The Magic Door (2007 Video) User Reviews

Not Terribly Interesting

[gavin6942 · 5/10 · 26 July 2015]

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.

Disappointing

[CabbageCustard · 4/10 · 26 July 2019]

Considering all the talent involved in this movie, I was expecting something much better - something whimsical and charming. This isn't. The effects are diabolically bad, the costumes are awful, the acting leaves a lot to be desired but, worst of all, the story is a convoluted mess and as a result this is just plain boring. A big waste of time for kids and adults.

Big names and great effects do not a great movie make!

[lifeschool389107 · 2/10 · 15 May 2007]

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.

Came for the Witch...Stayed so I could B***h :-)

[dcreeves · 1/10 · 26 June 2014]

Unsure WHAT the first reviewer was talking about- the biggest name I have seen so far are Anthony Head(Buffy) and Aaron Taylor-Johnson(Kick-Ass)(granted it was in 2007 for the latter actor). The effects are okay(for low budget B-movie) but nothing close to 'great'.

This film feels like a movie where the set-up is completely missing.

Review as I go: 30 MINS INTO FILM: NONE of the characters are really introduced well. What happened to the kids real mother? Why is this troll in exile? Why does the story pick-up with this particular family and why are they living at said location? (It has an air of 'we moved here'). Why are these kids and their dad(His he?) at such odds? THEY SHOULD HAVE: Explained all the above and set these kids up to be precocious prankster types with some charm. (Think a UK style Dennis the Menace).

I agree it does feel like all the actors in this had nothing better to do on a weekend. Its like they said "who wants to forget everything you know about acting and play this like you're back in high school". They just didn't connect at ALL. Plus, every kid in the UK must have been sick or in the Harry Potter franchise at the time OR these kids were related to someone in the movie. Their acting sucked! The girl is better than the boy, but still some poor acting.

The make-up is also POORLY done. It looks like the budget was the left overs from Halloween aisle at the local drug store. It's very flat on the characters. No shading. No definition. No character. The wigs looks like a bargain bin find as well.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: The "Witch" is more like a fairy than a witch. She has a broom but lacks any 'witchy' aspects. :-(.

The movie DOES finish better after you get numb to all the aforementioned. However, this is NOT a movie you should watch thinking you're going to receive the same pleasure and 'warm fuzzy' that other such movies provide.

The movie NEVER seems to answer any of the questions that I had from the beginning.

Plus, the character of the two children are odd and NEVER developed. The girl has some magic? Where did it come from? Why is she not the main lead if she has magic? The boy is the lead but is a lackluster leader/hero type. The movie ALWAYS gives the lead over to the boy! He does have ONE scene toward the end of the movie in this scene that has some slightly creep factor going on, but otherwise he just cannot hold it.

Silly title

[nightroses · 2/10 · 27 September 2020]

The film is called "The Magic Door" but it's not centred around this door. It should be called instead "The Magic in the Woods" because that's what it was. There was only a couple of portals that don't reveal anything too fantastic beyond it. I found the two kids not acting at all but making it up as they're going along, but they also come across as shy at what they're doing. They remind me of kids performing at a school play. I thought the scene with their parents was dull and sucked all energy from the film. The troll was the most interesting character and I felt sorry for him when he became stranded after his friends were turned to stone. I wanted to see him get home. I wanted to see what his home looks like. I wanted to see his friends come back to life. They skipped that which is a shame or it would've been more fun. I also liked the fairies and elves, who turn to lights. This could've been a promising film as it had the right ingredients but no one had the ability to tell a decent story or to explain everything. It was a lacklustre film.

The Magic Door review

[JoeytheBrit · 2/10 · 7 May 2020]

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.

Well Beyond Awful! Someone's Home Movie?

[Rainey-Dawn · 1/10 · 16 January 2017]

Holy moly Batman! This film looks like it is someone's home movie - complete with cheap cheesy costumes & make-up, terrible acting, the worst special effects and lame dialogue. I'm almost sure this is someone's homemade movie - it has to be. I know that a lot of the major motion film studios has produced some terrible films but this film makes the worst Hollywood film look super. Seriously.

I got this film in a 4-Pack Sorcerer's Apprentice plus 3 bonus films, I got the pack for The Magic Sword starring Basil Rathbone and decided to watch the other 3 films as well. This is by far the worst film in that 4-pack, followed closely by The Sorcerer's Apprentice.

You would have to see this film to believe just how incredibly awful it really is.

1/10

a magical tale with two young heroes

[terezimm · 8/10 · 10 January 2015]

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.

Okay But The Elves...Why?

[gardeniapalms · 6/10 · 26 February 2021]

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.