Tag: Mysticism

Unpacking The Boy and The Heron, and Reflecting on What is Not A Swan Song

Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film, The Boy and the Heron, has a lot of imagery that won’t be immediately understood. We offer our interpreation on this magical film!

The Boy and the Heron Movie PosterSpoiler Alert

Hayao Miyazaki‘s latest film is perhaps his most personal. Unless fans know what his younger life was like, it’s easy not to understand what The Boy and the Heron are about. This semi-autobiographical work released by Studio Ghibli has lots of imagery to unpack, and not all of them subscribe to his beliefs regarding Shintoism.

Instead, I recommend watching the documentary “Never Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki.” (review and Amazon link) Even without this knowledge, what’s presented is more than his usual coming-of-age story about a youth not accepting the future, and being willing to move on.

When considering, this movie refers to Genzaburo Yoshino‘s book, “How Do You Live?” this theme is not all that surprising. Here, Mahito (Soma Santoki) is struggling to deal with life without a mother. This feature shows how Hisako died in a hospital fire. This happens during the onset of the Asian Pacific War, and is not a result of recent bombing, otherwise there would be American planes seen leaving the scene.

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The Fist of the Condor Shows How the Road to Mastering Chilean Martial Arts is Rough!

In what The Fist of the Condor does best is to bring back a much-needed mysticism that modern martial arts films sometimes lack.

Fist of the Condor Blu-ray Sleeve and Blu-ray Case
Also available to purchase on DVD or Blu-Ray (Amazon USA)

Well GO USA
Available to Stream on Hi-Yah or Amazon Prime

Marko Zaror may well be the next action hero if The Fist of the Condor is any sign. He exudes the intensity of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and when considering he’s done some of this wrestler’s stunts during his early career in Hollywood, I can see him going far on his own. This actor also knows taekwondo, judo, aikido, and shotokan karate. His skills as a mixed martial artist are perfectly highlighted in this Chilean film, and yes, I’m begging for more! Although the home video release’s behind the scenes feature doesn’t add to what’s planned to the future, what’s spotlighted is a nice look at the effort put to make this work more of a cinematic experience than anything else.

Some of the exotic locations are very basic, but as for lighting it, it’s nice to see that the team wanted to use as much natural resouces to light many shots instead of camera equipment. Thankfully the Asian flavour is not lost because the lead trained under many mentors from various countries.

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How to Transform Yourself in the Rite of the Shaman

The Rite of the Shaman will do more than help the hero here break free from those barriers of pain.

Rite of the Shaman PosterAvailable to watch on YouTube, Apple TV and other VOD platforms.

The Rite of the Shaman is a very inspiring family-friendly film by Alicia Oberle Farmer. Here, she expands the role of what this role means and shows how it’s not restricted to specific cultures. Some people tend to think of them as an aboriginal thing whereas it’s not. I couldn’t help but be reminded of Adrenalin’s song “The Road of the Gypsy” while watching, and that’s because the themes are very similar.

According to Shamism.com, the title bestowed to those individuals also grants them knowledge in how to heal more than just battle wounds, but also enact spiritual contact. These days, it’s considered to be an ancient healing tradition. And what the protagonist in this film experiences (wonderfully played by Tyrell Oberle) is an awakening as he navigates the trials and tribulations of teenage life.

Kai is being bullied and also seeing things. There’s a voice calling to him. One reason he’s not doing well is that he’s worried about his mother, Rebekah (Janice Spencer-Wise). She’s suffering from cancer, and with no one to turn to for help, he’s alone. He’s an only child. The orchestral score wonderfully carries this work and gives us that emotional resonance to understand this boy’s plight. Props go to Donovan Colton for a delightful soundtrack; it includes everything I adore which includes flights of fancy from the likes of Enya and Yanni.

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The Shadow in the Water, a Different Kind of Shark Tale

David Elendune talent for making characters we can empathize with is why I’m always there for his shows.

shadowVictoria Fringe Festival

Showtimes:
Sep 8, 2021 – Sep 12, 2021

Metro Studio Theatre
111 Quadra St.
Victoria, BC

Tickets can be bought in advance here.

Anyone who knows Peter Schilling’s music video of his hit single, “Major Tom,” may well get the shivers when learning about Mary’s life in David Elendune’s The Shadow in the Water. She’s coming home alright, but not in a way I would immediately suspect.

This story billed as a tale of love, loss and sharks is a deceptive tease. I’m thinking it’s about sailing into the mystic, Van Morrison style. This octogenarian is recounting moments about her life to Sharon. I assume this younger character is a caretaker sent to check in on this senior–who is listening to the broadcast of the Apollo 11 landing at the start of the play. Bits of this landmark moment in human history plays out throughout the show, and it’s highly suggestive that eventually, Mary’s time will come to “go home.” 

Instead, Mary is lost in her own memories. She wants someone to know everything she’s done since before the night fades away.

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Weathering with You Debuting in North America Today!

Weathering With You Movie PosterFan Preview Screenings (full movie with exclusive Makoto Shinkai video) tonight and tomorrow.

Opens in theaters on January 17 (North America). In Canada please check Cineplex online for participating theatres.

Coming to North America today is the highly-anticipated new film from director Makoto Shinkai and producer Genki Kawamura, the creative team behind the critically-acclaimed, global smash hit Your Name.

The Weathering with You is too apt for a charged tale of life, love, and controlling the weather. The timing could not be any better as parts of Canada and the East coast being hit with snow. High winds and other dangers notwithstanding, for those able to make it, this film is worth getting out to! Thankfully it will stay in theaters longer as the wild and woolly weather can dissipate in a few hours.

Synopsis:

The summer of his high school freshman year, Hodaka runs away from his remote island home to Tokyo, and quickly finds himself pushed to his financial and personal limits. The weather is unusually gloomy and rainy every day, as if to suggest his future. He lives his days in isolation, but finally finds work as a writer for a mysterious occult magazine. Then one day, Hodaka meets Hina on a busy street corner. This bright and strong-willed girl possesses a strange and wonderful ability: the power to stop the rain and clear the sky…