Released in 2020 a Coming of Age, Fantasy.
“Nory and her best friend Reina enter the Sage Academy for Magical Studies, where Nory’s wonky magic lands her in a class for those with Upside-Down Magic, otherwise known as UDM!”
Well, this was a weird one.
It’s a classic two friends going to magic school to be separated by school learning structure. Torn apart by social standards, with the under dog aiming to show everyone up and classic spooky character with an alternative motive.
Would I suggest this? Not really, unless you can accept and ignore the toxic classic tropes in this movie. It is very intense and highly pushy. Even the teachers are toxic.
This movie has a great concept and world but the toxic tropes leave a bad taste in my mouth for a 2020 movie. And the friendship between the two main characters is the classic “yeah I’m totally fine (even though I’m crashing and I need help)” style that always leads to drastic and dangerous methods, and the movie delivered.
Did I watch it to the end? Yeah, because I knew it would push to a happy end. However, I would not watch it again like I would Descendants or Teen Beach Movie. It does turn around half way and the end teachings are good, but man those first 50 minutes are intense.
This is a low 4/10, potential for a world but not worth the toxic tropes that is present. The story didn’t develop too quickly but enough overload for a DCOM Movie. And who spends all semester looking to pop popcorn and no other skill?
Have you watched this? What did you think? It would be great to know if anyone else has watched this and could tell me, am I being too harsh? But really in 2020 I would’ve hoped we were done with the HSM tropes, and even they aren’t as heavy or rude in 3 movies as it was in this one.
Collect the Castles 