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From Amazon.co.uk
This big, fat theatrical bomb has a lot going for it. There's the three leads, Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker, playing three resurrected witches who wreak havoc on Salem, Massachusetts, 300 hundred years after they were hung. There's music, special effects, and magic. There's a surprisingly horror-filled plot. Whoops, hold up on that last one. It's probably the extremes that this film goes to (displaying a Disney label), such as the witches sucking the life out of a little girl in the first five minutes, that put the brakes on any success for Hocus Pocus. Older children, however, in the 8 and up range should get a kick out of all the weird goings-on. It's a good measure of Halloween thrills and chills. --Keith Simanton
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Danish ( Subtitles ), Dutch ( Subtitles ), English ( Subtitles ), Finnish ( Subtitles ), Norwegian ( Subtitles ), Swedish ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN, SPECIAL FEATURES: Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy romp around like coked-up versions of The Three Stooges in the frantic Disney romp Hocus Pocus. The film begins in 1693 where three witches -- Winifred (Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), and Mary (Kathy Najimy) -- are preparing a potion that will grant them immortality and eternal youth. But before they finish mixing their cocktail, the people of Salem capture them and execute them for practicing witchcraft. Before their deaths, they vow to return to Salem 300 years hence on Halloween to exact their revenge. Three hundred years later, a skeptical, newly transplanted Californian, Max (Omri Katz), explores the ruins of the legendary witches' house and dares the witches to manifest themselves. Disregarding the warnings of his sister Dani (Thora Birch) and girlfriend Allison (Vinessa Shaw), Max lights the Candle of Black Flame. With that, the witches reappear to wreak havoc on the town. The kids take off with the witches' spellbook and a musty tome of hexes and recipes. The sorceresses, who will die by the morning light if they don't recite the incantation for immortality, have to get the books by whatever means they can. So, Winifred, Sarah, and Mary hop on their broomsticks for a chase through Halloween night.
...Hocus Pokus ( Hocus Pocus )
...Hocus Pokus ( Hocus Pocus )
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By Mooch
Format:DVD
I recently re-discovered this film and have to say that I enjoy it just as much now, aged 16, as I did when Bette Midler's showstopping rendition of "I'll Put a Spell on You" was first imprinted on my brain at the tender age of six. Sure, it does drag in places (the child actors are not exactly brimming over with charisma...) and the marked, albeit supremely camp, wickedness of the witches may be too much for some younger children to handle, but for sheer entertainment value this film is hard to beat.
It has a surprisingly interesting plot and all three Macbeth-style witches (the mythical "Saunderson sisters") light up the screen whenever the camera falls on them. In particular, the incomparable Bette Midler is outstanding as the eldest witch (she steals the show with the aforementioned rendition of "I'll Put a Spell on You"), although Sara Jessica Parker (of Sex and the City fame) is also fabulous as the child-tempting youngest sister- I really didn't have to suspend much belief when her creepy "Come Little Children" siren song lured the entire youngest generation of Salem from its beds!
I babysit for a great many children and have yet to come across one whom this film is unable to charm.
So, if you're looking for a fun Halloween (or indeed, any time of year) movie that the whole family will enjoy, you can't go far wrong with this one
And it stars BETTE MIDLER... as a WITCH!
It has a surprisingly interesting plot and all three Macbeth-style witches (the mythical "Saunderson sisters") light up the screen whenever the camera falls on them. In particular, the incomparable Bette Midler is outstanding as the eldest witch (she steals the show with the aforementioned rendition of "I'll Put a Spell on You"), although Sara Jessica Parker (of Sex and the City fame) is also fabulous as the child-tempting youngest sister- I really didn't have to suspend much belief when her creepy "Come Little Children" siren song lured the entire youngest generation of Salem from its beds!
I babysit for a great many children and have yet to come across one whom this film is unable to charm.
So, if you're looking for a fun Halloween (or indeed, any time of year) movie that the whole family will enjoy, you can't go far wrong with this one
And it stars BETTE MIDLER... as a WITCH!
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By M. Lorie
Format:DVD
The film itself deserves five stars, fantastic story, fantastic acting, great special effects and starring the imitable Bette Midler. What lets the DVD down is that it is cut by about 5 minutes from the VHS version. These cuts are by Disney themselves and NOT the BBFC. These scenes were not shocking or violent but added comic genius to the plot. One of the scenes cut shows you how the witches decide what to use as broomsticks, such as a vaccum cleaner, to fly on when it becomes obvious to them their broomsticks, al but Winnie's, have dissapeared.
It would be interesting to discover why Disney choose to edit these scenes out rather than just release the VHS version, with the same certification.
However this said Hocus Pocus is a fantastic family film and you could do worse than buy this DVD. Enjoy it for all it has to offer. Good clean fun!
It would be interesting to discover why Disney choose to edit these scenes out rather than just release the VHS version, with the same certification.
However this said Hocus Pocus is a fantastic family film and you could do worse than buy this DVD. Enjoy it for all it has to offer. Good clean fun!
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Youve gotta love Hocus Pocus! Its a classic Disney film, Great to watch at anytime of the year...not just halloween (Thats a note for you, the TV Companies that only show it at Halloween Time) With great characters, great actors, humourous storyline, brilliant songs and just a plain old disney classic for any age! Must watch! Buy it now if you dont own it!!!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
I absoloutly love Hocus Pocus, even now in my 20th year of life its still a favourite to watch on Hallowe'en night.
Winifred (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy) and Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker)Sanderson are the three wicked Witches stalking Salem, Massetchuses and sucking the lives out of the little children in a bid to make them young again. However, they are eventually caught and hanged by the Salem townfolk after sucking the life out of Emily Binx and turning her brother Zackery (or Thackery) into a talking, immortal cat.
Fast foward 300 years and a young sceptic and new kid on the block Max Dennerson along with his eight year old sister Danni and school friend Alison, goes to the old Sanderson house in order to impress Alison, whom he really fancies. However, despite Alison's warning, Max manages to resurrect the witches by lighting the black flame candle that brings them back to life when lit by a virgin on Hallowe'en night...
A thrilling chase around the town ensues as Max, Alison and Danni must stay one step ahead of the witches in order to save the Salem children from having the lives sucked out of them. If the witches can steal the lives of children they will live forever, but if not, then when the sun rises they are dust. But how can Max, Danni and Alison make the sun rise and rid Salem of the Sanderson Sisters once and for all...?
This great spooky Disney Hallowe'en film but I'd recommend it for slightly older children as Billy, the long dead lover of Whinnie Sanderson being summoned from his grave is actually quite scary, and this spooked me out even aged 10 when I saw it for the first time (OK I admit I'm a whimp!... Read more ›
Winifred (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy) and Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker)Sanderson are the three wicked Witches stalking Salem, Massetchuses and sucking the lives out of the little children in a bid to make them young again. However, they are eventually caught and hanged by the Salem townfolk after sucking the life out of Emily Binx and turning her brother Zackery (or Thackery) into a talking, immortal cat.
Fast foward 300 years and a young sceptic and new kid on the block Max Dennerson along with his eight year old sister Danni and school friend Alison, goes to the old Sanderson house in order to impress Alison, whom he really fancies. However, despite Alison's warning, Max manages to resurrect the witches by lighting the black flame candle that brings them back to life when lit by a virgin on Hallowe'en night...
A thrilling chase around the town ensues as Max, Alison and Danni must stay one step ahead of the witches in order to save the Salem children from having the lives sucked out of them. If the witches can steal the lives of children they will live forever, but if not, then when the sun rises they are dust. But how can Max, Danni and Alison make the sun rise and rid Salem of the Sanderson Sisters once and for all...?
This great spooky Disney Hallowe'en film but I'd recommend it for slightly older children as Billy, the long dead lover of Whinnie Sanderson being summoned from his grave is actually quite scary, and this spooked me out even aged 10 when I saw it for the first time (OK I admit I'm a whimp!... Read more ›
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By David P.
Format:DVD
I'm completely aware that this is a kids' film and everything, but this is a film I've liked since my childhood, and even now at the age of 19, I enjoy watching this classic film.
It's a great film to watch on Halloween (Halloween daytime mind you. On Halloween night I prefer to watch real horrors), and it's also the perfect film for children to watch on Halloween, as it's a kid's horror. I remember watching this one on Halloween about ten years ago now, and to me at the time it gave a brilliant atmosphere.
It has a good cast of characters such as Bette Middler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker as the Sanderson sisters.
The film begins in the year 1693, when a boy named Thackery Binks wakes up early one morning to find his younder sister Emily missing. He spots her heading towards the woods along with one of the Sanderson sisters Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker). Thackery has a friend of his get help while he chases after Emily, where he is lead into the Sanderson sisters' cottage.
The Sanderson sisters are witches and have grown old. They've decided to decrease their age so they can be young again by making up a potion. The nasty part is that they need Emily (or any other child for that matter) to drink the potion so they can suck the life force out of her, thus killing her and returning themselves to young age (though they're still ugly. Especially Winifred with those teeth of hers).
Thackery attempts to stop them and save Emily, but fails completely. As punishment they transform him into a black cat and give him immortal life, so he can eternily suffer with the guilt of failing Emily.
The Sanderson sisters are then captured by the townspeople of Salem and the Sanderson sisters are hung.... Read more ›
It's a great film to watch on Halloween (Halloween daytime mind you. On Halloween night I prefer to watch real horrors), and it's also the perfect film for children to watch on Halloween, as it's a kid's horror. I remember watching this one on Halloween about ten years ago now, and to me at the time it gave a brilliant atmosphere.
It has a good cast of characters such as Bette Middler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker as the Sanderson sisters.
The film begins in the year 1693, when a boy named Thackery Binks wakes up early one morning to find his younder sister Emily missing. He spots her heading towards the woods along with one of the Sanderson sisters Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker). Thackery has a friend of his get help while he chases after Emily, where he is lead into the Sanderson sisters' cottage.
The Sanderson sisters are witches and have grown old. They've decided to decrease their age so they can be young again by making up a potion. The nasty part is that they need Emily (or any other child for that matter) to drink the potion so they can suck the life force out of her, thus killing her and returning themselves to young age (though they're still ugly. Especially Winifred with those teeth of hers).
Thackery attempts to stop them and save Emily, but fails completely. As punishment they transform him into a black cat and give him immortal life, so he can eternily suffer with the guilt of failing Emily.
The Sanderson sisters are then captured by the townspeople of Salem and the Sanderson sisters are hung.... Read more ›
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great old classic
One of my old favourites as a child; great movie! Ordered this at Halloween and sat in and watched it with family - enjoyed by all ages.
Published 1 month ago by Michelle Devine
5.0 out of 5 stars
hocus pocus
what can i say, its a family classic, a great laugh and a film worth having
for halloween,and whenever you fancy a spooky evening!
for halloween,and whenever you fancy a spooky evening!
Published 1 month ago by paul simons
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great fun
Very good
received the response I was hoping for, so two people satisfied. There's not much else I can say really
received the response I was hoping for, so two people satisfied. There's not much else I can say really
Published 1 month ago by Mrs K C Jewison
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great film
Bought as a stocking filler for a friend who had never seen it and complained they had recently missed it on Tv.
It's a classic, fun family movie. :)
It's a classic, fun family movie. :)
Published 2 months ago by Cherry B
3.0 out of 5 stars
Hocus Pocus review of company
Product was faulty.
Product did arrive on time.
Company agreed quickly to send me a new copy.
This copy has yet to arrive.
Product did arrive on time.
Company agreed quickly to send me a new copy.
This copy has yet to arrive.
Published 2 months ago by DF
5.0 out of 5 stars
!
was a instant buy when i saw this as i thought i hadnt seen it since my childhood, and i still love it too this day and even made my baby cousins watch it too! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Ellie Carruthers
5.0 out of 5 stars
great
my grandaughter who is five has been glued to the tv since christmas with is great for us i remember my girls watching it when they was small a great film
Published 5 months ago by cindy. essex romford
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Halloween movie for children
This must be the best Halloween story for children from to watch, for the smaller ones parents should definitely be present! Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mika Jansson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fin film
Fin film som kan sees av alle. Min datter syntes at denne var flott. Kan anbefalles til andre for kjøp også.
Published 5 months ago by Ruth-Kristin Bunes
5.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT FILM
I know this film - it's a classic. My friends and I were listening to "I put a spell on you" - and they loved it. Read more
Published 5 months ago by sheilapeila
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