Magic Beach
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2 (out of 5)
Magic Beach is a book that has inspired children throughout Australia to tap into their imaginations as Australians do at the beach. Alison Lester’s celebrated bestseller opens the door for children to see where their minds can take them when given the freedom to explore their minds.
Robert Connolly (The Dry, Paper Planes) directs this beloved beach adventure and allows animators to bring each page to life uniquely. HeHe combines actual children as they return home after school, dive into their favourite book, and find themselves on the shores of the magical beach. As they unleash their view of these waters and the creatures that inhabit them, various animators express the view hatched through Lester’s artistry and words. This story has something for children of all ages, from the boy who sees himself finding buried treasure to the hearing-impaired girl who must rescue her baby brother from a sand creature.
As the pages open on screen, Magic Beach is reminiscent of the ABC (PBS-US) excursions that rely on visual expression and little diallogue to bring audiences along on the journey. The live-action sequences will draw the younger viewer into the story. Each vignette may lead to their imaginations being released as they see themselves on the beach. Each animator adds a different expression of artistry that will connect with various age brackets differently as they move from watercolour to stop-motion claymation. These varied visual arts methods give this a feel that it would be as comfortable in a museum as in the cinema.
Magic Beach is a beautiful expression of Alison Lester’s book and can be enjoyed by multiple generations. Each contains its own action and emotion that may take some getting used to for modern audiences as this is more artistic as opposed to being like the latest Disney adventure. The perfect film for the artistic, imaginative and contemplative souls who yearn to find their feet dipping into the ocean’s waves throughout the summer months.
REEL DIALOGUE: The wonder of an imagination that is allowed to create
Imagination: the faculty of forming mental images or concepts of what is not actually present to the senses.
One of life's blessings is the gift of imagination. Even without entertainment at our fingertips or when life moves into a state of boredom, having the ability to bring up images and thoughts allows us to survive this existence. From the limitless well of the creative process come songs, stories, and dreams, which have been part of the human experience since the beginning of time.
Some say that certain people are more imaginative than others. Still, this reality does not diminish that all mankind was given this gift. At times, it is used for less-than-redeeming results, and some minds draw from darker wells than others, but this does not minimise the power it offers. The human imagination exposes life's psychological and spiritual aspects that can only be attributed to God.
The question is, what are you doing with your imagination? Is it to honour the one who has given you this gift of exploring all life has to offer?
'And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.’ Genesis 11:6
'Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.' Philippians 4:8
