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DVD The Witches
This splendid adventure-fantasy from 1990 was adapted from Roald Dahl's book and directed by maverick British filmmaker Nicolas Roeg, who turned out to be a perfect (if seemingly unlikely) interpreter of Dahl's fiendishly clever tale of witchcraft in contemporary England. Scary, funny, and wildly entertaining, it's all about a young boy named Luke (Jasen Fisher) whose parents have died in a tragic accident, and whose grandmother (Mai Zetterling) takes him to a posh hotel in England, where a secret coven of witches is holding its annual convention. The Grand High Witch (Anjelica Huston, in a scene-stealing performance) has decreed that all children in England be turned into mice, and Luke and his pal Bruno (Charles Potter) are the first victims on the list. That's when the movie magicians from Jim Henson's creature shop have their work cut out for them, turning Luke and Bruno into clever little rodents and The Witches into a dazzling display of imaginative special effects, using a seamless combination of real mice and superb animatronic puppets. Director Roeg doesn't compromise the sinister edge of Dahl's story, but comedy gets equal time from the brilliant cast including Brenda Blethyn (from Secrets and Lies and Little Voice), Rowan Atkinson (of Black Adder and Mr. Bean fame), and Jane Horrocks (Little Voice) as the Grand High Witch's beleaguered assistant. Although it was largely neglected during its brief theatrical release, this wonderful movie has since enjoyed a thriving appreciation on video--see it and you'll understand why. --Jeff Shannon
This is a brilliant adaptation of classic Dark Dahl by the genius who gave us David Bowie's The Man Who Fell To Earth.
The cast, which includes Rowan Atkinson as the hotel manager and Jane Horrocks as the Grand High Witch's assistant, is exceptional, but Anjelica totally steals the show with the camped-up Goth Goddess performance that she later adapted for her stunning Morticia role in The Addams Family.
Whereas Morticia has a warm personality, in The Witches, Anjelica is an ice queen, and probably quite scary to younger children. A stunning performance from one of the most talented actresses and one of the most physically perfect women on the planet.
I just wish there had been some extra features, such as behind the scenes interviews. Still, it's an essential purchase.
Stunning!
Luke's Norwegian grandmother loves to tell him scary stories about witches when he visits from America. She's not trying to frighten the little boy, she just wants to warn him of the real dangers that lurk out in the world. See, when she was a girl, she lost one of her good friends to the evil magic of a neighborhood witch. And, after hunting them down all her life in search of the Grand High Witch, she even lost part of a finger. Actually, against the witches in this film, it's amazing that's all she lost! One fateful night, while Luke is in his grandmother's care as his parents enjoy an evening out, tragedy strikes! Luke's mom and dad are killed in a car accident. Now, Luke is left alone with his grandmother, and she is not in the best of health. When she has a diabetic attack on Luke's birthday (man, this kid has it rough!), the doctor decrees that they should take a short vacation. Off Luke and Grandmother go, to a grand, luxurious hotel in England. But the bad luck continues, as the Grand High Witch is holding her annual Witches' Convention in the same hotel at the same time! Witches from all over the world are running about the hotel in disguise, and if you don't catch the purple glint in their eyes, you'll never know who they are!
Angelica Huston plays the Grand High Witch, who has an evil plot to change all the world's children into mice with tainted candy bars. With her suitcase full of money and her tiny bottles of potion, she will send each of her witches to a different city, where they'll each open up a candy store and let the horror begin! A tubby little boy named Bruno is also staying at the hotel and is the first victim of the evil trick when The Grand High Witch uses him as a demonstration for the others. Luke witnesses the whole thing, and so they immediately change him as well. Now, it's up to these two little mice to stop the Witches from leaving the hotel and carrying on with their wicked plan! But, being a mouse in a huge hotel full of people is hard enough without having to worry about "The Witches!"
"The Witches" is a wonderful, though somewhat scary family film for Halloween or anytime! The Roald Dahl story is enchanting, and the whole portrayal of the witches was horrifyingly excellent! This is the way I like to see Witches on film! Long noses, ugly faces, and pure evil, like in Hocus Pocus and the Wizard of Oz! These are frightening Halloween witches the way I always envisioned them as a kid, and I wish we'd get to see more films with witches like this, including out and out horror films! The first half had the makings of a great horror film in the tradition of legendary studios like Hammer and Amicus, and I would have loved to have seen such a movie, but I still love "The Witches" for what it actually is: Grade-A Family Horror. I would have LOVED to have seen some good sequels at least. The casting of Angelica Huston was perfect, the mood and atmosphere was brilliant, especially the opening back story, and Jim Henson's work was masterful, as usual. A healthy dose of comedy is thrown in as well, most notably thanks to Mr. Bean himself, Rowan Atkinson! Everyone should own a copy of this film, though be warned that it IS frightening for little kids, but it also teaches some good lessons on avoiding strangers bearing gifts and candy.
Now, for some reason, family films are frequently released in "Full Screen" only. It's an annoyance, and the lack of any extras doesn't help, but I suppose it's still an upgrade from my old VHS, since it IS DVD. So, full screen or not, I highly recommend owning "The Witches" to anyone who enjoys innovative family films with a touch of magic and fright! Particularly perfect for the witching season!
Quite Good
Another film that had been neglected by audencies and critics alike during its run in the theaters(which I don't understand why!?). This classic film has become a somewhat of a favorite film made for a limited audience of families with children over the age of 8 but not older than 12. This film is definately a classic film because we find a well thought out script(along with the book), good acting by all who were involved. Therefore, there comes an entertaining film for the entire family to enjoy during an hour and half together.
This big, fat theatrical bomb has a lot going for it. There's the three leads, Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker, playing three resurrected witches who wreak havoc on Salem, Massachusetts, 300 hundred years after they were hung. There's music, special effects, and magic. There's a surprisingly horror-filled plot. Whoops, hold up on that last one. It's probably the extremes that this film goes to (displaying a Disney label), such as the witches sucking the life out of a little girl in the first five minutes, that put the brakes on any success for Hocus Pocus. Older children, however, in the 8 and up range should get a kick out of all the weird goings-on. It's a good measure of Halloween thrills and chills. --Keith SimantonMore Info about this DVD Director(s): Kenny Ortega DVD Release Date: Released the 04 June 2002 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Based on Jill Murphy's book, this charming movie is set in an English boarding school for witches--complete with orange and black school uniforms, broom-flying exercises, and potion assignments for lab. The incompetent student of the title, Mildred, is played by a fetching young Fairuza Balk. Diana Rigg is the nasty head teacher, Tim Curry the (oddly) idolized Grand Wizard, and TV's Facts of Life maven Charlotte Rae does double duty as the school's kindly dean and her evil witch twin, who's bent on taking over the school. Directed by Robert Young, this 68-minute video features less than state-of-the-art effects and several songs that stop the action--most bizarrely an outdoor assembly performance by Curry that turns into a weird music video. Still, preteen girls will... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Robert Young (III) DVD Release Date: Released the 24 August 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Jack Nicholson was born to play the devil, and in George Miller's adaptation of John Updike's novel he plays it for all he's worth. As a wolfish womanizer summoned by three bored women in a picturesque New England town, he's sating all of his appetites with a rakish grin. Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer play the women who discover their untapped magical powers by accident. The smart and sexy singles, out of place in the conservatism of their village, find happiness, however briefly, in the arms and bed of the libidinous devil, but he's got his own ulterior motives. Miller revels in the sensual display of sex, food, and magic, whipping up a storm of effects that finally get out of hand in an overblown ending. It's a handsome film with strong performances all around, but the mix... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Jack Nicholson - Cher - Susan Sarandon - Michelle Pfeiffer Director(s): George Miller (II) DVD Release Date: Released the 27 August 1997 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Before making Batman, director Tim Burton and star Michael Keaton teamed up for this popular black comedy about a young couple (Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin) whose premature death leads them to a series of wildly bizarre afterlife exploits. As ghosts in their own New England home, they're faced with the challenge of scaring off the pretentious new owners (Catherine O'Hara and Jeffrey Jones), whose daughter (Winona Ryder) has an affinity for all things morbid. Keaton plays the mischievous Beetlejuice, a freelance "bio-exorcist" who's got an evil agenda behind his plot to help the young undead newlyweds. The film is a perfect vehicle for Burton's visual style and twisted imagination, with clever ideas and gags packed into every scene. Beetlejuice is also a showcase for Keaton,... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Tim Burton DVD Release Date: Released the 25 June 1997 Usually ships in 24 hours
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This is a great story about a brilliant young girl who overcomes the cruelty of a family that does not treat her as she deserves. The villains are her parents and her teacher, Mrs Trunchbull. With the help of the kind teacher, Ms Honey, and her own magical powers, she manages to get adopted by her mentor and get rid of the villainous teacher who killed Ms Honey's parents. Not only does the book make some interesting statements about education and family, but the strong female protagonist is a neat role model for young girls. I loved it as a kid, and still appreciate it a great deal; also, the film version captures the imagery and intent nicely.
As for the widescreen issue, it's a shame. It could have been kept the way we saw it in theatres...oh well. More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Rhea Perlman - Mara Wilson DVD Release Date: Released the 07 June 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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