The storyline follows three girls at school who find a locked chest inside their school's woodworking room, and two boys find a key. Inside the chest, they find a wand with the power to bring back what was lost--if they prove brave and united enough. Now, all five children embark on a mystical adventure to help get everyone back.
The film begins with three girls meeting and discussing that all the other children from the school are nowhere to be found. A mysterious girl appears wearing a blue dress. The director cleverly uses small things such as the girls' hair all flying up as they creep towards where the girl in the blue dress disappeared. The girls, together with the two boys who found the key, begin to bond with each other as they take on the task to bring back those who have disappeared. The wand will bring back only those who they remember. The kids need to remember their peers in order to get them back. One by one, they take turns pointing the wand at a classroom or rehearsal space and all the missing kids reappear. We never know who wasn't remembered and left behind - perhaps the girl in the blue dress.
The production is well made, with good camera work, audio recording and editing. The opening scene is in black and white until the girl in the blue dress appears as the first hint of color. Even after we realize that it's in color, it's pretty muted except for specific things we are drawn to see, such as the chest spewing fire when it's opened. The main characters are the five children who discover the key, the chest, and the wand. The five actors playing the lead children suit their roles. This film takes place inside a school in modern-day Austria and the dialogue is German, with English subtitles. The music director's work definitely stands out, especially in the opening of the chest scene. The background music changes from whimsical instrumental music to horror film-type music, which sounds like Jack-in-the-box music. For example, in the scene before the children open the chest, we hear the whimsical music, but as they open the chest, it changes to the Jack-in-the-box music. This scene still gives me the creeps. Those transitions help build suspense. There are a few special effects and they are well executed. One that I found interesting is when the girls first see the girl in the blue dress and she kind of vibrates. Another is when fire comes out of the chest when it's opened. The wand, when pointed at the room, sends out a fiery beam before all the kids magically appear. Keep in mind that this is a mystical journey. For example, when the three girls hear a noise and see something, one says that they should follow it, and another says: horror movie rule number 1: Stay put! This is my favorite scene. If someone asked me to follow that noise, I would have said the same thing.
The film's message is that we should remember those who are lost, but be careful because some things will remain forgotten, and it's better that way.
I give The Magical Return 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. By Zamyra G. and Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
The storyline follows three girls at school who find a locked chest inside their school's woodworking room, and two boys find a key. Inside the chest, they find a wand with the power to bring back what was lost--if they prove brave and united enough. Now, all five children embark on a mystical adventure to help get everyone back.
The film begins with three girls meeting and discussing that all the other children from the school are nowhere to be found. A mysterious girl appears wearing a blue dress. The director cleverly uses small things such as the girls' hair all flying up as they creep towards where the girl in the blue dress disappeared. The girls, together with the two boys who found the key, begin to bond with each other as they take on the task to bring back those who have disappeared. The wand will bring back only those who they remember. The kids need to remember their peers in order to get them back. One by one, they take turns pointing the wand at a classroom or rehearsal space and all the missing kids reappear. We never know who wasn't remembered and left behind - perhaps the girl in the blue dress.
The production is well made, with good camera work, audio recording and editing. The opening scene is in black and white until the girl in the blue dress appears as the first hint of color. Even after we realize that it's in color, it's pretty muted except for specific things we are drawn to see, such as the chest spewing fire when it's opened. The main characters are the five children who discover the key, the chest, and the wand. The five actors playing the lead children suit their roles. This film takes place inside a school in modern-day Austria and the dialogue is German, with English subtitles. The music director's work definitely stands out, especially in the opening of the chest scene. The background music changes from whimsical instrumental music to horror film-type music, which sounds like Jack-in-the-box music. For example, in the scene before the children open the chest, we hear the whimsical music, but as they open the chest, it changes to the Jack-in-the-box music. This scene still gives me the creeps. Those transitions help build suspense. There are a few special effects and they are well executed. One that I found interesting is when the girls first see the girl in the blue dress and she kind of vibrates. Another is when fire comes out of the chest when it's opened. The wand, when pointed at the room, sends out a fiery beam before all the kids magically appear. Keep in mind that this is a mystical journey. For example, when the three girls hear a noise and see something, one says that they should follow it, and another says: horror movie rule number 1: Stay put! This is my favorite scene. If someone asked me to follow that noise, I would have said the same thing.
The film's message is that we should remember those who are lost, but be careful because some things will remain forgotten, and it's better that way.
I give The Magical Return 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. By Zamyra G. and Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
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