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Darkened Wings: The Angel of Death in Contemporary Art

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The Angel of Death.  Few archetypes have inspired the imagination of artists the world over the way this enigmatic figure has.

It has been painted, sculpted, lauded in verse, and exquisitely described in prose.  It takes on myriad forms with a host of names and reminds us of our own mortality and the end to all things.  We fear it, yet we must all embrace it in the end.  It is a constant regardless of religion or creed.  Death is, and it claims us all.

This list is dedicated to those artists who have brought to stunning life this captivating figure.  Take a look at these beautifully rendered images and let us know which are your favorites!

#1 Azrael, The Angel of Death by Deviant Artist Majentta

In Islamic tradition, Azrael is considered the most reverent of archangels.  He does not work independently of the will of Allah. He is not death personified but rather acts as a psychopomp who pulls the souls from the bodies of those who die according to the will of Allah and carries them to the afterlife.  This image is beautifully brought to life by this artist.  Notice the minute details in the wings and sword.

#2 Grim Reaper by Deviant Artist Maris CZ

It has become common to merge the Grim Reaper image with the Angel of Death though the Reaper image is much younger in the grand scheme of things.  It is believed that the Reaper was a product of the Black Plague.  His skeletal form reminiscent of the piles of bodies that lined the streets and his scythe a harvesting tool as he reaped lives by the thousands without thought to their station.  This image blends the two ideas beautifully!

#3 Soul, Meets Death by Deviant Artist TheBoyofCheese

Another gorgeous image of the Angel of Death, this time holding out a hand to a waiting soul…

#4 Angel of Death by Deviant Artist Sad-Cat

One of the most unusual depictions I found in my search through the thousands available.  Death here is female dressed in solid white.  She appears to have climbed down a ladder to a waiting hospital bed.  That lost feather floating in the air is almost sad to me…

#5 The Angel of Death Victorious Sculpted by Herman N. Matzen, Photo by Tim Evanson

This final representation of the Angel of Death is one of my very favorites.  The sculpture sits over the tomb of Francis Haserot.  The Angel sits atop the tomb with a torch inverted on the ground, snuffing out the flame of life.  The statue has also come to be known as the Weeping Angel for the mysterious black stains that appear upon its cheeks.  Locals believe the statue and the location are both haunted, and yet it’s become a popular visitation site in Cleveland’s Lakeview Cemetery.

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Well, there you are…five of my favorite modern representations of the Angel of Death.  What are some of yours?  Let us know in the comments!

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The Original ‘Beetlejuice’ Sequel Had an Interesting Location

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beetlejuice in Hawaii Movie

Back in the late ’80s and early ’90s sequels to hit movies weren’t as linear as they are today. It was more like “let’s re-do the situation but in a different location.” Remember Speed 2, or National Lampoon’s European Vacation? Even Aliens, as good as it is, follows a lot of the plot points of the original; people stuck on a ship, an android, a little girl in peril instead of a cat. So it makes sense that one of the most popular supernatural comedies of all time, Beetlejuice would follow the same pattern.

In 1991 Tim Burton was interested in doing a sequel to his 1988 original, it was called Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian:

“The Deetz family moves to Hawaii to develop a resort. Construction begins, and it’s quickly discovered that the hotel will be sitting on top of an ancient burial ground. Beetlejuice comes in to save the day.”

Burton liked the script but wanted some re-writes so he asked then-hot screenwriter Daniel Waters who had just got done contributing to Heathers. He passed on the opportunity so producer David Geffen offered it to Troop Beverly Hills scribe Pamela Norris to no avail.

Eventually, Warner Bros. asked Kevin Smith to punch up Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, he scoffed at the idea, saying, “Didn’t we say all we needed to say in the first Beetlejuice? Must we go tropical?”

Nine years later the sequel was killed. The studio said Winona Ryder was now too old for the part and an entire re-cast needed to happen. But Burton never gave up, there were a lot of directions he wanted to take his characters, including a Disney crossover.

“We talked about lots of different things,” the director said in Entertainment Weekly. “That was early on when we were going, Beetlejuice and the Haunted MansionBeetlejuice Goes West, whatever. Lots of things came up.”

Fast-forward to 2011 when another script was pitched for a sequel. This time the writer of Burton’s Dark Shadows,  Seth Grahame-Smith was hired and he wanted to make sure the story wasn’t a cash-grabbing remake or reboot. Four years later, in 2015, a script was approved with both Ryder and Keaton saying they would return to their respective roles. In 2017 that script was revamped and then eventually shelved in 2019.

During the time the sequel script was being tossed around in Hollywood, in 2016 an artist named Alex Murillo posted what looked like one-sheets for a Beetlejuice sequel. Although they were fabricated and had no affiliation with Warner Bros. people thought they were real.

Perhaps the virality of the artwork sparked interest in a Beetlejuice sequel once again, and finally, it was confirmed in 2022 Beetlejuice 2 had a green light from a script written by Wednesday writers  Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. The star of that series Jenna Ortega signed on to the new movie with filming starting in 2023. It was also confirmed that Danny Elfman would return to do the score.

Burton and Keaton agreed that the new film titled Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice wouldn’t rely on CGI or other other forms of technology. They wanted the film to feel “handmade.” The film wrapped in November 2023.

It’s been over three decades to come up with a sequel to Beetlejuice. Hopefully, since they said aloha to Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian there has been enough time and creativity to ensure Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice will not only honor the characters, but fans of the original.

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice will open theatrically on September 6.

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Russell Crowe To Star in Another Exorcism Movie & It’s Not a Sequel

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Maybe it’s because The Exorcist just celebrated its 50th-anniversary last year, or maybe it’s because aging Academy Award-winning actors aren’t too proud to take on obscure roles, but Russell Crowe is visiting the Devil once again in yet another possession film. And it’s not related to his last one, The Pope’s Exorcist.

According to Collider, the film titled The Exorcism was originally going to be released under the name The Georgetown Project. Rights for its North American release were once in the hands of Miramax but then went to Vertical Entertainment. It will release on June 7 in theaters then head over to Shudder for subscribers.

Crowe will also star in this year’s upcoming Kraven the Hunter which is set to drop in theaters on August 30.

As for The Exorcism, Collider provides us with what it’s about:

“The film centers around actor Anthony Miller (Crowe), whose troubles come to the forefront as he shoots a supernatural horror movie. His estranged daughter (Ryan Simpkins) has to figure out whether he’s lapsing into his past addictions, or if something even more horrific is occurring. “

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New F-Bomb Laden ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Trailer: Bloody Buddy Movie

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Deadpool & Wolverine might be the buddy movie of the decade. The two heterodox superheroes are back in the latest trailer for the summer blockbuster, this time with more f-bombs than a gangster film.

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Movie Trailer

This time the focus is on Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman. The adamantium-infused X-Man is having a bit of a pity party when Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) arrives on the scene who then tries to convince him to team up for selfish reasons. The result is a profanity-filled trailer with a Strange surprise at the end.

Deadpool & Wolverine is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. It comes out on July 26. Here is the latest trailer, and we suggest if you are at work and your space isn’t private, you might want to put in headphones.

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