The Practical Magic soundtrack vinyl album is a captivating and enchanting compilation featuring a collection of diverse and timeless songs. Released in 1998, it perfectly complements the whimsical and magical atmosphere of the movie Practical Magic. **The soundtrack** is a seamless blend of various genres, including pop, rock, folk, and soul, creating a harmonious and evocative musical experience. It boasts an impressive lineup of talented musicians and artists, each with their own unique style and sound. One of the album's standout tracks is "Put the Lime in the Coconut" by Harry Nilsson, which sets the tone for the lighthearted and playful spirit of the film. The song's catchy melody and witty lyrics instantly grab the listener's attention, making it a memorable addition to the soundtrack.
It might be offensive if it were intelligent enough to grasp the message it’s conveying, but one thing I cannot accuse the film of is intelligence; no, it’s just an excuse to throw cheap CGI at us, any underlying theme purely unintentional.
And then wouldn t you know it one of them pops back to life as a demonic witch, presented here as a super-powered amalgamation of horror fantasy baddie clichés. Actually, It s Good is a new column in which we revisit movies that received less than a 15 percent critics scores on Rotten Tomatoes, and re-rate them ourselves.
The song's catchy melody and witty lyrics instantly grab the listener's attention, making it a memorable addition to the soundtrack. Another notable track is "If You Ever Did Believe" by Stevie Nicks, which showcases her distinctive and ethereal vocals. Nicks' hauntingly beautiful voice effortlessly captures the essence of the movie, transporting listeners to a world of magic and mystique.
‘Season of the Witch’ movie review: Nic Cage hunts witches in medieval thriller
At the very beginning of Dominic Sena’s Season of the Witch, three women are hanged and then drowned for suspected witchery; presuming that isn’t enough, the local priest drags their bodies out of the river and prepares to burn them.
And then – wouldn’t you know it – one of them pops back to life as a demonic witch, presented here as a super-powered amalgamation of horror/fantasy baddie clichés.
OK, so there really were witches. Season of the Witch might seem to legitimize the medieval witch hunting, or hey, take it a step further, the witch hunting in contemporary US politics.
It might be offensive if it were intelligent enough to grasp the message it’s conveying, but one thing I cannot accuse the film of is intelligence; no, it’s just an excuse to throw cheap CGI at us, any underlying theme purely unintentional.
The film opens with some brightly-lit battle scenes as Templar Knights Behmen (Nicolas Cage) and Felson (Ron Perlman) slaughter thousands in the name of God and the church before having a crisis of conscience. Each 10-second, PG-13 battle comes with handy “Siege of…” labels; otherwise, you’d swear they only changed the lens filter and CGI backdrop.
After that, we’re plunged into a world of (literal) darkness as our now-deserter heroes agree to transport a suspected witch (Claire Foy) to a group of monks in an isolated monastery in order to, ahem, cure the Black Plague. The remainder of the film is so underlit – an effort, I presume, to hide some particularly shoddy CGI work – that we frequently cannot make out what is going on.
Along for the ride are Priest Debelzaq (Stephen Campbell Moore), Knight Eckhart (Ulrich Thomsen), a choir boy aiming to be knighted (Robert Sheehan) and, no joke, Hagamar the Swindler (Stephen Graham).
I recall an episode of The Simpsons that featured Homer the Thief and Zohar the Adulterer; here, they try to pass it along with a straight face. Foy is quite good as the imprisoned girl, but the rest of the cast doesn’t have much of anything to do.
That includes Perlman, who has more screen time here than usual but nothing to show for it outside a series of lame one-liners, and Cage, who just sits around stone-faced, muttering in a low gravelly voice.
I kept waiting for the traditional Nic Cage wigout scene, which never comes; he raises his voice above a whisper precisely once during the entire film. Few actors have his kind of film-to-film range, from batshit crazy (most recently in a brilliant Bad Lieutenant performance) to here, where he’s so impossibly boring you want to leap into the screen and shake some life into him.
The film only rarely comes to life, but for all the wrong reasons, during a rickety bridge sequence that blatantly cribs from Clouzot’s Wages of Fear (and Sorcerer, it’s underrated remake, and hell, all those other movies with rickety bridge sequences), or a laughable CGI wolf attack sequence (one by one the wolves become “wolfier,” as if they were shapeshifting from wolf into “wolf” – this must be seen to be believed), or the goofy-as-all-hell apocalyptic climax, which attempts to right all the wrongs of the rest of the movie.
Season of the Witch is not a good film by any stretch of the imagination, nor is it bad enough to entertain on the level of a Wicker Man, which a noteworthy 5% on the Tomatometer might lead you to believe. It’s dull and dreary and a definitive mediocrity, an 80-minute Nic Cage medieval epic that I daresay you know what you’re getting into when you walk into the theater.
The 98-minute film opens with a man throwing three accused witches off of a bridge—a worrying start, to say the least. The fiendish witch-slayer then expresses his desire to pull the three witch corpses out of the river and set them aflame as part of some sadistic Christian ritual, but his companions don't heed his warnings. Later, he sneaks back under the cover of darkness to finish the deed. There it is heavily implied that the women weren't wrongly accused by the patriarchal, oppressive religion—at least not all of them—because a supernatural force erupts out of one of their decaying bodies and demolishes the priest.
The album also features compelling songs such as "Crystal" by Stevie Nicks and "Faith Hill." These tracks further enhance the enchanting atmosphere of Practical Magic, leaving a lasting impression on listeners. In addition to the original songs, the album includes classic tunes like "Magic Man" by Heart and "Black Eyed Dog" by Nick Drake. These iconic tracks add depth and nostalgia to the soundtrack, creating a well-rounded and captivating musical experience. Overall, the Practical Magic soundtrack vinyl album is a must-have for both fans of the film and music enthusiasts alike. Its eclectic blend of genres and diverse lineup of artists make it a timeless and enchanting collection. Whether you are seeking to recreate the magical atmosphere of Practical Magic or simply want to enjoy a captivating musical journey, this soundtrack is sure to leave a lasting impression..
Reviews for "The Witching Hour on Vinyl: Celebrating the Practical Magic Soundtrack Album"
- Emily - 1 star - I was really disappointed with the Practical Magic soundtrack vinyl album. The songs were poorly chosen and didn't fit well with the movie. It felt like the producers just threw together a random assortment of songs without any thought or consideration for creating a cohesive soundtrack. I was hoping for some magical and enchanting music that would transport me back to the movie, but instead, I got a jumbled mess of unrelated songs that didn't enhance the viewing experience at all. Save your money and skip this soundtrack.
- David - 2 stars - The Practical Magic soundtrack vinyl album was a letdown for me. While there were a couple of decent tracks, the majority of the songs were forgettable and uninspiring. I was hoping for a magical and captivating soundtrack that would capture the essence of the movie, but I found myself skipping through most of the songs because they just didn't resonate with me. It's a shame because the movie itself had such a captivating atmosphere, but this vinyl album failed to recreate that magic.
- Sarah - 2.5 stars - I had high hopes for the Practical Magic soundtrack vinyl album, but it fell short of my expectations. The song selection felt disjointed and didn't flow well together. There were a few standout tracks, but the majority of the album left me feeling underwhelmed. I wanted a soundtrack that would transport me back to the movie and evoke the same emotions, but instead, I found myself feeling disconnected and disinterested. It's a decent album if you're a fan of the movie and want to have it as a collector's item, but as a standalone vinyl album, it lacks the magic it promises.
- Michael - 2 stars - The Practical Magic soundtrack vinyl album was a disappointment for me. While it had a few catchy songs, the overall selection felt like generic background music that I could find in any coffee shop playlist. I was hoping for more unique and enchanting tracks that would transport me to the world of Practical Magic, but instead, I got a soundtrack that failed to make a lasting impression. It's not terrible, but it definitely didn't live up to my expectations.