Practical Magic DVD

Genre:- Romantic Comedy

Director:- Griffin Dune

Release date:- UK 22nd January 1999 (Source IMDB)

Currently available on Amazon for £4.98

Synopisis:- The Central plotline revolves around two sisters (Sally - Sandra Bullcok and Gillian Owens - Nicole Kidman), who come from a long established family of witches.

Background
The story commences in the distant past where a Pregnant "Aunt Maria" is due to be hanged as with by the local Townsfolk, but Maria harness's her witchy powers and the noose breaks, Maria is then banished to an island near the town to live out the rest of her days in Solitude, Maria becomes increasingly angry at her Lover who did nothing to stop her fate and curses all men that fall in love with an Owens woman to die.

Through Flashbacks we see that This Curse remains a powerful and unbroken one and when Sally and Gillian's mother dies from a broken heart following her Husbands death, the two girls are sent to live with their Great Aunts, two lively spinsters played by Dianne West (Jet Owens) and Stockard Channing (Fran Owens). The Aunt's attitude is on of playfulness and embracing magic, stating that in this house we eat chocolate for breakfast and don't worry about homework.

A young Sally Owens distraught at losing her parents to the curse, creates a love spell asking for qualities in a man which she knows don't exist. Hoping that as such a man never exists, she will never fall in love suffer the fate of her parents.

The Owens's sisters are continually taunted by the local townsfolk for being "witches" and Sally Owens (Sandra Bullocks') character desperately tries to fit in whilst Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman's Character) plays up to the rebellious image.

The film follows the lives of the sisters through adulthood and their subsequent love lives which provide the central hook for the film.

General Review

I expected the film to be a barrage of the usual Hollywood inspired drivel with a bit of "magic" thrown in, but was pleasantly surprised by the film and found myself genuinely caring about the characters and the outcome of the film.

I adored the set designs and the general theme of the film, and although I rate Sandra Bullock as an actress and am aware that she is still typecast in this role I found myself believing in Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman's characters wholly and was literally fully engaged during the duration of the film.

The film is a typical Rom Com , with darker themes added for mystique and intrigue, which I feel would appeal to a mainly female target audience due to the re-current themes of female intuition, intricate female relationships and the bond between the two sisters.

The films approach to witchcraft is more Holistic based and tries to inform the viewer that magic and spells are all part of "The Craft" and a natural approach to the old fashioned ways of life with an emphasis upon belief as a core element. The townsfolk and their attitudes are used as a perceptive medium with which to engage and inform the audience about the prejudices that the sisters encounter and the fallacies that surround witchcraft.

As with most schmaltzy films, there is a little bit of a morality tale woven into the plotline and this is explored via the townsfolk and their relationships with the Owens women over the years and the morality lesson is neatly tied up in a happy ending.

Overall this a typical feel good movie, with some unexpected twists and turns. All of the performances are of a high standard with some good choices being made by the casting team. The exquisite set design acts as a powerful backdrop to the film and a great soundtrack serves to enhance the mystical feel.