In the Cheech and Chong Christmas Story, Magic Dust plays a significant role. Magic Dust refers to a special substance that has mystical powers and brings joy and happiness to those who come in contact with it. In the story, Cheech and Chong stumble upon a magical jar of Magic Dust that has been hidden away for years. Intrigued by the jar's mysterious contents, they decide to use it to enhance their Christmas celebration. As they sprinkle the Magic Dust around their house, they immediately notice the transformation taking place. The dust fills the air, creating a sparkling effect and enchanting atmosphere.
It’s interesting that visually, Phanora and Johan’s part of the book has less grayscale than Ashaf and Guideau’s. Is this an allusion to the fact that the dangers of raising the undead are more absolute than the condemnation of witches? A stylistic choice? Perhaps both. It also allows Satake to add detail to the faces of not only the living characters but also the undead as well – to demonstrate they too are, or were, people. Individuals. Which makes the explanation of what happens to them after their second death that much more horrifying. It also allows for the expression of a lot more blood and guts, so keep that in mind when you’re deciding whether or not to pick this one up. It is certainly more graphic than volume 1.
And even though we re early in the story, we can imagine her response when she discovers his honesty has been relative, which is a perfect hook to keep us coming back, even though they don t feature as heavily in this volume as they did in the first one. I also think this is a particularly masterful way to expand The Witch and the Beast universe around the core of Guideau and Ashaf, their mission, and The Order of Magical Resonance.
The dust fills the air, creating a sparkling effect and enchanting atmosphere. The dull and mundane environment is instantly replaced with vibrant colors and a festive ambience. With every step they take, Cheech and Chong feel a wave of excitement and joy.
The Roarbots Review: ‘The Witch and the Beast’ Vol. 2
In the first volume of The Witch and the Beast by Kousuke Satake, we met Guideau, the girl with feral eyes, fangs, and a propensity for murder, and Ashaf, the mysterious man with whom she travels, a member of The Order of Magical Resonance, and bearer of a very large coffin with something extremely terrifying inside.
In volume 2, we meet some of their scarier, more powerful, more bloodthirsty friends.
No. No, I’m not kidding.
Hold on to your wands.
When last we left our intrepid murder duo, they were helping the police track a witch who was committing particularly grisly crimes. Turns out, the witch isn’t a witch. It’s a duo of undead. Not vampires or zombies or anything like that. Risen undead. The work of a necromancer. In this universe, necromancy is legal, provided it follows certain guidelines.
These two have not been revived legally and have most definitely not been getting their regular “make sure they don’t go off the rails” treatments.
Guideau and Ashaf are witch hunters. Phanora and Johan are necromancers and so, Ashaf enlists his colleagues to assist in the new investigation.
I love this. I love this so much.
The plot, yes. It’s been all supernatural manga pretty much all the time up in here lately, and I cannot overstate the joy it brings me. And supernatural tinged with horror no less – it’s a subgenre I find exceptionally easy to get lost and wander around in, which is a thing we all need at the moment but I wasn’t getting from prose reading material the way I usually do.
But. I also think this is a particularly masterful way to expand The Witch and the Beast universe around the core of Guideau and Ashaf, their mission, and The Order of Magical Resonance. Like Guideau and Ashaf, Phanora and Johan are a duo with each member having different but complementary abilities. They work for, but don’t necessarily answer to, The Order. There’s a connection in that Ashaf recommends Phanora to people he has been working with. An expanding web growing into its own mythology, which is just… so much yes.
At the conclusion of the chapter, we find out not everything is as absolute as we’ve been led to believe – not even the “truths” Ashaf has been telling Guideau. And even though we’re early in the story, we can imagine her response when she discovers his honesty has been relative, which is a perfect hook to keep us coming back, even though they don’t feature as heavily in this volume as they did in the first one.
It’s interesting that visually, Phanora and Johan’s part of the book has less grayscale than Ashaf and Guideau’s. Is this an allusion to the fact that the dangers of raising the undead are more absolute than the condemnation of witches? A stylistic choice? Perhaps both. It also allows Satake to add detail to the faces of not only the living characters but also the undead as well – to demonstrate they too are, or were, people. Individuals. Which makes the explanation of what happens to them after their second death that much more horrifying. It also allows for the expression of a lot more blood and guts, so keep that in mind when you’re deciding whether or not to pick this one up. It is certainly more graphic than volume 1.
I’m definitely all in on The Witch and the Beast (gore never bothered me anyway). I can’t wait to see who else drops in for a visit and how it’s all connected to Guideau’s curse and her mission to fight free of it. And we still don’t know the whole story on who’s in that coffin and why Ashaf’s responsible for both of the beasts.
Good thing there’s a lot more to come.
I’m definitely all in on The Witch and the Beast (gore never bothered me anyway). I can’t wait to see who else drops in for a visit and how it’s all connected to Guideau’s curse and her mission to fight free of it. And we still don’t know the whole story on who’s in that coffin and why Ashaf’s responsible for both of the beasts.
The Magic Dust has the power to make their wishes come true, creating unexpected miracles and bringing forth a sense of wonder and enchantment. Their Christmas decorations come to life, music fills the air, and the house is magically transformed into a winter wonderland. But as with any magical substance, there are consequences. As Cheech and Chong continue to dabble in the Magic Dust, they realize that its effects are temporary. The more they use it, the quicker its power diminishes. They understand that they must use the Magic Dust wisely and appreciate the beauty it brings, as they cannot rely on it to sustain their happiness forever. Through their adventures with the Magic Dust, Cheech and Chong learn valuable lessons about the true spirit of Christmas. They discover that the most important thing is not the materialistic elements but the love, compassion, and joy that the season brings. The Magic Dust acts as a catalyst, reminding them of the magic that lies within themselves and the power to create happiness and fulfillment in their lives. In the end, Cheech and Chong realize that the true magic of Christmas comes from within and cannot be solely dependent on external factors. The Magic Dust serves as a reminder of the joy and wonder that the holiday season brings, encouraging them to embrace the spirit of Christmas all year long. The Cheech and Chong Christmas Story with Magic Dust serves as a whimsical and entertaining tale that captures the essence of the holiday season. It reminds us to cherish the magic and beauty of Christmas and to spread love and joy to those around us..
Reviews for "Going Up in Smoke for the Holidays: Cheech and Chong's Magical Christmas Story"
1. - Samantha - 1/5
I was extremely disappointed with "Cheech and Chong Christmas Story: Magic Dust." The humor throughout the movie felt forced and stale, and the storyline lacked any coherent plot. The actors seemed disinterested and their performances were lackluster. As a long-time fan of Cheech and Chong, this movie was a major letdown and I would not recommend it to anyone.
2. - Michael - 2/5
I had high hopes for "Cheech and Chong Christmas Story: Magic Dust" but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The jokes were repetitive and became tiresome after a while. The attempts at humor felt juvenile and forced, with little creativity or cleverness. Additionally, the overall storyline was disjointed and lacked coherence. I cannot recommend this movie unless you are a die-hard Cheech and Chong fan.
3. - Laura - 2/5
"Cheech and Chong Christmas Story: Magic Dust" was a disappointment all around. The humor was crude and relied heavily on tired stereotypes, which I found to be offensive. The plot was thin and predictable, leaving me uninterested and bored throughout the entire film. The performances felt half-hearted, as if the actors themselves were aware of the lackluster material they were working with. I would not recommend this movie to anyone looking for a quality comedic experience.