Scan barcode
blueyorkie's review against another edition
3.0
In the early 70s, Alejandro Jodorowsky surprised the world with a surreal western: El Topo. This film, which no one wanted at the start, is one of the pioneers of an original mode of exploitation: the midnight screenings. Broadcast after midnight in neighborhood cinemas, sometimes devoted to the pornographic genre, it attracted an increasing number of audiences until it reached the status of a cult film.
I must confess to having only hazy memories of the film. I see scenes and images, but I only have a little left of the story. I remember a gunslinger who wanders the desert, sowing violence in his wake until he was touched by grace and became the object of worship for a community living in caves. I remember a naked child following him. But that's about all.
An aesthetic was worthy of the best Westerns, a dark room dynamic. Read at midnight.
I must confess to having only hazy memories of the film. I see scenes and images, but I only have a little left of the story. I remember a gunslinger who wanders the desert, sowing violence in his wake until he was touched by grace and became the object of worship for a community living in caves. I remember a naked child following him. But that's about all.
An aesthetic was worthy of the best Westerns, a dark room dynamic. Read at midnight.
ledimirnunez's review against another edition
3.0
I wrote myself a contract for how I should behave. My inspiration came from this book. Among the tenets were to 'never contract debts,' 'live only on money you have earned,' 'never regard something as your possession.' All of this requires great self-control, and a transcendence of will beyond normality. I don't know how to pinpoint the exact mind-state that I was in while reading this book, but I felt strangely positive. Alejandro approached Zen Buddhism with a characteristically immoderate demeanor such as mine, and so he tripped and fell a bunch of times. His relationship with Ejo Takata was beautiful, that of master and disciple, disciple and master. I guess the beauty in this book is that, despite being extremely didactic, it confesses to the pretty common naiveté of everyone undergoing, not only their spiritual journey, but their life's journey.
There are questionable anecdotes. That is, the reality of some occurrences can be brought into question. Nevertheless, I was fascinated. This could be an entirely fiction work of art, or an entirely true memoir, and it is still a powerful read. I love Alejandro's writing too. He is obviously an amazingly-polished storytellers. I have yet to watch any of his films in totality, because when I do I feel de-flowered. The images are just so raw, the ideas are so bizarre, that it all crosses into the dystopia-hysteria genre or utopia-dystopia-utopia genre...
There are questionable anecdotes. That is, the reality of some occurrences can be brought into question. Nevertheless, I was fascinated. This could be an entirely fiction work of art, or an entirely true memoir, and it is still a powerful read. I love Alejandro's writing too. He is obviously an amazingly-polished storytellers. I have yet to watch any of his films in totality, because when I do I feel de-flowered. The images are just so raw, the ideas are so bizarre, that it all crosses into the dystopia-hysteria genre or utopia-dystopia-utopia genre...
zachwerb's review against another edition
4.0
At times it can feel like zen dribble(but isn't that the point?). He has insights into living a spiritual life that are incisive for creatives. Good for seeing a spiritual path that does not involve joining a monastery and devoting your life to it.
gyrus's review against another edition
5.0
Written simply and vividly, at a cracking pace, this deeply enjoyable book expands the mind of the reader through the devastating combination of Zen-infused insight, salacious yarns, and a brutal, compassionate honesty about human being. More: http://dreamflesh.com/library/alejandro-jodorowsky/the-spiritual-journey-of-alejandro-jodorowsky/
mc900ft's review against another edition
4.0
this took me a good while to read. so many large ideas covered. bigger than the self. i really loved the explorations into this notion of a spiritual art. or search for truth. whatever you want to call it. at times it got a bit self promoting/absorbed/macho for me and i found myself questioning his authenticity. that said, i'm glad i pushed through it. can't wait to see some of his films.
More...