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[Victoria, BC] The Muses are with Chimera Theatre’s Perseus & Andromeda

CrYHXGqUAAEnomd By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

If only the 2010 remake of the classic 1981 movie Clash of the Titans was told differently, like as an interpretative dance, then I’d be more receptive to the end product! Kamloops’ based Chimera Theatre is an aptly named company to take on retelling the myth of Perseus and Andromeda at the 2016 Victoria Fringe Festival.

To see when they will take this show on the road again, Andrew G. Cooper (who composed the fantastic new age soundscape and did the choreography) advised keeping an eye on this group’s webpage. Next up will be The Disordered Mind by Cooper, playing from September 9th to October 30th, 2016. Tickets will become available through http://www.kamloopslive.ca

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Identifying Bast and Sekhmet in Captain America: Civil War, The Black Panther Movie Lore

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By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Most people who love the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) will have seen Captain America: Civil War by now. While long-time comic book readers may grin at the conversation T’Challa has with Natasha (Black Widow), not everyone is going to understand the reference made about how two Egyptian goddesses figure into his belief system. What he said also reveals a potential story direction for his solo movie. The detail is not that much of a stretch to interpret in the context of this movie either.

As T’Challa explained, “In my culture, death is not the end. It’s more of a stepping-off point. You reach out with both hands, and Bast and Sekhmet, they lead you into the green veld where you can run forever.”

In what I first understood from his statement is that his father’s spirit freely roams the Earth. But there’s a deeper context not many viewers may catch on to. Bastet (her full name) is a peaceful goddess, a divine protector of cats. She represents grace and affection. There is no need for violence unless provoked. She can be used as an instrument of vengeance. In the earliest references to this figure in The Pyramid Texts, she is there to guard, if not protect, the king.

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Where’s the Mythology Behind Gods of Egypt?

The movie ultimately felt like a surreal ancient astronaut idea gone wrong. I liked the design of the Solar Barque that Ra lived on, but just where Gods of Egypt sits is with clichéd ideas than to follow the Book of the Dead.

Gods of Egypt Movie Poster I can’t believe the level of hate by movie-goers and critics have for Gods of Egypt is still growing. Not since Fantastic Four has there been such a vile response to a product. The Last Airbender was panned way before it even started pre production. Myself, I have to thank producer Michael Bay for decimating my childhood memories of Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; the bulk of merchandise I see now are based on his work instead of being generation one. With this movie set in an Egyptian-type world, can the director, Alex Proyas, destroy all that I love and admire about Ancient Egypt? I grew up enamoured by the mystique this world represented, especially with its art and myths.

Technically, this film’s plot is a loose interpretation of the story, The Contendings of Horus and Seth. Instead of having a contest of champions, where these deities are tested to see who will be the next King of Egypt, Osiris (Bryan Brown) and Isis (Rachael Blake) are ready to crown Horus (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). However, the always jealous Seth (Gerard Butler) arrives to put a stop to it and kill all the gods. He leads an army who look more like the Persian Immortals from 300 and perhaps that’s the joke everyone is missing. This film is meant to poke fun at mythology instead of being inspired by it. When looking at the mistakes, the film is very silly and mind-numbing, but when looking at the nods to the lore of yore, the connections made will only be familiar to people who knows them.

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[Victoria Fringe Festival ’15] The Wyrd is Nine! A Review

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

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VENUE:
Metro Studio Theatre
1411 Quadra St.
Victoria, BC

LENGTH: 45 minutes

Not to be confused with other variations (the Canadian band of the same name or Terry Pratchett’s sixth Discworld novel), The Wyrd Sisters by DamnSpot Theatre is an all new take on William Shakespeare’s seminal trio of witches or soothsayers who have appeared in various works. Whatever they are called, these ladies of the mystic arts do more than manipulate the men this playwright is casting as the ‘hero.’ From Caesar to Macbeth, just what tugs at the heart of these soldiers are not their ability to cajole their heart, but rather in how Fate can be cruel.

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Is there History in 300 Rise of an Empire?

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

300 Rise of an Empire

The plot thickens in 300: Rise of an Empire. Not only does the story continue after the events of the first film, where King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) led his men to slow down the advancing Persian attack force by bottlenecking them, but also a better historical picture is painted. Viewers do not have to turn to an encyclopedia of Greek History to know just how these films flow back and forth to each another. Historical accuracy is not what these movies is about.

Instead, these films present a phantasmagorical representation of the Greco-Persian War. The main point these movies wants to put forth is to show the people of Greece wanting freedom from all outside oppression. To see the various Greek city-states unite is at the heart of both films are trying to convey, but that plot point can get missed in favour for the visually over the top style of splatterpunk warfare. To see fights draw blood like that from a J-Horror product makes up a huge part of why the 300 saga is so appealing. Viewers who love MTV’s Celebrity Deathmatch will enjoy 300 more than a general audience.

However, the grain that made the first movie gritty is sadly ditched in the second and that makes for an uneven product.

At least a few of the characters are further developed in Rise of the Empire. Queen Gorgo is the new leader of the Spartan Empire and Xerxes gets the development so his grudge with the Greeks gets understood. Sadly, their role is secondary to the actual plot of where Themistocles (Sullivan Stapleton) of Athens is defending his territory from Artemisia (Eva Green) of Caria’s advancing naval force. Tensions between them is more than hot.

It’s practically sizzling, especially for Green’s performance. She makes Goth in the Greek world look scalding. Between her many costume changes, some of which was not needed, and her origin story, this sequel does a better job of creating some savage characters. Family honour is important and when someone dies in this feudal culture, their deaths must be avenged.

Even the original Xerxes is a changed man. After seeing his father, Darius, slain during battle in the first Persian invasion, his descent to madness is finally understood. The world of 300 runs around in circles because everyone has a score to settle. While that does not make for a simple plot, at least the narrative is styled much like how Homer would write the Illiad.

Anyone who does end up looking at what will happen next in the actual conflict will no doubt find that another chapter can be told. As for whether or not that will be made into another movie will depend whether or not director Zack Snyder has the energy to make another film. Xerxes is the type of character who will not accept humiliation and in the history books, there is still the Battle of Plataea to cover.

3 out of 5