Magic Tree House #32: Winter of the Ice Wizard is a thrilling adventure written by Mary Pope Osborne. In this installment of the popular Magic Tree House series, Jack and Annie find themselves in the realm of the Ice Wizard. The story begins when Jack and Annie receive a mysterious message from Merlin to travel to the icy land of the Ice Wizard. Equipped with their trusty magic tree house, the siblings embark on an exciting journey to help save the Ice Wizard and restore balance to the frozen world. As they explore the icy landscape, Jack and Annie encounter magical creatures such as a talking polar bear, a cunning wolf, and a friendly snow leopard. With the help of these creatures, they navigate treacherous terrain and confront challenges to uncover the secrets of the Ice Wizard's power.

The Sandra Bullock Cult Classic That Is Keeping Fans Under Its Spell

Everyone has their collection of movies they watch around Halloween time, and Practical Magic is one that should always make the list. After more than 20 years, an article from Elle had much to say about why the movie still makes a repeated impact on movie lovers each year.

Practical Magic, starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, is streaming on Hulu.

If not for the fabulous fashion choices made by its two lead characters (Sally and Gillian, played by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman), the witchy, fall-centered vibe of the movie keeps people coming back for more. Though the movie was considered a financial flop when it first premiered in theaters in 1998, the time since its release has morphed this film into a cult classic.

Produced on a $75 million budget, the box office presentation of Practical Magic only brought in around a little more than $68 million in proceeds worldwide. After a decent opening weekend, the film’s theater attendance quickly tanked.

Critics weren’t too happy with the film either. Some said that Practical Magic just seemed like a bunch of different snippets of various movie genres smashed together in hopes of becoming a whole movie.

Rotten Tomatoes only gives the movie a 24 percent rating on the Tomatometer, but the audience rating is much higher at 73 percent with more than 100,000 individual ratings, proving that moviegoers found more merit in the film than the critics.

Produced on a $75 million budget, the box office presentation of Practical Magic only brought in around a little more than $68 million in proceeds worldwide.

If you’re not familiar with the story of Practical Magic, the film centers around the lives of the Owens sisters, Gillian (Nicole Kidman) and Sally (Sandra Bullock). The Owens women have lived under a dark spell for hundreds of years.

Whenever an Owens woman falls in love, whomever they love ends up dying. Ultimately orphaned by the spell, Sally and Gillian are raised from childhood by their aunts Frances (Stockard Channing) and Jet (Dianne Weist), who are also witches (of course). The aunts purpose themselves to teach the young girls Practical Magic as they grow.

After witnessing a woman who comes to the aunts for a powerful love spell, Sally decides she never wants to fall in love and casts a spell that she can only fall in love with a man who can ride a pony backward, has one blue eye and one green eye, can flip pancakes in the air, is marvelously kind, and whose favorite shape is a star.

With such a ridiculous list of must-haves, Sally is sure she won’t ever have to deal with the woes of love or, worse, losing the man she loves. However, her story in Practical Magic doesn’t quite go as planned, as she soon finds out that such a man does exist.

Practical Magic isn’t simply a movie about magic but a movie about women.

Of course, there’s much more to the story than just Sally and her strange requirements for love. Gillian, who chose to throw herself into love every chance she got along the way, has picked up an abusive lover who turns into quite a large problem for the Owens sisters as the movie progresses.

Throughout the film, the connection and strength of the lead women drive the story forward. Practical Magic isn’t simply a movie about magic but a movie about women. The story highlights the power of togetherness, and in the end, everyone except the abusive lover seems to find a happy ending.

If you want to keep the vibe alive this year and feast your eyes on this gem of a movie once more, you can find Practical Magic streaming on Hulu for those who have a subscription to the channel.

What to Watch on Hulu: Here’s the list of top 7 movies to stream in August 2023

Hulu added all three films from the original Jurassic Park trilogy to their catalog on the first day of August, giving you a chance to indulge in a nostalgic summer-night marathon if you were fortunate enough to experience these movies in theaters.

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Hulu is constantly updating its movie collection, making sure you have plenty of entertainment during the upcoming heat waves. Among the summer movie classics is Jurassic Park, released 30 years ago in June 1993. Excitingly, Hulu added all three films from the original Jurassic Park trilogy to their catalog on the first day of August, giving you a chance to indulge in a nostalgic summer-night marathon if you were fortunate enough to experience these movies in theaters.

Adding to the charm, Hulu will also include the witchy classic from 1998, Practical Magic. While not a typical "Halloween season" movie, it will evoke the feeling of cooler autumn temperatures and remind you that Halloween is just around the corner. Alongside these classics, Hulu has a variety of contemporary movies lined up for its streaming service in August, ensuring there's something for everyone to enjoy.

With the help of these creatures, they navigate treacherous terrain and confront challenges to uncover the secrets of the Ice Wizard's power. Throughout their quest, Jack and Annie learn valuable lessons about bravery, friendship, and the importance of perseverance. As they face their fears and work together, they discover that magic lies within themselves.

Sweetwater (2023)

Coming to screens on August 4, this captivating biographical sports film, directed by Martin Guigui, takes viewers back to the 1940s, where it unveils the remarkable story of Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, portrayed by Everett Osborne. Clifton makes history as the first African-American man to secure a contract with the NBA. Initially a star player for the Harlem Globetrotters, Clifton catches the attention of Ned Irish (Cary Elwes), an executive for the New York Knicks, as well as the team's coach, Joe Lapchick (Jeremy Piven). With the support of NBA President Maurice Podoloff, they set out on a journey to achieve a groundbreaking integration of the two teams, leaving an indelible mark on the history of the sport. Alongside an impressive cast, including Richard Dreyfuss and Kevin Pollack, this film promises to celebrate the inspiring tale of Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton's pioneering journey in basketball.

Winter of the Ice Wizard is a captivating story filled with action, suspense, and wonder. Osborne's vivid descriptions transport readers to a mesmerizing winter wonderland, making it easy to imagine the icy landscapes and magical creatures. The book is not only an enthralling adventure, but also offers educational value. With references to real-life historical figures and events, children can learn about ancient civilizations and folklore in a fun and engaging way. Magic Tree House #32: Winter of the Ice Wizard is a delightful addition to the beloved series. Jack and Annie's journey through the freezing world will captivate readers of all ages, leaving them eagerly anticipating the next magical adventure in the Magic Tree House..

Reviews for "Exploring Mythology and Magic in Magic Tree House 32"

1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Magic Tree House 32". I have been a fan of this series since I was a child, but this book just didn't capture my attention. The plot felt rushed and the characters lacked depth. The magic of the previous books was missing, and it felt like the author was just trying to churn out another book in the series without putting much effort into it. I hope the next installment will be better, but I wouldn't recommend this one.

2. John - 1/5 stars - I couldn't finish "Magic Tree House 32". The writing was juvenile and the story was predictable. The main characters, Jack and Annie, were one-dimensional and I found it hard to care about their adventures. The dialogue was stilted and the descriptions were lacking. This book felt like a cash grab rather than a well-crafted story. I would not recommend it to anyone, especially fans of the earlier books in the series.

3. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was excited to read "Magic Tree House 32" as I had enjoyed the previous books in the series. However, I found this installment to be quite disappointing. The premise was interesting, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was off, with rushed action scenes and slow character development. The writing style didn't engage me and I found myself skimming through the pages. Overall, this book didn't live up to my expectations and I wouldn't recommend it to others.

4. Mike - 3/5 stars - "Magic Tree House 32" was okay, but it didn't leave a lasting impression on me. The story was decent, but I felt like I had read similar plots before. The writing was average, neither exceptional nor terrible. The book lacked depth and didn't explore the potential of the concept fully. While it was a quick and easy read, it wasn't a standout in the series. I wouldn't discourage fans from reading it, but it's not a must-read either.

Discovering the Enchanting Story of Magic Tree House 32: Summer of the Sea Serpent