"The Magic Thief" is a captivating fantasy book written by Sarah Prineas. The story unfolds in the city of Wellmet, where magic is an integral part of everyday life. The main character is a young boy named Connwaer, who lives on the streets and is known for his pickpocketing skills. One day, Conn steals a wizard's locus magicalicus, a magical stone that connects him to his powers. To his surprise, the stone accepts Conn as its rightful owner, making him a wizard. Conn's accidental discovery of his magical abilities leads to the attention of Nevery Flinglas, an irritable wizard.
This is something that couldn't be further from the truth. It's actually my favourite holiday and there are many good films, specials etc. and even classic ones, ones watched every year and never gotten tired of. 'A Christmas Village' was one of my recent festive film viewings to broaden my horizons and see something different. It was part of a Christmas film quest undertaken at the beginning of this year, and there have been some films that have been regrettable experiences. And 'A Christmas Village' is one of them and one of the worst cases.
During a near miss with Air Force One, he loses his pocket watch, a timepiece possessing magical powers to stop time and bring inanimate objects to life. But the good job of Corey Savier, as director and actor , and the interesting story - sure , the cliches are at their place , obvious - are ingredients of the secret for appreciate , real appreciate, as easy romance, this film changing, in delicate measure, your expectations.
Conn's accidental discovery of his magical abilities leads to the attention of Nevery Flinglas, an irritable wizard. Nevery takes Conn under his wing and becomes his mentor, teaching him about the world of magic and the dangers it entails. They embark on a journey to solve the mystery of why the city's magic is disappearing, threatening the well-being of its inhabitants.
User Reviews
Well, based on the cover alone for the 2021 Christmas movie "It Takes a Christmas Village", then it seems like you will be in for another archetypical hour and a half of raw, sugar-coated Christmas cheese. Yet, I still opted to sit down and watch this movie from writer Kate Pragnell and director Corey Sevier, as I hadn't already seen it, and also because I am on a Christmas movie roll this year.
And I will say that writer Kate Pragnell actually managed to put together a very wholesome storyline for this movie. It was one that not only encompassed the Christmas spirit, but also managed to provide proper entertainment through interesting characters, story arch and dialogue. And yeah, "It Takes a Christmas Village" does have the sentimental Christmas romantic cheese, of course it does, but luckily it is not something that overshadows the entire movie.
I wasn't familiar with the cast in the movie, but I will say that they did a good job in bringing the story and characters to life on the screen. Lead actress Brooke Nevin (playing Alexandra) and lead actor and director Corey Sevier (playing Darcy) carried the movie quite well, and definitely had a good on-screen chemistry.
I was genuinely entertained by "It Takes a Christmas Village" and it is a movie that I can warmly recommend you sitting down to watch, should you get the chance. While "It Takes a Christmas Village" is not going to become a Christmas classic for me, it is certainly a movie well-worth watching.
My rating of "It Takes a Christmas Village" lands on a six out of ten stars.
15 out of 16 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.Permalink Kirpianuscus 28 October 2022
For many Hallmark films, nice can be enough for define them. In this case, the gin play, the sled , the reference to Jane Austen ( sure, only for the name of young Hawkins but it sounds good ), the Darcy and the Christmas market idea, like the inspired portrait of Darcy's grandmother are the good things saving, in some measure , the film, for be little more than other Christmas Hallmark movie.
But the good job of Corey Savier, as director and actor , and the interesting story - sure , the cliches are at their place , obvious - are ingredients of the secret for appreciate , real appreciate, as easy romance, this film changing, in delicate measure, your expectations.
8 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.Permalink 7 /10 TheLittleSongbird 30 January 2023
Have been on a roll watching Hallmark/Lifetime etc Christmas films for a few years now. It has been an interesting and worthwhile endeavour, though a very inconsistent one. There was never the mentality of expecting a classic or the film in question to be flawless. Something that was never managed with pretty much all the films seen. There was always the expectation of seeing a film where one can see at least some effort rather than merely cash-in level. The former being obvious in most luckily.
'It Takes a Christmas Village' is one of the Christmas films in the former category. 2021 was very hit and miss for Christmas films and for Lifetime, but 'It Takes a Christmas Village' is somewhere around high middle in ranking. Can see why some will not like it and it does have issues that stop it from being a classic (never expect a classic with this company), but there was the expectation of it being a pleasant enough watch at least and to me it succeeded at that absolutely.
There are some silly, to the point of nonsense, moments, like everything with the construction which is unrealistic.
Did also find the ending too neat, which was not unexpected for a film that is also very formulaic, and there is too much music, not just in placement but also in volume (too melodramatic sounding).
On the other hand, Brooke Nevin and Corey Sevier are very engaging leads and have lovely subtle charisma and sweet charm (do agree though that Nevin's panting did distract). Their chemistry was sweet and genuine and they looked at ease together, do wish that they were together more though. The supporting cast are solid and the characters are not too perfect or have overblown negative traits.
Production values are pleasing. It's not too drab or garish in photography, the editing didn't seem rushed or disorganised and the scenery has a real charm to it. The dialogue has flow and doesn't get too cheesy or too schmaltzy. The story on the whole is light hearted and heart warming.
Nice film if not mind blowing. 7/10.
It is a real shame, as the voice cast are incredibly talented and it did have a somewhat decent idea going for it. Christmas is also my favourite time of year, and I'd see anything related to it. Once Upon a Christmas Village was a short that I really wanted to love for so many reasons, but at the end of the day it just didn't do anything for me. Fortunately for Once Upon a Christmas Village, it does have a saving grace and that was the voice work of one of my favourite, if sadly underrated, actors Tim Curry. His distinctive velvety voice is a perfect match for the villain of the piece Sir Evil, and he really gives his all even with material that is quite frankly beneath him. He even gets to sing here, which is always a plus, and he as ever sounds great with an attractive sound while maintaining the somewhat menacing quality you'd expect from any villain voiced by him.
As Conn learns about magic and the intricacies of Wellmet's society, he realizes that the undercurrents of power and politics run deep. He encounters characters such as the Duchess Rowan, a powerful political figure, and Underlord Crowe, a sinister force with his own agenda. Throughout the story, Conn faces numerous challenges and hurdles, testing his determination and resourcefulness. With his newfound magical abilities and Nevery's guidance, he navigates the treacherous world of Wellmet to uncover the truth behind the vanishing magic. "The Magic Thief" is a captivating tale of self-discovery, friendship, and the pursuit of truth. It explores themes of trust, belonging, and the power of knowledge. With its engaging plot and well-developed characters, the book offers a thrilling reading experience for fans of adventure and fantasy..
Reviews for "A Closer Look at the Magic Thief Phenomenon"
1. Emily - 2/5 stars - I found "The Magic Thief" to be quite disappointing. The story felt incredibly predictable and lacked any real depth or complexity. The characters were one-dimensional and their actions and motivations were often unclear. Additionally, the writing style was lackluster and failed to immerse me in the fantastical world that the author was trying to create. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and uninterested throughout the entirety of the book.
2. Andrew - 2/5 stars - "The Magic Thief" was just not my cup of tea. The plot felt disjointed and the pacing was all over the place. I had a hard time connecting with the main character and found him to be rather annoying and unlikable. The world-building also fell flat for me, as I never fully understood the rules and mechanics of the magical system. Overall, I found this book to be a lackluster fantasy read that failed to capture my attention or imagination.
3. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I strongly disliked "The Magic Thief". I found the writing to be juvenile and poorly executed. The dialogue was especially cringe-worthy and felt unnatural. The plot was incredibly predictable, leaving no sense of anticipation or excitement. The characters were also not well-developed, and I never felt a connection to any of them. Overall, this book was a complete miss for me and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a satisfying fantasy read.