Hocus Pocus
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Movie Reviews of Hocus Pocus
Movie Review: Much Better Than Critics Give it Credit For
Summary: 5 Stars
This film got pretty well raked over the coals by the critics when it first came out and died a quick death. There it sat much like the witches until the Disney channel brought it back to life as one of their regularly run movies during Halloween. These repeated showings have served to make it a minor holiday classic. It kind of plays more like a TV movie than a big budge movie, but that's ok. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy play the Sanderson sisters who were put to death as witches back in Salem 300 years earlier.
Flash forward to the present and Max Dennison and his family have moved from LA to Salem, MA. Max is played by Omri Katz, who starred in the short-lived but underrated Eerie, Indiana TV show. Max is having trouble adjusting to small-town life and becomes the target of local bullies. Max is forced into taking his little sister Dani out trick-or-treating and eventually goes to the home of Allison, a girl he has a crush on. They all go to a local historical museum and Max accidently lights the black flame candle and brings the trip of hags back to life.
They attack the three kids but the kids get help from Thackery Binx, a boy who had been turned into a black cat by the witches centuries ago. The witches plan to use the life force of the children of Salem to give themselves immortality and it's up to the three kids and the black cat to save Salem.
This is really an enjoyable Halloween film for families. There are some scares but nothing too frightening. Bette Midler is grotesque as the buck-toothed Winifred Sanderson, bossing her sisters around and playing somewhat of a wicked witch on too much caffeine. Sarah Jessica Parker is a scream as Sarah Sanderson, the Ditzy, blonde-haired sister. There's a great scene where they intrude on a residents home and the residents are played by Penny & Garry marshall. Really a fun movie for Halloween.
Movie Review: Wacky Witches Wreak Havoc
Summary: 5 Stars
Absolutely my favorite Halloween flick, hands down! These witches have their "hang ups" from the start in this hillarious Halloween comedy about three sisters who are attempting to fulfill the curse they cast on the townsfolk of Salem, Massachusetts three hundred years ago. Now finding themselves in the twentieth century, they set out to wreak havoc once again with their spooky spells and pick up where they left off. However, they've hit a slight snag. They have come back to find their home is now a tourist attraction, Winnie's book of spells has been stolen and they are no longer feared but are nothing more than a colorful urban legend. Determined to regain the Book of Spells and carry out their wicked deed before daybreak, they end up getting into the most hillarious of circumstances as they continually get outwitted by three resourceful kids who are determined to foil their wicked plans. But the clock is ticking...who will win? Salem or the Witches? Cameo performances by Penny Marshall and Frank Marshall add more spice to an already delightful film. Loaded with frightening holiday favorites like graveyards, ghouls, jack o'lanterns and moonlight broom rides. This whimsical film has also combined the stunning and beautiful Fall scenery of small town America celebrating this fun and festive holiday. It is sure to delight all veiwers. It also packs a great soundtrack with tunes performed by the divine Miss M herself and a haunting melody sung by Sara Jessica Parker. You can expect all the of chills and thrills of a great spooktacular film plus all the laughter of a hillarious comedy all rolled into one. It's also NIGHTMARE FREE for the kiddies! Disney proves once again that spooky and fun can win out over gory and gross anytime!Movie Review: SPOOKY FUN FOR EVERYONE!
Summary: 5 Stars
In the Halloween family movie dept. I'll give this one five stars because it has something for everyone in the family. For me, it has Sara Jessica Parker. Since this one came out in 1993 her character "Sara" has been one of best all time hot witches. Theres a scene that I enjoy specifically where she flies around the town on her broom singing a spell that she uses to lair children into her "garden." In an another equally enjoyable scene a dirty bus driver lets her drive the bus while sitting on his lap. Some nice touches.
Overall the movie has good characters all around. The teenage boy, who haphazardly ressurects the witches from a three hundred year death (Salem witch trials) due to the fact (hillariously mentioned several times) that he is a virgin. Don't worry, it's subtle enough to fly over little kids heads... His sister, who is played by a pretty young Thora Birch, who you may remember from movies like Ghost World and American Beauty. The parents are pretty hip... mom goes to a Halloween party dressed up like "cones era" Madonna, and then of course you have the witches... Bette Midler, the other chick, and Sarah Jessica Parker,,, who, if you weren't paying attention, is a total fox. I dig the scene where the kid and his girlfriend check to see if his sisters in her bed, only to find Sara the witch laying in there instead... Happy Halloween!
Overall this movie makes good comic use of the story line. For instance, the scene where the witches can smell children, but can't see any, even though they are swarming the streets (they are "tricked" by the Halloween costumes, clever!) and the movie moves quickly enough along so that no one gets bored... Glad I dug this one out!
Movie Review: Not just for kids!
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie brings back so many memories of my childhood.
I remember when I was younger and it was around Halloween, I would watch this with my sisters and NOTHING would get me more excited for trick-or-treating than watching this movie. I also remember that my sisters and my cousins and I would make movies and we made a movie about Hocus Pocus. All of us would sing the songs and pretend that we were the witches. And even watching this 10 or more years later, I notice things that I didn't when I was younger and I still absolutely love this movie.
This movie starts out with a boy, Thackery, and his sister, Emily, getting lured by witches. The witches literally suck the lives of children to stay young. The witches suck the life out of Emily but they turn Thackery into a cat. The townspeople find out what the witches did and hang them but the witches tell them that they will return. Hundreds of years later, they do return when a boy named Max and his sister, Dani, and Max's crush, Allison, light a candle that causes them to come back to life. The kids meet Thackery, the talking cat, who tell them that the witches have returned to suck the lives out of children. The rest of the movie has the kids fighting to get rid of the witches and successfully return Thackery to his sister.
This movie needs to be in every household. No matter what age you are, everyone can appreciate a good movie. And THIS is a good movie.
Movie Review: Spectacular Hallowe'en Witch Hunt!
Summary: 5 Stars
It's hard to believe this movie wasn't an immediate success, because it is so enjoyable and is so well acted. The story begins in Old Salem with the execution of the Sanderson Sisters, three witches who, at the time of their execution, cast a spell to ensure that they will come back to life one Hallowe'en when a virgin lights the black candle. Enter one hapless teenage boy (Omri Katz) from California who has just moved to Salem, is not so happy that he has, and upon exploring the Sanderson house, lights the candle, and the adventure begins. The three witches, played by Bette Midler, Kathy Nijimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker, plot to lure the children of the town to concoct a potion to keep themselves young forever and thus live on while the one who brought them back to life, together with his sister and girl friend try to stop them and undo the spell.
While the story sounds not so much fun on paper, the action on the screen keeps the audience spellbound. The tension remains high, and there's plenty of entertainment along the way, including one song performed by Bette Midler at the Hallowe'en Ball. Great script with lots of unforgettable lines. Fun entertainment for the entire family.