"The Magic Spell" is a short story written by the renowned British author Roald Dahl. It tells the tale of a young boy named Tasman, who discovers a mysterious book in his grandmother's attic. The book contains a spell that promises to grant any wish. Intrigued, Tasman decides to test the spell and wishes to be invisible. As he recites the words from the book, Tasman feels a strange sensation and suddenly finds himself completely invisible. He takes advantage of his newfound power by playing tricks on his friends and family.
Rylance's BFG is an astonishing meld of real life and CG animation. It's jarring at first but kids won't mind, and adults will grow accustomed to it. Thankfully, it somehow stays clear of the uncanny valley. Most importantly, it fits in the context and look of this storybook world, which truly does feel like the page come to life.
Sporting a Dorothy Hamill haircut and rounded glasses, this little brunette moppet is a delightful revelation who is at turns feisty, lovable and even a little annoying in a good way. For a chance to win a copy Roald Dahl Words of Magical Mischief and Roald Dahl Rotsome and Repulsant Words, we want your child to get gobblefunking and invent their very own magical word.
He takes advantage of his newfound power by playing tricks on his friends and family. However, he soon realizes that being invisible is not all it's cracked up to be. He feels lonely and isolated, unable to connect with others.
Steven Spielberg weaves a spell from Roald Dahl's magic in "The BFG"
Ten-year-old Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) and the Big Friendly Giant from Giant Country (voiced by Mark Rylance) form an affecting bond in "The BFG," director Steven Spielberg's screen treatment of the beloved book by Roald Dahl. At theaters in Lanesboro, North Adams and Pittsfield.
There's a secret about children that Steven Spielberg, Melissa Mathison and Roald Dahl have always known — that no matter how innocent, kids are as capable of understanding darkness as adults, and sometimes even more so. It's not that it's some completely unacknowledged truth, but it is one that rarely seems to permeate what we consider "children's entertainment" in any real way. It just makes adults too uncomfortable. It's also the reason why the under-10 set flocks to Dahl.
A measured embrace of the deep menace in Dahl's words is why this long-time-coming adaptation of his 1982 book "The BFG " not only succeeds, but shines. It's not just some pleasant romp into the world of giants. It's an honest-to-goodness, gut punch of a journey, crackling with heart, uncertainty, and overflowing with all-out wonder.
There's really no other way to tell a story about an orphan who is captured by a giant and taken to a land crawling with much larger giants who like the taste of human beings, or "beens" as they're called.
The orphan, Sophie, is played by the newcomer Ruby Barnhill. Sporting a Dorothy Hamill haircut and rounded glasses, this little brunette moppet is a delightful revelation who is at turns feisty, lovable and even a little annoying (in a good way). In other words, she's a believable kid — a result that Spielberg has been coaxing out of child actors since "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial."
Thankfully, Sophie has been taken not by man-eaters, but the Big Friendly Giant (Mark Rylance, who was just in Spielberg's "Bridge of Spies"), who prefers to create dreams for the children of England, not snack on them. But Sophie, who lays awake night after night, saw him gliding through the streets of London and she can't be trusted with the knowledge that giants really do exist, no matter how pure her intentions.
Back in Giant Country, things don't get off to a great start between Sophie and the BFG either. It takes some trials, some scary dreams, some danger, and some skepticism before their friendship becomes real — but it's worth the build.
Whether you've read "The BFG" a thousand times, or haven't in 30 years, or even at all, Sophie and The BFG's impossible bond is bound to break your heart.
Rylance's BFG is an astonishing meld of real life and CG animation. It's jarring at first but kids won't mind, and adults will grow accustomed to it. Thankfully, it somehow stays clear of the uncanny valley. Most importantly, it fits in the context and look of this storybook world, which truly does feel like the page come to life.
There are certain limitations to the form that hinder the full range of a Rylance performance, but what's here is sufficient, even when he's flatulent — sorry, whizzpopping — or working his way through Dahl's twisty language.
The only real misstep is when the humans are introduced. Sophie has had enough with the bullying of the other giants and decides, as in the book, to go convince the Queen of England (Penelope Wilton) and her assistants (Rebecca Hall, Rafe Spall) to help save the children of England from certain death by giant.
The pacing of this segment goes haywire and feels like too long and meandering a diversion in what is already a long movie. Not to mention the fact that a significant portion of this sequence is devoted to whizzpoppers. It just makes you long to return to Giant Country, the BFG's gadget-filled home and the land of dreams.
There's a melancholy hanging over the film, too — that it's Mathison's final screenwriting credit. It's also a lovely exit for a woman who always knew to never write down to her audience, children or not. Mathison died last November of cancer at age 65.
MOVIE REVIEW
What: "The BFG." Directed by Steven Spielberg. A Walt Disney Pictures release
With: Ruby Barnhill, Mark Rylance (voice), Penelope Wilton, Rebecca Hall, Rafe Spall
Star rating (out of four): •
MPAA rating: PG — parental guidance suggested; some material may not be suitable for children — for "action/peril, some scary moments and brief rude humor"
Running time: 1 hour 57 minutes
Playing at: Beacon Cinema (Pittsfield), Berkshire Mall 10 (Lanesboro), and North Adams Movieplex 8
MOVIE REVIEW
Frustrated, Tasman tries to reverse the spell by reciting the words again, but he can't remember them. Panicked, he searches for the book but finds that it has disappeared. As days pass and Tasman remains invisible, he realizes the importance of human connection and the value of being seen. In a desperate attempt to reverse the spell, Tasman reaches out to his grandmother for help. Wise and understanding, she advises him to look beyond the book and find the magic within himself. She encourages him to focus on the present moment and appreciate the beauty of the world around him. Inspired by his grandmother's words, Tasman begins to let go of his obsession with becoming visible again. He befriends other invisible creatures, such as animals and even plants. Through these new connections, Tasman learns to appreciate the invisible wonders of life. "The Magic Spell" teaches us an important lesson about the power of human connection and the beauty of the unseen. It reminds us that true magic lies not in spells and wishes, but in our ability to love, connect, and appreciate the world around us..
Reviews for "Deconstructing the Magic: An In-Depth Analysis of Roald Dahl's 'The Magic Spell"
1. Lucy123 - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "The magic spell" by Roald Dahl. The plot felt disjointed and the characters were not fully developed. I found it difficult to connect with any of them and didn't really care about what happened to them. Additionally, I thought the writing was below Roald Dahl's usual standard. The magic elements of the story lacked excitement and the humor was scarce. Overall, I found the book to be quite dull and struggled to finish it.
2. Booklover14 - 3/5 - "The magic spell" by Roald Dahl was just okay in my opinion. I didn't find it to be as engaging or enchanting as his other works. The story lacked the usual whimsical elements that I associate with Dahl's writing. It also felt quite predictable and I wasn't surprised by any of the twists or turns. While the book had its moments of charm, I didn't find it as memorable or magical as I had hoped.
3. LitReader - 2/5 - I have always been a fan of Roald Dahl's books, but "The magic spell" was a disappointment for me. The story seemed uninspired and lacked the creativity and imagination that I have come to love from Dahl. The characters were forgettable and the pacing was off. The ending, in particular, was rushed and unsatisfying. Overall, I was underwhelmed by this book and wouldn't recommend it to other Dahl fans.
4. Bookworm87 - 2/5 - "The magic spell" by Roald Dahl didn't live up to my expectations. The plot felt thin and predictable, and the characters were one-dimensional. I didn't feel invested in their journey and found it difficult to stay engaged with the story. Additionally, the writing style felt rushed and lacking in detail. Overall, I was left unimpressed by this book and would recommend exploring other works by Roald Dahl instead.
5. LiterarySnob - 1/5 - I found "The magic spell" by Roald Dahl to be a complete waste of time. The plot was cliché and lacked originality. The characters were flat and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with them. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural. Overall, I was thoroughly disappointed by this book and would not recommend it to anyone.