The Magic Door

Looks like this one could have been sat on a shelf for a couple of years judging by the age of Aaron Johnson - he was 17 in 2007 but looks no older than 12 here - and that really is where it should have stayed. Despite recognised names like Jenny Agutter, Patsi Kensit and Anthony Head, the feeling that this is some amateur's passion project is increased by the fact that the two child leads (other than Johnson) share the director/producer's surname. Boring doesn't even begin to describe it.

Every now and then I find a film that I would call charming. It does not have to be ground breaking, high art. I think there are some people, who do not have the ability to just have fun with a charming tale. Perhaps we have all lost our childlike innocence and can no longer enjoy a sweet story. I have read some reviews which do not rate it very high. Nevertheless, I loved it. I suppose it all has to do with expectations. Everything has to be bigger and better than anything else ever seen before. All the special effects have to be astounding. OK, this is not Lord of the Rings, Hunger Games, or Harry Potter but I still think it is a very nice movie. Both my husband and I watched it after just watching Hansel and Gretel, Witch Hunters. It was sort of refreshing and we both liked it.

Ah, what a shame! With a list of good names involved in this movie, you'd have hoped for a lot more. This straight-to-DVD release was the latest in the rather small line of 'fantasy adventure' films. The budget looks good - attracting many names including Anthony Head - of Buffy (and coffee) fame, Pasty Kensit (Lethal Weapon 2) and Jenny (Walkabout). The money has been spent on quite adequate costumes, and very well done effects. The best character is Big Mick - who's natural style of acting and down-to-earth charm makes this film watchable. Unfortunately, thats where the good news ends. The main characters don't bond well, and the acting from nearly all of the cast leaves a lot to be really desired. The plot, although beginning interestingly, soon dries up and becomes too linear, with a constant battle between the parent characters (who bring the mood down with every appearance) and the woodland adventurers (who try desperately to lift the mood back up again!) I love this genre, and would like to see more small budget creations. But this just isn't it. 'Dazzle' (a similarly produced film) fairs a little better.

For being a kids movie, this adult thought it was okay. Not my first choice but I've seen worse. Much worse. Acting by the adults were as one would expect, but kids...there must have been a shortage of more experienced ones. Overall the production quality was fine and with a minimum of "green screen" scenes.

The only real problem I had with the movie left me questioning why they made the elves have characteristics of vampirez. The one elf who is also a witch had very obvious vampire teeth while the young elven lad didn't have teeth as obvious as the witch's teeth but everytime just before turning into a form that allows him to fly throughout the woods, he hisses like we've seen in all of those vampire movies. It's almost like the elves had an "identity crisis" struggling between being magical forest creatures or belonging to a blood-thirsty vampire clan. Not to worry there are no "vampire scenes or talk so kids won't be scared...they just might be confused thinking elves hiss before changing their physical appearance & have vampire teeth making it difficult to eat normal food.

Honestly, the "vampire elves" I found to be more of a distraction taking away from the "magical" element of the story. I'm just not sure what the Director was trying to accomplish with those traits.

A magic Troll aims to defeat the Black Witch (Jenny Agutter) and find the magic door that will lead him home with the help of the elf Flip (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), and the boy Liam (Liam Matthews).

I was drawn to this film because it has Jenny Agutter, who I knew from "Logan's Run" and "American Werewolf in London". But it also has Anthony Head ("Buffy"), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (the Avengers movies) and a few others. This cast should be able to add some weight to the picture.

But no. the main kid (Liam) is not very good, and I think he might be the writer-director's son. So that is pretty lame. And beyond the weak kid and weak plot, we also have a video quality that might be lacking. The one on Netflix gets some crackling noises in it. I have used the service for years and never had that issue, so I feel it much be the film itself... ugh.