"Being normal is not necessarily a virtue; it shows a lack of courage."

This is my favorite line from the movie Practical Magic. There are precious few movies that capture witchcraft in a realistic manner and Wiccans shouldn't find anything outright insulting with this film. Particularly if you understand Hollywood's reliance on demons and curses for their entertainment value and as a vehicle to occasionally propel the movie.

The stars, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman portray young adult witches weary of all the nonsense spouted by ignorant townspeople and play their parts as faithfully as possible, embracing the joy of the craft and clearly out of the broom closet.

Released in 1998, the critics generally panned it for combining too many genres: horror, comedy, and romance. However, I enjoyed many thoughtful aspects of it: the close relationship and psychic bond between the sisters Sally and Gillian; the comic relief provided by the aunts who raise the girls from age 10 and up. Of course, I really appreciated the the bonding of townspeople who help create the circle during the suspenseful ending, and well rounded characterizations by the two male stars in the movie are some of the many enjoyable moments.

Understand that my paganism is derived from the nature loving branch and not from experience with witchcraft. But I am inclined to think the coven, circle magic, spell-casting and making of potions are as near to reality as can be portrayed in this medium. The idea of being careful with what you wish for is aptly illustrated in various aspects of the movie to show the caution and wisdom needed in the craft and I don't find these truths to be trivialized. Always persist with what you think is good…”and harm none”.

Unfortunately sometimes we harm ourselves. The main plot line stems from a self inflicted curse.

In 1692 John Proctor stood up for reason as the witch hysteria grew in Salem and he implored the Royal Government to intercede and put an end to the madness engulfing the town, only to be the first man to be hung. Practical Magic begins in this era when Gillian and Sally’s' ancestor herself was about to be hung. The sensual Maria Owens fell afoul of the "women on the Hangin' Committee" and as her Puritan paramour wistfully looks on, she survives miraculously and stunned onlookers run in fright. She is left alone on an island, pregnant and filled with anger and confusion when her lover does not save her. She casts a spell so she will never fall in love again. The spell goes awry and it becomes a curse that all Owens women who fall in love lose their mate to Death.

The movie jumps to 1970’s when Sally and Gillian Owens, following the death of their parents, go to live with their aunts. Jet is played by Dianne West and Fran portrayed by Stockard Channing. Their childhood is not an easy one. Before being steeped in the family heritage of witchcraft, they innocently implore the local children to play with them. They are greeted with rocks and taunts derived from ancient hatred ("witch witch you're a witch") and this burns their hearts.

As they grow older, they react to their societal rejection in different ways. Sally’s controlled initiatives contrast Gillian’s reckless the pursuits, launching the movie into its troublesome problem. The family works together to save Gillian from physical abuse. The abuser, Jimmy Angelov, played by Goran Visnjic is given an unmeasured dose of belladonna, creating an unsolvable problem. Buried under the roses in their yard, another imperfectly implemented spell brings him back from the dead causing a demonic possession among other dramatic circumstances.
Nicole Kidman has an enigmatic, unfathomable depth as an actress and Practical Magic allows her to demonstrate this ability. Sandy Bullock plays the sister who tries to beat the curse with her nerdy normalcy and staunch resistance to a romantic relationship. But when the police detective investigating Angelov’s disappearance, played by Aidan Quinn, meets her, she begins a slide down the slippery slope of hopeless love. The teenage Sally had cast a spell to circumvent the Owens curse. She wished for an impossible combination of traits for a future spouse to prevent falling in love. "He shall have one green eye and one blue eye" and Officer Gary Hallet does.
Absorbed by the peculiarity of the case while trying to keep aloof, he is inexorably drawn in. His view is interesting as a truth seeking policeman who is puzzled at the superstitious nonsense local people have about witches. An important scene is when Sally explains about his pentacle shaped badge. "This has power because you believe it does," she tells him. There are implausible aspects where we need to suspend the reality we are accustomed to and the pentacle plays an important role in subduing evil later in the film.

The movie is fun. I'm giving this movie a high rating because I really enjoyed it.
8.5 pentacles