Raptor and Slacker
The Paw Print
Raptor and Slacker love movies. We really love movies! And we have decided to share some of our movie thoughts with you. Sometimes we will watch new movies in theaters or on DVD, and sometimes we will watch some of our old favorites that we want to share with the world. If you have any suggestions for movies to review, please email them to raptorandslacker@gmail.com.
Because it is October and Halloween is coming soon, we are reviewing scary movies this month. This week, we picked two movies that aren’t really scary, but they are both about iconic Halloween creatures: witches!
Teen Witch (1989)
Courtesy Photo: MGM
In “Teen Witch”, Louise (Robyn Lively) is an awkward high school student who is basically invisible to all of her peers. The only friend she really has is another misfit named Polly (Amanda Ingber). Louise wishes that she were popular and that the hottest boy is school, Brad (Dan Gauthier), would pay attention to her. A few days before her 16th birthday, Louise has a bicycle accident and goes to the home of the fortune-teller, Madame Serena (Zelda Rubinstein). Madame Serena tells Louise that on her 16th birthday, she will inherit special powers. Louise doesn’t believe her and attributes this prediction to Madame Serena being crazy. However, on her birthday, Louise starts to notice strange things happening. Whenever she wishes for something, it happens. After turning her younger brother into a dog, Louise knows that Madame Serena was onto something and returns to her for help. Madame Serena tells Louise that she is the reincarnation of a witch, and the two of them (Louise in a past life and Madame Serena) used to be best friends. Louise begins to realize she has extraordinary powers and starts to take advantage of it. She convinces Madame Serena to teach her a spell that will make her the most popular girl in school, and consequently, make Brad fall in love with her. Louise soon becomes everyone’s idol and everyone wants to be friends with her. But Louise starts to doubt her new popularity. The first problem she runs into is that Polly has stopped talking to her. Then, Louise begins to wonder if Brad really cares for her, or if it is only because of her spell. Eventually, Louise realizes that the most powerful magic she has is to just believe in herself and who she is.
Raptor: Wow! This movie was one giant cheese-fest. I know that this movie was made in the late 80’s and that it follows the style of that time. But I seriously almost stopped watching because it was so bad. The fashion was crazy and the clothes that were considered cool were hilarious. Another thing that bugged me was the weird/random musical numbers that were in the movie. There were two times were the characters just broke out into song and dance for no apparent reason. If this movie was supposed to be a musical, that might make sense. But since it is not a musical, I didn’t see the point of these scenes. I do think the movie had merit as a fun, teen rom-com, I just had a hard time taking it seriously. And I am very happy to say that I’m glad movies have moved out of that cheesy, ridiculous style. Overall, I give this movie a 4 out of 10.
Slacker: I know some people won’t like this movie because it has that 80’s feel. However, if you like the 80’s this will be good for some Halloween spirit. This movie may not be about Halloween but it is about witches and who can have Halloween without a witch. If you don’t like the 80’s, at least try it, you may be surprised that you like it. I’ve liked this movie since I was younger because I always wished that when I was 16, I would get those magical powers. Needless to say I was very disappointed that it did not happen. I give this movie a 7 out of 10 only because it is a stupid 80’s movie that randomly breaks out into dance, and because the clothing in this movie was just plain out weird.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
“Hocus Pocus” tells the story of the Sanderson Sisters, three witch sisters from 1693, who had bewitched the town folk and taken the life force of a young girl in order to regain their own youth. Three hundred years later, they are resurrected by Max (Omri Katz), a Halloween skeptic who is trying to impress the beautiful Allison (Vinessa Shaw). Along for the ride is Max’s little sister, Dani (Thora Birch). Max, Allison and Dani visit the old Sanderson Sister museum and Max lights the black candle, which legend says, if it is lit by a virgin on a Halloween with a full moon, the Sisters will come back. And they do. The sisters begin to make a path of havoc through the town of Salem in search of children. They plan to steal the life force of these children in order to achieve eternal youth and beauty. Max and the gang are guided by a talking black cat named Binx, who is actually the brother of the young girl who was killed 300 years ago. The Sisters trapped him in the body of a cat and made him immortal. Binx feels that he must help Max to get rid of the Sanderson Sisters in order to relieve his guilt. While Max, Allison, Dani and Binx hunt down the sisters, they try to warn anyone who will listen, but nobody believes them. Finally, through a series of crazy plans and twists, Max and Allison are able to get rid of the Sisters, thus freeing Binx from his cursed life and the children of Salem from a horrible end.
Courtesy Photo: Walt Disney Pictures
Raptor: This movie is cute. I really didn’t realize it was that old when we first decided to watch it. It seems like it is only a few years old, but maybe that’s what makes it a classic. And this movie has definitely become a Halloween classic! I enjoy the timeless feel of this movie. Sure there are some things that seem a little outdated, but like I said before, I didn’t realize it was already 18 years old. I think that everyone should see this movie just because it has endured for so long. I give this movie a 7 out of 10.
Slacker: When I was younger, this movie scared me. Even though Halloween is my favorite holiday I was scared to go outside just in case the zombie came to get me. It was the highlight of my night when I did not see a zombie and I got all my candy. Since then, this movie has become a favorite of mine. Every year, to get into the spirit of Halloween, I watch this movie. After this movie it is Halloween. It may be a stupid witchy movie but it is a classic at least for our generation. This movie will get anyone in the spirit of Halloween or at least a little bit in the spirit. I give this movie an 8 or a 9 depending on my mood. I give it an 8 or 9 because this is the Halloween season and this movie represents Halloween to most kids and adults.
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