Frazetta: Painting with Fire (2003)

This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Great Film overall

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Right up front, I'm a Frazetta fanatic and have been since childhood. I am among those who bought a few too many mediocre Conan paperbacks from Waldenbooks in the early 80s because I had to own the Frazetta covers. Since there is no other documentary on his life and work to choose from, I am extremely grateful for the existence of this film and for the efforts of those who made it.The film features a lot of well-known fantasy and comic books artists, and various other industry insiders who have a great appreciation for Frazetta's work. They do a good job of explaining what makes his artwork remarkable and inspiring to a certain subculture of geeks and fans (and famous filmmakers), and why the quality of his work transcends the genre in which he attained fame and success.There's also an undercurrent of defensiveness about the lack of critical acclaim directed toward Frazetta from anyone outside of the sci-fi/fantasy industry, but it is never really addressed. I think the film would have benefited greatly from some critical voices, and that may have provided a more substantive context in which to consider his work. Instead the film is a bit of a fanboy product, and as much as I agree, Frazetta's career deserves more serious consideration than that.

Overlong but generally informative feature-length documentary on celebrated artist Frank Frazetta (whose work in comic strips influenced generations of designers), which is perhaps slightly too reverential towards its subject. His distinctive three-dimensional style (with which I was familiar, if not the artist's name) is discussed at length - as is Frazetta's personal life, including his recent health problems - and, of course, even features interjections from noted film-makers such as John Milius (who directed the Frazetta-influenced CONAN THE BARBARIAN [1982]) and Ralph Bakshi (with whom Frazetta collaborated on FIRE AND ICE [1983]). Still, one would have liked some narration to smooth over, i.e. put into context, the many anecdotes and opinions - rather than have 90 uninterrupted minutes of just 'talking heads'!

Frank Frazetta is probably the greatest artist to grace the related fields of comic book and paperback illustration. Starting as a comic book artist for EC back in the early 1950s, then moving on to draw the incredibly sexy women of the L'IL ABNER comic strip, then reaching his pinnacle as the greatest fantasy paperback cover artist of the 1960s and 1970s. He expanded into other fields, such as cinema and sculpture. PAINTING WITH FIRE is documentary and tribute to the great artist. Frazetta's own commentary is interspersed with tributes from others, like comic book artists Bernie Wrightson, Mike Kaluta, and Neal Adams.Every fan of comic books, book cover art, and fantasy art needs to see this film.

Came upon this by accident on IFC and could not turn away from it. Practically everyone is familiar with Frazetta's work even if they don't realize it. Google him and you will see what I mean. The movie tells his story through numerous interviews with family, friends and co-workers. Very interesting as you see just how many people love his work and were influenced by it, especially in Hollywood. It also does a nice job of placing his work in historical context. I like Frazetta's work though I'm not a huge fan. The way this movie just captured me despite me not being a fanatic speaks a lot as to just how good this movie is. It's a true documentary that shows how you can entertain while staying true to form unlike some of the garbage that seems to win awards these days. Please watch this if you get a chance!