The rabbit curse is a folk belief or superstition that is prevalent in some cultures around the world, particularly among farmers and gardeners. According to this belief, rabbits are believed to bring bad luck or curses upon a person or property, especially in relation to agriculture. The origins of the rabbit curse can be traced back to several factors. Firstly, rabbits are known to be voracious eaters and have a strong appetite for plants, particularly vegetables. In areas where agriculture is a crucial source of livelihood, the destruction caused by rabbits can have devastating effects on crops and vegetation. Furthermore, rabbits are known for their rapid breeding abilities.
Wallace and Gromit are the inventions of a British animator named Nick Park, who co-directs this time with Steve Box. In an era of high-tech CGI, Park uses the beloved traditional form of stop-motion animation. He constructs his characters and sets out of Plasticine, a brand of modeling clay, and makes minute adjustments to them between every frame, giving the impression not only of movement but of exuberant life and color bursting from every frame. (As a nod to technology, just a little CGI is incorporated for certain scenes that would be hard to do in Plasticine, as when the vacuumed bunnies are in free-fall).
Wallace Gromit The Curse of the Were-Rabbit formerly Wallace and Gromit and the Great Vegetable Plot is a 2005 British-American stop-motion animated buddy comedy-drama horror mystery film staring Wallace and Gromit. Instead, Wallace has devised another of his ingenious inventions, the Bun-Vac, which sucks the rabbits out of their holes and into a giant holding tube, so that they can be housed in comfort at Anti-Pesto headquarters, and feast on medium and small vegetables.
Furthermore, rabbits are known for their rapid breeding abilities. A single pair of rabbits can produce multiple litters in a year, which can lead to overpopulation and further damage to agricultural lands. This rapid reproduction has contributed to the belief that rabbits are associated with abundance and fertility, but also with overconsumption and destruction.
Comic creations with feet of clay
Wallace and Gromit are arguably the two most delightful characters in the history of animation. Between the previous sentence and this one I paused thoughtfully and stared into space and thought of all of the other animated characters I have ever met, and I gave full points to Bugs Bunny and high marks to Little Nemo and a fond nod to Goofy, and returned to the page convinced that, yes, Wallace and Gromit are in a category of their own. To know them is to enter a universe of boundless optimism, in which two creatures who are perfectly suited to each other venture out every morning to make the world into a safer place for the gentle, the good and the funny.
AdvertisementWallace is an inventor. Gromit is a dog, although the traditional human-dog relationship is reversed in that Gromit usually has to clean up Wallace's messes. No, not those kinds of messes. They're not that kind of movie. In three short subjects and now in their first feature, Wallace sails out bravely do to great but reckless deeds, and Gromit takes the role of adult guardian.
In "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit," they face their greatest challenge. Lady Tottington is holding her family's 517th annual Giant Vegetable Fete, and all the gardeners for miles around are lovingly caressing their gigantic melons and zucchinis and carrots and such, and Wallace and Gromit are responsible for security, which means keeping rabbits out of the garden patches.
Their company is named Anti-Pesto. Their methods are humane. They do not shoot or poison the bunnies. Instead, Wallace has devised another of his ingenious inventions, the Bun-Vac, which sucks the rabbits out of their holes and into a giant holding tube, so that they can be housed in comfort at Anti-Pesto headquarters, and feast on medium and small vegetables. Their tactics perfectly suit Lady Tottington's humane convictions.
They have a rival, the sniveling barbarian Lord Victor Quartermaine, a gun nut with a toupee heaped on his head like a mess of the sort Gromit never has to clean up. Lord Victor dreams of marrying Lady Tottington and treating himself to the luxuries of her ancestral wealth, and that involves discrediting and sabotaging Anti-Pesto and all that it stands for. Thus is launched the affair of the Were-Rabbit, a gigantic beast (with a red polka dot tie) that terrorizes the neighborhood and inspires the Reverend Hedges to cry out, "For our sins a hideous creature has been sent to punish us."
I dare not reveal various secrets involving the Were-Rabbit, so I will skip ahead, or sideways, to consider Wallace's new invention, the Mind-o-Matic, which is intended to brainwash rabbits and convince them they do not like vegetables. That this device malfunctions goes without saying, and that Gromit has to fly to the rescue is a given.
Wallace and Gromit are the inventions of a British animator named Nick Park, who co-directs this time with Steve Box. In an era of high-tech CGI, Park uses the beloved traditional form of stop-motion animation. He constructs his characters and sets out of Plasticine, a brand of modeling clay, and makes minute adjustments to them between every frame, giving the impression not only of movement but of exuberant life and color bursting from every frame. (As a nod to technology, just a little CGI is incorporated for certain scenes that would be hard to do in Plasticine, as when the vacuumed bunnies are in free-fall).
AdvertisementRemarkably, given the current realities of animation, "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" is the second stop-motion animated film in two weeks, after Tim Burton's "Corpse Bride." Both of these films are wonderful, but Wallace and Gromit have the additional quality of being lovable beyond all measure, inhabiting a world of British eccentricity that produces dialogue such as: "This is worse than 1972, when there were slugs the size of pigs."
Speaking of pigs, some of my favorite books are the Blandings Castle novels by P.G. Wodehouse, in which Lord Emsworth dotes on his beloved pig, Empress of Blandings. I have always assumed the Blandings stories to be unfilmable, but now realize that Nick Park is just the man for them, with Wallace as Lord Emsworth, and Gromit as George Cyrill Wellbeloved, his Lordship's expert pigman. True, Gromit does not speak, but Wellbeloved is a man of few words, and if Gromit can solve the mystery of the Were-Rabbit, he should be able to handle a pig.
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.
Victor Quartermaine: [whispering] Listen, I don't want to cause any panic, but the beast isn't actually dead yet.
PC: [through the megaphone] THE BEAST ISN'T ACTUALLY DEAD YET?!
Everybody Else: What?!
[They all stare at Victor and PC in shock. Victor facepalms]
PC: [through the megaphone] Oops.
[The crowd immediately gets a Mass "Oh, Crap!"]
In addition to their physical impact on crops, rabbits have also been associated with supernatural elements in folklore. Some cultures believe that rabbits possess magical powers or are associated with specific deities or spirits. As a result, harming or killing rabbits is believed to incur the wrath of these supernatural beings and bring curses upon the perpetrator. The belief in the rabbit curse can also be attributed to the challenges faced by farmers and gardeners in protecting their crops from rabbit damage. Due to their small size and agile movements, rabbits can be difficult to catch or deter. The frustration and helplessness experienced by those affected by rabbit damage have contributed to the development and perpetuation of the rabbit curse. Despite its origins in folklore and superstition, the rabbit curse continues to influence the attitudes and actions of some farmers and gardeners. Measures such as rabbit-proof fences, trapping, and hunting are often undertaken to prevent or mitigate rabbit damage. Additionally, certain rituals or charms may be employed to ward off any potential curses associated with rabbits. In conclusion, the rabbit curse is a superstition deeply rooted in agricultural communities. While rabbits themselves are harmless creatures, the perception of their destructive capabilities and association with curses has led to the belief in their ill effects. Nonetheless, it is important to approach such beliefs with skepticism and rely instead on scientific and practical methods to deal with agricultural challenges..
Reviews for "The Rabbit Curse: From Ancient Folklore to Modern Urban Legends"
1. Emma - 1/5
"The Rabbit Curse was a huge disappointment for me. I found the storyline confusing and disjointed, with no clear direction. The characters were uninteresting and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to connect with them. Additionally, the writing style was verbose and excessive, which hindered the pacing of the story. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone."
2. Mark - 2/5
"While The Rabbit Curse had an intriguing concept, I felt let down by the execution. The plot was predictable, and the twists were unoriginal and easily guessed. The pacing was slow, and the story felt unnecessarily drawn out. The dialogue felt forced and unrealistic, making it hard to believe in the characters' motivations. Overall, it fell short of my expectations and I was left feeling unsatisfied."
3. Sarah - 2/5
"I had high hopes for The Rabbit Curse, but unfortunately, it did not live up to the hype. The writing style was overly descriptive, which made it hard to stay engaged in the story. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of boredom followed by rushed and confusing action scenes. The characters lacked development and remained one-dimensional throughout. Overall, I found it dull and would not recommend it as a worthwhile read."
4. Jason - 1/5
"I struggled to finish The Rabbit Curse as it failed to capture my interest from the start. The plot was convoluted and difficult to follow, with unnecessary side stories that added nothing to the overall narrative. The writing was lackluster, with cliched phrases and dull descriptions. The characters were forgettable and lacked any sense of depth. Overall, this book fell flat and I would not recommend wasting your time on it."
5. Olivia - 2/5
"The Rabbit Curse had potential, but it ultimately fell short for me. The pacing was off, with slow buildup followed by rushed conclusions. The story lacked originality, borrowing heavily from other fantasy novels without adding anything new or exciting. The world-building was weak, leaving many unanswered questions. Additionally, the dialogue felt stilted and unnatural, hindering the overall reading experience. While it wasn't a complete disaster, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating and innovative read."