Something Wicked This Way Comes

Something Wicked This Way Comes


Starring:Jason Robards, Jonathan Pryce, Diane Ladd, Royal Dano, Vidal Peterson, Shawn Carson, Mary Grace Canfield, Richard Davalos, Jake Dengel, Jack Dodson, Bruce M. Fischer, Ellen Geer, Pam Grier, Brendan Klinger, James Stacy, Angelo Rossitto, Peter Risch, Tim T. Clark, Jill Carroll, Tony Christopher
Director: Jack Clayton
Studio: Anchor Bay
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Ray Bradbury adapted his own novel for Something Wicked This Way Comes, Jack Clayton's beautiful rendering of the turn-of-the-century fantasy of a mysterious carnival that literally blows into a small town to taunt and tempt the inhabitants. Jonathan Pryce (Brazil), the handsome but demonic proprietor of Dark's Pandemonium Carnival, preys upon the vanities, the delusions, and the regrets of the townspeople by granting their wishes at the expense of their souls. Jason Robards, as the meek librarian Charles Halloway, becomes his unlikely nemesis when his son Will, with his best friend Jim Nightshade (a deliciously dark name in its own right), discovers the secret of Dark's nightmarish carnival. When they become hunted by Dark's minions (including Pam Grier as the beautiful and mysterious Dust Witch), Halloway must confront his own fears and regrets to save the boys. Clayton captures the idyll of childhood in the fall with rich autumnal colors, his camera gliding along with the energetic boys as they tear through field and forests. The climax, however, gets lost in a cacophony of competing special effects, imaginatively visualized but never very terrifying, as if producer Disney resisted the uneasy undercurrent of the story. It's more dark fantasy than horror, a nightmarish adventure filtered through the memory of a man remembering his childhood in mythic terms. --Sean Axmaker
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • great adaptation of Ray Bradbury's book
  • family movie
  • A fine tribute to one of the master's of 20th century fiction
  • Almost a perfect film. . .
  • Very Good And Entertaining Horror Film!
 Something Wicked This Way Comes
Starring: Jason Robards , Jonathan Pryce , Diane Ladd , Royal Dano , and Vidal Peterson
Director: Jack Clayton
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

GeneralGeneral | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video
All Disney TitlesAll Disney Titles | Disney Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video
Carroll, JillCarroll, Jill | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Dano, RoyalDano, Royal | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Dengel, JakeDengel, Jake | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Geer, EllenGeer, Ellen | ( G ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Grier, PamGrier, Pam | ( G ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Ladd, DianeLadd, Diane | ( L ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Pryce, JonathanPryce, Jonathan | ( P ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Robards, JasonRobards, Jason | ( R ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Stacy, JamesStacy, James | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Clayton, JackClayton, Jack | ( C ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
DVDs Under $14.99DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
( S )( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:
  1. The Watcher in the Woods
  2. The Lady in White
  3. Something Wicked This Way Comes
  4. Seven Faces of Dr. Lao
  5. The Black Hole

ASIN: B0001I55U6
Release Date: 2004-08-03

Amazon.com

Ray Bradbury adapted his own novel for Something Wicked This Way Comes, Jack Clayton's beautiful rendering of the turn-of-the-century fantasy of a mysterious carnival that literally blows into a small town to taunt and tempt the inhabitants. Jonathan Pryce (Brazil), the handsome but demonic proprietor of Dark's Pandemonium Carnival, preys upon the vanities, the delusions, and the regrets of the townspeople by granting their wishes at the expense of their souls. Jason Robards, as the meek librarian Charles Halloway, becomes his unlikely nemesis when his son Will, with his best friend Jim Nightshade (a deliciously dark name in its own right), discovers the secret of Dark's nightmarish carnival. When they become hunted by Dark's minions (including Pam Grier as the beautiful and mysterious Dust Witch), Halloway must confront his own fears and regrets to save the boys. Clayton captures the idyll of childhood in the fall with rich autumnal colors, his camera gliding along with the energetic boys as they tear through field and forests. The climax, however, gets lost in a cacophony of competing special effects, imaginatively visualized but never very terrifying, as if producer Disney resisted the uneasy undercurrent of the story. It's more dark fantasy than horror, a nightmarish adventure filtered through the memory of a man remembering his childhood in mythic terms. --Sean Axmaker

Description

One of Ray Bradbury's most popular and intriguing novels of good and evil comes to life in this spine-tingling motion picture. On a grim and gusty October day, two young boys encounter a distressed man who foretells of danger blowing their way. Soon after, the town is visited by a seductive stanger named Mr. Dark and his Pandemonium Carnival. Terrifying things begin to happen when the adventurous boys stumble onto the carnival's deadly and destructive secret! Beware: SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES ... and frightening surprises follow!

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars great adaptation of Ray Bradbury's book.......2007-05-16

this is a great sci-fi movie of good and evil.it is also disney and only rated a pg.

4 out of 5 stars family movie.......2007-05-15

I have loved this movie ever since I was a kid, and was excited to see that it was in DVD. I got it and showed it to my own kids, and they love it as well. It's a good, somewhat scary, family Disney movie. I highly recommend it.

5 out of 5 stars A fine tribute to one of the master's of 20th century fiction.......2007-02-14

When this movie came out in '83 I thought it was one of the most magical films I'd ever seen. I still do.

5 out of 5 stars Almost a perfect film. . ........2006-12-06

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES has finally been remastered and reissued by Disney proper, and this is the only way you can see the film in its original 1:85 aspect ratio. Both Widescreen and Pan and Scan versions are provided on the disc. The picture and sound are outstanding, the beautiful October colors of Greentown and its valley well realized. Also included is the original trailer (which hit theatres before James Horner's wonderful score was ready, so other music was used. Pity.)

As for the film itself, it received an unfair drubbing on its original release. No film can truly capture Ray Bradbury's masterpiece of innocence and corruption, triumph and loss, joy and regret, light and dark. Bradbury's poetic prose is intended for the reader, not the speaker. And yet, his own screenplay (he is an accomplished screenwriter, too) comes close. The tone of the film is well balanced, hued in boyhood remembrance. The characters speak not in modern, colloquial English, but in the rich verbiage of the early twentieth century. Their Greentown is as much a creation of the heart as of the hand, where decent people live decent, caring lives.

Into this idyllic autumnal setting comes Cooger and Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show (shortened for the film to Dark's Pandemonium Carnival). It arrives in a dead, black railroad train and sets up in a sudden flash of lightning. The carnival is here to grant your deepest, most special wish, but take care: there is a terrible price to be paid.

Jack Clayton (who was talked out of retirement and signed on as director due to his work on the classic film THE INNOCENTS) brings his sure hand to SOMETHING WICKED, performing a delicate balancing act. Kirk Douglas had been trying to make the film for years through his Bryna Company, and his son Peter brought the project to Disney, which in the early Eighties was trying to break away from its dull Seventies image.

They signed a magnificent cast: Jason Robards, Diane Ladd, Pam Grier, Ellen Geer, Royal Dano, Jack Dodson, James Stacy, Angelo Rossitto, Bruce Fischer and as the demonic Mr. Dark, Jonathan Pryce. As the boys Will and Jim are Vidal Peterson and Shawn Carson. All handle Bradbury's wordsmithing with aplomb, especially old pros Robards and Pryce.

And the music: this film is blessed with one of James Horner's most inspired scores (which, I believe, had never been issued on LP or CD).

Not a horror film as such, but a dark fantasy.

Now, some may argue that the film changes things in the novel, mostly to make it more cinematic. No novel comes to the screen untouched. Ray Bradbury knows that better than most, so when he adapted his own work, he kept the movie medium in mind. Granted, it was a troubled production, and there was much post-production re-editing, but SOMETHING WICKED, I feel, still stands as a rough gem, coming as close to the spirit of the novel as possible.

I like it. I recommend it. 'nuff said.

4 out of 5 stars Very Good And Entertaining Horror Film!.......2006-10-14

This is one of those great horror films which children [not too young] can watch. There is a lot of suspense and thrills which will delight adults and keep children on the edge of their seats. When I first saw the film, I was a little disappointed. However, fast forward a dozen or so years, and I find myself liking this film. The main antagonist in the film is portrayed by Jonathan Pryce. Pryce does an excellent portrayal of Mr. Dark; the evil behind the carnival that has come to a small midwestern town: With promises and wishes that come with a price.

With Halloween around the corner; this is a very good choice for young ones to view a film without the gore so prevalent in so many other horror flicks. The film revolves around two young boys who discover Mr. Dark's secret about his carnival. [children will relate to the kid's]. As they try to thwart the evil, with the help of Jason Robards: one of the boys' father; the film takes off on an eerie and delightlful tale which adults and children will enjoy. Recommended!
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • great adaptation of Ray Bradbury's book
  • family movie
  • A fine tribute to one of the master's of 20th century fiction
  • Almost a perfect film. . .
  • Very Good And Entertaining Horror Film!
 Something Wicked This Way Comes
Starring: Jason Robards , Jonathan Pryce , Diane Ladd , Royal Dano , and Vidal Peterson
Director: Jack Clayton
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

GeneralGeneral | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
Pam GrierPam Grier | Action Stars | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video
SuspenseSuspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video
10-12 Years10-12 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video
Scary Movies & MysteriesScary Movies & Mysteries | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video
All Disney TitlesAll Disney Titles | Disney Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video
AdventuresAdventures | Live Action | Disney Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video
All TitlesAll Titles | Live Action | Disney Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video
7-11 Years7-11 Years | By Age | Disney Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video
For the Whole FamilyFor the Whole Family | By Age | Disney Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video
Carroll, JillCarroll, Jill | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Dano, RoyalDano, Royal | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Dengel, JakeDengel, Jake | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Geer, EllenGeer, Ellen | ( G ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Grier, PamGrier, Pam | ( G ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Ladd, DianeLadd, Diane | ( L ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Pryce, JonathanPryce, Jonathan | ( P ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Robards, JasonRobards, Jason | ( R ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Stacy, JamesStacy, James | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Clayton, JackClayton, Jack | ( C ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
DVDs Under $14.99DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Action & Adventure | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Horror | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
( S )( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:
  1. The Watcher in the Woods
  2. The Lady in White
  3. Something Wicked This Way Comes
  4. Seven Faces of Dr. Lao
  5. The Black Hole

ASIN: B00000K3CC
Release Date: 1999-09-21

Amazon.com

Ray Bradbury adapted his own novel for Something Wicked This Way Comes, Jack Clayton's beautiful rendering of the turn-of-the-century fantasy of a mysterious carnival that literally blows into a small town to taunt and tempt the inhabitants. Jonathan Pryce (Brazil), the handsome but demonic proprietor of Dark's Pandemonium Carnival, preys upon the vanities, the delusions, and the regrets of the townspeople by granting their wishes at the expense of their souls. Jason Robards, as the meek librarian Charles Halloway, becomes his unlikely nemesis when his son Will, with his best friend Jim Nightshade (a deliciously dark name in its own right), discovers the secret of Dark's nightmarish carnival. When they become hunted by Dark's minions (including Pam Grier as the beautiful and mysterious Dust Witch), Halloway must confront his own fears and regrets to save the boys. Clayton captures the idyll of childhood in the fall with rich autumnal colors, his camera gliding along with the energetic boys as they tear through field and forests. The climax, however, gets lost in a cacophony of competing special effects, imaginatively visualized but never very terrifying, as if producer Disney resisted the uneasy undercurrent of the story. It's more dark fantasy than horror, a nightmarish adventure filtered through the memory of a man remembering his childhood in mythic terms. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars great adaptation of Ray Bradbury's book.......2007-05-16

this is a great sci-fi movie of good and evil.it is also disney and only rated a pg.

4 out of 5 stars family movie.......2007-05-15

I have loved this movie ever since I was a kid, and was excited to see that it was in DVD. I got it and showed it to my own kids, and they love it as well. It's a good, somewhat scary, family Disney movie. I highly recommend it.

5 out of 5 stars A fine tribute to one of the master's of 20th century fiction.......2007-02-14

When this movie came out in '83 I thought it was one of the most magical films I'd ever seen. I still do.

5 out of 5 stars Almost a perfect film. . ........2006-12-06

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES has finally been remastered and reissued by Disney proper, and this is the only way you can see the film in its original 1:85 aspect ratio. Both Widescreen and Pan and Scan versions are provided on the disc. The picture and sound are outstanding, the beautiful October colors of Greentown and its valley well realized. Also included is the original trailer (which hit theatres before James Horner's wonderful score was ready, so other music was used. Pity.)

As for the film itself, it received an unfair drubbing on its original release. No film can truly capture Ray Bradbury's masterpiece of innocence and corruption, triumph and loss, joy and regret, light and dark. Bradbury's poetic prose is intended for the reader, not the speaker. And yet, his own screenplay (he is an accomplished screenwriter, too) comes close. The tone of the film is well balanced, hued in boyhood remembrance. The characters speak not in modern, colloquial English, but in the rich verbiage of the early twentieth century. Their Greentown is as much a creation of the heart as of the hand, where decent people live decent, caring lives.

Into this idyllic autumnal setting comes Cooger and Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show (shortened for the film to Dark's Pandemonium Carnival). It arrives in a dead, black railroad train and sets up in a sudden flash of lightning. The carnival is here to grant your deepest, most special wish, but take care: there is a terrible price to be paid.

Jack Clayton (who was talked out of retirement and signed on as director due to his work on the classic film THE INNOCENTS) brings his sure hand to SOMETHING WICKED, performing a delicate balancing act. Kirk Douglas had been trying to make the film for years through his Bryna Company, and his son Peter brought the project to Disney, which in the early Eighties was trying to break away from its dull Seventies image.

They signed a magnificent cast: Jason Robards, Diane Ladd, Pam Grier, Ellen Geer, Royal Dano, Jack Dodson, James Stacy, Angelo Rossitto, Bruce Fischer and as the demonic Mr. Dark, Jonathan Pryce. As the boys Will and Jim are Vidal Peterson and Shawn Carson. All handle Bradbury's wordsmithing with aplomb, especially old pros Robards and Pryce.

And the music: this film is blessed with one of James Horner's most inspired scores (which, I believe, had never been issued on LP or CD).

Not a horror film as such, but a dark fantasy.

Now, some may argue that the film changes things in the novel, mostly to make it more cinematic. No novel comes to the screen untouched. Ray Bradbury knows that better than most, so when he adapted his own work, he kept the movie medium in mind. Granted, it was a troubled production, and there was much post-production re-editing, but SOMETHING WICKED, I feel, still stands as a rough gem, coming as close to the spirit of the novel as possible.

I like it. I recommend it. 'nuff said.

4 out of 5 stars Very Good And Entertaining Horror Film!.......2006-10-14

This is one of those great horror films which children [not too young] can watch. There is a lot of suspense and thrills which will delight adults and keep children on the edge of their seats. When I first saw the film, I was a little disappointed. However, fast forward a dozen or so years, and I find myself liking this film. The main antagonist in the film is portrayed by Jonathan Pryce. Pryce does an excellent portrayal of Mr. Dark; the evil behind the carnival that has come to a small midwestern town: With promises and wishes that come with a price.

With Halloween around the corner; this is a very good choice for young ones to view a film without the gore so prevalent in so many other horror flicks. The film revolves around two young boys who discover Mr. Dark's secret about his carnival. [children will relate to the kid's]. As they try to thwart the evil, with the help of Jason Robards: one of the boys' father; the film takes off on an eerie and delightlful tale which adults and children will enjoy. Recommended!
Something Wicked This Way Comes: The Enid at Home & on Stage
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Something Wicked This Way Comes: The Enid at Home & on Stage
    Starring: Enid
    Manufacturer: Video Music, Inc.
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

    GeneralGeneral | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video
    GeneralGeneral | Pop | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video
    GeneralGeneral | Rock & Roll | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video
    DVDs Under $7.49DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
    ( S )( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
    ASIN: B0002OXUY2
    Release Date: 2004-09-14

    Description

    Something Wicked This Way Comes features two programmes showing the band in vastly different settings. Claret Hall Farm was made during the bands special 1984 weekend for the fans, who attended work and performances at The Enids home & studio setting of Claret Hall Farm. Stonehenge Free Festival was filmed during the Solstice at the last ever free festival to be staged at Stonehenge in 1984.This simple footage stands as a great insight and a worthy document of The Enid's warmth, creativity and lasting popularity.
    Wicked Minds - Something Wicked This Way Comes
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Wicked Minds - Something Wicked This Way Comes
      Starring: Wicked Minds
      Manufacturer: East Side
      ProductGroup: DVD
      Binding: DVD

      GeneralGeneral | Latin Music | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Pop | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Rap & Hip-Hop | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Rock & Roll | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video
      LatinLatin | Other Music | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video
      DVDs Under $14.99DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
      ( W )( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
      Similar Items:
      1. Something Wicked This Way Comes

      ASIN: B0009VI5LG
      Release Date: 2005-08-02

      Product Description

      SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES DVD (WICKED MINDS)
      Something Wicked This Way Comes
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		Something Wicked This Way Comes
        Starring: The Enid
        Manufacturer: Cherry Red UK
        ProductGroup: DVD
        Binding: DVD

        GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
        Alt IndustrialAlt Industrial | Industrial | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Pop | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video
        GeneralGeneral | Rock & Roll | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video
        ( S )( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
        ASIN: B0002ISGD8
        Release Date: 2004-12-07

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