Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman's cult classic Practical Magic arrives on 4K with a remastered presentation just weeks before the sequel hits theaters.
Magic, regardless of whether you believe in it or not, tends to be a controversial topic while being fascinating at the same time. Witchcraft is the same way. In the 1600s, witches were seen as being evil and punished as such. Today, the idea is more of a humorous one, and Wiccan culture is thought of as just one more type of religion. However, back in 1995, author Alice Hoffman saw it as a backdrop for her novel, Practical Magic, which became a feature film three years later starring Sandra Bullock (Speed) and Nicole Kidman (Days of Thunder). As the sequel makes its way to theaters, almost 30 years after the original's premiere, Warner Bros. Pictures has decided to release the first film, Practical Magic, in 4K this week.
Sally (Bullock) and Gillian (Kidman) Owens are two women living with a curse. They were raised by their aunts, Frances (Stockard Channing; The West Wing) and Bridget (Dianne Wiest; Edward Scissorhands), after their parents died. Under their tutelage, Sally and Gillian studied and honed their "craft" as they learned of their long family history of being witches. As adults, Gillian embraced her inner witch and was the wilder of the two sisters, whereas Sally refused to even tell her daughters of their ancestry and didn't practice her craft until the Owens' curse took her husband from her and she was forced to move back in with Aunts Frances and Bridget. However, things become very "messy" for them all when Sally rescues Gillian from her abusive boyfriend.
With an excellent cast, Practical Magic was destined to become a classic, and there is no surprise that it has. Bullock and Kidman have great chemistry and were great choices for the young witches. Channing and Wiest are perfect as their older family members as well as witches themselves. While the story is all about these strong, independent women, the men are great as well, with Goran Višnjić (ER) playing the abusive boyfriend, Aidan Quinn (Legends of the Fall) portraying Sally's love interest, and Mark Feuerstein (What Women Want) as Sally's deceased husband.
Though Practical Magic has been released before on both DVD and Blu-ray, this remastered 4K edition is a worthwhile upgrade to be certain. The 2160p resolution and 2.39:1 aspect ratio breathe new life into the video quality, offering an aesthetic that is worthy of what is meant to be the Northeastern coastline. The color palette is somewhat muted but striking nonetheless.
The Dolby Atmos audio is a slight uptick from the previous DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. There is a little more ambient noise than previously heard, and the soundtrack offers some deep bass and reverberating drum beats and lighter sounds from the upper register.
The extras are ported over from a previous release except for one new one that offers a retrospective of the film from the director's and actors' perspectives. The extras include Audio Commentary with Director Griffin Dunne, producer Denise Di Novi, star Sandra Bullock, and composer Alan Silvestri, NEW! The Power of Practical Magic, Casting the Spell, and Making Magic.
With the sequel hitting movie theaters in a few weeks, the timing couldn't be more perfect for this 4K release, and I'm sure Warner Bros. planned it that way. This is a terrific opportunity for people to brush up on the original story before we get a look at what the Owens family has cooked up next.
While not originally a bona fide hit when it came out in 1998, Practical Magic has since become a cult classic and is deserving of this 4K upgrade. Hopefully, the next one, which opens in theaters on September 11th, will live up to its predecessor's reputation.
Grade: B-
