Watching practical magic on Netflix is a delightful experience. The movie, released in 1998, follows the lives of two sisters, Sally and Gillian Owens, who are part of a long line of witches. The story revolves around their struggles with love, family, and their magical abilities. The movie begins with the heartbreaking loss of the sisters' parents, who died under mysterious circumstances. This event sets the tone for the movie, as the sisters are forced to grow up in a world that fears and misunderstands them. The Owens family has a reputation in their small town, and the sisters face constant judgment and scrutiny from their community.
Next up in Disney’s self-looting is The Haunted Mansion in November. Let’s just hope they never tackle “It’s a Small World.” — Kirk Honeycutt, originally published on July 7, 2003.
Although the ending leaves open the possibility of a sequel, the movie feels like it already includes the sequel; maybe that explains the double-barreled title. The film includes a number of scenes from the Disneyland ride, such as the imprisoned pirates trying to coax a dog carrying a jailhouse key toward their cell to a raucous tavern featuring zaftig serving wenches.
The Owens family has a reputation in their small town, and the sisters face constant judgment and scrutiny from their community. Sally and Gillian have vastly different personalities, which adds richness to their relationship. Sally is the responsible one, always trying to keep their magic under control and live a normal life.
‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’: THR’s 2003 Review
On July 9, 2003, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films brought the Johnny Depp movie to audiences nationwide.
Kirk Honeycutt
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On July 9, 2003, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films brought the original Pirates of the Caribbean movie to audiences nationwide. Director Gore Verbinski’s adaptation of the Disneyland ride opened to $13.5 million, marking the best Wednesday opening of the year. The Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley starrer went on to put $305.4 million domestically in its box office treasure chest and would earn Depp an Oscar nomination for his role as Captain Jack Sparrow. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review is below:
Since the previous Walt Disney Co. film based on one of its theme park attractions was the unbearable The Country Bears, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is surprisingly not bad. For one thing, the filmmakers draw upon the entire legend and lore of pirate life — of high-seas ambushes, mountains of gold, cruel captains, lusty rogues, feisty damsels, drunken sailors, barroom brawls, ancient curses and furious sword fights. So the film pays bemused tribute not only to one of Disneyland’s most popular rides but those old swash-bucklers who once graced movie screens.
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Screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio are mostly associated with animation, and this is one time when a cartoon approach in live action is exactly right: The movie’s flamboyant personalities and tongue-in-cheek action push the envelope of high camp without ever succumbing to sheer silliness.
This $100 million-plus production, stylishly directed by Gore Verbinski and lavishly produced by Jerry Bruckheimer , has the makings of one of the summer’s big hits.
The film includes a number of “scenes” from the Disneyland ride, such as the imprisoned pirates trying to coax a dog carrying a jailhouse key toward their cell to a raucous tavern featuring zaftig serving wenches.
But the smartest borrowing — and one of the best of the 600-old visual effects shots — is the living skeletons.
The curse of the title occurs when black-hearted Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) relieves fellow pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) not only of his command but his ship, the Black Pearl, and its treasure, leaving him to die on a tiny isle. Sparrow mysteriously survives and, as the movie opens, sails into Port Royal harbor in little more than a dinghy.
What Sparrow doesn’t learn until later is that the Pearls’ treasure carries a curse that dooms his former crew to sail the seas as the undead. Only moonlight reveals them as living skeletons.
The Pearl attacks Port Royal, just after Sparrow arrives, to retrieve a gold medallion. This is the last piece of the plundered treasure. If the treasure is completely restored along with the payment of a “blood debt,” the curse will lift. The crew also kidnaps the medallions’ owner, Elizabeth Swann ( Keira Knightley), daughter of the governor (Jonathan Pryce ). Two men pursue the Black Pearl, hoping to rescue this beauteous damsel: Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), a blacksmith and childhood friend secretly in love with her, and haughty Commodore Norrington (Jack Davenport), who fancies himself her fiance .
Despite his loathing of pirates, Will joins forces with Sparrow. The duo hijacks the fastest ship in the British fleet and sets sail for the Isla de Muerta , where the pirates hope to break their curse.
This sets up a series of set pieces of comic action and effects — the attack on Port Royal, the escape of Sparrow and Will, sea battles between the Black Pearl and other vessels, no less than two climaxes in a torch-lit island cave and, most impressively, moonlit battles between British sailors and pirate skeletons.
Actors try out a range of salty brogues that pitches much of the dialogue in a sea of confusing accents. However, Depp takes the opposite approach with precise enunciation of every line in what is best described as an accent-less accent. Depp plays his charming rascal in the lightheaded manner of a man who has either been in the sun too long or knows something no one else does. Perhaps it’s a bit of both.
Rush zeroes in on the comedy in his wily villain. Knightley continues to display the athleticism exhibited in Bend It Like Beckham as a damsel who is able and willing to fight and escape with the best of men. In the closest thing to a straight man in the movie, Bloom attacks his role with the pent-up fury of a man who only hates pirates because pirate blood races in his veins.
The large cast, costumed and made up as a fitly scalawags and sinister buccaneers, gives tremendous energy to every scene. There are many solid gags among this motley crew — the pirate forever chasing his false eye, the parrot trained to speak for its mute master, the series of fetching wenches who deliver slaps to Sparrow for past wrongs.
Cinematographer Dariusz Wolski and production designer Brian Morris manage to convey the giddy feel of the original Disneyland ride — that we are in a dark world, where we may safely gasp and giggle at its outlandish villainy and savage avarice. Klaus Badelt’s music is at times over the top, but he takes his cue from a production that banishes all subtlety.
Next up in Disney’s self-looting is The Haunted Mansion in November. Let’s just hope they never tackle “It’s a Small World.” — Kirk Honeycutt, originally published on July 7, 2003.
Despite his loathing of pirates, Will joins forces with Sparrow. The duo hijacks the fastest ship in the British fleet and sets sail for the Isla de Muerta , where the pirates hope to break their curse.
Gillian, on the other hand, is more free-spirited and impulsive, often falling in and out of love. Despite their differences, the sisters are fiercely protective of each other and would do anything to keep each other safe. The movie takes an unexpected turn when Gillian falls in love with an abusive partner, who eventually meets a tragic end. This event leads to the sisters making a desperate and dangerous choice: they resurrect him using their magic. This decision has unintended consequences and threatens to tear the sisters apart. Throughout the movie, we are introduced to a colorful cast of characters, including Aunt Frances and Aunt Jet, who are wise and eccentric witches themselves. They offer guidance and support to the sisters, reminding them of the power and strength they possess. Despite its magical elements, Practical Magic is ultimately a story about love and sisterhood. It explores themes of self-acceptance, forgiveness, and the complexities of relationships. The movie is beautifully shot, with stunning visuals and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that perfectly complements the story. Watching Practical Magic on Netflix is a captivating experience that will leave you feeling nostalgic and enchanted. It is a perfect blend of romance, drama, and fantasy, with performances that will resonate with viewers long after the credits roll. So grab some popcorn, snuggle up, and prepare to be whisked away into a world of magic and sisterly love..
Reviews for "Explore the World of Practical Magic through these Netflix Shows"
1. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Watch Practical Magic" on Netflix. The storyline was all over the place and I found it extremely hard to follow. The characters were shallow and underdeveloped, which made it difficult for me to connect with any of them. The film seemed to rely on cheap jump scares and predictable plot twists, rather than providing genuine scares or suspense. I was hoping for a captivating and atmospheric supernatural thriller, but instead, I got a messy and forgettable film.
2. John - 1/5 stars - "Watch Practical Magic" on Netflix was a complete waste of time for me. The acting was subpar, with some of the performances feeling forced and lacking authenticity. The dialogue was cringeworthy, filled with cheesy one-liners and clichés. The plot was predictable and unoriginal, offering nothing new to the genre. Overall, I found the film to be poorly executed and unengaging. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a quality supernatural film.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I found "Watch Practical Magic" on Netflix to be a disappointment. The pacing was incredibly slow, making it difficult for me to stay engaged throughout the film. Additionally, the special effects were lackluster and dated, which took away from the overall viewing experience. The film seemed to rely heavily on its star-studded cast to carry it, but even their performances fell flat. Overall, I found the film to be underwhelming and not worth the hype.
4. Michael - 1/5 stars - "Watch Practical Magic" on Netflix was a huge letdown for me. The plot was convoluted and confusing, leaving me frustrated and uninterested. The character development was weak, making it difficult for me to care about any of them. The film also suffered from poor editing, with certain scenes feeling disjointed and out of place. It failed to deliver on its promise of a thrilling and magical experience, leaving me bored and unsatisfied.