yespot mystery

The Curse of Strahd is a campaign module for the tabletop role-playing game (RPG) Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). It was originally published in 2016 as a fifth edition module by Wizards of the Coast. The Curse of Strahd is set in the gothic horror-themed world of Ravenloft, which is known for its dark and foreboding atmosphere. The main antagonist of the campaign is Count Strahd von Zarovich, a powerful vampire and the ruler of the land of Barovia. Strahd's curse is a central theme in the campaign, as it affects both the land and its inhabitants. The curse was brought upon Strahd by his own actions and has trapped him in a cycle of eternal torment and loneliness.

I have a fondness for irreverence; one of my favourite shows is The Young Ones , which has this terrific blend of British absurdity and slapstick violence. It’s outlandish and not to everyone’s taste, but it strikes my sense of humour. Where The Magic Christian differs is that it takes its core message of “Everyone has a price” so much to hard, it becomes abrasive to watch. By the end of the film, the donkey is well and truly flogged.

I have a fondness for irreverence; one of my favourite shows is The Young Ones , which has this terrific blend of British absurdity and slapstick violence. But where Holy Grail uses its non-traditional structure to its advantage where it develops its core characters through their expeditions, The Magic Christian doesn t develop either of Sellers or Ringo s characters at all.

The curse was brought upon Strahd by his own actions and has trapped him in a cycle of eternal torment and loneliness. The curse manifests itself in various ways throughout the campaign. Barovia is a land shrouded in darkness and despair, with its people living in constant fear of Strahd's wrath.

Book and Movie Review: “The Magic Christian” by Terry Southern

A couple weeks ago, I finally decided I needed to see the movie The Magic Christian that is mentioned so often in Beatles books when discussing Ringo or the year 1969 when it was filmed and released. After watching the film, I decided to buy a copy of the book to see…well, read the reviews and you’ll understand…

I tried to find this movie on-demand from several outlets, but eventually I ended up renting this movie from Amazon Prime for about $3.99. The opening credits of The Magic Christian could draw anyone in to wanting to see this movie. Besides the author of the book, Terry Southern, the other writers of the screenplay and script include: Joseph McGrath, Graham Chapman, John Cleese and Peter Sellers – who also stars in the movie with Ringo Starr. There are guest appearances from Richard Attenborough, Spike Milligan, Roman Polanski, Rachel Welch, John Cleese, Gram Chapman and Yul Brenner. Denis O’Dell, who was the Associate Producer of this film, was also the AP of A Hard Day’s Night, Magical Mystery Tour and How I Won the War. Sounds like a winning line-up, huh? There is even a scene where it appears John and Yoko make a cameo, but when looking at the credits on IMDb, it was just two un-credited actors.

I fell asleep after the first 45 minutes and had to watch the second half the following day! The whole thing seems to want to tell a story, but without explanation as to why. Ringo was heralded for his acting in this film, but he really does nothing more than follow around Peter Sellers, his adopted billionaire dad, Guy Grand, in the movie. Ringo’s lines are limited to mostly just one sentence. The plot – they go around spending millions of dollars making rich and poor people look like asses for being so greedy. But why?

I decided that I needed to read the book for more clarity on the who, what and whys to what was happening on the screen….

So I ordered a used copy of The Magic Christian book which took way too long to arrive (damn media mail!). The book, published in 1959, is just 134 pages and can be easily read in a day. Again…it took me two.

The first difference I noticed between the book and film is that Peter Sellers didn’t match the physical description of his character Guy Grand who was “rather stout”. The various scenarios/scenes portrayed in the movie are in the book, but not necessarily in the same order, sometimes with a little more detail or a little less. And Guy Grand does pull off several more antics in the book.

But the major difference…there is no adopted son (aka Ringo’s character Youngman Grand) in the book! I spent the entirety of my reading waiting for him to pop-up, but he never did. Why? Why did Terry Southern and the other writers decide it was necessary to add this character? Was it just to add a Beatle to the film’s line-up and pull in his fan base? Sure seemed that way to me, but I’ll have to do a little research to be sure. Either way, it didn’t work…the critics hated the movie, but loved the book.

So, did I find my answer to the who, what and why of the film in the pages of the book. No. I’ve read it’s an observance of greed in America, but the film was set in England. Does that mean that the author/screenwriters thinks Brits are as greedy as Americans? I have no clue what he thinks. My advice is, don’t feel obligated to watch or read this story because you’re a Beatles or Ringo Starr fan! And for that reason…

I rate the movie: 1 out of 3 Beetles !

I rate the book: 2 out of 3 Beetles !

I won’t recommend it, but I could imagine that there might be some people who might click with it. And while I probably wont watch it again, I don’t think I can go as far to say that I regret watching it. Yeah, it’s overindulgent and flimsy, but I can’t say I was bored.

The curse also affects the land itself, causing it to be trapped in a perpetual night and making it difficult for anyone to leave. The players, who take on the roles of adventurers, are drawn into Barovia and become embroiled in the curse. They must navigate the treacherous land, facing numerous challenges and encountering other cursed individuals along the way. Their ultimate goal is to defeat Strahd and break the curse, freeing both themselves and the land from his grip. The Curse of Strahd is known for its atmospheric storytelling and challenging gameplay. It offers players a rich and immersive experience, with a focus on exploration, role-playing, and strategic combat. The campaign has been praised for its well-crafted narrative and the depth of its characters. Overall, the Curse of Strahd is a compelling and engaging campaign that brings the gothic horror genre to life in the world of Dungeons & Dragons. It is a must-play for fans of both the tabletop RPG and the horror genre, offering a unique and memorable gaming experience..

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