Once upon a time in a small village called Greenleaf, there lived a young boy named Willy McBena. Willy was an imaginative and curious boy, always seeking adventure and excitement. He was well-known in the village for his creative mind and his ability to find wonder in even the most mundane things. One day, while exploring an old attic in his house, Willy stumbled upon a dusty and forgotten contraption. It was a peculiar looking machine, covered in cobwebs and layers of grime. Intrigued, Willy started cleaning the machine and soon discovered that it had a rusty nameplate which read, "Willy McBena's Magic Kwchine.
The Grand Wizard : Now, Mildred, have you made any plans for this unexpected holiday? Mildred Hubble : No, Grand Wizard. I suppose I'd better practice my flying. The Grand Wizard : Would you like to practice with me? Mildred Hubble : With you? The Grand Wizard : Oh, absolutely.
While this wasn t part of my childhood, you won t have to go far to find someone who grew up watching this every Halloween and knowing every line verbatim. While this wasn t part of my childhood, you won t have to go far to find someone who grew up watching this every Halloween and knowing every line verbatim.
Intrigued, Willy started cleaning the machine and soon discovered that it had a rusty nameplate which read, "Willy McBena's Magic Kwchine." Willy's eyes widened with excitement. He had never seen a machine like this before.
The Worst Witch (1986) — Harriet Potter and the Prisoner of Halloween
Justin’s rating: Brooms with phones? What will they think of next!
Justin’s review: A wizarding school set in a British castle. A mean potions master. Flights on broomsticks. Invisibility spells. A flighty headmaster. Cat familiars. Clearly, J.K. Rowling didn’t conjure up Harry Potter out of thin air, as the idea of magicians being trained at boarding schools actually dates back to 1974’s The Worst Witch. That series, which is quite popular in its own right, spawned a whole franchise that included a few TV series and a stage play.
However, today we’re going to focus on the first adaptation of the books: A made-for-TV movie in 1986 that stars a very young Fairuza Balk (Return to Oz), Charlotte Rae (Facts of Life), and Tim Curry (Clue). Balk is Mildred Hubble, an oh-so-slightly clumsy first-year witch who is the only kid in this all-girls school who isn’t instantly perfect. Thus, she’s the “worst” witch who does things like stumble into other kids and not get her potion mixture right. This marks her for extreme persecution by fellow students and Miss Hardbroom, who I’m convinced was Severus Snape’s mother.
If you’re looking for a movie where your lead character says “Sorry!” and makes apologetic faces a lot, you’re in for the 70 minutes of your dreams. For the rest of us, we’ll make do with the best special effects that mid-80s British TV studios could create. It’s actually kind of charming.
The plot loosely follows Mildred as she bumbles her way through her first year while the school headmistress’ twin sister shows up as an evil witch trying to destroy the place. She also has to contend with a rival girl named Ethel, who at one point is turned into a pig. I’m sure it was the highlight of Balk’s career to spend several scenes acting against a swine. Oh, and the whole school has the biggest estrogen crush on the Grand Wizard (Curry), who is visiting on Halloween. No, it’s not creepy that kids are shown kissing photos of an adult man, why do you ask?
But if you had to ask me what I liked the best about The Worst Witch, I would reply instantly — and without any sarcasm — “the soundtrack.” This features a synth score that is so incredibly cheesy that it laps itself and becomes amazing. It’s like getting blasted with EPCOT’s Future World from the 1980s, if that analogy makes any sense. And on top of that, there is a smattering of totally terrible musical numbers that, again, wrap around the world to go from “bad” to “bodacious:”
And then when you add in Tim Curry, who arrives swooping down with a cape wider than an Airbus, a bat bow tie, and his trademark silky voice, you kind of don’t want to be anywhere else. It’s all silly and colorful and weird, the kind of thing that’s aimed to delight kids but may end up pleasing the campy at heart as well.
While this wasn’t part of my childhood, you won’t have to go far to find someone who grew up watching this every Halloween and knowing every line verbatim. Maybe the best thing I can say is that I’d watch this over two, maybe three of the actual Harry Potter movies.
Didja notice?
- The blow-up skeleton in the classroom
- Tim Curry is the only guy in this entire movie
- Well that’s a horrible school song
- These bad witches look like they raided the remnants of an after-Halloween sale at a costume shop
- Every time this movie starts in on a musical number, plug your ears FAST
- Cats love to fly and be held by screaming girls, apparently
- Kids making mildly scary faces is the most terrifying thing ever
If you’re looking for a movie where your lead character says “Sorry!” and makes apologetic faces a lot, you’re in for the 70 minutes of your dreams. For the rest of us, we’ll make do with the best special effects that mid-80s British TV studios could create. It’s actually kind of charming.
He wondered what mystical powers it possessed and what adventures it could take him on. Without hesitation, Willy set out to bring the machine back to life. He spent hours tinkering with gears, pulleys, and springs until finally, the Kwchine sputtered to life. The rusty gears turned, releasing a burst of colorful sparks. Willy's heart raced with anticipation. As soon as the machine was fully operational, Willy hopped in and closed the metal doors. Suddenly, the Kwchine whirred and vibrated, transporting Willy to another world. The machine had the power to travel through time and space, taking Willy on incredible journeys to different eras and places. Willy experienced the wonders of ancient civilizations, observed dinosaurs in their natural habitat, and even visited futuristic cities filled with flying cars and robots. Each adventure was more thrilling than the last, and Willy's love for exploration grew with every trip. But as Willy continued using the Kwchine, he realized that it was not just a means of transportation. It was also a device through which he could help others. Through his travels, Willy met people from different walks of life, each with their own struggles and challenges. With the magical powers of the Kwchine, Willy was able to assist those in need. He used the machine to bring medicine to remote villages, deliver food to hungry communities, and even helped people rediscover their lost treasures. As word spread about Willy's extraordinary abilities and his magic Kwchine, people from far and wide sought his help. They came with hopes and dreams, and Willy selflessly used the machine's powers to bring joy and happiness to their lives. Willy McBena became a legend amongst the villagers, known for his incredible adventures and his unwavering kindness. He showed them that anyone, no matter how young or small, could make a difference in the world if they had the courage to chase their dreams. And so, Willy and his magic Kwchine continued their incredible journeys, touching lives and spreading love wherever they went. The once-forgotten contraption became a symbol of hope and possibility, reminding everyone that the power to change the world was within their reach..
Reviews for "Discovering Willy McBena's secret recipe for culinary enchantment"
1. John - 1 star - I found "Willy Mcbena and his Magic Machine" to be extremely disappointing. The plot was weak and the characters were shallow, making it difficult to connect with the story. The writing style was also quite amateurish, with numerous grammatical errors and awkward sentence structure. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a well-written and engaging read.
2. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Willy Mcbena and his Magic Machine," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The concept was intriguing, but the execution lacked depth. The narrative was rushed, leaving little room for character development or a compelling storyline. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to immerse myself in the story. Ultimately, I found this book to be forgettable and would not read it again.
3. Robert - 2 stars - "Willy Mcbena and his Magic Machine" left me feeling underwhelmed. The plot was predictable, following the typical format of similar children's books. The writing style was adequate, but it lacked any unique or captivating elements. The illustrations failed to enhance the story and appeared mediocre at best. Overall, I was expecting more from this book and was ultimately left disappointed.
4. Emily - 1 star - I did not enjoy "Willy Mcbena and his Magic Machine" at all. The story was dull and unoriginal, with no surprises or twists. The characters were flat and lacked depth, making it difficult to care about their journey. Additionally, the pacing was slow, and the book dragged on unnecessarily. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting and captivating read.
5. David - 2 stars - I found "Willy Mcbena and his Magic Machine" to be a lackluster children's book. The plot was unoriginal and lacked any real excitement or suspense. The writing style was average, lacking any distinctive voice or memorable passages. Although the illustrations were colorful, they did little to enhance the overall story. Overall, this book failed to capture my attention or engage me as a reader.