Magic and bird documentary is a film that explores the legendary rivalry between two basketball players, Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Larry Bird. The film tells the story of their unique and compelling friendship that began in college and continued throughout their professional careers in the NBA. The documentary delves into the upbringing and backgrounds of both players, highlighting the contrast between Johnson's outgoing personality and Bird's more reserved nature. It provides a comprehensive look at their careers, chronicling their rise to stardom and their numerous head-to-head matchups on the basketball court. One of the central themes of the documentary is the racial and cultural significance of the Magic-Bird rivalry. In a time when race relations in America were tense, Magic and Bird broke down barriers and helped to bridge the divide between black and white communities.
It's been a year since Eragon departed Alagaësia in search of the perfect home to train a new generation of Dragon Riders. Now he is struggling with an endless sea of tasks: constructing a vast dragonhold, wrangling with suppliers, guarding dragon eggs, and dealing with belligerent Urgals and haughty elves. Then a vision from the Eldunarí, unexpected visitors, and an exciting Urgal legend offer a much-needed distraction and a new perspective.
They reach out to Eragon to whom Angela gives her memoirs with the clause that they may or may not be true which we, the reader, then get to read to learn Angela s backstory. She almost dies but then she uses the magic that a shaman taught her to make the dragon join their side to protect the urgals against attacks from other animals and enemies.
In a time when race relations in America were tense, Magic and Bird broke down barriers and helped to bridge the divide between black and white communities. Their rivalry became a symbol of unity and competitiveness that transcended race and inspired a generation of basketball fans. The film also offers insight into the strategies and playing styles of Magic and Bird, showcasing their unique skill sets and the impact they had on the game of basketball.
Book Review: The Fork, the Witch & the Worm
The Fork, the Witch & the Worm by Christopher Paolini is a collection of three short stories in the world of Alagaesia, the world of his famous Eragon series.
The Eragon series are some of my favourite childhood books, and the nostalgia of getting to experience the wonderful adventures in that world again was a pleasure.
However, each of the three stories is rather disconnected from the others – one tells of the lonely life of Murtagh, another of Angela and the cursed child Eva, and the third of the dragon of Kulkaras.
Murtagh is Eragon’s half-brother. He was an antagonist throughout the series, originally a friend to Eragon, but this friendship was later ruined because he was discovered to be the son of a dragon slayer and that wasn’t allowed. Murtagh was later captured against his will to become the righthand of the bad King Galbatrix. He ends up having to fight against Eragon a few times; the final time he wins which wins Murtagh his freedom and eventually he joins forces with Eragon to take down the king. By the end of the series, he is still viewed as the enemy though based on his bloodline. This is where the short story picks up – Murtagh living out his life as a lone wolf of sorts. I enjoyed this short story and getting to learn more about what happens to Murtagh after the series ended.
I didn’t like the story of Angela and Eva – I felt there was no purpose to the story and it was only written as filler content. In the original series, Eva was cursed by Eragon after he accidentally said a protection spell incorrectly. Her curse is to be a shield against evil, so she constantly has to endure pain from the enemy. Her curse is used by the queen as protection. Angela, a witch, takes Eva from the palace and out into the wilderness for her protection to give her a chance to live normally. Then, in the short story, Angela teaches Eva the art of being a witch. They reach out to Eragon to whom Angela gives her memoirs (with the clause that they may or may not be true) which we, the reader, then get to read to learn Angela’s backstory. I felt that this was a pointless story, only written to fill pages.
I liked the story of the dragon of Kulkaras – it was the only one of the three that introduced new characters who weren’t in the original series, both the dragon and a young urgal called Ilgra. The clan of urgals live happily in the mountains until the dragon comes and destroys their village and kills Ilgra’s father, among many others. After the dragon destroys everything in sight, he retreats to the mountains of Kulkaras. The remaining urgals then try to chase him away, however, after more bloodshed, they give up. Ilgra doesn’t want to give up, so she goes on a mission by herself to attempt to get rid of the dragon. She almost dies – but then she uses the magic that a shaman taught her to make the dragon join their side to protect the urgals against attacks from other animals and enemies. It symbolizes the unreachable thing that all of us have, and that instead of chasing it away or killing it, we must learn to live with it and accept it.
Unfortunately, overall it felt as though the book was only written to ride on the success of the Eragon series, relying on nostalgia as a selling point. The book was quite empty in terms of content, each page had huge margins and the chapters were all disoriented. It felt like Paolini had some good ideas for storylines, but needed to build it out to make it the length of a proper book and that he ended up writing just to fill the pages.
Book bought in Paihia, New Zealand // 281 pages // finished April 4, 2021
Three short stories are included in the book, each following a different character:
It includes interviews with coaches, teammates, and other NBA legends who witnessed their greatness firsthand. Throughout the documentary, the personal lives and off-court challenges of both players are explored. Magic's battle with HIV and his subsequent retirement from basketball, as well as Bird's ongoing struggle with back injuries, are portrayed with honesty and sensitivity. These challenges add depth to their stories and highlight the resilience and determination that defined their careers. Magic and Bird documentary is not just a basketball film, but a celebration of friendship, rivalry, and the power of sport to bring people together. It captures the essence of two remarkable individuals and the impact they had on the game of basketball and beyond..
Reviews for "Magic Johnson: The Magic in the Los Angeles Lakers"
- John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with this documentary. I was expecting a comprehensive look into the lives and careers of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, but instead, I got a shallow and surface-level overview. The interviews lacked depth, and it felt like the filmmakers were more focused on creating a flashy and dramatic narrative rather than providing meaningful insights. Overall, I found it to be a missed opportunity to truly explore the impact these two basketball icons had on the game.
- Sarah - 1 star - This documentary was a complete letdown. As a fan of both Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, I was excited to learn more about their rivalry and the dynamics that made them such legendary athletes. However, all I got was a rehashed narrative without any new information or fresh perspectives. The pacing was also all over the place, making it hard to stay engaged. I wouldn't recommend this documentary to anyone looking for a deep dive into the lives of these basketball legends.
- Mark - 2 stars - I had high expectations for this documentary, but unfortunately, it fell short. While it did touch on the rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, it failed to provide a nuanced exploration of their relationship both on and off the court. The interviews felt rushed and lacked substance, making it difficult to truly understand the intricate dynamics between these two players. Overall, I found it to be a missed opportunity to shed light on the impact they had on the game of basketball.