23 May 2012

Video of the week -- not one of them is respectable



From Robin Hardy's 1973 film The Wicker Man about a modern-day pagan community in Scotland (mildly NSFW).  If you haven't seen the film, do -- but be warned, it turns suddenly nasty at the end.

5 Comments:

Blogger Shaw Kenawe said...

Found this about The Wicker Man:

"The Wicker Man is generally well regarded by critics. Film magazine Cinefantastique described it as "The Citizen Kane of Horror Movies", and during 2004 the magazine Total Film named The Wicker Man the sixth greatest British film of all time. It also won the 1978 Saturn Award for Best Horror Film. A scene from this film was #45 on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments."

I've ordered it from Netflix.

I'll just have to shut my eyes during the scariest part.

Thanks for the tip.

23 May, 2012 08:15  
Blogger Infidel753 said...

It's a unique film for sure -- hope you like it. The ending isn't exactly scary, just very nasty, and a jarring contrast with the tone of the rest of it. Just a reminder that there aren't any "good" religions.

24 May, 2012 05:49  
Blogger B.R. said...

Norse mythology, anyone? C'mon, if I weren't an an atheist. that would be my religion of choice. By the way, can I watch the original Wicker Man on YouTube or someplace? I've been wanting to see it for ages.

25 May, 2012 15:47  
Blogger Infidel753 said...

Norse mythology is rather too macho and violent for my taste (battles in Valhalla?), but to each his own.

I doubt many full films are available on YouTube, and if they are, the quality likely isn't much good. C'mon, a DVD doesn't cost much, especially for an older movie devoid of flashy special effects and pointless noise and explosions.

25 May, 2012 19:54  
Blogger B.R. said...

Well, I suppose that's one way of looking at it, but what always attracted me to it as a kid was the ominous overtones of fate that when followed to their roots, makes Norse paganism far more profound and mature as a way of looking at the world than the putrid Abrahamic death cults could ever dream of being. In N.M., everything, even the gods themselves, will die. The purpose of Valhalla was an attempt by Odin to recruit an army of Midgard's valiant slain to halt Ragnarok, the Twilight of the Gods. That's also why he has one eye; in the myths, he sacrificed an eye to gain the ability of foresight and omniscience, so that he could look anywhere in the universe and see what transpired there. But even this will not save Asgard in the myths; the Jotun will march upon Asgard, starting the Fimbulwinter, the last winter on earth that will break down civilization and turn families upon each other. That's what separates Norse myth from everything else to me; the grim reality of the fantasy it presents. That in life, only bravery, honor, and wisdom count for anything, and the whole point of life is to live it to the fullest and seize every opportunity as it comes, without hesitation.

26 May, 2012 12:01  

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