Style Saturday

Just a couple of pages from Cat Friendly Colouring book vol. 1. It is a high quality, indie project that features over 24 pages drawn by (not so) secret, feminist women artist group members that I am a part of. It’s called Cat Party. These are some of my original line art pages that I colored over this weekend.

All proceeds go to making more art and shows for the future.

My thoughts on Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

SPOILER ALERT!!! 

Do NOT proceed unless you’ve seen the movie already! 

So, the Star Wars Episode VII was the best movie I have seen in a while. The editing was perfect, there’s always something happening at the right pace. I as a viewer never felt it was drawn-out or too rushed. Great balance of action, dialogue,  and humor. It looks as if a collective consciousness of all Star Wars fans with a great vision and talent backed with a lot of Disney cash got to make a movie… And that would be J.J. Abrams and his team. The  movie stayed true to its universe and paid plentiful homage to earlier films, especially Episode IV:  A New Hope (1977). I mean we all knew what was going to happen there on the bridge, didn’t we? Even though we all wished what we all didn’t have to say good bye to the most loved smuggler. That scene in this movie was a major tearjerker for me.  

I’ve come across some people complaining about how the plot was “too safe” or “unoriginal” but hey, one cannot go on and start making completely new (=random) choices and ignore preceding settings AND make a series. The world of Star Wars is already set in stone through previously released 6 movies. And The Force Awakens is not another freaking prequel; there is a more direct and obvious path that is bound to happen, which makes a lot of sense.

Abrams did an amazing job (as per usual) getting us engaged with completely new faces as well as reconnecting with the old. The budding romance between Rey (Daisy Ridley)  and Finn (John Boyega) made my heart warm. Poe (Oscar Isaac) was dashing, and BB8 was adorable. And who didn't  vicariously enjoy the power of Lightsaber wielding through the hands of Finn? Thanks, JJ.

Let’s talk about costumes… Rey’s in particular. Her Grecian-goddess-like pleated and draped outfit was too beautiful and special for a mere scavenger. Her styling (not to mention the actress’s perfect face that I adore) insinuated that she was more important than she seemed, from the beginning. First Order officers under the command of Kylo Ren all reeked of Nazi-ness. Kylo’s overall look also represented him so well. His outfit looked pretty cool (that’s why I love dressing in black, too) but something lacked. I mean what’s up with that half-assed looking helmet that’s so heavy? He strives to be like his grandpa, but he just ain’t that good (or bad). That’s why he loses to a girl who JUST got her Force awoken (hence the title) and she’s never had any proper Jedi training. Which leads to my next point - some viewers had a very hard time accepting that Kylo Ren lost. Not sure they’re pissed because a grown up man got his ass whopped by a badass young woman, or simply because Rey, the greenie, won while Ren supposedly worked his butt off under the Gollum man. Not surprising he lost though, he is a petulant asshole who damages expensive ship parts with Lightsaber when things don’t go his way. Rey, on the other hand, had to survive as an orphan off a junky planet Jakku day to day and I bet you she has wayyyy more Exp.