METTEL RAY

Thusday Movie Picks: Witches / Warlocks

halloween-edition

It’s October!! And October means Halloween! For me, it isn’t a holiday I’ve ever really celebrated, since it wasn’t apart of my childhood here in Estonia. But hey, I can celebrate Halloween if I want to, so I’m celebrating it with all these Halloween related recommendations this month.

1. PRACTICAL MAGIC, 1998

Probably my favorite witch movie from the 90’s, and one of my favorites from the 90’s in general. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman play sisters who practice magic, but a curse and a bad boyfriend almost ruin their lives. It is just, it is magical!

2. HOCUS POCUS, 1993

This is another 90’s choice and it’s a funnier take on witches. With another set of witches, this time three sisters, some really funny things happen. Mix in some adorable kids performances, a funny sidekick zombie and you’ve got yourself a great movie!

3. STARDUST, 2007

Another example of bad witches, but this time they are in a middle of a magical world. Three witch sisters are out to find the fallen star to stay remain young for years and years. This movie is based on a Neil Gaiman novel and it’s actually quite a funny movie with grown up themes thrown into a magical world. I just recently re-watched it and it was still great.

* THE ORIGINALS, 2013-

Every now and then I’m thinking I’m going to watch this series again, because I actually enjoyed the first season. And I think I will enjoy other seasons as well, but there’s just that one werewolf girl who can’t act for her life so, I don’t know. It has witches and warlocks though, so that’s something.

* SHADOWHUNTERS, 2016-

Yes, this show is pretty much the worst thing to happen to TV since who knows when. There’s not that much greatness happening, the CGI is weak and well, the acting needs some serious polishing. But, I do love Magnus, the warlock who comes to rescue every time he is needed, mostly for Alec and/or to see Alec. So yes, I like this show a little, and I’m not ashamed of it.. or maybe just a little.

THIS SERIES IS CREATED BY WANDERING THROUGH THE SHELVES

mettelray

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23 responses to “Thusday Movie Picks: Witches / Warlocks”

  1. mikeyb @ screenkicker Avatar
    mikeyb @ screenkicker

    You need to find Teen Witch. It’s ultra-80s and cheesy as fuck.

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      Omg, yes, that sounds great, I’m into cheesy!

      Reply
  2. Courtney Young Avatar
    Courtney Young

    Practical Magic is amazing. I covered it in the Against the Crowd Blogathon. Absolutely adore that flick!

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      Yes! I think it has been going around in that blogathon multiple times and totally understandable. It’s so so so much better than rotten tomatoes states with its score for it..

      Reply
  3. Wendell Avatar
    Wendell

    Sadly, I’ve not seen any of these. Been meaning to catch Practical Magic for a while. Guess I should just do it.

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      Definitely! Practical Magic is like the best one out of this list!

      Reply
  4. Sonia Avatar
    Sonia

    I haven’t seen any of these, but I’ve been meaning to watch both Practical Magic and Hocus Pocus. I didn’t know Stardust but it sounds good.

    Reply
  5. joelnox Avatar
    joelnox

    Very fitting picks. Hocus Pocus is silly fun though surprisingly intense in places for something aimed at young children. Love Bette Midler & Kathy Najimy! SJP not so much.

    I haven’t seen Stardust in years, since I watched it in the theatre but I remember it as a little rough around the edges with some nice effects.

    I’ve avoided Practical Magic for years because of Kidman of whom I am not fond but it’s been popular today so maybe I should just break down and watch it. Nor have I watched either of those two TV shows though I’ve heard of both.

    I had The Wicker Man all set as one of my choices but it was so popular last week I pulled it and substituted my third choice which I’d been meaning to see for years and watched especially for today. It’s dark but the rest, including my bonus, are on the lighter side.

    I Married a Witch (1942)-Condemned to being burned at the stake along with her father 17th century witch Jennifer (Veronica Lake) puts a curse on her accuser Jonathan Wooley (Fredric March) that he and all his descendants will marry the wrong women. Their spirits captured in a tree they’re unexpectedly freed 250 years later to discover the curse is still working with the latest Wooley (also March) engaged to marry a shrew (Susan Hayward). Full of mischief and revenge the troublemaking duo decide to raise even more of a ruckus by way of a love potion but complications ensue. Supported by an excellent cast the two leads make the picture, their extraordinary chemistry remarkable since behind the scenes each bitterly hated the other. You’d never guess from what’s on screen, they seem completely swept away. The best showcase Veronica ever had, she’s seductive, alluring, humorous, seeming to carry a gossamer glow with her wherever she goes. A light as air concoction directed at breakneck speed.

    Bell, Book and Candle (1958)-Modern day witch Gillian (Kim Novak) and her cat Pyewacket, live in 50’s Greenwich Village along with her Aunt Queenie (Elsa Lanchester) and impish cousin Nicky (Jack Lemmon). She meets publisher Shep (James Stewart) and on a lark, partly because he seems immune to her and partly because Shep is engaged to her old college rival Merle (Janice Rule), she decides to make him hers by casting a love spell. Trouble starts brewing though when Gillian finds herself actually falling for Shep. That’s more than a little problem since Gill will lose her powers if she falls in love with a human. What to do? The film suits Kim’s languid style and she looks a million.

    Black Sunday (1960)-In the diametric opposite of I Married a Witch cult star Barbara Steel is Asa, a 16th century high priestess of Satan executed, along with several of her followers, by having a spiked mask hammered into her face. As punishment is meted out she vows vengeance of her accusers returning 200 years hence to inhabit the body of her doppelganger and reap bloody retribution. Trendsetting Italian Gothic horror movie is loaded with atmosphere and style though short on actual frights, excepting those opening scenes, but is permeated with creepy dread.

    Unmissable Bonus-Bewitched (1964-1972)-Beautiful blonde Samantha Stevens lives on Morning Glory Circle in quaint Westport with her often exasperated adman husband Darrin and their adorable kids Tabatha and Adam, plus nosy neighbor Gladys Kravitz, while her zany, often difficult family drop in frequently unannounced causing no end of troubles. Big troubles too since Samantha and all her relatives are witches who strongly disapprove of her marriage to a mere mortal. A monster TV hit in its day with a cast full of expert comic actors chief among them Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha/and her swingin’ cousin Serena, Agnes Moorehead as her firebrand of a mother Endora, Paul Lynde as jokester Uncle Arthur and Marion Lorne as the befuddled Aunt Clara this is often considered a subtle metaphor for interracial marriage at a time when that was causing much upheaval. Inspired in part by my first two picks. Avoid the ghastly 2005 remake at all costs!!!

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      I Married a Wicth sounds great, I might look it up and if I get the chance, watch it. I can’t rememebr the last time I watched something from the 40’s, so I mean, it’s about time that I would!

      Thanks for sharing your choices!

      Reply
  6. Brittani Avatar
    Brittani

    Hocus Pocus! I love that movie so much.

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      Same, it’s just.. it’s special!

      Reply
  7. sati Avatar
    sati

    YEY for Practical Magic! i love it so much

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      I knew you would, and why shouldn’t you!? It’s a great movie!

      Reply
  8. abbiosbiston Avatar
    abbiosbiston

    I love Practical Magic and Stardust is one of the few cases when I preferred the film to the book!

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      I haven’t read the book, but I loved being surprised how fun Stardust was, and how ironic and sarcastic it was. Plus, it’s even funnier now that Cox is Daredevil.

      Reply
  9. Daniel Bayer Avatar
    Daniel Bayer

    LOVE Stardust. It’s so much fun!

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      Lots of love going around for it, I’m glad!

      Reply
  10. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    Great shout on Stardust – it used to be my go to movie when I was under the weather or it was just raining outside.

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      Thanks! I feel like there’s a lot of us out there who love Stardust based on the comments. I like that. Stardust deserves that.

      Reply
  11. Birgit Avatar
    Birgit

    We both picked PRACTICAL Magic which I. An wt h again and again. I haven’t seen the others but want to…especially now.

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      Stardust – watch it! It’s fun and Hocus Pocus is a great pick for October as well. I’ll check out your post soon!

      Reply
  12. Wandering through the Shelves Avatar
    Wandering through the Shelves

    I love Stardust. It’s such a fun movie!
    Shadowhunters – The Mortal Instruments wasn’t great, so I thought that when they made a TV series out of it, it could be better? But like you said…nope. It’s probably worse. The dialogue is bad and the acting just as bad…I could only manage 1 and half episodes, so I don’t think I ever got to Magnus.

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      So much love for Stardust, that’s awesome!
      It is so bad, the only reason I watch it is Malek and I feel like Magnus is the best actor out of the bunch, and Daddario is a bit better when he is around. But the dialog, the direction, the CGI, everything is so lame – I watched it and I laughed at the most serious places. It does improve a little in the end, but I think not enough to be tolerable. It’s the most awful thing I”ve watched this year by far… and I watched it all.

      Reply

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