V for Vendetta by Alan Moore.
A story originally created to serve as a warning of what could possibly arise from the Thatcherite government of the 1980s, V for Vendetta has stood the test of time as one of the premier works of the comic book medium. A story that tells a tale of tyranny and the valiant effort made to thwart it that's as timeless as it is harrowing.
Did you know that in Southeast Asian folklore there's a flying bat monkey hybrid that abducts children?
It's called the "Orang Bati" and it's described as being four to five feet tall with reddish skin, large black leathery wings and a long leathery tail. Said to inhabit the island of Seram in Indonesia, the Orang Bati is a nocturnal creature with a diet that mostly consists of small, adorable children who are easy to pick up and fly away with. It's raids take place in the darkness of night and before descending into the villages and cities that border it's territory, the airborne attacker will emit a shrill wail that warns any child who hears it that it's already too late to escape. The residents of Seram insist that the creature is a flying monkey, while outsiders have suggested it's more than likely a giant bat. However, some researchers have stated that physical descriptions (including the shrill wail it lets out before a hunt) match pterosaur physiology.
"Cigarettes and chocolate milk These are just a couple of my cravings Everything it seems I like’s a little bit stronger A little bit thicker, a little bit harmful for me." —Rufus Wainwright, "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk"
War of the Worlds (2005) by Steven Spielberg.
I love Spielberg's adaptation of War of the Worlds.
It's a remarkable film, and one of Spielberg's great dream films, in the way that sometimes you'll have a dream, and it will start out meaning one thing, but by the end it will mean something else.
Fun Fact:
As much as I admire the legends of merfolk and swan maidens, we ought to give some spotlight to the selkies.
Selkie folk, also known as "seal folk", come from Norse and Celtic folklore. They're what's known as "therianthropes", meaning they can transform from human to animal at will. In the case of the selkie, this is done by shedding their seal skin. When in their human form, selkies are super attractive. Both males and females have humans chasing after them, if they're lucky enough to see them naked on the beach.
The stories about male selkies are pretty hilarious and usually entail them being the object of desire for bored housewives (they were essentially medieval pool boys), but the female selkies always had it rougher. Men would steal their seal skin so they couldn't change back to their natural form, then coerce them into marriage. And what's really tragic is that even if the selkie does marry the thief, falls in love with him and has his children, the moment that she rediscovers her hidden selkie skin, she abandons her family and makes her escape back to the ocean, because that is where she's truly meant to be.
Macbeth (or The Tragedy of Macbeth) by Roman Polanski.
A most powerful, vital adaptation of The Scottish Play.
An epic, inventive, and heart-breaking story of ambition.
"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes..."
- The Weird Sisters
Evil Dead II (or Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn) by Sam Raimi.
A masterpiece of a film.
UPA's The Tell-Tale Heart (1954) by Ted Parmelee, designed by Paul Julian, narrated by James Mason.
My favorite adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's short story.
I'd give this short an A+++.
Some of you have probably wondered "Where did the Easter Bunny come from and why does a rabbit give out eggs?"
The exact origins of the Easter Bunny are unclear, but it's believed to have originated in Germany during the Middle Ages. The tradition probably stems from the pagan festival of "Ēostre", which honored the goddess of the same name and was celebrated during the spring equinox in the form of feasting and fertility rituals. Ēostre was eventually co-opted by Christians and it was rebranded as a celebration of Jesus's rebirth.
Following this theme of new life, rabbits and hares (which have long been seen as symbols of fertility and new life, as they often give birth to large litters in the spring) became the holiday mascot. And as early as 1682, it became a tradition for the "Easter Hare" to make the rounds and judge whether children were good or bad, similar to Kris Kindle. If they were good, they'd be given gifts like toys and colored eggs, eggs being another symbol of new life. German immigrants brought the tradition to the United States in the 18th century, where it became popularized and eventually spread to other parts of the world.
The Eternals (Volume 1) #11.
"The Russians are Coming!"
Merry Little Batman by Mike Roth.
Saw it and loved it!
The Ronald Searle-esque art style is amazing!!
An animated superhero film full of personality and genuine invention!!
20s. A young tachrán who has dedicated his life to becoming a filmmaker and comic artist/writer. This website is a mystery to me...
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