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Hocus Pocus, a review by Dragonfire

Hocus Pocus

My Thoughts

This is another more lighthearted fun movie that I enjoy watching around Halloween.  It is one of the few I have that actually takes place around Halloween instead of just being creepy or featuring ghosts or something.  The movie is family friendly overall, though the idea of witches going after children could be upsetting to younger viewers.  There is a decent amount of humor to what is going on, though some of it is a bit silly.  The characters of the witches are a bit quirky and they are entertaining and interesting.  I think the cast all does well with their parts.



I did get a review posted on Epinions a few years ago.

Hocus Pocus

(From Dragonfire's Halloween/Horror Marathon 2009 on November 1st, 2009)

Nobody Knows, a review by Tom

Nobody Knows (2004/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia Sunfilm Entertainment (Germany) Director: Hirokazu Koreeda Writing: Hirokazu Koreeda (Writer) Length: 141 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.66 Audio: German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Japanese: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: German

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Stars:Plot:
Based on true events that shocked Japan, this story of abandoned siblings is a "harrowing, tender film" (The New York Times) that "unfolds with leisurely beauty" (LA Weekly). Filmed over a year and featuring a performance by 12-year-old Yagira Yuya that won the Best Actor prize at the 2004 Cannes International Film Festival, this "haunting" (Newsday) tale is "heartbreaking brilliant" (The Boston Globe).

A childlike mother of four sneaks her children into their new apartment as if it were a game. One of the game's rules is that only Akira, the oldest, can go outside. Their mother leaves, first for a month, then possibly forever. As the money runs out and the utilities are shut off, Akira struggles to take care of his brother and sisters, determined that they stay alive...and together.

Awards:
Won:

Cannes Festival (2004)

Best Actor (Yagira Yuuya)

Nominated:

Young Artist Awards (2005)

Extras:

• Featurettes
• Photo Gallery
• Production Notes
• Scene Access
• Trailers

Despite its slow pace the movie was engaging throughout the runtime. All children did a great job. Although I would have preferred a proper resolution to the story. If only as a text describing something similar to the real-life happenings on which the story was based on.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on January 6th, 2011)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

1. Bargaining  (Parts 1 & 2)
The gang resolves to bring the Slayer back from the dead - and succeeds, despite being hindered by a band of biker demons.

My Thoughts:
I can't remember how this aired on TV... but on the DVDs it plays as a double length episode. I think they did a good job on bringing Buffy back. This was of course the first episode to air on the new channel. Was a decent episode.

2. After Life
As Buffy adjusts to life after resurrection, a shadowy presence menaces her sidekicks - a side effect of the spell cast by Willow to bring the Slayer back.

My Thoughts:
Another good episode... They now need to deal with the repercussions of bringing Buffy back.

3. Flooded
A trio of young wannabe-big-bads cause trouble, while Buffy shoulders grown-up responsibilities such as running a household.

My Thoughts:
Another decent episode... and when I say decent episode I mean nothing really bad... but at the same time nothing really stands out as being special in the episode. I have mixed feelings about the trio... first of all... how can you take them seriously on them giving Buffy such a hard time... but at the same time they are just so fun to watch... they are just plain hilarious.


4. Life Serial
The Slayer struggles to readjust to life in Sunnydale by attending classes with Willow and working with Xander, while the Geek Trio test her abilities with a secret campaign of harassment.

My Thoughts:
Once again... a fun episode. The trio each taking turns to see how much they can mess with Buffy's head gives us plenty of fun hijinks to watch. I have to admit... I loved the mummy hand that Buffy had to deal with in the magic shop... that was about as fun as it could get for me. I enjoyed every minute of this episode.

5. All the Way
Dawn sneaks out on Halloween and gets into a dangerous situation with a teenage vampire.

My Thoughts:
If I am not mistaken... this is the last Halloween episode of Buffy.... at least I don't remember a Halloween episode in the final season. It was a fun episode... and I have to admit... Anya looked might fine in her Charlie's Angels costume! Another episode I really enjoyed.

6. Once More, With Feeling
A mysterious force impels the Scooby Gang to burst into song, revealing their true feelings.

My Thoughts:
OK... my asbestos suit is on... don't you all flame me at once... but I HATE this episode! Of course that could have something to do with the fact that I do not like musicals at all!

7. Tabula Rasa
Despite Tara's misgivings about her overindulgence in magic, Willow does a spell that goes awry and gives the gang amnesia.

My Thoughts:
This one was a lot of fun too... enjoyed the episode... but I must say at this point they must be running out of ideas for the demons... whats with a guy with a shark head for a loan shark... yes I get it... he is a loan shark... but come on! LOL

(From Buffy the Vampire Slayer Marathon on November 26th, 2007)