The Worst Witch

The kids love this movie so much that I finally had to sit down and give it a beginning-to-end look. It's no wonder they love it but the odd adult who sees it will like it, too; a lot if you're disposed toward good children's entertainment, maybe a little less if you're approaching curmudgeonhood. But you'd have to be a real sourpuss to actively dislike it.

Charlotte Rae and Diana Rigg are fun to watch and I imagine they enjoyed these none-too-subtle roles. Rigg is especially wonderful, playing the unlovable mistress of a witch's academy for all it is worth. The young ladies boast several fine actresses as well. Fairuza Balk was an excellent performer at an early age, as anyone who saw 'Gas, Food, Lodging' will know, but my favorite here is Anna Kipling, who plays Ms. Balk's nemesis.

Some parents have religious concerns about showing children anything connected with the supernatural. I would encourage them to try to remember when they were children and think how they would have reacted to a film like this. It's probably the same way your kids will. Have some faith in them and give them a little credit for intelligence. If a parent watches this movie with a child and talks to him or her about their concerns, I don't think there will be any problems.

Halloween is my favorite time of year specifically for the reason that HBO annually aired THE WORST WITCH! I have been watching this ever since 1986 & it just gets better each time! Fairuza Balk delivers a fun performance, as does Diana Rigg as the hard-edged Mrs. Hardbroom. But the cake has to go to Charlotte Rae (in a dual role) and the undeniable Tim Curry in a cameo. Charlotte role really shines as the Evil Queen Aggie, who along with her sidekick Delilah want to take back her school that her sister (Rae again) now runs. Not for the tuition money or the prestige, but just so she can bring back her song. BEAT ON IT DELILAH! "Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf. Dropped into the bottomless gulf. Venomous vipers come to us, covered in evil, ooze & puss! So if you're filthy!(FILTHY) Smelly! (SMELLY) Evil, wicked & cruel...you'll feel right at home in my little school. My lil school..Mine Mine MAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMINE! Yeah!" Tim Curry later flies in (literally) as the Grand Dragon & delivers his own effects laden production number of "Anything can happen on Halloween." I don't know which were more unbelievable, the effects or Tim Curry as a sex symbol. Oh well to each his own. Ethel Hallow is ultimate foil & delivers a performance reminiscent of Nellie Olsen from Lil House on the Praire. Be sure to check it out.

This adaptation of the much-loved book, is surprisingly good entertainment, that is a little short. The book was one of my favourites when I was little, and I loved the fact they added a couple of touches.

The only other criticism I have is the rather annoying title song. It was beautifully sung by a young Bonnie Langford but the tune got on my sister's nerves, when she herself watched it.

The acting is very good, if a little pantomime. Likewise with the songs, written by the acclaimed Don Black. Fairuza Balk is really cute as Mildred, bringing back memories from return to Oz. Diana Rigg is a suitably frosty Miss Hardbroom, and she is what I would imagine the character. Charlotte Rae and Anna Kipling are also amusing in their turns as Miss Cackle/Agatha and Ethel Hallow. My favourite was Tim Curry as the Grand wizard, he was just amazing, and the Halloween song was actually the main reason why this movie should be watched, because they matched the lyrics exactly.

I have it on VHS. It is a little grainy, but it's because it's second hand. Watch it, and let your children watch it! They'll thank you! 8/10 Bethany Cox

This is one of my favorite Halloween movies. It has terrible special effects, silly moments that only a 4-year-old would find funny, and hokey acting at times...but yet it's become one of my favorite Halloween movies over the years. It just oozes Halloween and never fails to put me in the mood for all things spoopy. It's fun to watch and its bad elements are what make it charming. It also gives me a strange nostalgia for my childhood, even though I didn't grow up in the 80s nor did I grow up watching this movie and that's pretty rare for a movie to give me that feeling.

If you can overlook bad green screen, over-acting, and some moments that make you cringe a little, you will find a kind of magic that makes you long to be a kid again. It's a Halloween treat.

(And yes, Harry Potter was obviously inspired by The Worst Witch books and possibly even this movie because there are way too many similarities for it to just be coincidental and Harry Potter did the magical school concept a lot better, but you have to respect this movie as the highly probable origin for one of the best series of our time).

But there are differences. In the Worst Witch, Mildred is more worried about finding herself, and doesn't have the time or interest in to go on adventures and fight dark witches (well...not the powerful ones anyway). I love this movie. I used to be an outcaste so naturally I could relate to Mildred's situations. Fairuza Balk was so cute back then. Why did she have to grow up? :( It's basicly just a movie about a girl trying to find herself. My favorite part is during Mildred's Potion's test. (Cute scene) This movie also features a solo number by Tim Curry. It's his biggest hit since "Sweet Transvestite" from Rocky Horror. So it may not be a great movie, but I like it and that's all that matters.