I always thought their mother killed herself after the father died and the little girls didn’t understand so they assumed she died of a broken heart. Because Gilly asks “Do you forgive our mother” and I don’t know why she’d need to be forgiven for dying unless it was suicide. Also it just made sense because they showed how much Sally struggled after her husbands death.
I've seen the movie already and am halfway through the audiobook right now. One thing that I appreciate about the book is how we are able to see Sally transform from deeply depressed and non-functioning to such a strong-willed, independent rock for her girls. She makes tough choices and sticks to them out of love for her children. I find this very inspirational. Loved your video, btw!
If Practical Magic is your obsession, I am grateful to you for having it. This video is stellar and thank you for making it so well. We really need more movies and tv series that feature magic, witches and book of shadows. Seriously, how many of us have the ability to recite, verbatum all sorts of passages from Practical Magic, Charmed, Witches of Eastwick, HalloweenTown, Twitches, Witches of East End, Merlin, etc...
One of my all time favourite movies, never gets old! I read the book after seeing the movie, and kinda saw them as two completely different stories, but still enjoyed them both, That being said though, the movie holds a special place for me! I recently read the Rules of Magic and absolutely loved that too, I hear HBO plan on releasing a prequel to Practical magic based on that book. If so i hope it's good! Awesome video 😊
I’m so glad there’s someone who’s as obsessed with this movie/book as I am! I have never quite realized that this is a summer book. Like, I’m reading it now and I KNOW it takes place in summer, but the movie has cemented it so much as an autumnal story that it still doesn’t feel summery to me. I love both versions! I think I love the movie slightly more for its sweeping romantic imagery and storylines, but I love how all over the place the book is with its magic - how the neighborhood women are drawn to the lilacs and weep for lost love, how the butter melts in everyone’s houses when Gillian and Ben Frye are desperate to get in each other’s pants, and all the little asides in the book about the cast of characters. And Antonia and Kylie! If there were one thing I wish somehow could’ve been in the movie, it would be their relationship because it’s such a fascinating contrast to Sally and Gillian’s relationship.
I have read the book a couple of times and watched the movie many, many times and I have to say that I like the movie much more. I think it's because the women of the town comes together to save Gillian and break the curse for the Owens women. One of the things I wanted to point out is that Gary says that the date is March 28 (I think) 1998 when he starts the tape recorder to record Sally's confession in the hotel so I think the timeline of the movie is early spring. He also notes that it's to early for roses when he meets her at the house when she is cutting down the roses. I think it's an error on the movie makers part to say they are going to a "solstice celebration", since should would have been celebrating the spring equinox, which would have been about March 21, and would have lined up nicely with the timeline. Anyway, that would be my addition to your notes if you want. LOVE your cats and your videos, and especially your amazing art!!! Blessed be and have a wonderful spring :)
I finished the book minutes ago, for that reason I found this video, I wanted to see something related to it 😀 I almost always like more the books than the movies, but in this case, as other comments I read here, I liked more the movie, maybe because I saw it a couple of times since Im very young. The thing I most missed in the book was the spell Sallys makes to only fall in love with the perfect boy, being that she thought he didnt exist. I was waiting that to be mentioned in the book until the last page 😯 Also I liked more the relationship between the two sisters and between them and the aunts in the movie. That blood union they made to broke Maria's curse was so emotional, also was expecting that in the book, but there Marias curse don't exist either, so... Also i loved the part when the daughters of Sally throw away the repelent that Gillian made for Gary, love how they realise he was the man that her mother described when she was a kid, all that part of the story is what made me love the movie, and honesty I downloaded the book to read about Sally and Gary romance and Sally'spell, but that is so different in the book, anyway I enjoyed it, but it wasnt was I was expecting after seeing the movie...
I love love LOVED this video. Very great detail. I hope you've been able to pick up the pre-quel "the rules of magic" it's just as stellar and amazing as its predecessor, and I loved it. Hope they make a film of it too
I sure have! I actually loaned mine to my "Sally" I would like to see a movie interpretation also. It could have been the audio book voice that was used but it wasn't giving me all the feels I had hoped for.
Loved this video. 💖💖💖 I have yet to read the book but have always loved the movie. Next time I go book shopping I’ll have to pick this one up! I watched/listened to this while I was doodling in my journal earlier and it was really nice, like hanging out with a witchy friend! So thank you for that 😊🔮
don't forget, you could get it at the library for free :). I am on a budget and getting movies and books at the library these days, plus it supports the local library. they have CDs and magazines too. They have Hoffman's new book Rules of Magic as well.
As a practicing witch/wiccan I saw the movie first, then read the book. At first I was a little disappointed, at the differences, but later loved them both for those same reasons. And have been an Alice Hoffman fan ever since. I forgot where I read it, but the aunts house is based on an actual one in Sudbury, Massachusetts. I almost forgot, a great video by the way
I fell in love with the movie as a child so it might be why when I finally read the book, I was not pleased. It was just, it didn’t feel magical at all! At least not as much as the movie. I also had high hopes for the prequel and Alice Huffman forgot her own work! There were a TON of thing she changed from the first book to the prequel. I was super disappointed. I did really enjoy this video. 😊
Thanks for the review. but I didn't like the book as much as the movie because the focus was on Kylie and Antonia and a coming of age plotline, something I look for in a YA type novel, not one for adults. The movie dealt with adult issues, which is why I like it more.
I agree that more emphasis should have been given to Kylie and Gideon's friendship. I have a guy friend and we've been friends for more than 40 yrs. But you missed a couple of key points. I've watched the movie and read the book both this week, so they're both fresh in my mind. They didn't bury Jimmy alive in the book. He wasn't just sleeping from the belladonna, he was definitely dead. When they were all discussing what had killed him, and the aunts confirmed that the amount of belladonna Gillian had given him hadn't been enough to kill him, she was so relieved. It changed how she felt about herself. They agreed he must have died from something else but at that point it was impossible to know what--just that she didn't do it. Possibly all the drinking. Then Ben showed up to give them candles and she was glad to see him because she no longer saw herself as a woman who'd killed her boyfriend. Also when Sally was little it wasn't just Magpie that followed her to school--it was all the aunts' cats. What's what made the entire situation so spooky. And why it was chaotic enough for a kid to light Magpie's tail on fire before someone noticed. I agree with you, too, that the book and movie have different vibes. I haven't decided yet but right now I'm leaning toward preferring the movie, though I like all the extra information you get from the books. It's just the way the characters are presented, particularly the extra years and growth they go through in the book, sort of gives the sense that they're different characters than those in the movie. Plus there's really a lot less magic in the book than the movie. Great comparison video, and I love your cat~
Oh awesome! We do too. If you like history aloves book The Dovekeeps is amazing. Also not sure if you're over there yet but we started a Practical Magic Fandom podcast called Magnolia Street. It's on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more
I recently rewatched the movie, as it is one of my absolute favorites and has been since it’s release. I had read the book a very long time ago, and went back to re read some of the finer details. One of which was that it would’ve been impossible for Gillian to drive from Tucson to New England over night, so I wanted to see if it’s specifically said where she starts from, then driving to Massachusetts. The other thing I found strange about this part in the story, in the film is the girls and the aunts don’t even seem to know Gillian has come for a visit. It just struck me as strange that Gillian would drive all that way, stay the night and drive all the way back? But I guess I’m splitting hairs. I love this movie so much! And I’ve always loved the soundtrack, it’s one of my favorites as well
My white siamese is also named Loki and tends to be nosy as well. Wonderful video and the comparisons are wonderful. Considering I reas the book after I actually find that I like both because each is unique in its own way.
The film is one of my childhood favourites, and I just recently decided to read the book because I was interested in knowing how it differed and let me tell you it was SO different to read! The facet I found the most interesting, aside from hearing more about Kylie and Antonia was the fact they detailed Gillian's trauma from her relationship with Jimmy, and how it affects her relationship with Ben and kind of makes her resistant to him at first, and makes her feel like she doesn't deserve someone as good as him. Like in the scene where they finally decide to have sex, she keeps expecting him to be rough and forceful with her because that's how Jimmy was.
So... this has always been a favorite of mine. The movie was something I've always adored and I really loved the book as well when I was older and could understand the themes and elements more. Now, this movie and the book hold a special place in my heart because... I'm a practicing Witch and the film and - if memory recalls - the book are the closest I've seen to realistic portrayal of what magic is actually like. The herbs, the intentions, the protections, the specific requirements and needs in order for things to work and for you to be safe while practicing your craft. Practical Magic just feels like genuine Witchcraft and an accurate portrayal of what most Witches are really like. I will honestly always love this movie. Thanks for the review/compare and contrast.
Thank you so much for doing this!! I saw the movie first and of course it's my all-time favorite witchy movie. ✨🔮✨ I finally decided I should read the book a few years ago. I started reading it and it was so different than the movie (that's usually the norm I know) I couldn't finish it. 🤦🏻 You nailed it on why the movie is so AMAZING! I got super excited when I saw this pop up in my notifications and couldn't wait to watch it when I had the time. Thanks for another great video, love your channel, and love your art!!💞 Blessed Be🙏🏼🕉
Although for me the book is completely different than the movie and usually I love that.I see it as another part of the movie but reading the book I just found it way too slow and not really having anything interesting happening....The Rules of Magic I do LOVE
I’m pretty sure Gideon in the movie is the older blonde women who works in Sally’s shop. I’ve just started the book I ready the prequel first and loved it I always have a hard time reading books that are book to movie/show bc a lot of the time they are so similar I love that these are super different. Maybe I’m biased cuz I love the movie so much but I almost feel like the story line is better but I’m going to keep listening
I find interesting that Hoffman seemed like she retconned her later books to include some movie plot points that she liked. For instance, I don’t believe that Maria being hanged was in the PM book, but in the Book of Magic (Maria’s story), she did get hanged. I like how she acknowledged some of the movie ideas in her later books.
I see a lot of people saying they like the movie better. I mean, I love the movie partly because I love love actors in it so there is that, bit I'm really looking forward to reading the book... series (I think practical magic is the second in the series) because I want to go a little deeper into the details that the movie cut.
Yeaaayyy! Thanks ou for visiting. And thank you for the hair comment. It was in the super awkward stage of growing it out after having an under cut! Lol
It’s been a long time since I read the book, but I remember being very conflicted about which I liked more. On the one hand, the movie had a warm cozy quality that just makes it a go to comfort movie that the book didn’t have as much. On the other hand, the book didn’t have goofy ghost Jimmy. His makeup looked great, but it was such a departure from this subtle magic that existed up until that point. It was jarring. The book kept that subtlety throughout, which I liked.
I don't know if its because I watched the movie first, but I preferred it to the book, which is very rare for me. Don't get me wrong, I love the book, I just love the movie more. 😂😂😂
Great video! Always been obsessed with the movie, and was curious about the differences, as I haven’t read the book. Bought the Easton press signed edition of the book a few days ago and I’m so excited! Also, is that painting in the background Elizabeth in the Peak District???
Awe thank you so much! I've been so out of touch with y.t. I'm sorry for the late reply. YES! i cant wait for Magic Lessons, I preordered it SO long ago. The countdown begins.
I watched the movie long before reading the book. I LOVE the movie! Try to watch it at least once a month....I found the theme music on a loop and listen to it almost every morning on my way to work ☺️ I intensely disliked the book...from the begining of it I didn't like that the aunts didn't want the girls and pretty much ignored them. I think even if I had read the book first I would prefer the movie.
I have seen the movie probably hundreds of times since it first came out, and perhaps because I grew up with it, being one of my favorites, when I finally ended up reading the original book it was based on, I didn't like it as much. Don't get me wrong, it is a good book but it felt underwhelming and foreign to me, after being used to all the dynamics and characters, the whole feel of the movie - the outfits, the house, the scenery, the music - I just love it and it doesn't feel the same in the book.
In the movie also, Sally puts casts a spell with an “impossible man” that can’t exists so she never falls in love. That never happens in the book. They neither cut their palms in order to make that blood bonding thingy.
The kids in the book have more dimensions and layers imo compared to the movie. But the stars of the show are sally and gillian, so it's understandable.
"Practical Magic" is the rare romance movie that I love. It was because of the movie that I sought and bought the book. I didn't care for the book at all. The movie is FAR and away better than the book.
Hi thanks for visiting! a friend and I were just discussing this again this week- they made the movie so much more appealing to a wider range of people, more Hollywood ready, even though it flopped at the box office -it really is one of a kind
That's fair. considered giving at least the book a try I know there are three other ones in the series she's come out within the last few years I can't say I'm a fan of those
okay so i guess i gotta be the odd one out here and say that i read the book before i saw the movie and was very disappointed in the movie...I felt like i got to see the girls grow up in the book and the movie had none of that, plus it had this really up-beat, quirky vibe that was really off-putting. i liked the book more because it was dark and serious.
I'll agree with you there... it did get a sugar coating... (let us refer to one of the first lines in the book spoken by Gillian..."F*** them") or something to that effect. Book was totally more grown up. Something id show middle schoolers but the book i wouldn't introduce till high school. Catch my drift ;)
