Diala Rigg West is a character in the book series "The Witcher" by Andrzej Sapkowski and the subsequent video game adaptations. She is a sorceress and a member of the Lodge of Sorceresses, a secretive organization of powerful magical beings. Diala Rigg West is known for her skills in manipulation and scheming. She is often portrayed as a cunning and ambitious character, always working behind the scenes to further her own goals and interests. Despite her morally ambiguous nature, she is a respected member of the Lodge and her abilities make her a valuable ally. In the Witcher series, Diala Rigg West plays a significant role in the larger story arc.
Corky heads to the Catskills, where he soon encounters his old high school crush Peggy (Ann-Margret) and her grouchy husband Duke (Ed Lauter). Meanwhile, Corky's agent, Ben Greene (Burgess Meredith), has pursued him and quickly becomes suspicious regarding his mental well-being. Before long, the situation begins to turn violent.
Failed stage magician Corky Withers Anthony Hopkins manages to rejuvenate his career with the addition of ventriloquism to his act; unfortunately, he also begins to manifest a split personality via his dummy, Fats, and just as he s about to hit it big with a television deal, chooses to flee rather than submit to the required medical exam. My sympathy for Corky started to wear off by the middle of the second act, when he seduces his married high school sweetheart, and tries to convince her to leave her husband and run away with him.
In the Witcher series, Diala Rigg West plays a significant role in the larger story arc. She is involved in various political intrigues and power struggles, often pitting different factions against each other for her own gain. Her actions have far-reaching consequences for the world of The Witcher, and she is often seen as a key player in the larger schemes unfolding.
Magic (1978)
A ventriloquist’s peculiar relationship with his dummy begins to affect his personal life.
My Thoughts:
In between his epics “A Bridge Too Far” and “Gandhi”, Richard Attenborough made this grounded little horror flick. “Magic” revolves around a ventriloquist Corky (Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes”) and his dummy Fats. I feel like ventriloquist dolls/killer dolls are their own subgenre of horror flicks at this point, and while I’m a fan of Chucky’s “Child’s Play” movies (admittedly they aren’t all that good, but I still like them), I honestly don’t think killer doll movies are all that scary. The best ones, the most entertaining ones, are the slightly tongue-in-cheek films, the movies that acknowledge the ridiculousness of the plot. When you take a ridiculous premise like a living doll and try to make it realistic, you end up with movies like “Dead Silence”, which is a schmaltzy film filled with stupid and cheap jump scares. “Magic” is sort of on the fringe of the living dolls subgenre because we’re never really sure if Fats is actually alive or if Corky is just a crazy kook.
In a lot of ways this movie works: it’s far classier than most killer doll movies, that’s for sure. The directing in a few scenes is quite remarkable, the writing is pretty good, and Anthony Hopkins delivers a very solid a memorable performance. The problem is that this movie is just so serious, and it tries to be more of a slow-burn psychological thriller than anything else, and it never really won me over with it’s pacing and atmosphere. It’s just too slow and not at all scary for the first two thirds of the film, and then by the time something scary actually does happen, I was growing weary of waiting for something to happen.
The best parts of this film come at the beginning and the end; the middle part is a bit of a slog. The opening scene is a great introduction to both Corky and Fat’s characters. When we first meet Corky, he’s trying to be a magician on stage and failing horribly at it, the film then immediately flashes forward a year, and we see Corky performing a similar act, but this time he’s doing much better. The viewer is left to wonder how Corky has suddenly become so good at what he does, and it’s a rather intriguing way to start the film. The end of the film is, of course, where the bloodshed starts, so I wont go into too many details.
I had a hard time deciding whether to give this film 2.5/5 or a 3/5 simply because I think Attenborough’s directing is incredibly competent. Though I’ve complained about the middle portion of this movie being slow and slightly boring, there were a few scenes where Fats and Corky talk to one another, and those scenes are directed in a way that makes it so we’re not sure if Fats is actually alive or not; that veiled mystery sort of helps the film’s premise overall, but it doesn’t necessarily make the movie move faster or add a ton to the atmosphere. Anthony Hopkins was great in this film. He plays Corky with just the right amount of social awkwardness so that he’s simultaneously off-putting and sympathetic, for a while. My sympathy for Corky started to wear off by the middle of the second act, when he seduces his married high school sweetheart, and tries to convince her to leave her husband and run away with him. I think that was when I really started to loose interest in Corky’s character and doubt the plotting; are we supposed to believe a successful woman is going to run away from her established life to marry a guy that does magic tricks and makes dolls talk for a living? That’s a little silly.
Verdict:
In the end, I decided I’d give this film a 2.5/5 because it honestly just feels dated and slow and not at all scary. It’s competently acted, directed, and written, its just sort of boring at times, and that’s not what I want when I’m looking for a horror flick. Chucky still reigns king of the killer dolls in this critic’s humble opinion.
A ventriloquist’s peculiar relationship with his dummy begins to affect his personal life.
Diala Rigg West's powers as a sorceress are formidable. She is skilled in various forms of magic, including the ability to manipulate minds and control the elements. Her mastery of these abilities allows her to exert control over others and shape events to her advantage. Despite her manipulative nature, Diala Rigg West is also shown to have a compassionate side. She is often torn between her own desires and the greater good, and sometimes makes sacrifices for the sake of others. This complexity makes her character more nuanced and adds depth to her role in the story. Overall, Diala Rigg West is a complex and intriguing character in the world of The Witcher. Her cunning and ambition make her a formidable ally or foe, depending on the circumstances. Whether loved or hated, she is undoubtedly a character who leaves a lasting impression on readers and players of the series..
Reviews for "Diala Rigg's West Witch Craft: Creating Magical Talismans"
1. John - 1/5 stars
I found "Diala Rigg West Witch" to be a disappointing read. The story felt disjointed and lacked a clear direction. The characters were not well-developed, and their actions seemed illogical at times. Additionally, the writing style was confusing and filled with grammatical errors, which made it even harder to follow the plot. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and would not recommend this book to others.
2. Emily - 2/5 stars
"Diala Rigg West Witch" had an interesting premise, but the execution fell short for me. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on while others rushed through important events. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the characters. There were also several plot holes and unanswered questions that left me feeling unsatisfied. While there were moments of potential, overall, I found this book to be lacking in cohesiveness and depth.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars
I had high hopes for "Diala Rigg West Witch," but unfortunately, it failed to meet my expectations. The world-building felt superficial, and I struggled to understand the rules and dynamics of the magical system. The plot meandered without clear direction, and the main character's motivations were often unclear. The writing style was also inconsistent, with abrupt shifts in tone and pacing that left me feeling disoriented. While the concept had potential, the execution left much to be desired.