As is well known, The Dream Factory has been eating its own tail for a long time, kind of reheating old chops in the form of new remakes . Of course, sometimes new versions of the hits known to us can positively surprise, but in the vast majority of the viewer only inept repetition of entertainment awaits. Which group do The Witches, recently released on DVD , belong to?
The production of Robert Zemeckis is an adaptation of the classic children’s novel by Roald Dahl. Bruno, the main character of the film, goes to the care of a loving grandmother who experienced a terrifying encounter with witches in her youth. One day the woman realizes that the witches have returned. Fearing for the boy’s safety, he escapes to the south. Unfortunately, the heroes go to a witch rally, and they are led by the Supreme Witch …
I have a problem with Witches , because it is difficult for me to objectively compare them to the original from 1990. I don’t really like that movie (I had nightmares as a kid) because after years it seems too exaggerated and kitschy. Robert Zemeckis’s version is not much better compared to it.
Watching Witches , I get a similar impression as in the case of a Very Cool Giant. They were shot by my grandfather, who thinks he has a great understanding of the contemporary expectations of young viewers. Like Spielberg, Zemeckis made excellent family films, but the last of them is the somewhat forgotten Polar Express or A Christmas Carol . Unfortunately, modern cinema and viewers, after the next Disney pictures, etc., used to the mass productions of Netflix, expect from the films something more than a slightly infantile and exaggerated story with famous actors.
Witchesdespite the potentially fairy-tale atmosphere and the large number of scenes with CGI effects, they do not stand out visually, rather reminiscent of the work of solid craftsmen. The scenario is overloaded with patterns, the only breakthrough of which can be found in the change of skin color and the origin of the main characters. It is well known that the villain is simply evil in such films, but the creators of the production did not even attempt to give such a character some terrifying authenticity, foundations and a little more complicated motivations. It is similar with the rest of the heroes, almost devoid of any characteristic features, and at the same time extremely boring and template, which makes it extremely difficult for us to get excited about their fate. Also, don’t count on your kids’ frequent bursts of laughter during the screening,
Noteworthy, however, the acting performances of Octavia Spencer and Anne Hathaway, which “pull by the ears” WitchZemeckis. The former is the only full-size heroine in the movie. We observe with interest the figure of the grandmother, as resourceful as she is caring and wildly brave. In almost every scene, Spencer makes full use of her comedy talent, which enhances the effect of her work. It is similar in the case of Hathaway, who emphasized in interviews that she was inspired by her performance on Heath Ledger’s Joker, which we see in her slightly exaggerated, yet terrifying witch. I dreamed of Anjelica Houston as Supreme Witch for a few more weeks after the screening (but nothing beats the Lantern Pipe in this respect), fortunately I am much older now and although Anne is definitely more scary, reminiscent of Pennywise with her teeth, I do not feel no longer anxiety.
The DVD edition, prepared by the distributor, includes an atmospheric graphic design as standard. After firing the tile, we enter a relatively simple menu (with cinematic graphics) in the English language version, the operation of which should not pose any difficulties for a younger viewer.
The distributor has prepared several language versions for us. Viewers who are used to Polish subtitles can enjoy the original voices of the actors, and well-prepared dubbing is the perfect solution for our kids who cannot read yet or do it at an insufficient pace.
Galapagos also took care of placing additional materials on the board, i.e. unused scenes. The first of them deepens Bruno’s character a bit, showing him as a young loner. In another of the creators, they focus on grandma’s health, letting us understand that perhaps she has little life left. The most interesting, however, is the graphically underdeveloped sequence of Reginald’s reunion with his mother, this time ending with a full happy ending. Unfortunately, most of the additional material would not contribute much to the film, so it is hardly surprising that they were ultimately cut out.
After the Witches screening, I have very mixed feelings, because Zemeckis’s film is quite a successful remake compared to the 1990 version, but it is an example of a solid entertainment cinema at best, which lacks atmosphere, better script and greater creativity of the creators. Fortunately, the production is defended by great Spencer and Hathaway acting and a good DVD release, thanks to which the picture can prove to be a time crusher on holiday evenings.