionist history movie in the vein of Django Unchained and Inglourious Bastards. Absolutely spot on, from the patented Tarantino fonts & credit styles, the music, and the impressions of QT staple actors like Samuel L. Jackson, Brad Pitt, and Ving Rhames. I also love the fact that he is nailed to a cross the whole skit!!!! Check it out after the jump....

Production Halted On Django Unchained Dolls

The heat surrounding the controversial film “Django Unchained” just got turned up another notch or two following the release of action figures based on African American characters from the movie.

The movie, which is set in the years just prior to the Civil War, follows the story of a freed slave who enlists the help of a German man to free his wife from her evil owner in Mississippi.

According to reports, Critics of the film, which was both written and directed by decorated director Quentin Tarantino, originally blasted it for its use of the “N word” when referring to the African Americans in the movie.

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Now, however, the 8 inch tall dolls depicting Django, the protagonist in the movie, his wife and the German bounty hunter have taken center stage and production of the figures was stopped on Jan. 18. 
The central reason why the dolls were put on the shelf was that they were considered offensive to African Americans.

The president of the National Action Network said the doll was offensive to the ancestors of today’s African Americans as well as the entire black community since they are geared toward children and could be used for entertainment and “making a mockery” of slavery.

As someone whose ancestors were not brought to this continent in bondage, I may not be the one to comment on the wisdom of producing a line of dolls based on the motion picture, Django Unchained, one of my favorite movies of 2012. I was looking forward to adding these to my collection because they look to be of high quality and design. I wanted a nice Mego-sized cowboy in my collection. 

NECA is a company that does good work, especially with the photo-realistic representation of it's movie characters. The sets which have been completed will instantly become highly sought after collectibles but will be priced out of my reach. Maybe one day I will find a Django and Shultz in box for a steal.

I would like to see similar protests against the marketing of images of rappers or killers from the movies which also happen to be played by black actors. It seems that Django gets targeted because Tarantino is a white director and the movie is so high profile, giving those who need an issue an issue to rile up their base. It's not like they are producing a plantation playset with whip wielding overseer but a film company like the Weinstein Company has to be sensitive to each demographic in it's audience.

But to be truthful the 'slave' is the hero of this picture. Anyone one who had seen the film would hardly say it's painting the whole institution of slavery in a positive light. If anything, it's makes the whole institution and the white masters to be buffoons and targets for ridicule. I found the whole exercise refreshing to be honest.

What do you think?

Reviews From The Cave Of Cool - Django Unchained (2012)

The story of an ex-slave turned bounty hunter who goes on a blood soaked search for his wife is the most fun I have had with a movie in a long time. There are a hundred reasons why this shouldn't work but it does in spectacular fashion. This is another winner in the long lists of successes for Quentin Tarantino. You either love him or hate him but you can't ignore him.

I could watch Christoph Waltz in a movie everyday of the week. His Doctor King Shultz has such a cool line deliver and in this script he is given some brilliant things to say which he does with great relish. His humanity (even though he is a bounty hunter) is evident from the first time we see him. Tarantino has found his muse and I hope they make many movies together.

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Daniel Day Lewis will get the Oscar for best actor but to me Waltz is even more deserving of praise because he had no model to base his character on. He only had his skills as an actor and great lines to create another memorable person in King Shultz. Luckily the Academy choose to nominate him in the Best Supporting actor spot so the two don't have to compete with each other. I have no doubt that Waltz will win his second Oscar and it's one of the few reasons I am interested in the awards show this year.

While searching for his latest bounty, Shultz finds Django (Jamie Fox), a slave. He frees him in exchange for information about the men Django knows and so begins the partnership of these two men who couldn't be more different but who at their hearts have a unique hatred of slavery.

Everyone who encounters the pair have a good reason to question their alliance but Waltz has an answer for everyone, be it a bullet or a well argued legal point. I found it thrilling. He knows every answer before the questions are even asked.

With his mentorship, Dr Shultz gives Django the confidence to seek out his own justice and it's alot of fun to see how quickly Django adapts to his new role as a 'free' man and avenging angel. The Dr. even teaches him to read.

To help Django develop he counsels that if you play the right 'role', you can achieve anything you want because racists are stupid and will believe anything you tell them.

I loved the way the story just pulls you in and makes you root for justice - violent justice but justice none the less. It was nicely cathartic to watch bad people get what was coming to them.

The Klansmen bitchin about the poor visibility they have through their hoods was hilarious. I like to think this is exactly the way these stupid peckerwoods operated.

"I think we all think that the bag was a nice idea. Now, not pointing any fingers, they could have been done better. So how 'bout, NO bags this time but NEXT time we get the bags right and go full regalia."

That is just GOOD writing and the funniest Klan-based comedy since Blazing Saddles. Was it necessary to the story? Not really but it reinforces the attitudes that whites had about blacks during that time in history and again, re-inforces the theme that racist white people are inherently dim and bigoted. Truth be told little has convinced me that those kinds of attitudes have changed in the South in the 150 years since slavery was abolished in the US.

I also have never seen a movie with a long running time feel so short. I wanted more of everything.

Once again Tarantino is a genius with his choice a music for the soundtrack. From all eras and styles he draws songs for inspiration and to set mood. His choices should jar you and take you out of the story but never do.

Now we have to talk about the use of the N-word. To me it's a non-issue. I personally cringe whenever I hear that word but in the context of this movie it's entirely appropriate. To not use it would have cheated us of the power that word has to put ground the story in some kind of reality, especially a movie set two years before the Civil War.

After what could have been it's own film, we get to part two of the tale. Django and Shultz discover where Django's wife, Brunhilda is. She was taught German as a child, a point that immediately intrigues Dr. Shultz and that small fact provides them with an opening to rescue Hildy from the clutches of her evil owner, the at once charming and deadly Calvin Caddie (Leonardo DiCaprio) from the plantation called Candyland.

Everything is working fine until a wise old house slave called Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson) trusts his instincts (and his immediate hatred for strutting Django) and throws the whole plan into the crapper.

It would cheat you to reveal what happens next but suffice it to say I left the theatre satisfied with everything I had seen and I think you will to.

Tarntino was criminally robbed of a best Director nomination but should win for best original screenplay - or at least I hope he does (N-word not withstanding). Nothing would please me more than seeing this excellent spaghetti western win Best Picture but nothing will stem the momentum that is Lincoln.

Samuel L.Jackson... I Love You Man!!!!!

Samuel L. Jackson has solidified himself as one of the busiest and coolest actors of a generation. he is 64 years old and has played everything from a Jedi Master to the greasiest haired hitman in the history of cinema. He is also General Nick Fury: the commanding officer of S.H.I.E.L.D., real life comic book villain Mr. Glass, and the guy who found them MOTHERFUCKING SNAKES ON THAT MOTHERFUCKING PLANE!!!! He has worn countless hairpieces & wigs, put on numerous accents, and made interrogation an artform while sprinkling in a bit of geography & religion into his line of questioning. The guy even had his own viral video reading a children's book (Go The Fuck To sleep... its great!)... so to say he could do pretty much anything is an understatement. But his role as house slave Stephen in Django Unchained may be his best yet. If it was up to me, this role would be the one that gets him the supporting actor statuette. He is uncompromising, gives his favorite director Quentin Tarantino the best performance of his career, and isn't afraid to defend the integrity of the movie itself. QT has never been afraid of using the word 'Nigger' in his movies, and when doing a press junket with Jake the Movie Guy from Houston's Fox Affliate Samuel l decided to get the lily white reporter to say the word himself. If you want to ask a question about the N word, you are going to have to say the N word yourself. The results are borderline 'Brett's Interrogation'  from Pulp Fiction, and it just goes to show you how cool Samuel L is and how deeply he believes in his work. Check the full junket out after the jump (it's 17 minutes long), or just jump to the 13:55 mark to get right to Mr. Jackson's comments. You the man Sam... now do that Gator dance and smoke that TV!!!!!! (If you get that Samuel L reference then you are my people)

Django Unchained Figures Done In The Mego Style

These terrific looking figures are are a real throwback to the classic Mego dolls we all remember and love. Fully cloth costumes for the main characters and semi-relalistic head sculps that look like the actors in the movie. Where else are you going to get an ex-slave turned bounty hunter figure these days? Check out more after the jump....

From the highly anticipated new film from prolific director Quentin Tarantino comes this collection of poseable 8″ figures with tailored fabric clothing similar to the retro toy lines that helped define the licensed action figure market in the 1970s.

These characters are faithful to their western looks in Django Unchained and includes the likenesses of such famous Hollywood talent as Jamie Foxx and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Characters included are Candie, Stephen, Django, Broomhilda, Butch, and Schultz.

Each figure stands approx 8″ tall, with tailored western clothing, and authentic weapons and accessories. Window Box Packaging.

'Django Unchained' Finally Gets A Trailer... I Promptly Faint!!!

Quentin Tarantino is one of my favorite directors ever... shit, he is my favorite living director hands down. I look forward to every movie he makes with baited breath, anticipating another instant classic with each crazy plot point and casting choice QT announces. So when he said he was going to make a blaxploitation western starring Jamie Foxx as a free slave & Chistoph Waltz/Leonardo Dicaprio as white southerners with opposite views on slavery... yeah, my interest was piqued. Now we finally have a trailer. This is the safe for work trailer. I don't know if they could ever release a red band trailer for this flick, not with QTs penchant for the 'N' word... The level of bad assness is this 2 minute clip can't really be described. I can't wait for Christmas!!! Check out the trailer after the jump...