Race To Witch Mountain

Reviewer: Alyice Edrich

The Movie

Race To Witch Mountain , 2009

Starring

Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Carla Gugino, and more.

Plot

A Las Vegas taxi driver picks up a new faire—who just so happens to be two teenage aliens determined to save planet earth from total annihilation.

Review

As I mentioned in a previous review, I loved Disney’s Witch Mountain series as a child. It had a strong storyline and the animation captivated children everywhere. However, looking at the film today, I felt the need to “not give the children” any real personality hurt the film for today’s young audience—an audience who thrives on feeling in touch with their on-screen peers.

That’s why I was glad to see AnnaSophia Robb’s character, Sara, show some real emotion and personality—and a bit disappointed to find her co-star keep to the original film’s desire of removing all traits of personality from the children. However, I must admit that his lack of personality isn’t noticeable thanks to Dwayne Johnson’s charisma.

When I first heard Disney was coming out with a remake, I actually found myself excited. Normally, I am not a fan of remakes as they often lose something in their need to reach today’s audience and ruin what was otherwise, a timeless classic. However, I truly believed Disney’s Witch Mountain series could use an overhaul—as technology has really advanced from the time the film was made. Unfortunately for me, and fortunately for the younger audience, the remake wasn’t a remake at all! It’s a completely different storyline with all new characters.

It all begins when two young children enter the taxi of a reformed mobster’s wheelman and ask him to take them to an undisclosed location. No sooner do the children enter the taxi, does the adventure begin.

First, the children must find a science project left on earth by their parents, then they must escape an assassin from their home planet. Next, they must avoid the government officials dead set on turning them into lab rats. And finally, they must return to their home planet in time to stop the war on earth—as a select few from their home planet would rather take over earth and kill off the human race then save their dying planet.

It truly is an action-packed adventure full of promise. The characters are lively, the action fast-paced, the storyline somewhat strong, and the comedic remarks enlightening. And yet, part of me misses the calm of the original films and still longs to for a remake of the original series as I loved the storyline, the flying RV, the dancing marionettes, and the fighting coat rack.

Your Task

Watch the original series with your children, then watch Race To Witch Mountain. Then discuss how advances in technology have drastically improved the believability of films, while storylines have declined as directors opt to spend precious airtime showing off those advances.

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