The curse of the Qere rabbit is a famous folklore tale that has been passed down through generations. According to the legend, the Qere rabbit is a mischievous creature that brings bad luck and misfortune to those who encounter it. The tale tells the story of a small village nestled deep in the woods. The villagers believed in the existence of the Qere rabbit and were extremely cautious whenever they ventured into the forest. It was said that the rabbit had the ability to sense fear and would target those who showed signs of weakness. The curse of the Qere rabbit was said to be especially dangerous during the full moon.
Victor Quartermaine: [on the were-rabbit, noticing the huge rabbit-shaped hole in the church window] It's a big fellow, perhaps. but a mortal creature of flesh and blood. A matter easily dealt with by a hunter. [flourishes gun]
A big deal is made of Wallace s inability to fix the mind manipulator, and then Hutch takes over and seems to be making real progress repairing it, so it s natural to think that it will be a major plot point later. After Gromit shows Wallace the newspaper showing the eaten vegetables, it then fades from Wallace being surrounded by portraits of his clients to the church with Wallace being surrounded with real clients.
The curse of the Qere rabbit was said to be especially dangerous during the full moon. Legend has it that on those nights, the rabbit would roam freely, seeking out its victims. Those unfortunate enough to cross paths with the creature would suffer a series of unfortunate events, such as lost belongings, failed crops, and even illness.
Comic creations with feet of clay
Wallace and Gromit are arguably the two most delightful characters in the history of animation. Between the previous sentence and this one I paused thoughtfully and stared into space and thought of all of the other animated characters I have ever met, and I gave full points to Bugs Bunny and high marks to Little Nemo and a fond nod to Goofy, and returned to the page convinced that, yes, Wallace and Gromit are in a category of their own. To know them is to enter a universe of boundless optimism, in which two creatures who are perfectly suited to each other venture out every morning to make the world into a safer place for the gentle, the good and the funny.
AdvertisementWallace is an inventor. Gromit is a dog, although the traditional human-dog relationship is reversed in that Gromit usually has to clean up Wallace's messes. No, not those kinds of messes. They're not that kind of movie. In three short subjects and now in their first feature, Wallace sails out bravely do to great but reckless deeds, and Gromit takes the role of adult guardian.
In "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit," they face their greatest challenge. Lady Tottington is holding her family's 517th annual Giant Vegetable Fete, and all the gardeners for miles around are lovingly caressing their gigantic melons and zucchinis and carrots and such, and Wallace and Gromit are responsible for security, which means keeping rabbits out of the garden patches.
Their company is named Anti-Pesto. Their methods are humane. They do not shoot or poison the bunnies. Instead, Wallace has devised another of his ingenious inventions, the Bun-Vac, which sucks the rabbits out of their holes and into a giant holding tube, so that they can be housed in comfort at Anti-Pesto headquarters, and feast on medium and small vegetables. Their tactics perfectly suit Lady Tottington's humane convictions.
They have a rival, the sniveling barbarian Lord Victor Quartermaine, a gun nut with a toupee heaped on his head like a mess of the sort Gromit never has to clean up. Lord Victor dreams of marrying Lady Tottington and treating himself to the luxuries of her ancestral wealth, and that involves discrediting and sabotaging Anti-Pesto and all that it stands for. Thus is launched the affair of the Were-Rabbit, a gigantic beast (with a red polka dot tie) that terrorizes the neighborhood and inspires the Reverend Hedges to cry out, "For our sins a hideous creature has been sent to punish us."
I dare not reveal various secrets involving the Were-Rabbit, so I will skip ahead, or sideways, to consider Wallace's new invention, the Mind-o-Matic, which is intended to brainwash rabbits and convince them they do not like vegetables. That this device malfunctions goes without saying, and that Gromit has to fly to the rescue is a given.
Wallace and Gromit are the inventions of a British animator named Nick Park, who co-directs this time with Steve Box. In an era of high-tech CGI, Park uses the beloved traditional form of stop-motion animation. He constructs his characters and sets out of Plasticine, a brand of modeling clay, and makes minute adjustments to them between every frame, giving the impression not only of movement but of exuberant life and color bursting from every frame. (As a nod to technology, just a little CGI is incorporated for certain scenes that would be hard to do in Plasticine, as when the vacuumed bunnies are in free-fall).
AdvertisementRemarkably, given the current realities of animation, "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" is the second stop-motion animated film in two weeks, after Tim Burton's "Corpse Bride." Both of these films are wonderful, but Wallace and Gromit have the additional quality of being lovable beyond all measure, inhabiting a world of British eccentricity that produces dialogue such as: "This is worse than 1972, when there were slugs the size of pigs."
Speaking of pigs, some of my favorite books are the Blandings Castle novels by P.G. Wodehouse, in which Lord Emsworth dotes on his beloved pig, Empress of Blandings. I have always assumed the Blandings stories to be unfilmable, but now realize that Nick Park is just the man for them, with Wallace as Lord Emsworth, and Gromit as George Cyrill Wellbeloved, his Lordship's expert pigman. True, Gromit does not speak, but Wellbeloved is a man of few words, and if Gromit can solve the mystery of the Were-Rabbit, he should be able to handle a pig.
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.
Wallace: I haven't tested [the Mind Manipulation-O-Matic] yet, but it should be perfectly safe. Just a bit of harmless brain alteration, that's all! [Gromit is visibly panicked]
The villagers desperately tried to protect themselves from the curse. They would wear amulets and charms, hoping to ward off the malicious rabbit. Some even performed rituals and sacrifices in an attempt to appease the creature and avoid its wrath. Despite these efforts, the curse of the Qere rabbit continued to plague the village. It seemed that no matter what precautions were taken, the rabbit would find a way to strike. The villagers lived in constant fear, always watching over their shoulders and dreading the next full moon. One day, a brave young hunter decided to take on the challenge of catching the Qere rabbit. Armed with his wit and determination, he ventured deep into the forest, following the rumors and whispers that led to the creature's lair. After days of searching, the hunter finally came face to face with the Qere rabbit. Rather than running away in fear, he approached the creature calmly and began to speak to it. He explained that the villagers meant no harm and simply wished to live in peace. He promised to find a way to end the curse and free both himself and the rabbit from their suffering. Surprisingly, the rabbit listened. It had grown tired of its lonely existence, forever cursed to bring misfortune to others. The hunter and the rabbit formed an unlikely alliance, working together to find a solution. Through their combined efforts, they discovered that the curse could only be broken if the village collectively acknowledged their fear and embraced their courage. The villagers would need to come together, support one another, and face their fears head-on. With this newfound knowledge, the hunter returned to the village and shared his findings. The villagers were initially skeptical but eventually realized that they had no choice but to confront the curse. They formed a united front, supporting and encouraging each other as they faced their fears. On the next full moon, the Qere rabbit made his appearance. Instead of showing fear, the villagers stood tall and bold. They no longer believed in the curse and refused to let it control their lives. To the astonishment of all, the curse was broken. The Qere rabbit transformed into a harmless creature, its mischievous nature disappearing forever. The villagers continued to live in peace, no longer haunted by the curse. The story of the curse of the Qere rabbit serves as a reminder that facing our fears and standing strong together can overcome even the most daunting challenges. It teaches us the importance of unity, courage, and the power of belief..
Reviews for "The Legend Lives On: The Qere Rabbit in Modern Society"
1. Sara Johnson - 1 out of 5 stars - I found "The Curse of the Qere Rabbit" to be extremely underwhelming. The plot was confusing and lacked a clear direction. It seemed as if the author was trying to incorporate too many elements without fully developing any of them. The characters were flat and uninteresting, making it hard to empathize with their struggles. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. Mark Thompson - 2 out of 5 stars - "The Curse of the Qere Rabbit" had potential, but ultimately fell short. The writing style was dry and lacked the necessary depth to fully engage me as a reader. The pacing was also off, with certain parts of the story dragging on while others felt rushed. Additionally, the ending felt forced and unsatisfying. I had high hopes for this book, but it didn't live up to my expectations.
3. Jessica Carter - 2 out of 5 stars - I was not a fan of "The Curse of the Qere Rabbit." The story felt disjointed, and it was difficult to keep track of the various plot points. The dialogue was cliché and lacked authenticity, making it hard to connect with the characters. The writing style also left much to be desired, as it was overly descriptive without adding much substance. Overall, I found this book to be a forgettable read that I wouldn't recommend to others.
4. Thomas Anderson - 3 out of 5 stars - "The Curse of the Qere Rabbit" had its moments, but it ultimately failed to captivate me. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard to invest in their journeys. Additionally, the world-building was lacking, leaving me with numerous unanswered questions. While this book had potential, it fell short of my expectations.