If you're planning a visit to Magic Springs Theme and Water Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, you'll need a comfortable place to stay nearby. Thankfully, there are several options for accommodations in the area that cater to different budgets and preferences. One popular choice is the 700-acre Hot Springs National Park, which offers a tranquil setting and numerous activities. The park has several campgrounds and picnic areas, allowing visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Additionally, there are several hiking trails and scenic drives nearby, making it an ideal choice for outdoor enthusiasts. For those looking for a more traditional hotel experience, there are several options within a short distance from Magic Springs.
Jin Se-Yeon as Jenny . Usually is the main singer for Pink Dolls' songs but doesn't have much stage presence, the first victim of the 'White Curse'.
Now that Pink Dolls is down to one member hard to call Eun-Ju that name as she s now a solo artist and has finally recorded the White song which after two days is already 1 on the charts. As the girls explore Eun-Ju happens to find a bunch of video cassettes behind a row of revolving mirrors that somehow survived the fire I know what you re thinking just go along with it.
For those looking for a more traditional hotel experience, there are several options within a short distance from Magic Springs. Many of these hotels offer amenities such as swimming pools, complimentary breakfast, and free parking. Some even offer discounted tickets to the theme park for guests.
The curse hidden within the white melody
I don’t frequently get excited about horror films but White: The Melody of the Curse was somewhat of an exception. I had consistently heard good things about its directors, Kim Gok and Kim Sun, a pair who have been churning out low-budget indie horrors since 2003. Sadly, I have not had a chance to see any of them yet. White is their first big budget, commercial film, and it is also fairly ambitious, especially from a technical standpoint despite employing a number of done-to-death (excuse the pun) clichés. The other reason I was curious to see this film was its subject matter, as the narratives takes place within the fiercely competitive K-Pop milieu. While I do not know very much about this global Hallyu phenomenon it does fascinate me and upon hearing about this project, I felt the topic particularly conducive to horror.
| K-Pop idols |
The story gets underway very succinctly and involves a pop band which has fallen from grace. One of them, Eun-joo (Ham Eun-jeong), a former back-up dancer, serves as the team leader and is ostracized due to her background. Her benefactor arranges for them to record in a new studio, which is fancy and high tech but harbors a mysterious past. Eun-joo discovers a secret compartment behind a mirror in the dance hall and within it an old videocassette featuring an old K-Pop routine. This becomes the group’s new song, which, as the title suggests, is indeed cursed. One by one, each girl who is given the coveted center position is subjected to awful accidents and a bit of haunting for good measure. Eun-joo seeks to uncover the secret of the tape with a little help from her friend before it’s too late.
One thing about horror films is that everyone who watches them is looking for something different: some want a good story; others a few good scares; and others still are in it for the blood and guts. White delivers on all three of these but probably not to an ultimately satisfying degree for any. I appreciated the K-Pop setting with its fan obsession and competition between performers but the story that is set within it features a too-good to be true haunted location, a cursed video, and a long-haired and decomposed ghost seeking revenge. This is very unoriginal stuff and a little disappointing. Next, while there are some good scares, some of the set pieces are borderline ridiculous and have the potential of eliciting an undesired reaction. Finally, there is some slightly gruesome violence but these moments are infrequent and lack cinematic flair, which is odd considering how well made the film is.
| Strong use of colours and production design |
For me some of the strongest sequences were those in between the scares which were either investigatory, expository, or relationship-based. One reason they worked quite well is that they are so well shot. It is not often with this kind of film that the production values prove a real asset, A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) comes to mind, but that was always designed as a ‘prestige film’. The colors, framing, and especially the use of the locations were at times beautiful, foreboding, and menacing. The set pieces themselves also display strong mise-en-scène but I found it less convincing than the other scenes. This may have been because there was a tendency to overdo it, mostly on the editing side. Rarely, in my opinion, does fancy, hyperkinetic editing add something genuine to a film. As much as I can appreciate its value for horror, which is so often low-budget, quick cuts all too often rob a scene of tension, which needs to be earned.
There isn’t too much to say about the performances, which mostly veer into caricature, but everyone seems to handles themselves relatively well here. A couple of the starlets are also K-Pop singers, I wonder if this added anything to their performances. Arguably, not a great deal is required for these kinds of performances.
| Generic staple, à la ring |
Despite the reliance on very generic staples, especially of local Asian horror cinema, in my eyes White was a cut above recent K-Horror entries, a lot of which have been disappointing, save for a a few gems like Possessed (2009) and the brilliant Bedevilled (2010), although the latter probably lends itself more to the revenge thriller categorization. However, given people's very different tastes when it comes to horror, I would suggest that you would do best to approach this one with caution. I enjoyed myself and am looking forward to the next Kim gok and Kim Sun film, hopefully they will give us something a little more ambitious. Perhaps that is why there is something lacking with White, at times it feels like a test run.
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Yet despite this by the numbers horror movie I actually enjoyed watching “White”. Not because of the obvious “eye candy” given that the main characters are all attractive girls, but that it shows the tragedy unfolding as we see the girls ill-intended means of survival ends up working against them in the cutthroat music industry. Even seeing the fate of the girls in the end is entertaining to watch if only to show that despite their best intentions to right the wrongs they did, they still got it all wrong on whom exactly the ghost was. Coupling that to their actions toward each other (from humiliation to backstabbing to a suggested scene of sexual favors) helps to further cement the girls into being less bubble headed and more in the line of genuine characters whose only sin was being too driven to success and suffering a tragic fate because of it. They may have been innocent in not knowing the true nature of the song “White” yet it doesn’t excuse them of their actions and their end during the third act. This is especially true of the one girl near the end that goes solo and does what she can to forget what took place, with tragic (thought I did laugh at two individuals demises) results.
If you prefer a more luxurious stay, there are also upscale resorts and bed and breakfasts in the area. These accommodations often offer amenities such as spas, fine dining, and beautiful views of the surrounding landscape. In addition to these options, there are also vacation rentals available in the area. These can be an excellent choice for those traveling with a large group or those who prefer the convenience of a fully equipped kitchen. Regardless of your budget or preferences, there is a wide range of accommodations available near Magic Springs. Finding the perfect place to stay will allow you to relax and enjoy your visit to this exciting theme and water park..
Reviews for "Hotels near Magic Springs & Crystal Falls with Free Breakfast"
- Pam - 1 star - I was really disappointed with my stay near Magic Springs. The hotel was dirty and outdated, and the staff were not friendly or helpful. The room smelled musty and the beds were uncomfortable. I would not recommend staying here.
- John - 2 stars - The location of the hotel near Magic Springs was convenient, but that's about the only positive thing I can say. The room was small and cramped, and the bathroom was in need of some serious renovation. The noise from the nearby highway kept me up all night. Overall, I was not impressed with my stay.
- Sarah - 1 star - My experience at the hotel near Magic Springs was terrible. The room was dirty and smelled like smoke, even though it was supposed to be a non-smoking room. The staff were rude and unhelpful, and it felt like they didn't care about the guests at all. I would never stay here again.