Race to Witch Mountain (Two-Disc Extended Edition + Digital Copy)
Starring: Billy Brown, Jack Eastland, Ike Eisenmann, Carla Gugino, Ted HartleyDirector: Andy Fickman
Studio: Walt Disney Video
MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Format: Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
Running Time: 98 minutes
DVD Release: August 4th 2009
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DVD Review
Loosely based on Alexander Key's novel Escape to Witch Mountain, Race to Witch Mountain is not so much a remake of the 1975 film Escape to Witch Mountain as an entirely new film based on some key plot points from the former film. When two innocent-looking teens appear in Jack Bruno's (Dwayne Johnson) cab and tell him that "we must travel in that direction," Jack thinks it's a bit strange, but shrugs it off and starts driving. Soon they're being followed and chased off the road, but is it Jack's past catching up with him or something much larger? Sara (AnnaSophia Robb) and Seth (Alexander Ludwig) reluctantly confess that they are aliens from another planet, but Jack refuses to accept their statement until Sara starts moving things with her mind and Seth slips through the body of the car and deflects the SUV that's pursuing them. Sara and Seth tell Jack that they must recover their crashed spaceship in order to save earth from being taken over by aliens, so Jack takes them to see Dr. Alex Friedman (Carla Gugino); a scientist who he met by chance and who believes in the possible existence of extra-terrestrials. While the four are initially wary of one another, Dr. Friedman provides some valuable contacts and they begin trusting one another out of sheer necessity. Soon they're battling secret government agencies, heavily armed personnel, and even a cybernetic Siphon (that looks a lot like a Cylon from Battlestar Galactica) in a desperate attempt to gain access to the heavily fortified Witch Mountain and the crashed spacecraft. Action-packed car chases dominate the film (a bit excessively, in this reviewer's opinion), but the acting and chemistry between actors is good as is the suspense and intrigue. Rated PG due to sequences of action and violence, frightening and dangerous situations, and some thematic elements. (Ages 9 and older) --Tami Horiuchi
User Reviews
Race to Witch Mountain is full of action - Rating: 5/5
I have seen Race to Witch mountain the other day in theatres. It was a good adaptation of the remakes of Escape To Witch Mountain and Return To Witch Mountain. Dwayne Johnson scores another Disney Box office hit which his last hits were The Game Plan and Get Smart the movie. I love this movie now my third favorite Dwayne Johnson film. I can't wait for the two disc extended edition dvd with scenes that was cut out of the theatrical version because of time and money to make this a good Action-Science fiction Adventure movie.
Interesting concept but with very bad actors - Rating: 2/5
This movie would have been very good if they had just recast the two little alien people. In my mind they showed little to no real emotion and they both gave off silly performances in a bland attempt to sound serious. Other than that the movie was interesting. Also it is very weird that there are over 5 different remakes of this film. Can't Disney just stick with the original?
Watchable, but that's about it - Rating: 2/5
At the store yesterday I bought a copy of the classic movie Tron. It's still got a paper-thin plot, and the SFX are aged, but, damn, I love that movie! David Warner for the win!
Along with the DVD came a little coupon for a free ticket to the movie Race to Witch Mountain, which is basically a remake of the 1975 film, Escape to Witch Mountain (funny side note: one of my friends said once he knew he might be gay after seeing the character of Tony in that movie). I remember the movie myself. I watched it quite a bit when I was a kid, whenever it wa son TV (for you youngun's out there... this was in the days before DVDs and barely in the days of VHS. If you wanted to watch a movie, you had to wait until it was broadcast).
I heard about this new version and had zero interest in seeing it. Then I got the free ticket and thought, eh, what the hell.
So now I've seen the film and I call it... mediocre. The SFX are quite good and Dwayne Johnson is very charismatic (I'm surprised his movie career hasn't taken off more, but I think it helps that he's no longer calling himself The Rock). But otherwise, this is nothing special.
The film tells the story of two aliens who apparently are unable to pilot a starship into orbit and instead conveniently crash in the Las Vegas area. Sooper sekrit guvmint sp00ks track this crash and start tailing the aliens, who now look like normal kids and have stowed away in the back of a taxi being driven by Johnson's character. Stuff happens, the government proves to be omniscent, omnipotent and omnipresent (if only the real government functioned like that), the kids make all sorts of pretentious remarks, I yawn and look at my watch.
This wasn't a bad movie, really, and it was nice to see the original actors from the first movie back again in something other than just a little "Oh, look who it is!" cameo. But the story was weak, the government agents implausible and the less said about the acting aside from Ciran Hinds and Dwayne Johnson the better (Alexander Ludwig is most notable here as an "actor" whose primary talent seems to be standing around looking attractive and desirable to the readers of Non-Threatening Boys magazine. In this, at least, he succeeds admirably).
I'll grant the original Witch Mountain movies weren't any great shakes, but they were at least somewhat better than this warmed-over drek. Don't waste your time.
Better Than Expected - Rating: 5/5
I was pleasantly surprised by Race To Witch Mountain. Good enough storyline, decent acting and good special effects. Cameos of Classic Disney Actors and a director who did not set out to destroy the Originals. That all being said and done allow me to explain why my opinion should count. I not only have seen but own the entire Witch Mountain series consisting of
#1 Escape To Witch Mountain
#2 Return From Witch Mountain
#3 Beyond Witch Mountain
#4 The New Escape To Witch Mountain
#5 The Witch mountain Project
and soon
#6 Race To Witch Mountain
I also own both Escape To Witch Mountain and Return From Witch Mountain by Alexander Key.
I loved the books. The First Disney Classic followed the books very little per usual. The second one follwed closer.
Escape To Witch Mountain I thought was a decent fun and haunting movie when I was a kid. I Loved Return even more. Bette Davis and Christopher Lee were a good team.
Beyond Witch Mountainw as a tv pilot film that brought Tracy Gould and Kirk Cameron (both from Growing Pains) together with Eddie Albert. This movie was boring. Flat out, had to watch it 3 times before finishing. Its only somthing to be owned by sincere collectors. Dosnt follow the movie plotline or the book. Basic dribble.
The New Escape To Witch mountain I hate admitting it exists, let alon that i own it. The stupid Purple light concept was AWFUL. Eric Von Detton could not act and the movie was rotten all the way around.
The Witch Mountain project is a spoof of Blair Witch, very fun 15 minute short that features Ike Eismann and Kim Richards in a tongue in cheek finale. Worth hunting down.
So with the release of Race To Witch Mountain you can see why I was skeptical, 2 really bad films in a row.
What it appears to me is that the writer and director were old Disney Fans. Writing a story that is feesable with todays beliefs and still work in classic cameos and tongue in cheek humor.
They took painstaking care to incorpertae all kinds of Escape to Witch Mountain tribut's in the film right down to an Eddie Albert Record in the background. Kime Richards and Ike Eissman both make Cameo appearnces and as an extra bonus to us Disney fans Meredith Salinger reprised her role as Nattily Sue Gann Reporter in the film. For those of you unaware Merideth was the actress who potrayed Natty in The classic Journey Of Natty Gann. These are some of the fun treats in store for the Witch Mountain Fanatics. The actors are good, carrying off their roles very believably. The writing was good, solid and interesting. The story built and grew and had the Disney ending. For people who are into special effects, they were decent and believable. A family film with somthing for everyone. A true Witch mountain fan should agree with everything I have said. Take a chance and see for yourself.Maybe not a classic, but not a waste of an hour and half. Enjoyable.
An Awesome Remake!!! - Rating: 5/5
I thought this was a really good movie, and had a lot of action and was very funny! Everybody did an awesome job! I can't compare it to the original because it has been a long time since I've watched it. Dwayne Johnson plays Jack Bruno, a taxi driver who helps two kids named Seth and Sara get back to Witch Mountain to retrieve their ship, who happen to be aliens! I loved Seth and Sara's powers! They are pursued by the dumb Government who want to examine them. Then, they seek help from Dr. Alex Friedman, who is played by the sexy Carla Gugino. Will Seth and Sara get back to Witch Mountain in time? I highly recommend that you RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN!!!
