Tag Archives: Streaming

Nimue is Beguiling but Netflix’s Cursed May be Just That

20 Jul

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Netflix’s Cursed is a curious beast. It’s a retelling of a retelling (based on the novel of the same name by Tom Wheeler and Frank Miller) of the Arthurian legend from the point of view of Nimue (Katherine Langford). In most versions of the legend, she’s an enchantress–the Lady of the Lake–who gives King Arthur the mighty sword, Excalibur. She also wooed Merlin, stole his power and entombed him.

The wizard we see here is nothing like the one portrayed in literature. Vikings‘ Gustaf Skarsgård gives this interpretation a I’m without a purpose act. He’s not wise beyond his years and is more of an empty shell when we first meet him. His tale picks up closer to the end, which includes the eventual encounter with this teenage princess, but any idea of a romance is never alluded to.

Much of the tale takes place with Uther Pendragaon (Sebastian Armesto) at the throne. The young Arthur (Devon Terrell) we meet in this version has some African blood in him!

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A Whisker Away, Slightly Fanciful but not Feline Free

30 Jun

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

A Whisker Away is likely to have accolades who love Shōjo manga more than curious cats wanting the supernatural to play more into this anime. I’m of the latter persuasion and want to know if the mysterious fat cat known as Mask Seller is a Nekomata. This particular type of trickster spirit loves to toy with humans.

Miyo Sasaki (Mirai Shida) is unfortunate to have a chance encounter with him, and part of it is due to finding out her parents are splitting. The Cheshire Cat can take lessons from this guy, and Keith Silverstein in the dubbed version is amazing in the role. It’s familiar and might be inspired by Jemaine Clement’s performance of Tamatoa the Hermit Crab from Moana, As the devil may care feline who trades in noa masks, he has his own agenda. Part of the deal allows the wearer to transform into another species for “immortality.”

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When the Folklore Doesn’t Hit Home in Netflix’s Spectros

5 Apr

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Anyone who loves the supernatural flavour which comes out of traditional Japan should tune into Spectros right away! The series blends paranormal with breakfast club mentality from three teens–Pardal (Danilo Mesquita), Carla (Mariana Sena) and Mila (Cláudia Okuno)–coming together to deal with the supernatural coalescing in their neighbourhood of Liberdade in São Paulo, Brazil.

Ultimately, this series is the type of cheesy pulp action style fun expected when showrunner Douglas Petrie was a key figure in the production of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.

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Richard Bell’s Brotherhood is Coming to The Rio Mar 14th

10 Mar

Screening at The Rio on March 14th with writer/director Richard Bell, composer William Rowson and star Brendan Fletcher (The Revenant) in attendance.

1660 E Broadway
Vancouver, BC

Coming to iTunes at end of month.

Canadian filmmaker Richard Bell‘s tale of survival is sombre and evocative. His movie set in a not-so innocent age in the early 20th century shows what a Brotherhood truly entails. Based on the real-life incident that occurred in Balsam Lake, Ontario in 1926, one ill-fated trip with far too many people in one canoe across the lake to gather supplies took a turn for the worst. High winds capsized the transport, and much like the Titanic, some took their chances in the cold waters (swimming to shore) and others clung on for dear life until only a few remained.

Creating the drama was tough. Without a strong plot, I thought I’d be watching a dreamy period piece about training the next generation of boys to be the best they can be. The hope is that one may become the next David Currie–recipient of the Victoria Cross (the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy). With this film, it’s more about how each man have to face his own fear and Nature. The camp leaders think the generation growing up is weak and this sojourn will toughen them up. The context is certainly foreshadowed. Bell provides all the key bits of narrative through flashbacks which recount the better days, the earlier days until the night of.

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