He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002-04)

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe:

The Complete Series (2009)

39 episodes split over 4 discs (26 in S1 + 13 in S2).

Wisely taking into account how badly The New Adventures of He-Man (1990) was received, Mattel tried a second MotU reboot in 2002 with designs that were less of a departure from the original 1983-85 series. Characters and locations were updated but remained instantly recognisable.

The opening title sequence sets the tone perfectly; it references the old series and then cleverly and effortlessly lets you know in no uncertain terms that this version of MotU is new.

The rebuilding of the franchise is mirrored in the gradual rebuilding of King Randor's Kingdom. The threat of Skeletor necessitates that it be fortified and that loyal subjects are recruited to defend it, meaning the core team members return.

Diamanda Galás: Masque of the Red Death Trilogy (1986-88)

The Divine Punishment (1986)

Queen of avant-garde, Diamanda Galás, can give grown men nightmares with her extraordinary vocal range. Her performance is unashamedly theatrical and her subject matter often controversial.

The Divine Punishment is the first part of her Masque of the Red Death Trilogy. It has only two songs, but they're split into nine parts.

Listening to it in the dark can give the impression that the listener is being haunted by incensed spirits reading scripture, knowing full well that you'll never be able to forget their aural bouts of primal terror. They don't care. They want you to lose sleep.

The Hellbound Heart (1986)

The Hellbound Heart (1986)

Author: Clive Barker  |  Page Count: 128

'...[H]e had encountered nothing in his life—no person, no state of mind or body—he wanted sufficiently to suffer even passing discomfort for.'

The novella that became more famous for being filmed as Hellraiser (1987) by Barker himself is a fine example of how good an author he used to be. His prose effectively blends the fantastical with an exploration of the common from an uncommon perspective.

In Frank Cotton Barker created a character for whom hedonistic desire has exceeded earthly pleasures, forcing him to cross an unseen border into the realms of the unknown: a meeting with the Order of the Gash.

The Cenobites, as they're more often referred to, are creatures for whom dealings in pleasures of the flesh are a currency and a privilege, but their definitions of pleasure long ago exceeded the human sadomasochistic scale.

Babylon 5: Season 2 (1995)

The Coming of Shadows (1995)

22 episodes, approx 44 mins each.

"The Babylon Project was our last, best hope for peace. A self-contained world five miles long, located in neutral territory. A place of commerce and diplomacy for a quarter of a million humans and aliens. A shining beacon in space...all alone in the night. It was the dawn of the Third Age of Mankind – the year the Great War came upon us all."

After the shaky but very necessary build up of S1, Babylon 5 takes its place as the best science fiction TV series in the history of ever! Yes, I'm boldly going there, it's better than Trek. The bursting with potential element it carried in S1 comes to fruition.

Commander Sinclair is out, replaced by the kind of charismatic Captain that we were lacking before.

Delenn plays a significant role in S2 but when she finally shows her face it's not quite the one we remember from before... you'll see what I mean.

Sorcery and Religion in Ancient Scandinavia (2011)

Sorcery and Religion in Ancient Scandinavia (2011)

Author: Varg Vikernes | Page Count: 128

'[T]he newborn was given the dead person's name and regarded as the same person as the one in the grave.'

Varg Vikernes' personal interpretation of the myths and folklore of his homeland is a short but insightful work.

Its relevance goes beyond just Scandinavia because at heart most creation myths share a common origin and what's true for one is very possibly true for another, so even if you're not of Scandinavian origin there's likely much within its pages to interest a student of lore.

The reason the kinds of stories and legends cited have remained in the human consciousness for centuries is because they've been adapted and changed to fit the society and the times. That change keeps them alive but can warp the original intent and bury the ideas within under so much symbolism that it's impossible for the uneducated mind to see beyond the obvious.

The Matrix: Films (1999-2003)

The Matrix (1999)

Dirs. Larry and Andy Wachowski

It probably has its haters (even though I've never met one), but no one could legitimately deny that part one of The Matrix trilogy was a milestone in film-making. It shattered existing technical barriers and changed forever how action movies were made. It's not its fault it spawned a barrelful of inferior, soulless clones.

It throws in a smorgasbord of references to Eastern and Western philosophy, mythology, religion and spirituality to give people that like to scratch beneath the surface something deeper to explore, but if you'd rather enjoy it simply as an action movie you can do that, too, because it finds a comfortable balance.

Anime fans will spot many references to some of Japan's most famous works; even the framing frequently mimics the genre stylings.

Meiko Kaji: Zenkyoku Shu (2004)

Zenkyoku Shu (2004)

Getting a hold of Meiko Kaji's albums outside of Japan can entail paying up to three or even four times what you'd normally pony up for a CD.

However, if a Best Of... compilation will sate your needs, then Zenkyoku Shu (or Zenkyokushu) will fit the bill.

It has her most famous works; i.e. the themes to the Lady Snowblood and Sasori (Female Prisoner Scorpion) films, titled 'Shura No Hana' and 'Urami Bushi', respectively.

If you go to YouTube you'll likely find both of them easily enough. I checked at time of writing and they're both there. I'm not going to link directly to either one because with my shitty luck the ones I link will be the ones that get taken down a week or a year from now.

The remainder of the tracks float on similar musical waters, so if those two appeal to your secret, sensual side or your aspiring inner-samurai, then start saving your pennies or cents (or whatever passes for small change where you live) to cover the loathsome import fees.