The Witches - The Cinema Snob
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.พ. 2025
- Before the remake comes out, The Cinema Snob checks out the original 1990 version of The Witches from Jim Henson Productions!
Writer/Creator: Brad Jones
Title Card: Shaun Millington
End Screen: Nick Michalak, www.ravensfilm.com
Theme: Devin LeTroy Powell, Rhymer-Man, check out the full song:
• Rhymer-Man - Snob Nigh...
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Apparently, one thing Dahl DID like about the movie was Anjelica Huston's portrayal of the Grand High Witch.
Morticia ftw. 😎
LIKE?! Fuck if I was Dahl I would demand the movie just be about her performance
To think that part could've gone to Ertha Kitt.
@@geardog24 to think Portrayal of Grand High Witch, Lookalike of Robert Rodriguez Movie?
In fact, he specifically REQUESTED that Huston play the part. Anne Hathaway has a VERY tough act to follow in the remake.
*"Witches work only with magic!"*
Best over the top villain line
I love how far we've come. From Brad constantly referencing Caligula, to Brad constantly referencing Windy City.
not only has lloyd probably killed hundreds of children in mouse form but he was also fully aware those weren't actually mice when he did it
When it comes right down to it even though he's a little naive boy, in the 90s adaptation and the book Luke is really a badass character. When I saw the remake trailer, he had a couple of friends by his side but Luke here in the 90s adaptation, Luke did all the work on his own, especially pouring the formula into the soup. He even accepted death like a soldier when it comes to Dying by his grandma's side in the book. When it comes to all these heroic acts that Luke has done even as a mouse, it took big balls.
Interesting.
I loved this movie as a kid, I still do. I loved all the imaginary, effects, all of the mouse little world, scary moments (kids like scary stories ;) and the funny ones too.
I was fascinated by the history of the painting from the movie.
I loved the painting,such a unique creepy concept. That really stuck with me,and I think of it whenever I see similar paintings.
@@omnimonramone8459 yes! That concept was indeed unique, creepy and very hunting. I never seen anything like that before. And it stuck with me too.
I really think that children do need a bit of fright. Scary stories for kids like in the Brothers Grimm fairy tales, helps them develop better imagination and curiosity of the world.
When she unmasked herself and showed her true form, that was one creepy and disturbing scene.
When I read the book as an 8 year old and saw the picture of her unmasked face, that was enough to keep me awake for a week. This was the first time I've seen the movie by the way.
Yup
The illustration in the book is probably the reason I find silicon masks so creepy.
My only issue with the remake is that it seems to depend so much on CGI for the effects. The make-up and puppetry (plus Angelica Houston) are what I remember and love about the original film
Agreed, that goes with the impressive edit of real life mouse, puppet, and animatronic practical effects it not to jarring to ruin the pace of the film, with CGI it is seamless but lacking creativity. I like CGI as something to touch up, but when your character is fully digital, it removes real world physics and stakes. Bet you if show the old film first, compared to the new, to a child they will know the difference between puppets and uncanny valley. As what they'll like depends on the kid, could turn out to be a book person instead. LOL
oh no. not more CGI splooge. makeup and puppetry is so much better. to this day i think American Werewolf in London has the best special effects ever. and that man was only working with house hold products!!
Yeah, the CGI makes it look close to the likes of Mousehunt or Stuart Little, too bright and colorful that undermines the dark tones.
@Trump4Prison2021 Children don't care if they are watching "old things"; they don't even know if it's old. I grew up with Disney movies made decades before my life, and I had no idea. I don't think children's movies are THAT easy to make; I mean, sure, you can churn out lazy crap and make some money, but that's true of adult movies too (both adult and "adult"). But making a Lion King, a Toy Story, or a Frozen? Not exactly a cake walk.
@Trump4Prison2021 Ah yes, the classic "its for kids! we dont have to put in effort!" argument that has been debunked over and over again
Personally, I also prefer the “happy” ending. Not because it was happy, but it adds more to the lore of the witches. It’s interesting to see that their evil deeds/magic caused their deformities and could even be reversed by doing good deeds (notice that her hands became normal after restoring Luke). It makes you wonder if there is a coven of good witches somewhere and why the other witches turned to evil. The other ending was just depressing for its own sake and doesn’t really add to the story at all.
I think those witches are known as Wiccans...or are those the poseur witches?
@Hugh Mungus witches don't sell their soul to the devil lol
Witches don't even believe in the devil
@@jamesbond9975 not all witches are wiccan. Wicca isn't even 100 years old. Lol
To see what real witches are like, look at the Celts, or the Druids, or the VooDoo practitioners, or even the witches of early germanic Europe. Wicca is barely fleshed out, borrowing much from the old ways, and still in its infancy, being one of the youngest religions in the world.
@@WillowTitov So for comparison, wiccans are like mormons.
@@WillowTitov That's the Christian view on witches lol
OMG! As a kid in latin america, this was one of those movies that i watched on (illegal) HBO back in the 80s, without knowing a word of English. Watched the whole thing about as many times as it aired. one of those movies that I learned English from. it was so good, there was no need for 10 year old me to really understand any dialogue.
Don't hate me, but The Witches ties with Matilda as my favorite Roald Dahl adaptations.
Love this film! How can you go wrong with Anjelica Huston?
I love Witches... Even though in Germany it's called Hexen Hexen... Wierd. I hate Matilda... can't stand the girl... 😅
My favorite Dahl book has always been The BFG. Though the witches and matilda tie with it. The man has too many good books tbh.
You think that’s an opinion that inspires hate? My favorite is Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
@@coatsorkeys never sure, considering the love people give to some of the bigger production. The biggest argument is probably which one(s) deserve top spot.
This Withches has always been a favorite of mine from childhood, too. I've been wanting to show it to my daughter now to pass down the awesomeness, just waiting for the right moment. I need to gradually freak her out with movies, ya know?
I LOVED this movie, I used to watch it over and over as a kid.
I forgot about the little girl in the painting part of The Witches, that honestly is really horrifying.
The music did not help.
I repressed that Part of the Movie too
thank God
When most people in the UK see Rowan Atkinson they think 'Ah, blackadder is in this.'
I mean one quick re-write and it could be Blackadder in the early 90s. Blackadder works as the receptionist and the hotel is owned by Melchett.
Darling could be Melchett's secretary, Blackadder could be the foreman, George could be the reciptionist Who bumbles alot but cant be fired since he is Melchett's nephew and Baldrick could be the Janitor.
As another Blackadder fan I approve 😄
My mom taped the entire run of Blackadder 2nd and 3rd from PBS and I watched it at least a dozen times growing up. Edmund Blackadder will always be THE definitive Atkinson role for this American.
No, they just think an icon is on screen.
“Why’d you make me play second broom!” - Kevin playing Quiddich
Fun fact: one of the witches in the conference room is Michael Palin from Monty Python
If you look, quite a few of the witches are just men in drag
i thought one of them looked kinda manish.
"Are there any women here?"
He wants to have babies.
@@adamf1980 That was Eric Idle.
"SEE! Four Rooms! Told ya'!" 🤣🤣🤣 It's good to know I'm not the only one that remembers that film!
I own it on DVD.
Man it's crazy how much of this movie I remember but I don't remember any point in my life where I watched it.
I love the fact that Bubble (from AbFab) is the high witches assistant who quits.
I love that Snob is reviewing this movie cuz I loved it as a kid yo!
As horrific and grotesque as the rest of this movie gets, I was always far more disturbed as a kid by the story of the little girl trapped in the painting. I always thought of her as a ghost, her presence a constant, haunting reminder to her family of the fate that befell her, and them knowing that although they can *see* her they can never save her. That was more tragic and unsettling to me than any of the film’s graphic imagery, with the possible exception of that one witch burning to ash.
"PAPA! PAPA!"
Finally, one of my favorite reviewers are reviewing this! :P
The fact Roald Dahl managed to me as vicious as he was about this film even a few months before his death says a lot about the guy.
I watched this ever since I was a kid. Scared me senseless but still watch it to this day!
Aw,man this was one of my favorite movies as a kid,thanks for the memories,Brad. Such warm feelings from this movie that probably traumatized other kids🤣
I love the thimble for this. With the Snob being turned into a cute mouse with a look on his face that just reads.
“I do not approve of this!”
I’m snob fashion.
Love the Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders shout out.
When an old man in a robe approaches you and says he’s looking for his monkey, RUN!
Merlin's shop is plagiarized from a Stephen King story.
"I AM WHO AM THE WISE GUY!!!"
Oh the memories! 2004- 4th grade teacher read it to our class through the entirety of October (she was an older teacher that had the aura of the grandma about her, which really helped sell it in my mind.)
Despite me hating horror, I found myself really liking the story.
She put the movie on during the Halloween party that year; I don't remember it nearly as well.
Nobody:
Not even Wilford Brimley:
Mouse-child: *D I A B E E T U S*
I really love this old movie trailer interludes. The Craft trailer makes it seem like comedy.
@Trump4Prison2021 Love the screen name by the way. To be fair the tone of The Craft is meant to be more serious, but ends up being campy. I'll give you that one.
Man, I loved this movie when I was young, need to watch it again.
I work at a seafood restaurant with artwork featuring boats and houses but NO people.
It always reminds me of THE WITCHES. My coworker and I even discussed it.
Lloyd fans, he's hosting a segment starting at 8:17. YES!
I cannot wait for your review the new remake.
What if it exploded? I'm dying 😆
That tends to happen when you get exploded
I remember watching this movie as a kid. I still get nightmares from it to this day. Oh the memories.
What I find weird about Roald Dahl is that he hated when people make changes to his stories but he's perfectly fine with making changes to other people's stories like You Only Live Twice and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, hell after reading The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang book he outright called it shit
"Tis for thee but not for me". I'm guessing that with the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang book, he might have changed the story in the movie to try to 'improve' it.
Love this movie and an open to seeing what the remake is about. Thanks Snob!!
When my kids were little we stayed in that hotel a few times 😁👍
This is so nostalgic for me. I practically burned out my copy of this ! Love my old world and new world have come together !
I don't know if you will read this, but thanks for so many years of quality reviewing and entertainment. I've watched your videos during some pretty low points in my life and they have always helped me feel better. Cheers!
Saw this several times as a kid. How the hell didn't I notice Mr. Bean until now?!
This is the first time I've seen this and I could tell that he was Rowan Atkinson before Brad mentioned it
you are distracted by the scarring Childhood Nightmares
When I saw this movie, my initial reaction was 'What happened to Morticia?!'
WITCHES WORK ONLY WITH MAGIC!
- Grand High Witch, 1990
That is a great line, especially compared to this one:
"We will exterminate those brats!" - The Grand High Witch, 2020
What a great and funny review you’ve done in a while. Made me very nostalgic about when I watched the flick on HBO Family here and there when I was very young. Also, best stinger to an episode bar none.
Holy crap, this was one of the first movies I saw in a theater as a kid!
The changed ending to this makes me think of "The Last Battle" from The Chronicles of Narnia and wonder if it ever gets a film adaption if the ending will be changed. SPOILER for the end of Chronicles of Narnia: Everyone dies in a horrible train accident but it's presented as happy because then they can all be together in Narnia... Except Susan, who became a floozy
Excellent review Brad.
It's been years since I've seen this, thank you for reminding me what the name was.
This movie is slightly personal for me, cause I grew up living with my grandmother and now that she's passed on, and I revisit this movie, there is always a melancholy to it. I still love this movie, but man even this review kindles something sad in me.
So, uh, *farts* That's my Kusabi *laugh track starts up*
Now I wish Cher played a witch. Evil or not, she will still be fabulous.
Isn't this enough for you?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Witches_of_Eastwick_(film)
She's also one in Tangled, though animated.
They talked about her playing the witch in the Into The Woods movie. Jim Henson planned to make a movie of it with Robin Williams as the baker and Goldie Hawn as the baker’s wife and Roseanne as Jack’s mother and Steven Martin as the wolf and Danny Devito as the giant
Technically Cher was a witch in witches of Eastwick.
I grew up on the book, and the film, and both terrified me as a kid, lol. Always thought it was cool that the main kid was also called Luke, and when he was a mouse he sleeps in the Real GB Firehouse. I still have mine too.
Been waiting for this for 5 years
This movie scared the crap out of me as a kid and until now I couldnt figure out what the hell it was called. Thanks Snob!
One thing I remember about this was the use of The Real Ghostbusters firehouse playset.
Which is sadly, blown up.
There's no way the remake can compete with this classic
No kidding. When has it ever?
@@sspdirect02 Planet of the apes, that's just as good if not better than the originals
It doesn't have to. It just has to be its own adaptation
@@cocolime6496 That’s what people can never seem to understand.
@@piplup2009 the more recent Planet of the Apes movies are pretty good. But the remake of the first movie is nowhere near as good as the original.
Lmao 😂 that picture of you as a Mouse 🐭 is to cute 🥰 you look like Jerry’s Accountant 🤣🤣🤣
He probably wanted his name off the credits because they changed the ending from the book, in which Luke doesn't become human again but remains a mouse realising his grandmother is old and doesn't have many years left it makes him happy to know that as a mouse he doesn't either so doesn't have to grow up without her you know for kids.
Don't forget how, in the book, the grandma suspects that Bruno's father probably killed him because he couldn't stand having a mouse for a son. Yikes.
Loved this movie as a kid, and The Craft as a teen (I have always kinda loved witches and generally dark stuff in general), I too wish that kid's movies would stop being so afraid to go dark; it's up to parents to decide if their kid can handle dark stuff or not, and NOT up to them to decide if other kids can'tAlso, praying (even though it's probably futile) that the remakes won't completely suck.
Especially The Craft, I can remember that one being one of the firs
t even-handed portayls of witchcraft and Wiccan/Pagan religions that I'd seen in media, with it having
people who use it for good and for bad or selfish reasons, just like any other religion.
My dad doesn't like much especially in the way of movies and TV but he remembers watching this with me as a kid and he loved it and said he would watch today if he seen it on. It really is a great family movie even if it is scary for children. All the roles were perfectly cast and I can't imagine a better version ever being created.
Lloyd presenting clips of Christopher Lloyd!?
Brilliant!
Please, sir, some John Bigboote?
Was there ANY movie version of a Rould Dahl book made back when he was still alive that he didn't hate?
Peter Krug he liked the 1989 animated version of the BFG. I guess he didn't like having any of his work changed
@@Vic-en2ok I guess no one explained to him how adaptations work. But I guess it makes sense. Just because a person is an amazing author doesn't mean they can wrap their heads around different entertainment media requiring different ways of telling a story. Some story elements and even plot points work better in one than another.
@@Flaris I do think he was mistaken about this film. I wasn't fond of the sudden witch turnaround, but the rest of it followed his book very closely. Just remove that one character and that final scene and it's easily one of the best movies based on his work. It's honestly a far better adaptation than Willy Wonka, which only became a retroactive classic.
@@TheNotverysocial Willy Wonka's an odd film. It's the Full Metal Jacket of kids movies, in that the setup is far more interesting and fun than the actual journey. The first third of Willy Wonka is gangbusters with all the sardonic jokes packed in. The rest is still good, but never quite as fun as all the comedy revolving around the Wonka bar hunt. But that's probably because I'm no longer a kid. Oh well.
Roald Dahl wrote seriously scary books. This was a great movie and I've re-watched it several times.
Omg, this movie. I forgot about this one. This was one of those things I liked as a kid for reasons I couldn't explain, that ended up being an early sign that I was going to be a macrophile.
thank you for these reviews in many cases i wouldnt know these movies even exist.
I remember watching this movie on the Disney Channel back in the late 90s!
The painting story was the scene that scarred me a lot as a kid.
i repressed that Part thankfully
Childhood nightmare fuel. We don't get this type of stuff anymore.
This movie scared the shit out of me as a kid (then again, just about anything by Roald Dhal did), but now that I am an adult who practices witchcraft and hates children, I find myself relating to it more than I expected to.
I'm curious, what does practicing witchcraft mean exactly? Like, what do you do, and for what reasons? Do you believe in magic as shown in movies, or something more subtle? Is it more of a religion, or is that totally separate from what you practice?
Your profile pic looks good. Mysterious and a bit mischievous. You look like a witch :)
I mean that as a compliment, sometimes it's used in a negative way and I don't know how to show sincerity in comment form :p
The film that messed up children for years.
Good Old 80's Children movies
The “like” is for Lloyd. Just so we are clear.
PLEASE review Angel Heart with Robert DeNiro and Mickey Rourke. It’s such a weird supernatural noir, like Rosemary’s baby meets Chinatown, and I’d love a snobby take on it.
*Meanwhile* the suspiciously named Louis Cypher..
I think Lloyd has gone from simply killing mice to blowing them up.
15:12 Holy Jeez, that was so 90's, my shirt turned flannel! And The Craft is getting a decades-after-the-first-one sequel that's all the rage in Hollywood now.
Light as a feather, stiff as a board.
Swear to big G, my mother must have watched that movie twice a week for a good six months on the only TV in the house and all I wanted to do was watch cartoons...
Its nice to see Brad talking about a film he legit enjoys. lol
Being born in 1990 I'll say the same thing I said in the NC review. I grew up watching this movie with my mom on a chewed up vhs tape and we loved it
Man, thank you for finding this Cinema Snob! I've memories of seeing this film on TV ages ago and had completely lost track of it until you brought it up. I'd tried looking for it before but for some reason remembered it as "The Witches Of Eastwick" for some reason. Its super surprising how well the transformation effects hold up still.
Witches of Eastwick was a Cher movie. Child me kept getting her and Houston mixed up.
I’m dying for an in-depth look into The Craft 1996 !
Y'know, considering his disappointment in the Gene Wilder version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, imagine Dahl's outrage if he'd seen the Depp version. It had some things from the book that were closer, but then added the Daddy Issues Subplot and changed all the songs that were literally written into the book (the older one did too), and didn't leave the original ending (there's never a Great Glass Elevator movie and I'm pissed about it).
Also fun fact: Roald Dahl is one of the inspirations for James Bond bc he was a spy and he slept with a LOT of women in high positions.
Worst nightmare of my childhood. Feels really bad reliving it on your channel. Thanks man :D
I would quote..because I found it so funny for some reason.. "I Don't WANT cock-a-leekie I don't LIKE cock-a-leekie, I want cress! So just take back to the kitchen and tell the cook there's one more order for cress soup, now there's a laddie!" lol
I sometimes regret not being of a proper age to send a letter to Dahl a long time ago. All these years later and I still wonder where he got so into the transformation of things (kids into mice, girls swelling into blueberries, old grandparents getting de-aged down to nothing, etc).
It's common with kids horror; it's body horror and allows for death and mortality, without being overtly gruesome.
The closed captioning is really well done.
This movie terrified me when I was little. Loved it!
The Painting Part is STILL terrfiying to me
Dude if your doing the craft next week, this will be your best October ever
Thanks for posting this sir cinemasnob. I have had the shittiest week of my life as of sunday i was walking across the highway getting off work i was struck by a rather large pick up truck. I have broken 8 ribs as well as my shoulder 2. And as a positive other than being alive of course i see you reviewed 2 if my favorites within a bery short time. One being the witches and the other being the stand. I can of course verify everything i have said to be true. Because trust me i knownit seems far fetched. But a genuinely great hallowen movie id like you to cover is the crow. And wvem thoughbit takes place the night before Halloween it does transcend into Halloween. Anywaus you and the nostalgie critic and of course avgn are some of my favorite youtubers out there. Critcs for sure my fave. Anywaus thank you so much. A shout out would be amazing but not expected
I haven't been able to watch this video yet because this title card has to be the funniest thing I've seen this week.......sigh
Holy shit, I never realized that the opening/flashback story took place in Norway.
I had the hardest time believing Anjelica Huston wasn’t just Ian McKellan in drag.
I would hide behind the couch because every kid who visited our place picked this to watch out of our vhs collection.
Glad to know I'm not the only one who is seen Four Rooms. Shared universe confirmed via your dutiful observation.
“I’m watching the Witches.”
“The 1990 or 2020?”
“The 2020.”
“Oh fuck!”
“It’s closer to the source material.”
“So was Tim Burton’s Charles in Charge of the Chocolate Factory!”
“Charles in Charge of me?!”
This movie use to creep me out when I was a kid
Only as a Kid? 😅
I remember visiting this hotel when I was vacationing in Cornwall. The interior was completely different. Probably because they were filmed on a soundstage.
I do love this movie!
Can't wait for the Remake!!~
This movie is a treasure
Honestly, this is one instance where I prefer how an adaptation changes the ending. I'm willing to give the new one a chance because I like Anne Hathaway and Octavia Spencer, and Matilda showed us that an Americanized Dahl story CAN work!
I remember reading The Witches over 25 years ago and the movie scene with one of the witches offering Luke the snake is spot on. Believe it not the book was scarier than the movie. The detail and illustrations were creepy and captivating at the same time.