Saturday night: I'm bored, feeling well rested from my nap, and a bit restless at the same time. So, being a content vulture, and the geeky, social-life-less, and -- to quote Mayor Quimby -- "dateless wonder" that I am, I went out and... Tada! Rented a DVD.

For some odd reason, I decided on Practical Magic (duh, look at the title). I remembered being rather impressed by it when I saw it ages ago at the Thee of Lou (more commonly known as "Mann Colony Square 12" by those fortunate enough to dwell outside this household). Besides, the special features list looked cool, and I was feeling in the mood for a good ole wacky movie.

Seeing it again, I have to wonder what the hell kind of drugs I must have been on back then to think it was so great. (I intentionally haven't looked back at the old movielog entry yet, cause I want to write my un-influenced impressions about this viewing first, and then compare with what I wrote previously.)

Before I continue, let me say that this movie does adhere to Bitscape's Hypothetical Axiom: No movie, no matter how stupid it may otherwise be, CANNOT suck completely if Sandra Bullock is in the cast. Ok, I admit. I just sort of made that up right now on the fly. But it's TRUE: Not even Dennis Leary, despite his valiant and talented attempts, was able to completely ruin Two if By Sea. Why? Because Sandra Bullock was in it. Duh! But I digress.

Practical Magic: Oh God, so much soggy, cliché"d material it almost makes ya sink. I mean, really now. Does every scene really need to be punctuated with some cheesy, minor league pop song, hitting the audience over the head with the subtlety of a rubber paddle? Or how bout those supposably dramatic moments which just make ya want to cry, not out of sympathy for the characters, but because the whole thing is just so stooopid! And they're all just trying oh so hard, and failing miserably at it. lol.

Fortunately, most of the time, the movie doesn't take itself so seriously. There's a lot of over-the-top humor which had me giggling gleefully. Some of the witch humor was pretty damn funny, especially towards the end. Trying to recall specific lines which had me cackling... Maybe I'll review a bit and quote them...

[A moment or two passes, as Bitscape exercises the remote.]

Ok, here was one of the best moments of dialog:

When Sally was leaving to rescue her sister, leaving her daughters in the care of the two aunts. Of course, she didn't want the aunts to be teaching the daughters witchcraft. They were arguing about whether the kids should attend the solstice celebration.

Aunt 1: Just go to Gilly, and the children'll be fine. We'll take them to the solstice celebration with us!

No, no, no. Why can't you two just stay here?

Aunt 2: No dear, We can't back out at the last minute. We're on the committee.

Aunt 1: Yes!

Aunt 2: We're presenting.

Aunt 1: Yes! [Obviously making up these excuses as they go.]

Sally: Fine, but I do NOT want them dancing naked under the full moon.

Aunt 1: No, of course not dear... The nudity is entirely optional, as you well remember!

lol. Ok, so it was a funny movie, and good in that regard. But the times it attempted to be serious and "touching"... Spare me.

Ah well. Sandra Bullock was good (of course), and there were some laughs. I'm looking forward to taking a look at some of the special features too. The commentary track with SB should be fun. :)

I might also theorize that one reason I may have enjoyed this movie so much on the first viewing was because I saw it while on a break from ucollege.edu, and was in desperate need to purge my bloodstream of the Dogmatic Train of Christian Brainwashing, which this movie would have done nicely, despite the heavy dose of cheesiness. Beyond that, I'm also in a rather sarcastic mood this evening, so I'm sure that's affecting my present perceptual filters.

Ok, I think I've rambled enough on this. I'm going back to the special features. :)