Tag: Based on Mythology

Star Light, Star Bright, Where are the Knights of the Zodiac Tonight?

When Baginski is more caught up with Sony’s God of War for inspiration than to bring in full Wuxia style action in Knights of the Zodiac, what’s presented isn’t all that exciting.

Knights of the Zodiac Movie PosterMaybe some long beloved classic anime series should not be adapted to live-action. Technically, that hasn’t stopped some American producers from bringing the best IPs to the big screen, like Alita. When the original studio is involved, sometimes what’s made is a mixed bag. To find the right talents to helm a live action take means checking on their credentials. Knights of Zodiac suffers because Tomasz Baginski’s involvement with The Witcher is a far cry from what this IP represents.

I was hoping for more high stake concerns in the vein of Gods of Egypt instead of a cyberpunk style wannabe Power Rangers episode. That’s because there’s often five warriors working together to honour the name of Athena. But even then, there’s others who will tarnish her role in history; she’s hardly a threat if I remember the series premise correctly. 

Continue reading “Star Light, Star Bright, Where are the Knights of the Zodiac Tonight?”

New Gods: Yang Jian. Breaking Down the Bonus Features.

We look at the video extras that are included in this home video release of New Gods: Yang Jian, and yes, there’s even a foldout poster included!

New Gods Yang Jian Blu-ray + DVD
Available to pre-order on Amazon USA

Available to Stream on Amazon Prime, Google Play and Youtube and coming to Home Video on April 25th, 2023 courtesy of Shout! Factory.

It would be a shame if all the work put behind building the world presented in New Gods: Yang Jian gets limited to one movie. What’s presented as extras in the home video release gets into the finer points of why many realms exist. In the press interview with Ji Zhao, the director, he simplified the plot to be about this individual who can see the truth, but doesn’t fully understand what it all means.

The other details revealed help with how this works relates to New Gods: Nezha Reborn. Although he doesn’t say much about whether more films in this world will come, I hope it’ll one day happen.

Continue reading “New Gods: Yang Jian. Breaking Down the Bonus Features.”

Top 10 Animated and Cinematic Fantasy Worlds to (Re)visit after Watching Dungeons and Dragons Honor Among Thieves

We got a list that considers how cinematic fantasy worlds should look like in both the cinematic and broadcast front.

Cinematic Fantasy Worlds - 300 Rise of an Empire Movie Poster

After Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, I felt the need to cleanse the palette. I wanted to visit other cinematic fantasy worlds that truly delivers the mediaeval aesthetic. To find a film that’s true to the feel is tough, and to nail a top ten is even harder! I hit streaming services and my library to see what’s there, and I was being tough on myself since any element that’s off meant taking it out of this list.

Movies based on mythology are a given. And I’ve removed literary works like The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings because that would be cheating. What I offer here is listed in alphabetical order and the links go to Amazon USA for those wanting to stream it or to buy. Final movie trailers are also included to separate each entry.

300 (2006)

Zack Snyder’s colourful and gritty story about a bunch of Spartans protecting a pass is a movie to truly marvel at. When all of Greece gets threatened, what else can an elite warrior class do? Here, we learn about what it takes to defend a nation. As for the sacrifices, it’s the stuff of legends. Although the sequel doesn’t fare as well as the original, this pairing is a must for fans of this filmmaker.

Continue reading “Top 10 Animated and Cinematic Fantasy Worlds to (Re)visit after Watching Dungeons and Dragons Honor Among Thieves”

When The Legend of Gatokaca and an Eternal Conflict Returns…

The rich Hindu mythology brought to life in The Legend of Gatokaca requires some foreknowledge to truly appreciate what this film is about.

Legend of Gatotkaca Blu-Ray CaseAvailable to Stream on Hi-yah and purchase on Amazon USA

Indonesian filmmaker Hanung Bramantyo wants to show to the world that The Legend of Gatokaca is built from folklore. It certainly shows why superheroes were once gods a long time ago. This individual is from the Mahabharata, an epic tale which includes fascinating elements from Indonesian mythology that put others to shame. Much of it gets explained throughout the film from the eyes of Professor Arya (Edward Akbar) and a student Erlangga (Jerome Kurnia). They teach Yuda (Rizky Nazar) about the past, and why it all matters if he’s to be the reincarnation of a demigod hero, Gatotkaca.

To get new audiences up to speed and yet move the modern update forward is better paced than other works I’ve recently seen. Although, the details go by quite fast and the 130min run time is rather long, I’m glad to have the home video release so I can rewind or pause. That way, I can make sense of the lengthy exposition.

Continue reading “When The Legend of Gatokaca and an Eternal Conflict Returns…”

When Shazam! Fury of the Gods Has Focus, What’s His Inspiration?

When we’re dealing with the classical antiquity as core concept for Shazam! Fury of the Gods, the entire Greek pantheon better show up!

Shazam! Fury of the Gods Movie PosterAll the DC movies from this year exist in a strange place. Since they’re not part of the new universe, they aren’t necessarily considered ongoing canon. That’s because of Warner Bros/Discovery wanting to revamp everything. After Black Adam (my movie review and commentary can be read here) did not invest enough into the legends and lore, I had trepidation regarding Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

I love the idea of incorporating mythology from ancient cultures into any superhero movie treatment. When done right, some heroes are just modern day updates to classical figures. For example, Horus is the spiritual predecessor of Hawkman. For the titular hero in this franchise, he embodies the best traits from six Greek divinities–Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury.

But when a sisterhood from Greek myth decides it’s time to torment Billy Batson (Asher Angel and Zachary Levi), he’s in trouble. They are targeting his surrogate family to reacquire the power bequeathed to them by Shazam (and The Wizard). The death of the gods and to resurrect them is a big theme.

Continue reading “When Shazam! Fury of the Gods Has Focus, What’s His Inspiration?”

Martial Arts and Superheroics Collide in Legend of Gatotakaca

Legend of Gatotakaca debuts on Hi-Yah! streaming service today and it’s loosely based on the life and times of the heroic god of the same name.

Legend of GatotakacaDebuting on Hi-YAH Streaming Service
Feb 17, 2023

Indonesian superhero movies don’t get a lot of love abroad. That’s because there aren’t that many and to criticise them against the heavyweights from America isn’t fair. As a result, these works really need word of mouth to get known. Legend of Gatotakaca (Satria Dewa: Gatotkaca) released in its native country last year, and now has international distribution courtesy of Well GO USA.

Continue reading “Martial Arts and Superheroics Collide in Legend of Gatotakaca”

WP Twitter Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com