The witchcraft trilogy by Nora Roberts is a captivating series of fantasy novels that takes readers on a thrilling journey into a world of magic, love, and destiny. Set in a small town in Ireland, the trilogy follows the lives of three witches, Nell, Ripley, and Mia, as they discover their powers and fight against an ancient evil. Each book in the trilogy focuses on one of the witches, showcasing their unique abilities and personal struggles. In the first book, "Dance Upon the Air," readers are introduced to Nell, a woman who escapes an abusive relationship and finds solace in the idyllic town of Three Sisters Island. As she settles in, she learns about her magical heritage and the responsibilities that come with it. The second book, "Heaven and Earth," centers around Ripley, a fiery and independent witch who must face her fears and confront the darkness lurking within her own soul.
Kotodama: Spiritual Curse is kind an intriguing. It is so outright bizarre that I actually want to see it again. But I’m not going to head into cinemas for my repeat viewing. It just isn’t worth spending the money for a product that is so sloppily made. What hurts is that it isn’t the movie’s fault at all. This film suffers because it had to go through the extra process of Tagalog dubbing. The film is showed utter disrespect as its components are ruined by bad recording. They’ve done better before, and these films deserve better.
Little bit later, we are introduced to the final protagonist, a lone woman entering the abandoned building to honour the memory of her late mother s school mates; the very same mates that died in the freak accident all those years ago. As it turned out, the picture was only OK, offering a few interesting ideas but undermining itself with tongue-in-cheek humour never really reaching the nightmare pitch achieved in the best of its predecessors Ringu , Ju-On The Curse , Ju-On The Grudge , The Ring.
The second book, "Heaven and Earth," centers around Ripley, a fiery and independent witch who must face her fears and confront the darkness lurking within her own soul. As she embraces her powers, she finds love and strength in unexpected places. The final installment, "Face the Fire," follows Mia, a witch with a passion for cooking and a desire for a normal life.
Sloppy Dubbing Ruins the Bizarre ‘Kotodama: Spiritual Curse’
Kotodama: Spiritual Curse is made up of three interconnected stories. One part of the movie concerns first year students at Kitayamda Middle School. The students tell scary stories to each other about the abandoned classroom next door, and soon fall victim to paranormal threats that seem to be drawn directly from their words. In another part of the film, a group of filmmakers sneak into an abandoned building to shoot a viral video, and run into a real ghost. And finally, a young woman tries to fulfill her mother's final wishes, digging into her past to male peace with a tragic event from the past.
This movie is very bizarre, and that’s mostly a good thing. The rhythms of J-Horror are so worn out and familiar at this point that much of its edge has been lost. Horror tends to benefit from the unknown, and the endless use of the same tropes over and over again tend to make things less exciting than they could be. But Kotodama, while still using many of these tropes, is actually playing a very different game. It bends space and time as it tells a pretty wacky story that wields illogic as a weapon. It’s just too bad that the version we’re getting is technically inferior.
It should be said right away: the Tagalog dubbing of this film is pretty terrible. The SineAsia dubbing has been pretty hit or miss, but generally they seem to be at least professionally done. But the seams are showing at every corner of this film. There are scenes where you can still hear the original Japanese dialogue. And there’s more than one sequence where the dubbing really steps on the film’s sound design. Practically all the SineAsia releases have some problems with the sound design, but this film seems to be particularly bad with it. There are whole scenes that just go without sound effects altogether. And there are some lines of dialogue that they seem to have forgotten to dub.
It’s a shame, because this is actually a pretty intriguing picture. It’s often so weird that it just becomes unsettling. The movie exhibits little regard for keeping the audience in the loop. It just throws out scene after scene of horror weirdness, doing very little to indicate what it is that holds all of these together. It should feel frustrating, but it isn’t. The movie establishes right from the start that this isn’t going to be a typical experience. It isn’t trying to put together a simple three-act story. It just wants to keep ramping up the weirdness until the whole thing breaks apart.
But it just isn’t worth seeing in this state. Sound design is a huge part of horror films, and to have whole chunks of it just disappear isn’t right. This whole initiative to dub these Asian movies in Tagalog has been questionable right from the start, but I’ve been willing to give the whole thing the benefit of the doubt. But this film is so sloppily dubbed that it’s hard to give SineAsia a pass. If we really need to have these films dubbed in Tagalog, then they need to at least be done well. The bad dubbing just kills whatever appeal this film might have had.
AdvertisementKotodama: Spiritual Curse is kind an intriguing. It is so outright bizarre that I actually want to see it again. But I’m not going to head into cinemas for my repeat viewing. It just isn’t worth spending the money for a product that is so sloppily made. What hurts is that it isn’t the movie’s fault at all. This film suffers because it had to go through the extra process of Tagalog dubbing. The film is showed utter disrespect as its components are ruined by bad recording. They’ve done better before, and these films deserve better.
My Rating:
My Rating:
However, her world is turned upside down when an old enemy returns, threatening to destroy everything she holds dear. Mia must confront her past and embrace her true self to save her loved ones and her town. Throughout the trilogy, Nora Roberts weaves a tale of self-discovery, friendship, and the importance of embracing one's true power. The books explore the complex interplay between love and magic, highlighting the characters' deep connections and the sacrifices they are willing to make for each other. Roberts' vivid descriptions of the island's natural beauty and Irish folklore transport readers into a world where magic is real and anything is possible. The trilogy is filled with suspenseful moments, heartwarming romance, and surprising twists that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Although the main focus of the trilogy is on the witches and their journey, Roberts also delves into the lives of the supporting characters, creating a rich tapestry of interconnected lives and relationships. By the end of the series, readers will feel a deep sense of attachment to the characters and the town of Three Sisters Island. In conclusion, the witchcraft trilogy by Nora Roberts is a must-read for fans of fantasy and romance. With its strong female characters, enchanting setting, and gripping storyline, the series is a captivating exploration of magic, love, and the power within..
Reviews for "The Witchcraft Trilogy by Nora Roberts: A Journey into the Supernatural"
1. Jessica - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "The Witchcraft Trilogy" by Nora Roberts. I had high hopes for this series as I'm a fan of both the author and the genre, but it fell short for me. The characters felt one-dimensional, and I had a hard time connecting with them or caring about their fates. The story also seemed predictable and lacked the excitement and suspense I was expecting. Overall, I found this trilogy to be underwhelming and would not recommend it to others.
2. Michael - 3/5 - While I appreciate Nora Roberts as an author, I found "The Witchcraft Trilogy" to be average at best. The concept had potential, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was uneven, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. Additionally, the romance aspect felt forced and lacked chemistry. The magical elements were interesting but not explored to their full potential. Overall, I was left wanting more from this trilogy, and it didn't live up to my expectations.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - As a fan of Nora Roberts' other works, I was excited to dive into "The Witchcraft Trilogy." However, I was ultimately disappointed by the lackluster storyline and shallow character development. The plot felt cliché, and there were no real surprises or twists to keep me engaged. The romantic relationships felt rushed, and I struggled to connect with any of the characters on a deeper level. Overall, this trilogy didn't meet the standard I expect from Nora Roberts' books, and I would not recommend it to fellow readers.
4. John - 2/5 - "The Witchcraft Trilogy" by Nora Roberts was a letdown for me. I found the writing style to be repetitive and predictable, making it hard for me to stay engaged throughout the books. The characters lacked depth, and their motivations were often unclear. The world-building felt shallow, and I never fully understood the rules and limitations of the magical elements. Overall, this trilogy fell flat for me, and I would not recommend it to others who are looking for an immersive and captivating witchcraft series.