Hocus Pocus

Hocus Pocus is a decent movie. I agree that it is one of the lesser live-action Disney efforts, but it is a watchable and I think under-appreciated Halloween movie. I honestly thought My Favourite Martian was worse, despite it having the wonderful Christopher Lloyd in it. Back to Hocus Pocus, it does have its flaws, the script has its weak spots, the direction is at times lifeless and Omri Katz never quite convinces in the lead. On a positive note, everything else ranges from decent to very good. Bette Midler steals the show, while having the most screen time, she is evidently relishing her role. Her co-stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy equally delight, and all three women are suitably scary and hammy. The music is very nice, I loved the catchy Put a Spell on You and I thought the beginning of the movie was superb. The camera work was good, and the special effects were decent. What I loved most though was the original storyline, there are some funny and scary moments. Kids will definitely love it, adults not so much, though my dad did like it. Overall, patchy but enjoyable. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Saw this during the Halloween season on the big screen it was the second time I have seen it and did not grow up watching it. I must say I enjoyed it even more on my second viewing.

Written by Mick Garris and Neil Cuthbert, based on story by Garris and David Kirschner. It is the story of a young teen named Max (Omri Katz, who I always remember as the kid from EERIE, INDIANA) mistakenly wakes up the Sanderson sisters (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy). Along with his sister Dani (Thora Birch) and classmate Allison (Vinessa Shaw) try to stop the sisters from draining the lifeforce out of the children so that they could live forever.

While certainly not scary it does have nice atmosphere and some laughs to be had. I had a smile on my face through much of the film. One problem I did have though was with some of the effects. The effects with Thackery (Sean Murray) being turned into a cat and him running around the rest of the film as a cat just screams 1993 and is no longer effective, but I easily forgave the effects due to other things going on screen. Also starring Kathleen Freeman as the teacher Miss Olin and Garry and Penny Marshall in a funny scene. Supposedly a sequel is on its way.

Though they are three witches they were not the Witches of Eastwick. "Hocus Pocus" is about as clean as you can get for a movie about witches sucking the souls out of children. I mean, at least it wasn't bloody, profane, or lewd. There wasn't even a kiss between the two lovebirds.

In 1693 three witches--Mary (Kathy Najmy), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), and Winifred (Bette Midler)-- were killed (don't worry, they don't show it). Before they met their demise at the hand of an angry mob, Winnie cast a spell which would bring them back to life should "a virgin light the blacklight candle on the full moon of Halloween." I know, very specific. Not many chances for that to occur.

Well, 300 years later that very thing happened when new kid on the block, Max (Omri Katz), lit the candle. He was thoroughly opposed by his little sister, Dani (Thora Birch), and cute classmate Allison (Vinessa Shaw). But if he never lit the candle, we'd have no movie.

They spent the rest of the movie trying to evade the female versions of Larry, Curly, and Moe. It's a kids' movie, no doubt. It was cute and fairly harmless. Even the witches themselves looked and behaved innocuously. I'll put it this way: the witch from "Wizard of Oz" was far scarier.

I prepared my self when I sat down to watch this movie, expecting a boring Disney film not for my generation. But this movie was hilarious! Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker were fantastic in their roles as the witches, especially Midler in her role as Winifred. Unfortunately there is no soundtrack to this film, which is a shame but not a tragedy. Overall a fantastic film that the whole family should enjoy.

I don't what the critics were talking about, but I found Hocus Pocus to be extreme fun, from start to finish. The use of color and the sets is all magical, giving the movie a strange fairy-tale feel. I also found it to be very funny with great special-effects. The movie's just plain fun. The three witches, thankfully, aren't flat and dull. This movie is scary without being profane (ala Mighty Joe Young) or super duper frightening. A great film that's much better than most Disney live-action films today.