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Review Hocus Pocus (1993)

Hocus Pocus (1993) Dir. Kenny Ortega Screenplay by Neil Cuthbert and Mick Garris

Release date: 16 July 1993 Watch date: 2 November 2024

Star rating: 4/5

WHAT IS IT?

Middle aged witches take on high school virgins in a campy Halloween teen action comedy. Full of tricks and treats, this beloved classic tells the story of a brother-sister duo taking on the infamous Sanderson sisters in the sleepy town of Salem, Massachusetts on a fated Hallows Eve.

THOUGHTS?

I like this movie. I just can’t help it. It’s earnest and well made, with costume design by Mary E. Vogt and set design by William Sandell shining through in all its seasonally appropriate glory.

The three witches are the main event. They’re funny, well played, and age-appropriately evil. Beyond the star-studded adult cast, the child actors manage to hold their own quite well. Thora Birch as younger sister Dani is especially noteworthy, managing to make Dani an exciting heroine to watch without being too over the top as many youth actors are wont to be. The 1600s era children struggle with the language adjustment, but it’s not overly distracting.

The plot carries itself forward with a few “well…sure” moments typical of the genre. Overall, it’s a fun story that holds up as a Halloween classic.

WHAT SHOULD I WATCH NEXT?

Did you like Hocus Pocus (1993)? You should try:

Practical Magic (1998)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)

Casper (1995)

Did you NOT like Hocus Pocus (1993)? You should try:

Saw (2004)

Saw II (2005)

Saw III (2006)

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Review: We Live in Time (2024)

We Live in Time (2024) Dir. John Crowley Screenplay by Nick Payne

Release date: 11 October 2024 Watch date: 26 October 2024

Star rating: 1.5/5

WHAT WAS IT?

Two A-list actors, a theatre director having an affair with the silver screen, and the British countryside come together to tell the story of two lovers over ten years, through heartbreak and triumph, cooking competitions and shaved heads, and (unconventional) birth and (conventional) death.

THOUGHTS?

After a lot of hype, promises of tears, and the undeniable draw of Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh flirting with all the bells and whistles of dry British wit, this film was a disappointing miss for me.

Nonlinear storytelling can be the cherry on top of a slice of life story, where moving through time fluidly feels natural to dissect the world around us. Unfortunately, without meaningful placement and a clear reasoning behind the movement between years and decades, Crowley and Payne’s attempt is more confusing than it is contemplative. Hairstyle changes and scenic adjustments are not enough to show that time has passed or rewound! If the characters are always the same, how can I truly know that Almut’s bangs are not simply growing quickly and being cut off every other day?

Speaking of Florence Pugh’s Almut—though practically a cookie cutter for a compelling female lead, her character lacks the nuance and flavor to make her interesting and I’m stuck wanting more consequence to all of her actions. Andrew Garfield’s Tobias is sweet and understanding with two minutes in a two-hour long movie of characterization beyond being sweet and understanding. Their portrayals were both quite good, but good actors can’t always make up for boring characters.

The color editing was flat and the sound design minimal and unimpactful when it was there. The set design earns a few points as the homes did feel quite lived in and warm at times.

Overall, an unbalanced rom-drama that felt more like watching the director’s cut of a “dead wife” montage in an action movie than the emotional narrative I was promised.

WHAT SHOULD I WATCH NEXT?

Did you like We Live In Time (2024)? You should try:

Notting Hill (1999)

Little Women (2019)

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)

Did you NOT like We Live In Time (2024)? You should try:

Past Lives (2023)

13 Going On 30 (2004)

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)