Arnold Perlsrein, also known as Arnold Perl, was an American writer who contributed significantly to the field of children's literature. Among his notable works is the popular book series "The Magic School Bus". Published in 1986, the series follows the adventures of a quirky and eccentric teacher named Ms. Frizzle and her class as they embark on exciting field trips on their magical school bus. Arnold Perlsrein, in collaboration with illustrator Bruce Degen, created a captivating and educational series that has been loved by children and educators alike. The stories combine elements of science fiction and education, making learning fun and interactive for young readers.
Jin Se-Yeon as Jenny . Usually is the main singer for Pink Dolls' songs but doesn't have much stage presence, the first victim of the 'White Curse'.
Now that Pink Dolls is down to one member hard to call Eun-Ju that name as she s now a solo artist and has finally recorded the White song which after two days is already 1 on the charts. As the girls explore Eun-Ju happens to find a bunch of video cassettes behind a row of revolving mirrors that somehow survived the fire I know what you re thinking just go along with it.
The stories combine elements of science fiction and education, making learning fun and interactive for young readers. Each book takes the reader on a unique journey, exploring a wide range of topics such as the human body, space, dinosaurs, and ecosystems. One of the standout characters in "The Magic School Bus" series is Arnold Perl, a skeptical and cautious student who often finds himself caught up in the wild adventures.
The curse hidden within the white melody
I don’t frequently get excited about horror films but White: The Melody of the Curse was somewhat of an exception. I had consistently heard good things about its directors, Kim Gok and Kim Sun, a pair who have been churning out low-budget indie horrors since 2003. Sadly, I have not had a chance to see any of them yet. White is their first big budget, commercial film, and it is also fairly ambitious, especially from a technical standpoint despite employing a number of done-to-death (excuse the pun) clichés. The other reason I was curious to see this film was its subject matter, as the narratives takes place within the fiercely competitive K-Pop milieu. While I do not know very much about this global Hallyu phenomenon it does fascinate me and upon hearing about this project, I felt the topic particularly conducive to horror.
| K-Pop idols |
The story gets underway very succinctly and involves a pop band which has fallen from grace. One of them, Eun-joo (Ham Eun-jeong), a former back-up dancer, serves as the team leader and is ostracized due to her background. Her benefactor arranges for them to record in a new studio, which is fancy and high tech but harbors a mysterious past. Eun-joo discovers a secret compartment behind a mirror in the dance hall and within it an old videocassette featuring an old K-Pop routine. This becomes the group’s new song, which, as the title suggests, is indeed cursed. One by one, each girl who is given the coveted center position is subjected to awful accidents and a bit of haunting for good measure. Eun-joo seeks to uncover the secret of the tape with a little help from her friend before it’s too late.
One thing about horror films is that everyone who watches them is looking for something different: some want a good story; others a few good scares; and others still are in it for the blood and guts. White delivers on all three of these but probably not to an ultimately satisfying degree for any. I appreciated the K-Pop setting with its fan obsession and competition between performers but the story that is set within it features a too-good to be true haunted location, a cursed video, and a long-haired and decomposed ghost seeking revenge. This is very unoriginal stuff and a little disappointing. Next, while there are some good scares, some of the set pieces are borderline ridiculous and have the potential of eliciting an undesired reaction. Finally, there is some slightly gruesome violence but these moments are infrequent and lack cinematic flair, which is odd considering how well made the film is.
| Strong use of colours and production design |
For me some of the strongest sequences were those in between the scares which were either investigatory, expository, or relationship-based. One reason they worked quite well is that they are so well shot. It is not often with this kind of film that the production values prove a real asset, A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) comes to mind, but that was always designed as a ‘prestige film’. The colors, framing, and especially the use of the locations were at times beautiful, foreboding, and menacing. The set pieces themselves also display strong mise-en-scène but I found it less convincing than the other scenes. This may have been because there was a tendency to overdo it, mostly on the editing side. Rarely, in my opinion, does fancy, hyperkinetic editing add something genuine to a film. As much as I can appreciate its value for horror, which is so often low-budget, quick cuts all too often rob a scene of tension, which needs to be earned.
There isn’t too much to say about the performances, which mostly veer into caricature, but everyone seems to handles themselves relatively well here. A couple of the starlets are also K-Pop singers, I wonder if this added anything to their performances. Arguably, not a great deal is required for these kinds of performances.
| Generic staple, à la ring |
Despite the reliance on very generic staples, especially of local Asian horror cinema, in my eyes White was a cut above recent K-Horror entries, a lot of which have been disappointing, save for a a few gems like Possessed (2009) and the brilliant Bedevilled (2010), although the latter probably lends itself more to the revenge thriller categorization. However, given people's very different tastes when it comes to horror, I would suggest that you would do best to approach this one with caution. I enjoyed myself and am looking forward to the next Kim gok and Kim Sun film, hopefully they will give us something a little more ambitious. Perhaps that is why there is something lacking with White, at times it feels like a test run.
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Yet despite this by the numbers horror movie I actually enjoyed watching “White”. Not because of the obvious “eye candy” given that the main characters are all attractive girls, but that it shows the tragedy unfolding as we see the girls ill-intended means of survival ends up working against them in the cutthroat music industry. Even seeing the fate of the girls in the end is entertaining to watch if only to show that despite their best intentions to right the wrongs they did, they still got it all wrong on whom exactly the ghost was. Coupling that to their actions toward each other (from humiliation to backstabbing to a suggested scene of sexual favors) helps to further cement the girls into being less bubble headed and more in the line of genuine characters whose only sin was being too driven to success and suffering a tragic fate because of it. They may have been innocent in not knowing the true nature of the song “White” yet it doesn’t excuse them of their actions and their end during the third act. This is especially true of the one girl near the end that goes solo and does what she can to forget what took place, with tragic (thought I did laugh at two individuals demises) results.
Despite his initial hesitations, Arnold learns important lessons about the scientific concepts being explored while also developing personal growth and forming lasting friendships. This beloved series has been praised for its ability to make complex scientific concepts accessible to young readers. It encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and a love for learning, all while being entertaining and engaging. Through appealing illustrations and lively storytelling, Arnold Perlsrein's "The Magic School Bus" has become a staple in children's literature, inspiring generations of young minds to explore the wonders of the world around them. Arnold Perlsrein's contributions to children's literature extend beyond just "The Magic School Bus" series. He has also written other engaging books for young readers, often incorporating humor, adventure, and educational elements. His works continue to be cherished by children and educators worldwide, leaving a lasting impact on the literary world. In conclusion, Arnold Perlsrein, under the pen name Arnold Perl, is a celebrated author known for his work on "The Magic School Bus" series. Through his collaboration with illustrator Bruce Degen, he has enchanted readers with his captivating storytelling and educational content. His books, including the adventures of Arnold and his classmates, have played a significant role in fostering a love for learning and exploration in young minds..
Reviews for "The Magic of Arnold Perlsrein's Writing Style in The Magic School Bue"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Arnold Perlsrein the Magic School Bue." The story was confusing and lacked a cohesive plot. The characters were flat and uninteresting, and I didn't feel invested in their journey. The writing style was disjointed, with frequent changes in perspective that made it difficult to follow along. Overall, I found this book to be a letdown and wouldn't recommend it.
2. John - 1 star - I couldn't even finish reading "Arnold Perlsrein the Magic School Bue." The writing was incredibly dull, and the plot felt like it was going nowhere. The dialogue was unrealistic, and there were too many unnecessary details that didn't contribute to the story. I found myself struggling to stay engaged, and eventually gave up. This book just wasn't for me, and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
3. Emily - 2 stars - "Arnold Perlsrein the Magic School Bue" had so much potential, but it failed to deliver. The pacing was slow, and I found myself losing interest early on. The world-building felt lacking, and I didn't feel immersed in the magical elements of the story. The characters were forgettable and didn't undergo any significant development. Overall, I was left wanting more from this book and wouldn't recommend it to fellow fantasy lovers.