The Curse of the Blue Figurine is a young adult mystery novel written by John Bellairs. The story follows a twelve-year-old boy named Johnny Dixon, who discovers an ancient cursed figurine hidden in the attic of his grandparents' old house. The figurine is made of blue crystal and is said to be the vessel for an evil spirit. Legend has it that anyone who possesses the figurine will be plagued by misfortune and eventually meet a tragic end. Despite the warnings, Johnny becomes fascinated with the figurine and decides to keep it. Soon after, strange occurrences begin to happen around Johnny.
And the animation, despite being from 1983, suddenly improved by a staggering amount. The comparison was ridiculous. The pace smoothed out beautifully. The music and voice acting was glorious. Erin and I started to smile.
Meanwhile, in between these pieces has been a not-story about Mickey and the others trying to get Donald to admit to some Christmas spirit, for some reason. It s astonishing that anyone was stupid enough to put these disparate pieces of animation together, because the difference in quality was so pronounced.
Soon after, strange occurrences begin to happen around Johnny. He experiences nightmares, sees shadowy figures, and even witnesses objects moving on their own. Johnny realizes that the curse of the blue figurine is real and that he must find a way to break it before it is too late.
Western Animation / Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse
Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse is a 2001 direct-to-video animated film produced by Walt Disney Television Animation and is based on House of Mouse.
The plot centers around the House of Mouse being Snowed-In by a massive snowstorm, trapping Mickey and the gang inside. The assembled Disney characters are enjoying Christmas, primarily by watching cartoons on the big screen as usual, but Donald Duck is a humbug and remains in a grumpy mood. Mickey and the gang try to give him the Christmas spirit. Cartoons shown in the movie are all recycled from either the show's predecessor Mickey Mouse Works or classic theatrical release cartoons. These include:
- "Donald On Ice" (Mickey Mouse Works, 1999)
- "Pluto's Christmas Tree" (1952)
- "Mickey's Christmas Chaos" (Mickey Mouse Works, 2000; edited)
- "The Nutcracker" (Mickey Mouse Works, 1999)
- Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
Followed by Mickey's House of Villains, which very similarly combined recycled cartoons and new linking footage in a Halloween setting, while portions of the movie were reused in four later House of Mouse episodes, including its two proper Christmas episodes in 2002, "Clarabelle's Christmas List" and "Pete's Christmas Caper". House of Mouse episodes aside, Mickey & crew next celebrated the holidays in 2004's Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas .
With the help of his friend Professor Childermass, an eccentric and knowledgeable professor, Johnny embarks on a quest to uncover the origins of the curse and find a way to lift it. They explore ancient texts, decipher cryptic messages, and navigate through dangerous traps and obstacles in their search for answers. As Johnny delves deeper into the mystery, he discovers a dark secret surrounding the house and its previous owners. He learns of an evil sorcerer who was imprisoned within the figurine and seeks to be released to wreak havoc on the world once again. Johnny realizes that he holds the key to stopping the sorcerer's return and must confront his fears to save himself and those he holds dear. In the end, Johnny successfully breaks the curse and banishes the evil spirit from the figurine. He learns the power of bravery, friendship, and the importance of facing fears head-on. The Curse of the Blue Figurine is a thrilling and suspenseful tale that captures the imagination and keeps readers hooked until the very end..
Reviews for "The Blue Figurine Curse: A Study in Paranormal Activity"
1. John - 2 stars - I found "The Curse of the Blue Figurine" to be quite underwhelming. The story started off promising with a mysterious curse and an ancient artifact, but it quickly devolved into a predictable and formulaic plot. The characters lacked depth and the dialogue felt forced. Overall, I was disappointed with the book's lack of originality and its failure to deliver a truly captivating mystery.
2. Emily - 1 star - I couldn't get through "The Curse of the Blue Figurine" without feeling completely bored and uninterested. The writing style was dry and lacked any sort of excitement or suspense. The plot seemed disjointed and the pacing was incredibly slow. I was hoping for a gripping supernatural mystery, but instead, I got a dull and unengaging read. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an entertaining and thrilling story.
3. Robert - 2 stars - "The Curse of the Blue Figurine" started off with promise, but it quickly lost its shine. The main character was difficult to relate to and lacked any real depth. The paranormal elements were poorly executed and felt more like an afterthought than an integral part of the plot. The ending was rushed and unsatisfying, leaving me with more questions than answers. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointment and would not recommend it to others.
4. Sarah - 2 stars - I struggled to connect with the story and characters in "The Curse of the Blue Figurine". The pacing was slow, and the narrative lacked any real tension or suspense. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to become immersed in the story. The supernatural elements were not convincing and failed to create any sense of wonder or intrigue. Overall, I found this book to be a forgettable and unremarkable read.