IT’S JUST A BUNCH OF HOCUS POCUS.

Let’s head back to 1993, and to a movie that I have to admit being one of my favourites, Hocus Pocus, which starred Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson Sisters a trio of Witches that were hanged by the nice folks in Salem after kidnapping and sucking the life out of a young girl.

Oh yes and they also turned her brother who attempted to rescue her from the clutches of the witches into a cat and cursed him to live forever. This Disney production was and remains a popular movie with kids of all ages. For many years now fans of the film have been begging Disney for a sequel, well the wait is now over, and Hocus Pocus 2 comes to Disney + on September 30^th 2022. The three main characters return to the contemporary world to wreak havoc, run amuck and continue to suck the life out of innocent children, whilst at the same time raising more than a smile from any watching audience. Apart from being a great movie the original film also contained one of the best scores of the 1990,s which was the work of the highly talented American composer John Debney.

I am pleased to say that Mr. Debney returns along with the Sanderson Sisters for Hocus Pocus 2. So how do the Sanderson’s get to be resurrected once again after being despatched at the end of the original movie? Well, this time three young women accidentally bring them back to modern-day Salem and after doing so soon realise that they too must figure out how to stop the child-hungry witches from again going on a snatching rampage to give them the gift of youth.

The world may have been free of Winifred, Mary, and Sarah for nearly three decades, but they return and are ready to inflict even more fear and unease via their black magic and hap hazard antics. The new movie is directed by Anne Fletcher and written by Jen D’Angelo.

If you have not watched the original movie for a while and not returned to John Debney’s fantastic score for a few months, now is the time to watch and listen again, to get you ready for the return of the Witches. Stand by for magic, mayhem, and raucous goings on, in another dramatic, comedic and exciting instalment that pitches good against not so good. Cant wait……..

HOCUS POCUS 2, PREMIERES ON DISNEY + ON SEPTEMBER 30TH 2022.

ELF-DELUXE EDITION.

When I was a kid it would have been unthinkable to have Christmas without watching movies such as The Wizard of Oz and Miracle of 34^th Street and of course White Christmas. In recent years however tastes have altered and the classic Christmas movies of yester year seem to have fallen by the wayside, and there have been very few examples to replace these apart from maybe Home Alone and then in 2003 when along came Elf, the movie was an instant hit and has attained that classic label. The movie is a must watch at Christmas time and its ok to sneak a few snatches of it when its not the festive season as well. It’s a feelgood movie, simple and charming, funny, and sad, but entertaining and enriching.

And part of the film’s success was the incredibly uplifting soundtrack by composer John Debney, I am pleased to say that thanks to the Varese Sarabande music club, we now have the expanded score at our fingertips.

A release that contains forty-four tracks and has over one hour of music included. Debney’s soundtrack is I am sure you will agree one of his best, and the composer seems to throw everything into the mix to create a classic Christmas sound, alongside action cues and highly entertaining comedic flourishes. There is in my opinion no need to review this as I am sure everyone has heard it at some point, and I am also confident that everyone has watched the movie at some point, haven’t you? The score has always been a favorite and now we are treated to this edition with extra music well, all I can say is Merry Christmas folks, who’s up for mince pies and maybe some egg nog. Or maybe the greatest cup of coffee in the world, ask Buddy.