Sunday, January 30, 2011

Latest articles from Retro To Go

Latest articles from Retro To Go


eBay watch: Midcentury Ladderax modular shelving system

Posted: 30 Jan 2011 12:59 PM PST

Ladderax

It must be hip right now as designers are copying it. Which makes this large Ladderax shelving system worthy of a look.

Ladderax is always worth checking for on eBay as you it offers stylish and functional midcentury design for pretty much any space you need. How? Simple - it's modular, so you can keep adding or removing parts, dependent on your needs.

This is a 'large' selection, with four 'ladders', a three-drawer unit, one unit with glass doors and a glass shelf, three additional shelves and a double shelf. All of which easily slots together. Described as being in 'good vintage' condition, it's currently at £95.

Find out more at the eBay website

Red Herring 1960s-style abstract print shift dress

Posted: 30 Jan 2011 12:02 PM PST

Pucci

Not exactly ideal for current temperatures, but if you happen to be going somewhere warm indoors or can hold off for a few months, this Red Herring 1960s-style abstract print shift dress.

Packing a Pucci-style swirling print, this shift dress is a fairly short thigh-length sleeveless affair with contrast trim and collar, made from 100 per cent cotton.

£32 is the price online or inshore.

Find out more at the Debenhams website

iSupr8 app - more Super 8 movie shooting for your iPhone

Posted: 30 Jan 2011 11:41 AM PST

Isupr8

You might recall the 8mm Vintage Camera app we featured a few weeks back. Well, now there's another operating in similar territory - the iSupr8 app for the iPhone.

It's not a million miles away from the other app in theory- shoot video directly from the app, giving it a film-burn just like Super 8 home movies. Once shot, you can watch your video back, save the videos to your camera roll, email them or add to Facebook. There's also the option to use the iPhone's LED spotlight for shooting in the dark.

A video over the page gives you an idea of how it works. Read the reviews of both apps before you go for one, but if you opt for this, it sells for $1.99 or £1.19.

Find out more at the iTunes website

 

New Shag print set - Blue Bed and Purple Chair

Posted: 30 Jan 2011 11:25 AM PST

Shag

Not one new Shag print, but a pair of vintage-style prints, going by the name of Blue Bed and Purple Chair.

Each print is three colours and sized at 9 x 13.5 inches, signed and numbered, as well as being limited to a run of 200.

Slightly different for Shag, so certain to sell out quickly, these 60s-inspired prints are available now for $125 for the pair.

Find out more at the Shagmart website

Images of all-new Volkswagen Beetle appear online

Posted: 30 Jan 2011 06:16 AM PST

Vw1

It was the first of the classic cars to get a modern makeover, but with both the Mini and Fiat 500 overtaking it of late, 2011 is perhaps a good time for an all-new Volkswagen Beetle to launch.

According to Car magazine, which has a clutch of spy shots (you can see more over the page), the all-new Beetle will be unveiled around April/May, with the images shown being the latest test model. It might still change a little before it hits the showroom (with regard to the wheel arches in particular, which are still based on the current model), but this is almost the finished item.

Vw2

It's a flatter, more streamlined car, with an interior that's probably more modern and maybe a bit more 'manly' too - no flower holder for example. There's also a bigger boot, more headroom and an engine based on the current Golf.

No news on price or when it will actually hit the showrooms, but as the current model is no longer being built, it's safe to say that the new Volkswagen Beetle should be around before the year is out as a coupe, the cabriolet following some time later.

Volkswagen website

Vw3

[New post] New Superman actor revealed

New Superman actor revealed

dailypop | January 30, 2011 at 11:26 pm | Tags: Bryan Singer, Henry Cavill, Superman, zack snyder | Categories: Superman | URL: http://wp.me/p4kUt-2hZ

New Superman actor Henry Cavill

Via Yahoo News:

Henry Cavill, the star of Showtime's "The Tudors," has been cast as iconic superhero Superman in a film to be directed by Zack Snyder, Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures confirmed in a statement Jan. 30.

"In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time, and I am honored to be a part of his return to the big screen," Snyder said. "I also join Warner Bros., Legendary and the producers in saying how excited we are about the casting of Henry. He is the perfect choice to don the cape and 'S' shield."

Cavill will be seen later this year playing Greek warrior Theseus in director Tarsem Singh's action picture "Immortals," and opposite Bruce Willis and Sigourney Weaver in the thriller "The Cold Light of Day."

The 27-year-old actor was reportedly on the shortlist for "Superman Returns" when McG was to direct it, but when Bryan Singer took over the project he went with Brandon Routh instead.

While Marvel Entertainment has worked on establishing their Avengers films, DC Comics and Warner Bros. has had a mega weapon in its arsenal, Superman. Created by the duo of Joe Simon and Joel Schuster back in 1938, Superman is regarded by many to be the first real superhero. Impervious to harm, able to perform superhuman feats from super speed to super ventriloquism, Superman is the last survivor of the doomed planet Krypton, sent to the planet Earth as his home exploded. Raised in America's homeland of Smallville, Superman was imbued with all of the red-blooded morality of a patriot of the late 30's.

After a Columbia Pictures serial and a TV series, Superman became part of the American culture.

In 1978, Warner Bros. unleashed the first feature film that established for the first time that a major motion picture could be developed based on a comic book character. Unknown in film, stage actor Christopher Reeve embodied the wholesome yet alien being from another planet devoted to truth, justice and the American way (a character trait introduced in the radio show only to be reinforced on the TV program). However, even though the first film was an outstanding success, the magic waned after four films and Superman became a relic of the past.

As the comic book medium and the nation has advanced, the character of Superman has also changed and modernized, growing more tragic, flawed or magical to meet the demands of the market audience. In a medium that has struggled to maintain a readership in the 21st Century, Superman has become something of a dinosaur. An attempt to recapture the magic of Richard Donner's work, Bryan Singer was hired to direct Superman Returns. Taking up after the events of Superman II, the film was only a minor success. It raised a few new ideas (such as a super-son), but failed to grab the audience as the studio had hoped.

Newcomer Brandon Routh was a pale imitation of Christopher Reeve in all fairness and while Singer's film was serviceable it was hardly a step in any direction from the Donner film. If anything, it was an homage to Donner's work and a heartfelt one at that. But the movie going public had gotten used to superhero movies and after seeing Batman get modernized under Chris Nolan, they needed a similar drastic re-imagining for the man of steel. Nevertheless, a sequel was planned with bothy Routh and Singer returning to pit Superman against Brainiac, the super-computer villain from the comics and animated series.

Legal battles between the estate of Jerry Siegel and Warner Bros. kept Singer's follow-up movie from seeing the light of day. Meanwhile, the TV program Smallville based on a young Clark Kent's life before he donned the red and blue tights has trudged on, furthering its own version of the DC Universe. Many have felt that merging Smallville with a sequel to Superman Begins would make a lot of sense, but apparently Warner Bros. has taken a different direction entirely.

Zack Snyder(Watchmen, 300)'s Superman film will be a complete reboot of the Superman franchise. Entitled Superman: Man of Steel, the movie is largely a mystery. Comic book (Grant Morrison, Mark Waid and Mark Millar) and feature film creators (Chris Niolan and David Goyer) have had their say on what needs to be done with Superman to make him a success for modern audiences, but it is still unclear on what direction Snyder and Warner Bros. will take.

My own personal idea is to remove the character from the confines of the planet Earth and street crime/real estate fraud. These things may have been necessary back in the day for an audience reluctant to accept a magical super being capable of impossible acts, but today we are in need of the fantastic and absurd in our super hero films. Involving Lex Luthor or a cat burglar at all is the wrong way to go about it. Take Superman to the stars where he shines and let the audience tag along. We know Superman's story and accept that he is strong, tough, fast and can fly. These concepts were once fanciful and exotic but are now commonplace. For the new Superman to make an impact, he needs to get to work and remind us why he is the first and best superhero. I understand the need to ground Superman with the reality of Clark Kent, but the true power of the character comes from his fantastic feats combined with his humanity. Back in 1978, this concept was an oddity, but the new film will be faced with the task of combining these ideas for a public that has been saturated with comic book superhero films.

27 year-old actor Henry Cavill has been announced as the new man of steel. Ironically, Cavill is the same age as Andrew Garfield, set to play Peter Parker in the new Spider-Man reboot. A one-time contender for James Bond and Superman (before Snyder chose Routh), Cavill is currently well-known for the cable TV program The Tudors.

Superman: Man of Steel will sink or soar to the silver screen (in 3-D) December 2012.

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