The Worst Witch (The Movie)

Rating:
Summary: Another Childhood Favorite
Review: Based on the books by Jill Murphy "The Worst Witch" follows a well misunderstood witch Mildred Hubble and her accounts at Ms. Cackles Insitute for Witches. This stars Fairuza Balk when she was a young actress, also stars Tim Curry as the Grand Wizard and other familiar actors/actresses. For those who think it will make your child become a witch, it most certainly won't, but maybe have an understanding of them :) this is a cute little fantasy in which most of us at Mildreds age feel misunderstood and have a hard time growing up, and being picked on by the most popular students etc. It's full of fun, and Halloween takes a big part in this as well. This was originally aired on HBO, in which I remember as a child. I found the VHS copy one day at Amazon and had to order it. Its fun to remember, and to show it to others who are small. If your child loves the Harry Potter books they will probably love The Worst Witch movie, series, and books. Even though I haven't watched Harry Potter the Worst Witch reminds me of it just the same. Just from a girls perspective. The old movie and books have also re-created a cute and beloved TV Show on HBO Family. It's definately worth the buy :)

Rating:
Summary: A bit dated, but still charming
Review: Before "Harry Potter" there was "The Worst Witch". Let me start out by saying that the effects in this film are not the greatest, but if you grew up watching this movie like I did it really doesn't make a difference. The story more than makes up for it. Every Halloween I looked forward to watching this movie and was very disappointed the years I missed it or it didn't air. I finally bought a copy on VHS for myself and watched it repeatedly. I am now looking forward to purchasing the DVD, as it is a definite must-have for Halloween. Tim Curry also does a great job adding a bit of campiness to the film, along with many of the other actors and it's a great followup to Fairuza Balk's first film "Return To Oz", which I also grew up watching.

Rating:
Summary: A childhood favorite that I will pass down to my daughter
Review: I am thrilled to see this out on DVD. I may be showing my age here, but as a child I used to watch this movie on HBO over and over and over every October. I discovered it one day after school while watching tv, and was instantly hooked. It's great fun (and catch a young Fairuza Balk as Mildred Hubble!). It has a wonderful cast. Admittedly, this movie is a little cheesy with cheesy special effects but that is a big part of it's charm- it lacks the bells, whistles, and smoke of today's kids movie technology (think Shrek), but this is an endearing story. This is a fun movie, I am thrilled it's on DVD to add to my daughter's "library" for when she is old enough. This will be on our seasonal playlist right along with It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and others!

A cute movie.

Rating:
Summary: Before there was Harry Potter, there was Mildred Hubble!
Review: I first saw this movie in the fall of '86. I had just turned ten. Like Mildred, I was also bullied by some of the more popular kids in my class so I greatly sympathized with her. I especially liked her little friend Maud Warlock who stood by Mildred even when everybody else was laughing at her.

Mildred Hubble, played by Fairuza Balk, is a young girl, (probably about ten or eleven) in her first year at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches. While the other first years are progressing at the "average" rate, Mildred is at the bottom of the class, as everything she touches seems to turn to dust, even though she tries her best. Ethel Hollow, the youngest sister in a family of high acheivers, is at the other end of the spectrum, receiving the highest grades so far, the favorite of the teachers, and unfortunately, a trouble maker for Mildred. One of my favorite parts of the movie is when Mildred turns Ethel into a pig, even though she was supposed to turn her into a frog! Personally, I think the pig was much better suited to the character! LOL!

On Halloween, Ethel's meaness goes too far when she frames Mildred for messing up the Broomstick Formation, a presentation for the Grand Wizard to showcase the talents of the first year witch students. Poor Mildred and her little gray and white kitten, Tabby, flee the school, only to run into Miss Cackle's evil sister, hell bent on taking over her sister's operation!

I won't give away the end, but this, I think, definitely the predecessor for Harry Potter. True, the speical effects might look cheesy today, but hey, for 1986, I think they did the best that they could at the time. Remember people, computer animation was still very much in its infancy! Still in all, it's a timeless movie and can be enjoyed by children of all ages! A definite treat for Halloween or any time of year.

Rating:
Summary: the horror. the HORROR.
Review: I have often said, in as much jest as seriousness, that I would sit through literally anything that had Tim Curry in it. I languished in the Muppet Treasure Island for Tim Curry. I stayed awake for the entire duration of Charlie's Angels for Tim Curry. I slogged through every last frame of Congo for Tim Curry. I EVEN survived McHale's Navy for Tim Curry -- and for this I should receive bonus Curry-fan brownie points because in order to get my fix, I had to also get a mad, protracted splash of Tom Arnold. I'm not trying to brag about my intestinal fortitude here, I just want you all to understand the depths of my love, that's all.

I believe -- from the bottom of my black little heart -- that Tim Curry is the great stage and screen villain of our time. There is no role so stupid that he can't make it sinister. There is no part so hackneyed that he can't make it enjoyable to watch. There is no voiceover so poorly-written that he can't turn it into warm, gooshy sex-lube for the ears. And yes, I am well aware that there is also no script so terrible that he won't consider it -- but in my rather unbalanced opinion, this only adds to his charm.

So a few weeks ago, my boyfriend made a post referencing a little-known Curry classic of potentially epic badness. A lesser fan might have cringed and clicked through the madness ... but not I. No, I ran over to amazon.com and tracked down a copy of The Worst Witch. Finally, my bold "I can watch anything with Tim Curry" stance was challenged.

Wow. Just ... wow. In short, and all besotted Tim Curry affection aside, this is -- and I say this as a woman who actually watched House of the Dead without grabbing her Blockbuster card and gouging her eyes out -- possibly the worst hour and a half in the history of entertainment. Rent it if you must -- but skip the film at all costs. The DVD offers you the option of simply watching the "music video" (God, I wish I could use heavier quotes). Go and watch the "music video."

For you see, thought of Tim breaking spontaneously into song is a rather pleasant one, really, so I got all excited about the prospect of an imbedded video; but what I had not been accurately warned about was the fact that this song is accompanied by eight minutes of what can only be described as pure, distilled graphic manipulation hell. No, really. If Satan himself sat down with a Commodore 64 and The Buggles ... he might have been able to come up with something almost as bad as the music video that is embedded in this movie. Maybe.

But at least it's funny, and you can hold it up as the Worst Thing Ever Filmed. The rest of the movie is not funny, not scary, not exciting, not entertaining, and not worth your time.

Rating:
Summary: This is the best kids movie
Review: I remeber when I was a kid I watched this movie all the time. The graphics are not that great but still its a good movie for kids 6-12?? It's a bout a young witch who does nothing right and it not like the other witches, she doesnt even have a black cat her's is brown. When this DVD comes out I am sure to get it.

Rating:
Summary: I LOVE this movie
Review: Okay, so it's not the best movie in the whole world. Some of the special effects are cheesy and some of the songs are cheesy, but it's a cute movie. I watched it every year as a child and fell in love with it. I had to own it and now I do! I look forward to showing this movie to my daughter when she gets older, it's a piece of my childhood to share with her. That makes it more than worth it for me.

Rating:
Summary: Gotta Love Tim Curry
Review: Okay, so the special effects aren't George Lucas material and the songs are a little cheesy. But you can't dispute the acting. Charlotte Rae (sans Tootie from Facts of Life), Tim Curry (Rocky Horror, anyone?) and Fairuza Balk(taking the first steps down the witchcraft genre). Makes me reminiscent of Halloween in the 80's...don't you remember watching this as you got ready for trick or treating? Your brother dressing up as Van Halen, your sister dressing up in a store bought Punky Brewster costume. Buy the movie, get out your candy corn, and get the costume you always wanted but your mom wouldn't let ya (admit it.. you wanted to be Gene Simmon's from KISS but your mom thought the tongue would "scare your sister") It's good fun and great Halloween pick me up!

Rating:
Summary: The Worst Witch (The Movie) 100 Times Better than the Series
Review: The girl that played Mildred Hubble was perfect for the role. She's enchanting especially when she's clumsy. Her wit and charm will keep you spell bound.
The girl in the TV Series however leaves a sour taste in your mouth. When I bought the first video, by mistake, thinking that it was the original movie, I could not wait to get rid of it. I did not want this eyesore to contaminate my collection.
If you want quality and to have a great time, get the original, The Worst Witch (The Movie) and get it on DVD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: finally out to dvd
Review: the worst witch dvd is a great addition to any collection. the movie stars fairuza balk in her second film, as well as many other favorites such as diana rigg and tim curry. this movie has been long out of print and now with it's dvd release many harry potter fans will enjoy this film. the only downfall to this dvd would have to be no special features which is why it loses a star. altogether a great movie and a joy to have on dvd. loved it as a child and will enjoy it with dvd quality picture now that my vhs is quite run down.