STRANGE MAGIC (2015) Movie Review
"Strange Magic" is an incredibly vibrant love story that blossoms between a moody king and a fairy princess. The union brings together two different worlds, the Dark Forest and the Fairy Kingdom, into acceptance and understanding after a lifetime of division.
In order to reach this understanding, Princesses Marianne and Dawn are thrust into the Dark Forest on a dangerous mission to appease the Bog King's rage before he destroys the Fairy Kingdom. Instead, they find their own eyes are opened to unspoken beauty.
1 Samuel 16:7 - "Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
On the surface, the Dark Forest appears dangerous and filled with hideous creatures, while its king is evil and heartless. Neither is true. Like Marianne, the Bog King is heartbroken. After being rejected, he closed off himself from the world in fear that he'd get hurt again. Citizens of the Fairy Kingdom regard the king, his forest, and the primroses that define their border with terror.
Primroses are beautiful flowers with unimaginable power. They make up the prime ingredient for a love potion, which the king outlaws from Dark Forest with extreme prejudice. It's a law so strict that the neighboring Fairy Kingdom abide by it in fear that they too would be imprisoned. They flee from the border at the sight of the pretty pink flower.
1 Peter 3:3-4 - "Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within..."
Nothing is as it seems in this magical world. The chaotic love potion turns perception upside down. The struggle over control forces Bog King and Marianne to question the fine line between love and intoxication. Between inner beauty and good looks.
The answer is simple. Look beyond the surface. Skin-deep beauty is meaningless. True beauty lies within. That is what matters. It is the lens of real love and compassion that Marianne can see the beauty deep within her supposed adversary and his territory. They find within each other kindred spirits, bonded through similar heartbreak. Both learn that their previous love interests are based on appearance. Nothing more.
Through their brief encounter in the Dark Forest, Bog King learns the most important lesson of his life. He is worthy of love. He protects his broken heart in the illusion that he is an evil, unlovable villain. However, his actions prove otherwise. He is a gracious host. All of his prisoners are well cared for.
Marianne sees that Bog King is a kind and compassionate being who suffers from a broken heart, someone to whom she can relate. It's an understanding she feels with no one else in her life. Together, they find the real love that they nearly stop believing exists. With that, they bring peace and understanding to both kingdoms.
This film is a prime example of how to look at others. Who are they beneath the surface? Who are you beneath the surface? Ugly or beautiful?
