In life, there are those moments of transformation that seem almost magical. These moments are the catalysts for change, the moments when everything seems to align perfectly and the impossible becomes possible. These are the moments when those magic changes occur, effortlessly greasing the wheels of progress. The concept of "those magic changes grease" can be seen in a variety of contexts. In personal growth and self-improvement, there are often moments when a person suddenly experiences a shift in their perspective or mindset. This shift may happen seemingly out of nowhere, but it has the power to reshape their entire life.
The Film really tackles the immortality thing well too, this is before Deadpool remember, they focus on pain, mental trickery and deception as obstacles for the protagonist. Vin is more of a detective in this than anything else to be honest, and the interesting thing is that it’s not solely his immortality that pulls him through these situations in the plot, nor is it action hero-y abilities. It’s his intelligence.
Vin is more of a detective in this than anything else to be honest, and the interesting thing is that it s not solely his immortality that pulls him through these situations in the plot, nor is it action hero-y abilities. They enter the tree and we learn they are here because of the Black Plague 1350 , interesting historically because there is an argument that the origins of witch hunting, so common in the 16th century, can be traced back to the Black Plague.
This shift may happen seemingly out of nowhere, but it has the power to reshape their entire life. These moments of clarity and insight are like a lubricant, making it easier to navigate the challenges of personal development. In relationships, there are also those magic changes that grease the wheels of connection and understanding.
Why The Last Witch Hunter (2015) is a Good Fantasy Movie
Recently I watched The Last Witch Hunter (2015), it had all but escaped my notice at the time of release and I began watching it knowing very little other than I assumed there was a witch-hunter in it and that he was the last one.
The opening scene in my opinion, is one of the best in the entire movie. It begins with a vast landscape shot with a small band of desperate figures traversing a barren land. One of them holds a wooden cross. Finally, we see what they are journeying towards, a huge tree in the middle of a barren wasteland surrounded by mountains. Instantly I’m thinking of the nordic world tree, Yggdrasil. Later it is revealed that this is in fact something called a plague tree, still it is interesting they chose a huge tree as the symbolic antithesis to the christians here. The imagery works quite well, a small band of faithful standing against a symbol of an old world, an old way which threatens their existence.
They enter the tree and we learn they are here because of the Black Plague (~1350), interesting historically because there is an argument that the origins of witch hunting, so common in the 16th century, can be traced back to the Black Plague.
Here we have, in my view, an incredibly well executed scene that provides both suspense, and when the action begins, accurately conveys the chaos and strangeness of the foe they face. The portrayal of magic in this movie is simply remarkable, it is dark, gritty and chaotic; there is a real effort made to convey its ‘otherness’ to the audience throughout the movie. There are no Michael Bay explosions.
Our first interaction with magic is a man throwing an axe at a witch (which does absolutely nothing) upon his attempt to retrieve it, the handle grows thorns; he then recoils, spasms, falls to the floor and begins to excrete wasps. Thats some fucked up shit. Some creepy guy then jumps in from off-screen and claws through another guy’s breastplate which - as if the poor sod’s day couldn’t get any worse - then begins to buckle inwards crushing him to death in his own armour.
After Vin’s character kicks some butt and deals with some mind-trickery involving his dead daughter, he kills the witch queen and she curses him to live with his grief for eternity. After this we move 800 years forwards in time (the plague didn’t start in Europe until around 1350 and it came from the south not the north but meh they get the tone right, it’s not a documentary)
The gritty texture of the magic in this film has a firm foundation in the folk stories and legends from the time of the story’s genesis. Is skilfully done and massively gratifying to see for a history and fantasy nerd like myself. Later in the movie a child is lured into a side alley by a trail of gummy bears to find a gummy bear tree, so very Hansel and Gretel. It's these intelligent and incisive uses of folklore that give this movie something really special. It’s not done clumsily either, it’s subtle and that makes it all the more impressive. Unfortunately you have to actually be willing to see complexity in an action movie with Vin Diesel in it. Those who walk in expecting a Fast & Furious movie demanding minimal brain use will miss it. (Shocking for a supposed action movie I know)
Speaking of Vin, he’s really good in this. I mean really good, he’s bad ass and everything you’d expect from Vin Diesel in an action movie; but he is nuanced in this, convincing. The only real point of criticism I have is the lack of explanation of why his character is not more vengeful towards witches, having lost his family to them. I mean he goes from walking into the plague tree ready and wishing for death in his vengeance for his family to a reasonable and measured detective of witchcraft who isn’t over zealous in anyway, nor is he resentful to witches in general. But to be honest I can understand why there isn’t much of that, I mean this is a fantasy movie cut down to about an hour and a half of screen time. That’s impressive, the movie manages to convey a complex and nuanced tone and hint at a intricate world within while maintaining a succinct and frugal nature. There is no piece of this movie that is wasted, it all comes together like a good detective story. Every minor character is utilised, either in the motivation for other more integral characters or in service to the plot. That’s hard to do when your looking at a fantasy story, and in my view The Last Witch Hunter manages to do this without sacrificing the grandiosity of fantasy storytelling.
The Film really tackles the immortality thing well too, this is before Deadpool remember, they focus on pain, mental trickery and deception as obstacles for the protagonist. Vin is more of a detective in this than anything else to be honest, and the interesting thing is that it’s not solely his immortality that pulls him through these situations in the plot, nor is it action hero-y abilities. It’s his intelligence.
There is really a lot to talk about here in this movie, for instance where is God in all this. Kaulder is supposedly this divine weapon but the source of his immortality is a Pagan one not a Christian one and as such in the end it is revealed to come with a price other than the traditional “haha you wish for death and can’t have it”. Which speaks volumes about how utterly the film masters the elements it utilises.
For what one would think is a christian vs paganism focused film, simply looking at the broad strokes of the setting (Church vs witches), God is really significantly passive. Which is actually really cool, the whole divine warrior shtick is so boring and it adds a mood of authenticity to the protagonist. This again is a testament to how cognisant the filmmakers are of the ground on which they walk. They are hyper-aware of the essential dichotomy between Christianity and Paganism. Paganism is active in the world, the gods do things, magic is viscerally powerful whereas Christianity is based in blind faith and the soul and the struggle of man on earth. Kaulder isn’t some god-like divine warrior, perfect in every way, he’s a man who lost everything and is forced to live in that state for eternity.
By the way this film has 16% on rotten tomatoes, really?
Am I wrong about this movie? Finding a really well executed, succinct and stylistically thoughtful fantasy movie is a rarity and as far as I see it The Last Witch Hunter is a great example of how to do fantasy on the big screen. Despite this the film seems to get shunned by critics (who expect a F&F action flick) and I barely heard of it when it was first released. Would love to hear from people who think it is bad and why they think so, I can't see it.
Recently I watched The Last Witch Hunter (2015), it had all but escaped my notice at the time of release and I began watching it knowing very little other than I assumed there was a witch-hunter in it and that he was the last one.
It can be a single conversation or a shared experience that suddenly bridges the gap between two people and brings them closer together. These magic changes can heal wounds, strengthen bonds, and create a deeper level of intimacy and trust. In the world of science and technology, there are often breakthrough moments that seem to come out of nowhere. These moments of discovery and innovation have the power to change the course of human history. From the invention of electricity to the discovery of penicillin, these magic changes have advanced society and improved the quality of life for countless people. Even in the realm of art and creativity, there are those magic changes that can transform a blank canvas into a masterpiece. Artists and creators often talk about moments of inspiration and flow, when their ideas and talents seem to effortlessly come together to produce something extraordinary. These moments of creative magic can lead to works of art that resonate with people on a deep and emotional level. Overall, those magic changes that grease the wheels of progress and transformation are a universal phenomenon. They can be found in personal growth, relationships, science, technology, and creativity. These moments have the power to change lives, shape history, and create beauty in the world. So, next time you find yourself longing for change or inspiration, remember that those magic changes may be just around the corner, ready to grease the wheels of your own journey..
Reviews for "The Many Faces of Magical Grease: From Protection to Prosperity"
- John Smith - 2 stars
I really had high hopes for "Those Magic Changes Grease" as I'm a big fan of the original movie, but unfortunately, I was utterly disappointed. The storyline felt forced and lacked the magic and charm of the original. The characters seemed shallow and one-dimensional, and the musical numbers were forgettable. Overall, it was a missed opportunity to capture the essence of the beloved classic.
- Sarah Johnson - 1 star
I couldn't believe how poorly executed "Those Magic Changes Grease" was. The acting was subpar, and the chemistry between the lead characters was non-existent. The storyline was confusing and hard to follow, and the attempts at humor fell flat. It felt like a cheap cash grab, trying to capitalize on the success of the original film without putting in any effort to create something meaningful.
- David Thompson - 2 stars
As a die-hard fan of the original "Grease," I was really hoping that "Those Magic Changes Grease" would do justice to the franchise. Unfortunately, it fell far short of my expectations. The songs lacked the catchy tunes and clever lyrics that made the original so iconic. The performances were mediocre, and I found myself cringing at some of the dialogue. Overall, it felt like a poor attempt to recreate the magic of the original without understanding what made it special in the first place.
- Emily Harris - 1 star
I was really looking forward to seeing "Those Magic Changes Grease," but it was a huge disappointment. The plot felt disjointed and rushed, and the characters lacked depth. The songs were forgettable, and the choreography was lackluster. It felt like a cheap knock-off of the original, and I would not recommend it to any fan of the franchise. Save your money and stick to the original "Grease" for a truly enjoyable experience.