Films
The
Craft - I quite enjoyed
this film. Four girls meet, become friends and decide to
form a coven, but things start to get out of hand when the
power goes to their heads. It was very entertaining and
I feel that it also showed some valid lessons such as the Rule
of Three and also the dangers of meddling in stuff that you're
not ready for. 7/10
Teen
Witch - This was also
quite an entertaining film. A teenager wishes to be the
most popular girl at school and (would you believe it?) her
wish is granted. Again it also illustrated a vital
lesson - be careful what you wish for, you may just get it.
It is OBVIOUSLY an 80s film though and so looks a little
'dated' now - but still good. 6/10
The
Blair Witch Project - I
didn't even bother going to see this one! It looked like
a load ... and the people who DID go to see it told me that it
was a load!! Apparently the constant motion of the
camera on the big screen also induced a lot of motion
sickness. As I haven't actually seen this myself (nor do
I wish to) I do not feel that I can fairly grade it. If
you have seen it and would like to review it, please feel free
to post onto my Guestbook or email me - and I'll post your
review here.
Warlock
- Another 80s film, though this one doesn't seem to have aged.
The Warlock is sent to the future to recover the Devil's
Grimoire. Richard E Grant puts in an excellent
performance as the witch-hunter who must track him down with
the help of modern-girl Lori Singer. I really enjoyed
this film (though, from a factual viewpoint it was utter
twaddle!!) 7/10
The
Wizard of Oz - A classic
of our time. Who hasn't heard of Dorothy, the tin man,
the lion and the scarecrow? The witch in this one was
wicked, of course (you can always tell by the green tinge to
the skin!) and, unfortunately had an equally-evil sister.
However the Good Witch of the West saved the day and managed
to get Dorothy back home!!
7/10
Snow
White -
The modern version of this old film, starring Sigourney Weaver
as the evil stepmother. I found this film quite
disturbing (there's something unsettling about watching a
Fairy Tale in a flim, though I can always accept them as
cartoons!) A little frightening in places - and
sometimes a little gory! I didn't enjoy it.
4/10
The
Sword In The Stone - A
classic Disney animation starring Merlin and little Arthur.
Magical is the only word for it! 8/10
Elvira:
Mistress of the Dark - A
classic! What every female witch would love to look
like! Elvira inherits her aunts house and 'recipe book'
and immediately tries to sell them both (unsuccessfully).
Her cookery takes on a new twist when she tries out a couple
of the recipes!! Elvira is by far a one of the best
witchy films to ever grace our screens. It may not be
factually correct from a Wicca point of view but, hey, who
cares! If you haven't seen it - DO !! 9/10
I
Married A Witch
- A classic film from the silver-screen era (black and white)
starring Vernonica Lake as a very attractive witch who escapes
from the tree that she was imprisoned in and tries to get even
with the descendant of the guy were put her in there.
Extremely funny and, as I said, a classic. 8/10
Arthur's
Quest - Arthur is sent
to the present by Merlin, who then has to come here himself to
recover the 'future' King. A very entertaining film -
though Merlin spent most of the programme trying to regain his
powers - we did get some funny periods when he was trying to
use them with a 'jet-lag' effect. A good one. 7/10
The
Witches of Eastwick
- I really enjoyed this film too (but I enjoy anything that
has Cher in it). I thought (as always!) that Jack
Nicholson played a wonderful part. three bored women 'conjur'
up the man of their dreams, who quickly turns into the man of
their nightmares. Again, a good illustration of the 'Be
careful what you wish for' adage. Of course, none of it
was 'Wicca-correct' but it is just entertainment, after all! 7/10
Practical
Magic
- Two sisters (Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman) search for
the love of a good man, despite a family curse that means
anyone they truly love will die. I found this film very
disappointing - it just didn't live up to my expectations.
I also found the ending, where everyone in the town decides to
persecute them no longer, just because they finally decide to
come out of the broom closet, very 'twee'.
4/10
Bell,
Book
& Candle
- A Classic 60s film starring Kim Novak. She puts the
guy who lives int he apartment upstairs under a love spell and
then makes the major mistake of falling in love with him -
thus losing her magical powers. Will he stick around
when he finds out what she's done? Jack Lemmon is great
as her exuberant brother.
8/10
Bedknobs
& Broomsticks
- Another classic 9aren't they all?) from 1971. Angela
Lansbury is the kindly witch taking care of some evacuee
children - and then taking them on a magical journey.
The part where she enchants an army of armour to fight off a
possible German invasion is fabulous! 8/10
Sleepy
Hollow
- An excellent (and quite quirky!) film starring Johnny Depp
who was perfect for the role! Miranda Richardson (my
heroine!) plays two parts - both witches! Christina
Richie is another witch. Christopher Walken is (of
course!) the 'baddy'. A must see! 10/10
Back
to top
~~o00o~~
Television
Merlin
- A mini-series shown on British television in 1999 starring
Sam Neill and Miranda Richardson. A very entertaining
(and very long) adaptation of this lengendary story. The
special effects were brilliant and the mood was definately
captured (Hands up who didn't cheer when Mab was finally
defeated!) Definate thumbs up. 9/10
Bewitched
- Well, what can I say?
The mother of them all .. Who hasn't seen Bewitched? I
grew up with this programme and I think that it definately
paved the way for a whole generation of witches - all
aspriring Elizabeth Montgomerys. If you've never seen it
- you just gotta !!
9/10
Sabrina
The Teenage Witch -
Another extremely good (and very funny) series. Melissa
Joan Hart plays an excellent part as Sabrina, but I also think
that her aunts Hilda and Zelda are great. And, as for
Salem the cat - he's my reason for watching !! (I want a
Salem!) 10/10
Charmed
- A brilliant series starring Marie Holly Combs, Alyssa Milano
and Shannon Dougherty as three sisters who inherit
witch-powers and have to ward off the Warlocks who come
looking for them. The special effects are fabulous.
I never miss a programme! Besides being very
entertaining and, at times, very funny - this is also an
excellent 'introduction' to Wicca as they are constantly
referring to the Rede (Harm None) and you can actually see
them performing some of the spells. As I said
previously, none of the programmes are factually correct, but
they don't need to be - this gives a good general and very
positive idea of what Wicca and witchcraft are all about.
10/10
Buffy
The Vampire Slayer -
Buffy/s pal, Willow, is a Wicca (and actually became one
during the course of the show, so we saw the transition).
She gives a very good and, again, positive idea of what it's
like to be a Wicca and, yes, I know that it's not factually
correct and you don't get all these lights, etc flying
everywhere when you practice spells but, I don't care!
7/10
Back
to top
~~o00o~~
Books
Sabrina
The Teenage Witch - I
haven't read any of these but, if the television series is
anything to go on, they'll be excellent. Though I think
I'd miss Salem's voice....
Buffy
The Vampire Slayer -
Again, I haven't read any of these, but hopefully they'll be
of an equally high standard as the series.
The
Discworld Series - Terry Pratchett
is, by far, the best writer to ever put pen to paper.
His book have to be read (and laughed at!) before they can be
believed. The witches are, by far, my favourite
character, closely followed by the wizards. I'm an avid
reader of all of his work and a huge fan. These are
about withcraft, not Wicca - and excellent entertainment,
though not Wicca-fact-correct (but who is to say that this
isn't how the original witches thought and lived? So it
could actually be more correct than anything we find today)
10/10
The
Lion, the Witch
and the Wardrobe
- Another evil witch (strangely enough no green skin!)
who was vanquished during the course of the book, but I
believe she returns in a later one of the series - no doubt to
be vanquished again. Good clean fun.
Harry
Potter
- No book
collection would be complete without it! Although
originally designed for children this series of books is
actually a very 'adult' read and gripping to say the least.
These books should carry a health warning of addiction!
Be warned! 10/10
Silver
RavenWolf
- has ventured into fiction writing with Witches Chillders.
These are aimed primarily at the teen market but I still found
it a very entertaining read and the storyline was
girpping in the first one - Witches Night Out. A
definite must-have for all teen witches and a great read for
the rest of us. 10/10
Have
I missed any out? If you can think of any other media
entertainment featuring or about witches, wizards, warlocks,
magic, etc - then please email me with the details and a
review - and you could be featured here! Thanks.
Back
to top |