What did you think of the movie The Craft?

Greetings all,
As a film, "The Craft" was fairly good and was fairly witty and intelligent. As a portrait of Wicca/Witchcraft...it took basic concepts (eg. Wiccan Rede, casting the circle) and twisted them until they screamed out in pain. The film basically tells the story of Sarah Bailey (Robin Tunney), a pretty new girl at a Roman Catholic school. There she meets Nancy (the excellent Fairuza Balk, on top form), a manipulative, power-hungry "trailer-trash" goth and her 'accomplices', swimmer Rochelle (Rachel True), a victim of racist bullying, and Bonnie (Neve Campbell), who has burn scars all over her back and dresses down to cover them up. They initiate her into their coven - they now have four members to represent the elements (Nancy: Air, Sarah: Earth, Bonnie: Fire and Rochelle: Water) and cast various spells ranging from making men fall madly (literally) in love with them, making people's hair fall out, levitation, hair and eye colour changing, killing people via telekinesis, invoking a powerful deity (they refer to the Spirit as Mhannone) which drives Nancy insane, prompting her to walk on water and try to kill people...including Sarah.. In fact, all three deaths in the film were a result of Nancy's misuse of power (well, two were definitely, but the Snake Man getting run over by a car was questionable). The film ends with a disturbing shot (reminiscent of The Exorcist) of Nancy in a psychiatric hospital, face pale and scratched, shrieking "I can fly! I'm flying!" over and over again... My advice to any Witch/Pagan/Wicca/Wiccan/Wicce etc. is to take it with a grain of salt. It may not be the most favourable portrayal of our religion, but at least it isn't green-skinned hags riding broomsticks which write messages in black smoke! Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, if you are reading this (even though you probably aren't) please, please make sure you know which part of this film is to do with our religion (the shopkeeper, Lyria, is probably the most accurate portratyal of a Wiccan in the film, minus the dodgy accent) and which part is fictional (afore mentioned homicidal telekinesis, turning other witches into Gorgon-like creatures, etc.) and that not all W.'s are nasty megalomaniacs who use power to their own ends.

SCORES (Percent)
For film itself - 76%
For favourable portrayal of Wicca/Witchcraft - 42%
For likelihood of anti-Wicca/Witchcraft propoganda - 56%
TOTAL - 58%
Luna Ravensylph
Date Added: 12-11-00

I know this is very much against the harm none rule, but I gotta say I loved it when Laura's hair started falling out!
Connie
Date Added: 12-11-00

I thought it was entertaining. I didn't think it was suppoed to be a "How to" film! Did I miss something??? Was it a "How to" film?? Oh no!! And I didn't have my note book ready! I guess I'll just have to rent it again! (HA HA HA HA)
Isis
Date Added: 12-11-00

I have been pagan ever since I could ask the question "how could adam and eve populate the whole world wouldn't we all be deformed by now?!!" that was about 6 years old. I've always been a witch, I just didn't meet my true teacher till this year and we finally met by fate as if I was sent to her, which of course I was ;) The movie the CRAFT never really influenced me as in "wow i wanna cast love spells on people and change my hair" I knew that controlling someones will was wrong and special effects were used to make the movie more appealing. I applaud the use of the threefold law, I think they should have emphasized a bit more. Lots of people expect witches to do things to people to control them, or make money or whatnot, they should have expanded that a TRUE witch will not take money for her help nor will she restrict the will of others "An ye harm none, do what ye will" Hopefully people will realize its just a movie, we have enough witch haters as it is but movies like this will continue to be put out because people WANT to believe magic works like that, even though they think it is evil. Mankind likes to be hypocrital and contradictory most of the times. :(
KangarariT
Date Added: 12-11-00

I think it has alot of entertainment value to but no really value. It's off the wall and misleads people. We are Witches who practice Magick, but we're not like that. We don't go on a killing spree and I don't even think we could make a car hit someone- could we? I've never really tried and don't want to either. Anyway, it's WRONG but a good movie anyway.
Kestrel
Date Added: 12-11-00

I thought that the film was funny. But what's getting to me is how seriously people are taking it. I mean all the people in school are all like 'WOW, I wanna be a witch and make myself blonde / brunnette...' and then there's all the wiccans out there going 'ohmigod, that is just so bad, how can they be allowed to portray the wiccan faith like that?' And personally I can see how the film is totally not wiccan (maybe they could call it manonish?)but I don't have a big issue over it! It's funny, fictional, and at the end of the day the people who thought they could change their hair color by cicking their fingers have gotten bored with it, and the people who actually thought 'hmm, magick really exists...' were probably sensible enough to go out and buy a book or look up a web page and learn what wicca really is about.! Chill out, relax and laugh at it, and yourself once in a while. Gee, I've probably made a real contraversial issue outta this but hey :) I study Wicca, and I eat meat... aren't you just going 'on no, she hasn't studyed properly...'
Happiness, honesty and humour be with you!!!
jekyl_hyde2000@yahoo.co.uk
Date Added: 12-11-00

Well...

I most say I realy enjoyed the movie with no regard to magick or wicca.
it was just very good.
if u all talking about the aspect of wicca I will tell u there is no real aspect of wicca!
they belive in ONE GOD!!!!! that is in all things!
they belive in magick but many other religions including cristianity belive in it.
most of the magick practitioners belive in karma and many call the watch towers.

THEY ARE NOT WICCANS!!

it is clear the power they gained is way stronger than most witches in the world today. and by the way, to all of u who said and belive there is no such thing as glamour magick-U'R WRONG!!! there are 2 kinds-the one they used of "realy" change eye or hair color wich is pretty hard but very much posible and the kind that projects an aura of something like being very smart if u try to get in to a school or get a job or very sexy if u'r "in the pool". if u want to find out more read the eye color change spell in www.spiritonline.com at the wicca section .
wbenzi@netvision.net.il
Date Added: 12-11-00

The best comedy I have that had seen a long time. It really made me laugh. It in away a great educational film, it shows you that you have to study, just cuz you think it's something cool to do their are risks and complications and just cuz you read a book or over hear something does not mean that you are a witch.
Rande
Date Added: 12-11-00