The Good Witch's Garden

The Good Witch's Garden

A reminder why we all don't like Martha Tinsdale.

Ah yes to those who remember or read my first review of The Good Witch. You'll realize that the sequel opens in the same manner, music included, except with different images. Images of course being of flowers and butterflies. So okay I like the familiar intro it makes the movie feel like a sequel. Speaking of sequels miss nosy body Martha (Catherine Disher) is the first character the viewer will see, along with her blond friend. They're up to no good as the camera pans upon the Gray House which has seemed to gone through some major renovation. As it's no longer vines and wood but a house of gray stone. Either way Martha is not pleased.

Okay so we soon find out the reason why Martha is having a fit luckily it's for a more petty reason than before. The movie goes along and we find out the reason why Cassandra Nightingale (Catherine Bell) has renovated her house. She's decided to turn her home into a bed and breakfast. Sounds a lot less conspicuous and modest than a metaphysical shop. Soon Cassandra's first customer arrives, Nick Chasen (Rob Stewart) who looks like a suspicious well dressed kind of guy. Plot continues as Jake (Chris Potter) Brandon (Matthew Knight) Lori (Hannah Endicott-Douglas) and their Grandfather George are having typical drama of their own. Sub-plots aside the main plot is most captivating as we discover the reason why Nick Chasen is in town.

Okay so would I recommend this movie. Yes if you like the first one or no if you're didn't. Was this more entertaining then the first? Not really but the plot and dialogue were improved. I like and hate some characters. I will probably watch the next following movies just because it's refreshing change from the Hollywood, special effects. At the first the sense of magic is strictly non-hollywood and people who're expecting to get that witch or magical feeling will most likely to be disappointed.

Title: The Good Witch's Garden

Length: 86 min

Ratings: PG

Year: 2009

Director: Craig Pryce

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

Over All Score: B

Entertaining: B The magic rating is way below the par. I wouldn't recommend you watch this unless you're a fan of the first.

Cinematography: B Same as Usual nothing too eye catching or spectacular.

Storyline: B+ The plot runs like a soap-opera very smooth yet slow. Though there's plenty of subplots and a mysterious main plot that keeps the movie interesting.

Acting: B+ It seems everyone was right on character even more so.

Music: B- I can't say it's changed much from the first movie.  

The Witches

The Grand High has summoned a council.

Ah I really liked this movie as child watching it again I can remember why. The Witches is a perfect movie that wraps up the wicked in witch. The plot surrounds around a young boy named Luke Eveshim (Jasen Fisher) who's visiting his grandmother. His parents go out for an evening and his Grandmother Helga Eveshim (Mai Zetterling) starts doing what grandmothers do best, story telling. She tells a story form her childhood about a friend she used to know and how she suckered by a witch who trapped her into her painting her parents owned. Sadly Luke's parents never return from their evening out.

The movie continues and Luke and his grandmother are going on a vacation in a hotel. They don't hit it off with the hotel manager well Mr. Stringer (Rowan Atkinson) because Luke brought his pet mice. They win their argument with a little white lie. They soon eat some breakfast and odd things go wrong and Grandmother Helga suspects witchcraft. Later that evening Luke decides to take his mice out and explore the hotel. He soon finds an empty banquet room and tries to teach his mice some tricks. Though the doors burst open and a stampede of women fill up the room. Within minutes this lady convention turns into a witch convention with him stuck in the middle.

The witches discuss ways to get rid of the "smelling repulsive children" as the Grand High Witch Eva Ernst (Anjelica Huston) introduces her precious potion. Soon Bruno, a chubby boy around Luke's age, comes in and has unknowingly taken the potion. Within minutes Bruno becomes the first victim to the bewitching poison and turned him into a mouse. The witches end the council and about to leave excited to try out the new potion until one of them smells "dog droppings" they search for source of the smell. Luke knowing he is in danger, high tails it and escapes through a brigade of witches trying to get a hold of him. Luke escaped the witch brigade and makes it back to his Grandmother's room. Though his grandmother is somehow stuck in a deep sleep and with a surprise attack, the Grand High Witch and her henchwoman nabs him.

The Witches is one of those movies that is a classic. The acting is outstanding and so is the special effects. Most children will enjoy this movie though others might not. The story is a classic as it's based off the same author who wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory it's a great story with enough fantasy and adventure to keep both parents and children entertained.

Title: The Witches

Length: 91 min

Ratings:PG

Year: 1990

Director: Nicolas Roeg

Starring: Jasen, Fisher, Mai Zetterling, Rowan Atkinson, Anjelica Huston

Over All Score: A, Starts a little slow but the plot and special effects are wonderful. The whole movie gives a reason for children to fear witches. 

Entertaining: A, As stated starts a little slow but picks up quick good special effects. 

Cinematography: B, good views of the hotel, good angles. 

Storyline: A, original, spooky, and fun. Children will like the acting especially of Anjelica Huston.

Acting: A, everyond did a great job, children included..

Music: B+ can't remember too much about the score but it's not awful does not distract from the movie.

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.