Movie & Book Reviews
Mad Monster Party | Beetlejuice cartoon Vol. 1 | Where The Wild Things Are | The Last Unicorn | Kiki's Delivery Service | Harry Potter series | Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban | Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone | Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets | When Good Ghouls Go Bad | Halloweentown | Aaagh! It's The Mr. Hell Show!
Mad Monster Party
{Year II A.S. Directed by Jules Bass. Starring the voices of Boris Karloff, Phillis Diller. Musical vocals by Ethel Ennis, Gale Garnett, Allen Swift. Genre: Animagic}[Warning: Review contains 'spoilers']
PLOT
Infamous for his Promethian creation of Life, Dr. Baron Boris Von Frankenstein has now discovered the secret of ultimate destruction, comprised of a glowing blue solution kept in a vial. Monsters from all over the world are invited via bat mail to a ball in honor of its discovery, and to decide on a successor to the Frankenstein Legacy. Included amongst the invitations, one goes to an unknown Pharmacist named Felix Flankin, an awkward young man with asthma.
Transported upon a sea monster boat to the island, greeted by zombie servants with groveling supervisor Yetch {a Peter Lorre characterization}, the monsters arrive one by one in ghoulish style, including Count Dracula {Allen Swift}, The Wolfman, Frankenstein's creation along with 'The Monster's Mate' {Phillis Diller}, The Creature, Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde {Swift}, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Who will be selected? Included amongst the delightful menagerie of distinguished guests is one Francesca {Gale Garnett}, Dr. Frankenstein's veritable Galatea creation, a curvy redhead with a voice as soft as silk {a 'cartoon cutie', as it were}, whose characterization could very well have inspired one Jessica Rabbit and Sally {NBX}.
After a performance by the resident skeleton band, the party gets rowdy and breaks out into a free for all. Francesca's plotting turns against her and she is on the run with Felix through the surrounding wilderness, where we finally meet "It" {Kong}. There are a couple of surprises towards the end, with a bit of tragedy, and where things are certainly not as they appear to be...
MUSICK
Partially a musical, the Mad Monster Party soundtrack composed by Maury Laws, also features the remarkable vocal talents of Ethel Ennis, who sings the memorably splendid title theme, with wonderful lyrics such as:
"The full moon... brings out the monster in you... a strange tune seems to be playing for you... could you be someone's invention... so unreal as you feel tonight... did you sell your soul to The Devil... at that Mad Monster Party last night...?"Gale Garnett provides Francesca's sultry speaking and singing voice with the tenderly romantic serenade 'Never Was A Love Like Mine'; Phillis Diller contributes with the humorous, if not relatable "You're Different". Even Boris Karloff joins in with 'One Step Ahead', in a rhythmic narration, with an organ-playing Baron Von Frankenstein.
Of note, to celebrate Halloween, Horror-Rock band The Misfits would eventually record their version of 'Monster Mash' whose video features scenes from Mad Monster Party integrated with their show.
THEY'RE ALIVE!
The characters themselves are rendered in what has been appropriately referred to as "Animagic" ~ marianettes designed by Mad Magazine's Jack Harris, which are imbued with such personality so as to project the believable impression of life - this combined with the suspension of disbelief makes for quite an entertaining and Magical spectacle throughout.
I recall when this presentation was played every Halloween season, and being a Dracling favorite I kept close to My heart, I'd never miss it. Emerging from the nucleic innovation of Rankin-Bass, who also brought forth such ubiquitous holiday classics like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman, it is easy to see the influence this film has had on the likes of Tim Burton, inspiring many of his creature-characters from The Nightmare Before Xmas, to Corpse Bride and Beetlejuice. It is really nice to have a fun presentation which speaks to those of us who resonate with the Halloween aesthetic. This film accompanies the afore-mentioned presentations perfectly, and is a truly entertaining addition for the monster within.
EXTRAS
Complete with extras such as the theatrical trailer, production art gallery, and poster & still gallery on the DVD, it also arrives with a superb 24-page booklet insert detailing the history, creators, characters, actors, with rare posters, photographs, promotional material, and production art / stills, all making for a most worthy resurrection from the mists of past unorthodoxy.
* Critter Sitters
Beetlejuice becomes inspired by Lydia's babysitting stint, so he goes off to 'baby sit' {literally} some neitherworld critters who prove too difficult to handle, resulting in a veritable rampage, destroying much of a Neitherworld towne. He is arrested and attends court presided by "Judge Mental", with Lydia as defense attorney.
* The Big Faceoff
Beetlejuice fears that his patented fright face just isn't scary enough anymore, as he fails to scare Lydia's father when he sleepwalks into the room, looking haggard and dishevelled. Beetlejuice enters a Gross-Out contest where he encounters a nearly worthy opponent, who does manage some impressive transmutations, but still cannot match up to Beetlejuice's improvised and surprising new ghoulish image.
* Skeletons In The Closet
Beetlejuice's lies catch up with him as his closet begins emitting a wailing "lies... lies!", which turns out to be his "skeletons in the closet" - it seems that in the Neitherworld, the more you lie, the more populated your closet becomes with these ghostly skeletons, who go about telling on him to his friends, who become hurt by his true opinions about them. The only way to be rid of these phantoms is to tell the truth.
"Satan represents man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often worse than those that walk on all-fours, who, because of his �divine spiritual and intellectual development,� has become the most vicious animal of all!" - 7th Satanic Statement; The Satanic Bible."There is a beast in man that should be exercised, not exorcised" - Anton Szandor LaVey.
While going about My nightly activities, I came upon this delightful hard-cover book and it brought forth an evocation: I remember reading this book in 5th grade when I found it in the school library during a break from My Safety Committee duties - the cover really drew Me in - and though the story was intended for previous gradation, I enjoyed it for its charming simplicity and the adventure of Max, who likes to dress up like a white cat-like creature who used his imagination to fashion his own little total environment in his room, and effectively turns it into a dark jungle for himself, and thus embarks upon a journey that will bring him into the darkest recesses of his imagination, as he visits an island "where the wild things are", which are various projections of himself in the lycanthropic state - veritable Satanimal-like forest demons resembling some of the classic features from demonological arcana - werebeasts all {note the humanoid feet and general mannerisms}, who in the beginning, try to scare him, but he ends up becoming their king, and they show him homage as King of all Wild Things, ruling with sceptor and crown. So they romp together under the full moon, hang from trees, and parade through the glades in a joyous fanfare, until little Max gets a bit bored and longs for something good to eat, and sets off back to his room across the sea again "for over a year", finding his hot supper waiting for him.
It can be seen now that this was but a dream, as he took a famished nap, after having earlier run about the house chasing the family dog and constructing his room to specification with utmost imagination, fading into a nap sometime in the process. I suppose mom could not allow him to starve, so after sending him to his room to ruminate over a comment he made about eating her up, he awakens from his nap and is welcomed back to the table.
This is strongly recommeded for Infernal Progeny.
Rating: 5/5.
The Last Unicorn
{XVI A.S. Directed by Jules Bass & Arthur Rankin Jr. Starring Christopher Lee, Mia Farrow, Keenan Wynn, Jeff Bridges, Alan Arkin}
The enchanting story of a lone unicorn searching for the meaning of her existence, and any others of her kind, but comes to find out that the others are being kept prisoner in the waves of the ocean by a tyrant who lives in a black castle on a cliff's edge overlooking the raging ocean that is their keep, enforced by an enormous demonic red bull, forcing them back into the waves upon any attempt at escape.
An amusing singing butterfly circles around her in the beginning, singing many fanciful songs but providing clues here and there for her journey.
Unicorn: Say my name then. If you know my name, tell it to me.
The Butterfly: [quoting Romeo & Juliet] Your name is a golden bell hung in my heart. I would break my body to pieces to call you once by your name...! Unicorn: Say it, if you know.
The Butterfly: Rumpelstiltskin! Gotcha!During her quest, she meets "Mama Fortuna", a witch-hag with a tree stump for a hat, who is accompanied by an ogre-like henchman and a bumbling wanna'-be "magician" named "Schmendrick" {which I have come to call occultniks}.
Schmendrick: I am Schmendrick the magician, last of the red hot swamis. Fortuna runs a travelling carnival sideshow which features a satyr, harpie, and a manticor, among other creatures of legend for the awe and gawkings of villagers. She feels she hits bank when she discovers and captures the unicorn for display, who warns her that the harpie will one day take her due, and can see through the spell placed upon these others who amount to nothing more than an old toothless lion and a monkey.
Mommy Fortuna: The harpy's as real as you are, and just as immortal. And she was just as easy to catch, if you want to know.
Unicorn: Do not boast, old woman. You death sits in that cage, and she hears you.
Mommy Fortuna: Oh, she'll kill me one day or another. But she will remember forever that I caught her, and I held her prisoner. So there's my immortality, eh?
Unicorn: Let me go. And let her go to. I cannot bear to see her caged. We are two sides of the same magic... The harpy and me, we are not for you.Schmendrick decides to help the unicorn and eventually accompanies her in her escape and quest to the dark castle. A country wench 'Molly Grue' joins them, regretful that the unicorn did not visit her when she was "new", yet becomes her servant nonetheless.
Molly: Where were you twenty years ago? Ten years ago? Where were you when I was new? When I was one of those innocent young maidens you always come to? How dare you! How dare you come to me now, when I am this! At The Castle, the unicorn is transformed into 'Lady Amalthea' {Mia Farrow} and meets King Haggard {Christopher Lee}, Prince Lir {Jeff Bridges}, along with a talking pirate cat and an obnoxious though entertaining skeleton with a penchant for wine. Amalthea falls in love with Prince Lir, which keeps her from changing back into the unicorn for awhile. As the mortal Lady Amalthea, the transformed unicorn feels her magic diminishing, the longer she remains a woman, and can feel her new body "dying all around her".
The group gather the clues and finally reach the other unicorns where both Schmendrick and Prince Lir battle The Red Bull.
The Skull: To get to the Red Bull's chamber, you must go through time. A clock isn't time; it's only gears and springs. Pay it no mind.
The Cat: When the wine drinks itself, when the skull speaks, when the clock strikes the right time, only then will you find the funnel that leads to the Red Bull. There be a trick to it, of course.The Last Unicorn features an "all-star" cast, and the folkish music of 'America', which actually works quite well here.
Overall, it seems the Last Unicorn is a "coming of age" tale, the journey of a girl into womanhood until finally finding her purpose in life.
Unicorn: [now a woman] I am afraid of this mortal body... more afraid than I was of the Red Bull.
Unicorn: Once, I can't remember, I was long ago, someone strange. I was innocent and wise, and full of pain. Now that I'm a woman, everything has changed. Once, when I was searching, somewhere out of reach, far away, in a place I could not find, or heart obey. Now that I'm a woman, everything is strange.Another one of those late-night films I caught once, which remains an evocation. There certainly is a compassion-inducing quality to the unicorn's plight, as well as the music used. The Red Bull is a remarkable beast, and King Haggard, a compelling character.
Kiki's Delivery Service
While I Am not normally into japanimation anime, I must make an exception with this title, mostly for reasons of the storyline. A young witch sets off to "train" somewhere afar off until she comes upon a bustling towne where she acquires a job with a bread shoppe, making deliveries via her broom, until one day for some reason, her powers falter, so she must find a purpose in her existence, eventually regaining them to rescue what becomes her inventive boyfriend from a doomed durigible flight. She carries her black cat "Jiji" with her, a wise-cracking and sometimes nagging little feline who himself becomes imfatuated with a neighboring white cat, and end up mating. This is a charming presentation which may have been in part responsible for inspiring "Sabrina, The Teenage Witch" - the latter which I would not necessarily recommend, but this little film is recommended for Infernal Progeny. The only issue I had with it is, that she does not really use any "powers" for anything other than for flight - on the way to the township, she meets another witch in flight whose speciality was fortune-telling, but it seems that Kiki never found hers, and unfortunately, she may probably one day marry the mortal, as ingenious as he is, yet still not a proper Warlock, as it should be.
Rating: 4/5.
The Harry Potter Series
The second in the series of this wonderous trinity of imaginative & delightful entertainment fare. : This series will cast a spell on you so that you will not be able to put the books down until finished. Actually, there is a spell mentioned where the reader cannot stop reading. But really, these are real page-turners.
The incomperable Harry Potter with his distinctive lightning bolt scar on his forehead, is an orphan being raised amidst "muggles" {the Harry Potter term for commoners/normals/un-magical people - unfortunate people that they are}; he longs to escape their prejudice & judgementalism, as he is kept prisoner in their humdrum house, bring teased by the insensitive, brutish, & obviously intimidated normals - Harry's very presence reminds them of their inferiority.
So he & his owl Hedwig remain strong, until he is rescued by his friends from "Hogwart's School of Witchcraft & Wizardry", but not before being warned by the resident house-elf "Dobby" {which just so happens to remind this author of such an annoying, groveling lowlife which I have successfully, & thankfully banished}, who ends up causing more havoc than his persistent claims to 'help' Harry. Despite this, Harry finally makes it to school - a wonderful castle, whose curriculum consists of, among other things, "Transfiguration", "Defense Against The Dark Arts" {awww...}, "Potions", & "Herbalism"; even a 'Dueling Club" at one point, where their dexterity & skills with their wands get a good work-out.
A mysterious gateway is opened somewhere in the school, whose denizens terrorize the students for a few months, & it's up to Harry & his fellows to solve the mystery, using Magic & ingenuity. There are delicious twists & turns in the plot line, which proves to avoid any boredom whatsoever. One of the Professors, "Gilderoy Lockheart", who's a Dudley Do-right in ritual robes, is routinely annoying with his big-headedness, & needs a good dose of the whoopie-cushion, the mysterious slapping hand, or the soap-pickle. Lockheart, the resident panzy, turns out to be a plagerist, a fake & a phony. But he eventually gets his in the end.
Probably one of the most interesting characters herein in Salazar Slytherin , an enigmatic Black Magician whose dark influence stretches across a century, & through the generations of Slytherins at Hogwarts. Essentially, Hogwarts is comprised of several groups - The Slytherins, Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, & Gryffindors {Harry's group}. The inevitable demoralization comes in the form of the typical 'good vs. evil' framework, & casts the aesthetically 'dark sorcerers' in an incompetent light - but such is to be expected. Actually, they are portrayed rather like the devil-worshipper variety, with Setianesque headmasters.
The only question is, why is Potter always relegated back into the company of that muggle family who resent & fear his abilities, & punish him because of them? Why doesn't someone from Hogwarts go to check up on his well-being? A councelor, perhaps, who looks after magical children? Such oppression to be cast amongst the dullard muggles. Perhaps this will be explained in subsequent releases. Perhaps it is to exemplify the inherant obnoxiousness & weakness of the normals. If so, it is well done.
No wonder the xians are up in arms, as this series portrays the "common man" of the herd to be the inferiors they are. There certainly is an element of stratification here - no egalitarian garbage to clutter your little elitists' heads.
Potter does manage to tap into the "trials & tribulations", life tests, & offers scenarios that magical children may be confronted with. These books may offer some solice to the little Warlock or Witch to realize that being 'different' {read: Superior}, is to be revelled in, not denied.
It reminds Me of a slogan I heard once, which I believe is quite appropriate in regards to the subject at hand:"You laugh at Me because I'm different. I laugh at you because you're all the same."
Precisely.
Besides the characters mentioned thusfar, there are also monster spiders, ghosts {one who inhabits a toilet}, a phoenix, a trollish giant, moving trees, a flying car, mandrakes, & owls who deliver the post. The Harry Potter books make wonderful bed-time stories for Infernal Progeny, which will entertain parents & children alike. Two horns up to J.K. Rowlings for manifesting this enchanted series.
The wondrous world of Harry Potter opens up through the enchanted pages of J.K. Rowling's books, as veritable grimoires masked in fictional charicatures, but demonstrating subtle magical principles. The books come to life in a veritable bibliomancy - the words vibrate, a Magical glow emminates therefrom, & the pictures come to brilliant life, jumping forth from the pages in dynamic enchanted exhuberance. And thus it has been for those who have enjoyed these wonderful works. * Satan's Scroll Review
These have served to stimulate, & sometimes even enhance the child-like Magic residing within - that charm personified in animals & children, & preserved by The Magician.
I have found this film a marvel to behold, although I feel it could have been twice the production had it been a tad darker, as the books have tended to be. Unfortunately, producers felt that the initial more gothicesque aesthetics would frighten children, to whom the film is primarily directed towards. But I question the excessive over-sheltering of children would only raise a populace of mollycoddles. Speaking for Myself on the left hand, I have always been attracted to the darkest subject matter since I was a very young child. The pervasive fascination for blood & gore in western society is due to the lack of real-life bloodletting spectacles, practices, & traditions in modern culture. In many societies, a boy was not considered a man until until he had killed his first prey in the hunt, or slain an enemy. Western Society compensates for this natural blood lust with horror movies & documentaries, to stimulate that latently essential primal part of the psyche which remains far too under-stimulated.
The first half of the movie seemed aesthetically darker, whereas the second half was a bit 'lighter', probably as a result of the puscillanimousness of Chris Columbus {who also directed "Home Alone" as an indication}. I believe a film of this calibre would have been better directed by the likes of Tim Burton, who has consistently brought forth the dark sides of the characters he has worked with, & created films of magnificent & gloriously gothic proportions, as Batman would be a major example; with a musickal score conducted instead by Danny Elfman, considering the current score unfortunately sounds rather tired & redundant - not one of John William's better works. It just seemed that he did not place too much effort into it, yet it still remains memorable, but so much more could have been done with it.
I found the effects to be quite well done, concurrent with the descriptions in the book. There were several scenes which were curtailed for time, but I have a feeling the release of the video / DVD will divulge many deleted scenes.
A most poignant scene was towards the end, when Potter comes face to face with Voldemort, in which he states, "There is no good or evil, only Power & those who seek it. Those who do not, are weak." Quite a Satanic statement!
The release of this movie will probably inspire some children to gain an interest in The Occult, & will create A.C.I.'s in many, & just may serve to open the door to self-realization in true infernal progeny yet unknown. A movie of this type I feel is timely, & necessitates "popularity" in this select case, to help contribute to that societal shift in the Satanic direction.
Besides that one moment of the stating of Satanic fact, there is no weakan sanctimony, no xian drivel, just plain fun "witchcraft" for the whole family.
The idea of a "School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" does sound rather appealing {notice the distinction between the genders} - the closest thing we have to that is the homeschooling initiative which is espoused by most Satanists. Speaking for Myself, I have schooled Myself in The Dark Arts, incorperating & experimenting with what I will to determine My own personal philosophies & rites {Draconian Satanism}, & I do consider Dr. LaVey My Daemon-Mentor. And now, as "grownup" Witches & Warlocks, Our Infernal Progeny may have the benefit of Our tutoring.
Overall, I found the film to be visually stunning, relevant to the book, & it displayed a higher class of diction & politeness, serving as a good example to the more bereft & vulgar infesting the current populace. Recommended.
Harry Potter returns to Hogwart's for his second year in Magical-Scholastic training. And now he is pretty well settled to begin afresh on a new adventure. He is sprung from his room {he actually is granted a room, probably at the behest of Magical intervention}, away from the muggles who desperately try to keep him as their virtual slave; released by the Weasley Brothers in a flying car to which they affix a chain to Harry's barred window and make away back to school, his true home in this case; with Privet Drive being more like a tower of imprisonment holding many bad memories.
They run into The Whomping Willow, a burly tree who beats the car about unmercifully, instead of weeping. When they finally meet the ground, the car, a living being in itself, becomes understandably annoyed and races off.
Arachnophobes beware! Arachnophiles delight! Another remarkable moment occurred when their adventures lead them into the enchanted forest, following clues by a vision, deep into a cave to speak with a huge spider creature, a wise monster indeed, who would not allow them to leave without providing sustainance for his young:
"I cannot deny them fresh meat which comes so willingly into our midst. Farewell, friend of Hagrid..."And the chase is on. They unbelievably make it out into the forest where they are rescued by the car, squashing a few spiders along the way, until they finally reach the safety of the castle. So the mystery monster has yet to be divulged, until the very end, Voldemort makes an appearance as his preferred manifestation of youth, aspiration, and vigor - along with an impressive serpentine basilisk at this bidding, which he orders to kill Potter, but is eventually thwarted by Dumbledore's phoenix who plucks out his eyes.
Draco Malfoy's father plays a role in the film, along with Gilderoy Lockheart, a popinjay-poseur opportunist par-excellance, which does speak to the faux "magician" type who frequently takes credit for others' accomplishments, as well as natural occurrences; jumping in at the last moment pretending it to be their own - he may fool the muggles, but a true Magician can spot this type outright. He has the audacity to engage Snape in a wand-sparring competition, of which his knowledge and experience is virtually null, and is forthwith humiliated by the Dark Potions instructor. His rottenness reveals itself in a subsequent in which, behind the fanciful facade of a rather weakan exterior in aesthetic and shallow personality, deems to take credit for the exploits of Harry's innovation, but through circumstance loses his memory by a well-deserved blow to the head by Ron Weasley.
Overall, it is analyzed that the film should be seen three or more times in order to appreciate all of the quick scenes which run by far too fast, as there is so much to the books, that each one could quite easily fit into two films at a time, but for expedience, was compressed into a little more than two hours. Viewing this film in the theatre is amusing for an entertaining "night out", but I believe it would be far more appreciated in one's own Lair. Still, to experience this series to the fullest, the highest recommendation is to read the books themselves, and this the films will be far more vibrant.
Another element that was noted was in the instance when introduced to "Dobby" the house elf, who appeared just as I imagined him, who is a masochistic character practicing self-flagellation for the smallest infraction in slave conduct who, through all of his efforts, attempts to prevent Potter from attending another year at Hogwarts, for the apparent reason that he fears for his safety. although it is later divulged that he has another Master, who himself does not wish Potter to return.
In one scene involving the house elf, Potter frees him from his cruel master's rule by actually bestowing him an article of clothing, thereby liberating him from slavery, which did receive a few hand claps of approval from the audience, particularly from a negro woman who obviously connected this as a metaphor for ancestor oppression... but the question remains, "what does Dobby do now?" For it is known, that the slave-type encompasses most of humanity, who are in the majority followers, necessitating a leader, a ruler, a master, whether it be a so-called "God", messiah, television, trends, etc. Although in this day and age, they still want to be told what to do, but without the use of the word "slavery" - so instead, PC terminology has been invented such as "team player", "church group", "congregation", etc., that it may be more palatable - yet drones they remain, no matter which connotation is used.
Overall, if one has been well entertained by the premiere film "Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone", then "The Chambre of Secrets" is well worth the watching.
Year three at Hogwarts, and we encounter many more wonderful creatures from storybook fane, including a griffin named Buckbeak, a werewolf, a monsterous hound reminiscent of the Moore-Hound of The Baskervilles, vampiric Dementors, a shadowmantic creature called a boggart, which reveals the deepest fears of whomever it faces, and a shrunken head with a Jamaican accent.
As Harry traverses adolescence, he becomes rightfully more rebellious against the group of muggles he has the misfortune to "live" with - when one of them snidely mentions something about his father, he becomes enraged, transforming her into a veritable balloon, wherein she floats away as a bloated blimp - quite hilarious, really. Happily, by taking a Magical triple-storied "Knight bus", he eventually meets up with Hermoine and Ron upon returning to his own enchanted environment. The dichotomy of these living conditions would prove to be quite frustrating, I would imagine, yet Harry perserveres through their ignorance, fear, and subsequent petty aggrivations.
The storyline in this sequel is somewhat more involved than the previous, with a most magnificent twist at the end, as he and Hermoine veritably travel back in time to correct the potentially lethal circumstances to save his god-father {Sirius Black played by Gary Oldman, whom you will remember as portraying Count Dracula in the magnificent Francis Ford Copolla version} from the deadly effect of the Dementors, which I must say, are quite impressive creatures themselves, and My personal favorite herein. I see very close comparisons with a certain segment of Black Magicians I know... , the so-called "Proteus" notwithstanding.
This year, along with the fine resident instructors, there are some new members of the school staff as well as promotions: Professor Lupin {also a werewolf, ergo, the similarity to the latin "lupus" for wolf}; Professor Sybil Trelawney {a schizophrenic, crystal ball-gazing fruitcake}; Hagrid is promoted to Professor of enchanted creatures.
Malfoy remains a rotten little bastard, despite being a part of the fine House of Slytherin, and eventually is the recipient of a broken nose, compliments of little Ms. Granger.
Again, in order to condense the film into a two-hour time frame, many scenes whiz by too quickly, but still remains a wonderful compliment to this most imaginative and enchanting series conjured by veritable "word witch", the nucleic J.K. Rowling.
Rating: 4/5.
Disc two contains cast & crew interviews which enlighten much on the creative process and technology infused in conjuring this film, along with wonderfully inter-active and aesthetically-beatious games which stimulate the memory and the senses. Rating: 5/5.
When Good Ghouls Go Bad
{XXXVI A.S. Written by R.L. Stine. Directed by Patrick Read Johnson. Starring Christopher Lloyd, Tom Amandes, Roy Billing, Brittany Byrnes, Brendan McCarthy. Genre: Thriller}[Warning: review contains spoilers]
From Goosebumps' author R.L. Stine comes this delightful Halloween-themed tale, both charming and evocatively enjoyable:
Founded by the delightfully eccentric "Uncle" Fred Walker, Walker Falls has not seen a Halloween for years because of a so-called "curse" placed upon it by one "Curtis Danko" {obvious 'Donnie Darko' influenced nomenclature}, labeled the town "weirdo" for his preference to dress in black, and express his imagination with monsters, and scenes of a world gone mad. His creativity is clearly envied by others, and thus, they react in fearful passive-aggressive manners which are no less than despicable, displaying their inferior and odious ill-natures.
So once when the art class project was to sculpt a depiction of one's hero*, the school bully and cronies lock him in the incinerator as a prank. He actually resembles Edward Scissorhands while sculpting.
Urban Legend: He refused for anyone to see his project, guarding it from all during the day. He returns at night to work on it in private. Next one morning, when Mike Kankel walks into the classroom, he notices something is wrong, and discovers Danko's ashes in the incinerator with his statue, with a forboding message written in the ashes, that if the town celebrates Halloween, he will return and face his wrath:
"If you ever have another Halloween again, I will return and destroy you all!"
Kankel pretends at blindness, claiming that the statue is so terrible that no one should look upon it as if made by someone counceled by The Devil, lest they go blind, or head explode, or even turn to stone, a-la Medusa's glare. So the ashes and statue are sealed within a crypt with nicely arranged cob-webbed chains.
Factuality: After a teasing session, Danko is incarcerated in the incinerator to be left until the following morning. Unfortunately, an absent-minded janitor accidentally taps the 'on' button, immolating Danko. Terrified of being blamed for his murder, he writes the warning in the ashes himself and claims that looking upon the statue blinded him for three days. It was later confessed that now Coach Kankel did it because funds were being directed into the fine arts at the school instead of sports activities.
'Uncle' Walker's grandson Danny arrives from Chicago to attend this new school, and is bullied by Kankel's son and his moronic hench-boy. Despite this, he befriends Dayna who shows him marvelous secrets within Danko's haunted house, where, unbeknownst to the a-dolt towns people, the Magic of Halloween has been preserved - skeletons, skulls, demons, monsters, ghouls, bats, spiders, ghosts, zombies, witches, are all here in this abandoned mansion to be enjoyed in secret by the towns children**.
When Danny's business-minded father James suggests the town hold a "Spooktacular" Halloween celebration at a town meeting, the residents go bananas with fear, especially when time and time again, Halloween decorations begin mysteriously appearing about. James Walker seeks to re-open the Walker Chocolate factory {also founded by nucleus Uncle Walker, in a Willy Wonka vein}, with the help of soon-arriving German Businessmen, and the support of the towns people.
Uncle Walker is quite a character, who listens to his Hammond Organ recordings on his jukebox, building elaborate tracks for his hot wheels, surrounded by amusing nick knacks, while attired in various playful outfits. He serves as a true father for Danny, since his dad is virtually un-present in the goings-on of his life. Someone who could actually offer the wisdom of experience as well as be a playmate and friend. Also mentionable is the sage wisdom imparted to Danny about the Magic of Halloween...
So when he apparently dies from a bash on the head by a falling pumpkin from a veritable pumpkin mountain pile which strangely appears in the town square, his heart is broken until he later returns as a zombie to help him place Danko's statue in its rightful place. In the meantime, several amusing circumstances unfold including the appearance of 'Cheesy The Clown' {quite a lokian depiction}, and Uncle Walker retrieving his runaway hand, a-la 'Thing' {especially humorous considering Christopher Lloyd wonderfully portrayed Uncle Fester in treasured films 'The Addams Family' & 'Addams Family Values'}.
When Danko returns from the grave with green-glowing eyes in skeletal form, who along with various other zombies, at the secret Halloween dance, all is finally set to balance as Halloween is restored, after a shameful spectacle and confession by Coach Kankel, the statue is finally seen, which provides for quite a surprise, followed by a moving ending scene and narration.
5/5
__________________* Interesting to note that I actually sculpted a statue for art class of a Baphomet-headed Satan in a robe wearing a pentagram medallion, holding a sword in one hand and signifying The Cornu with the other. To My surprise, Sgt. Randy Emon was notified, who took photos of it for his occult portfolio.
** It can be observed that the mansion is also a metaphor for the subconscious accumulation of archetypal images of fear and memento moris, waiting to be released and celebrated. To deny them only causes an unbalanced psyche.
Halloweentown
{XXXIII A.S. Directed by Duwayne Dunham. Starring Debbie Reynolds, Judith Hoag, Kimberly J. Brown, Phillip Van Dyke, Joey Zimmerman, Emily Roeske, Robin Thomas}For Infernal Progeny, I came across this quaint little Disney movie about a budding little witch learning "the craft" from her grandmother, since her mother is mortal-minded, rather like Derrin Stevens, decrying all things Magical, yet on this trip to Halloweetown, only known to witches, warlocks, and other creatures of the preternatural, she learns more about her abilities than her mother would have liked, and realizes that she is a witch. There is the villain herein, named "Kalabar", resembling a blackened floating phantom with actually, a pretty noble endeavor to free the occupants of Halloweentown from their reserved space on earth, and "take over the mortal world", but meets resistance from the "white witches", as is were, and with their combined efforts inclusive of an ingracious former follower { as well as a surprise revelation is brought forth with her science-minded little brother who resembles, not surprisingly, Harry Potter}, defeat the evil warlock, and thus, everything returns to how it was.
The typical "good vs. evil" scenario is seen in this film, but instead of the Christian Crusader against the evil dragon, thanks to the Harry Potter mythos, it is essentially "white magic vs. black magic", with no mention whatsoever of the JC myth. So it would probably be prudent to clarify this point to Infernal Progeny that "Magic is Magic, by whatever name it is called", be it used to help or hinder, and originates from The Self, and should be appropriately administered towards those who deserve it. and is honestly according to one's desires.
The title of the movie does obviously bear a resemblance to the Halloweentown of The Nightmare Before Christmas, but has nothing to do with it whatsoever.
Rating: 2/5
Aaagh! It's The Mr. Hell Show!
{XXXVI A.S. Voices: Bob Monkhouse, Michael Dobson, Paul Dobson, Phil Hayes, Jeff 'Swampy' Marsh, Josh, the reincarnation guy, Scott McNeil, Nicole Oliver, Gerard Plunkett, Tabitha St. Germain}
"Mr. Hell" features a devilish gentleman in a suit who employs all sorts of wile and guile to attain his desires, from the manipulation and influence of The Royal Family, to casting his particular visons upon humanity, and having a Hell-of-a-time along the way!
The program also features a spoof on Harry Potter called "Harry Nutter" featuring a delusional youngster {a "muggle" who thinks he is Magical}; even drawing a lightning bolt on his fore-head with a felt-tip marker, and wearing all sorts of unflattering clothing which does not quite fit his ample little frame. Along with these snippets and intercrossed plots and characters roam herein. Definitely recommended to Infernal Progeny and fun-loving animation fans.
Rating: 3/5 Black Candles. Simplistic animation, yet still superior to the majority of the anime out there.
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