Have you ever heard of the "Magic Bullet Baby"? It is a term often used in the world of filmmaking to describe a specific technique used to create the illusion of a newborn baby being hit by a bullet. Although the term may sound shocking, it is important to note that this is not a real-life occurrence, but rather a visual effect that is created using special effects techniques. The concept of the "Magic Bullet Baby" originates from the early days of cinema when filmmakers and special effects artists were constantly pushing the boundaries of what could be achieved on screen. It is believed that the term was first coined in the 1920s, during the era of silent films. At the time, practical effects were often used to create realistic-looking scenarios, and the "Magic Bullet Baby" was just one of many techniques employed by filmmakers to captivate audiences. So how is the "Magic Bullet Baby" effect achieved? It involves the use of a combination of practical effects and post-production techniques.
So how is the "Magic Bullet Baby" effect achieved? It involves the use of a combination of practical effects and post-production techniques. First, a lifelike baby doll is used on set to simulate the bullet impact. Special effects artists carefully position the doll in a way that makes it appear as if a bullet has struck it.
Sea witch sarah henningm
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Standalone/Series: Standalone
How I got this book: ARC from HarperCollins UK, Children's via NetGalley
Everyone knows what happens in the end.
A mermaid, a prince, a true love’s kiss.
But before that young siren’s tale, there were three friends.
One feared, one royal, and one already dead.
Ever since her best friend, Anna, drowned, Evie has been an outcast in her small fishing town. A freak. A curse. A witch.
A girl with an uncanny resemblance to Anna appears offshore and, though the girl denies it, Evie is convinced that her best friend actually survived. That her own magic wasn’t so powerless after all. And, as the two girls catch the eyes—and hearts—of two charming princes, Evie believes that she might finally have a chance at her own happily ever after.
But her new friend has secrets of her own. She can’t stay in Havnestad, or on two legs, unless Evie finds a way to help her. Now Evie will do anything to save her friend’s humanity, along with her prince’s heart—harnessing the power of her magic, her ocean, and her love until she discovers, too late, the truth of her bargain.
The rise of Hans Christian Andersen’s iconic villainess is a heart-wrenching story of friendship, betrayal, and a girl pushed beyond her limits—to become a monster.
I spotted this book on NetGalley and was drawn to it for two reasons:
1.) The cover is gorgeous! It's a little superficial to judge a book by its cover, I know (yet we all do it!), but it really drew me in. I loved the creepy, mysterious vibe to it and had high hopes for a dark story.
2.) From the synopsis, it's obvious that this story is connected to The Little Mermaid and I've really enjoyed a lot of the fairytale retellings that have been released year!
On that note, as you can probably gather from the cover and the synopsis, this story isn't so much a retelling as an Ursula origin story, which I was more than on-board with! I love a good villain story!
My thoughts on this book are a little mixed, so please bear with me as I'm still processing!
The opening chapter was interesting but a little confusing and I wasn't entirely sure I'd be able to get into this book. However, I soon found myself flying through chapters, the pace really picked up and I became heavily invested and intrigued to find out what would happen next.
It was definitely an interesting start to the story. I was invested in the characters, most particularly Evie, her story of hardship and life as an outcast made her character much stronger.
I also really liked Tante Hansa and Annemette; the latter really comes into her own as we near the end of the book and Tante Hansa's no-nonsense approach to life made me an instant fan of hers, especially with this particular quote,
"Don't grant all the prince's requests, darling girl. Men are always asking for more than they should."
Sadly, I wasn't too keen on the other characters. Iker was predictable from the start and Evie's obsession with him never made sense to me.
Nik is a marginally better character but the 'romance' aspect of this book really threw me off. It felt a bit messy and wishy-washy in places, leading up to a 'surprise' reveal at the end that was quite strange and didn't really make sense to me.
Sadly, just over halfway through the book, whilst I didn't at all lose interest or get bored, I did become more and more frustrated with Evie. She's so naive and at times almost oblivious to what's immediately in front of her and I just found some of the storyline a bit repetitive as she goes back and forth over how she's treated by everyone, her attraction to Iker, and her guilt.
I did push past this and kept reading, which I'm really glad I did because things got decidedly better when a certain 'truth' is finally revealed, which does take the story to a much darker place, and I did enjoy this a lot more.
The epilogue was probably my favourite chapter, although I ultimately felt sad that what I'd hoped at the beginning would be an empowering female novel, ended on a bit of a sour note for me.
Overall, whilst I did enjoy the premise of the story and the backstory it provided, I just felt that the main character lacked a little punch.
Recommended for fans of To Kill A Kingdom, The Language of Thorns and fairytale retellings in general.
Because I went into this thinking that Sea Witch was just a retelling of the Little Mermaid, I was surprised by the dark and magical elements that strayed from the typical mermaid lore. Sarah’s prose was beautiful and I was hooked from the first sentence ‘The sea is a fickle witch.’ While this was not an epic fantasy that drew you in by the characters, the writing was more than enough to keep you intrigued.
This involves setting up the scene with proper angles and lighting to create a believable effect. Once the scene is shot, it is then taken to the post-production stage, where visual effects artists come into play. Through the use of digital editing software, they are able to enhance the practical effects with additional CGI elements. This can include adding blood splatters, bullet holes, or even the illusion of the baby doll disintegrating upon impact. Although the "Magic Bullet Baby" effect may seem shocking, it is important to remember that it is purely a fictional creation. Filmmakers use these techniques to create thrilling and realistic scenes that engage viewers and add excitement to their films. The term itself has become a part of film industry jargon, often used to describe similar special effects techniques used in other scenarios. It is always fascinating to explore the world of filmmaking and discover the innovative techniques that filmmakers employ to create stunning visual effects. The "Magic Bullet Baby" effect may be a startling concept, but it serves as a testament to the creativity and ingenuity of special effects artists in bringing stories to life on the big screen..
Reviews for "The Surprising History of the Magic Bullet Baby"
1. John - 2 stars - I didn't care for "Magic Bullet Baby" at all. The plot was convoluted and confusing, and I found it hard to follow along. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, which made it difficult for me to feel invested in their story. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Mary - 3 stars - "Magic Bullet Baby" didn't live up to the hype for me. While the concept was intriguing, I felt that the execution fell flat. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of slow development and then rushed resolutions. The ending also left me unsatisfied, as it left too many loose ends untied. Additionally, I found some of the plot twists to be predictable and lacking originality. Overall, it was an okay read, but I expected more from it.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I struggled to connect with "Magic Bullet Baby" from the beginning. The writing style felt disjointed and confusing, and I found myself having to re-read sentences multiple times. The characters were unrelatable and their actions often illogical. The book attempted to tackle deep themes, but I felt that it fell short in exploring them fully. Overall, I found it to be a difficult and frustrating read that didn't meet my expectations.