Lawbolisted Powerful

CommentsXp Best movie ever!

Spoonatects Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

Tobias Burrows It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Mahmoud S Bedknobs and Broomsticks remains one of my favourite childhood films and re watching it has only cemented this. This film never fails to disappoint. Set in WWII era England, the movie centres around Englantine Price, an apprentice witch attempting to use her powers to end the war. Her plans are compromised when a) three children from London are forcibly relocated under her care and b) the London based college of witchcraft she corresponds with closes down before sending her the crucial spell she needs to end the war. The movie then follows her as she and the kids head to London to try to find her teacher Professor Emilius Brown and obtain that spell. The movie bears a resemblance to it's 'predecessor' Mary Poppins (the use of life meets animation, Sherman Brothers soundtrack, David Tomlinson, the English setting), yet manages to remain unique, fresh and interesting. Angela Lansbury (a favourite of mine, growing up on 'Murder, She Wrote') plays Englantine flawlessly, as does David Tomlinson, and the on-screen chemistry between the duo adds to the magic of this film. Of the three children, Carrie (Cindy O'Callahan) is the most convincing character; the two boys aren't as convincing but are nonetheless passable. The songs are of course brilliant (each and every one!) and very memorable. My personal favourite would have to be 'The Age of Not Believing'. Overall, definitely recommended to the (probably few) who have not yet seen this film.

OttoVonB England, the Second World War. 3 orphans from London are sent to the countryside to live with old girl Ms Price (Lansbury), an arrangement that does not suit her one bit: she is an apprentice witch, you see, and soon all 4 strike up an unlikely friendship as they pursue Ms Price's mysterious mentor Emilius Brown (Tomlinson) for a last spell that could turn the tide of the war.You just can't make films like this anymore, not without planting your tongue so firmly in your cheek you'd get cramps. By the late 60s Disney had refined the formula of epic family film to the point of perfection, and "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" emerges as the pinnacle of that particular style of filmmaking, while having another foot firmly planted in the later, more progressive part of the century.Angela Lansbury is stellar in the lead role, vulnerable yet charismatic, she grounds this whimsical film in reality. Tomlinson too is superb, as a suave hack with a heart of gold, and his chemistry with Lansbury, along with some crafty writing, makes for some surprising reversal of gender expectations. The film skips from one crafty set-piece to another, and while the tension between adult characters and the mature context to the plot will keep adults enthralled, the mad animated segment Island of Nabumboo will have the younger crowd hooked. "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" is often compared to the earlier Disney hit "Mary Poppins", and at first glance the similarities are quite obvious. Live action mixed with animation? Check. Incredibly quotable and memorable musical numbers? Check. British setting? Check. David Tomlinson? Check. By now you might have decided that it's hardly worth investing in the former if you've experienced the latter, more highly esteemed classic that it is. And yet...Decades have been less kind than one might think to "Mary Poppins", hampered as it is with a rushed third act, overly long chimney-sweep set-piece and an unbearable performance from Dick van Dike. "Bedknobs..." emerges as the more sophisticated and narratively polished of the two with more grounded and likable heroes. Is it worth your time? Yes, and then some!

OllieSuave-007 This movie has been compared to Mary Poppins as it features a nanny of some sorts who possesses magical powers and is assigned to babysit some children. However, I think it stands well on its own and it is somewhat more entertaining that Mary Poppins was. The plot is set in World War II England, where apprentice witch Eglantine Price (Angela Lansbury) journey, with orphans Charlie, Carrie and Paul, to meet Emelius Browne (David Tomlinson), headmaster of the Correspondence College of Witchcraft. There, Miss Price tells Mr. Browne of a plan to find the magic words for a spell known as Substitutiary Locomotion, which brings inanimate objects to life.There are tons of songs in this movie, and my favorites include the solemn but meaningful "Age of Not Believing," the mysterious "Portebello Road," the whimsical and fun "Beautiful Briny Sea" and the catchy "Substitutiary Locomotion." Angela Lansbury sang a large number of the songs and her beautiful singing voice made the music that much more enjoyable. I also enjoyed the combination of live action with animated sequences - cleverly done special effects, especially the under the ocean sequence.Unlike Mary Poppins, I thought the overall movie was somewhat more entertaining. While the film is saturated with songs, there are a lot more adventurous scenes such as the flying bed, royal court, the under the sea and climatic soldier battle sequences. The acting was more believable and less childishly annoying compared to Dick Van Dyle's character in Mary Poppins. And, Miss Price (Lansbury) took on a more nurturing role than Julie Andrews did with her Mary Poppins character and seemed to care for the children more. However, I do find the bratty Charlie character very teeth-cringing.Overall, this is a song-saturated movie and has its boring moments, but kept mostly pretty entertaining with the many uses of magic, good vs. evil aspects and imagination.Grade B-

johnstonjames do i believe in magic? well, no. i'm sorry to disappoint anyone, but no, there is no such thing as magic. everything can be explained. it's usually all smoke and mirrors.parents should be strongly cautioned about 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks'. not because i believe in witches or magic, that stuff is just a bunch of hocus pocus. there are no such thing as real witches and anyone over the age of six who believes that should have their noggin examined. if someone tries to tell you there is such a thing as real magic or witches, get away from them fast because they are obviously psychotic and probably very dangerous.as a Christian and a person who is concerned with the salvation of man's immortal soul, it's not the magic that bothers me, it's the movie's strong spirit of militarism that bothers me. this movie glorifies war. and what is war good for? absolutely nothing. this movie indoctrinates young children into the military industrial complex at an early age(i mean it's designed for young children). children should not learn to glorify war, they should be wary of it, if not afraid of it. World War II may or may not have been the right decision, but do we need to keep bringing up past wars? especially where children are concerned. nobody wants World War III here. that would be madness.do i like this movie? of course i do. i grew up with this film and it's always been a Disney favorite of mine. it's beautifully handled by director Robert Stevenson, it's very clever, and has a charming musical score by Disney song writers, the Sherman Brothers. the film has many smart insights into history and sometimes i think this film may be more about children than anything else. but every time i get too sentimental and cozy about this film i wake up and think, oh God! THIS IS ABOUT WAR! nobody in their right brain wants a frick'in WAR!as far as the witchcraft element? i said what i think of that. there ain't no such thing and if you believe it's real YOU ARE STUPID. as a Christian does it scare me? oh sometimes i get superstitious and then i wake up. i used to follow astrology in the newspaper and read my horoscope everyday to see if i could find out anything. do you know what happened? absolutely nothing. half the time the stupid horoscope seemed like it was speaking to someone else. hardly any of the advice changed or helped my life in anyway. it just made me believe in silly things.but there are evil, stupid people out there with very little education who actually believe in magic. and it doesn't help that the witchcraft in 'Bedknobs' is far more real than the silly 'Harry Potter' films. i mean 'Astoroth' was a famous occultist and some of the incantation words (though not many) are actual words. does that scare me? of course not dummies. but it does scare some really stupid people who are evil enough to believe it's real. those people's children probably won't mix well with children who come from a more enlightened, intelligent and practical family that won't believe in such idiocy.so be careful with this movie. it could cause you some trouble if you bring it up in the wrong place. as far as my own feelings go, i find this film cute and charming and terribly funny. others might not be as amused. be careful. you are crossing the line with this film. when you endorse or recommend this film you are advocating war. you are also stating that you prefer to take a practical, scientific approach to this world and debunk superstition.for those of you who might read this and still believe witchcraft is real, YOU ARE STUPID. bottom line. keep repeating to yourself "it's only a movie. it's only a movie. than seek therapy.for the families strong and smart enough to deal with this ticking time bomb of a film, take caution and enjoy. it's funny and fun.if you can handle it go for it. HELLBORNE HENBANE AQUINITE GLOW-WORM FIRE FIREFLY LIGHT!