The might and magic legends are a rich and captivating aspect of folklore and mythology. These legends are filled with tales of powerful beings and extraordinary feats that have captured the imagination of people for centuries. In these legends, might refers to the incredible strength and power possessed by certain individuals or creatures. These individuals are often portrayed as heroes or heroines who use their might to protect the weak, defeat evil forces, or protect their realms. Examples of mighty characters can be found in various mythological traditions, such as Hercules in Greek mythology or Thor in Norse mythology. Their strength and power give them a sense of invincibility and make them both admired and feared.
The height of the tokusatsu (special-effects) era in 1960s Japan is best remembered for the slew of giant monster movies that dominated cinemas. Studio Toho’s titanic Godzilla franchise topped the box office, while competitor Daiei found success with the Gamera and Daimajin series. However, while kaiju made the headlines, this period also saw the production of many, more modestly budgeted tokusatsu films that have since slipped through the cracks of Japanese cinema history. One such film is 1968’s The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch, from director Noriaki Yuasa. Telling a twisted horror tale from the mind of legendary manga author Kazuo Umezu, the film is a charming, small-scale spook-fest that’s an anomaly of sorts in the world of Japanese horror cinema.
Carefully structured and very informative, Kalat s commentary is as fun to listen to as the film is to watch and is a welcome addition to Arrow s package. The manga and folklore scholar provides insight into Umezu s rise to be Japan s foremost author of horror manga and touches on how the writer s involvement in Snake Girl s screenplay may be the reason behind some credit confusion abroad.
Their strength and power give them a sense of invincibility and make them both admired and feared. On the other hand, magic is another integral element in these legends. Magic is the supernatural ability to manipulate the natural world through spells, rituals, or other means.
[Film Review] Snake Girl and the Silver Haired Witch (1968)
The child’s point of view can be a powerful tool in horror. It can emphasise being in a position of vulnerability and true powerlessness to maximise a sense of terror, but also has the potential to tell stories of growth and resilience when the child overcomes their fears and survives their terrible ordeal. The Snake Haired Girl and the Silver Haired Witch is a wonderful example of this, and one that until recently wasn’t made available to view outside of its native Japan.
Orphan Sayuri has been told that she will be reunited with her birth parents and is excited for her new life in a big house with her own room, new clothes, and everything she could ever want. Things begin to get strange as soon as she arrives, as one of the house maids is being wheeled away having died under mysterious circumstances, and her mother has sustained a head injury which makes remembering things difficult and calls Sayuri “Tamami”. When her father, an expert on venomous snakes, gets called away to Africa suddenly to study a new specimen is when the horror for Sayuri truly begins.
Whilst not based on a single work and instead taking elements from a few of his stories, The Snake Girl and Silver Haired Witch is derived from the works of manga artist Kazuo Umezu, a leading figure in horror manga with a career that started in the early sixties and is still going strong today (for more on Umezu’s role in the growth of girls’ horror in Japan, see here ). He is particularly known for often centring his stories around innocent and wide-eyed child protagonists attempting to find their way out of horrific situations. That is present here with protagonist Sayuri, and we often hear her inner monologue, something that feels fitting for a film that takes elements from a manga story format. The film’s director was Noriaki Yuasa in what is a departure from the rest of his career, which almost exclusively comprises films featuring Gamera, Daiei’s kaiju series created to compete with Toho’s Godzilla. It is a shame, because The Snake Girl and the Silver Haired Witch does show an interesting style and it would have been nice to see Yuasa develop that more.
This really is a really fun movie, something evident immediately from the Gothic quality to the film’s set-up as we follow the innocent young orphan who is whisked away to an elaborate mansion full of strange objects and forbidden rooms, her new mother acts strange and aloof, there is a mysterious person living in the attic watching everything that goes on, nuns, and a family secret to uncover. Said family secret is the actual Tamami, Sayuri’s apparently hidden from public eyes older sister who takes an immediate dislike to the girl despite Sayuri’s best efforts. She is the titular Snake Girl, although the nature of that is ultimately slightly ambiguous. It is brought out most in visually creative dream sequences that are almost a tamer version of some of the visuals in Nobuhiko Obayashi’s House, who himself adapted Umezu’s work in 1987 with The Drifting Classroom. There are some moments where the effects show their cheapness, but if anything that just adds to the film’s charm. What these scenes achieve is really blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, making you question the exact nature of what is happening to Sayuri as well as heightening the feeling of childhood terror she is going through.
Of course, what is children’s horror without the child central to it all and Sayuri, played by ten year old Yachie Matsui, has a plucky sweetness to her that you can’t help but root for. She tries to make the best of her new situation, even with Tamami’s cruelty and housekeeper Shige’s disbelief at anything she says. Her only true ally is Tatsuya, an older boy from the same orphanage as her. It’s interesting and even keeps you guessing in a few places. There was a point when I thought that the father’s work with venomous snakes was going to play a more experimental part in an Eyes Without a Face fashion, especially when we see a scar along the edge of Tamami’s face. The actual sinister plot behind everything is a bit more Scooby-Doo than French New Wave, but still entertaining.
The Snake Girl and the Silver Haired Witch has that fun children’s horror quality; not really scary, but an entertaining and fun watch. This could even be a good gateway film for people introducing someone to Japanese horror as it's fairly light on specific cultural elements but can introduce someone to the particular mood, attitude towards monsters, and touches on the things that veteran fans of Japanese horror would already be familiar with.
After living her life in an orphanage run by an order of kindly Catholic nuns, a girl meets her real father when he arrives to take her to her new home, a modern house that looks pretty wealthy, but has slipped under under dark forces that threaten the girl, now the repatriated daughter, and her wide-eyed innocence, purity of heart, kindness, and courage. Shes also the sister of a snake girl, possessed by the cunning of snakes their father studies. Whose strength will prevail is the question as the film unleashes amazing fx of dreams sucked into vortex and the Silver-Haired Witch, all done with Japanese imagination mixing the fantasy with the horror. The mother, the snake-sister, and the newly arrived daughter experience an array of spirits but the film works for everyone. It's like a blend that's finely mixed the ingredients into an arty 60s Japanese fantasy.
In many legends, certain characters possess extraordinary magical abilities that set them apart from others. These magical abilities can be used for both good and evil purposes, and the balance between these two forces often forms the central conflict in these tales. In the might and magic legends, it is common to see the mighty and the magical come together. The combination of incredible strength and extraordinary powers creates characters of immense power and influence. These characters are often the protagonists of the legends, embarking on epic quests, battling formidable enemies, and ultimately achieving victory through a combination of their might and magic. The might and magic legends can be found in various cultures and have different interpretations and variations. They are passed down through generations orally or in written form, and many of these tales have stood the test of time. They continue to inspire and captivate audiences, reminding us of the boundless power and potential that lies within the human imagination. In conclusion, the might and magic legends encompass tales of incredible strength and extraordinary powers. These legends have been a part of human culture for centuries, and they continue to fascinate and entertain us to this day. Whether it is the stories of mighty heroes or the enchanting world of magic, these legends remind us of the limitless possibilities of human imagination and the enduring power of storytelling..
Reviews for "The Legend of King Arthur: A Tale of Magic, Bravery, and Destiny"
1. John - 2/5
I found "Mught snd mafic legend" to be quite disappointing. The storyline was confusing and lacked depth. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked development. Additionally, the writing style seemed amateurish and filled with grammatical errors. Overall, I was not impressed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 1/5
I cannot express how much I disliked "Mught snd mafic legend". The plot was incredibly predictable and offered nothing new or exciting. The dialogue between the characters felt forced and unnatural. Moreover, the pacing was incredibly slow and made it difficult for me to stay engaged. I would not recommend wasting your time on this book.
3. David - 2/5
"Mught snd mafic legend" had so much potential but failed to deliver. The world-building was weak and lacked detail, making it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the story. The protagonist was unrelatable and the supporting characters felt underdeveloped. Some of the plot twists were also quite cliché and didn't add anything significant to the story. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this book to others.
4. Emily - 3/5
While "Mught snd mafic legend" had its moments, I couldn't fully enjoy it. The writing style was mediocre, with numerous typos and awkward sentence structures. The pacing was uneven, making it hard for me to stay engaged consistently. The concept of the story had potential, but it fell short in execution. Overall, it was an okay read, but nothing memorable.