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Jack Reynor recommended Kwaidan (1964) in Movies (curated)

 
Kwaidan (1964)
Kwaidan (1964)
1964 | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"Kwaidan is a film like no other. Adapted from Japanese legends and myths that were collected by Irish author Lafcadio Hearn, the film is an anthology of four ghost stories. The superstitiousness of Irish culture clearly influenced Hearn’s recording of these tales, and to see these stories adapted again by a Japanese artist is fascinating. I think Kobayashi poured his soul into this project. Kwaidan, in every way, bleeds Japanese culture and identity: not a loud and obnoxious nationalistic pride, but a thoughtful and considered love and respect for its heritage. Toru Takemitsu provides an austere and haunting score using traditional Japanese instruments and warped sound effects. The majority of the film is shot on a soundstage and features strikingly, often eerily painted backdrops. This was Kobayashi’s first color project, and cinematographer Yoshio Miyajima uses light, a 2:35:1 aspect ratio, and refined camera movement to astonishing effect."

Source
  
Eternals (2021)
Eternals (2021)
2021 | Action, Adventure
I've lost track of how many Marvel movies there are - we must be into our 20s at least by now!

And, unfortunately, I found this one of the weakest so far, despite the 'star power' that it includes in its cast (most woefully the massively underused Salma Hayek or Angelina Jolie), with its large cast of central character - 10, I think - all on the earth since millennia BC, all un-aging (and the inspiration for our myths and legends) and all massively bored.

Which, unfortunately, is how I felt for large parts of the movie - it actually took me several attempts to make it the whole way through (watched in Disney+).

I've heard it works better the second time around, once you know a few key plot points and details, but I'm not in any hurry for a rewatch,
  
Hiraeth
Hiraeth
Morgan Sheppard | 2021 | Contemporary, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
It's a wonderful tale of finding yourself, you past, your future and falling in love!
Contains spoilers, click to show
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Ellis takes a vacation in North Wales, and finds herself feeling so much at home. Meeting Luke helped, but she had to return to Cardiff. Following dreams of dragons and Merlin, Ellis needs to go back to the vacation spot, and then things really get odd.

I liked this, I liked this a lot!

Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Ellis takes a vacation in North Wales, and finds herself feeling so much at home. Meeting Luke helped, but she had to return to Cardiff. Following dreams of dragons and Merlin, Ellis needs to go back to the vacation spot, and then things really get odd.

I liked this, I liked this a lot!

It's a wonderful tale of finding yourself, you past, your future and falling in love!

Of course, tales of dragons and Merlin help, but the level of research is exceptionally clear here, with lots and LOTS of Welsh tales, myths and legends told.

The feelings Ellis have for Luke grow and develop over time, and it's really only they are apart that things start to get serious for both Ellis and Luke. The call of Beddgelert, and indeed, of each other on their souls and hearts is too powerful to ignore. Ellis gets back, but it takes a bit longer for Luke to finally admit that he needs to go home.

It's told from Ellis and Luke's point of view, along with a couple of others that need a say. Each voice is clear and different, most pointedly when Luke talks about his past, his knowledge of what he is and what Ellis is to him. Ellis doesn't have that, and she needs to learn it.

There's no drama or danger, aside from discovering that dragons still exist! It's not totally clean, there is love and passion here, but nothing explicit. It's well written and extremely well delivered.

Lots of Welsh names here, and I had no idea how to pronounce them! But it didn't spoil my enjoyment, just made me chuckle trying to read them out loud :-)

A wonderful, delightful, beautifully written love story, set in Wales, with all its myths and legends about dragons. And now I wanna visit Beddgelert, cos it's a real place, and see all the wonderful places that Ellis visits!

4 fabulous stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**

Of course, tales of dragons and Merlin help, but the level of research is exceptionally clear here, with lots and LOTS of Welsh tales, myths and legends told.

The feelings Ellis have for Luke grow and develop over time, and it's really only they are apart that things start to get serious for both Ellis and Luke. The call of Beddgelert, and indeed, of each other on their souls and hearts is too powerful to ignore. Ellis gets back, but it takes a bit longer for Luke to finally admit that he needs to go home.

It's told from Ellis and Luke's point of view, along with a couple of others that need a say. Each voice is clear and different, most pointedly when Luke talks about his past, his knowledge of what he is and what Ellis is to him. Ellis doesn't have that, and she needs to learn it.

There's no drama or danger, aside from discovering that dragons still exist! It's not totally clean, there is love and passion here, but nothing explicit. It's well written and extremely well delivered.

Lots of Welsh names here, and I had no idea how to pronounce them! But it didn't spoil my enjoyment, just made me chuckle trying to read them out loud :-)

A wonderful, delightful, beautifully written love story, set in Wales, with all its myths and legends about dragons. And now I wanna visit Beddgelert, cos it's a real place, and see all the wonderful places that Ellis visits!

4 fabulous stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**