
On Fire with Greatness
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
This item is a great buy for fans of fantasy art and cinema. For Bakshi fans, a great copy of his last work of any significance. For Frazetta fans, a great overview of his contributions and career, plus a digital library of many of his great works. For fans of both, this collection is a sure fire success.
The producers of the 'Painting with Fire' disc of the set went to great lengths to achieve some rather impressive animation with some of Frank's more famous paintings. The opening sequence of Frazetta's famous Conan painting coming to life really made me sit up and take note. Listening to the interviews with Frank Frazetta and his family, friends and other artists (including an extended portion with Frank and Ralph Bakshi on the porch at Frank's estate, simply good stuff) is a pleasure, an intimate review of a master of his profession. When it comes to Frazetta, it doesn't get any better than this. The highs, lows and inbetweens of a man of great passion living in a time of great changes in a industry that never sits still.
'Fire and Ice' is Bakshi doing the best he can with the resources at hand. Ralph had great animators working for him, all cutting edgers trying to push the boundaries of the art at that time (Peter Chung of Aeon Flux fame worked on it), without the financial backing of a Disney. Outside of Bakshi's obligatory pinup girl rolling around on the screen scenes the film is a good (though somewhat predictable) story in a genre that, especially at the time, offered up little for fans to sink their minds into.
This set is satisfying, though I bought it for the gallery of Frank's work. After listening to the producer, Jeremy J. DiFiore, and director, Lance Laspina, commentaries I discovered the stuff I really wanted is contained on the second disc in the ,Painting with Fire, DVD set. The extended photo gallery and outtakes, riskier interviews with some of the artists and such are included in that package. Oh well, time to search eBay once again. Still, the 'Fire and Ice -Limited Edition' is a wonderful addition to your Bakshi or Frazetta collection or a fantastic introduction to either artist.
Review ID: 10000000001814039

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