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Kwaidan - 1964
- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Film
- Hits: 55
A collection of Japanese Ghost stories, set in the Edo period of Japan.
The first, about a man who leaves his wife to find success in the wider world, and in so doing finds a new wife and all that he's looking for only to discover it wasn't what he wanted all along, and when he returns to find her and apologize....
I can't give more as those would be spoilers and this would cheat you of the joy of watching it yourself.
And another, about a blind bard who finds himself playing to an imperial court of the dead...
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Overall this was a masterpiece. The visuals and effects, old-school practical effects, are masterful, the atmosphere is perfect. In the story about the bard we see the court; the impassivity of the spirits as they watch; the painting of Buddhist symbols on the bard to protect him - all visually spectacular. And all of the stories share this in common - be wary of any dealings with the dead or spirits.
This, the cautionary tale of dealings with spirits or the dead, that they bear us no goodwill, that nothing good can come of it, it's a tradition - cross cultural I dare to say - that no good can come of summoning or communicating with the dead, it's a warning against the memory of those who've led the way into the great beyond.
This, in tone, pacing, humour, it's the antithesis to Sam Raimi's "The Evil Dead", treating it's subject with more the gravity it deserves. And it's a perfect movie for a cool October night when the dead may indeed be up and about and always to no good...
Army of Darkness - Sam Raimi
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Film
- Hits: 57
Camp horror schlock sequel to "The Evil Dead II", starring Bruce Campbell.
Which was, after it's fashion, fun, the effects are much the same, one noteworthy scene that I admired was when Bruce Campbell's character drops a mirror and upon seeing his reflection cast in a hundred shards is stunned to see the "mini-me's" jump out and begin to harass him...
All in good fun, of course, nothing to give you nightmares but a good B movie. Make sure to watch it with popcorn.
All work and no pay...
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Blog
- Hits: 103
makes Rod a dull boy.
Working lots, extra even, to try and pay down a few bills, only we're behind on a few paydays. And hence I'm behind on a few too many bills.
At home, enough tomatoes and onions and pasta for maybe 2 meals. Maybe. And the meds run out and I owe everyone and their dog money. Which - if paid - I would owe nobody money and so - this forever going without meals, cigarettes, well, it's getting to be a constant annoyance.
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Books, finally I'm done. The last of the books to the bookstore yesterday, I have a rather long list of what I'd read, now to organize it and ... ?? I'll get ChatGPT to organize a virtual library for me. The hall, largely empty of boxes now, the desk and windowsill overflowing with books I have yet to read, I'm back onto Sir Walter Scott's "Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft" - borrowed by the neighbour as she's convinced she's under some sort of Hex.
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And, today off, looking at what to do, what to do, $2 in my pocket, waiting on a payday so I can buy some meat...
I might need to find another job.
The Adventures of a Modern Occultist - Oliver Bland
- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Books
- Hits: 90
While confirming the fashion of Seances and Mediums our Author takes us in quite a few other directions.
HIs adventures - and some are adventures indeed, border on the absurd, preposterous imaginings that might inspire an "Indiana Jones" movie. Amusing, but hardly to be credited.
Read it online here: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/75900/pg75900-images.html
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