In the world of Arthurian legends and folklore, the story of the witch on the sword in the stone is a captivating tale that has been told and retold throughout the ages. The narrative revolves around a powerful witch who, in a fit of rage, casts a spell to trap her magic within a mystical sword. According to the legend, the witch was one of the most formidable sorceresses of her time, possessing immense knowledge and unparalleled magical abilities. Fearing her power and the potential destruction it could cause, a group of knights sought to rid the world of her presence. However, the witch, knowing of their plans, used her magic to transform herself into a sword, merging her essence within the cold, hard steel. Unable to completely neutralize her power, the knights decided to leave the sword in a stone, believing that no ordinary mortal would be able to remove it.
"I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t do a part where I would be mean to kids and the joke was about the [character's] size," she told the outlet. "I just felt like I had to say no for that."
While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter for an interview in the outlet s Pride month celebration, O Donnell, 61, confirmed that she turned down an offer to play the witch Mary Sanderson in the 1993 Halloween cult classic, a part that eventually went to Kathy Najimy. Midler, Najimy and Parker reprise their roles as Winifred, Mary and Sarah Sanderson in Hocus Pocus 2, alongside Doug Jones who you may remember as the fish person from The Shape of Water or the fish person from Hellboy , who returns as friendly zombie Billy Butcherson.
Unable to completely neutralize her power, the knights decided to leave the sword in a stone, believing that no ordinary mortal would be able to remove it. It was said that only one who was worthy of wielding the witch's magic could free the sword from its stony prison. Years passed, and tales of the sword in the stone spread far and wide.
‘Hocus Pocus’ has become a cult favorite. How does the sequel stack up?
The only thing millennials have been waiting longer for than affordable housing is a “Hocus Pocus” sequel. The 1993 Halloween-themed Disney movie rankled critics and charmed audiences, resulting in its elevation to cult-movie status in the three decades since its debut. Now its follow-up, “Hocus Pocus 2,” has finally arrived with a straight-to-VHS — er, pardon — exclusive Disney Plus streaming premiere Friday.
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The original film follows a trio of kids who work together to defeat the wickedly funny Sanderson sisters (played by Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker) after accidentally bringing them back from the dead. The witches are on a time-sensitive quest for immortality, an adventure that entails a virgin, the souls of children and a few musical numbers, of course.
The comedy was lambasted by film critics, including The Washington Post’s own Desson Howe, who called it “another future videotape disguised as a movie. In the not-too-distant future look for ‘Hocus Pocus’ in the rental-store bins, or as part of a Halloween ‘Trick or Treat’ package.”
AdvertisementBut critical disgust did nothing to stop the intense love that children developed for the slightly scary movie. Though it didn’t do particularly well in theaters or with home sales, it found a second life on television: When Disney started to air the film on its own channel, and later on ABC Family, “a generation of millennials … suddenly began associating ‘Hocus Pocus’ with Halloween, viewing it with the same reverence ’70s and ’80s kids had for ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’ and the ‘Thriller’ video,” according to Vulture’s Josef Adalian.
As Midler told People magazine in a piece celebrating the movie’s 25th anniversary, “It was like an ugly duckling … a little creature that nobody thought could do anything and now it’s a swan. It’s found its wings and it’s just flown away. I think it’s fantastic.”
Midler, Najimy and Parker reprise their roles as Winifred, Mary and Sarah Sanderson in “Hocus Pocus 2,” alongside Doug Jones (who you may remember as the fish person from “The Shape of Water” or the fish person from “Hellboy”), who returns as friendly zombie Billy Butcherson.
AdvertisementSo how does the new outing stack up to the original, without the benefit of shoddy special effects watched on well-worn tapes?
Here’s how the two do — and do not — compare.
The youths“Hocus Pocus” centers on new kid Max (Omri Katz), his much cooler younger sister Dani (Thora Birch), his crush Allison (Vinessa Shaw) and a cursed boy-turned-cat named Thackery Binx (Sean Murray). While the audience fell in love with them nearly 30 years ago — in part because of Max’s very floppy hair — none of those characters are in the sequel.
Director Anne Fletcher told Entertainment Weekly that she tried to fit in the entire original cast, but their appearances didn’t work with the story. “People would say, ‘They could be in the background!’ and I’m like, really? You’re going to put the leads of the first movie in the background and be satisfied? You’re not going to be satisfied, you’re going to be angry,” she explained.
The new generation of Salem youths are a group of teen girls: Becca (Whitney Peak), Cassie (Lilia Buckingham) and Izzy (Belissa Escobedo). These childhood friends don’t need much convincing that their hometown is haunted, and are also without the constant guidance of a talking cat. And though they have less floppy hair than Max, they also have significantly better witch-foiling plans.
The witchesBad witches are out; good witches are in. Whether it be because of the more universal acceptance that the historic concept of evil women was based in sexism, or because a bunch of Disney’s target audience is on #WitchTok, the “wicked” are given a new image in “Hocus Pocus 2.”
Many attempted to withdraw the sword, desperate to harness the incredible power it held. However, these attempts were in vain, as the witch's spell remained unbroken. The hope of finding the one destined to wield the witch's magic remained alive as the legend persisted. Finally, one day, a young boy named Arthur stumbled upon the sword. With an inexplicable force guiding his hand, Arthur effortlessly withdrew the sword from its resting place. The prophecy had come true – Arthur was the chosen one. As Arthur took hold of the sword, he found himself infused with the witch's powerful magic. From that moment on, he became the legendary King Arthur, destined to unite the realm and bring prosperity to his people. The witch's magic became a force for good under Arthur's guidance, dispelling darkness and ensuring a bright future for the kingdom. The story of the witch on the sword in the stone is a testament to the triumph of virtue and destiny. It showcases the power of magic when harnessed by a worthy individual and teaches valuable lessons about humility, courage, and the pursuit of greatness. Through the generations, this tale has captivated imaginations and served as a reminder that even the most potent magic can be used for the benefit of all..
Reviews for "Embracing the Magical: The Witch and the Sword in the Stone"
1. John - 2/5: I was really disappointed with "Witch on Sword in the Stone". The storyline was confusing and lacked depth. The characters felt underdeveloped and their actions often didn't make much sense. The pacing was also off, with slow moments that dragged on and on. Overall, I found the book to be a letdown and it didn't live up to my expectations.
2. Sarah - 3/5: "Witch on Sword in the Stone" had an interesting premise, but I feel like it fell short in execution. The writing style was a bit dull and repetitive, making it difficult to stay engaged in the story. The main character lacked depth and her motivations were unclear at times. Additionally, some parts of the plot felt rushed and others dragged on unnecessarily. It had potential, but I don't think it delivered the way I had hoped.
3. Mike - 2/5: The world-building in "Witch on Sword in the Stone" was confusing and inconsistent. It felt like the author couldn't decide on a clear set of rules and kept changing them throughout the book. This made it hard for me to fully immerse myself in the story. The pacing was also a major issue, with the plot dragging in certain places and rushing through others. Overall, I found the book to be a frustrating read that left me feeling unsatisfied.
4. Emily - 2/5: I found "Witch on Sword in the Stone" to be quite predictable and lacking originality. The plot followed the typical fantasy tropes without adding anything new or exciting. The characters were also flat and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with them. The writing style was average, nothing remarkable or captivating. Overall, I was hoping for a more gripping and unique story, but unfortunately, this book didn't deliver in that aspect.