Classics to Warm up your Haunt

By Owen Tran, staff writer
Wednesday September 25, 2006

“3 more minutes til' Hocus Pocus comes on the Disney Channel!” exclaims Junior Lizzy Watkins. Halloween is approaching quickly and TV channels are playing the all-time favorite Halloween classics. It's one of most anticipated seasonal events, which means it's time to sit down, reminisce, and enjoy watching the Halloween classics: Nightmare before Christmas, Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown, and Casper .

Nightmare before Christmas

The spooky tale begins with Jack Skellington, the leader of Halloweentown. This Pumpkin King is bored with the routine Halloween festivities and feels that there is something missing in his life. While Jack strolls in the woods with his fellow dog, Zero, they encounter a circle of trees that lead to a different holiday. Favoring the Christmas door, Jack becomes mesmerized by the Yuletide festivities and merriment. Jack tries to improve upon his own holiday and decides to take over Christmas for that year. However, both Halloween and Christmas are in jeopardy as Jack is antagonized by the evil Ooogie Boogie. The plot thickens as he captures Santa Claus. It's an entertaining and heartfelt movie that will always satisfy.

Hocus Pocus

The movie begins in 17 th century witch-crazed Salem. Sisters Winifred, Sarah, and Mary are beheaded for absorbing the soul of a young girl and turning their brother Thackery Binx into a cat. The witches then come back to life 300 years later, resurrected by an ancient curse. They plan to suck the souls of the youth to reclaim their beauty. However, three adventurous teenagers steal the witches' book of spells and a chase ensues between the witches and teenagers. Hocus Pocus is a great Disney classic that you can't afford to miss, and neither will Lizzy Watkins.

Halloweentown

This Disney Channel Original movie begins with Marnie, a 13-year old who is unaware of her witch ancestry. It conflicts with her regular human life as she argues with her mother, Gwen, to go out for Halloween. Things change when Grandma Aggie visits and allows Marnie to undergo witch training. As Marnie and her two siblings become familiar with Halloweentown, they are faced with a dire challenge. Halloweentown requires the aid of those three children, who are bound to save it from disaster. Marnie continues to develop and learn about her heritage, as the story progresses through its many hilarious and amusing stages.

Casper

The story begins with the creepy mansion that Carrigan Crittenden inherits from her late father. She goes on a mission to uncover hideen treasure in the house, but she instead discovers ghosts. To get rid of the intruders, she hires Dr. James Harvey, an "afterlife therapist," to help them end their unfinished business and cross over. However, as an afterlife therapist, Dr. Harvey also hopes to one day communicate with his dead wife. Relations thicken as Casper, the ghost of a twelve year old boy, develops a crush on Dr. Harvey's teenage daughter Kat. As the movie develops, the characters' individual stories overlap and they help one another accomplish their goals.