Customer Reviews

Halloweentown/ Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge [VHS]

5 star:		(63)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My daughters and I just love the Halloween season and there's no better movie to watch than this one. We can watch it over and over and never get tired of it. We always say we'd love to live in Halloweentown year round.(Too bad it's not a real town...or is it?) We're so glad it finally came out on DVD so now we can watch it whenever we want and don't have to wait until the one time of year for The Disney Channel to show it. I can't say enough about this movie. If you love Halloween I know you will love this movie too. :)

I love a good family Halloween movie. Something that's not too scary for little ones, but still something absorbing enough for adults. There are actually three of these movies now as the third, "Halloweentown High" came out in 2004 and it's too bad that Disney didn't release all three together.

The basic premise is that there is an alternate world from our own where it is always Halloween called, of course, Halloweentown. Aggie Cromwell (the radiant Debbie Reynolds) is a powerful witch as is her daughter Gwen (Judith Hoag). Aggie wants to train Gwen's daughter Marnie (Kimberly Brown) to use her powers before she loses them when she turns 13. This results in a big argument between Aggy and Gwen. Aggy returns to Halloweentown but Marnie and her two siblings Dylan and Sophie secretly follow her. Once there they learn about a dark force threatening Halloween town and only the combined power of all the Cromwell women, including Mom Gwen can stop it.

In the sequel, virtually the entire Main cast returns as Marnie has now become more proficient with her powers and as we learned at the end of the first film it turns out that the younger siblings also have developing powers of their own. This time their old foe Kalabar is back to wreak havoc and try to turn the people of our normal world into monsters.

The special effects and makeup in these films are above average, especially for made-for-tv films. All of the denizens of Halloween town are monsters of some sort and could be a tad scary for little ones but probably not too much. Kimberly Brown really develops as an actress and holds her own with the veteran Debbie Reynolds. Judith Hoag gets to do a bit more in this sequel as well.

All in all these are pretty good films, good family fun.

I am sooo happy that these movies have finally been released on DVD! I have to admit, I love watching these with the kids! I love the costumes, backgrounds, music and really good child actors. The stories are great too! So much fun on a cool fall night! Buy this DVD, pop some corn and enjoy!
By the way, if your worried that they might be too scary, don't. My son watched these at 5 and was not afraid at all. There are villians, but they are done in a fun way.

This DVD is a two-for package that includes the first two films of the Halloween Town series that aired on the Disney Channel. These two films kept all the major actors from the first film which helps give the series a bit of continuity.

In HALLOWEENTOWN, Marnie Cromwell (Kimberly J. Brown) is a thirteen-year-old girl who is slightly obsessed with what her friends call, "weird stuff", basically the occult: witches, vampires, werewolves, ancient writings, strange symbols, etc. Her mother, Gwen (Judith Hoag), doesn't approve of Marnie's pastime activities and also doesn't allow any of her children, Marnie, Dylan (Joey Zimmerman), and Sophie (Emily Roeske) to attend Halloween parties or go trick or treating. Dylan thinks it has something to do with the fact that their mother and late father met each other at Halloween and that the holiday has become sensitive for their mother. However, every year Gwen's mother, Aggie (Debbie Reynolds) stops by Gwen's home and brings gifts, candy, and costumes for the children. On her 13th Halloween, Marnie overhears her mother and grandmother discusses that their family is an old and famous witch family (the Cromwells) and that if Marnie doesn't begin practicing and studying before the end of the year, she will loose her powers. Marnie and her siblings follow Aggie back to her home in Halloweentown (a much more colorful place than the town of the same name in A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS) and help her in defeating a mysterious "dark thing" that is trying to rule Halloweentown and destroy humans.

HALLOWEENTOWN II: KALABAR'S REVENGE begins two years after HALLOWEENTOWN ended. Marnie has been practicing her magic under the tutelage of her mother and grandmother for almost two years. Once again it's Halloween, but this time the Cromwell home is alive and grooving with a neighborhood Halloween party. A new neighbor named Kal (Daniel Kountz) shows up and invites Marnie to the high school Halloween dance later that night. Marnie is smitten with Kal and shows him her grandmother's room. While passing out treats, Aggie's never-ending bag is suddenly empty and Aggie takes Marnie back with her to Halloweentown to find out exactly what is going wrong. It turns out the entire town has turned grey and the creatures there are now all dull, boring, and grey humans. The plot thickens and it's up to the powerful Cromwell clan to figure out just how to undo the black magic and set things right.

Neither HALLOWEEN TOWN nor HALLOWEENTOWN II are really that great of movies. However, they're not really terrible either. They are Disney Channel films so they are rather family friendly and tame. Most of the creatures are humorous instead of frightening and the entire Halloweentown world is sort-of tongue-in-cheek. Kids will probably adore these movies and though there aren't a lot of allusions or references for adults, the acting is decent and the lovely Debbie Reynolds as Aggie Cromwell is fun to watch. These films are a good way to get children excited about Halloween and maintain their interest after the two-month commercial build-up for the holiday.

These were two of the first (and still the best) DCOMs (Disney Channel Original Movies). Both films are filled with magic spells and mystical creatures that are reminiscent of the Harry Potter books and films. I mean, obviously the special effects are not on par with the Potter films but if you're looking for something magical to hold you over until the next film these two DCOMs will do the trick.

Both movies take place in two worlds (or dimensions), the mortal world and Halloweentown. The mortal world, as you may have guessed, is our world, the mortal world, and Halloweentown is a dimension created to refuge all the magical and fairy tale creatures after the humans turned on them.

In the first movie we are introduced to our heroin, Marnie Piper. She is a 13 year old girl whom is fascinated with Halloween and all things weird. Unfortunately, her mother keeps her locked up on Halloween and doesn't allow any talk of magic. When her grandmother shows up on Halloween night she discovers that she is really a witch. Marnie along with her two siblings, nerdy brother Dylan and little sister Sophie (who shows early signs of being a powerful witch), follow their grandmother to Halloweentown. It is soon discovered that there is something terribly wrong in Halloweentown. Good people are turning evil and then suddenly disappearing. Marnie and her grandmother discover a run down theater filled with petrified people and that is when they meet an evil warlock named Kalabar who is hell bent on uniting the two worlds and dominating both Halloweentown and the mortal world. After their grandmother and mother (who showed up after discovering her children's empty beds) are petrified by Kalabar it is up to Marnie and her siblings to cook up a potion that will save both their family and the rest of the known world. The only problem is, Marnie isn't a trained witch.

In the second film, Kalabar's Revenge, Marnie is a little more experienced in the ways of magic and her mother is no longer fearful of Halloween. During a party Marnie meets a cute boy named Kal whom she shows her grandmothers secret bed room (filled with magical goodies). Soon after Kal departs Marnie and her grandmother discover her magic bag has run dry. The bag is connected to her house in Halloweentown so if something is wrong with the bag that means something must be wrong with the house. The pair set out for Halloweentown through the portal to investigate. They find that the entire town has been affected by the 'Grey Spell' and all the fairy tale creatures are slowly turning into dull, boring, humans. They call home for the spell to reverse it but it appears that someone (Kal) has stolen it. It soon becomes apparent what Kal's plot is, to turn Halloweentown human and the mortal world into monsters, after her grandmother is affected by the 'Grey Spell' Marnie sets out on an adventure through the magical world (including some time travel) to discover a way to reverse the spell in time to save both worlds.

Both of these movies are awesome and highly enjoyable for both the young and young at heart. As I've already stated they feel a lot like the Potter films, in fact Halloweentown reminds me of Diagon Ally. Each film runs about 80 minutes a piece so if you're looking for a nice quick feel good film then this just might satisfy that itch.

I had seen Halloweentown/Halloween II - Kalabar's Revenge on the Disney channel and was so impressed that I decided to buy this product and add it to my library.

Halloweentown: Many people feel like the Halloweentown Trilogy are some of the best Disney Channel Original Movies. They have been some of Disney Channel's most popular programs. I don't know about you but Ive had them recorded on VHS for years, but now they are available officially from Disney on DVD! Halloweentown, Disney Channel's 4th Original Movie, premiered on Disney Channel Friday, October 17, 1998, and has aired almost every Halloween since. The story is very amazing. This is the story of Marnie Piper (Kimberly J. Brown, "Quints", "Bringing down the House") and her family. On her 13th Halloween, Marnie's grandmother Agatha Cromwell (Debbie Reynolds) visits and accidently lets a family secret slip to Marnie. Marnie has always wondered why her mother has sheltered her and her siblings, Dylan and Sophie (Soapy :lol:) and now she finally learns the truth. She overhears her mother and grandmother arguing about Marnie's future. Her grandmother wants to bring her back to her home town, and begin her training as a Witch! After her mother forbiding it, Marnie sneaks out of the house with her brother to follow her grandmother. She follows her to her home, Halloweentown, where she discovers a whole new world, complete with Evil Warlocks, and mysterious creatures. This movie, widely thought to be the best of the trilogy is sure to entertain children of all ages. Even the parents will enjoy this family flick. Mine does!

Halloweentown II:Kalabar's Revenge: Halloweentown II, Disney Channel's 33rd Original Movie, originally premiered on October 12, 2001 and continues where the first left off. Marnie is now in training with her grandmother, when on Halloween night they go for their annual visit to their lovely home. But when an evil Warlock, named Kalabar threatens the lives of not only Hallooweentown but also Earth, Marnie must team up with some old friends to save everyone, AGAIN!!

The DVD: I am a little disappointed that Disney has decided to put the first two movies in this series onto one DVD, becuase it will lessen chance of bonus features, it will lessen video and audio quality, and most importantly, It won't look right on my shelves! No matter what, I'll still be picking this one up.

If you hate the latest Disney sequels. Then I've got to recommend Halloween Town.
Halloween town is imaginitve ,original and it isn't some lame remake of a disney classic. Enjoy!!

This DVD movie was a real treat for my class. It came in VERY good condition and getting two movies for the price of one was a great deal. I would use this seller again.

Great holiday movies, first aired on Disney Channel and I watched them as a kid. They are fun to watch and quite entertaining.