The Amulet series is a popular graphic novel series created by Kazu Kibuishi. It tells the story of a young girl named Emily Hayes who discovers a magical amulet that grants her incredible powers. Alongside her friends and allies, Emily embarks on exciting adventures and battles against dangerous creatures in order to save her family and the world. As of 2021, there are a total of nine books in the Amulet series. Each book adds depth and complexity to the overarching story, revealing new mysteries and developments in Emily's journey. The series has garnered a large following and has been praised for its engaging storytelling, rich artwork, and diverse characters.
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That is not to say that there are not several scenes that border on grotesque, but other than the beating of several snakes, the majority of violence portrayed is done so off screen. Those only familiar with Nakagawa s JIGOKU released last year through The Criterion Collection , often cited as his masterpiece, may be a little surprised and possibly even disappointed, as he takes a much more subdued approach with many of SNAKE WOMAN S visuals.
The series has garnered a large following and has been praised for its engaging storytelling, rich artwork, and diverse characters. The books in the Amulet series are: 1. The Stonekeeper: This is where the series begins and introduces readers to Emily, her family, and the magical amulet.
Curse of the snake woman
It was only a couple of years ago that U.S. soil was inundated with J-Horror remakes. Theaters were flooded with films like THE GRUDGE, DARK WATER and THE RING, leading most Americans to believe that all Japanese ghost stories involved creepy teenage girls with long black hair extensions. Sadly, more traditional Japanese ghost stories (or Kaidan) are not as well known or as popular as their modern counterparts. This is a sad state of affairs, as most Kaidan are based on Japanese folklore or Buddhist stories that are brimming with interesting characters, tense atmosphere and karmic revenge. Traditional Kaidan pictures often portray how a guilty conscience can be far more terrifying that a little pale Asian kid who wears too much eye liner and screams like a cat in heat.
Yasuke is a peasant farmer whose field is reposed by his overbearing landlord, Chobei Onuma. With no land to tend, Yasuke quickly becomes ill and dies, leaving behind his wife, Sue, and daughter, Asa. While paying his respects, Chobei informs the two women that they will return with him to his home, where they will work to pay off the debt left by Yasuke. Upon leaving the grieving family, Chobei is suddenly, albeit briefly, confronted by the ghost of Yasuke. Chobei quickly vacates the village home and orders that it be demolished. Several of the male villagers are then gathered to destroy the home, which uncovers a serpent that is quickly killed. Such an act, in feudal Japan, is considered bad luck and brings with it a curse. Upon reaching the Onuma family home, Asa and Sue are thrown directly into their duties, where they are worked hard and harassed repeatedly by Chobei's wife, Masae, and son, Takeo. While tending the family court, Sue is witness to the beating of another snake found within the home. She throws herself in harms way too protect the creature, only to be injured herself. This injury leads to her death and Asa being left alone to fend off the unwanted advances of Takeo and to pay off her family debt solo. All the while Chobei and his wife are planning the marriage of their son to the mayor's daughter, but the curse put forth on the Onuma family threatens to ruin their plans for a prosperous union.
Nobuo Nakagawa, most often associated with Japanese horror and ghost films, weaves a tense yet traditional ghost story with SNAKE WOMAN'S CURSE. Those only familiar with Nakagawa's JIGOKU (released last year through The Criterion Collection), often cited as his masterpiece, may be a little surprised and possibly even disappointed, as he takes a much more subdued approach with many of SNAKE WOMAN'S visuals. That is not to say that there are not several scenes that border on grotesque, but other than the beating of several snakes, the majority of violence portrayed is done so off screen. One particular effective scene involves Asa as she fends off the unwanted advances of Takeo. Having been tricked into isolating herself on a country road, Takeo chases her like a cat playing with a mouse. Only for the chase to end as Takeo throws her in the bushes, to take advantage of her, hidden just out of sight. The scene is then followed by one of Asa left outside, for dead, where a lighting bolt splits a tree next to her collapsed body. As if her anger had collected and poured down from the heavens. The tree, split in half, then reveals a snake.
The ghost themselves haunt their victims merely by being in their presence. They never have any direct contact with the Onuma family. Instead they simply let it be know that they are still around, letting the guilt boil within, to the point of madness. This is in striking contrast to more recent J-Horror ghost films, in which spirits present themselves by crab walking down a flight of stair as if they are auditioning for Cirque du Soleil.
Originally SNAKE WOMAN’S CURSE was scheduled to be released through Panik House Entertainment in partnership with Synapse Films, along with seven other films from Toei studios. Synapse has since stepped to the forefront of these releases, presenting them with the respect and quality that cult film fans have come to expect from Don May Jr. and Jerry Chandler. SNAKE WOMAN’S CURSE is presented with a new, fully restored, anamorphic widescreen transfer which maintains the films original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Having been transferred in high-definition from Toei's original vault elements, SNAKE WOMAN’S CURSE DVD debut is virtually flawless. Colors are bright and clear, with only the crashing waves of the Toei logo having any visible darkening or grain. The Japanese language audio, presented in Dolby Digital mono 2.0, comes across clear with both the dialogue and soundtrack easy to follow and enjoy. English subtitles are legible and flow naturally.
An audio commentary from Japanese film scholar Jonathan M. Hall does a nice job of exploring particular meanings of certain images and characters as they pertain to Japanese culture and the social classes of the time in which the film is set. Although his monotone voice is a bit like listening to Ambien, he might put you to sleep. A biography of Nobuo Nakagawa and detailed liner notes by Japanese film scholar Alexander Jacoby do an excellent job of covering the history of Nakagawa's introduction to the Asian film industry and his collective works. Original Japanese theatrical trailer and Nakagawa poster gallery round out the extra features. The DVD cover itself is reversible, with a striking illustrative cover by Wes Benscoter on one side and the original Japanese poster on the other. (Jason McElreath)
2. The Stonekeeper's Curse: Emily must learn how to control her newfound powers while facing a dangerous enemy. 3. The Cloud Searchers: Emily and her friends venture into the sky in search of her missing mother. 4. The Last Council: Emily faces difficult decisions and must confront powerful enemies as she tries to save her friends and family. 5. Prince of the Elves: Emily and her comrades travel to the elf kingdom in order to rescue a kidnapped friend. 6. Escape from Lucien: Emily and her friends find themselves trapped in the city of Lucien, where they must navigate its perils and escape. 7. Firelight: Emily and her brother, Navin, journey to a mysterious island in search of a cure for their sick mother. 8. Supernova: As the forces of evil close in, Emily must confront her destiny and make a final stand. 9. The Battle of the Ampere: The epic conclusion to the series where Emily and her friends face their greatest threat yet. The Amulet series has captivated readers of all ages and continues to be a beloved and successful graphic novel series. Fans eagerly await news of future installments and are excited to see where Emily's journey will take her next..
Reviews for "The Amulet Series: Are there More Books to Come?"
1. Emily - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with how the Amulet series turned out. While the artwork was beautiful, the story became convoluted and lacked depth. The characters were uninteresting and had little development, making it hard to invest in their journey. Additionally, the pacing was inconsistent, with long periods of boring exposition followed by rushed action scenes. Overall, I found this series to be a letdown and would not recommend it to others.
2. Alex - 1/5 - I cannot understand the hype around the Amulet series. The storyline was confusing and hard to follow, leaving me frustrated and disengaged. The characters lacked depth and felt one-dimensional, making it difficult to relate to them. The artwork was the only redeeming quality, but unfortunately, that was not enough to save this series for me. I would advise others to stay away from this series if they value a well-crafted plot and developed characters.
3. Sarah - 2.5/5 - I found the Amulet series to be overrated. The first few books were promising, but the story quickly lost its grip on me. The characters felt bland and did not undergo any significant growth throughout the series. The plot became repetitive and predictable, and I just couldn't find myself invested in what was happening. While the artwork was visually stunning, it couldn't compensate for the lackluster storytelling. Overall, I was left underwhelmed and would not recommend this series to avid readers seeking a captivating fantasy storyline.
4. Mike - 2/5 - I regret investing my time and money into the Amulet series. The concept seemed intriguing at first, but it quickly descended into a convoluted mess. The storyline was confusing, dragging on without any clear direction. The characters were forgettable, lacking depth and relatability. The occasional beautiful artwork couldn't make up for the lack of substance in the plot. I was left feeling disappointed and unsatisfied, and I wouldn't recommend this series to others looking for a captivating fantasy read.