A girl named Penny and a dog named Bolt star on a hit television series called Bolt in which the titular character has various superpowers and must constantly thwart the evil plans of the nefarious Doctor Calico. To gain a more realistic performance, the TV show's producers have deceived Bolt his entire life, arranging the filming in such a way that Bolt believes the television show is real and he really has superpowers. After filming completes for the latest episode, Bolt escapes from his on-set trailer mistakenly believing Penny has been kidnapped by the television villain. He attempts to break through a window, knocking himself unconscious as he falls into a box of styrofoam. With no one aware Bolt is in the box, it is shipped from Hollywood to New York City. In New York, he meets Mittens, a female alley cat who bullies pigeons out of their food. Bolt, convinced this is another adventure, forces Mittens to help him get back to Hollywood, and the two start their journey westward. Meanwhile, in Hollywood, Penny is deeply saddened over Bolt's disappearance but is forced by the studio to continue filming with a Bolt lookalike. As their adevnture proceeds, Bolt starts to notice that his superpowers aren't working, and rationalizes this is the effect that styrofoam has on his body.
Surprised at his first feelings of both pain and hunger, Bolt is shown by Mittens how to act like a cute but needy dog, and is rewarded by food. They meet Rhino, a fearless, TV-obsessed hamster and huge Bolt fan who joins their team. Mittens tries to convince Bolt that his superpowers aren't real, but their discussion is cut short by the arrival of Animal Control, who captures them both and transports them to an animal shelter. After being freed en route by Rhino, Bolt finally realizes that he is just a normal dog, but regains his confidence after Rhino (oblivious to this revelation) gives him a pep talk. They rescue Mittens from the shelter and escape, allowing them to continue their journey. Along the way, Bolt learns to enjoy typical dog activities (such as hanging his head out the window), but Mittens refuses to go farther than Las Vegas. She tells Bolt that his Hollywood life is fake and there is no real love for him there. Her emotional rant reveals that she was once a house cat, but was abandoned by her previous owner and left to brave the harsh streets alone and declawed. Bolt refuses to believe that Penny doesn't love him, and continues on alone, wishing Mittens the best. Rhino convinces Mittens that they must help him, and the two set off to find Bolt once again.
Bolt reaches the studio, finding Penny embracing his lookalike. Unaware that Penny still misses him and that her affection for the lookalike was only a part of a rehearsal for the show, he leaves, brokenhearted. Mittens, on a gantry in the studio, sees what Bolt does not - Penny telling her mother how much she misses Bolt. Realizing that Penny truly does love Bolt, Mittens follows Bolt and explains. At the same time, the Bolt-lookalike panics during filming and accidentally knocks over some torches, setting the sound stage on fire and trapping Penny. Bolt arrives and reunites with Penny inside the burning studio, being rescued as they succumb to smoke asphyxiation.
Penny and her mother subsequently quit the show when their agent attempts to exploit the incident for publicity purposes. Penny herself adopts Mittens and Rhino, and moves to a rural home to enjoy a simpler, happy lifestyle with Bolt and her new pets. The show continues, but with a replacement "Bolt" and "Penny", and adopting an alien abduction storyline suggested by a character they met on the way.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
1,300 years after the Pevensie siblings leave Narnia, a Telmarine prince, Caspian, is awakened by his mentor Doctor Cornelius, informing him that his aunt has just given birth to a son and that his life is now in grave danger. Cornelius gives him Queen Susan's ancient magical horn, instructing him to blow it if he needs help. Knowing that his uncle Miraz would kill him to steal the kingship, Caspian flees. Pursued into the woods, Caspian falls off his horse and is rescued by two Narnian dwarfs, Trumpkin and Nikabrik, and a talking badger named Trufflehunter. While Trumpkin acts as a decoy, Nikabrik saves Caspian from capture. Confused, Caspian blows the magical horn to summon help.
In England, one year has passed since the Pevensie children returned from Narnia. As their train to boarding school pulls in, the station collapses and the Pevensies are transported to Narnia. They discover the ruins of their castle, Cair Paravel, and realize it was attacked in their absence.
In the Telmarine castle, the lords of the council find out that Prince Caspian is gone. Lord Sopespian blames Miraz, but Miraz blames the Narnians and tell the lords to fight them to get Caspian back, though Miraz actually wants to kill Caspian.
The Pevensies save Trumpkin from being drowned by two Telmarines; he quickly realizes that the four children are the Kings and Queens of Old and they all continue on together. On the way, Lucy glimpses Aslan and tries to convince the others that she's seen him, but only Edmund believes her.
Meanwhile, Nikabrik and Trufflehunter lead Caspian to the Dancing Lawn, where the old Narnians have assembled. Caspian convinces them to help him win his throne so that he can give them back their land. Caspian and the Narnians steal a number of weapons from the Telmarines. They also encounter the Pevensies and Trumpkin; they all journey together to Aslan's How, a huge barrow built over the Stone Table. Peter decides that they will attack Miraz's castle. Lucy suggests waiting for Aslan to return, but Peter thinks they have waited long enough.
The Narnians succeed in raiding Miraz’s castle, but Peter calls for a retreat when he realizes that they are being overwhelmed by Telmarine soldiers. Peter, Susan, Edmund, Caspian, and half of the Narnians manage to escape, but the rest are trapped and slaughtered. When they return to Aslan's How, Peter and Caspian have an argument about the attack on the castle, which almost culminates in a swordfight. Back at the castle, Miraz is crowned King of Narnia.
Nikabrik, with the aid of a hag and a werewolf, tells Caspian that they can help him claim his throne and guarantee Miraz's death. However Nikabrik tricks Caspian and the hag then uses black sorcery to summon the White Witch. From inside a wall of ice, the Witch tries to convince Caspian to free her by giving her a drop of blood. Peter, Edmund, Lucy and Trumpkin arrive and kill Nikabrik, the werewolf, and the hag, and Edmund shatters the wall of ice before the Witch can be freed.
As Miraz and his army arrive at Aslan's How, Caspian suggests that Peter and Miraz duel one-on-one under the condition of surrender, in order to buy Lucy and Susan time to find Aslan. Miraz agrees to the duel. Chased by Telmarine soldiers during their search, Susan sends Lucy off and remains behind to deal with the soldiers; she is rescued by Caspian and the two return to the battle. Peter is able to wound Miraz, but gives his sword to Caspian to finish him off. Caspian spares Miraz's life but says that he intends to give Narnia back to its people.
Lord Sopespian stabs and kills Miraz with one of Susan's arrows and accuses the Narnians of shooting Miraz, leading to a battle between the Telmarine army and the Narnians, with the Telmarines gradually winning. Lucy, meanwhile, finds Aslan in the woods and he awakens the trees that have long been in a deep sleep. The tide of battle quickly turns as the trees join in attacking the Telmarines. Lord Sopespian orders retreat to a bridge, where they are confronted by Lucy and Aslan. Aslan summons the river god, who destroys the bridge and wipes out the majority of the Telmarine army. The battle is won with the surviving Telmarine soldiers surrendering and handing over their weapons.
Before the Pevensies depart Narnia, Peter and Susan declare that Aslan has told them they will never return to Narnia. Aslan explains that Susan and Peter have gained everything they could from their experiences in Narnia and are no longer needed there. Susan and Caspian share a kiss, knowing they will never meet again. The Pevensies then go back to England, leaving Caspian as King of Narnia.
In England, one year has passed since the Pevensie children returned from Narnia. As their train to boarding school pulls in, the station collapses and the Pevensies are transported to Narnia. They discover the ruins of their castle, Cair Paravel, and realize it was attacked in their absence.
In the Telmarine castle, the lords of the council find out that Prince Caspian is gone. Lord Sopespian blames Miraz, but Miraz blames the Narnians and tell the lords to fight them to get Caspian back, though Miraz actually wants to kill Caspian.
The Pevensies save Trumpkin from being drowned by two Telmarines; he quickly realizes that the four children are the Kings and Queens of Old and they all continue on together. On the way, Lucy glimpses Aslan and tries to convince the others that she's seen him, but only Edmund believes her.
Meanwhile, Nikabrik and Trufflehunter lead Caspian to the Dancing Lawn, where the old Narnians have assembled. Caspian convinces them to help him win his throne so that he can give them back their land. Caspian and the Narnians steal a number of weapons from the Telmarines. They also encounter the Pevensies and Trumpkin; they all journey together to Aslan's How, a huge barrow built over the Stone Table. Peter decides that they will attack Miraz's castle. Lucy suggests waiting for Aslan to return, but Peter thinks they have waited long enough.
The Narnians succeed in raiding Miraz’s castle, but Peter calls for a retreat when he realizes that they are being overwhelmed by Telmarine soldiers. Peter, Susan, Edmund, Caspian, and half of the Narnians manage to escape, but the rest are trapped and slaughtered. When they return to Aslan's How, Peter and Caspian have an argument about the attack on the castle, which almost culminates in a swordfight. Back at the castle, Miraz is crowned King of Narnia.
Nikabrik, with the aid of a hag and a werewolf, tells Caspian that they can help him claim his throne and guarantee Miraz's death. However Nikabrik tricks Caspian and the hag then uses black sorcery to summon the White Witch. From inside a wall of ice, the Witch tries to convince Caspian to free her by giving her a drop of blood. Peter, Edmund, Lucy and Trumpkin arrive and kill Nikabrik, the werewolf, and the hag, and Edmund shatters the wall of ice before the Witch can be freed.
As Miraz and his army arrive at Aslan's How, Caspian suggests that Peter and Miraz duel one-on-one under the condition of surrender, in order to buy Lucy and Susan time to find Aslan. Miraz agrees to the duel. Chased by Telmarine soldiers during their search, Susan sends Lucy off and remains behind to deal with the soldiers; she is rescued by Caspian and the two return to the battle. Peter is able to wound Miraz, but gives his sword to Caspian to finish him off. Caspian spares Miraz's life but says that he intends to give Narnia back to its people.
Lord Sopespian stabs and kills Miraz with one of Susan's arrows and accuses the Narnians of shooting Miraz, leading to a battle between the Telmarine army and the Narnians, with the Telmarines gradually winning. Lucy, meanwhile, finds Aslan in the woods and he awakens the trees that have long been in a deep sleep. The tide of battle quickly turns as the trees join in attacking the Telmarines. Lord Sopespian orders retreat to a bridge, where they are confronted by Lucy and Aslan. Aslan summons the river god, who destroys the bridge and wipes out the majority of the Telmarine army. The battle is won with the surviving Telmarine soldiers surrendering and handing over their weapons.
Before the Pevensies depart Narnia, Peter and Susan declare that Aslan has told them they will never return to Narnia. Aslan explains that Susan and Peter have gained everything they could from their experiences in Narnia and are no longer needed there. Susan and Caspian share a kiss, knowing they will never meet again. The Pevensies then go back to England, leaving Caspian as King of Narnia.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The film begins with the 1940 bombing of Finchley, London, during the Blitz. The Pevensie children, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, are in direct danger from the falling bombs - a scene which did not appear in the original C.S. Lewis book and which at the very start introduces the underlying tension and jealousy between Edmund and his siblings which would have a major role in the later plot.
Subsequently, the children are - as in the book - evacuated to the country home of Professor Kirke. One day while they are playing hide and seek, Lucy discovers a wardrobe and enters a wintery fantasy world called Narnia. She spends a few hours in the home of the faun, Mr. Tumnus, who explains that the White Witch cursed Narnia, and it has been winter for one hundred years. In accordance with her orders, if a human is ever encountered, a Narnian must bring them to her. However, Tumnus likes Lucy and can't bring himself to kidnap her so he sends her home. When she returns, hardly any time has passed in the normal world, and when the other children check the Wardrobe, all they see is a normal wooden back - the portal is gone.
Later, Edmund follows Lucy into Narnia, and he meets the White Witch and her faithful dwarf, Ginarrbrik. She offers him Turkish delight, as well as the prospect of becoming king if Edmund will bring his brother and sisters to her castle. After she departs, Edmund and Lucy meet again and they return to tell the others. Edmund does not confirm Narnia's existence to Peter and Susan, saying he was merely playing along with Lucy. This distresses Lucy, who bumps into Professor Kirke. The Professor has a private talk with Peter and Susan; he does not understand why they do not believe Lucy's story and presents to them the use of logic (which Susan is very fond of) in the situation: when they are given three choices for an explanation of Lucy's behavior — madness, dishonesty, and sincerity — the others know she is neither mad nor dishonest, so she is "logically" telling the truth.
On another day, while hiding from the housekeeper in the wardrobe after breaking a window, the four siblings step into Narnia. Peter and Susan apologize for their earlier disbelief and Peter threatens Edmund unless he apologizes to Lucy. They discover Mr. Tumnus has been taken by the Witch's Secret Police and they meet talking beavers who tell them about Aslan. According to the beavers, Aslan is on the move to take the control of Narnia from the White Witch. The four must help Aslan and his followers; it had been prophesied that when two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve sat in the four thrones, the Witch's reign would come to an end.
Edmund sneaks off and visits the Witch alone. When he arrives at her castle, she is angry that he did not deliver his brother and sisters. Then the White Witch sends a pack of wolves to hunt down the other children and the beavers, who barely escape with the aid of a fox. Meanwhile, Edmund is chained in the Witch's dungeon where he meets Mr. Tumnus in an adjacent cell. The Witch comes down and demands that Edmund tell her where his family is because her police couldn't find them; Edmund tells her some information, but hesitates when Tumnus looks at him, warningly (he also tries to tell the witch that Edmund doesn't know anything, but is injured by Ginnabrik). The witch sees that Tumnus is hindering the information, so she has him "released" and brought over to her. After she tells Mr. Tumnus that it was Edmund's fault that she knew about his involvement, Mr. Tumnus is dragged upstairs and turned into stone, as Edmund sees with a horror when he is brought up.
While Peter, Lucy, Susan, and the beavers are traveling to the Stone Table, they see what they believe to be the White Witch in her sleigh chasing after them, so they run and hide — fortunately, it is really Father Christmas. Warning them that they are tools, not toys, he gives Lucy a bottle of juice of fire-flowers and a dagger; Susan a bow and arrow and a magical horn; and Peter a sword and shield. Father Christmas informs them that winter will soon be over. Unfortunately, this means the rivers are thawing, and the arrival of Maugrim and several other wolves makes the passage even more perilous. But with their weapons, the group manages to safely cross the river, leaving the Witch no real way to reach them by sleigh.
Arriving at Aslan's army encampment, they encounter Aslan, who is revealed as a huge and noble lion. Aslan promises to help Edmund in any way he can. They are also reluctant to participate in a war after fleeing from London. However, they have to save Edmund and Mr. Tumnus. Peter joins Aslan's army. A little later, two wolves ambush Lucy and Susan while they are frolicking by the river. When Peter intervenes, Maugrim attacks him, and Peter kills him with his sword. Some of Aslan's troops follow the other wolf back to the witch's camp and rescue Edmund.
Aslan has a "private talk" with Edmund. When he is done, Aslan tells the other children to speak of Edmund's actions no more, and the siblings reconcile. The White Witch then arrives and claims that Edmund is her property, based on the "deep magic" of Narnia; it says that traitors belong to her as lawful prey and that she must kill them at the Stone Table. Aslan privately "negotiates" with the White Witch, who agrees to leave Edmund alone. In return, Aslan "sacrifices" himself and surrenders to the witch. Later that night Susan and Lucy notice Aslan leaving the encampment and into the forest alone. After walking with Aslan for a while he tells the sisters to return to camp for they cannot go where Aslan is heading. As they watch in hiding, Aslan approaches the Stone Table where he is humiliated and his mane shaved by the White Witch's followers. Finally he is bound and laid before the White Witch herself who plunges a dagger into Aslan, killing him. However, in the morning he is resurrected because "there is a magic deeper still the Witch does not know." Aslan takes Susan and Lucy to the Witch's mansion where he frees the prisoners of the White Witch, including Mr. Tumnus, forming an army for battle.
Meanwhile, Edmund persuades Peter to join battle with the Witch's host. At first quite successful, Peter's army soon begins to lose the fight, and Edmund is badly injured, though he has managed to destroy the White Witch's stone-turning staff, her most effective weapon. As she battles with Peter, Aslan soon arrives with reinforcements. She takes advantage of this distraction and disarms him. She is about to stab him when Aslan jumps on her, knocking her to the other side of the cliff and killing her. He then returns to Peter and tells him that "it is finished". Susan uses her bow and arrow to kill Ginarrbrik who attempts to finish Edmund off before there is a chance to save him. Lucy revives Edmund and many others with the fire-flower juice given to her by Father Christmas, while Aslan frees more victims of the White Witch's stone-turning spell.
The Pevensies become Kings and Queens and stay in Narnia until they are older. When chasing a white stag to receive wishes, they find the lamppost and the wardrobe and go back to England, where they magically appear as children again. The Professor then tosses them the ball used to break the window and instructs them to tell him the story. Later, Lucy attempts to go back to Narnia, but the Professor tells her he has been trying for years, and they will probably get back to Narnia when least expected.
Subsequently, the children are - as in the book - evacuated to the country home of Professor Kirke. One day while they are playing hide and seek, Lucy discovers a wardrobe and enters a wintery fantasy world called Narnia. She spends a few hours in the home of the faun, Mr. Tumnus, who explains that the White Witch cursed Narnia, and it has been winter for one hundred years. In accordance with her orders, if a human is ever encountered, a Narnian must bring them to her. However, Tumnus likes Lucy and can't bring himself to kidnap her so he sends her home. When she returns, hardly any time has passed in the normal world, and when the other children check the Wardrobe, all they see is a normal wooden back - the portal is gone.
Later, Edmund follows Lucy into Narnia, and he meets the White Witch and her faithful dwarf, Ginarrbrik. She offers him Turkish delight, as well as the prospect of becoming king if Edmund will bring his brother and sisters to her castle. After she departs, Edmund and Lucy meet again and they return to tell the others. Edmund does not confirm Narnia's existence to Peter and Susan, saying he was merely playing along with Lucy. This distresses Lucy, who bumps into Professor Kirke. The Professor has a private talk with Peter and Susan; he does not understand why they do not believe Lucy's story and presents to them the use of logic (which Susan is very fond of) in the situation: when they are given three choices for an explanation of Lucy's behavior — madness, dishonesty, and sincerity — the others know she is neither mad nor dishonest, so she is "logically" telling the truth.
On another day, while hiding from the housekeeper in the wardrobe after breaking a window, the four siblings step into Narnia. Peter and Susan apologize for their earlier disbelief and Peter threatens Edmund unless he apologizes to Lucy. They discover Mr. Tumnus has been taken by the Witch's Secret Police and they meet talking beavers who tell them about Aslan. According to the beavers, Aslan is on the move to take the control of Narnia from the White Witch. The four must help Aslan and his followers; it had been prophesied that when two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve sat in the four thrones, the Witch's reign would come to an end.
Edmund sneaks off and visits the Witch alone. When he arrives at her castle, she is angry that he did not deliver his brother and sisters. Then the White Witch sends a pack of wolves to hunt down the other children and the beavers, who barely escape with the aid of a fox. Meanwhile, Edmund is chained in the Witch's dungeon where he meets Mr. Tumnus in an adjacent cell. The Witch comes down and demands that Edmund tell her where his family is because her police couldn't find them; Edmund tells her some information, but hesitates when Tumnus looks at him, warningly (he also tries to tell the witch that Edmund doesn't know anything, but is injured by Ginnabrik). The witch sees that Tumnus is hindering the information, so she has him "released" and brought over to her. After she tells Mr. Tumnus that it was Edmund's fault that she knew about his involvement, Mr. Tumnus is dragged upstairs and turned into stone, as Edmund sees with a horror when he is brought up.
While Peter, Lucy, Susan, and the beavers are traveling to the Stone Table, they see what they believe to be the White Witch in her sleigh chasing after them, so they run and hide — fortunately, it is really Father Christmas. Warning them that they are tools, not toys, he gives Lucy a bottle of juice of fire-flowers and a dagger; Susan a bow and arrow and a magical horn; and Peter a sword and shield. Father Christmas informs them that winter will soon be over. Unfortunately, this means the rivers are thawing, and the arrival of Maugrim and several other wolves makes the passage even more perilous. But with their weapons, the group manages to safely cross the river, leaving the Witch no real way to reach them by sleigh.
Arriving at Aslan's army encampment, they encounter Aslan, who is revealed as a huge and noble lion. Aslan promises to help Edmund in any way he can. They are also reluctant to participate in a war after fleeing from London. However, they have to save Edmund and Mr. Tumnus. Peter joins Aslan's army. A little later, two wolves ambush Lucy and Susan while they are frolicking by the river. When Peter intervenes, Maugrim attacks him, and Peter kills him with his sword. Some of Aslan's troops follow the other wolf back to the witch's camp and rescue Edmund.
Aslan has a "private talk" with Edmund. When he is done, Aslan tells the other children to speak of Edmund's actions no more, and the siblings reconcile. The White Witch then arrives and claims that Edmund is her property, based on the "deep magic" of Narnia; it says that traitors belong to her as lawful prey and that she must kill them at the Stone Table. Aslan privately "negotiates" with the White Witch, who agrees to leave Edmund alone. In return, Aslan "sacrifices" himself and surrenders to the witch. Later that night Susan and Lucy notice Aslan leaving the encampment and into the forest alone. After walking with Aslan for a while he tells the sisters to return to camp for they cannot go where Aslan is heading. As they watch in hiding, Aslan approaches the Stone Table where he is humiliated and his mane shaved by the White Witch's followers. Finally he is bound and laid before the White Witch herself who plunges a dagger into Aslan, killing him. However, in the morning he is resurrected because "there is a magic deeper still the Witch does not know." Aslan takes Susan and Lucy to the Witch's mansion where he frees the prisoners of the White Witch, including Mr. Tumnus, forming an army for battle.
Meanwhile, Edmund persuades Peter to join battle with the Witch's host. At first quite successful, Peter's army soon begins to lose the fight, and Edmund is badly injured, though he has managed to destroy the White Witch's stone-turning staff, her most effective weapon. As she battles with Peter, Aslan soon arrives with reinforcements. She takes advantage of this distraction and disarms him. She is about to stab him when Aslan jumps on her, knocking her to the other side of the cliff and killing her. He then returns to Peter and tells him that "it is finished". Susan uses her bow and arrow to kill Ginarrbrik who attempts to finish Edmund off before there is a chance to save him. Lucy revives Edmund and many others with the fire-flower juice given to her by Father Christmas, while Aslan frees more victims of the White Witch's stone-turning spell.
The Pevensies become Kings and Queens and stay in Narnia until they are older. When chasing a white stag to receive wishes, they find the lamppost and the wardrobe and go back to England, where they magically appear as children again. The Professor then tosses them the ball used to break the window and instructs them to tell him the story. Later, Lucy attempts to go back to Narnia, but the Professor tells her he has been trying for years, and they will probably get back to Narnia when least expected.
Hercules
The film begins in ancient Greece with a mock-epic spoken narration (Heston), but dissolves into the musical narration by the five Muses (consisting of Calliope (White), Clio (Thomas), Melpomene (Freeman), Terpsichore (LaChanze), and Thalia (Ryan)). The Muses tell the tale ("The Gospel Truth") of how Zeus (Torn) came to power and prevented the monstrous Titans from ruling the world. This leads to the day Hercules is born to Zeus and Hera (Eggar), much to the pleasure of all the other gods except Hades (Wood), Zeus' brother, who receives word from the Fates (consisting of Clotho (Plummer), Lachesis (Shelley), and Atropos (Edwards)) that though he will release the Titans in eighteen years, Hercules will one day rise to power and prevent him from taking control of the world. Hades sends his minions, Pain (Goldthwait) and Panic (Frewer), to kidnap Hercules and feed him a potion that will strip him of his immortality; however, they are interrupted and, while Hercules becomes mortal, he retains his god-like strength because he didn't drink the last drop.
Hercules (Keaton) grows up to be a misfit, challenged by his incredible strength and inability to fit in with other people. His adoptive parents Amphitryon (Holbrook) and Alcmene (Barrie) finally tell him they found him with the symbol of the gods around his neck. Hercules believes the gods may have the answers behind his past and decides to go to the Temple of Zeus ("Go the Distance"). Zeus manifests as his statue and tells him that he is Hercules' father, and that he must prove himself a true hero before he can rejoin the other gods on Mount Olympus. Hercules rides on Pegasus (Welker) and leaves the temple to seek out Philoctetes ("Phil" for short), an unhappy satyr and trainer of heroes. Phil (DeVito) has failed to train a true hero yet; but after some "persuasion" from Zeus, Phil decides to take on Hercules as his final attempt ("One Last Hope").
After completing his training, Hercules (Donovan), Phil, and Pegasus set out to establish Hercules as a hero. En route to the city of Thebes, Hercules sees the beautiful Megara (or Meg, as she identifies herself), who is being threatened by Nessus (Cummings), a centaur. A smitten Hercules barely succeeds in rescuing Meg (Egan), and she thanks him before leaving to enter the forest, and here it is revealed that she is conspiring with Hades. She had sold her soul to Hades in order to save her former lover's life, but her lover then abandoned her for another woman. Now, Meg must do favors for Hades in order to avoid an eternity in the underworld. When Hades learns that Hercules is alive, he is enraged and plots to murder him again.
When Hercules tries to prove himself a hero at Thebes, Hades sends the Hydra, a enormous dragon-like monster with many heads, to kill him. After a lengthy battle, Hercules finally prevails. Hades then sends one monster after another to destroy Hercules, but he defeats them all easily ("Zero to Hero" and "Hercules"). Hercules becomes a celebrity because of his exploits. Hades, realizing that his plans are jeopardized, sends Meg out to discover Hercules' weakness, promising her freedom in return. Meanwhile, Hercules is disappointed to learn from his father Zeus that he has yet to become a true hero, with the latter saying that defeating monsters and saving people is not enough; a true hero is "something more than that". Hercules then spends the day with Meg, who finds herself falling in love with him ("I Won't Say (I'm in Love)"). When Hades intervenes, she turns on him and tells him that Hercules has no weaknesses; but Hades realizes that Meg herself is Hercules' one weakness.
Phil learns of Meg's involvement with Hades and tries to warn Hercules, but Hercules refuses to believe him and knocks him to the ground in anger. Discouraged, Phil leaves for home. Meanwhile, Pegasus has been captured by Pain and Panic, who disguised themselves as his mare. Hades arrives with a captured Meg and proposes a deal: if Hercules surrenders his strength for the next twenty-four hours, Meg will remain free from harm. After Hercules agrees, Hades frees the Titans from their prison and sends them to attack Olympus and imprison the other gods, while one Titan, the Cyclops, is sent to kill Hercules. Disheartened by Meg's involvement with Hades, Hercules takes a severe beating. Meg, regretting having played her part in Hades' plans, frees Pegasus and gets Phil to come back and help Hercules. Phil convinces Hercules to fight back, and Hercules uses his wits to defeat the Titan and save the city of Thebes. Hercules is able to defeat the Titan, but a pillar behind him becomes loose. Meg notices this and pushes him out of the way, but is unable to save herself and takes the blow. With Meg mortally injured, the deal is broken, and Hercules' strength is returned. Hercules promises Meg that he will save her as he heads to Olympus to stop Hades and the other Titans. Hercules and Pegasus save Mount Olympus, but as Hades retreats for the underworld after the Titans are thrown into the sky by Hercules and explode, he taunts Hercules despite his defeat, revealing that Meg is dying.
Hercules and Pegasus get back to Phil and Meg too late and Hercules heads to the Underworld and demands for Meg to be revived, but Hades shows him that she is trapped in the River Styx. Hercules trades his soul for Meg's, and Hades agrees on the condition that Hercules must get her soul out himself. Hercules jumps into the river, but given that one must be dead to enter the river, he ages rapidly as he swims toward Meg. The Fates try to cut Hercules' lifeline, but they find that they couldn't, for Hercules has become a true hero through his selfless actions, thereby restoring his godhood and immortality. As Hercules successfully returns Meg to the surface, Hades tries to talk his way out of the situation, but Hercules punches him, knocking him into the River Styx. The other souls grab Hades and pull him down into the river. Pain and Panic then worry about what Hades is going to do to them, until they realize they're free from his wrath. Hercules revives Meg and returns to Olympus. Meg's entrance is denied because she is mortal, but Hercules chooses to become mortal again and stay with her. Hercules is acclaimed a hero on Earth and Olympus alike. Zeus creates a constellation in his image, and Phil is remembered for being the one to train him. Hercules and his mortal friends and family are all shown happily together on earth, while Zeus and the other Olympians rejoice above. ("A Star is Born")
Hercules (Keaton) grows up to be a misfit, challenged by his incredible strength and inability to fit in with other people. His adoptive parents Amphitryon (Holbrook) and Alcmene (Barrie) finally tell him they found him with the symbol of the gods around his neck. Hercules believes the gods may have the answers behind his past and decides to go to the Temple of Zeus ("Go the Distance"). Zeus manifests as his statue and tells him that he is Hercules' father, and that he must prove himself a true hero before he can rejoin the other gods on Mount Olympus. Hercules rides on Pegasus (Welker) and leaves the temple to seek out Philoctetes ("Phil" for short), an unhappy satyr and trainer of heroes. Phil (DeVito) has failed to train a true hero yet; but after some "persuasion" from Zeus, Phil decides to take on Hercules as his final attempt ("One Last Hope").
After completing his training, Hercules (Donovan), Phil, and Pegasus set out to establish Hercules as a hero. En route to the city of Thebes, Hercules sees the beautiful Megara (or Meg, as she identifies herself), who is being threatened by Nessus (Cummings), a centaur. A smitten Hercules barely succeeds in rescuing Meg (Egan), and she thanks him before leaving to enter the forest, and here it is revealed that she is conspiring with Hades. She had sold her soul to Hades in order to save her former lover's life, but her lover then abandoned her for another woman. Now, Meg must do favors for Hades in order to avoid an eternity in the underworld. When Hades learns that Hercules is alive, he is enraged and plots to murder him again.
When Hercules tries to prove himself a hero at Thebes, Hades sends the Hydra, a enormous dragon-like monster with many heads, to kill him. After a lengthy battle, Hercules finally prevails. Hades then sends one monster after another to destroy Hercules, but he defeats them all easily ("Zero to Hero" and "Hercules"). Hercules becomes a celebrity because of his exploits. Hades, realizing that his plans are jeopardized, sends Meg out to discover Hercules' weakness, promising her freedom in return. Meanwhile, Hercules is disappointed to learn from his father Zeus that he has yet to become a true hero, with the latter saying that defeating monsters and saving people is not enough; a true hero is "something more than that". Hercules then spends the day with Meg, who finds herself falling in love with him ("I Won't Say (I'm in Love)"). When Hades intervenes, she turns on him and tells him that Hercules has no weaknesses; but Hades realizes that Meg herself is Hercules' one weakness.
Phil learns of Meg's involvement with Hades and tries to warn Hercules, but Hercules refuses to believe him and knocks him to the ground in anger. Discouraged, Phil leaves for home. Meanwhile, Pegasus has been captured by Pain and Panic, who disguised themselves as his mare. Hades arrives with a captured Meg and proposes a deal: if Hercules surrenders his strength for the next twenty-four hours, Meg will remain free from harm. After Hercules agrees, Hades frees the Titans from their prison and sends them to attack Olympus and imprison the other gods, while one Titan, the Cyclops, is sent to kill Hercules. Disheartened by Meg's involvement with Hades, Hercules takes a severe beating. Meg, regretting having played her part in Hades' plans, frees Pegasus and gets Phil to come back and help Hercules. Phil convinces Hercules to fight back, and Hercules uses his wits to defeat the Titan and save the city of Thebes. Hercules is able to defeat the Titan, but a pillar behind him becomes loose. Meg notices this and pushes him out of the way, but is unable to save herself and takes the blow. With Meg mortally injured, the deal is broken, and Hercules' strength is returned. Hercules promises Meg that he will save her as he heads to Olympus to stop Hades and the other Titans. Hercules and Pegasus save Mount Olympus, but as Hades retreats for the underworld after the Titans are thrown into the sky by Hercules and explode, he taunts Hercules despite his defeat, revealing that Meg is dying.
Hercules and Pegasus get back to Phil and Meg too late and Hercules heads to the Underworld and demands for Meg to be revived, but Hades shows him that she is trapped in the River Styx. Hercules trades his soul for Meg's, and Hades agrees on the condition that Hercules must get her soul out himself. Hercules jumps into the river, but given that one must be dead to enter the river, he ages rapidly as he swims toward Meg. The Fates try to cut Hercules' lifeline, but they find that they couldn't, for Hercules has become a true hero through his selfless actions, thereby restoring his godhood and immortality. As Hercules successfully returns Meg to the surface, Hades tries to talk his way out of the situation, but Hercules punches him, knocking him into the River Styx. The other souls grab Hades and pull him down into the river. Pain and Panic then worry about what Hades is going to do to them, until they realize they're free from his wrath. Hercules revives Meg and returns to Olympus. Meg's entrance is denied because she is mortal, but Hercules chooses to become mortal again and stay with her. Hercules is acclaimed a hero on Earth and Olympus alike. Zeus creates a constellation in his image, and Phil is remembered for being the one to train him. Hercules and his mortal friends and family are all shown happily together on earth, while Zeus and the other Olympians rejoice above. ("A Star is Born")
Pocahontas
In 1607, a ship carrying British settlers from the Virginia Company sails for North America in search of gold and other material riches. On board are Captain John Smith and Governor John Ratcliffe. A storm erupts, and Smith saves the life of a young settler named Thomas when he falls overboard, befriending him in the process.
In the "New World", Pocahontas, Chief Powhatan's daughter, learns that her father wants her to marry Kocoum, one of his finest warriors, but a bitter and serious man. Pocahontas does not want this marriage, and asks the advice from a talking tree spirit named Grandmother Willow. Grandmother Willow tells Pocahontas to listen to her heart.
The British settlers land in Virginia and dig for gold under Ratcliffe's orders. John Smith explores the territory and encounters Pocahontas. The two spend time together, with Pocahontas teaching John to look at the world in a different way, and to not think of her people as "savages". Back at the settlement, the Powhatan warriors and Englishmen have a skirmirsh, and one of the warriors is injured. The warriors retreat, and Powhatan declares that the white men are dangerous and that no one should go near them.
A few days later, John and Pocahontas meet again, during which John learns that there is no gold in the land. They agree to meet at Grandmother Willow's glade again that night.
When Pocahontas returns to her village, she finds that warriors from neighboring tribes have arrived to help Powhatan fight the settlers. Back at the English fort, John tells Ratcliffe there is no gold in the land, which Ratcliffe does not believe, thinking that the natives have hidden the gold for themselves.
That night, Pocahontas' best friend Nakoma catches her sneaking off and informs Kocoum that she has gone. Meanwhile, John sneaks out of the fort, and Ratcliffe orders Thomas to follow him. Pocahontas and John meet in the glade, where Grandmother Willow convinces John to try talking to Chief Powhatan. Pocahontas insists that John meet her father. When he agrees, Pocahontas is so delighted that she puts her arms around John's neck. Both Kocoum and Thomas watch from the shadows as John and Pocahontas kiss. Kocoum, full of jealousy, attacks and tries to kill John, but is shot and killed by Thomas. Hearing voices approaching, John tells Thomas to run. A group of natives take John prisoner thinking he is the murderer, and Powhatan announces that he will be executed at dawn before the war with the settlers begins.
Thomas returns to the fort and announces John's capture. Ratcliffe sees this as an opportunity to attack, and they arrive just as John is about to be executed. Before Powhatan can strike, Pocahontas throws herself over John, telling him that she loves John and that Powhatan must see where the path of hate has brought them, and asking him to choose. Powhatan lowers his club and orders John freed. Ratcliffe orders the settlers to fire anyway, but they refuse. Ratcliffe fires at Chief Powhatan himself, but John pushes the chief aside and is shot instead. The settlers turn on Ratcliffe, capturing him.
John is only wounded, but he must return to England for medical treatment if he is to survive. Pocahontas and her people arrive to see them off, and John and Pocahontas bid their goodbyes.
In the "New World", Pocahontas, Chief Powhatan's daughter, learns that her father wants her to marry Kocoum, one of his finest warriors, but a bitter and serious man. Pocahontas does not want this marriage, and asks the advice from a talking tree spirit named Grandmother Willow. Grandmother Willow tells Pocahontas to listen to her heart.
The British settlers land in Virginia and dig for gold under Ratcliffe's orders. John Smith explores the territory and encounters Pocahontas. The two spend time together, with Pocahontas teaching John to look at the world in a different way, and to not think of her people as "savages". Back at the settlement, the Powhatan warriors and Englishmen have a skirmirsh, and one of the warriors is injured. The warriors retreat, and Powhatan declares that the white men are dangerous and that no one should go near them.
A few days later, John and Pocahontas meet again, during which John learns that there is no gold in the land. They agree to meet at Grandmother Willow's glade again that night.
When Pocahontas returns to her village, she finds that warriors from neighboring tribes have arrived to help Powhatan fight the settlers. Back at the English fort, John tells Ratcliffe there is no gold in the land, which Ratcliffe does not believe, thinking that the natives have hidden the gold for themselves.
That night, Pocahontas' best friend Nakoma catches her sneaking off and informs Kocoum that she has gone. Meanwhile, John sneaks out of the fort, and Ratcliffe orders Thomas to follow him. Pocahontas and John meet in the glade, where Grandmother Willow convinces John to try talking to Chief Powhatan. Pocahontas insists that John meet her father. When he agrees, Pocahontas is so delighted that she puts her arms around John's neck. Both Kocoum and Thomas watch from the shadows as John and Pocahontas kiss. Kocoum, full of jealousy, attacks and tries to kill John, but is shot and killed by Thomas. Hearing voices approaching, John tells Thomas to run. A group of natives take John prisoner thinking he is the murderer, and Powhatan announces that he will be executed at dawn before the war with the settlers begins.
Thomas returns to the fort and announces John's capture. Ratcliffe sees this as an opportunity to attack, and they arrive just as John is about to be executed. Before Powhatan can strike, Pocahontas throws herself over John, telling him that she loves John and that Powhatan must see where the path of hate has brought them, and asking him to choose. Powhatan lowers his club and orders John freed. Ratcliffe orders the settlers to fire anyway, but they refuse. Ratcliffe fires at Chief Powhatan himself, but John pushes the chief aside and is shot instead. The settlers turn on Ratcliffe, capturing him.
John is only wounded, but he must return to England for medical treatment if he is to survive. Pocahontas and her people arrive to see them off, and John and Pocahontas bid their goodbyes.
The Lion King
The Lion King takes place in the Pride Lands of the Serengeti, where a lion rules over the other animals as king. Rafiki (Robert Guillaume), a wise old mandrill, anoints Simba (cub by Jonathan Taylor Thomas, adult by Matthew Broderick), the newborn cub of King Mufasa (James Earl Jones) and Queen Sarabi (Madge Sinclair), and presents him to a gathering of animals at Pride Rock ("Circle of Life").
Mufasa takes Simba on a tour of the Pride Lands, teaching him about the "Circle of Life", the delicate balance affecting all living things. Taking advantage of the cub's naive nature, Simba's scheming uncle Scar (Jeremy Irons) (who is very angry because Simba's birth means that he's no longer next in line to the throne) tells him about the elephant graveyard, a place where Mufasa has forbidden Simba to go. Simba asks his mother if he can go to the water-hole with his best friend, Nala (cub by Niketa Calame, adult by Moira Kelly). Their parents agree but only if Mufasa's majordomo, the hornbill Zazu (Rowan Atkinson), goes with them. Simba and Nala elude Zazu's supervision ("I Just Can't Wait to Be King") and go to the graveyard instead. There, the cubs are met by Shenzi, Banzai and Ed (Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin and Jim Cummings), spotted hyenas who try to kill them, but they are rescued by Mufasa.
On the way home, Mufasa orders Zazu to take Nala home so as to 'teach his son a lesson'. Once left alone, Mufasa tells his son how very disappointed he is in him and how he put both Nala and his lives in danger. He further explains to Simba that being brave doesn't mean to go looking for danger, and reveals he was scared he might have lost him. Having reached an understanding, they play together in the fields, where Simba asks his father if they will always be together. Mufasa tells him that the Kings of the Past are among the stars in the sky. They will be there to guide him and, when Mufasa's time comes, so will he.
Meanwhile, Scar gains the loyalty of the hyenas by claiming that if he becomes king, they'll "never go hungry again" ("Be Prepared"). During the song, Scar tells the hyenas that for this to happen they must kill Mufasa and Simba, thus establishing his plan of regicide.
Some time later, Scar lures Simba into a gorge for a "surprise from his father" while the hyenas create a wildebeest stampede. Alerted by Scar, Mufasa races to rescue Simba from the stampede. He saves his son but is left clinging to the edge of a steep cliff. Scar, instead of helping Mufasa, flings his brother into the stampede below. Simba sees his father fall and rushes down the cliff after him, only to find him dead. Scar convinces the young cub that he was responsible for his father's death and recommends that he flee from the Pride Lands to avoid punishment. Scar once again sends Shenzi, Banzai and Ed to kill Simba, but he escapes. Scar informs the pride that both Mufasa and Simba were killed and that he is assuming the throne as the next in line. Scar proclaims that "this is the dawning of a new era, in which lion and hyena come together", thus allowing the hyenas into the Pride Lands.
In a distant desert, Simba is found unconscious by Timon and Pumbaa (Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella), a meerkat-warthog duo who adopt and raise the cub under their worry-free philosophy ("Hakuna Matata"). When Simba has grown into an adult he is discovered by Nala, who tells him that Scar, through his irresponsibility, has turned the Pride Lands into a barren wasteland. She asks Simba to return and take his place as king but Simba refuses, still believing he caused his father's death. Simba shows Nala around his home and the two begin to fall in love ("Can You Feel the Love Tonight"). Nala, however, tells Simba that she does not understand why he will not return to Pride Rock and they end up in a quarrel. Rafiki arrives and persuades Simba to return to the Pride Lands, aided by the appearance of the ghost of Mufasa.
Once back at Pride Rock, Simba (with Timon, Pumbaa and Nala) is horrified to see the condition of the Pride Lands. Timon and Pumbaa create a diversion, allowing Simba and Nala to sneak past the hyenas guarding Pride Rock. After seeing his mother Sarabi struck by Scar for criticizing him, Simba announces his return. In response, Scar tells the pride that Simba was responsible for Mufasa's death and corners Simba at the edge of Pride Rock. As Simba dangles over the edge of Pride Rock, Scar proudly but quietly reveals to Simba that he killed Mufasa. Enraged, Simba leaps up and pins Scar to the ground, forcing him to admit the truth to the pride.
Atop Pride Rock's peak, Simba corners Scar. To gain Simba's mercy, Scar blames everything on the hyenas but Shenzi, Banzai and Ed overhear this betrayal. Simba demands that Scar go into exile. Scar pretends to leave but turns to attack Simba, resulting in a final duel. Simba triumphs over his uncle by kicking him over a low cliff. Scar survives the fall but finds himself surrounded by the now-resentful hyenas, who attack and kill him. Simba and Nala become the new king and queen of the Pride Lands. The film concludes with the Pride Lands turning green with life again and Rafiki presenting Simba and Nala's newborn cub as "The Circle of Life" continues.
Mufasa takes Simba on a tour of the Pride Lands, teaching him about the "Circle of Life", the delicate balance affecting all living things. Taking advantage of the cub's naive nature, Simba's scheming uncle Scar (Jeremy Irons) (who is very angry because Simba's birth means that he's no longer next in line to the throne) tells him about the elephant graveyard, a place where Mufasa has forbidden Simba to go. Simba asks his mother if he can go to the water-hole with his best friend, Nala (cub by Niketa Calame, adult by Moira Kelly). Their parents agree but only if Mufasa's majordomo, the hornbill Zazu (Rowan Atkinson), goes with them. Simba and Nala elude Zazu's supervision ("I Just Can't Wait to Be King") and go to the graveyard instead. There, the cubs are met by Shenzi, Banzai and Ed (Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin and Jim Cummings), spotted hyenas who try to kill them, but they are rescued by Mufasa.
On the way home, Mufasa orders Zazu to take Nala home so as to 'teach his son a lesson'. Once left alone, Mufasa tells his son how very disappointed he is in him and how he put both Nala and his lives in danger. He further explains to Simba that being brave doesn't mean to go looking for danger, and reveals he was scared he might have lost him. Having reached an understanding, they play together in the fields, where Simba asks his father if they will always be together. Mufasa tells him that the Kings of the Past are among the stars in the sky. They will be there to guide him and, when Mufasa's time comes, so will he.
Meanwhile, Scar gains the loyalty of the hyenas by claiming that if he becomes king, they'll "never go hungry again" ("Be Prepared"). During the song, Scar tells the hyenas that for this to happen they must kill Mufasa and Simba, thus establishing his plan of regicide.
Some time later, Scar lures Simba into a gorge for a "surprise from his father" while the hyenas create a wildebeest stampede. Alerted by Scar, Mufasa races to rescue Simba from the stampede. He saves his son but is left clinging to the edge of a steep cliff. Scar, instead of helping Mufasa, flings his brother into the stampede below. Simba sees his father fall and rushes down the cliff after him, only to find him dead. Scar convinces the young cub that he was responsible for his father's death and recommends that he flee from the Pride Lands to avoid punishment. Scar once again sends Shenzi, Banzai and Ed to kill Simba, but he escapes. Scar informs the pride that both Mufasa and Simba were killed and that he is assuming the throne as the next in line. Scar proclaims that "this is the dawning of a new era, in which lion and hyena come together", thus allowing the hyenas into the Pride Lands.
In a distant desert, Simba is found unconscious by Timon and Pumbaa (Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella), a meerkat-warthog duo who adopt and raise the cub under their worry-free philosophy ("Hakuna Matata"). When Simba has grown into an adult he is discovered by Nala, who tells him that Scar, through his irresponsibility, has turned the Pride Lands into a barren wasteland. She asks Simba to return and take his place as king but Simba refuses, still believing he caused his father's death. Simba shows Nala around his home and the two begin to fall in love ("Can You Feel the Love Tonight"). Nala, however, tells Simba that she does not understand why he will not return to Pride Rock and they end up in a quarrel. Rafiki arrives and persuades Simba to return to the Pride Lands, aided by the appearance of the ghost of Mufasa.
Once back at Pride Rock, Simba (with Timon, Pumbaa and Nala) is horrified to see the condition of the Pride Lands. Timon and Pumbaa create a diversion, allowing Simba and Nala to sneak past the hyenas guarding Pride Rock. After seeing his mother Sarabi struck by Scar for criticizing him, Simba announces his return. In response, Scar tells the pride that Simba was responsible for Mufasa's death and corners Simba at the edge of Pride Rock. As Simba dangles over the edge of Pride Rock, Scar proudly but quietly reveals to Simba that he killed Mufasa. Enraged, Simba leaps up and pins Scar to the ground, forcing him to admit the truth to the pride.
Atop Pride Rock's peak, Simba corners Scar. To gain Simba's mercy, Scar blames everything on the hyenas but Shenzi, Banzai and Ed overhear this betrayal. Simba demands that Scar go into exile. Scar pretends to leave but turns to attack Simba, resulting in a final duel. Simba triumphs over his uncle by kicking him over a low cliff. Scar survives the fall but finds himself surrounded by the now-resentful hyenas, who attack and kill him. Simba and Nala become the new king and queen of the Pride Lands. The film concludes with the Pride Lands turning green with life again and Rafiki presenting Simba and Nala's newborn cub as "The Circle of Life" continues.
Hocus Pocus
The movie opens in 1693 Salem, Massachusetts where three witch sisters — Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson — transformed a boy, Thackery Binx, into an immortal black cat as punishment for trying to prevent them from absorbing the life force of his younger sister, Emily. He is too late to rescue her and instead is cursed to spend eternity as a black cat. The witches are tried and executed by the locals. However, thanks to a curse created by Winifred's magic spell-book, they vow to return when a virgin lights the Black Flame candle on a Halloween night when the moon is full.
Three hundred years later in 1993, Max Dennison (Omri Katz), a skeptical teenager from Los Angeles, moves to Salem with his family and younger sister Dani (Thora Birch). On his way home from school, he meets the local bullies Ernie "Ice" (Larry Bagby) and Jay who tease him, then steal Max's Nike sneakers. After being forced to take Dani trick or treating, Max lights the Black-flamed Candle at the Sanderson house with Dani and his love interest Allison (Vinessa Shaw) present, bringing the witches back from the dead. However, the kids manage to escape from the witches along with the black cat (Binx) who can now talk, and Max steals Winifred's magic spell book. In an attempt to get the book back, the witches chase the kids to the local graveyard where Winifred resurrects Billy Butcherson (Doug Jones), Winifred's previous unfaithful partner. He is sent to chase the kids across town. The witches also reveal that in order to remain alive and young, they must steal the "life force" of a child before the sun rises and Halloween night ends
The witches experience some 20th century antics, including riding a bus, discovering paved roads, and finding themselves in a Halloween party. They also meet a man who they believe is their master, Satan, but they are thrown out of his house by his wife, who they think is Medusa, because of the curlers in her hair. (The couple was played by well-known director/producer Garry Marshall and his sister, actress/director Penny Marshall.)
Max, Dani, Allison, and Binx go to the town hall Halloween party where they find Max's parents. Max takes the stage in an attempt to warn the families that their children are in danger, telling them that the Sanderson sisters were back from the grave. The audience laughs it off as a prank while Winifred steps on stage and thanks him for his "introduction". Taking over the stage, the witches perform a spell disguised as a Broadway-esque performance of I Put A Spell On You, highlighting Midler's musical talent, to cause all of the adults to "dance, dance, dance 'till you die!".
Max and the others lure the witches into the high school and trick them into entering a kiln, where they appear to burn to death. However, the witches cannot die (they have yet to absorb life-force, nor has the sun risen yet). The witches attempt to find the children. The Sisters come up as Mary sniffs out Max’s shoe, only Max’s shoes are worn by Ice. Mary comes up and sniffs the shoe. The witches return to their cottage, taking Jay and Ice with them and locking them in cages. The witches believe that they are doomed because they are unable to make the life-potion without the book, until they spot the light from the magic book, coming from Max's house as Max and Allison tried to find a means of removing Binx's curse. The witches kidnap Dani and Binx. They escape via a new gaping hole blown in the side of Max's home.
Sarah flies across Salem, utilizing a siren-song to lure all of the town's children to their cottage. Max and Allison fool Winifred, Mary and Sarah with threats of Daylight Savings Time (and some headlights) and retrieve Dani and Binx. Max reaches up and takes his shoes off of Ice’s feet, leaving him shoeless and Ice bursts into tears. They retreat to the graveyard, but not before destroying the witches' newest batch of potion. There is still enough for one child however, and Winifred decides that she will make Dani her victim. Max helps Billy, who, after cutting open the stitches over his mouth, reveals himself to be friendly and helps the others protect Dani. A battle begins: Dani is captured by Winifred, who tries to feed her the potion, but Binx forces her to drop it, and she throws him onto a rock, knocking him out. In order to save Dani, Max drinks the potion himself, forcing Winifred to take him instead of her. Meanwhile Allison and Billy incapacitate Sarah and Mary, and after a struggle, Max manages to bring Winifred down from her broom, forcing her onto holy ground, which causes her to turn to stone. Mary and Sarah sadly bid farewell and explode to dust when the sun rises, and Winifred's petrified form soon follows. Billy returns to his grave, but the three kids discover Binx dead (the immortality spell had ceased its duration with the death of the Sanderson sisters, and he was 317 years old). Dani is distraught, since she had formed a bond with him. His spirit appears and thanks the children for breaking his curse, then walks away into the sunrise with the freed soul of his sister, Emily.
During the credits we see the exhausted adults leaving the Halloween party, no longer under the dancing curse. Jay and Ice are seen still trapped in their cages and then the spell book's eye opens and looks around. However, what this means is left to the interpretation of the viewer.
Three hundred years later in 1993, Max Dennison (Omri Katz), a skeptical teenager from Los Angeles, moves to Salem with his family and younger sister Dani (Thora Birch). On his way home from school, he meets the local bullies Ernie "Ice" (Larry Bagby) and Jay who tease him, then steal Max's Nike sneakers. After being forced to take Dani trick or treating, Max lights the Black-flamed Candle at the Sanderson house with Dani and his love interest Allison (Vinessa Shaw) present, bringing the witches back from the dead. However, the kids manage to escape from the witches along with the black cat (Binx) who can now talk, and Max steals Winifred's magic spell book. In an attempt to get the book back, the witches chase the kids to the local graveyard where Winifred resurrects Billy Butcherson (Doug Jones), Winifred's previous unfaithful partner. He is sent to chase the kids across town. The witches also reveal that in order to remain alive and young, they must steal the "life force" of a child before the sun rises and Halloween night ends
The witches experience some 20th century antics, including riding a bus, discovering paved roads, and finding themselves in a Halloween party. They also meet a man who they believe is their master, Satan, but they are thrown out of his house by his wife, who they think is Medusa, because of the curlers in her hair. (The couple was played by well-known director/producer Garry Marshall and his sister, actress/director Penny Marshall.)
Max, Dani, Allison, and Binx go to the town hall Halloween party where they find Max's parents. Max takes the stage in an attempt to warn the families that their children are in danger, telling them that the Sanderson sisters were back from the grave. The audience laughs it off as a prank while Winifred steps on stage and thanks him for his "introduction". Taking over the stage, the witches perform a spell disguised as a Broadway-esque performance of I Put A Spell On You, highlighting Midler's musical talent, to cause all of the adults to "dance, dance, dance 'till you die!".
Max and the others lure the witches into the high school and trick them into entering a kiln, where they appear to burn to death. However, the witches cannot die (they have yet to absorb life-force, nor has the sun risen yet). The witches attempt to find the children. The Sisters come up as Mary sniffs out Max’s shoe, only Max’s shoes are worn by Ice. Mary comes up and sniffs the shoe. The witches return to their cottage, taking Jay and Ice with them and locking them in cages. The witches believe that they are doomed because they are unable to make the life-potion without the book, until they spot the light from the magic book, coming from Max's house as Max and Allison tried to find a means of removing Binx's curse. The witches kidnap Dani and Binx. They escape via a new gaping hole blown in the side of Max's home.
Sarah flies across Salem, utilizing a siren-song to lure all of the town's children to their cottage. Max and Allison fool Winifred, Mary and Sarah with threats of Daylight Savings Time (and some headlights) and retrieve Dani and Binx. Max reaches up and takes his shoes off of Ice’s feet, leaving him shoeless and Ice bursts into tears. They retreat to the graveyard, but not before destroying the witches' newest batch of potion. There is still enough for one child however, and Winifred decides that she will make Dani her victim. Max helps Billy, who, after cutting open the stitches over his mouth, reveals himself to be friendly and helps the others protect Dani. A battle begins: Dani is captured by Winifred, who tries to feed her the potion, but Binx forces her to drop it, and she throws him onto a rock, knocking him out. In order to save Dani, Max drinks the potion himself, forcing Winifred to take him instead of her. Meanwhile Allison and Billy incapacitate Sarah and Mary, and after a struggle, Max manages to bring Winifred down from her broom, forcing her onto holy ground, which causes her to turn to stone. Mary and Sarah sadly bid farewell and explode to dust when the sun rises, and Winifred's petrified form soon follows. Billy returns to his grave, but the three kids discover Binx dead (the immortality spell had ceased its duration with the death of the Sanderson sisters, and he was 317 years old). Dani is distraught, since she had formed a bond with him. His spirit appears and thanks the children for breaking his curse, then walks away into the sunrise with the freed soul of his sister, Emily.
During the credits we see the exhausted adults leaving the Halloween party, no longer under the dancing curse. Jay and Ice are seen still trapped in their cages and then the spell book's eye opens and looks around. However, what this means is left to the interpretation of the viewer.
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