Practical Magic - the movie

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 30 Jul 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Sorceress_Jade	30 Jul 2002
Dunno if the goes here or in chat, but i put it here because of why i'm asking. Who liked/disliked this movie and why? I admit I haven't seen the last two minutes (the tape was damanged damn it! But i will later tonight) I heard horrible things about this movie from lots of witches and put off seeing it because of that. I wanted something witchy over the weekend, dunno why. Maybe cause I know a pagan holiday is so close and it's one that I don't celebrate and I feel a bit left out I suppose. At any rate. I liked the movie and could only think of one small reason why any witch wouldn't, and it seems so petty to me. So I'm hoping maybe some of you could explain it better to me, or prove to me that I was talking to the wrong ppl about movie choices :D

Maan	30 Jul 2002
I liked the movie too. Its just like charmed if you don't take it seriously it great to watch Anyway i was not disturbed at all and i consider myself a witch/wicca I even bought the video tape on sale :)

suzyspellbound	30 Jul 2002
I really like this film, although I don't consider myself pagan or wicca or anything so maybe that's why! The actual idea of it is kind of horrible bring things back from the dead so it would put "magick" in a bad light i suppose. But then (sorry to spoil it for others) the witches are acepted positively by the town people in the end which is a good message to send out. That just because people follow something different that you don't understand shouldn't mean you can persucute/ eclude them. Its just like all those films of a similar vain e.g. the Craft? Nicole Kidman looks fab and ots obviously hollywood fluff.

emily2otters	30 Jul 2002
i thought it was sweet. :) it's not representative of the kind of magic i do, that's for sure. neither is harry potter or the fifth sacred thing or virtually any other fictitious treatment of witchcraft... but so what? digression: for a funny and wickedly true novel about the meeting of goddess religion and psychokinetic powers, i must recommend "myrtle of willendorf" by rebecca o'connell.

Sorceress_Jade	30 Jul 2002
Emily, can you give us a synipsis of this book? Yes i loved near the end when all the women came to help. I loved the broom circle thing, and when the lady showed up with the dust buster. I love that old image of the witch riding the vacuum cleaner, forget what its was from, it's just about the greatest. I liked the fantasy aspect of the film, how they could blow candles on. The superstiton, the broom falling meaning company was coming. And I liked the realism as well, he fear, the herbal aspects, and the part about magic/things having power because you believe they do. I think that last one was my favorite part. But ooooooooh how I want that house. With the greenhouse, right there on the ocean, and it seemed the house went on forever it was fantastic, and the herb pantry. And I love the family aspect of the movie too, how the aunts personalities were, though the main brunette character got on my nerves a lot, throwing around commands as though it were her house. I think i'll get this one when it goes on sale too.

PurpleGoddess	30 Jul 2002
it's the sisterhood and the love of family that drew me to this movie. the simple aspects of wicca, herbalism, the natural healer (sally and lotions) and just the all around feminity. when put into one room women have an heck of lot of power to banish, create and defend anything in this realm. the simple spells and everything about it! i thought the ending was a little silly but i'll let you find out tonight. would love to own this video or dvd! it's a great movie. another charmed fan!!!! i'm addicted to that show. i have to tape it if i'm going to be out, working or at class. if not, off goes the phone ringers and down the answering machine volume. DO NOT DISTURB! this show gives me enough info as a wicca101 on spells cause i can't ryhm for anything. also the potions are cool. again, the sisterhood, power of family and the feminity of having POWER! love and peace :TQC :THP

lunalafey	30 Jul 2002
I thought that this was a very well done movie. I am not deeply educated in the ways of wiches...but from what I do know, it was portrayed well. There was not the stereotye evil witch...these where just genetically gifted misunderstood women....and it's a story about love and wishes. petty? IMO. yes cute movie..definatly one for the cabinet

emily2otters	30 Jul 2002
synopsis (from the library catalog): a bright and artistic young woman with a fondness for junk food experiences a kooky modern-day coming of age by way of the goddess within. heh.

HudsonGray	30 Jul 2002
It was a good movie, much less objectionable than The Craft or The Blair Witch movies. You might want to rent another Sandra Bullock movie called Love Potion #9, there's a fortune teller in it at the start--it's a sweet movie too, but a little dated, I think it was her first movie ever. Hollywood aspects did come into the storyline of Practical Magic, but a lot of GOOD things also made it in. The love attraction was pretty good (not to mention the 'sweeping out' scene). Shows that you get what you ASKED for, not what you intended.

catlin	31 Jul 2002
I liked Practical Magic much better than the Charmed or Sabrina stuff as it was not so hooked on blazing demons, ppl turned into melting snowmen and crap like that. Ok, there were still enough clichés in it, but it was quite nicely done.

divinerguy	31 Jul 2002
You know, its really funny. The world has these ideas running around in their heads about Tarot, withcraft, paganism and the like. They have formed some very odd conclusions about who we are and what we do, based upon what Hollywood and gossip magazines have told them. If they really knew us, I think they'd find us to be a fairly conventional group of people, and not at all what think. Sorry to disappoint them, but the closest I get to summoning the devil is when somebody cuts me off in traffic or when I nick myself shaving.

catlin	31 Jul 2002
Hi divinerguy, You should have seen all the kids in the Magic Garden who paid me visits after having spotted the announcment that a "witch" is there offering information about magick and tarot. They were sooo disappointed that I did't ride in on a broomstick, that I didn't wear a poited hat, that I were in my 30s (no old hag with wrinkles and a crooked nose)! At least I wore some cool rings and my bone Kali-Mala.

PurpleGoddess	31 Jul 2002
i'm in my 30's too. look young for my age. i'm still witch 101 but i'm liberal in my beliefs. i've got a really cool tatoo on my lower back...only 2 months old and am starting to collect cool rings and jewelery. clothes are starting to get pretty out there! i think it's just basically being true to ourselves and who we are on in the inside...the spirit etc! plus i love being part of forums like this. i feel at home! i may not know everyone and viceversa but i know that i'm supported and i support others! unconditionally and purely. blessed be!

Sorceress_Jade	31 Jul 2002
So what's this cool tatoo? I have a tribal rose that's a year old but i still can't get over cause i love it so much. What is it, what is it? ~is curious~

jema	31 Jul 2002
i liked the movie. my fav actress dianne wiest is in it:) (the slightly distracted aunt) i also love sabrina. it is a funny show, i don't see how anyone can take anything of it seriously. (i like the aunts best in sabrina too) i tried to watch charmed but only managed to see two episodes and wasn't all that "charmed" by it. the craft was hilarious! and even more fun was to read messageboards for years afterwards with posts from kids who wanted to do a "glamour" like they did on the show. harry potter i saw on bad pirated copy one of my brothers friends had borrowed from some friend who had bought it from another friend who had contacts in japan. so it was subtitled in japanese. it was still a fun movie though. and i love the HP books!

PurpleGoddess	31 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Sorceress_Jade So what's this cool tatoo? I have a tribal rose that's a year old but i still can't get over cause i love it so much. What is it, what is it? ~is curious~ SJ you're too funny. :) it's a celtic braid in the shape of an inverted triangle. if you look really close enough you can see 2 things hopefully. 1 is the celtic pagan symbol for the trinity, 2 is (guys close your eyes) my vagina, if i'm not mistaken it is inverted and sort of looks like a triangle. i got the idea from the vagina monologues..i wanted to stay connected w/my vagina, my femaleness and my pagan roots. and it's on my lower back between the dimples. i forget it's there most of the time cause of the location but i know it's there and i LOVE IT! ciao

napaea	01 Aug 2002
I loved this movie so much! But i do love Nicole Kidman like she's a goddess, and love Sandra Bullock too. so many things i loved: * the power of the witches was so much stronger when they stayed connected to their families (i don't think Hollywood ususally sees witches in a "family" light) * i loved how much Sandra's character believed as a child...she demanded to have what she wanted and brought it into being... * i love that this passion passed on to her kids as they discovered their moms "spell" * i appreciate the fact that a lot of the "demon" in this show was a demanding, obsessive, possessive man - a relationship - and only part way through it became extremly supernatural. i thought the movie was fun and made me want to study my a** off to do what they do! i used to love charmed, i believe some of what they do is possible, but as it became more "demon vanishing" i just lost interest

Sorceress_Jade	02 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by PurpleGoddess SJ you're too funny. :) it's a celtic braid in the shape of an inverted triangle. if you look really close enough you can see 2 things hopefully. 1 is the celtic pagan symbol for the trinity, 2 is (guys close your eyes) my vagina, if i'm not mistaken it is inverted and sort of looks like a triangle. i got the idea from the vagina monologues..i wanted to stay connected w/my vagina, my femaleness and my pagan roots. and it's on my lower back between the dimples. i forget it's there most of the time cause of the location but i know it's there and i LOVE IT! ciao That's hard to visualize, but it certainly sounds like a neat idea. I really want another tat, but refuse to get it until i'm positive i'll love it for the rest of my life. Unfortunately my cousin has this belief in 'tattoo buddies' and she's ready for her next one so she's bullying me into choosing, lmao. Lucky her, she has a plan for her whole back already and can get them whenever she wants.

suzyspellbound	04 Aug 2002
reading your posts made me think, this film has alot more to do with female empowerment than withcraft, that's just what they used to illustrate what they were trying to say- like you said beliving and not settling for anything that is less than what you have always wanted, and sisters working together and that family is wonderful, full of love and support- with no men! It about not letting yourself down by staying with a man that abuses you and how women don't have to take that kind of ****** they can do something about it (maybe not kill him though! extreme) there are alot of improtant messages here i think. Sabrina! I didn't even think of that , I so don't connect it with witch craft at all its so fantastical or HP, just harmless fun really!

wetsheep1	06 Aug 2002
Practical Magic is one of my favorite movies :) There are a lot of good messages there, and it's just a comfort. (And yeah, I want that house too -- fight ya for it, LOL!!) And if I could only find time to spin...! I loved Dianne Wiest's weasel -- it was gorgeous. So was their wheel *sigh* Someday I'll have a full-sized one that can actually hold a full skein's worth on a freaking bobbin, LOL! the one thing that struck me was, man, how do they find the time to take care of it all? A division of labor is one thing, but that kind of house requires a full-time staff!!! There are some things I don't feel comfortable with though; namely casting for someone who's unaware of what you're doing. To me, strictly speaking, it's unethical -- no matter how well-intentioned. The lesson about doing just that was exemplified in Sandra Bullock's husband's death: "We had no idea, when we cast the spell..." Absolutely, Hollywood has some strange ideas about the Craft. But for the most part, it was well-portrayed and for once, didn't send a negative message about those of us who practice. So yeah, I liked it, and probably always will. :) -- k

amyel	06 Aug 2002
I like the soundtrack. I'm not sure I've ever seen the movie all the way through..... [amyel slinks off humming "lime in the coconut"...]

HudsonGray	06 Aug 2002
Whaa????????? You mean you missed the sexy scene where she and the sherriff were on the bed? And the great broom banishing where they called up all the 'practicing' women they knew & a few that weren't practicing??? Rent it again!

LeoLady	06 Aug 2002
Can anyone tell me about the film/series called Charmed and where I might get it from? Sound like my kinda film. Thanx

Sorceress_Jade	06 Aug 2002
Awww, Charmed is a tv series here in the US. Staring Melissa Milano, and .. whomever the Lady is who plays Piper... and it used to have Shannon Daughrty (sp), but no has Rose McGowen ( :P ). It's about three hereditary witches who's fate it is to defend innocents from evil. Their strength comes from the power of three (since there's three of them) and they each have their own personal powers. They brew potions and cast spells and use their powers and have lots of issues and drama. They have the witches working in league w/ angels, fighting demons, and marrying both as well. Very eclectic spiritual view, but pretty fantastical magically speaking. And you know, I can't recal having seen them use Tarot, except I think Phoebe did that one time she had the job as the 'psychic'. But they don't use it, I don't think :(

Starfish	06 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Sorceress_Jade And you know, I can't recal having seen them use Tarot, except I think Phoebe did that one time she had the job as the 'psychic'. But they don't use it, I don't think :( Paige is the Tarot reader of the bunch. She mentioned doing a couple of readings regarding Phoebe and Cole's wedding that told her bad things were to come. It was the episode of all of the jinxed things happening to Phoebe the day before and day of her wedding (Coolio played the Lazarus Demon in that episode). I love that show :) :TDEAT Starfish

PurpleGoddess	06 Aug 2002
me too starfish! that's my fav show. i make sure i'm home for it! loved it when it was on w/gilmore girls...it was a real chick night! paige is the tarot chick. i think she's the most psyhic and witchy of them all. peace

LeoLady	06 Aug 2002
Ok, sounds like a crackin' series! I have sky tv (uk) and wondered what channel this wonderful series is on????

PurpleGoddess	06 Aug 2002
hi leolady, here in ct it's on the WB network, channels 11/20. find out if they have a uk or european link on their website. or maybe you can get it broadcast on the web? i'm not very good at computers! oh, it's on sunday's now! and good luck w/finding charmed. let us know how it works out for ya! peace

LeoLady	06 Aug 2002
T a Muchly, But I don't hold out much hope, I've not heard of that channel here :(

PurpleGoddess	06 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by LeoLady T a Muchly, But I don't hold out much hope, I've not heard of that channel here :( :( it's the frog network. if you go to www.wb.com (or net) you might be able to find something...(fingers crossed)

suzyspellbound	08 Aug 2002
Im fron the UK could not really get into charmed I prefer Buffy the Vampire slayer! But its on Living the cable/ digital channel if you've got that! About 8 or 9 most nights I think!

amyel	08 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by HudsonGray Whaa????????? You mean you missed the sexy scene where she and the sherriff were on the bed? And the great broom banishing where they called up all the 'practicing' women they knew & a few that weren't practicing??? Rent it again! yes sir......[amyel hangs her head low and slinks out of the thread again....]

The Practical Magic - the movie thread was originally posted on 30 Jul 2002 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.