The Initiation of Sarah

Movie Review 6

The Initiation of Sarah

These sororities are not what they seem.

Ah first off I was planning on posting this up in August but didn't have the time. I figure school starts for the learners again so how about a school movie. Yes I'm cheesy. Anyways as fall my favorite season comes and Halloween nears, there should be an increase of movies to post, hopefully. Okay The Initiation of Sarah, my first ABC family movie post. Hmm ABC family movies I'm really am confused about who runs your network. You really have a love for magical movies and for that I'm grateful to you. Okay some if not most people know this a remake of 1978's made for TV movie Initiation of Sarah. Which I haven't seen yet. I know shame. So I'm going to have to do a review on that sometime in the near future. The setting starts off dark at first...(for ABC family of course) as we see a ritual taking place of young hooded women. They try to perform a sacrifice when something goes wrong.

Okay eighteen years later Lindsay Goodwin (Summer Glau) and Sarah Goodwin (Mika Boorem) are being driven by their mother Trina Goodwin (Morgan Farichild) through the campus of Temple Hill University. They drive past a whole bunch of sororities and fraternities discussing who's who on the campus. Soon they reach a set of old looking dorms. Their mother leaves and Lindsay and Sarah have a sisterly discussion about how important it is to get into Alpha Nu Gamma (ANG) their mother's sorority and becoming popular. Sarah disagrees with Lindsay but agrees to be on her best behavior anyways. They give each other hug and we see the first scenes that something is special between these girls. 

The girls get ready for Rush, Sarah meets a full figured pretty girl named Vita (Amber Brooke Wallace). Who's nice but gets teased by two snooty-stuck up girls. Sarah defends her and befriends Vita. Soon their RA of their floor Finn (Ben Ziff) comes over, he doesn't knock and opens the door, they converse and he drops off an invitation for Pie Epsilon Delta (PED), Alpha Nu's rival house. They make their way toward ANG's rush where it seems like pastel's is a must. Sarah is immediately turned off by some of the demeanor the girls have. Ezmee (Tessa Thomas), see's how Sarah and Lindsay are put off by their first impression and sweeps in with a air of decency. Before they leave Chorine (JoAnne Garcia) makes her way down and introduces herself but some freak accident, Chorine's glass breaks and stains her dress. Sarah and Lindsay embarrassed rush out of the house.

On their way home they walk pass PED, where Lindsay trips and hurts her ankle. Soon PED girls rush out of their house and help Lindsay and Sarah inside. Eugenia Hunter (Jennifer Tilly) comes down and greets them they talk to each other for a while. Eugenia checks Lindsay's ankle which is mysteriously healed. The girls leave the house a bit weirded out of Eugenia mysticism. Days go on and Lindsay makes it to Alpha Nu Gamma. While Sarah makes it into both Alpha Nu and PED. Lindsay's ecstatic while Sarah is a bit unsure. Both Ezmee and Chorine notice and make their moves to try to pledge Sarah as well. It' obvious that both houses want Sarah and go to crazy and dirty lengths to get her. Finally PED wins Sarah and decides to pledge with them along with her friend Vita who's also accepted into PED.

The story continues Vita and Sarah grow stronger magic wise and Lindsay is beautified by magic. They use Lindsay as bait for Sarah as they continue to try and trap Sarah. Over all I thought this movie was not bad. It's entertaining as it goes through the history of these two seemingly sororities and how they use magic in different ways. I liked the movie and part of me wishes there was a sequel. Who knows might be one.

Title: The Initiation of Sarah

Length: 90 mins

Ratings: PG-13

Year: 2006

Director: Stuart Gillard

Starring: Mika Boorem, Summer Glau, JoAnne Garcia,Tessa Thompson, Ben Ziff, Morgan Fairchild, Jennifer Tillly, and Amber Brooke Wallace

Over All Score: B+

Entertaining: I thought it was entertaining with no wasted scenes. I like how it wastes no time with showing the magical scenes. Don't have to wait long to first see it or in between as well well. It's a movie that tweens and up could enjoy.

Cinematography: Solid B What's there to see? It takes place on a University campus. Good scenes of college life and interior designs of well... College. The sets don't look shabby just nothing breathtaking.

Storyline: B- It's a remake haven't seen the original. Though some of the dialogue of the minor characters can be a bit annoying, as they're suppose to come off as I suppose. I like the modern college spin to it and thoroughly enjoyed most of the movie.

Acting: B+ Trying not to be harsh, the main characters of the movie acted really well. There is some really annoying chicks in Alph Nu.

Music: B+ Decent, soundtrack with decent score. Good timing and choices.

The Covenant

The Covenant

Boys will be Boys

Title: The Covenant

Length: 97 min

Ratings: PG-13

Yes I took the URL from a Russian Forum site.

The Covenant, at first look seems like a male version of 1996 The Craft. Especially with the Rob Zombie opening with flashes of occult pictures and year book pictures of the characters. Though that's where most of the comparison ends. I've been wanting to see something male oriented for a while and had been hesitant about watching The Covenant. However I pushed aside my negativity and was pleasantly surprised as the Covenant mixes a bit of literature and originality into a fun watch.

The story doesn't waste anytime as four guys, gather upon a cliff, watching a teenage party in the forest. Caleb (Steven Strait), Tyler (Chace Crawford), Pogue (Taylor Kitsch), and last Reid, (Toby Hemmingway) get together exchange a few words before jumping off a cliff and landing as if they only fell for three feet. It's obvious that these group of young and attractive men are different from the others. They make their way into the party strolling from the lightened mist behind them. They immediately zoom in on the new girl, Sarah (Laura Ramsey) and introduce themselves, they cause some unwanted attention from a few local jocks. Then suddenly an announcement is made, the authorities are heading their way. The party disperses as teenagers run around heading towards their cars. The Ipswich boys head into their hummer, as Laura heads into her old SUV, that doesn't seem to start. Caleb who has an apparent interest in Sarah offers her and her friends a ride. Sarah thankfully declines, though Reid who also has an interest in Sarah jumps at the chance to help her out. He opens the hood of her car and with a brief gold flicker of his eyes, he then closes the hood and tells them to try it out now. The car starts and Sarah and her friends escape the raid like the others. However the Ipswich boys are now being chased by cops whom they all agree to send the authorities to a fun chase through the woods. They lead the cops towards a cliff where they gather their powers, all their eyes turn pitch black and fly their hummer off another cliff, flying through the fog and into the night sky, leaving the cops lost for words.

Some history is now shed upon the Sons of Ipswich, which are sons who come from the original five families that colonized Ipswich, who are also come from a long line of old money. Sarah quickly makes an observation that they were only four guys out there tonight. Which her friend Kate states that the fifth family died out with the Witch Hunts. Sarah isn't impressed with this information and continues on her way. The plot thickens as the police finds a dead student in his car and Sarah is haunted as she takes a late night shower. Reid appears and checks the shower and finds nothing. Caleb wakes and news about the dead student travels fast, the group suspects Reid as he's more showy with his powers. The plot continues and some terminology about Ascending and Darkling comes up as Caleb's powers saves his life as his car comes back together from a head on collision of a 18 wheeler.

Magic has it's consequences as Reid isn't afraid to use his powers anywhere at anytime, as he's jealous of Caleb's ascension and power. The group of four tears into a group of two and Sarah continues to be haunted by something dark, giving her nightmares. There's someone using their powers big time and is risking exposure for the rest them. The story is entertaining and has nice scenes of action mixed up with magic that comes from the group of boys. This movies is very Hollywood and special affects show when the boys do show off their powers. As over all reviews go, I was surprised it was rated so low. It's worth the watch especially if you're fond of good looking guys.

Title: The Covenant

Length: 97 min

Rated: PG-13

Year: 2006

Director: Renny Harlin

Starring: Steven Strait, Laura Ramsey, Sebastian Stan, Taylor Kitsch, Toby Hemmingway, and Chace Crawford

Over All Score: A, Worth a watch.

Entertaining: A- Over all entertaining, a bit of WB teen drama feel to it though over all entertaining. Cool special effects making the movie more interesting.

Storyline: A- Surprisingly original enough to watch, fans of literature might enjoy the plot more than others.

Acting: B+ Acting from most of the cast is good don't expect any Academy Awards.

Cinematography: A- Good views of scenery and architecture. Not too much tint.

Music: A- Good selection of music. It's got the male rock selection to it. Score isn't bad either.

The Worst Witch

The Worst Witch

Poor Unlucky Mildred Hubble

To be honest I haven't seen this movie since I was a little girl. Thanfully I was able to see it on YouTube thanks to sentientred. First off the movie is a made for TV movie and some of the budget can be seen with the costumes and effects. Though the movie is still very entertaining.

The story revolves around a young witch named Mildred Hubble (Fairuza Balk), unfortunately Mildred is one of unluckiest students and is sometimes teased by her classmates and her teacher Miss Hardbroom (Diana Rigg). Luckily Mildred has a best friend Delilah, who she can depend on and is always on her side. Mildred has built some sort of a reputation that even, Principal Cackle (Charlotte Rae), who's also very understanding to Mildred's unlucky situation. The story progresses rather fast and Miss Cackle's twin ,but evil sister. Agatha Cackle (Charlotte Rae) is introduced. Along with a portrait of the Grand Wizard (Tim Curry) as well.

Life isn't fun for Mildred, things just doesn't come easy for her, her cat can't ride on a broomstick, she wrecks her broom and she's constantly picked on by a girl named Ethel Hallow. They play a game where girls make ugly faces to make each other scream. Each scream they let out is a point for the enemy team. Of course Ethel is on the opposite team and cheats when she places on a hideous mask. Mildred screams her head off which automatically loses for team. Out of anger Mildred grows the courage to try to turn Ethel into a frog. Though she ends up turning her into a pig, being able to change her into anything in the first place gives Mildred the confidence she needs in school. News soon comes in that the Grand Wizard (Tim Curry) is heading for their school for Halloween. All the girls including the staff have huge crushes on him. The school announces that they will perform a flying show, showcasing their maneuvering on brooms. Mildred gathers the courage to practice and tries-out for the performance. Though things don't come easily for Mildred Hubble and many obstacles stand in her way.

The movie is cute and short. It brought back a lot of child hood memories and the special effects well are not that special now days. Though Tim Curry as the Grand Wizard reminds you how good and unique a singer he actually was. Watch this moview with young kids, as they will most likely to judge less harshly on the special effects that the made for TV movie used in 1986.

Title: The Worst Witch

Length: 70min

Ratings:PG

Year:1986

Director: Robert Young

Starring: Diana Rigg, Charlotte Rae, Tim Curry, and Fairuza Balk

Over All Score:B-

Entertaining: B Yes there are some slow parts but the movie is actually fast pace.

Cinematography: B Interesting camera angles though had some flashy effects (Also, I honestly think most of the Harry Potter films were filmed at the same castle)

Storyline: B Simple nothing particular new but for it's time it was.

Acting: A+, I simply adored the acting, even with its budget, the actors did a great job.

Music: B- Good sound effects and music, very cute and catchy.