Cave Drawing Ink

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2010-03-07T11:07:00.001-05:00

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Comic Art for a good cause

2010-02-05T15:07:00.005-05:00

Hi everyone. One of our very own cavemen, Mike White (Rise of the Outlanders), is doing a benefit auction featuring some major
talent for the PBA in Jersey. Below is the press release. All money goes to a good cause, and even if you don't bid go to the site and check out some amazing pieces by some of the industry's best, including some amazing pieces from another one of our own, Ori Ayalon.

Spread the word!
Thanks!

PRESS RELEASE
Bridgewater PBA #174 is proud to announce their first charity art auction!
Welcome to the first Bridgewater PBA #174 charity artwork auctions.

These auctions will be held over the next few months to raise much needed funds to continue the good work in Bridgewater Township NJ.

100% of all proceeds will be used to fund various charitable causes throughout 2010.

Many of the comic book industries top artists & creators generously donated their valuable time to produce over 160 pieces of original artwork for these auctions. Amongst the artwork on offer you will find pieces by:
Frank Cho, Walt Simonson, Mike Mckone, Jimmy Cheung, Mark Schultz, George Perez, Travis Charest & Sergio Aragones, the list could go on and on, however
If you click the link below, you will see a preview of all the pieces coming up.

http://tinyurl.com/ybbspgk

The auctions will be starting on the 23rd of January at approx 2pm EST, and will run in 7 day intervals until there is nothing left.

Please add E-bay seller :- bwtpd to your favourite sellers to make sure you do not miss out on some stunning artwork.

If you have any questions about the auctions, then feel free to email offwhite@optonline.net

Bridgewater PBA #174 would like to thank you for your bid

and all of the artists involved for donating their valuable time.

The Top Ten Best Christmas Movies - Short List- Gremlins

2009-12-31T20:01:00.006-05:00

Hey everybody,

Yes the list is done but the fellas at Cave Drawing Ink were feeling we left an important Christmas flick off the list. It was a little too late to add it but I thought it would be appropriate to at least reveal our short list. This movie had been bandied about before but it just didn't quite make the cut. But take a gander below............................

Sketch by - Tom Valente

Gremlins - Kate "The House was freezing, so I went to try to light up the fire. That's when I noticed the smell. The firemen came and broke through the chimney top. And me and Mom were expecting them to pull out a dead cat or bird. And instead they pulled out my father. He was dressed in a Santa Claus suit. He'd been climbing down the chimney...His arms loaded full with presents. He was going to surprise us. He slipped and broke his neck. He died instantly. And that's how I found out there was no Santa Claus."

I never thought of Gremlins as a straight up Christmas movie but as I was rewatching it lately I had forgotten the very strong Christmas themes that can be found throughout the film. The biggest one, the Scrooge/Mr. Potter inspired character, Ms. Deagle who seems to enjoy tormenting the have-nots of Kingston Falls. Thankfully she gets hers in an amusing bit of sabotage by the Gremlins and her stair chair. This movie was quite frightening as a young boy, seeing Spike running at the camera from the shadows always got me. Also the scene in the lab where Billy's Professor bites it, literally. Always kind of creeped me out. There was also great humor like the bar scenes where poor Kate is subjected to some awful clientele as you had some of those green bastards hanging from the ceiling fan and playing russian roulette with a pistol. I always will have fond memories of this movies but in the end I'm still on the fence on whether or not this can be considered a true Christmas movie, so it will remain on the short list. Sorry to all you Gremlin fans out there but that's the way it's gotta be. But that shouldn't stop you guys from telling us your top ten Christmas movies. Let us know, and who knows maybe you'll convince us to revise the list for next year!

Have a happy New Year,

The Cavemen

The Top Ten Best Christmas Movies - 1. Alaistair Sim Scrooge - (1951)

2009-12-27T01:24:00.001-05:00

Hey Everybody,

We had such a good time doing our Halloween top ten that we thought we would do another one! Christmas is upon us and we thought we would try to come up with the ultimate top ten list that, in our minds, embodies the true meaning of Christmas.

Now, lately it seems as if the networks aren't interested in playing the classic Christmas movies of old. I keep seeing these crappy Scrooge rip offs over and over on all of the various networks. Like Mrs. Scrooge, Ebenezer, A Diva's Christmas Carol, A Carol Christmas. (With Tori Spelling, need I say more?) Not to mention these vapid, crappy and sacchrine kid flicks that are so PC they make me want to vomit. Thankfully I got our writer friends over at Troy's Bucket to help us conceptulize those memorable Christmas flicks of old. You can see our top ten here on the Cave Drawing Ink site and on the Troy's Bucket site. Enjoy and have a Happy Holiday!

So far......

2.) How the Grinch Stole Christmas

3,) A Christmas Story

4.) A Charlie Brown Christmas

5.) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

6.) The Nightmare Before Christmas

7.) Scrooged

8.) Elf
9.) Santa Claus: the Movie
10.) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

___________________________________________________________________

1.) Alaistair Sim's Scrooge (1951) Jacob Marley: "It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow men! If it goes forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death! It is doomed to wander through the world! Oh, woe is me! And witness what it cannot share but MIGHT HAVE SHARED on Earth and turned to happiness!"

- Sketch by Corey Breen

Jeff: So here we are at number one! The immortal classic Scrooge, this 1951 Black and White film is by far the best version of a Christmas Carol period. Obviously there are other versions that are great fun but none capture the spirit of the Dickens novel quite like this one. Alaistair Sim is the perfect Scrooge he's grumpy as all of the others are but there is also something terrifying about him which I gathered was an important image derived from the book. He has those sunken eyes and he looks like death when he walks through the streets and pushes the kids out of the way. I wouldn't want to see that guy coming at me in a dark alley. The film also is exceptional in showing the travesty of poverty and the effect on average citizens who are forced to suffer in work houses or are brought under the thumb of the poor law. It is a particularly cruel place one that Scrooge relishes in as he makes his fortune. We get to see the full picture of Scrooge and his cold turn. The parallels between his Mother's death and his Sisters' and how the latter one spirals him into the terrible man we first see him as. It's a wonderful story of redemption and reconnection to the world of man. This film is not just a staple at my house it simply isn't Christmas until it has been watched.

Jen Huber: Alaistair Sim as Scrooge ha some fantastic facial expressions in this movie. The best come near the end when he is drunk with happiness and he ends up scaring the crap out of the housekeeper. There is truly something special about a good black and white movie. When Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley, the effects are so simple how they make him look ghostly, but it really works! This is such a classic story and even though there have been many remakes this one will forver stand out as one of the best all time.

The Top Ten Best Christmas Movies - 2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

2009-12-27T01:21:00.001-05:00

So far......

3,) A Christmas Story

4.) A Charlie Brown Christmas

5.) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

6.) The Nightmare Before Christmas

7.) Scrooged

8.) Elf
9.) Santa Claus: the Movie
10.) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

___________________________________________________________________

2.) How the Grinch Stole Christmas Narrator (sings): "You're a vile one Mr. Grinch / You have termites in your smile / You have all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile / Mr. Gri-inch / Given the choice between the two of you. I'd take the uh...seasick Crocodile." - sketch by Ori Ayalon

Jen Huber: I have been watching this particular movie for as long as I can remember. I love the Grinch's dog especially when the Grinch goes to put the antlers on him and he tips over, so cute. I also love the image of the Grinch cutting the Roast Beast at the Who table. Cindy Lou Who is friggin adorable and the Grinch song is absolute classic. No more remakes-this movie is just too good.

Jeff: As classic as they come, perfect Dr. Seuss with the addition of the vocal talents of Mel Blanc how can you go wrong. It's short it's sweet and it wraps up a common thread that is at the heart of Christmas, that if it all goes away tomorrow, all the presents and pretty things, that the spirit of Christmas will soldier on regardless. That's the beauty of it and the reason the Grinch's heart grew ten sizes that day. Blanc's Grinch is deliciously evil as he slinks through the houses stocking up on Who Toys, even the Who Hash. This will always be a classic for every generation and every religion. Our artist Ori being the example to this rule, he's a Jew but he loves him some Grinch. This is required viewing for all, no exeptions. You can bet your Kan-tankers on that, my friend.

The Top Ten Best Christmas Movies - 3. A Christmas Story

2009-12-27T01:20:00.000-05:00

Hey Everybody,

We had such a good time doing our Halloween top ten that we thought we would do another one! Christmas is upon us and we thought we would try to come up with the ultimate top ten list that, in our minds, embodies the true meaning of Christmas.

Now, lately it seems as if the networks aren't interested in playing the classic Christmas movies of old. I keep seeing these crappy Scrooge rip offs over and over on all of the various networks. Like Mrs. Scrooge, Ebenezer, A Diva's Christmas Carol, A Carol Christmas. (With Tori Spelling, need I say more?) Not to mention these vapid, crappy and sacchrine kid flicks that are so PC they make me want to vomit. Thankfully I got our artist friends over at Cave Drawing Ink to help us conceptulize those memorable Christmas flicks of old. You can see our top ten here on the Bucket and on the Cave Drawing Ink site. Enjoy and have a Happy Holiday!

So far......

4.) A Charlie Brown Christmas

5.) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

6.) The Nightmare Before Christmas

7.) Scrooged

8.) Elf
9.) Santa Claus: the Movie
10.) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

___________________________________________________________________

3.) A Christmas Story Ralphie (as an adult): "Next to me in the blackness lay my oiled blue steel beauty. The greatest Christmas gift I had ever received, or would ever receive. Gradually, I drifted off to sleep, pringing ducks on the wing and getting off spectacular hip shots."

- Sketch by Nicolas Sienty

Jeff: It's amazing to me that many Christmas lists have excluded this film as one of their top choices. I find that strange on many levels one given that TBS has been playing the 24 hours of a Christmas Story every year for at least the last ten years. When the film was released it tanked terribly. Only after it found second life on TBS did it become hugely popular. I would like to think I was one of those who saw this in the late 80s that knew instantly that this was a Christmas classic. I can't remember the time that it wasn't so I'm gonna say I loved it before everyone else. Ralphie and his quest for a Red Rider BB gun and his hurdles to convince the Rents that he won't shoot his eye out. Darren McGavin is classic as the crochety dad and the kids are perfectly cast as we get a glimse of pre-WWII Indiana and the crazed quest for the perfect Christmas. If you have trouble finding this on TV or DVD then obviously you are living in a cave and have never heard of such things so there are no good excuses for you. If you are a Christian and you celebrate Christmas it's mandatory that you watch A Christmas Story.

Jen: I actually saw this movie for the very first time last Christmas (I know, I know - "how do you miss a movie that is on ALL the time at Christmas." You might ask...I get that a lot.) Everyone tells Ralphie that he will shoot his eye out with the BB gun he wants and when he finally get the gun for Christmas he does just that. Luckily his glasses protect his eye and a lie about a icicle protects him from his Mom. It's a cute story and Peter Billingsley is cute in it. I like the fact that the town is based on a town in Indiana (shout out to my home state!) I think every child can relate to Ralphie and his deep seated desires for Red Rider and his BB gun.

The Top Ten Best Christmas Movies - 4. A Charlie Brown Christmas

2009-12-27T01:18:00.000-05:00

Hey Everybody,

We had such a good time doing our Halloween top ten that we thought we would do another one! Christmas is upon us and we thought we would try to come up with the ultimate top ten list that, in our minds, embodies the true meaning of Christmas.

Now, lately it seems as if the networks aren't interested in playing the classic Christmas movies of old. I keep seeing these crappy Scrooge rip offs over and over on all of the various networks. Like Mrs. Scrooge, Ebenezer, A Diva's Christmas Carol, A Carol Christmas. (With Tori Spelling, need I say more?) Not to mention these vapid, crappy and sacchrine kid flicks that are so PC they make me want to vomit. Thankfully I got our artist friends over at Cave Drawing Ink to help us conceptulize those memorable Christmas flicks of old. You can see our top ten here on the Bucket and on the Cave Drawing Ink site. Enjoy and have a Happy Holiday!

So far......

5.) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

6.) The Nightmare Before Christmas

7.) Scrooged

8.) Elf
9.) Santa Claus: the Movie
10.) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

___________________________________________________________________

4.) A Charlie Brown Christmas Charlie Brown: "Rats, nobody sent me a Christmas card today. I almost wish there wasn't a holiday season. I know nobody likes me. Why do we have to have a holiday season to emphasize it."

- Sketch by Nicolas Sienty

Jeff: I truly love this flick as a holiday film but it's the music that really does it for me. It's a

great jazzy Christmasy soundtrack that always gets me in the spirit. I don't really like listening to Christmas music but I have to admit I put this one on repeat quite a bit through the season. Poor Charlie Brown has grown so cynical about Christmas and what it means. It takes a little broken down tree and Linus to show him what it's all about. It's one of the few Christmas movies that actually tells us the story of why we celebrate in the first place. It's a great classic and should be viewed religiously every year, nuff said.

Jen Huber: Every Christmas I got out and look for the "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree". I somehow end up getting the most ugly, crooked tree I can find and I blame this picadillo squarely on Charlie Brown. I love the end of the movie where the kids sing by the tree with their heads turned upward and their mouths make the big O. In fact that scene is the most memorable for me. Charlie Brown is such a funny character but his downer attitude in this flick makes it much more appreciated.

The Top Ten Best Christmas Movies - 5 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

2009-12-25T10:34:00.003-05:00

Hey Everybody,

We had such a good time doing our Halloween top ten that we thought we would do another one! Christmas is upon us and we thought we would try to come up with the ultimate top ten list that, in our minds, embodies the true meaning of Christmas.

Now, lately it seems as if the networks aren't interested in playing the classic Christmas movies of old. I keep seeing these crappy Scrooge rip offs over and over on all of the various networks. Like Mrs. Scrooge, Ebenezer, A Diva's Christmas Carol, A Carol Christmas. (With Tori Spelling, need I say more?) Not to mention these vapid, crappy and sacchrine kid flicks that are so PC they make me want to vomit. Thankfully I got our writer friends over at Troy's Bucket to help us conceptulize those memorable Christmas flicks of old. You can see our top ten here on the Bucket and on the Troy's Bucket site. Enjoy and have a Happy Holiday!

So far......

6.) The Nightmare Before Christmas

7.) Scrooged

8.) Elf
9.) Santa Claus: the Movie
10.) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

___________________________________________________________________

5.) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Clark: "Where do you think you're going? Nobody's leaving. Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fucking Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse."

- Sketch by Dezi Sienty

Jeff: Clark W. Griswald certainly embodies the last true family man. He tries so hard to create the perfect holiday or vacation possible and almost never succeeds. We can all relate to the hell of bringing familes together for a few days over the holidays and all the chaos that ensues, but he makes it so damn funny, it allows us to breathe a collective sigh and say, "this was bad but at least it wasn't a Griswald Christmas." This has become a favorite of mine over the holidays and I highly recommend it. I truly feel it belongs a clear second to Vacation in the series. So whenever you feel overwhelmed with Christmas or you want to strangle a crazy uncle cause he set your tree on fire, just think of Clark and I promise you'll smile.

Jen Huber: I LOVE this movie. I start laughing from the moment that cartoon Santa arrives at the Griswold house until the very end. There are so many classic moments in this one but I think my favorite is the dinner scene with the whole family when the turkey ends up ruined and the cat gets electrocuted. I mean, could anything more go wrong during that dinner?! What a catastrophe! I love that Clark drinks his eggnog out of the Marty Moose mug (throwback to the original Vacation movie). Uncle Eddie really spices up the movie with his crazy antics and the Uncle Lewis and Aunt Bethany are so funny. This movie definitely brings together the spirit of family and holiday cheer.

The Top Best Christmas Movies 6. The Nightmare Before Christmas

2009-12-25T01:06:00.002-05:00

>Hey Everybody,

We had such a good time doing our Halloween top ten that we thought we would do another one! Christmas is upon us and we thought we would try to come up with the ultimate top ten list that, in our minds, embodies the true meaning of Christmas.

Now, lately it seems as if the networks aren't interested in playing the classic Christmas movies of old. I keep seeing these crappy Scrooge rip offs over and over on all of the various networks. Like Mrs. Scrooge, Ebenezer, A Diva's Christmas Carol, A Carol Christmas. (With Tori Spelling, need I say more?) Not to mention these vapid, crappy and sacchrine kid flicks that are so PC they make me want to vomit. Thankfully I got our writer friends over at Troys Bucket to help us conceptulize those memorable Christmas flicks of old. You can see our top ten here on the Bucket and on the Troy's Bucket site. Enjoy and have a Happy Holiday!

So far......

7.) Scrooged

8.) Elf
9.) Santa Claus: the Movie
10.) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

___________________________________________________________________

6.) The Nightmare Before Christmas Jack: (singing) "There's children throwing snowballs/ instead of throwing heads/ they're busy building toys/ and absolutely no one's dead."

- Sketch by Corey Breen

Jen Huber: I like this movie because it's different. It's so creative and the music is great! I like to throw it in my holiday lineup in November because it has a little Halloween and a little Christmas. It's the perfect gateway to Christmas movies. Is it just me or is that boogey man really scary?

Jeff: One of the greatest blends of two holidays that, frankly, would never look good together. Halloween, with it's ghouls and goblins and Christmas, with its red bows and festive cheer. Only someone like Tim Burton could mesh the two in a symphony of outrageous fun and that is certainly what this is. Jack Skellington's odd journey into Christmas town is a wonderful journey, with supreme stop motion animation that would make Rudolph and Hermey red with envy. Jack is the ultimate misfit and it's always a pleasure to watch him stumble through his new discovery. This one is always great to watch just after Thanksgiving but really if you haven't seen it yet this Christmas, get out there now and rent it before the store closes for Christmas.

The Top Ten Best Christmas Movies - 7. Scrooged

2009-12-22T14:57:00.002-05:00

Now, lately it seems as if the networks aren't interested in playing the classic Christmas movies of old. I keep seeing these crappy Scrooge rip offs over and over on all of the various networks. Like Mrs. Scrooge, Ebenezer, A Diva's Christmas Carol, A Carol Christmas. (With Tori Spelling, need I say more?) Not to mention these vapid, crappy and sacchrine kid flicks that are so PC they make me want to vomit. Thankfully I got our artist friends over at Cave Drawing Ink to help us conceptulize those memorable Christmas flicks of old. You can see our top ten here on the Bucket and on the Cave Drawing Ink site. Enjoy and have a Happy Holiday!

So far......

8.) Elf
9.) Santa Claus: the Movie
10.) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
________________________________________________________________
7.) Scrooged Frank Cross: "The Jews taught me this great word. "Schmuck". I was a schmuck, and now I'm not a schmuck."

- Sketch by Ori Ayalon

Jeff: After the first few seconds of seeing fictional IBC's lineup at the beginning of the film I knew without hesitation that this was one of the funniest Christmas movies in a long time. The Night the Reindeer Died with Lee Majors, Bob Goulet's Old Fashioned Cajun Christmas and Father Loves Beaver, who can beat these wonderful titles? I just watched it again for the bajilionth time and, yes, on all cylinders it still holds up beautifully. Bill Murray is at top form playing cold hearted bastard Frank Cross, a tv exec, who is trying to put on a live version of Scrooge on Christmas Eve. Just like with all of the other Scrooge stories the main plot is the same. He is visited by three spirits from the Past, Present and Future. But these ghosts steal a large part of this show.

You have David Johansen, also known as Buster Poindexter as the Ghost of Christmas Past. His smart ass taxi driver from hell gets under Frank's skin in the best way. "Go Back to Jersey, you Moron!" Carol Kane is perfect as the masochistic Fairy who has to always remind Frank that sometimes the truth hurts, alot. She's got that airy fairy accent that is perceived as naive and then she turns around and uppercuts Frank with a toaster, classic. The last guy, doesn't speak--but--one of the funniest scenes is Frank thinking the Ghost of Christmas Future from the show is the real deal. "You think I'm afraid of you, the day I've had? I know what you came for. Come and get it, you pussy." This one always gives me a chuckle.

I know you have the old staples, It's a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, blah blah--but if you want a great holiday movie with a little message and a lot of laughs pop in this DVD I promise it won't disappoint. You can play a drinking game with your friends about how many times posters about Freeing South Africa appear in the movie, there are more than you think.

Jen Huber: Oh Bill Murray, you can be a comedic genius when you put your mind to it. I like that this one takes a modern look at the Christmas Carol story instead of trying to reinvent the wheel. I remember seeing this one for the first time on TV, no one else I was watching it with liked it but I saw the entertainment in the story. It's a showcase for Murray, and being a huge fan of his, I dig it.

The Top Ten Best Christmas Movies - 8. Elf

2009-12-17T12:51:00.002-05:00

Now, lately it seems as if the networks aren't interested in playing the classic Christmas movies of old. I keep seeing these crappy Scrooge rip offs over and over on all of the various networks. Like Mrs. Scrooge, Ebenezer, A Diva's Christmas Carol, A Carol Christmas. (With Tori Spelling, need I say more?) Not to mention these vapid, crappy and sacchrine kid flicks that are so PC they make me want to vomit. Thankfully I got our writer friends over at Troy's Bucket to help us conceptulize those memorable Christmas flicks of old. You can see our top ten here on the Bucket and on the Troy's Bucket site. Enjoy and have a Happy Holiday!

So far......

9.) Santa Claus: the Movie
10.) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
________________________________________________________________

8.) Elf (2003): Buddy - "I passed through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, through the sea of swirly twirly gum drops, and then I walked through the Lincoln Tunnel."

- Sketch by Jeffrey Zacholl

Jeff: I'll be honest with you I've only seen Elf once since it's release in 2003, but I remember thinking this could become a Christmas classic. Will Farrell's Buddy is a naive and sweet guy, raised by Santa's Elves, and who is desperately looking for his long lost Dad. It's a little bizarre at first seeing James Caan in a movie like this but the old guy really holds his own. He serves as sort of a Scrooge/Grinch mix that has to find his heart again. Will Farrell is in top comedic form as his North Pole Elf tries to make sense of the Big Apple. There are some great moments with the Department Store elf, Jovie played by Zooey Deschanel. We are also treated to a really nice duet of Baby It's Cold Outside from Jovie and Buddy. She's got a great smoky voice, that's a real pleasure to listen to. I'm definitely going to check this one out again, and I recommend that you do the same.

Jen Huber: Anytime I get sad about a movie decision Will Ferrell has made, I know I can always turn to this movie. He makes this huge elf of a man innocent in a way that is so funny! I think my favorite character in this movie is James Caan as Buddy's business focused father. He appears to be so mean in the beginning, but honestly, who wouldn't be a little overwhelmed by a guy like Buddy? I think this was the first time I had seen Zooey Deschanel in a movie and I just remember thinking she was fantastic in an old hollywood way. This movie encourages people to accept others differences, even if they do put chocolate on their spaghetti. One of the best things about this movie is the way that Buddy keeps trying to be part of the family even when he isn't made to feel welcome. In the end, the Christmas miracle is that his newfound family becomes a loving family and his grinch of a father's heart grows three sizes.

Top Ten Best Christmas Movies - 9. Santa Claus: The Movie

2009-12-15T22:41:00.002-05:00

Now, lately it seems as if the networks aren't interested in playing the classic Christmas movies of old. I keep seeing these crappy Scrooge rip offs over and over on all of the various networks. Like Mrs. Scrooge, Ebenezer, A Diva's Christmas Carol, A Carol Christmas. (With Tori Spelling, need I say more?) Not to mention these vapid, crappy and sacchrine kid flicks that are so PC they make me want to vomit. Thankfully I got our writer friends over at Troy's Bucket to help us conceptulize those memorable Christmas flicks of old. You can see our top ten here on Cave Drawing Ink and on the Troys Bucket site. Enjoy and have a Happy Holiday!

So far......

10.) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
________________________________________________________________

9.) Santa Claus: the Movie (1985): B.Z. - "When you've got a hit like we have, Patch, the people don't wanna wait a whole year, they're dying for a sequel! A sequel. That's it. We'll bring it out on March 25, and we'll call it... Christmas II!"

Sketch by - Dezi Sienty

Jeff: I remember walking out of the theatre with my parents as a child after Santa Claus: The Movie, and looking up toward the night sky I could see the North Star and I said, in a breathless voice, "it's all real." For the kid who believed in Santa Claus this was the movie that explained everything. You've got the origin story of how Santa stumbled upon the hidden castle of the elves and you've got some nice flying Reindeer effects to complete the mystery surrounding this jolly guy who comes down your chimney to bring you presents every Christmas. Now as an adult I came to appreciate the actor David Huddleston who was pretty funny as the Big Lebowski and he was a great addition to the Wonder Years as Grandpa Arnold. But he will always be Santa to me. He just had that sparkle it was just a perfect casting.

As a kid the backstory, the Elves and the Reindeer were always front and center but as I watched this film as a young adult and as an adult I noticed the larger theme spotlighting the commercialization of Christmas. It has been done many times before and many times after but I thought the particular focus on Corporate Greed and dangerously manufactured toys was a nice addition and it is, unfortunately, still a timely one. The Big Bad played deliciously by John Lithgow as the notorious Toy Mogul B.Z. This guy will sell anything to make a buck and I mean anything. To watch the expose of B.Z. in court was like watching that SNL skit where Dan Akroyd's slimy toy salesman, Irwin Mainway, is being ripped apart by Candice Bergen for hawking Bears with chainsaws in them. It's equally fun to watch B.Z. manipulate the childlike Elf Patch (Dudley Moore) into making some explosive candy while plotting to take the cash and do a frame job on the Elf while he makes a break for a non-extradition based country. Evil?

To conclude, yes it's a bit of a hammy movie and yes there are times where you are going to want to slap the braces out of that really annoying girl every time she opens her mouth--Shut up--I'm sorry that was BZ talking. It's still a must see around Christmas and most definitely for any young kid from 2-12 that gets crap for still believing in Santa, yes there is a Santa, and this movie will prove it too.

Jen Huber: First, I miss Dudley Moore. He and John Lithgow are two of my favorites and so by that rationale this one HAS to be a classic. I love watching movies from the 80's. I think they all just have a special quality that is especially characteristic of that time. Maybe it's because I was born in the 80's and can actually remember watching the movie around when it was first released. At any rate, the story is about corporate greed, and because it's about Christmas, thankfully, greed doesn't win the race. It's a fun story, maybe a little cheesy but a fun just the same! Honestly though, I have to admit when I see the film titled Santa Claus-I'm actually thinking of that Tim Allen Movie, The Santa Claus. That one is really more of a staple in my house at Christmas and I hold a special place in my heart for it. It got snubbed for a spot on the list but that's ok, I can handle it. But seriously folks, I'm glad that that other Santa Claus Movie made the list though, cause it has been forgotten by many, they are both fun flicks -- go watch them!!

The Top Ten Best Christmas Movies - 10. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

2009-12-10T09:42:00.007-05:00

Now, lately it seems as if the networks aren't interested in playing the classic Christmas movies of old. I keep seeing these crappy Scrooge rip offs over and over on all of the various networks. Like Mrs. Scrooge, Ebenezer, A Diva's Christmas Carol, A Carol Christmas. (With Tori Spelling, need I say more?) Not to mention these vapid, crappy and sacchrine kid flicks that are so PC they make me want to vomit. Thankfully I got our writer friends over at Troy's Bucket to help us conceptulize those memorable Christmas flicks of old. You can see our top ten here on Cave Drawing Ink and on the Troy's Bucket site. Enjoy and have a Happy Holiday!

10.) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Santa Claus:"From what I see now, that (nose)will cut through the murkiest storm they can dish up. What I'm trying to say is, Rudolph, with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

- Sketch by Sev Eaton

Jen Huber: This movie is truly a classic. I've got to tell you though - the Abominable Snowman steals the show from Rudolph in this one. Who doesn't love a story about a giant monster who goes from scaring people to being the one to put the star on top of the tree at Christmas?

I've got to ask this question, on the Island of Misfit Toys - what was wrong with the doll? Every other toy has something wrong (a train with square wheels, charlie in the box, a gun that shoots jelly instead of water). What was wrong with the doll? Was it the name? That question has been on my mind every time I have seen this movie since I was like 10.

The characters in this story are classic. Who can forget the singing, narrator snowman voiced by Burl Ives? I also really liked Hermey, DDS. Actually, all the characters in this movie were good (besides the doll, the doll just ends up frustrating me). I think this film really embodies the spirit of Christmas. A bunch of misfits who band together and save Christmas by using their unique talents - that is a slam dunk.

Jeff: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer was the first Christmas movie I can remember watching when I was a little kid. Made by Rankin-Bass, this stop-motion animated flick was a must see in my house from ages 3-6. Those guys owned Christmas with hits like Frosty, Twas the Night Before Christmas, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town and many others. But of all of the Rankin-Bass flicks, Rudolph was the cream of the crop. Sure it's a bit dated now but it still evokes nostalgia and feel good Christmassy feelings. The key word here is Misfit--and this flick is full of them. Rudolph and his band of renegades like Hermey the Elf who wants to be a Dentist, the guy with the bad Porn name, Yukon Cornelius, who is trying desperately to find him some gold and, of course, that island of messed up toys. Like the X-Men, Rudolph was a pioneer of utilizing the gifts given to him that everyone seems to shun. In the end the seemingly Big Bad, Bumpo-or the Abominable Snowman, turns out to be a swell guy. Proof again that no matter how hairy and scary you look on the outside what's on the inside is what really counts.

Dezi's 15 seconds of fame!!!

2009-12-01T10:29:00.002-05:00

Hi Everyone,

As you know Dez and I attended the first ever Brooklyn Con a few weeks ago. Well Time Magazine did a feature on the Con and if you look close enough in the first few seconds you can see Dezi sketching up a kick ass Frankenstein sketch for the Time Magazine lady. You can check out the video here.

http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,52626087001_1943542,00.html

Enjoy!

Hellboy!

2009-11-27T14:06:00.003-05:00

Just finished up this new Hellboy piece! In case you were wondering, the small text on the bottom of the piece underneath the large Hellboy title is "MCMXLIV" which is the roman numberal for 1944; or the year Hellboy appeared on Earth and "Anung Un Rama" which is his true name and translates to the Beast of the Apocalypse. The piece will be on display this Friday, December 4th until the end of the month at Brave New Worlds in Philly along with a ton of other original pieces.

A Much Belated Thanks!

2009-11-16T15:48:00.007-05:00

Hey everyone! So we have some exciting stuff coming up, but right now Jeff and I just want to give a big thank you to the organizers of Brooklyn's first King Con. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to look at our stuff and chat...the best part of cons is sharing our work with other people and getting to talk to old friends while making some new ones. Up above is one of the pieces we were showing at our table and I thought it was appropriate since the holiday season is about to hit. Hope everyone enjoys it . Take care!
-the Cavemen

No Sleep Till Brooklyn!

2009-11-05T21:58:00.002-05:00

Hey Everybody,

Just wanted to let you guys know Dez and Jeff will be at the King Con in Brooklyn this coming Saturday and Sunday, so if you are in the Brooklyn area around say 4th Avenue at the Brooklyn Lyceum then come on down and say hello.

Daily tickets are $7 or $10 Saturday and Sunday from 11AM - 7PM

The address is:

The Brooklyn Lyceum
227 4th Avenue
Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY
718-857-4816

The Munsters!

2009-11-02T23:40:00.004-05:00

I just finished up this piece for a show in Philly; Creature Double Feature. I figured it fits the theme we've running with here at CDI as of late with all the villains and Halloween talk so i figured I'd keep the ball rollin' right along. This was one of my favorite old shows growing up, what were some of yours?

The Top Ten Most Underrated Movie Villains - 1. The Kurgan

2009-10-31T18:43:00.004-04:00

-Sketch by Ori Ayalon

1). The Kurgan (Highlander): "Ramirez was an effete snob! He died on his knees. I took his head and raped his woman before his blood was even cold!"

Jeff Marvin: There Can be only ONE bad ass immortal and as much as I love the Highlander, Connor McCloud, it ain't him. The Kurgan, played by Clancy Brown is well...You read his quote. The ultimate warrior, if they had steroids back in the olden days of Scotland, I would've said that Kurgan was on some of that Balco crap. He has this deep dark voice and those crazy eyes, he's a madman I tell you. On top of that he can live forever and the only way you can get this psycho out of your life is to take a giant sword from the Middle Ages and slice his noggin off. When he isn't killing other Immortals, The Kurgan enjoys a nice drive in the country with Grandma on the hood of the car he just stole. He wags his tongue at her hoping that when she loses her grip that she'll get sucked underneath his Michelins. Crazy Bastard!

Well that is our top ten Underrated Movie Villains, hope everyone enjoyed our choices and these great sketches to go with them. We want to hear from you about what you think, let us know in the comments section below! Have a great Halloween!

The Top Ten Most Underrated Movie Villains - 2. The Frattellis

2009-10-31T18:40:00.004-04:00

- Sketch by Ian Glaubinger

4). The Fratellis (The Goonies): “The only thing we serve here is tongue! You boys like tongue?”

Cody Dee Williams: Before we fell in love with The Sopranos, we fell in love with The Fratellis – Mama, Jake, and Francis. The Fratellis put the funk in dysfunctional, a family so warped and twisted that they keep their deformed hulk of a son/brother Sloth chained up in their basement. Yes, it’s a kid’s movie! Led by sociopathic matriarch Mama, played by the gifted character actress Anne Ramsey, with her two favorite boys by her side, dimwitted Jake (Robert Davi) and weasely Francis (Joey Pants), they viciously chase our heroes The Goonies through the cavernous maze of boobie traps and pit falls in search of One-Eyed Willie’s hidden treasure. Over the course of the movie, The Fratellis store a man they’ve murdered in their freezer, threaten to puree a fat kid’s hand, and make a tied-up young girl walk the plank. Yeah, they could use some serious family counseling.

Jen Huber: A scary bunch of characters if I've ever seen them! The epic movie that was the Goonies would not have had the fun it ending it did without the help of the Frattellis. With their scowls and all around bad behavior. They are a good group of foes for the Goonies on their big adventure. I think they are all individually terrifying and I absolutely wouldn't want to be stuck in an old abandoned house with them!

Jeff: Scary? You haven't seen scary until you've seen Anne Ramsey's miserable bitch Mama Frattelli hard charging down a creepy tunnel grunting like a pissed off bull. Not to mention putting poor Chunk's hand in a blender in order to get him to talk. Her two boys Francis and Jake are a bit twisted sure and they are just plain terrible to their little bro Sloth, but neither one of them got nothing on Mama!

The Top Ten Most Underrated Movie Villains - 3. Cobra Kai

2009-10-30T14:23:00.000-04:00

- sketch by Ed Flagg

3). The Cobra Kai (The Karate Kid): “We do not train to be merciful here. Mercy is for the weak. Here, in the streets, in competition: A man confronts you, he is the enemy. An enemy deserves no mercy.”

Cody Dee Williams: Sensei John Kreese and his punk minions Johnny, Bobby, Tommy, Jimmy, & Dutch – The Cobra Kai. A buncha bullies clad in black Gis, The Cobra Kai viewed Karate as a weapon, instead of an art. Of course they were just a misguided band of angry teenagers, led down the wrong path by militaristic dickhead of a sensei John Kreese, played with wrathful brilliance by Martin Kove. Unfortunately for skinny Jersey kid Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio), he falls in love with the wrong girl at the wrong time, and proceeds to have his ass handed to him on a plate for about 120 minutes of a 127 minute film. Eventually, good karate triumphs over evil karate and everyone goes home happy. Props to Billy Zabka, who plays the Cobra Kai leader Johnny, for selling one hell of a crane kick to the face. Stuntmen are for the WEAK!

Jen Huber: What a bunch of jerks! I remember watching this movie and hating these guys! Sure, they are pretty good at karate, but to bully Daniel-san, c-mon! Also, how epic was that final fight?! The bully in black and Daniel in white, very clear cut. The Cobra Kai are the ultimate school bullies!

Jeff: You have three possible categories in High School, you are either a victim, an invisible or, like the Cobra Kai, a dickheaded Bully. Oh, and they play it so well! Johnny, and his band of mostly white trust-fund babies getting their kicks off of terrorizing the new kid from Jersey, and if I remember correctly they handed Danny boy quite a few beat downs until Miyagi got into the action. But lets be honest the kid had it coming to him--who dresses up like a fricking shower for Halloween? Billy Zabka made his bones playing jerks in high school and of course his Johnny is at the top of the list. Which makes the Crane Kick to the face that much more satisfying. Kudos to Mr. Zabka for making it look so fracking real--I mean come on it totally looked like Macchio tagged him, try watching in slow mo--you just can't friggin tell! But in then end it's that scary mo-fo John Kreese played by the total badass Martin Kove that ties Cobra Kai together. He's ruthless, he's crazy and he will kill without mercy.

The Top Ten Most Underrated Movie Villains - 4. Prince Humperdinck & Count Rugen

2009-10-27T22:01:00.000-04:00

- Sketch by Ori Ayalon

4). Prince Humperdinck & Count Rugen (The Princess Bride):

“Tyrone, you know how much I love watching you work, but I've got my country's 500th anniversary to plan, my wedding to arrange, my wife to murder and Guilder to frame for it; I'm swamped.”

“Get some rest. If you haven't got your health, you haven't got anything.”

Cody Dee Williams: And the award for Best Closet Gay Evil Duo in a Children’s Fantasy Film goes to… Prince Humperdinck and Count Rugen in The Princess Bride!!! Chris Saradon plays the fiendishly foppish Prince Humperdinck and Christopher Guest plays his number two, the cold hearted Count Rugen. I know this is a little bit of a cheat, since there are two of them, but they’re really like Peanut Butter and Jelly. You can’t have one without the other and together they are delicious… deliciously evil that is!

Jeff: War! What is it good for--for Prince Humperdinck it's all about the elaborate ploy to dupe poor Guilder into yet another one. Having his wife-to-be kidnapped, then killed, while framing your worst enemy for the caper is super hard work, but these two do it in style. You've got the effete snob in Humperdinck, who thinks he knows everything, played pitch perfect by Chris Sarandon. Then you have the quiet, yet dasterdly six-fingered man, Count Rugen, played wonderfully by Christopher Guest. You thought Dick Cheney was bad, Rugen enjoys water torture just as much, but even he wasn't willing to take the machine up to 50, that honor goes to the Prince. What a couple of bastards they are!

The Top Ten Most Underrated Movie Villains - 5. Janosz Poha

2009-10-27T00:23:00.000-04:00

Sketch by Ori Ayalon

05). Dr. Janosz Poha (Ghostbusters II): "Let me tell you something here, there are many perks in being the mother of a living god. I'm sure we could get a magnificent apartment, car, free parking..."

Jeff: Yes Ghostbusters II, got a problem with that? Janosz Poha, as played by Peter MacNichol is brilliantly funny, and as we will establish delightfully evil. Janosz is the funny smelling little museum curator who lives on the Upper Vest side of NY. He also has a creepy obsession with Dana Barrett and once he has been possesed by Vigo his eyes act like a spine chilling set of high beams, he flies and honestly looks like the scariest Au pair I have ever seen. He is also a hilarious foil for Bill Murray's Venkman. Say what you want about Vigo and the general plot for Ghostbusters II but leave Dr. Poha alone for you are like the buzzing of flies to him.

Cody Dee Williams: I think Ghostbusters II is an incredibly funny film - as funny as the first... yeah, I said it. And I stand by that statement. Come on... World of the Psychic? Louis in court?!? DR. JANOSZ POHA?!?!? He's little, he's awkward , and he's apparently from somewhere in Eastern Europe. Scene stealer Peter MacNichol plays baby stealer Poha with a hilariously creepy zeal. And who would have ever imagined that Stingo from Sophie's Choice would be able to hold his comedic own with the likes of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and, of course, Ernie Hudson?

Jen Huber: Seriously I would like to meet the person who can honestly say they weren't even a little unsettled by Nanny Janosz. When he came upon Oscar in his black and white creepy girl/guy glory and went Stretch Armstrong to grab Oscar off the ledge of the building - that was scary. Even before he absorbed powers from Vigo, he was that weird outsider guy with a crazy accent. One of the genius parts about Janosz is how he can go from crazy social grace lacking work guy, to powerful evil minion, to an oddly lovable slime covered goober. It's madness that one man has so many sides! Vigo the Carpathian might have had the lock on the intimidating face but that movie wouldn't have even come close to its greatness (yeah I said it) without Janosz.

The Top Ten Most Underrated Movie Villains - 6. Captain Barbossa

2009-10-25T18:43:00.000-04:00

- Sketch by Ori Ayalon

6). Captain Barbossa (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl): "It'll be one pistol as before, and you can be the gentleman and shoot the lady; and starve to death yourself."

Jeff: Of course everyone loves Johnny Depp's scallywag pirate Captain Jack Sparrow, but who, at least in the first film, embodies true and complete badness and shows utter contempt for morality, who else but Captain Hector Barbossa from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Jack Sparrow could be considered untrustworthy, selfish and a bit of a Brigand but he would never lay waste to Port Royale in the way that Barbossa and his pirate clan did. Geoffrey Rush's, Barbossa really encapsulates the vicious, cleverly funny and often times cruel nature of a pirate.

Cody Dee Williams: Ah yes, the very much alive British actor Geoffrey Rush playing the very much dead Spanish pirate Captain Barbossa in The Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. Well hey, if Russell Crowe can not only get away with playing a Spaniard, but win an Oscar for it, why the hell can't Geoffrey Rush??? And to boot he does will such rakish villainy. Despite all the lavish praise heaped upon Johnny Depp for his portrayal of rapscallion Captain Jack Sparrow, by the end of the second film his Keith Richards impression grows awfully tiresome - so much so, that really the only reason to even endure the third film is to enjoy the reemergence of Rush's fiendishly fun Barbossa.

The Top Ten Most Underrated Movie Villains - 7. The Penguin

2009-10-23T21:39:00.004-04:00

7). The Penguin (Batman Returns): “You're just jealous because I'm a genuine freak and you have to wear a mask!” - Sketch by Ian Glaubinger

When people remember the Tim Burton’s Batman films, everyone talks about how great Jack Nicholson’s Joker is, or how surprisingly genius Michael Keaton’s casting was, or how hot Michelle Pfeiffer looked in that skin tight, black latex, get-up. But almost nobody gives Danny DeVito the proper credit for his performance as The Penguin in Batman Returns. So twisted, demented, and absurd you almost forget that it is teddy bear and fun drunk Danny DeVito behind all that grotesque make-up. DeVito, as The Penguin, gets to bite off a guy’s nose, call Michelle Pfeiffer a pussy, touch a really hot girl on her boob, and walk around in his long johns for 90% of the movie. I bet he had fun. - Cody Dee Williams

As a fan of the Batman comic I always felt that the Penguin could never really be scary. He was a fat little effete snob who liked birds a lot. He had tricked out umbrellas and he was always frustrated with bats. He, in all honesty, was a joke. When I found out that the next villain in the Bat series was the Penguin I remember groaning, but once I saw that first trailer I was pleasantly surprised to see a Penguin that looked positively horrifying. Up to this point I could never imagine fun loving Danny De Vito as scary or menacing, but man, he really pulled off the creepy. He was a freak with flippers and jagged pointy teeth, this was certainly not your Daddy's Penguin. He lost the snobbery and became a bonafide bad ass bird creature that finally could stand up to the standards of a Batman villain. I mean he was scarier than Christopher Walken for Christ's sake. - Jeff