The latest installment of the Magic Tree House books takes readers on an exciting journey filled with mystery, history, and of course, magic. In this captivating novel, children will join Jack and Annie, the main characters, as they travel back in time to an ancient civilization. Along the way, they will encounter fascinating characters, solve puzzles, and uncover secrets that will keep them on the edge of their seats. One of the main themes of this installment is the power of knowledge and learning. Through their adventures, Jack and Annie must use their critical thinking skills and resourcefulness to overcome challenges and find their way home. This theme serves as an important reminder to young readers about the importance of education and the rewards that come with curiosity and a thirst for knowledge.
The plots to these movies scarcely bear discussion. The overall story involves mad scientist/super criminal Dr. Krupp (played with hammy glee by Luis Aceves Castañeda) — professionally known as “The Bat” — and his efforts to get his mitts on Popoca’s breastplate and bracelet in order to locate the “treasure of Aztecs.” This — and the translation of the inscriptions — requires the unwilling help of Dr. Eduardo Almada (Ramón Gay), his fiancée, Flor, their assorted family members and the comic relief hanger-on, Pinacate (Crox Alvarado). Kidnappings, hypnosis, death threats, a death chamber full of snakes, and a wonderful jailbreak involving toy machine-guns that clearly don’t fire anything ensue. The second film, The Curse of the Aztec Mummy (1957), throws in a masked wrestler called The Angel, who tools around in a 1954 MG TF — apparently mindless of the potential for an Isadora Duncan demise with his cape fluttering perilously near the wire wheel knock-offs. He turns out to be…well, we’ll leave that to the film’s skillful plotting. Mostly, he just shows up and strikes wrestler poses. The third film only mentions him once in passing. How quickly they forget.
Krupp played with hammy glee by Luis Aceves Castañeda professionally known as The Bat and his efforts to get his mitts on Popoca s breastplate and bracelet in order to locate the treasure of Aztecs. I wouldn t call them good, but, boy, are they ever goofy fun with a maniacal super criminal, a masked wrestler, secret treasure, hypnotism, a snake pit, a really slow-moving mummy and, well, you get the idea.
This theme serves as an important reminder to young readers about the importance of education and the rewards that come with curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. Furthermore, the book explores the concept of cultural differences and the importance of respect and understanding. As they interact with the people of the ancient civilization, Jack and Annie learn about their customs, beliefs, and way of life.
The Curse of the Aztec Mummy / The Human Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy
In Brief: It's a double dose of Mexican mummy horror — The Curse of the Aztec Mummy and The Human Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy — and the films provide just the kind of entertainment those titles suggest. I wouldn't call them good, but, boy, are they ever goofy fun — with a maniacal super criminal, a masked wrestler, secret treasure, hypnotism, a snake pit, a really slow-moving mummy and, well, you get the idea.
While it is true that Mexican horror movies of the 1950s and early 1960s are perhaps the last (largely) unexplored area of classic horror cinema, it should immediately be noted that the Aztec Mummy trilogy has nothing at all to do with classic anything—except perhaps classic bad cinema. These films are not at all in the same league as the Abel Salazar productions—though his brother, Alfredo, had a hand in writing these. OK, so all Mexican horror is…well, a little on the goofy side. The Aztec Mummy movies, however, are somewhere in between amusingly screwy and flat-out crazy. All in all, the biggest identifying quality of the film is the difficulty in believing that these movies were written by adults. The feeling is more that they must have been dreamed up by schoolboys over the course of an afternoon or less. Like the better Mexican horrors, they steal wildly from the old Universal films, but whether the folks making them understood what they were copying is open to question.
You may wonder why the first film of the series is being skipped in favor of the back-to-back sequels. Well, that’s pretty simple: There doesn’t appear to be a watchable copy of The Aztec Mummy (1957). The scenes involving the Mummy himself are do dark that it’s almost impossible to tell what’s going on. But it doesn’t really matter because you get to see most of the first film as flashbacks in the sequels. (The third film, in fact, opens with nearly 20 minutes of flashbacks. In short, you’re missing nothing by not seeing the first movie.) Even without the first film, these two films include two doses of the supposed Aztec ceremony (they spent good money on all those peacock feathers and you’re going to see them!) where the Mummy, Popoca (Angelo De Steffani), is condemned to guarding a cheesy-looking breastplate and bracelet for eternity, along with his forbidden sweetie, Xochitl (Rosita Arenas), who is put to death for mousing around with Popoca. (All this is revealed by Xochtil’s current incarnation, Flor, under hypnosis.) This consists of some ear-splitting music, much dancing about and a song so bad I doubt it would have even charted on Aztec hit parade. We do, however, learn — based on the evidence — that the ancient Aztecs appear to have invented dry ice. (There’s educational value, see?) The third film, in fact, opens with nearly 20 minutes of flashbacks. In short, you’re missing nothing by not seeing the first movie — apart from another bout of the Aztec ceremony.
The plots to these movies scarcely bear discussion. The overall story involves mad scientist/super criminal Dr. Krupp (played with hammy glee by Luis Aceves Castañeda) — professionally known as “The Bat” — and his efforts to get his mitts on Popoca’s breastplate and bracelet in order to locate the “treasure of Aztecs.” This — and the translation of the inscriptions — requires the unwilling help of Dr. Eduardo Almada (Ramón Gay), his fiancée, Flor, their assorted family members and the comic relief hanger-on, Pinacate (Crox Alvarado). Kidnappings, hypnosis, death threats, a death chamber full of snakes, and a wonderful jailbreak involving toy machine-guns that clearly don’t fire anything ensue. The second film, The Curse of the Aztec Mummy (1957), throws in a masked wrestler called The Angel, who tools around in a 1954 MG TF — apparently mindless of the potential for an Isadora Duncan demise with his cape fluttering perilously near the wire wheel knock-offs. He turns out to be…well, we’ll leave that to the film’s skillful plotting. Mostly, he just shows up and strikes wrestler poses. The third film only mentions him once in passing. How quickly they forget.
The final film, The Aztec Mummy vs. the Human Robot (1958) is easily the dumbest of the lot, which also means it may just be the most entertaining. Though released the following year, it supposedly takes place five years later — with The Bat up to his old tricks, except now he’s invented a radium-infused robot with a dead guy inside. When I was a kid, I used to spend summers with my grandmother in Concord, NC, and up (or down) the road was a family with a couple of kids I didn’t much like, but who were about my age. One of them had built himself a cardboard robot suit, which memory assures me was more impressive and believable than the one in this movie. In other words, this robot is divinely amusing. Whether or not — even with his deadly radium touch — he’s a match for Popoca remains to be seen. And you’ll have to watch the movie to find out.
The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen Curse of the Aztec Mummy and The Human Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy Thursday, Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville and will be hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther.
SHAREAbout Ken Hanke
Head film critic for Mountain Xpress from December 2000 until his death in June 2016. Author of books "Ken Russell's Films," "Charlie Chan at the Movies," "A Critical Guide to Horror Film Series," "Tim Burton: An Unauthorized Biography of the Filmmaker."
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Through these interactions, children are introduced to the idea of empathy and recognizing the value of diversity. As with all Magic Tree House books, this installment seamlessly combines education and entertainment. The story is both fun and informative, striking a balance that keeps readers engaged while also providing them with interesting facts and historical context. This unique combination is what makes the Magic Tree House series so beloved by children and educators alike. Overall, the latest installment of the Magic Tree House books is a must-read for young readers who love adventure, history, and a touch of magic. With its compelling story and valuable life lessons, it is sure to capture the hearts and minds of children, inspiring them to explore new worlds and expand their horizons..
Reviews for "The Magic Tree House Takes Readers on their Latest Journey: A Look at the Newest Installment"
1. Amy - 2/5 - I have been a long-time fan of the Magic Tree House series, but I was disappointed with the latest installment. The plot felt predictable and lacking in originality. The characters were also not as engaging as in previous books. I found myself struggling to stay interested and wishing for more excitement. Overall, it was a letdown from a beloved series.
2. Mark - 2/5 - As a parent who has read numerous books from the Magic Tree House series with my children, I was hoping for a fresh and captivating story in the latest installment. Unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The writing lacked depth and creativity, making it difficult to engage both my kids and myself. The repetitive language and overly simplistic plot made it feel rushed and unimpressive. I hope future books in the series regain the magic that was lost in this one.
3. Emily - 1/5 - I am a elementary school teacher and often recommend books from the Magic Tree House series to my students. However, the latest installment was a disappointment. The storyline was weak and lacked a sense of adventure, which is a key element in the success of this series. The characters didn't evolve, and the dialogue felt forced. I won't be including this book in my classroom library, as I believe there are much better options available for children.