The Worst Witch - Battle of the Broomsticks

Rating:
Summary: The Worst Witch will charm you!
Review: BATTLE OF THE BROOMSTICKS
Poor Mildred Hubble makes a mess of her first day at Witch Academy. First, on her way to school, she runs afoul of snobby Ethel Hallow who'll become her arch enemy. Then she arrives late and the gate is closed on her. She clumsily flies over it and crash lands into a dust bin on the other side, narrow missing a collision with Miss Hardbroom, the strict no-nosense witch who'll be Mildred's home room teacher.
Luckily Mildred makes fast friends with the sweet, soft spoken Maud Moonshine. Who patches Mildred's now broken broom with packing tape. Having a bent broom won't help with the broomstick flying test, which the girls will have to pass in order to stay on at the academy. And Mildred's both afraid of heights and the dark, which will make the test difficult. But, she has the the help of her new friends, Maud, Ruby Cherrytree and Jadu Wali, and she'll need it.

WHEN WE FEAST AT THE MIDNIGHT HOUR.
Mildred and her friends plan a midnight raid on the kitchen, prompted by the disgusting school menu. Which is no fault of Miss Tapioca, the cook. She has to follow the school book of regulations on what to serve. And it always gets cold, on the long journey to the dining room.
Because of the complaints, Miss Cackle decides to eat the same food as the students. And discovers just how gross it is.
The girls' midnight feast is scheduled for the last night of Sir Walter's Wet Week, a time when a ghost is supposed to wander the corridors of the spooky old castle.

PIG IN A POKE
Mr. Blossom's nephew Charlie comes for a visit, and Ethel is being particulary snotty to Mildred. Especially after the cat presentation ceremony & Mildred is given cute tabby kitten, instead of the traditional black one, because they ran out. Ethel can't resist teasing. Mildred is pushed too far, and turns Ethel into a pig by accident (she was trying for a frog...)
Then Ethel trots off, getting lost, and Mr. Blossom takes her to a local pig farmer, who is taking his pigs to market that day!

Charlie takes an active part in the rescue, he knows a reversing spell, kind of..

Based on the books by Jill Murphy and presented in the U.S. on HBO. This is an incredible series. Heart warming, wholesome, and witty. I don't think it's for an specific age group, people of all ages will enjoy it. The scripts are very well written, very humorous. And the cast is excellent. They all seem to enjoy their roles very much. Georgina Sherrington will charm you, she's the perfect match for Mildred Hubble.

And that spooky castle is really cool. I wish there was a school like that. :-)

And I wish and hope that BFS video and Granada will put more episodes on vhs and dvd. There are more than what's in the two collections, including one of my favorites "It's a Frog's Life".

Rating:
Summary: NOT JUST FOR KIDS
Review: This is a great presentation from Canadian/United Kingdom productions for HBO family--Based on the whimsical childrens books by Jill Murphy.

Each episode is a half hour long, and there are three in this one---

BATTLE OF THE BROOMSTICKS-the series pilot. Shows Mildred Hubble (charmingly portrayed by Georgina Sherrington) she's running late for her first day at the academy, and she almost immediately runs afoul of Ethel Hallow, Mildred's nemesis in the series.
While Ethel is fashionably late, Mildred makes a mess of her first appearance, having to fly over the gate and crashing to some trash cans nearly missing the headmistress and Mrs. HardBroom.
Luckily she makes fast friends with the soft spoken Maud Moonshine.
She'll need moral support to get through the broomstick
aptitude test!

Episode 2- WHEN WE FEAST AT THE MIDNIGHT HOUR
Mildred and her friends must contend with the awful school food. Maybe if Mrs. Cackle eats the same food for a week she'll consider changing the menu..... Mildred decides she and her friends should have a midnight feast, going down to the kitchen past curfew, during "Sir Walter's Wet Week" when a ghost is supposed to wander the castle corridors.

Episode 3- PIG IN A POKE
Mr. Blossom brings his nephew Charlie for a visit to the school. Charlie decides to borrow Drusilla's cape and hat, to blend in, sneaking a peek at the big book of spells and attending the cat presentation. Mildred has to accept a cute tabby cat instead of a black one, since they ran out of them.
And Ethel of course has to bully Mildred, daring her to turn her into a frog, Mildred accepts the challege except turns her into a pig..Ethel then trots off, getting lost & mistaken as a stray pig from a local farm....Mildred can't remember the reversal spell, luckily Charlie knows one, but they better hurry and find Ethel.
...

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If you've read the books, I don't think you'll be disappointed with the adaption.

I think the best audio to play it in is "British English" which I'm sure it was filmed in, and sounds better in.

I also like the set, the outdoor scenes, actually shot outside, in beautiful woods or countryside...

This is great for children and those young at heart---be sure to get the Halloween episode 'A MEAN HALLOWEEN'

And I look forward to having my favorite two part episode "A Frog's Life" on DVD soon!

MM & BB ;-)