Sofia the First is a popular Disney Junior television series that follows the adventures of young Princess Sofia in the kingdom of Enchancia. One of the most iconic elements of the show is Sofia's magical amulet, which plays a key role in her journey as a princess. The Sofia the First Amulet toy is a replica of the amulet worn by Sofia in the show. It is designed to fit children's wrists and is made of durable plastic. The amulet features intricate detailing and vibrant colors that closely resemble the one seen in the series. What makes the Sofia the First Amulet toy special is its interactive features.
What makes the Sofia the First Amulet toy special is its interactive features. When the child wears the amulet and presses a button, they are greeted by Princess Sofia's voice, encouraging them to be brave and kind. The amulet also lights up, adding a magical touch to playtime.
Teen Witch Is Maybe a Musical, But Also Still the Perfect High School Movie
On paper, Teen Witch has all the trappings of a classic ’80s high school movie: A middlingly unpopular teen, Louise (Robin Lively); a dreamy, but ultimately asexual crush, Brad (Dan Gauthier); a big transformational makeover—triggered, delightfully, by Louise gaining magic powers rather than hitting the mall; a nerdy but awesome best friend, Polly (Mandy Ingber); an unprecedented number of spontaneous yet intricately choreographed dance sequences; several white-boy raps; a super-cool, older-lady guide, in the form of witch-master Madame Serena (Zelda Rubinstein).
It is, in short, very much my shit. But despite a predilection for the supernatural and anything involving the quests of teen girls, I somehow missed the very existence of Teen Witch. Turns out, most people did. After debuting to appallingly low box office numbers in 1989—despite a $2.5 million budget, it made just $3,875 in its opening weekend —Teen Witch has slowly dug its way into the collective consciousness through ABC Family re runs, where a generation was able to appreciate such camp mainstays as, “I like boys,” a musical number performed unprompted by a cadre of cheerleaders while they change. “We thought we were making a very serious movie,” Lively told Buzzfeed in an interview for the film’s 25th anniversary. “We didn’t know we were making a cult classic.”
AdvertisementSince there’s no better time to revisit this fighter of a movie than the bitter midpoint of summer, Esther Wang , a Teen Witch connoisseur who nonetheless had not seen it in years, and me, Alexis, who’d barely heard of it, decided to watch. Would it live up to its delightfully genre-embracing standards? Or would it read as nonsensical bedlam in the year of our lord 2019? Yes and yes.
Alexis: First, we gotta talk about the opening. Which features Louise in a red tube dress and stilettos trawling a roof, with her crush Brad in an uncomfortably close pursuit. I believe you shrieked: “These are TEENAGERS. ”
Esther: Even though I saw Teen Witch at least 10 times as a young pre-teen, I had forgotten that epic opening dream sequence, which now as an adult made me squirm a little bit, despite knowing, as a former teenager myself, that teenage girls are very horny. Am I a prude? Maybe! I blame my church upbringing. But Louise is quite a lusty girl, and it made me think that for all of the ways that the teen romances that followed it—Save the Last Dance, 10 Things I Hate About You, just to name a couple—are ostensibly about teens who fall in love, do they even want to bone like Louise and Brad want to bone? I felt the movie had a refreshing attitude towards sex, and there were a lot of scenes that stood out to me now that didn’t when I was a kid—how Louise’s high school taught about birth control, how Louise, clearly a very smart teenager, herself was on birth control. Nice for a movie that came out in 1989! But my main question is—did you love it.
AdvertisementAlexis: I did. But not in the way I expected to. Teen movies, especially classics from the ’80s, usually hold to a certain tight formula, which I find deeply comforting. There’s a love interest, an obstacle, a great awakening that peaks at some sort of big dance. Teen Witch is all of that, but unhinged. I loved the bonkers dance sequences—which spring up out of nowhere and are so intricately, even inappropriately choreographed, to accompanying lyrics that, in one instance are just the phrase “I Like Boys!” repeated ad nauseam .
I loved how everyone constantly objectifies Brad; there is what felt like a very long scene where Louise lusts after his sunlit, sweat-dripped chest. And I love that the agent of change is a chaotically dressed older woman. What did NOT sit well with me is Madame Serena’s sacrifice. Presumably, she’s been saving up the last of her magic for many years, for security or a whim (I think she mentions conjuring a mink coat) and, instead, uses it (ALL OF IT) on a gratuitous spell to make Louise popular. Which Louise, being a teenager, ultimately decides she doesn’t want. But by the time she reverses her decision Madame Serena’s magic is spent! This is a careless choice which remains unexamined at the end of the movie, but left me VERY AGITATED and bordering on a rage. What. The. Fuck. Am I right?
Serena is hands down the best adult role model in any teen movie I have ever seen
Esther: Serena is hands down the best adult role model in any teen movie I have ever seen. I love that when Louise worries about using a love spell on Brad to turn him into her “love slave,” Serena tells her, “What does it matter?” So true! Love is a mystery! When Louise whines that she’s not happy being the most popular girl, Serena’s response—“Who IS happy? You’ll get used to it!”—is the most on-point rejoinder to teenage angst that I can imagine. I’d like to think that Serena gets her mink coat and everything else that she wants in the end, as Louise tosses her magic amulet to her at the school dance and, I assume, transfers her powers to her mentor.
AdvertisementAlexis: The magic amulet toss is a truly epic ending. It’s easy to read it as a subtle feminist critique: she’s throwing away the tools that triggered her popularity and the winning of her man, and trading it for—well, it’s unclear! A normal life with cool mentor Serena. Though, may I point out, that her voluminous hair, which rises to its permed ’80s glory only through magic, stays lofty even after she’s given away her powers. But another unresolved plot line is her relationship with best friend Polly.
Esther: I love that the movie ended with the status of their friendship up in the air. Maybe they won’t ever be friends again, which happens all the time in high school—the psychic space occupied by your most intense romantic yet platonic relationships is too often then filled (for heteros at least) by boys. But Polly—and can we please talk about why the writers named her Polly. —seems to be doing pretty well for herself by the end, linking up with the white boy rapper she had that epic, cringeworthy yet awe-inspiring dance sequence with earlier in the movie.
Fuck yeah, Polly! The true hero of the movie.
AdvertisementAlexis: I’m curious, though, Esther, how did the movie differ from your memory of it? Did you remember it as so genre-breaking? Did you remember the dance sequences? Did you remember… um. all the sex?
Esther: I didn’t think about it as genre-breaking at the time, and remembered it just as a movie about wish fulfillment that I loved because I too was a kid who desperately wished to have the power to transform myself. I had absolutely forgotten about the sex scene in the rundown abandoned house, which ew? But the dance sequences are forever burned into my brain.
Brad works out in just his shorts several times. Randa kisses Brad's neck as he drives. A teacher talks about sex and shows the class a condom. Louise makes her teacher undress to his boxers and undershirt. Louise and Brad make out twice.
In addition to the interactive features, the Sofia the First Amulet toy also comes with a variety of accessories. It includes a tiara, necklace, and ring, allowing children to fully immerse themselves in the world of Princess Sofia. The Sofia the First Amulet toy not only provides entertainment but also encourages imaginative play. Children can create their own royal adventures, just like Sofia in the show. Through play, they can develop important skills such as creativity, problem-solving, and social interaction. In conclusion, the Sofia the First Amulet toy is a beloved toy based on the popular Disney Junior series. With its interactive features, vibrant design, and included accessories, it offers children the opportunity to step into the magical world of Princess Sofia and embark on their own royal adventures..
Reviews for "Creating Memorable Moments with Sofia the First Amulet Toy"
- Name: Sarah - Rating: 2 stars
The Sofia the First amulet toy is quite disappointing. The quality of the amulet is not as good as I expected. The plastic feels cheap and the design is not visually appealing. Additionally, the sound effects are loud and annoying, making it unbearable to listen to for a long time. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this toy as it doesn't meet the quality standards I would expect for the price.
- Name: Mike - Rating: 1 star
I bought the Sofia the First amulet toy for my daughter and it was a complete waste of money. The amulet broke within the first week of use, despite being handled with care. The durability is extremely poor and the materials used are flimsy. On top of that, the sound effects stopped working after just a few days. This toy is definitely not worth the price and I would advise against purchasing it.
- Name: Lisa - Rating: 2 stars
I was highly disappointed with the Sofia the First amulet toy. The design is unimpressive and lacks attention to detail. The plastic used feels cheap and the colors are dull. The sound effects are repetitive and irritating. My daughter lost interest in this toy very quickly, and I can't blame her. It just doesn't live up to the expectations set by the show. I wouldn't buy this toy again.
- Name: John - Rating: 2 stars
The Sofia the First amulet toy is a big letdown. The overall construction feels flimsy and poorly made. The amulet doesn't fit comfortably on a child's hand as it is too large and unwieldy. The sound effects are annoyingly loud and there's no volume control. It becomes really irritating after just a few minutes of play. Unfortunately, this toy didn't bring the joy I expected and I wouldn't recommend it.