2019-10-03

Stardust!

I found this pamphlet the other day and it reminds me of a story I don't think I'd ever recounted before. Let me take you back to March 11, 2011, does this date ring a bell for anyone? For those living in Japan, it rang a lot of bells. That was the date of the mega-earthquake (and the accompanying tsunami and Nuclear mishaps, but those events aren't relevant to this tale, in fact I was ignorant of their occurrence.)

First a bit of background: I was teaching at a Day Care Centre at the time of the quake (14:46) and the kiddies I was "educating" were a bit of a rowdy bunch. I was writing something on the board and when I turned around, all the kids had disappeared (the scamps!) and I discovered them all hiding under the table. Then I discovered the reason for their burrowing, when the entire room began to rumble and shake back and forth. Those wee lads and lasses were way ahead of me in protecting themselves, must be that since they are closer to the ground, they felt the shock wave sooner. After ten minutes of wailing waifs, a co-worker and I decided to evacuate them to the ground floor.

Everyone was all right and since my evening class was definitely cancelled, I began my trek home. Fortunately, by a happy coincidence, I was just a stone's throw from home and returned in just fifteen minutes. Doubly fortunate, my apartment sustained minimal damage though dozens of my toys had fallen down including a Gamera that plummeted into my toilet.  ( You can read about that here.) It wasn't all smiles though for I had run out of kerosene that morning and had no way to heat my place. Also I didn't have any candles. Until I remembered my supply of Halloween candles. Is there anything that can't be made better by Halloween?

So I settled down, tucked under my blankets and began to read my book by candlelight. Every time I had to use the loo, I had to blow out my candles and use a flashlight because every half hour or so, there was an aftershock that shook my abode. The only other interruptions I suffered were the blaring of sirens several times an hour. I read Neil Gaiman's Stardust from beginning to end and loved every page of it.

Sorry for this little segue into my life, I just thought it was pertinent to the following pamphlet.



 

An amazing cast.



Behind the scenes.



In the middle of the pamphlet is an insert that included several photos from the film.






Since you can find a copy of the movie yourself, here is Neil Gaiman being typically charming while promoting the movie in Tokyo.


Here's today's Eko Eko Azarak postcard.



And since I got so long-winded above, I don't have time to enlighten you more about the chant. What I can do is freak you out with a snippet of the movie...


Whoa. I hope to watch the whole thing this weekend. Since we have a typhoon coming, I'll have plenty of time to do so.

Today's snack-related tidbit follows. Buy two sweets, get a free badge. Not a bad deal. Though 7/8 of the badges were pretty lame, this one isn't.


More spookiness tomorrow. In the interim be sure to click the Cryptkeeper badge to investigate other creepy bloggers. I'll give you a sneak preview, if you check out Deadpan Flook.

Eko Eko Azarak!

As alluded at the end of yesterday's blog, I have a new obsession to look out for. Last August, while wandering through Nakano Broadway, I saw a poster for some spooky looking display.


Years and years ago, I recall seeing a few minutes of a movie on the tube in the wee hours of something called Eko Eko Azarak. I had no idea what I was watching but the title stuck in my head. Now thanks to this display, I know what it is. Since photos of the artwork were taboo, I bought a set of twenty postcards and I'll present one a day for twenty days and fill in the gaps with other
Eko-static delights. Here's today's postcard. (Gee, it looks familiar.)


I'll elaborate on the manga, anime and movies at a later date. For now, I'll start with the actual Wiccan chant (scammed from Wikipedia.

Eko, eko, Azarak
Eko, eko, Zomelak
Bazabi lacha bachabe
Lamac cahi achababe
Karrellyos
Lamac lamac Bachalyas
Cabahagy sabalyos
Baryolos
Lagoz atha cabyolas
Samahac atha famolas
Hurrahya!

(Note the author of this blog refuses to take responsibility for any demons one might conjure up after reading the above chant. Discretion is advised.)

I don't have a Witch-related Movie Pamphlet handy so I'll use this one that I acquired today. Who knows, the above chant may cause him to appear.



 


I like the use of the red background.









And the stories that started it all...



Which reminds me, the new version of the movie has finally been released but is only playing in one cinema downtown, I should go catch it before it disappears.

No UFO Catcher stuff today, rather here's a pair of Hairy Harry socks.


As for today's treat, this little pad of post-its came with a coffee or something. I don't remember.


Today's video treat is as follows:
Luna is this Korean gal who plays classic rock on a Gayageum. Going with a witchy theme, here is Black Magic Woman by Santana.



More Witches and Warlocks tomorrow...

2019-10-01

The Countdown Begins...

I've had a heck of a busy day and so it's just a few minutes before bedtime, so I'll have to make my first entry in the Countdown to Halloween 2019 a short one. Click that link and surf around especially if you want to join in the Countdown. Or click here to find out this year's Cryptkeepers. I try and visit at least one participant per day and my first go to guy is always at the Wonderful Wonderblog.

Because I'm rushed, I don't have time for a movie tonight. So a trailer will have to suffice.



By an awesome coincidence, this just happens to be my Scary Movie Pamphlet entry today.


The cover folds out to this...


and this on the underside.


Here are some facts about Megalodon. For best results, learn Japanese.



The cast. Rainn was, in particular, way over the top. That is not a bad thing.



Above: the best cast member (on the left).
Below: the worst.


It isn't really all that scary a movie yet this closeup of Jason is frightening.


Some production shots.




Round 1 is vs. Meg. Here are a dozen more Shark rounds.


The following is a list of Shark-related movies starting with Jaws. Can you name them all?


Open wide...


Today's UFO Catcher/ Halloween treat is a Jack figure that I tried to win. I didn't.


OOH! So close!



At school today, one of the teachers was making a Tanuki mask for the Grade 2 kids' Festival. Of course, I had to try it on. The Tanuki King!


Below is one of the King's underlings.


Finally, this postcard is the first entry in my main feature of the blog this month. Can anyone hazard a guess as to what it is?


The answer tomorrow...


LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails