Magic to Win (2011)

25% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
19% of users liked it
(124 ratings)

When a down-on-her-luck college student inherits magical powers from her mysterious professor, she finds herself caught up in a war among wizards. Realizing she holds the only key from preventing the destruction of the universal timeline, she joins forces with other keepers of ancient magic in an… More When a down-on-her-luck college student inherits magical powers from her mysterious professor, she finds herself caught up in a war among wizards. Realizing she holds the only key from preventing the destruction of the universal timeline, she joins forces with other keepers of ancient magic in an attempt to save the world. -- (C) China Lion

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Wilson Yip
Genres: Art House & International, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Dec 9, 2011 Limited
Studio: China Lion Films

Critic Reviews

Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times
Yip's earlier films "Ip Man" and "Ip Man 2" also might have been wildly uneven, but at least they satisfied a basic craving for good action. "Magic to Win" turns up as a real loser.
Andy Webster, New York Times
Its buoyancy may not redeem its predictability, but it makes the movie bearable and even enjoyable at times.
Philip French, Observer [UK]
Impossible to dislike, difficult to remember.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
Several chaotic and dizzying plotlines finally take us to a happy ending: I'm not sure how many converts the movie is going to make.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Magic to Win has a promising start and a couple of nice ideas, but it quickly wears out its welcome thanks to dodgy special effects and a plot that basically amounts to a bunch of wizards throwing inconsequential CGI light bolts at each other.
Tom Huddleston, Time Out
Mostly this is just aggravating, as the volleyball girls flap and pout, the wizards glower and prance and the film trundles from one half-hearted and predictable action sequence to another.
Daniel Eagan, Film Journal International
Bouncy but thin Hong Kong comedy in which a college co-ed develops magical powers that place her and her friends in danger.
Joseph Jon Lanthier, Slant Magazine
There's a winking, spritely nature to this ridiculous content, but it's rendered impossible to follow by a lack of meaningful relationships that might transcend the film's multiple threads.

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Justin Y

Wilson Yip's Magic to Win is uninspired magic. In other words, it is magic to lose.For a film that leans toward the fantasy genre, its concepts behind the plot are of more than an acceptable caliber. It is when spanning nearly a 100 minutes that this… More
Wilson Yip's Magic to Win is uninspired magic. In other words, it is magic to lose.For a film that leans toward the fantasy genre, its concepts behind the plot are of more than an acceptable caliber. It is when spanning nearly a 100 minutes that this picture fails. The lack of detailed explanations don't help, and the humor, if there is any, do not generate any chuckles. Magic to Win sort of meanders its way to a climax that is difficult to consider eventful.The CG is colorful and pretty good, considering the rest of this film. There are some nice ideas behind the magical confrontations, although they never reach their full potential. All in all, the magic stands out as a highlight.Newcomer Karena Ng takes the lead role, only to be thrown in the background for the film's finale and overshadowed by Raymond Wong, who does the best job out of everyone in this film. Louis Koo and Wu Jing are well underdeveloped and underutilized and Wu Chun ends up lost in the shuffle.Magic to Win isn't a complete let down, but the disappointments still outweigh the positives.