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From Amazon.co.uk
This splendid adventure-fantasy from 1990 was adapted from Roald Dahl's book, The Witches, and directed by maverick British filmmaker Nicolas Roeg, who turned out to be a perfect (if seemingly unlikely) interpreter of Dahl's fiendishly clever tale of witchcraft in contemporary England. Scary, funny, and wildly entertaining, it's all about a young boy named Luke (Jasen Fisher) whose parents have died in a tragic accident, and whose grandmother (Mai Zetterling) takes him to a posh hotel in England, where a secret coven of witches is holding its annual convention. The Grand High Witch (Anjelica Huston, in a scene-stealing performance) has decreed that all children in England be turned into mice, and Luke and his pal Bruno (Charles Potter) are the first victims on the list. That's when the movie magicians from Jim Henson's creature shop have their work cut out for them, turning Luke and Bruno into clever little rodents and The Witches into a dazzling display of imaginative special effects, using a seamless combination of real mice and superb animatronic puppets. Director Roeg doesn't compromise the sinister edge of Dahl's story, but comedy gets equal time from the brilliant cast including Brenda Blethyn (from Secrets and Lies and Little Voice), Rowan Atkinson (of Black Adder and Mr. Bean fame), and Jane Horrocks (Little Voice) as the Grand High Witch's beleaguered assistant. Although it was largely neglected during its brief theatrical release, this wonderful movie has since enjoyed a thriving appreciation on video--see it and you'll understand why. --Jeff Shannon
Amazon.com Essential Video
This splendid adventure-fantasy from 1990 was adapted from Roald Dahl's book and directed by maverick British filmmaker Nicolas Roeg, who turned out to be a perfect (if seemingly unlikely) interpreter of Dahl's fiendishly clever tale of witchcraft in contemporary England. Scary, funny, and wildly entertaining, it's all about a young boy named Luke (Jasen Fisher) whose parents have died in a tragic accident, and whose grandmother (Mai Zetterling) takes him to a posh hotel in England, where a secret coven of witches is holding its annual convention. The Grand High Witch (Anjelica Huston, in a scene-stealing performance) has decreed that all children in England be turned into mice, and Luke and his pal Bruno (Charles Potter) are the first victims on the list. That's when the movie magicians from Jim Henson's creature shop have their work cut out for them, turning Luke and Bruno into clever little rodents and The Witches into a dazzling display of imaginative special effects, using a seamless combination of real mice and superb animatronic puppets. Director Roeg doesn't compromise the sinister edge of Dahl's story, but comedy gets equal time from the brilliant cast including Brenda Blethyn (from Secrets and Lies and Little Voice), Rowan Atkinson (of Black Adder and Mr. Bean fame), and Jane Horrocks (Little Voice) as the Grand High Witch's beleaguered assistant. Although it was largely neglected during its brief theatrical release, this wonderful movie has since enjoyed a thriving appreciation on video--see it and you'll understand why. --Jeff Shannon
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Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Movie About Bad Witches,
By A Customer
This review is from: Witches, the 90 (VHS Tape)
The great thing about "The Witches" is that it isn't only an exciting, imaginitive fairy-tale, but it's a dark comedy as well. While not completely faithful to the book, its differences are forgivable and likable. It has the same combination of mild scariness and wittiness that Roald Dahl put into his other stories, like "Matilda." The story is mainly about Luke and his Norweigan grandmother, Helga. She tells him stories about Witches, creatures that look like women to fit into society but are really magical monsters that loath children. They are bald, have no toes, have claws for fingernails, among other abnormalities. Helga and Luke go on a vacation to a hotel, where things set off at a bad start as Luke finds himself stuck in a metting of the witches of England. Anjelica Huston gives a great performance as the Grand High Witch, the formiddable leader of the witches, who has grave plans to destroy all the children in the world. When Luke falls prey to them, he and Helga form a plan to destroy all the witches in the hotel. A great thing about this movie is the characters. Helga and Luke are characters that are easy to love and root for. There are funny supporting characters such as the hotel manager, the maid he is in love with, Bruno Jenkins, and the single witch who actually is not evil. Anjelica Huston's witch is scary, but you almost find yourself liking her. It's like when you watch the "Silence of the Lambs" movies and find yourself liking Hannibal Lecter. Of course, this movie isn't too violent or gory like those movies, but there is still the sense of adventure and danger. I reccomend this movie to everyone except small kids, who it might be a little too scary for. It is a wonderful film with great special effects by Jim Henson. There are only a few fairy tales that are as good, like "The Wizard of Oz" and a few Disney movies. Not even "Harry Potter" compares to this one.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
5 star film 0 star DVD!!,
By
This review is from: Witches (Full Screen) (DVD)
This DVD is a joke. No widescreen, no extras, just the VHS version transfered to a DVD. I won't buy this release and neither should you. Instead send an e-mail to the company that produced this and ask for a decent release of this marvelous film.I was rather amused at the Pagan comments made here, this film has nothing to do with paganism it is a children's book about fairy tale Witches..period end of story. Anyone thinking this would have anything to do with paganism obviously doesn't understand the difference! The film is wonderful and brilliantly acted by the entire cast....a happier ending is tacked on than the original book but it is still a wonderful story. And full of humor and wit, well worth renting and waiting for a DECENT DVD release...
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
5 starz!!!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Witches, the 90 (VHS Tape)
This movie is just an automatic classic.It is aliitle funny but most of all kind of creepy.The movie starts out kinda slow but then it starts to pick up it's pace, this movie is just a must have.
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