The story of the Sanderson Sisters is one of Disney legend and compulsive viewing this time of year, for me anyway!! Truthfully, if it was socially acceptable to talk about Hocus Pocus and it's general awesomeness 365 days a year I would! I honestly can't remember how I stumbled upon Winnie, Mary and Sarah but it was clear from early on that they cast a spell on me (geddit?!!) Hocus Pocus has amassed a pretty impressive cult following since its release in 1993 and my loyalty to it has stayed strong for 22 years. Yep. I just felt incredibly ancient when I realised it's been 22 years since it came out! But who doesn't love a film with the title is actually uttered in the movie!
But like anything, there's always a few haters that criticise and critique the movie. During an aimless Google browse over the weekend, it surprised me to see that a was Mr Thackery Binx that got the most negative attention! As a true HP fan, I was a fair bit shocked at the idea that the dreamiest kitty in Salem was the source of annoyance for so many! Binx (in adult form) was the object of affection for me when I first watched the movie. He was handsome, brave and even after he was turned into a cat by the Sanderson sisters he was totally saved the day (albeit 300 years later!) An 8 year old Lucy had a massive crush on Thackery and, despite the fact he was a cat, I was going to marry him someday.
Alas, I have now realised the dream of being Mrs. Thackery Binx may never happen but I owe it to 8 year old Lucy to defend him to the very end!
"He was a crappy brother!"
Ill informed and over critical watchers of Hocus Pocus always seem to use the opening scene of the movie to launch an attack on Thackery Binx. The scene opens up on Thackery waking up in the morning as something flies past his window. HPH (that's Hocus Pocus Haters!) are quick to give out about Thackery being lazy and selfish in wanting a sneaky lie in but we're talking about a 16 year old boy who has probably been working the fields (it's set in 1693) all day! He's probably nackered so it's hardly the crime of the century to have 10 minutes extra in bed! Yes, there are witches in the forest nearby but surely his parents have warned both Thackery and his little sister to keep their wits about them but they're still a pair of kids themselves. Where their parents are at that morning remains a mystery so in fairness, Thackery can't be blamed 100%!!
As soon as he realised whats happened he runs barefoot (ouch!) through the forest to save his sister Emily no matter the consequences and in the end gets zapped to kingdom come by Winifred and turned into a cat for all eternity!
"If he's a talking cat, why didn't he just tell his parents who he was afterwards?!"
When you were born, did you figure out how to speak straight away?? Or are you always super chatty after you've experienced severe trauma?? Because that's pretty much what happened to Thackery about 15 minutes before his parents decided to finally show up to help save Emily. Sure, when we meet him properly as a cat he can chat away but given that he has had 300 years to deal with things rather than 15 minutes; you've got to cut the fella some slack!
As to why he guarded the Sanderson house for 3 centuries afterwards and never spoke to anyone? He's intelligent enough to know that the whole 'I'm a talking cat!' scenario would freak people out and make his job of watching the house a million times harder with hoards of people looking for interviews and kitty autographs.
"He should have stopped Max lighting the Black Flame Candle!"
Okay, okay, this comment is kind of not entirely,
completely, totally wrong.
Since Binx had spent the last 300 Halloween nights protecting the old Sanderson sisters house from virgins with lighters, you can argue that the place probably had a lot of attempted intruders earlier on in the night and maybe he was down the old Salem crypt hunting mice on his break or met a cute female kitty for some kitty fun! After all, revenge is all well and good but even a 16 year old stuck in a cat's body for 3 centuries has certain needs! I personally blame Alison's mother who ran the Sanderson museum and stocked the place full with a vast supply of lighters in the same place as a supposedly cursed candle (that's not even locked in a case!). I mean that's pure sloppy management right there!
Whatever you're verdict in the case against Thackery Binx, it's pretty clear that Max, Dani and Alison would have been royally screwed without his help. His quick thinking and kitty guidance saved their asses throughout the movie.
Without Binx, Hocus Pocus wouldn't be the classic Halloween adventure it has become today and before you pass judgement keep in mind that yes, he's not perfect; but let me ask you: what cat/person is?!!
I'm going to leave you with that as I give into the urge to press 'play' for the 3rd time this week and pay a visit to my favourite 'SISTAAAAAHS..!!'
Forever in the Sky,
Lucy x
(The future Mrs. Thackery Binx)
But like anything, there's always a few haters that criticise and critique the movie. During an aimless Google browse over the weekend, it surprised me to see that a was Mr Thackery Binx that got the most negative attention! As a true HP fan, I was a fair bit shocked at the idea that the dreamiest kitty in Salem was the source of annoyance for so many! Binx (in adult form) was the object of affection for me when I first watched the movie. He was handsome, brave and even after he was turned into a cat by the Sanderson sisters he was totally saved the day (albeit 300 years later!) An 8 year old Lucy had a massive crush on Thackery and, despite the fact he was a cat, I was going to marry him someday.
Alas, I have now realised the dream of being Mrs. Thackery Binx may never happen but I owe it to 8 year old Lucy to defend him to the very end!
"He was a crappy brother!"
Ill informed and over critical watchers of Hocus Pocus always seem to use the opening scene of the movie to launch an attack on Thackery Binx. The scene opens up on Thackery waking up in the morning as something flies past his window. HPH (that's Hocus Pocus Haters!) are quick to give out about Thackery being lazy and selfish in wanting a sneaky lie in but we're talking about a 16 year old boy who has probably been working the fields (it's set in 1693) all day! He's probably nackered so it's hardly the crime of the century to have 10 minutes extra in bed! Yes, there are witches in the forest nearby but surely his parents have warned both Thackery and his little sister to keep their wits about them but they're still a pair of kids themselves. Where their parents are at that morning remains a mystery so in fairness, Thackery can't be blamed 100%!!
"If he's a talking cat, why didn't he just tell his parents who he was afterwards?!"
"He should have stopped Max lighting the Black Flame Candle!"
Okay, okay, this comment is kind of not entirely,
Whatever you're verdict in the case against Thackery Binx, it's pretty clear that Max, Dani and Alison would have been royally screwed without his help. His quick thinking and kitty guidance saved their asses throughout the movie.
Without Binx, Hocus Pocus wouldn't be the classic Halloween adventure it has become today and before you pass judgement keep in mind that yes, he's not perfect; but let me ask you: what cat/person is?!!
I'm going to leave you with that as I give into the urge to press 'play' for the 3rd time this week and pay a visit to my favourite 'SISTAAAAAHS..!!'
Forever in the Sky,
Lucy x
(The future Mrs. Thackery Binx)
