The Good Witch

Movie Review 8

A town full of problems and prejudice. 

Luckily a good headstrong witch named Cassandra is ready to tackle these woes.  

So it's not ABC Family but it's Hallmark Channel so it's just as light and warming and far from scary. As the holidays near I figured a movie as suiting as this, The Good Witch would be a nice watch. This made for TV movie starts off a soft tint and slow music as it shows an array of eye catching items that witch would probably use for line of work. The credits roll and the movie officially begins as Jake Russell (Chris Potter) a local cop gets startled as a cat hops onto the hood of his truck. The cat scurries off into an alley in which Jake follows. The cat leads him to an older fellow named Walter who's sleeping under a tree. It seems he knows Walter and the predicament he's in. Jake helps Walter up into his truck away from the cold.

As Jake returns home the pressures of family life come barging in as his daughter Lori (Hannah Endicott-Douglas) is constantly having nightmares and his son Brandon (Matthew Knight) is having some rebellious issues of his own. Later we see Martha, a well to do lady, who walks by and sees Walter wondering down another alley. This upsets the lady as she storms into the police station having a word or two about Walter's appearance. She also continues on stating about a rumor of someone “occupying Grey House.”

Jake and busy body Martha go by to the Grey House and walk on in. The house looks very dusty and but occupied. The same black cat runs by startling both Jake and Martha. The light switch turns on as a beautiful woman walks down the stairs. She introduces her self as Cassandra Nightingale and is somehow not upset by the trespassing. They verify that she is the new owner of the house. Martha expects her to fix her new home up but Cassandra disagrees and thinks the house has character. This offends Martha as she walks out angrily. Later Brandon and Lori are walking home from school they get chased by the local dog and run into the premises of Grey House. They both run in and Lori falls scraping her knee at the same moment the dog runs in through the gate as they forget to close it behind them. Cassandra who is somehow just standing there sees the situation and with just a glare calms the barking dog. (Finally MAGIC!) The dog sits quietly as she walks up and talks to him and scolds him for scaring the children. Lori and Brandon are amazed and confused. Cassandra introduces herself as Cassie as she notices Lori is got a pretty bad scrape on her
knees.

Had to take a Screen Shot, sorry for the quality.

Cassie brings the children into the house which is a bit cleaner and actually quite homely during the daytime. She leads them toward her kitchen where it's obviously her favorite room in the house as it's well decorated and probably something you'd expect to see in witches kitchen. Cassie has a way with children and puts some healing herbs on her wound and places a band-aid with a kiss. She offers the children some Gingerbread and gets up to get her trey. Though by then it's too late Brandon sees the kitchen's supplies. Isis, Cassie's cat busts out of the closet and knocking down a unique broom in the process. Both frightened Brandon and Lori run away from the house. Cassandra confused and sad as the first problem of a line of problems begin.

Okay here's the low down, the movie starts off slow and has some scenes and dialogue that could really use some work. On the other hand the morals and the plot over all as a whole is actually quite inspiring. The way the movie depicts magic is not flashy at all and is not overly obvious which is also one of the appealing aspects of the movie. It's non Hollywood. Would I recommend this movie yes and no. Yes if you're planning to show it to a friend who's very sensitive with religious issues. It would make a good starter movie. If you're a fan of witch movies in general also a yes as I said there are some things that's worth learning and seeing. Plus this movie made me a fan of actress Catherine Bell. I would not recommend this movie if you're want to see something funny, fast pace or something overly magical.

Title: The Good Witch

Length: 89 min

Ratings:PG

Year: 2008

Director: Craig Pryce

Starring: Catherine Bell, Chris Potter, Matthew Knight, Hannah Endicott-Douglas

Over All Score: B – Parts of the movie has me shaking my head but Catherine Bell (Cassandra Nightingale) and her scenes have me doing the exact opposite. There are ups and downs with this movie.

Entertaining: B- The movie is definitely Hallmark you'll love and hate characters.

Cinematography: B Nothing dramatic or stunning.

Storyline: C- The story is okay but seems half baked at times. If a few added scenes and better dialogue in the beginning of the movie would greatly improve the over all quality. Also it seems everyone in the town including Brandon and Lori is up to try the nerves of their father and Cassandra.

Acting: B- Acting from the main cast is good. Some of the minor actors seem borderline sub-par.

Music: B+ The score is good and crisp. Nothing horrible about it.  

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I Married a Witch

Brewing up a whole lot of trouble

First off sorry for not posting anything for October... I know shame.

This classic movie starts off with a great traditional witch score as the movie's intro begins with listing the credits first. The first scene starts off as a burning in the times back when America was just a bunch of struggling Pilgrims. A clergy man says some condemning words then turns as a man starts selling fresh popcorn before the burning. What? Yes that's right this 1942 black and white film is obviously not a serious flick at all but a comedy. The movie focuses on a pilgrim named Jonathan Wooley (Fredric March) who regrets revealing the family of witches. As she cursed them that him and his line would be unlucky in love.

The witches ashes are guarded by an oak tree which they planted over them. The movies flashes into the year 1770 where Nathaniel Wooley is proposing to a beautiful girl name Martha under the very same oak tree. She was about to say yes when a strange giggling startles her from accepting. The year suddenly flashes to 1861 where Samuel Wooley is more than happy to leave his wife Nancy to fight in the war. Again the year flashes to 1904 where we see another Wooley just married to his new nagging wife late in his year. Finally it's the 1940's where Wallace Wooley is having an argument with a beautiful girl named Estelle. He's currently running for Governor and hosting a grand party where his speech is constantly interrupted by a thunder storm. His family line is truly cursed.

A piece of lightning strikes the tree and spirits of  the witches are released in the form of witches smoke. These wispy spirits are quite upset as they float across the yards and notice that the times have changed since they deaths. Both father and daughter are delighted to be set free and ready to cause revenge for their untimely deaths. The dialogue exchange between father and daughter are devious and playful at best as they watch the party take place and examine the difference between the puritan way of life and the time they're in. Soon they hide in a pair of liquor bottles as a man steps outside. It's Wallace Wooley and he's seems to be lost in thought. He walks back in and the bottles are carried inside by the bar where Wallace is smoking. The daughter recognized him and his expression knowing that her curse has lived through it's time.

The two spirits fly off on a broom through the night and set a hotel on fire as they were taken from fire they shall be born from it. His daughter drops off and leaves her drunk father spirit flying through the night. The building is completely on flames as Fire Fighters can not put it out. Wallace Wooley, with his lady Estelle (Susan Hayward) and friend Dudley (Robert Benchley) arrive to stop to see the commotion. They all watch it slowly burn until he a woman's voice crying for help. Strangely no one else can hear the woman's cries as Wallace Wooley rushes in try to help the damsel. He finally finds her on the second floor the petite girl is Jennifer (Veronica Lake) naked and is quite happy as she has a body again. However they're stuck on the second floor with no way out. She has a lot of trouble walking and is also undecided if she should have been reborn as a blonde. Wally (Wallce) finally finds an exit and carries the bemused blonde out of the burning hotel to a very lucky snap shot opportunity.

The story continues as he can't get rid of the scrumptious blonde who he tries to push away. But the witch is is determined and with a few hours has him captivated by her. She's succeeded in her first step but is still determined to ruin his life further. The witch and her father brew up a potion that will force him to fall in love with her however things go wrong for the witch and her father. The movie is a must see. The actors did an outstanding job. Maybe it wasn't very much acting on Veronica Lakes's part as IMDB trivia mentioned how other actors considered acting with her was a pain in the behind. Either way the film is a classic that should be seen more often. I highly enjoyed and would recommend it.

Title: I Married a Witch

Length: 77 min

Ratings: PG

Year: 1942

Director: René Clair

Starring: Fredric March, Veronica Lake, Susan Hayward, Robert Benchley

Over All Score: A+ A Must See

Entertaining: A- Very lively film it was devious and magic through out the film.

Cinematography: B standard for it's time and done well. Loved the smoke effects.

Storyline: A- Original by most of it very whimsical but not completely original as a whole.

Acting: A The actors obviously did a great job there was no half acting or cheesy work. Even their voice acting scenes and dialogue where done with character.

Music: B the score is cute and catchy. I liked listening to it and timing was spot on.