I must say that this third installment of Halloweentown was a huge disappointment. I loved the first one, and enjoyed the second, but Halloweentown High doesn't even come close. I have the first two on tape, but have no desire to see this one ever again. First of all, it takes place almost exclusively in the human world. The only part of Halloweentown we see is a courtroom. Also, the mother is shown using magic more than once. This makes no sense because she made it clear in the earlier movies that she chooses to live as a mortal. They even show her using magic for stupid mundane things like making hot chocolate. And when the Cromwell women sit down to work a spell together, the mother participates, but the younger sister, Sophie, does not! Sophie, who played such a major part in the two earlier movies, is almost nowhere to be seen in this film. Also noticeably missing is Luke, Marnie's best friend from Halloweentown who helped her deal with the villains of both earlier movies. You'd think he'd at least stop by for a visit. Overall,though, I think that the writers lost track of what made the first movie so enjoyable - Halloweentown itself. Like Narnia, like Diagon Alley and Hogwarts - the fun of stepping through to a magical, adventurous world so near to our own and the potential that it represents is what keeps me coming back to the first movie for more.
Review of Halloweentown High
