In the episode "Kipper the Dog: The Magic Act," Kipper and his friends take on the challenge of putting on a magic show. They gather props and materials to create their acts, while Kipper takes on the role of the magician. Along with his friends Tiger, Pig, Arnold, and Jake, they prepare for their big performance. Throughout the episode, Kipper and his friends practice their magic tricks, such as making objects disappear and reappear. They face challenges and mishaps along the way, but they continue to work together and support each other to improve their acts. Kipper always remains optimistic and encourages his friends to do their best.
Should you go? It’s decidedly not scary. 2 stars
With The Curse of La Llorona we get the eighth installment in The Conjuring Universe franchise that s eight films in just six years and with that James Wan has almost created a horror subgenre all his own. The middle of the film tracks off into some weird kind of rubber reality where Lacy Hartselle seems to be trapped in an alternate version of her life where you are not quite sure what is going on.
Kipper always remains optimistic and encourages his friends to do their best. As the day of the magic show approaches, Kipper and his friends finalize their acts and make sure everything is in order. They set up a stage and decorate it with banners and lights to create a magical atmosphere.
The curse of a vengeful nun in 2019
Sean Patrick Thomas and Linda Cardellini “The Curse of La Llorona.” (Warner Brothers Entertainment/TNS)
By Katie Walsh | Tribune News Service April 19, 2019 at 1:14 p.m.What we call the Conjuring Universe has become a sprawling franchise of big-budget horror-lite spookfests that pull from every urban legend, folk tale and ghost story one can think of, usually involving vengeful feminine spirits and the women with whom they do battle.
We’ve got hauntings, possessions (“The Conjuring” and “The Conjuring 2”), creepy dolls (“Annabelle” and “Annabelle: Creation”), demonic nuns (“The Nun,” obviously) and now, the ancient ghost of a murderous mother in “The Curse of La Llorona,” directed by Michael Chaves, making his feature debut.
Six movies in, there are a few hallmarks of the freaky franchise kicked off by director James Wan. The films are often set in the 1970s and feature dizzyingly long tracking shots that give the camera (and, therefore, the audience) their own set of eyes to reveal or conceal the things that go bump in the night. The look, feel and dynamic movement of the films gives the loosely connected series an aesthetic DNA. Here it’s literally genetic — “The Curse of La Llorona” cinematographer Michael Burgess is the son of “The Conjuring 2” cinematographer Don Burgess, and he shot second unit footage on that film and “The Nun.”
The victims of our latest Frightening Female Phantom (all these ghosts have the same look, don’t they?) are Anna (Linda Cardellini), a widowed social worker trying to get by with her two kids, Chris (Roman Christou) and Sam (Jaynee-Lynne Kinchen) in 1973 Los Angeles. When Anna makes a welfare check on one of her troubled clients, Patricia (Patricia Velasquez), she unknowingly invites the menacing spirit of La Llorona into her life. The weeping woman, clad in billowing white garb, has roamed the earth since 1673, when she drowned her two sons in a jealous rage caused by her husband’s infidelity, then drowned herself. Now her demonic spirit stalks new children to replace hers. It serves as a spooky story and warning tale in Latinx households — behave, or La Llorona will get you.
“The Curse of La Llorona” is a combination ghost story and haunted house horror flick sprinkled with folksy mythology and shamanic rituals. It relies heavily on jump scares, rather than anything existentially terrifying, and there are some leaps in magical logic that don’t quite make sense. The script, which must have consisted of dozens of pages reading “La Llorona screams in someone’s face,” or “someone is dragged down a hallway” is lightweight at best.
Surprisingly, the only other writing credit for team Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis is the heartstring-tugging cystic fibrosis teen romance “Five Feet Apart.” Bittersweet teen romance is their thing, horror not so much.
The “Conjuring” spinoffs are like Xerox copies — each new iteration comes out to diminished returns. The structure, ideas and style are there, but there isn’t the same heft of themes or slick craft Wan expressed in his two “Conjuring” films.
“The Curse of La Llorona” is middling B-movie schlock that goes for the low-hanging fruit: sequences you know will end with some kind of jump, bump or scream, and jokes that cut the tension and indicate everyone here knows what’s up. We do. Wail as she might, the silly, not scary “The Curse of La Llorona” never reaches the operatic heights that the best of the franchise can offer.
“THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA”
Directed by: Michael Chaves
Starring: Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz, Roman Christou, Jaynee-Lynne Kinchen
Rated: R for violence and terror.
Should you go? It’s decidedly not scary. 2 stars
Rae Hunt as Sister Margaret Catherine
The excitement and anticipation of the performance build up as they prepare to showcase their magic skills. When the moment arrives, Kipper and his friends take the stage one by one, mesmerizing the audience with their tricks. Kipper's magic act involves pulling rabbits out of a hat, making objects disappear and reappear, and levitating. The audience, including their other animal friends, is amazed by the performances and applauds each act enthusiastically. Through their magic act, Kipper and his friends not only entertain their audience but also teach valuable lessons about friendship, teamwork, and never giving up. They show that with determination and support from one another, anything is possible. The episode ends on a high note, with Kipper and his friends basking in the joy and success of their magic show. Overall, "Kipper the Dog: The Magic Act" is an entertaining and heartwarming episode that showcases the power of friendship and the magic of believing in oneself. It teaches children important values while captivating them with the excitement and wonder of magic..
Reviews for "Kipper the Dog: From Ordinary Pup to Magical Extraordinaire"
1. Name: Sarah
Rating: 2/5
Review: I was really disappointed with "Kipper the dog the magic act." As a fan of the original Kipper series, I expected more from this particular episode. The storyline felt weak and the magic tricks were lackluster. It didn't hold my attention at all and I found myself losing interest halfway through. I was hoping for something more magical and enchanting, but this episode just fell flat for me. Overall, I wouldn't recommend it if you are a true fan of Kipper.
2. Name: Mark
Rating: 1/5
Review: "Kipper the dog the magic act" was a total letdown. The animation quality was poor, the voices were annoying, and the overall plot was uninteresting. The characters lacked depth and the magic tricks were predictable and unimpressive. My child lost interest within minutes and I was just as bored. I expected much more from a Kipper episode. Save your money and skip this one.
3. Name: Lisa
Rating: 2/5
Review: I have always loved the Kipper series, but "Kipper the dog the magic act" left me feeling underwhelmed. The storyline was disjointed and the magic tricks were not as captivating as I had hoped. The humor fell flat and there were moments that felt forced and out of place. It didn't have the same charm and warmth that previous episodes had, which was quite disappointing. I hope the next Kipper adventure will be better.