Magic Tree House is a popular children's book series written by Mary Pope Osborne. The series follows the adventures of a brother and sister duo, Jack and Annie, who discover a magical tree house filled with books and secrets. Jack and Annie are able to travel through time and space by simply stepping into the tree house and wishing for a specific destination. Throughout the series, Jack and Annie embark on numerous exciting and educational adventures, visiting different historical periods and encountering various famous figures such as dinosaurs, knights, and pirates. As they explore these different worlds, they learn important life lessons and acquire knowledge about history, science, and geography. The Magic Tree House not only captivates young readers with its imaginative and thrilling storylines but also promotes a love for reading and learning.
The deaths of Daniel and Naomi are followed by a chase scene with James and Sarah trying to escape from La Patasola, who has now taken up her monstrous form. It seems that hurting James was never her intention because he was clean. She was after Sarah because, apparently, she was in the same position as La Patasola’s husband, i.e., cheated on. And Patasola wanted Sarah to forgive Daniel, much like she wanted her husband to forgive her. This is why when Sarah puts on Daniel’s ring and forgives him, La Patasola calms down. She utters the name Mateo, which is probably her husband’s name. She hopes her husband has forgiven her as she stares at James and Sarah, both of whom have forgiven their partners, as they are picked up by the local ranger and leave the forest in his vehicle.
The deaths of Daniel and Naomi are followed by a chase scene with James and Sarah trying to escape from La Patasola, who has now taken up her monstrous form. Most likely due to budget constraints, the kills are mainly off-screen with the one visible death being well deserved due to the character s unfaithfulness.
The Magic Tree House not only captivates young readers with its imaginative and thrilling storylines but also promotes a love for reading and learning. The series encourages children to use their imaginations, explore different cultures and time periods, and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them. What sets the Magic Tree House series apart is its ability to combine fantasy and education seamlessly.
‘The Curse of La Patasola’: A Latin American Folktale For American Audiences [Review]
Latin America is rich with its folktales and myths that are both entertaining and serve as precautionary tales. Unfortunately, many of these terrifying narratives hardly depart from their country of origin. Director/writer and star A. J. Jones uses his feature debut The Curse of La Patasola to shine a light on a piece of Colombian folklore. La Patasola, in English known as “One Legged”, is a folktale many haven’t heard of before the film, myself included. Her story is set in the forest and according to legend, this vampiric monster can possess humans and instill fear in relationships about the dangers of infidelity.
After the cold opening, the flawed characters are introduced in a long sequence to showcase the dynamic between two couples. Sara (Gillie Jones) is by herself on her phone as she daydreams about becoming a nurse. Meanwhile, her husband Daniel (A. J. Jones) is the epitome of an annoying macho male figure. James (Patrick R. Walker) on the other hand is the complete opposite by being a pushover, a quality Daniel consistently brings up. And lastly, Naomi (Najah Bradley) is strong and opinionated. This is shown by the multiple arguments Daniel and Naomi get into throughout the film. The first one is about feminism.
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The argument only lasts a few minutes on screen, yet it feels like an eternity. Naomi does bring up some valid points, but unfortunately, the film doesn’t fully venture further into exploring female empowerment. Given the titular monster and Naomi’s firm stance, further discussion about gender could have fit in nicely with the film. Instead, this opening sequence only brings up great points and ideas that never get fleshed out. This creates a missed opportunity to address critical social commentary.
After the feminism argument a park ranger, who resembles a police officer, stops the four adults. Daniel who is driving doesn’t change his demeanor and continues his rude behavior now towards the cop. He even claims to have a Chekhov’s flare gun in the glove compartment. Naomi, a dark-skinned South American, and James, a Black man, are in shock by how Daniel responds to the man of authority. Once the four are left alone, Naomi and James place their concerns but the sceneraio is never brought up again, again leaving behind the conversation of race and feminism.
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Instead of focusing on grand scale issues, the film focuses on personal drama and dilemmas such as Sara wanting to become a nurse. Only this isn’t currently feasible because she is currently the provider while Daniel unsuccessfully focuses on starting a business for the last five years. James plans to propose to Naomi, only Naomi doesn’t feel the spark. James’ soft personality isn’t enough for Naomi as she mentions she is used to being challenged by a partner. After the midpoint of the film, the characters self-destruct their relationships and La Patasola is used to emphasize their sins of unfaithfulness.
Jones chooses to hide La Patasola for the majority of the film. However, we do still get scenes where La Patasola’s presence is heard and felt but is never seen. Most likely due to budget constraints, the kills are mainly off-screen with the one visible death being well deserved due to the character’s unfaithfulness. Surprisingly, director Jones didn’t attempt to indicate La Patasola’s presence with multiple fake outs and jump scares. Instead, the audience and characters are aware of La Patasola’s presence by ghostly whispers dashing through the foliage which does add tension to a couple of scenes.
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The monster’s prolonged final reveal is shown in a tense way. When La Patasola’s metamorphosis begins from possessed human to beast, the framing follows other werewolf transformation scenes. Jones focuses the camera on fully converted beastly limbs. Once the monster’s full appearance comes into view, the lighting drops drastically, preventing a clear image of La Patasola. During the climactic battle, Jones focuses on the hunched silhouette of La Patasola’s final form. There’s one quick facial shot highlighting the pale makeup that’s similar to Ryuk in the live-action Death Note film, the rest is surrounded by scraggly hair and darkness.
In terms of low-budget creature features, a category of horror films I adore, The Curse of La Patasola does check some boxes for me. However, it did leave me wanting more thematically speaking considering the numerous ways the monster could be represented. But in the end, Jones chose to highlight a Latin American folktale that to my knowledge has never made a cinematic appearance until now and that for me is a win.
As The Curse of La Patasola slogs on, it is clear this is not the case. Nothing is ever shown and when it actually is, it is too dark to see anything. By the end, when the film is contradicting its own lore, it does not even matter. The movie will have already lost the audience.
Mary Pope Osborne manages to create a world that is both magical and educational, inspiring children's curiosity and thirst for knowledge. The books include a blend of fiction and non-fiction elements, making them highly engaging for young readers. In addition to the main series, there are also companion books, research guides, and activity books available, allowing children to further immerse themselves in the Magic Tree House universe. These supplemental materials provide additional information about the topics explored in the books and encourage children to engage in further research and creative activities. Overall, the Magic Tree House series has become a beloved and influential collection of books that has captivated the imaginations of countless young readers. By combining adventure, magic, and education, Mary Pope Osborne has created a series that not only entertains but also inspires a love for learning..
Reviews for "Magic Tree Houses: The Perfect Literary Escape"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I honestly didn't enjoy reading "Magic Tree House". The story felt too simplistic and predictable for my taste. The characters were not well-developed, and their actions and decisions seemed arbitrary. Additionally, the writing style lacked depth and failed to engage me as a reader. I struggled to connect with the narrative and found myself disinterested in the outcome of the adventure. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it.
2. Michael - 1 star - I found "Magic Tree House" to be extremely boring and uneventful. The plot was dull and lacked any excitement or suspense. The characters were one-dimensional, and their dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The writing style was elementary and lacked the sophistication necessary to captivate readers of all ages. I struggled to finish this book, and I don't understand the hype around it. In my opinion, there are many other children's fantasy books that offer much better storytelling and entertainment value.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - "Magic Tree House" was not my cup of tea. I found the narrative to be overly simplistic and lacking in depth. The story moved at a slow pace, and the adventures the characters embarked on felt contrived and uninspiring. The writing lacked creativity and failed to ignite my imagination. I was hoping for more complex and engaging content, but unfortunately, this book did not deliver. I would recommend exploring other fantasy books that offer more engaging plots and well-developed characters.
4. James - 1 star - I must admit, I was not a fan of "Magic Tree House". The story felt repetitive and formulaic, with each book following a similar pattern. The characters lacked depth and growth, making it difficult to become invested in their journey. Furthermore, the writing style was lackluster, failing to create a vivid and captivating world. I expected much more from a children's fantasy series, and I was disappointed by the lack of originality and creativity. Overall, I would not recommend "Magic Tree House" to those seeking an exciting and imaginative read.