The magical revolution of the princess and the young lady Once upon a time, in a kingdom far away, there was a young princess named Amelia. She was known for her beauty and kindness, but she longed for something more in life. Amelia had always been fascinated by magic and the idea of having special powers. She dreamed of embarking on a grand adventure and discovering a hidden world of enchantment. One day, while exploring the royal library, Amelia stumbled upon an old book. The book was filled with stories of powerful sorceresses and brave heroines who had changed the world through their magic.
The Witch: Part 2. The Other One does some typical sequel things. Namely, it expands the world of this story. The Subversion is predominantly concerned with the narrative of Ja-yoon (Kim), an adopted young woman whose past catches up to her. Her unique abilities and ailments point backwards to her origin as the victim of a medical experiment. We follow her back to the facility where it all went down, where she can exact her revenge.
The Subversion was a financial success upon its release in 2018, and it garnered some accolades in South Korea and beyond, particularly for its lead performer Kim Da-mi. It is altogether an exciting film, blending gritty action with more fantastical, comic book adjacent tropes the medical experiments central to the premise are similar to the Weapon X program of X-Men lore.
The book was filled with stories of powerful sorceresses and brave heroines who had changed the world through their magic. Inspired by these tales, Amelia knew that she could no longer resist her calling. She was determined to learn the secrets of magic and become a force for good in her kingdom.
The Witch: Part 2. The Other One (2022) Movie Review
Park Hoon-jun’s The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion was a financial success upon its release in 2018, and it garnered some accolades in South Korea and beyond, particularly for its lead performer Kim Da-mi. It is altogether an exciting film, blending gritty action with more fantastical, comic book adjacent tropes (the medical experiments central to the premise are similar to the Weapon X program of X-Men lore). For its reported budget of US $5.5 million, the film looks slick. It’s a fun time.
The Witch: Part 2. The Other One does some typical sequel things. Namely, it expands the world of this story. The Subversion is predominantly concerned with the narrative of Ja-yoon (Kim), an adopted young woman whose past catches up to her. Her unique abilities and ailments point backwards to her origin as the victim of a medical experiment. We follow her back to the facility where it all went down, where she can exact her revenge.
The Other One takes the logical step of examining new characters who went through the same medical transformation. The central figure in this sequel is a test subject who was cloned in the mysterious laboratory (Shin Si-ah). It is implied that she is heavily dangerous and ought to be eliminated. A foul-mouthed mercenary and her South African partner are tasked with tracking her down. Not to mention the various other shadowy figures and their nameless thugs who are also interested in the girl or otherwise are unfortunate enough to fall into her path.
The Witch: Part 2 is more sprawling and action-driven than its predecessor. The Subversion is more character-driven, taking its time to establish the protagonist and those in her inner orbit. This first film takes over an hour before any sci-fi action breaks out. And this is to the film’s credit. By grounding the story in a central character and her loved ones, adequate stakes are established. The mayhem of the second hour is justified by the relatively tame first hour.
The sequel finds itself lost in the sprawl of its multiple criminal conspiracies and ensemble of characters. The protagonist here gets far less time to develop. The characters she ends up alongside (Park Eun-bin and Seong Yu-bin), however sympathetic, are drawn thin. The plot, as a result, struggles to establish meaningful stakes.
This is not to say the action sequences are unimpressive. The effects look closer to seamless in this sequel, and the camerawork and editing are slightly superior, as well. As the film ramps up, barreling into its final act, the action takes center stage and gives way to a thunderous climax. As disappointing as some of the narrative elements are — imagine how impressive a finale we would have gotten if this new protagonist was given the substantive character work Ja-yoon was given — the fireworks explosion of a set piece that tops off the film is exciting to say the least.
The Witch: Part 2 is not as cohesive as one would hope from a sequel to the much loved The Witch. But on a technical level, it surpassed my expectations, leading to some great sequences. This remains a fun franchise with a lot of promise, even as I found myself increasingly less enthused by the expanding mythology of this story world.
The Witch: Part 2. The Other One: B-
As always, thanks for reading!
Park Hoon-jun’s The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion was a financial success upon its release in 2018, and it garnered some accolades in South Korea and beyond, particularly for its lead performer Kim Da-mi. It is altogether an exciting film, blending gritty action with more fantastical, comic book adjacent tropes (the medical experiments central to the premise are similar to the Weapon X program of X-Men lore). For its reported budget of US $5.5 million, the film looks slick. It’s a fun time.
Amelia began her magical journey by seeking out an experienced sorceress. She found a wise and kind-hearted woman named Eliza who agreed to train her in the ways of magic. Under Eliza's guidance, Amelia learned to harness her innate abilities and control the elements. She discovered that she had a natural affinity for healing and used her powers to help those in need. As word spread of Amelia's magical abilities, she became known as the Magical Princess. People from all over the kingdom would seek her out for assistance and guidance. She quickly became a symbol of hope and inspiration for the people, especially young girls who believed in the power of magic. Meanwhile, in a small village on the outskirts of the kingdom, there lived a young lady named Violet. Unlike Amelia, Violet did not come from a noble background. She had grown up in poverty and had to work hard to make ends meet. Despite her circumstances, Violet possessed an unwavering determination and a thirst for knowledge. Violet had always been curious about magic and the possibilities it held. She knew that with the right training, she could change her life and the lives of others. However, the villagers believed that magic was only for the noble and wealthy, and that people like Violet had no place in the world of sorcery. Undeterred by the villagers' views, Violet set out on her own magical journey. With nothing more than a few tattered books and her own ambition, Violet began to teach herself the art of spellcasting. She spent countless hours studying ancient texts and practicing her incantations. As time passed, both Amelia and Violet began to realize the true power of their magic. They understood that their abilities went beyond mere tricks and illusions – they had the power to change the world. Inspired by this revelation, the two young women joined forces to bring about a magical revolution. Together, Amelia and Violet set out to challenge the existing beliefs about magic and prove that anyone, regardless of their background, could become a powerful sorcerer. They organized workshops and training sessions, inviting people from all walks of life to learn about the wonders of magic. They taught spells for protection, healing, and manifestation, empowering individuals to tap into their own innate abilities. The magical revolution sparked a wave of change throughout the kingdom. People who had once been marginalized and oppressed found their voices and their power. The kingdom became a beacon of acceptance and equality, where magic was no longer restricted to the noble class. The princess and the young lady had not only changed the perception of magic but had also brought about a greater sense of unity among the people. The magical revolution became a symbol of hope and a testament to the transformative power of belief and determination. In the end, Amelia and Violet's journey had not only fulfilled their own desires for adventure and self-discovery but had also forever changed the lives of those around them. The kingdom became a place where magic thrived, and everyone, no matter their background, could embrace their inner sorcerer and create a better world..
Reviews for "Beyond Happily Ever After: The Princess and the Young Lady as Agents of Change"
1. - Sarah - 2 stars - I found "The magical revolution of the princess and the young lady" to be quite disappointing. The plot was weak and lacked originality, with predictable twists and turns. The characters were one-dimensional and I couldn't connect with any of them. The writing style was also lackluster, with repetitive phrases and clichéd dialogue. Overall, the book didn't live up to my expectations and I would not recommend it.
2. - John - 1 star - I couldn't finish "The magical revolution of the princess and the young lady" as I found it incredibly boring and unengaging. The story seemed to drag on with no clear direction or purpose. The characters were poorly developed and their actions often felt forced and unrealistic. Additionally, the writing was filled with grammatical errors and awkward sentence structures. I was highly disappointed and would not recommend this book to anyone.
3. - Emily - 2 stars - I was excited to read "The magical revolution of the princess and the young lady" but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The storyline had potential, but the execution was lacking. I found it difficult to become invested in the characters and their struggles because they lacked depth and development. The pacing of the book was also inconsistent, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. Overall, I was left unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this book to others.
4. - Michael - 2 stars - "The magical revolution of the princess and the young lady" failed to captivate my interest from the beginning. The plot felt disjointed and the transitions between scenes were often confusing. The book was filled with unnecessary details and descriptions that didn't add value to the overall story. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the characters. I was left unimpressed by this novel and wouldn't recommend it to others.
5. - Jessica - 1 star - I couldn't believe how much I disliked "The magical revolution of the princess and the young lady". The story was incredibly boring and lacked any real substance. The characters were unlikable and their actions felt illogical. The writing style was also difficult to follow, with convoluted sentences and excessive use of flowery language. Overall, I found this book to be a complete waste of time and would not recommend it to anyone.