Pagan symbols have been used for centuries as a way to represent various aspects of nature, spirituality, and the divine. These symbols hold different meanings and are often incorporated into rituals, ceremonies, and personal beliefs. One of the most well-known pagan symbols is the pentacle, also called the pentagram. It consists of a five-pointed star enclosed in a circle. The pentacle represents the five elements: earth, air, fire, water, and spirit. Each point of the star corresponds to one of these elements, and the circle symbolizes unity and eternity.
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.
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. 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.
Each point of the star corresponds to one of these elements, and the circle symbolizes unity and eternity. Another common pagan symbol is the triple moon symbol. It consists of three moons arranged in a crescent shape, with each moon representing a different phase: waxing, full, and waning.
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:
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.
The triple moon symbol is often associated with the goddess and feminine energy, reflecting the cycles of life, death, and rebirth. The tree of life is another powerful pagan symbol. It represents the interconnectedness of all living things and the link between the physical and spiritual realms. The tree's roots represent the underworld, the trunk symbolizes the physical world, and the branches reach toward the heavens. The spiral symbol is also significant in pagan beliefs. It represents personal growth, evolution, and the journey of life. The spiral can be found in various forms, such as the labyrinth or the Celtic triskelion. It symbolizes continuous change and transformation. An additional pagan symbol is the cauldron, often associated with witches and magic. The cauldron represents the womb of the goddess and is a symbol of transformation, healing, and rebirth. It is a vessel for containing and transmuting energy. These pagan symbols hold different meanings for individuals and groups practicing various pagan or Wiccan traditions. They serve as reminders of the natural world, spirituality, and the interconnectedness of all things. Whether used in ritual practices, personal jewelry, or as decorative symbols, these pagan symbols are powerful representations of ancient wisdom and beliefs..
Reviews for "The Transcendent Language: Communicating with the Divine through Pagan Symbols"
1. John - 1 star
I was extremely disappointed with "Pzgan symbols and their meanings". The book promised to provide a comprehensive explanation of pagan symbols, but instead, it was filled with vague explanations and poorly designed illustrations. The author seemed to assume that the reader already had a deep understanding of paganism, which made the book inaccessible to someone like me who was a beginner. I was left feeling confused and unsatisfied with my purchase.
2. Emily - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Pzgan symbols and their meanings", but it fell short of my expectations. The book lacked depth and failed to provide enough information on each symbol. The author seemed to rush through the explanations, leaving me with more questions than answers. Additionally, the illustrations were poorly reproduced, making it difficult to truly appreciate the beauty of the symbols. Overall, I found the book to be lacking in both content and presentation.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
"Pzgan symbols and their meanings" was a letdown for me. The book seemed to focus more on the author's personal interpretations rather than providing factual information. I was hoping for a more objective exploration of pagan symbols, but instead, I got a subjective viewpoint that did not resonate with me. Additionally, the writing style was dry and uninspiring, making it a struggle to stay engaged with the material. Overall, I would not recommend this book to those seeking a comprehensive and unbiased understanding of pagan symbols.
4. Michael - 1 star
I found "Pzgan symbols and their meanings" to be incredibly disorganized and poorly edited. The book lacked a clear structure, making it difficult to follow along and understand the symbolism being discussed. Furthermore, there were numerous grammatical errors and typos throughout the text, which made it feel unprofessional and hastily put together. The lack of attention to detail really detracted from the overall reading experience, and I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-crafted exploration of pagan symbols.
5. Jessica - 3 stars
While "Pzgan symbols and their meanings" offered some interesting insights, I found the book to be somewhat repetitive. The author seemed to reiterate the same points and explanations multiple times, which made the reading experience monotonous. I would have preferred more concise and to-the-point explanations, rather than the constant repetition of information. Additionally, the illustrations were average at best, and I felt that they did not truly capture the symbolism being discussed. Overall, the book had its moments, but it could have been much better with tighter editing and more engaging visuals.