Return to Halloweentown

[MJL356]

Did anyone buy the Twitches DVD? And if so, was there a Return to Halloweentown trailer on it?

[numba1lostboy]

On IMDB, it says that Kimberly J. Brown will be in a horror movie soon. Sounds silly. I wish she would've stayed around for HT4.
Judging from her other films, Sara Paxton looks to be a fine actress (at least good enough for a DCOM), even so, no one will ever replace Kimberly as Marnie in my mind. I'm going to have to watch the movie as a separate entity from the first three.


Also, did anyone catch that they changed Marnie's last name? She was Marnie Cromwell in HT and HT2...and she was Marnie Piper in HT3. Piper is the last name they are using for HT4 as well. I just saw that on IMDB and was like "hey..."

[slave2moonlight]

Kind of sad that they are switching actresses, because that's kind of a pet peeve of mine. I love sequels if they just keep the same cast. I'm not a big Paxton fan either, though I admit that I kind of enjoyed "Aquamarine" as a goofy, guilty pleasure. There were moments that were terrible though, especially the first quarter...

Anyways, I have only seen bits and pieces of the previous Halloweentown movies, but they looked good. I'm a big fan of celebrating Halloween, and miss the old days of Halloween TV specials. I always break out my Charlie Brown DVD and Garfield now that they finally released it, and finally got "The Worst Witch" too. Remember that one? They used to show it on the Disney Channel, starring Fairuza Balk and Tim Curry. It's like a LOW budget Harry Potter kinda thing. Anyways, I appreciate the Disney Channel for making a Halloween themed movie every year, even if I often only see bits and pieces of them. I do want to get those Halloweentown trilogy DVDs someday, and I wish they'd get to releasing some of their earlier Disney Channel movies too (when is the Zenon trilogy coming out?). The only other channel I can think of that celebrates Halloween somewhat seriously every year is Cartoon Network (well, Food Network does too), but they need to show some classics again. Both channels need too. Anyone remember "The Halloween That Almost Wasn't," released on VHS as "The Night Dracula Saved the World." I've been dying to find that on YouTube, but I never have (if anyone has it, please put it on there...).

Of course, my number one, MUST WATCH Halloween movie is Disney's "Hocus Pocus." I have seen that movie a million times and never get tired of it! It's great! That's one I always make sure to watch at least once on the big day itself. I usually use it to ring in the dawn after eating myself sick on candy and goodies all night, ha. It's pretty cool when dawn comes up in the movie just at the same time as it does outside...

[numba1lostboy]

On IMDB, it says that Kimberly J. Brown will be in a horror movie soon. Sounds silly. I wish she would've stayed around for HT4.
Judging from her other films, Sara Paxton looks to be a fine actress (at least good enough for a DCOM), even so, no one will ever replace Kimberly as Marnie in my mind. I'm going to have to watch the movie as a separate entity from the first three.


Also, did anyone catch that they changed Marnie's last name? She was Marnie Cromwell in HT and HT2...and she was Marnie Piper in HT3. Piper is the last name they are using for HT4 as well. I just saw that on IMDB and was like "hey..."

[numba1lostboy]

Anyways, I appreciate the Disney Channel for making a Halloween themed movie every year, even if I often only see bits and pieces of them. I do want to get those Halloweentown trilogy DVDs someday, and I wish they'd get to releasing some of their earlier Disney Channel movies too (when is the Zenon trilogy coming out?). The only other channel I can think of that celebrates Halloween somewhat seriously every year is Cartoon Network (well, Food Network does too), but they need to show some classics again. Both channels need too. Anyone remember "The Halloween That Almost Wasn't," released on VHS as "The Night Dracula Saved the World." I've been dying to find that on YouTube, but I never have (if anyone has it, please put it on there...).

Of course, my number one, MUST WATCH Halloween movie is Disney's "Hocus Pocus." I have seen that movie a million times and never get tired of it! It's great! That's one I always make sure to watch at least once on the big day itself. I usually use it to ring in the dawn after eating myself sick on candy and goodies all night, ha. It's pretty cool when dawn comes up in the movie just at the same time as it does outside...

ABC Family observes Halloween as well. They had an original movie a year or two ago starring Kaley Cucuo.

And Hocus Pocus is the shiz-nit. Period.

[slave2moonlight]

Oh, yeah, I caught an interesting one on there last year. At least, I think it was on ABC Fam. Maybe it was the Cuoco one. It had to do with Sleepy Hollow. I also LOVE to watch any version of Sleepy Hollow I can get. Love the Disney animated one, the Tim Burton one, and the Hallmark one (the three I currently own, actually, ha). I also have a VHS of a computer animated one which is kinda weird, but the bad computer animation actually makes it kinda creepy.

[SofaKing381222]

Actually Marnie's name was never Cromwell. The grandmothers name is Cromwell and the mother's maiden name was Cromwell, but when the mother got remarried she changed her name to Piper reflcting the father's last name. Therefore, all of their kids have always been named Piper.

P.S.
I bought T*witches, and no traces of HT IV were there

[numba1lostboy]

Actually Marnie's name was never Cromwell. The grandmothers name is Cromwell and the mother's maiden name was Cromwell, but when the mother got remarried she changed her name to Piper reflcting the father's last name. Therefore, all of their kids have always been named Piper.

P.S.
I bought T*witches, and no traces of HT IV were there

Hmm...then it's wierd that IMDB lists her last name as Cromwell...

I like Cromwell better. It sounds more Halloweeny.

[MJL356]

Actually Marnie's name was never Cromwell. The grandmothers name is Cromwell and the mother's maiden name was Cromwell, but when the mother got remarried she changed her name to Piper reflcting the father's last name. Therefore, all of their kids have always been named Piper.

P.S.
I bought T*witches, and no traces of HT IV were there

Hmm...then it's wierd that IMDB lists her last name as Cromwell...

I like Cromwell better. It sounds more Halloweeny.

I agree. I always liked the idea of her taking her grandmother's name as a sign of her dedication to the witches life.

Anyway, I found a set picture from Return to Halloweentown. You can see it <a href="http://lucas-grabeel.com/pictures/displ ... m=35&pos=1" target="_blank">here</a>. Also, It's rumored that Return to Halloweentown will premier October 13, 2006 on the Disney Channel.

[James]

So when is the movie airing? What is the storyline about? Oh, and what's that Halloween movie about Kaley Cucuo called?
P.S.- Hocus Pocus is the absolute best Halloween movie ever! Other Disney Halloween movies/cartoons I regard highly include Mickey's House of Villains (always, always watch it. Best Halloween compilation there is.), The Nightmare Before Christmas (kind of freaky, only ever watched it in two sittings. Couldn't do it in one go. Bought it on video in late 2003), The Haunted Mansion (though I actually first watched it at Easter time in 2004, making it an Easter favourite. Go figure. ), and The Skeleton Dance (1928 Silly Symphony- have it on Walt Disney Treasures set. Reminds me of Halloween stuff). I also like Edward Scissorhands- Tim Burton stuff always reminds me of Halloween. The Sabrina the Teenage Witch TV series also reminds me of Halloween, but that's probably because of the balck cat in it, Salem. Love that Halloween ep though, with the nudie run of Sabrina.
That's all for now. Hopefully I'll be able to see the Halloweentwon trilogy soon. Disney hasn't released it on DVD here yet, and they still have yet to air it on free-to-air TV. Hopefully they do, otherwise I won't be able to see it, unless they air one of the three films on Disney Channel in January when I get to use it for a week. We'll be on holiday then and I get to watch Disney Channel and cable. Sorry, I'm rambling.
-James

[Spottedfeather]

It called The Hollow. It's about the great, great, great grandson of Ichibod Crane. He moves back to Sleepy Hollow and has to save himself, his family, and the girl he likes (Kaley Cuoco) from the Headless Horseman. Here's a link to a cover. The american Amazon doesn't have a picture of the cover.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hollow-Kevin-Ze ... UTF8&s=dvd

[slave2moonlight]

It called The Hollow. It's about the great, great, great grandson of Ichibod Crane. He moves back to Sleepy Hollow and has to save himself, his family, and the girl he likes (Kaley Cuoco) from the Headless Horseman. Here's a link to a cover. The american Amazon doesn't have a picture of the cover.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hollow-Kevin-Ze ... UTF8&s=dvd

Ah! That IS the one I saw last year! It was pretty interesting.

[slave2moonlight]

Hey, The Hollow does have a pic on American Amazon.com now. Here's the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Hollow-Kevin-Zege ... UTF8&s=dvd


Also, remember Mr. Boogedy and Bride of Boogedy? Found a clip of one on YouTube. The first one I guess.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9Mdc4obUfKE

Mickey's House of Villains is a great Halloween video, though I do miss the Disney Halloween Treat and a Disney Channel Halloween (or were they the same thing?). And I loved the movie "Haunted Mansion," even if it was formulaic. It's a fun flick! I really think the upcoming "Jungle Cruise" movie should be done with some humor too, considering that the ride is kind of funny. The skippers spend the whole time making jokes. Actually, I'd like to see them do it with Bruce Campbell as an adventurer who pretends to be a captain during some kind of getaway, ending up taking over a tour boat through the jungle. I have more thoughts on what I'd like to see for that, but it's a bit off topic. I was going to write a script for a Jungle Cruise movie until I read that they were already planning one. If not Bruce, and considering that the skippers are usually young, Sean William Scott would also work (Dukes of Hazzard, American Pie movies).

Anyways, a little less off topic, here are my Halloween movie recommendations, being the huge Halloween lover that I am. These, in no particular order, are my must watch* and try to watch movies for the month of October:

Hocus Pocus*
Sleepy Hollow*
Mad Monster Party*
Ernest Scared Stupid
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark
Transylvania 6-5000
Tower of Terror*
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein*
Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolf Man
The Midnight Hour (an ABC TV Movie for Halloween)*
Ichabod and Mr. Toad (Ichabod half at least)*
Witches (the Jim Henson film with the mice and all)*
the Harry Potter films, especially the first
The Worst Witch (Fairuza Balk, Tim Curry)*
Return to Oz*
Monster Squad (when will this ever get a DVD release?)
A Disney Halloween Treat
Disney Channel Halloween
The Scary Godmother Specials
Night of the Headless Horseman
Mickey's House of Villains*
Garfield Halloween*
It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown*
Anything of Casper
Simpsons and other TV show Halloween episodes
Addams Family movies (wish I could find that weird old Halloween reunion special of the old show)
The Halloween That Almost Wasn't (AKA The Night Dracula Saved the World), if I could ever find a copy
Hammer and Universal Horror films
Fright Night 1 and 2, Silver Bullet, and any other horror
Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Pumpkin That Couldn't Smile*
Spaced Invaders (need to get this one)
The Halloweentown movies
Under Wraps
Lots of great animated shorts, like Donald Duck in Trick or Treat, and the Bugs Bunny ones (wish their old Halloween Special would come out on DVD)
And I'm sure I'm forgetting a lot...

I particularly like to see stuff showing good ol' Halloween traditions, like trick or treating, Fall atmosphere (leaves and stuff), and that sort of thing. Especially a great, Halloween style witch. That's why I love Hocus Pocus so much.

[slave2moonlight]

Oh, it looks like they have all of Mr. Boogedy up!
Here's part one, and the rest is easy to find from there:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=H51ih0gsgqo

[James]

I haven't seen Mr. Boogedy or the sequel Bride of Boogedy, but I'd like to, so I'll definitely watch those clips when I get the chance to, Slave2Moonlight. It'll probably be the only way to see any of it, considering Disney probably won't release it to DVD in the near future. The movie The Hollow looks all right, but I don't know if I'll ever get to see it. Nick Carter being in it doesn't help my chances.
Another Halloween movie that I'd like to see is Monster House. It's released here in Australia soon, and it looks pretty good, even if it is clearly not a Pixar movie. I love Halloween movies, even though we don't celebrate it here in Oz. Some of the kids from my school go Trick or Treating, but that's just basically to throw eggs at peoples houses, which is horrible. But that doesn't stop me loving traditional American Halloween, ala Hocus Pocus. I hope that I get to experience the wole vibe of the holiday when/if I ever visit the US of A.
I just thought of that Halloween episode of That's So Raven, where Chelsea and Raven turn into cows (literal ones, not the other kind). The ep's called Don't Have A Cow, and it was one of the funniest eps I've seen of Raven. I also enjoyed the Halloween episode of Lizzie McGuire. It's called Night of the Day of the Dead and it's really good. I also like the Teachers Pet Halloween ep "Tale of the Telltale Taffy", Lilo and Stitch the Series Halloween ep and the Weekenders Halloween edition. Sabrina the animated series always reminds me of Halloween too, so that's always good for a Halloween themed view. Recess- Taking the Fifth Grade is almost a Halloween movie, since it's all about them being too old to trick-or-treat, so that's a nice Halloween family viewing.
-James

[slave2moonlight]

Ha, that's funny about that Recess movie (which I haven't seen). Kids often trick or treat through High School, although people sometimes make comments when they're handing out candy. Still, the comments usually don't start till Late 8th or 9th grade. That may be less common nowadays, because I've even seen adults trick or treating I think. Actually, they should be allowed to enjoy Halloween too, but I guess no one would really want adult strangers walking up to their door one after the other... Anyways, that's a shame you guys don't celebrate Halloween. Even when there's nothing to do but wear a costume and pass it candy, it's still lots of funny. Sometimes, that's all I do, and I still enjoy it. I make a cake and other goodies for them fam, dress up, watch Halloween videos and stuff, and hand out candy. Some places have a lot of festivities, but not so much where I live. There's either trick or treating, or going in costume to a night club, some of which have Halloween parties (that really just means there is a costume contest or something). Always wanted to spend Halloween in Salem, Mass. some year, where they really make a big deal about it!

Anyways, good news! YouTube not only has Mr. Boogedy, but Bride of Boogedy too! I watched them both yesterday. Really wish someone would post "The Halloween That Almost Wasn't" though.

Yeah, I love Sabrina the animated Series. I have 3 or so DVDs of it, but they're random episodes. I wish they'd release season sets. Not only that, but I wish they'd release the live-action series. It was always a bit TOO corny for me, but I dig Melissa Joan Hart.

I've seen bits of the Lilo and Stitch and Lizzie Halloweens. They look good. I wonder if the Lizzie Halloween is on my DVD set! I haven't even watched any of it yet, but I've had it for quite a while. Too much to do though. I haven't watched any of my Buffy Season 1 yet either.

[James]

That's great about the Boogedy vids on YouTube. Hopefully I can watch them soon. I wish that they'd release season sets of Sabrina the animated series and Sabrina the Teenage Witch too. Sabrina the animated series actually has a 2-disc set coming out next month I believe, but it's only a best-of set. It's got like 9 episodes or 13 or something, and it looks like a good set actually. But season sets would be better. Sabrina the Teenage Witch would've probably been released already if it weren't being held up with music and legal rights. Shareholders also have something to do with it I've heard. If you mean the Lizzie McGuire- Volume 1 set, then yes, the episode is on there. If it's just a single-disc DVD, then I'm not sure. I haven't seen Buffy either, though my friend raves about it. When we're on the bus to/from school, she quotes Buffy and I quote The L Word. We're weird.
Yeah, it's sad about us not celebrating Halloween. Australians are just too lazy to get into it as much as you Americans. You guys do it right, with the decorations and everything. You guys get into it. We don't. No even really cares here in Australia. It's sad.
-James

[slave2moonlight]

Yeah, I saw that upcomin 2-disc Sabrina Animated Series DVD on Amazon. So weird that they are just making it a "Best of" DVD though. I believe I have a total of three. I have the first DVD, which combines the first two VHS releases. I think it's called "Sabrina's World." Then, I got the one that is like a TV movie about Sabrina going to a witch school. I think it's supposed to be a transition to the new show (which probably a lot of people don't know about) where Sabrina is in High School I guess. It's called, "Sabrina's Secret Life." Same designs as the first animated series only they made Sabrina taller, a little more shapely. I think there are new characters as far as her peers, too. I can't say much about it because I've only seen it once or twice. Anyway, the third DVD I have of Sabrina the Animated Series I got free from a cereal box. It has a couple of episodes. Yeah, for a while here in the U.S. they were giving DVDs of various cartoons on cereal boxes. I don't think they're going to do it ever again though, because people were stealing them from the box or something (since it was attached to the front of the box). Anyways, I hope this Best Of DVD isn't just episodes they've released before. There are even a couple other DVDs of the show out there that I haven't seen in stores but have seen on Amazon. I think there's a Christmas themed DVD and a Halloween themed one (that may be all, but there might be one more). I'd like to get those, unless this 2 disc set has those episodes.

Yeah, I thought that Lizzie Volume 1 set had that episode. Yes, it's the boxed set I'm talking about. I have the first two single disc releases as well, but still need the 3rd and 4th. I didn't buy them, thinking they'd release the rest of the show in sets, but they never did...

Yes, Buffy is a great show and so is the spring off, Angel. The only current show that I am near obsessed with is Smallville, ha. I don't quote it or anything because it's not really quotable dialogue, I mean, not a lot of one-liners like Buffy, but it's great stuff. They've taken a few liberties with the Superman character these last couple of seasons I didn't care for, but besides that, great show. There are a few other shows I like, but that's the one I never miss.

As for Halloween, ha, not every place does it up right over here. The Halloween in Hocus Pocus is like an ideal, traditional Halloween, and maybe lots of places celebrate it like that still, but where I live it's much more downplayed now. Of course, where I live it's so far south you don't have Fall leaves and all that atmosphere, and maybe that's part of the problem. Actually, I live on the Texas/Mexico border, so this area is more influenced by Mexican culture than anything else, because it's mostly a hispanic community. So, we get trick or treaters, but the streets aren't overrun with them, and, like I said, some clubs will have Halloween contests (I've never been big on club-going though). There are Halloween activities around town, like indoor carnivals, but those are mainly aimed at LITTLE kids (they were better and more inclusive when I was little). I believe in some places you get REAL town Halloween parties that everyone can enjoy, with booths and dancing and all that stuff. That real "Hocus Pocus" style Halloween. I definitely want to experience that someday. I remember that they made a much bigger deal around here about Halloween when I was little, but then they started all that "watch out for razor blades in your candy" stuff, and that freaked everyone out and really started to kill Halloween. People just didn't want their kids going door to door anymore, though schools still stupidly make them when selling stuff for fundraisers. Anyways, like I said, don't know how it is in other places, but I hear that trick or treating isn't going strong in most areas, but they do have lots of other activities (like town Halloween carnivals and "Halloween Balls" instead), which is cool. Of course, "Hocus Pocus" is set in Salem, which is like Halloween capitol of the world, so I imagine it's AT LEAST as good as in that movie over there! They are trying to pick it up a little where I live now though. They have haunted houses that are fun but the wait in line is outrageous. They also have started a haunted bus tour to all the local haunted locations. They need to work on it though. The worst part is trying to understand the announcers, because almost everyone here has a thick Latin accent if they can speak English at all (which is one of the reasons I'm still single, ha, thick accents annoy me when English is the second language).

[numba1lostboy]

So I'm watching the Cheetah Girls 2 marathon and on comes a new, extended trailer for Return To Halloweentown!!!!!!
It looks a lot better than Halloweentown High and Kalabar's Revenge. The trailer goes into more detail on what the movie is going to be about. There's all the usuals: magic, marnie disagreeing with her mother, and, of course, a prophecy that only Marnie can fulfill. There is no mention of Sophie or Aggie in the trailer. And it looks like Lucas Grabeels' character will be the love interest for this film (what happened to Luke and the new kid from HH??).

But Benny, the animatronic undead cab driver has returned!!!!

PS for anyone who has seen sara paxton in other movies, she looks like she went on a crash diet to do this movie. she's tiny...as opposed to Kimberly J Brown's healthy curves.

[MJL356]

Yep, a new trailer has arrived. You can view it directly from the Disney Channel here: <a href="http://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/v ... ex.html</a>. Not sure what to think about it. The movie looks like it has potential, but it looks SO different from the first three movies. I really hope Aggie is at least in it. I hope IMDB.com didn't make a mistake or something (probably not). However, post your comments. I'm stumped... not sure what to think. The plot seems a little farfetched. And yes, I know its a DCOM but the effects look pretty bad. The movie looks like Twitches, but with a Halloweentown setting. Tell your opinions now!

Mike

P. S. The movie premiers October 20 at 8/7c.