Welcome to the Galactic Theater, where we'll explore the works of master manipulators of light waves, examine the themes brought to play, and critique the final products of months of hard work.
Welcome to the Galactic Theater, where we'll explore the works of master manipulators of light waves, examine the themes brought to play, and critique the final products of months of hard work.
This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the movie.
That said, on to the review!
The Sanderson witches--Winifred (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy), and Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker)--died 300 years ago, hanged by the vengeful residents of Salem after children died unnaturally. But before her death, Winifred warned that one Halloween night they would return to terrorize the children of Salem once again. The people of the long ago time have died, but one of them remains among the living, trapped within the cat's shape Winifred had imprisoned him in when he tried to save his sister from her clutches. Now Thackery Binx prowls through Salem, driving away foolhardy risk-takers--particulary risk-taking virgins--to keep them from lighting the black flame candle, through whose lighting Winifred warned she and her sisters would return.
It's three hundred years later, and Max (Omri Katz)--recent transplant homesick for California--has reached that time in his life when bitter cynicism is his constant companion. Halloween for him is a time without magic, as it is now--to him--an institution created and maintained by candy companies. Moreover, it's the twentieth century: who believes in magic anymore? So when he, his sister Dani (Thora Birch), and his new acquaintance/possible future girlfriend Allison (Vinessa Shaw) visit the Sanderson's house--now a museum--he doesn't believe that lighting the black flame candle will really do anything. Boy, was he wrong!
Now its a race against time as the three kids--aided by Binx the Talking Cat--do their best to end the threat of the Sanderson sisters once and for all. But it isn't that easy. For one thing, they're all on their own. The police won't help them. Their parents won't help them. Their friends from school can't help them. So who else is there to turn to? On the one hand, they stole Winifred's spellbook, greatly weakening her, so perhaps there's an answer to be found within its pages. On the other hand, Binx has warned them of the book's evil, and forbidden them to open it. But what else can they do? They have three witches after them, a zombie in pursuit, and the lives of all the children of Salem at stake! They have to do something, but is it worth it to do the unthinkable: use the magic of the book against the witches?
This is a Halloween movie I've grown to love, all the more so because it isn't technically a "kids" movie. Sure, there are kids invovled--heavily involved--in the plot and all, and Halloween has become primarily a "kids" holiday, but the plot is, to my mind, aimed more towards a mature audience than younger children. Certainly the "PG" rating suggests that it isn't exactly the kind of thing you'd show children under five. There are, after all, several violent scenes, such as...well, I won't go into that just now.
A key draw for me was the casting of Bette Midler as the leader of the witches. Although I'm not her biggest fan, I'm still a fan of hers, and it's only partially because Hawaii is happy to claim her as a "local girl" who graduated from Radford High School. I love her music, especially Wind Beneath My Wings and From a Distance, and her rendition of God Help the Outcasts from Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame--you have to watch the end-credits through to hear it--is especially poignant and impressive. I also really loved her in Beaches. I didn't know what to expect of her in this movie, but it certainly wasn't a "buck-toothed, broom-riding firefly from hell," as Billy Butcherson called her. And I am curious as to how she was able to speak around those two huge front teeth, let alone sing. But she was extremely impressive in this role, and I can't really imagine any other actress could do a better job as Winifred Sanderson.
Kathy Najimy (also seen in Sister Act) and Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex in the City, Striking Distance, and Leaving Las Vegas) provided exceptional comedy relief throughout the movie. Whether it was sister Mary (Najimy) grunting when she mounted her vacuum cleaner (you have to see it) or sister Sarah (Parker) munching on a spider or acting like an airhead, every scene they appeared in was almost guaranteed to be one filled with humor. Add to that the excellent timing of Winifred's cutting wit and ofttimes vicious seriousness and you have a wonderful horror-comedy.
About the only thing I'm disappointed about is that Winifred--okay, she's admittedly the smartest and strongest of them all--was the only witch to really use any sort of magic. Sure, Mary had a particularly sensitive nose (she could track Max's sneakers clear across town) and Sarah ensorcelled the children of Salem with her voice (if Parker actually sang that, maybe she should consider a career in music), but only Winifred used more demonstrative, visually impressive spells. But other than that, the movie is--in my unprofessional, not-entirely-objective opinion, at least--a terrific hit!
You can purchase Hocus Pocus on videotape at just about any video store you go to. Halloween is probably a good time to find it on display, but I know you can also find it in the comedy section at all times of the year. Do so! I know you'll love it!
Interested in buying this video? You can! Just follow the link to order the VHS version. You can also visit the Stellar Video Store for other titles.
Back Home Sign Guestbook View Guestbook
Get your own Free Home Page