HOCUS POCUS [1993 / 2018] [25th Anniversary Edition] [Blu-ray] [UK Release]
Relive the Spellbinding Fun! They’ll Put a Spell on You!
In Disney's ‘HOCUS POCUS,’ Academy Award® nominee Bette Midler, and also stars with Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as three wild witches who return from seventeenth-century Salem for a night of zany fun and comic chaos. After they are conjured up by unsuspecting pranksters, the tricky trio sets out to cast a spell on the town and reclaim their youth. But first they must outwit three feisty kids determined to foil their scheme! Filled with bewitching laughs and magic, this hilarious film is perfect for the whole family!
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1993 Awards Circuit Community Awards: Nomination: Best Costume Design for Mary E. Vogt. Nomination: Best Makeup & Hairstyling for John Calpin, John M. Elliott Jr. and Steve LaPorte. 1994 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA: Win: Best Costumes for Mary E. Vogt. Nomination: Best Fantasy Film. Nomination: Best Actress for Bette Midler. Nomination: Best Supporting Actress for Kathy Najimy. Nomination:Best Special Effects for Buena Vista Visual Effects from Matte World Digital. Nomination: Best Supporting Actress for Sarah Jessica Parker. 1994 Young Artist Awards: Win: Best Youth Actress Leading Role in a Motion Picture Comedy for Thora Birch. Nomination: Best Youth Actor in a Voiceover Role in a TV or Movie for Jason Marsden. Nomination: Best Youth Actress Leading Role in a Motion Picture Comedy for Vinessa Shaw. Nomination: Best Youth Actor Leading Role in a Motion Picture Comedy for Omri Katz. Nomination: Best Youth Actor Leading Role in a Motion Picture Comedy for Sean Murray.
FILM FACT No.2: In November 2014, Bette Midler said in an interview that she was ready and willing to return for a sequel and also said her co-stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy were interested in reprising the roles of the Sanderson sisters as well, but stressed that Disney had yet to greenlight any sequel. In November 2015, Bette Midler stated in a Facebook Q&A that "after all these years and all the fan demand, I do believe I can stand and firmly say an unequivocal “no" in response to a question about a sequel. In June 2016, actor Doug Jones mentioned that Disney had been considering a sequel, and behind the scenes discussions were in place to possibly continue the series. In October 2016, Sarah Jessica Parker was asked by Andy Cohen about a sequel. Her response was, "I would love that. I think we've been very vocal that we're very keen." In September 2017, screenwriter Mick Garris admitted that he was working on a script for ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ and that it would potentially be developed as a television film for Disney Channel, Freeform or ABC. The following month, Bette Midler said she was not fond of the idea of a remake and she would not be taking part in it.
Cast: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Omri Katz, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw, Jodie-Amy Rivera, Larry Bagby, Tobias Jelinek, Stephanie Faracy, Charles Rocket, Doug Jones, Karyn Malchus, Sean Murray, Steve Voboril, Norbert Weisser, Kathleen Freeman, D.A. Pauley, Ezra Sutton, Don Yesso, Michael McGrady, Leigh Hamilton, Devon Reeves, Joseph Malone, Jordan Redmond, Frank Del Boccio, Teda Bracci, Peggy Holmes, Jason Marsden (voice), Garry Marshall (uncredited), Penny Marshall (uncredited), Daniel Olsen (uncredited) and Taylor Stanley (uncredited)
Director: Kenny Ortega
Producers: Bonnie Bruckheimer, David Kirschner, Jay Heit, Mick Garris, Ralph Winter and Steven Haft
Screenplay: Mick Garris and Neil Cuthbert
Composer: John Debney
Cinematography: Hiro Narita, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Spanish [Latin]: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound
French: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish [Latin] and French
Running Time: 96 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Andrew's Blu-ray Review: "It's just a bunch of hocus pocus," but what's wrong with that, absolutely nothing. Sure, this film is aimed at children, but adults should not be excluded also and the tale is about three evil witches terrorising children is a little rough around the edges, but the spooky spirit of the flick is strong, and it remains a decent example of family entertainment that doesn't completely talk down to its audience. The cast is very solid, and while pretty thin, the plot offers a fair assortment of thrills and laughs.
While cocky teenager Max Dennison [Omri Katz] takes his little sister out for trick-or-treating, the pair run into Allison [Vinessa Shaw], a pretty girl that Max Dennison has a crush on. Wanting to impress her, he accidentally resurrects a trio of three hundred year old witches on Halloween night, and it's a very common mistake. Out to drain the city's children of their life force, the three witches Winifred "Winnie" Sanderson [Bette Midler], Sarah Sanderson [Sarah Jessica Parker] and Mary Sanderson [Kathy Najimy] first target Max Dennison's younger sister, Dani Dennison [Thora Birch]. After momentarily thwarting their spell, the kids all make a run for it, and are soon joined by an immortal talking cat, and proving that all films are made better by the inclusion of an immortal talking cat. Together they try to escape the witches' pursuit and find a way to stop them once and for all.
The script follows a predictable and thin path that sees the kids deal with various spooky obstacles and magic spells. Though very basic, to the writers' credit, they do a nice job of balancing family friendly thrills with a silly, a kind of eccentric sense of humour. Also, despite the intended audience, the film doesn't shy away from some potentially scary content. Why, in the opening scene alone, a little girl is drained of her life force and three witches are hung. Of course, it's all done with a comparatively light tone, but the writers resist the urge to tone down the content too much.
A lot of the humour is derived from the witches' fish-out-of-water predicament, and watching the trio grow accustomed to modern life is entertaining. The three sisters have distinct personalities and the actresses appear to have a lot of fun on screen, and the way they walk together is quite amusing. Their reactions to the modern world can be pretty funny, and even a paved road freaks them out, and their terrified shock at the sight of a little girl dressed up like an angel is priceless. Bette Midler, in particular, seems to relish every second she's on screen, vamping up her presence as Winifred "Winnie" Sanderson with an appropriately villainous persona. On the other hand, Sarah Jessica Parker plays a ditzy, spider eating witch named Sarah Sanderson that sings to children in order to lure them under her spell. So, in other words, she plays herself.
The child actors are also pretty good in their roles and Omri Katz does a fairly good, but appropriately confident, and does a decent job of carrying the forward momentum of the story. Vinessa Shaw is also a good addition, though her role is slightly left field and Thora Birch is quite adorable as Max's little sister. Together, their relationship forms the heart of the spooky film, and the brother/sister dynamic comes together about half way through the film. Speaking of brothers and sisters, siblings Garry Marshall and Penny Marshall make a cameo appearance, which of course are in real life husband and wife and in a fun little scene, the three witches actually mistake Garry Marshall for the Devil himself, still the witches are 300 years old.
Some of the film's special effects definitely show signs of age, but a lot of the makeup and even some of the CGI work hold up really well. As to the talking cat, at most part, the feline character remains convincing enough and just as awesome fun. The witches resurrection scene is particularly fun, with some supernatural effects, and a sequence that involves a zombie pursuing the young actors through the graveyard is also full of scary fun.
Surprisingly the film 'HOCUS POCUS' holds up well, and has grown in popularity since its release in 1993, and remains a Halloween staple on American TV every year. It's not exactly a children's film classic, but I've always been very fond of the spooky film. Before reviewing this Blu-ray disc, I hadn't seen the film since I viewed in the cinema, and while there a lot of the script's shortcomings are much more apparent with modern audiences, I still find it a very fun film. Fellow adults who grew up in the nineties might want to check this out for the sheer nostalgia factor, and parents looking for a silly, family friendly "spooky" film to show to their children, should definitely give it a shot. It’s clear that everyone involved in the making of the film had the time of their lives, and that translates what you view into a family film that’s a thrilling and funny romp from start to finish. Highly Recommended!
HOCUS POCUS MUSIC TRACK LIST
I PUT A SPELL ON YOU (Written by Screamin' Jay Hawkins) (Produced and Arranged by Marc Shaiman)
SARAH’S THEME (Music by James Horner) (Lyrics by Brock Walsh) [Performed by Sarah Jessica Parker]
WITCHCRAFT (Written by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh) [Performed by Joseph Malone]
I PUT A SPELL ON YOU (Written by Screamin' Jay Hawkins) [Performed by Bette Midler]
I PUT A SPELL ON YOU (Written by Screamin' Jay Hawkins) [Performed by Joseph Malone]
SABRE DANCE (Written by Aram Khachaturyan) (uncredited) (Arranged by George Wilson)
CHANTS AND INCANTATIONS (Conceived and written by Brock Walsh)
DIVERTIMENTO No.17 In D, K. 334: III. Menuetto & Trio (Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
ROW ROW ROW YOUR BOAT (uncredited) (Traditional) [Sung A Cappella by Tobias Jelinek and Larry Bagby]
Blu-ray Image Quality – Walt Disney Pictures has provided an excellent 1080p image transfer and an even more respectable 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Though decent overall, the picture is slightly uneven, but the source is in great shape with no signs of damage. Grain is visible throughout and has a natural but slightly fuzzy look. Detail is solid, but clarity is a little inconsistent. Close-ups reveal nice texture, but most shots are soft and the picture is quite flat throughout. With some sporadic splashes of vibrant greens and reds, colours are also surprisingly dull and contrast can be a tad low. Blacks are slightly elevated in a few shots and shadow details. With all that said, there are a few scenes that exhibit nice depth, pop, and vibrancy, especially an early sequence set outside Max's school which features beautiful autumn colours. Thankfully, the transfer is free of and artefacts like edge enhancement and colour noise. 'HOCUS POCUS' can look a little fuzzy at times, but there are a few very vibrant scenes scattered throughout the film. As far as I can tell, the shortcomings of the image resolution are simply inherent to the original source, and while it may not be especially impressive, but overall the film looks fine for what it is.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Walt Disney Pictures has given us a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track and the mix suits the material very well without any major problems. Speech is very clean and the rousing composed film score music is nicely enjoyable, but surround activity is slightly limited. Some appropriate effects do make their way to the back speakers, especially with all the booming thunder, blowing wind, swooping brooms where appropriate. A few of the livelier scenes, especially with the opening scene with the witches’ resurrection for example, offer a solid soundscape experience and especially with the witches and their cackles, especially their raucous clucking cries when flying around, are really enhanced for these three female comedy artists, and fans of this film should be very well satisfied overall, especially if you are a big fan of the three main female actors.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: We ⤠HOCUS POCUS: Trivia and Treats Edition [1993] [1080p] [1.85:1] [96:05] This is a spellbinding new way to experience the ‘HOCUS POCUS’ film. With this special feature you of course get to play the film again, but at the same time you get the amazing bonus features of getting all of the amazing fun facts, trivia, concept art, storyboards, behind-the-scenes magic, and much more! The picture-in-picture images you view appear in the most unobtrusive position possible for any given shot of the film they accompany. You also get to view text-based trivia often accompanied with windowed storyboards as well video clips of cast and crew. It is a very nice way to watch this special feature supplement, as you get a lot of amazing in-depth information about the film ‘HOCUS POCUS.’ Give this special feature a go, as it is a great deal of fun to watch the film ‘HOCUS POCUS,’ as you find out a lot of interesting facts an fascinating information about the film. Contributors include: David Kirschner [Screenwriter/Producer], Sean Murray [Thackery], Bill Sturgeon [Creature Foreman], Kenny Ortega [Director], Bette Midler [Winifred "Winnie" Sanderson], Omri Katz [Max Dennison], Thora Birch [Dani Dennison], Vinessa Shaw [Allison], Bill Sandell [Production Designer], Sarah Jessica Parker [Sarah Sanderson], Jay Heit [Associate Producer], Chris Bailey [Animation Supervisor], Tony Gardner [FX Make-up Artist], Kathy Najimy [Mary Sanderson], Garry Marshall [Devil/Husband], Peggy Holmes [Choreographer], Gary Gero [Animal Expert] and Doug Jones [Billy Butcherson].
Special Feature: ‘HOCUS POCUS’ Original Production Featurette [1993] [1080i] [1.37:1] [4:38] Here we get to view a special Walt Disney Pictures promotional film about the making of the film ‘HOCUS POCUS.’ This vintage special feature takes a quick look at the story, the cast, special effects, and much more. We get lots of lovely comments from Ms. Bette Midler talks about filming with “blue screens” that made her day. Sarah Jessica Parker informs us of her experience of flying with the broomstick, and hated it when the filming was wrapped up. With the female actors Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, we find out they were massive fans of Ms. Bette Midler and were careful not to make it too obvious in being over the top in worshiping the Divine Ms. M. With this promotional featurette goes behind-the-scenes for the film’s special effects, stunt work, and magical manoeuvring, like seeing how the broomstick flight sequences helped the three wicked witches. We take a quick look with the Make-up department. We also get to view the special computer wizardry on how they get the black cat to talk. The scene with the character Headless Billy Butcherson, is not really black magic, as it was performed by stunt artist Ms. Karyn Malchus, who you see is hidden inside the special suit. Apart from the comments from the three leading ladies, we also hear from the male actors Omri Katz and Doug Jones, the director Kenny Ortega and the special effects crew. Despite being a very short look at the film itself, it is a super-fun way to watch this 1993 special feature and especially if this is your first time of seeing this fun filled magical film! Discover that witchcraft is only cinematic artistry in this Walt Disney Pictures production featurette.
BONUS: A beautiful colourful 40 page printed booklet entitled HOCUS POCUS GALLERY BOOK and subtitled IT’S JUST A BUNCH OF HOCUS POCUS. It has an introduction by director Kenny Ortega on the film ‘HOCUS POCUS.’ It has information about the actors, the characters, behind-the-scene information and also includes information about Max Dennison, Dani Dennison, Vinessa Shaw [Allison], Thackery Binx [Black Cat], The Sanderson Sisters, Winifred [Bette Midler], Mary [Kathy Najimy], Sarah [Sarah Jessica Parker], The Dennison Family, Billy Butcherson [Doug Jones], Hair and Make-Up, The Sanderson Sisters’ House, Flying Tests, Deleted Scenes and Behind-The-Scene photographs.
Finally, 'HOCUS POCUS' is not exactly a classic family film , but it offers a fair amount of friendly thrills and laughs. The plot is very basic, but Ms. Bette Midler, Ms. Sarah Jessica Parker, and Ms. Kathy Najimy are memorable in their witch’s roles, and the young actors also do very well. This 25th Anniversary Edition release will again appeal to the huge fans of this film and that is why I purchased this particualr Blu-ray because of the fabulous and divine Ms. Bette Midler and of course it is a film I do now and again view this film, as it has some very magical moments and I am so glad this 25th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray has now been added to my ever increasing Walt Disney Blu-ray Collection. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado Le Cinema Paradiso United Kingdom
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