- Database
- Fanedit Listings
- FanFix
- Witches: The Roald Dahl Cut, The
Witches: The Roald Dahl Cut, The
Updated
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1990
Original Running Time:
91
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
84
Time Cut:
7
Available in HD?
Additional Links:
Brief Synopsis:
Presented in a remastered HD version and with a new DTS 5.1 audio mix, this new cut should please everyone who's ever enjoyed Roald Dahl's unique style, by making what is arguably the best film based on R. Dahl's work an even more faithful adaptation.
Intention:
"The Witches: The Roald Dahl Cut" aims to bring the film closer to the wonderful book it was based on.
Release Information:
Digital
Special Features
Bonus : A long lost 1979 video interview with Roald Dahl (included in the torrent).
Cuts and Additions:
The dreadful happy ending, which Roald Dahl hated, has been completely removed, making the new and reworked ending absolutely identical to that of the book. The more "vulgar" bits (to quote Roald Dahl himself) have also been cut, so has the idiotic subplot of the bad-witch-turned-good. Other scenes have been re-ordered and recut.
Cover art by Dr. Sapirstein (DOWNLOAD HERE)
User reviews
3 reviews
Overall rating
9.4
Audio/Video Quality
9.3(3)
Audio Editing
10.0(3)
Visual Editing
10.0(3)
Narrative
8.7(3)
Enjoyment
9.0(3)
Overall rating
9.0
Audio/Video Quality
8.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
8.0
Enjoyment
9.0
Audio/Video Quality: 8/10
It's certainly not pristine full HD but it's the best I've seen this looking.
Visual Editing: 10/10
It was invisible, simple as that.
Audio Editing: 10/10
Not a note out of place.
Narrative: 8/10
The reordered stuff was great but the ending didn't quite work for me tonaly. It's a long while since I read the book but I remember it being very celebratory because being a mouse and going on mouse-adventures sounded great. The new ending to this edit doesn't quite pull that off, with a shot of the grandmother crying herself to sleep at the thought of Luke's impending death.
The book ending could easily have worked and should have been used but since it isn't... I prefer the original "happy" ending by a very slight margin. However, I like the removal of the daft "good Witch" thing that is part of that original ending. Jane Horrocks is one of Britain's best actors, so all the scenes of her obviously playing full-on-evil, never sat well with the "tacked on" version of her character at the end.
Enjoyment: 9/10
I loved watching this once again, it was a firm favourite VHS for me and my brother at the time. Ahhhhh 1990, the last time films were made like this, with magical practical effects, horrifying make up and astounding puppetry. Sadly, this would all be done with fake-looking CGI now, as it's quicker, cheaper and takes less effort. I also doubt that a Director would be allowed to make a film as scary or directorially interesting for kids today.
It's certainly not pristine full HD but it's the best I've seen this looking.
Visual Editing: 10/10
It was invisible, simple as that.
Audio Editing: 10/10
Not a note out of place.
Narrative: 8/10
The reordered stuff was great but the ending didn't quite work for me tonaly. It's a long while since I read the book but I remember it being very celebratory because being a mouse and going on mouse-adventures sounded great. The new ending to this edit doesn't quite pull that off, with a shot of the grandmother crying herself to sleep at the thought of Luke's impending death.
The book ending could easily have worked and should have been used but since it isn't... I prefer the original "happy" ending by a very slight margin. However, I like the removal of the daft "good Witch" thing that is part of that original ending. Jane Horrocks is one of Britain's best actors, so all the scenes of her obviously playing full-on-evil, never sat well with the "tacked on" version of her character at the end.
Enjoyment: 9/10
I loved watching this once again, it was a firm favourite VHS for me and my brother at the time. Ahhhhh 1990, the last time films were made like this, with magical practical effects, horrifying make up and astounding puppetry. Sadly, this would all be done with fake-looking CGI now, as it's quicker, cheaper and takes less effort. I also doubt that a Director would be allowed to make a film as scary or directorially interesting for kids today.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
T
Overall rating
9.6
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
9.0
Enjoyment
9.0
This is a great little edit, nip and tucking the film back in line with Roald Dahl's original wishes. Removing the reformed witch subplot and the original ending worked perfectly, as none of the seams were visible or felt edited in any way. The only tiny issue I noticed was a mention of the 'good witch' towards the end of the edit, despite that story thread being excised.
Main characters that are obsessed with killing children? They don't make kids' films like this anymore!
Main characters that are obsessed with killing children? They don't make kids' films like this anymore!
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
N
(Updated: April 09, 2014)
Overall rating
9.6
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
9.0
Enjoyment
9.0
This was a great little edit. Brought back a lot of childhood magic and wonder. I quite enjoyed the recut narrative and felt the ending was very nicely done. Cheers for this!
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
N