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Halloweentown High, a review by addicted2dvd

Halloweentown High (2004/United States) IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer | Walt Disney Home Entertainment (United States) Director: Writing: Dan Berendsen (Screenwriter), Paul Bernbaum (Original Characters By) Length: 82 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1 Subtitles: English

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Stars:
Kimberly J. Brown as Marnie Piper
Debbie Reynolds as Aggie Cromwell
Judith Hoag as Gwen Piper
Joey Zimmerman as Dylan Piper
Emily Roeske as Sophie Piper

Plot:
Back to school's never been so cool or supernatural for Marnie (Kimberly J. Brown), her grandmother Aggie (Debbie Reynolds), and her family of witches in this latest chapter in the ever-popular series of Halloweentown movies.

When Marnie convinces the Halloweentown Council to send several teenagers to her high school in the mortal world, she even promises to give up her magic if any harm comes to them. But soon, Marnie and her new friends are in trouble and out of luck when the evil Knight Of The Iron Dagger appears. He's determined to destroy all things magical, and it's up to Marnie to save her high school, the human world and her magic.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Bonus Trailers
• Interactive Games
• DVD-ROM Content
• Closed Captioned

Probably my least favorite in the franchise.While it is still entertaining I found the story line to be less interesting what with it mostly taking place in the mortal world. These films are just more entertaining when they are in Halloweentown. That being said... this one is still worth the time put in to watch.... if you enjoyed the previous films in the franchise.



Horror/Halloween Challenge Films: 28/52

(From Horror/Halloween 2016 Challenge on October 14th, 2016)

Angela's Ashes, a review by KinkyCyborg

Title:Angela's Ashes
Year: 1999
Director: Alan Parker
Rating: R
Length: 145 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.77:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Emily Watson
Robert Carlyle
Joe Breen
Ciaran Owens
Michael Legge

Plot:
ANGELA'S ASHES, the Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, comes to life in this stirring film from acclaimed director Alan Parker (Evita), starring Academy Award-nominee Emily Watson (Breaking the Waves) and Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty).

Life in impoverished Depression-era Ireland holds little promise for young Frank McCourt, the oldest son in a tightly-knit family. Living by his wits, cheered by his irrepressible spirit, and sustained by his mother's fierce love, Frank embarks on an inspiring journey to overcome the poverty of his childhood and reach the land of his dreams: America.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Feature Trailers
Featurettes
Production Notes


True story about the extreme poverty and desolation of Ireland in the days of the famine and deadly tuberculosis as seen through the eyes of a young boy.

As powerful a survival story as you will ever see, the story is told from the memoirs of the man who was that young boy, Frank McCourt who wrote the book of the same name. Watching his siblings, friends and even his first love all die of the consumption (tuberculosis), while his drunken father pisses away what little money they are fortunate enough to come by as his family flirts with starvation... you begin to marvel at the fortitude of this young man.

Excellent performances by Robert Carlyle and Emily Watson as the parents who are trying to keep it together. It was not hard to see why so many Irish dreamed of coming to America which the young McCourt worked and earned for himself at the age of 16.

Excellent ambiance and atmosphere in the portrayal of the squalor of the Irish ghettos. I was captivated by the intense storytelling despite the lengthy duration of the film (2 1/2 hours).

Highly recommended! Would like to read the book as well.

KC

Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2010 on September 27th, 2010)

Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon, a review by Tom

05. Homecoming (1998-11-03)
Writer: Joss Whedon (Created By), David Greenwalt (Writer)
Director: David Greenwalt
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), David Boreanaz (Angel), Seth Green (Oz), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), K. Todd Freeman (Mr. Trick), Jeremy Ratchford (Lyle Gorch), Fab Filippo (Scott Hope), Ian Abercrombie (Old Man), Harry Groener (Mayor Richard Wilkins), Eliza Dushku (Faith), Danny Strong (Jonathan), Jason Hall (Devon), Jack Plotnick (Deputy Mayor), Billy Maddox (Frawley), Joseph Daube (Hans), Jermyn Daube (Frederick), Lee Everett (Candy Gorch), Tori McPetrie (Michelle), Chad Stahelski (Kulak)

A fun episode. I always liked the idea of the Slayerfest. And a great scene where Cordelia stands up to the vampire.
It also marks the introduction of the mayor, the main villain of the season.
My favorite line: "As Willow goes, so goes my nation" (by Oz)
Another thing: I always thought that Scott was right to dump Buffy. It was obvious it wasn't fun for him to be with her. I would have liked it, if they had explored this relationship longer. I think it would have been refreshing to have Buffy in a good relationship with a normal nice guy for a while, who would have only been slowly sucked into her slayer life.

Rating:

(From Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon on February 27th, 2009)