Sonic the Hedgehog is a popular video game character that was created by Sega and first introduced in 1991. He is a blue anthropomorphic hedgehog with the ability to run at incredible speeds. Sonic is known for his friendly and heroic nature, as well as his determination to stop the evil plans of Doctor Robotnik, his arch-nemesis. The main objective of most Sonic the Hedgehog games is to collect golden rings, defeat enemies, and complete levels in the fastest time possible. Sonic's speed is his greatest asset and allows players to navigate through challenging obstacles and overcome various obstacles. The games often feature colorful and imaginative environments, as well as memorable music and sound effects.
A masked Sardonicus leans in to strike his beleaguered wife.
He even stops the story within the film and feigns to count the cards in the audience to see what the crowd decides as per the villain s fate but there was only one ending ever filmed so it is just a gag to get the audience involved. The story begins with Sir Robert Cargrave, a doctor in 19th century London, England, receiving a mysterious letter from what turns out to be an old flame of his, Maude Randall, a young lady of great beauty and charm, with an enthusiasm for the opera, who had disappeared from his life seven years prior when her family had fallen on hard times and her father had committed suicide causing Maude to drop out of society.
The games often feature colorful and imaginative environments, as well as memorable music and sound effects. Over the years, Sonic has become an iconic character in the gaming industry and has appeared in numerous video games, animated series, comics, and even a feature film. His popularity has endured for decades, and he continues to capture the hearts of fans around the world.
manny's book of shadows
I have always fancied myself to be somewhat of an epicure in the terrible, a term coined by H.P. Lovecraft in his story “The Picture in the House” (1920); so imagine my surprise when I finally read “Sardonicus” , by Ray Russell.
Paperback of “Sardonicus” by Ray Russell (1961 Ballantine Books).
Here was a mid 20th century author writing a Gothic Tale in 1961 that could have been penned in 1861! It’s not just that he wrote a Gothic Tale long after that genre had waned, but he seemed to understand the style, the language of the genre. He even used the convention of not giving specific dates. Anyone who has read Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” or any number of books from the 18th and 19th centuries may have wondered at the practice of giving partial dates like this: “August 13th, 17–” [Frankenstein or, the Modern Prometheus: the 1818 Text, pg 22, Shelley, Mary W., Rieger, James ed., 1982, University of Chicago Press]
I am not entirely sure why this was done originally, but it is a definite nod to the genre by Mr. Russell, almost like a secret handshake to fans. Stephen King is quoted to have called it “perhaps the finest example of the modern Gothic ever written” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Russell, retrieved 03-24-2014) although I have yet to see the original source of the quote.
The story begins with Sir Robert Cargrave, a doctor in 19th century London, England, receiving a mysterious letter from what turns out to be an old flame of his, Maude Randall, a young lady of great beauty and charm, with an enthusiasm for the opera, who had disappeared from his life seven years prior when her family had fallen on hard times and her father had committed suicide causing Maude to drop out of society. Now she is married to a man from the continent, a certain Mr Sardonicus. Sardonicus has a peculiar affliction and has read of Cargrave’s ground breaking medical work and upon learning of Maude’s previous acquaintance with the doctor, decides to invite him to his home in Bohemia for a visit and a private (discreet) consultation.
Cargrave and Maude.
Cargrave, anxious to revisit his former crush accepts the invitation. Initially, the reunion is a joyous one, but Cargrave soon relizes that his former sweetheart is unhappily living like a prisoner in her own home, with no outside contact and under the oppressive thumb of her husband, a dark and mysterious man who seems to only be tolerating Cargrave’s presence so he can get a diagnosis for an eventual cure of his affliction. It seems that Mr. Sardonicus had a traumatic shock which has frozen his face in a grotesque grimace that is so unsettling he wears a mask most of the time to obscure it and must take meals by himself because his feeding process is unbearable to witness.
“It was the same mirthless grin I had seen once before: on the face of a person in the last throes of lockjaw. We physicians have a name for that chilling grimace, a Latin name, and as it entered my mind, it seemed to dispel yet another mystery, for the term we use to describe the lockjaw smile is risus sardonicus.” (Russell, Ray. “Sardonicus” Haunted Castles: The Complete Gothic Stories. Ed. Guillermo Del Toro. Penguin Books, 2013. p 16.)
A masked Sardonicus leans in to strike his beleaguered wife.
At first, Cargrave is uncertain as to whether he can help and when he demurs Sardonicus threatens to harm Maude. Eventually, he agrees to try a highly unusual and untested treatment to get Sardonicus to back off, but he also has a trick up his sleeve.
Cargrave begins his treatment on Sardonicus.
The story touches all of the great Gothic themes and devices but never sounds forced or derivative of any specific tale.
Movie poster for “Mr Sardonicus” (1961).
The story was made into a film by B-movie director William Castle with Russell writing the screenplay that expanded the role of Sardonicus’s anonymous (in the story) manservant as an evil henchman named Krull.
Krull spends his downtime torturing young women from the village. Here he is punishing Anna, the maid, for telling Sir Cargrave of the unorthodox experiments she has been subjected to by Sardonicus in order to test possible treatments for his affliction.
The make-up for Sardonicus, once his face is revealed, seems a little hokey by today’s standards, but the rest of the film is for the most part spot on in comparison to the novella. Castle’s gimmick for the film was to hand out cards to the audience to vote thumbs up or down whether they thought Sardonicus was to be shown mercy for his transgressions or given prejudicial punishment. He even stops the story within the film and feigns to count the cards in the audience to see what the crowd decides as per the villain’s fate but there was only one ending ever filmed so it is just a gag to get the audience involved.
Castle’s “Punishment Poll” card, which was handed out to audience members to vote on the fate of Mr. Sardonicus.
If you do however come across “Sardonicus” or any other Ray Russell collections I suggest you pick it up and treat yourself to some fine storytelling in the Gothic style but with a modern sensibility. The movie is a hoot, but currently out of print, so definitely pick that up as well if you see it reasonably priced.
The story touches all of the great Gothic themes and devices but never sounds forced or derivative of any specific tale.
In addition to his video game adventures, Sonic has also appeared in various spin-off games, such as racing and party games, which offer a different gameplay experience while still keeping the character's signature speed and style. Sonic's design has evolved over the years, with minor changes to his appearance and abilities. However, his core characteristics, such as his speed and cheerful personality, have remained consistent. Overall, Sonic the Hedgehog is a beloved character who has had a significant impact on the gaming industry. His fast-paced gameplay, memorable design, and charismatic personality have made him a timeless icon. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the franchise, Sonic's adventures are guaranteed to provide hours of fun and excitement..
Reviews for "Sonic the qitch and the Future of Sega: What's Next for the Blue Speedster?"
1. Brenda - 2 stars - I found "Sonic the Witch" to be incredibly disappointing. The plot was weak and predictable, the characters lacked depth, and the humor fell flat. The CGI animation was impressive, but that was really the only positive aspect of the film. It seemed like the movie was trying too hard to be funny and relatable to a younger audience, but it just came off as obnoxious and cringeworthy. Overall, I would not recommend wasting your time or money on this film.
2. Mark - 3 stars - I understand that "Sonic the Witch" is targeted towards a younger audience, but that doesn't excuse the lack of originality and substance. The story felt recycled and uninteresting, and the constant attempts at humor were forced and unfunny. The acting was mediocre at best, and there was no real character development throughout the film. While the visual effects were impressive, it wasn't enough to make up for the overall lackluster experience. I would suggest waiting for this one to be available for streaming instead of paying to see it in theaters.
3. Sarah - 1 star - "Sonic the Witch" was a complete waste of time. The plot was nonsensical and disjointed, making it difficult to follow or care about what was happening. The jokes were juvenile and fell flat, and the character design was unappealing. It felt like a cheap and lazy attempt to cash in on the success of other fantasy films targeted towards children. Save yourself the disappointment and skip this one altogether.