Race to Witch Mountain (2009) Poster

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7/10
Good Movie for Kids-OK for Adults
mia_marauder19 March 2009
This is and is not a remake of the original Witch Mountain movie. It's more follows the guidelines and then takes off on its own in a more modern twist. If you liked the old one, you will probably still like this one too.

The actors did a pretty good job all the way around. The main bad secret agent guy was a really flat character, while everyone else was more dynamic. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson was great in this movie. He really keeps it going for the audience and is really funny. The kids are good as well. All the others did an alright job.

The plot has good twists to it and has multiple sides that are all crashing in together at the same time. The flow of the movie is a little jerky in a couple spots, but overall is an action packed ride.

The CGI effects are well done and believable. I enjoyed getting to see that aspect come to life, where the original Witch Mountain could only dream of seeing such cool stuff! Overall it is a good movie. Your kids will really like it and you will enjoy it as well. I recommend going and seeing it to anybody!
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7/10
Fun movie
artzau15 March 2009
Hey, don't believe the downers trashing this movie. It's fun. Non-action stop from beginning to the end. Dwayne Johnson, who finally shed his former wrestling nom de lutre, is a much better actor than people are willing to concede. He has a mobile face and uses his big body well with a lot more expression and ability than some of the other shoot'em up and knock-about action heroes. This film, a remake of the old Disney classics with a CGI uptake and story rewrite, is entertaining, engaging and full of witty little pieces for the watchful viewer. When the alien bad guy gets knocked for a loop and everyone ducks for cover and the 2 UFO-Trekkie-types rejoice, (Wow. Best convention ever!) and the one I liked best, one of the nerd bad guys named Analyst D. Pleasance, for the veteran character actor, Don Pleasance who played the bad guy in the Disney originals. Also, Irish actor, Ciaran Hinds makes a superb Man in Black Suit bureaucrat villain and lovable Cheech Marin as the sleepy mechanic gets his licks in too, albeit in a bit part. The beautiful Carla Gugino comes across as the UFO seeking academic and Director Garry Marshall as the nut case UFOligist makes for good comic relief. The two kids add the mixture with AnnaSophia Robb reminding me of one of my granddaughters and Alexander Ludwigs serious facial expression adding to the fun. I found this film fun from the get-go and recommend it highly.
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7/10
A Nutshell Review: Race to Witch Mountain
DICK STEEL14 March 2009
If aliens exist, and if they have access to the films made from Earth, they would likely make a mental note to remind themselves that should they visit our planet on terms other than a hostile takeover or annihilation, to avoid landing in the USA at all costs. Hollywood has enough dough to continuously churn out effects laden science-fiction movies, and most of them are big budgeted action fests like Independence Day and Men In Black, which don't exactly paint a good picture of the extra-terrestrials. Aliens who have more benign intent, would be frightened by how trigger happy and violence prone the US is toward illegal aliens, even if popular culture meant the landing zone for extra terrestrials is the USA and not other larger countries.

Race to Witch Mountain being Disney fare means the toning down of practically everything to ensure that it is safe for the entire family to experience together. Dwayne Johnson seems right at home in family friendly flicks like The Game Plan (also directed by Andy Fickman), and I guess his action days on screen will be few and far between, especially when he gets to flaunt his dramatic and comedic flair. Woe is the fan boy like me who have grown up with The Rock, but there's no more people's eyebrow, and we should start to get used to seeing our idol in a different light on celluloid.

Johnson plays a Las Vegas cab driver Jack Bruno who has a colourful past that he tries to bury, in order to earn an honest living to buy his dream Mustang featured in the Steve McQueen movie Bullit. In a confluence of the stars he picks up a scientist who specializes in extra terrestrials, before chancing onto two of them when they boarded his cab without his knowledge. The brother and ssister aliens – Sara (AnnaSophia Robb) and Seth (Alenxander Ludwig) – are here on a noble mission, and are in hot pursuit by the shady government agents led by Henry Burke (Ciaran Hinds) as well as something like a Terminator from many light years away.

This naturally gives rise to your standard set action sequences where we get to see the alien twins exercise their rather innocent demeanour ("they're only kids!") to their advantage, behind which hides the immense powers they possess such as Telepathy and Density manipulation, which I thought was a very cool power to have. Imagine being able to pass through walls, yet having tremendous strength in the form of a road block, literally. AnnaSophia Robb whom I felt did a fantastic job in The Bridge to Terabithia, stars as the female child, and because of her character's ability, she brings forth a more trusting, and empathetic character, in direct contrast to the other alien Seth (The Seeker from The Dark is Rising is all grown up now), who's more direct, commanding, aloof and untrusting of humans in general, no doubt their initial experience was in having their space ship confiscated to Witch Mountain, and being chased for the conduct of experiments.

Carla Gugino, last seen as the aged Silk Spectre in Watchmen, got active only in the last third of the show, which was somewhat of a pity because she shared great chemistry with the rest of the cast, and got involved quite late into the thick of things. But of course if there's any consolation, like how the bits during the end credits would suggest, and depending on the box office results, there might be room for more in a sequel, if it comes.

There are references galore in the film given that there's a science-fiction convention event featured in the movie, and you can't help but also think about the potential for theme park rides with the yellow cab being pursued and pretty banged up. In fact I was wondering each time the cab got put through an action sequence, that it would make for a great 4D ride in Disneyland. You can't help it because it was quite in your face, with the sequences designed in that manner, deliberately or otherwise.

Despite some glaring plot loopholes, Race to Witch Mountain has all the ingredients for a great family outing. The story doesn't try to be more intellectual than it can handle, and doesn't let the special effects run wild and take over everything else. For being such a sentimental fool, the ending also got some brownie points from me, as it's tough not to shed a tear or two given the trials and tribulations from which a solid bond is formed amongst all the characters. Recommended for a family outing, but don't go expecting something out of this world (pun not intended), as everything's pretty formula.
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7/10
Painfully close to a great movie
jmelvin1-114 March 2009
Warning: Spoilers
First of all, it's not great. Second, any of the reviewers who talk about the original being a classic, I was 11 in 1975. Give me a break. It was typical of the Disney crap released at this time. Finally, when I say close to great, I mean in an ET/Iron Giant way. Instead, it's more along the lines of Cocoon.

This is a good movie, and at times, it IS great. But as a whole, it falls short. Much of the film is typical. You know, Aliens are good, men in black are bad, action, chase, environment message, yada yada. Here's where it's better than your typical sci-fi action family film.

1. Everyone except Carla Gugino (Dr. Alex Freidman) is excellent in their rolls. Even she isn't particularly bad, just not as good. There are some good cameos. Gary Marshall is great.

2. The action: while this is PG, it doesn't shy away from violence or guns. But the catch is when Dwayne Johnson and the teen-Aliens are running from an Alien Bounty hunter early on, the teens look scared. Anna Sophia Robb's eyes really deliver a sense of vulnerability. I found this as effective as the Train Tunnel chase.

3. It is rather dark for a PG film. The men in black are a culvert group from our federal government, who point their loaded weapons constantly at innocent US citizens. The film briefly makes the parallel to the Alien Bounty Hunter, who is a military agent from the teen- aliens' planet. Washington is mentioned behind the men in black. They want to kill our beloved Alien teens.

4. As with most great Sci-Fi, it relates to our times. Our protagonist teens have no rights because they are illegal aliens. The Men In Black are out of control. Granted, this would work better if Bush was still president, but still, it directly plays on the reality that the executive branch of our government has unchecked power.

5. Two sections of the movie takes place around a sci-fi convention. This allows for plenty of gags that remind us that the film makers didn't take this movie too seriously.

Now, if this isn't your kind of film, don't be tempted to see it. But for family action, yes. For Sci Fi, it's a must see. For a Sci fi action flick, it does everything well, except the ending. And that's its fault. It is the typical corn ball alien ending (al-la Cocoon, or Splash). After the first two acts being so strong, it's too bad.

Let's compare this to Bolt, since both are PG family Disney fare. After a poor second act, Bolt delivered with a rather emotion resolution. With Race to Witch Mountain, Act 3 becomes a Ron Howard formula. Strange, as Act 1 and Act 2 were almost good enough to be a must see for everyone.

How could this film have delivered better in the end? First of all, play up the teen-aliens sacrificing themselves to save our world. Environment, so it reminds us of "This Island Earth". And Sarah dies making this sacrifice. Now, Seth and Jack stay strong until the end, when they finally let loose with the tears. Sarah's innocence was very effective in this movie, and this would be just emotionally devastating. But in the sequel we discover that Sarah's body has been reproduced, and her soul was stored in Jack Bruno's brain (think Star Trek 2 and 3). So he has a sudden fetish for female teen accents and a strange fascination with Hannah Montana. Would you pay to see Dwane Johnson air singing with a Hannah Montana wig, earrings, and a bow in his hair? I think so. So, Disney may have missed the boat on this. Big time

So close.
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7/10
Delightful Family Entertainment
claudio_carvalho1 August 2009
In Las Vegas, the regenerated ex-con Jack Bruno (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) works as taxi driver. During an UFO Convention at Planet Hollywood, the skeptical Jack picks up Dr. Alex Friedman (Carla Gugino), who will present a scientific lecture in the event. Then he is pressed by two henchmen of his former boss, the criminal Wolff, that wants to talk to him, but Jack does not want to return to the crime life. Jack fights and gets rid of them; out of the blue, he finds two teenagers on the backseat of his cab. They tell that they are siblings, Sara (AnnaSophia Robb) and Seth (Alexander Ludwig), and they need to travel to a location outside Las Vegas in the middle of nowhere. Meanwhile the government finds a spacecraft that crashed nearby Las Vegas and is chasing the two aliens; after the investigation of the men of Henry Burke (Ciaran Hinds), they discover that the two siblings are the aliens. Jack Bruno, Sara and Seth are chased by Henry Burke's team and by the "Syphon", a killer from outer space that has been sent to kill them by the military of their planet that want to invade Earth. Sara and Seth explain that they traveled to Earth to collect scientific data of an experiment and save Earth from invasion, but they need to return immediately to their planet. Jack teams up with Dr. Alex to retrieve their spacecraft in a secret base in the Witch Mountain.

"Race to Witch Mountain" is a typical movie from Disney, i.e., a delightful family entertainment. The story is predictable and uses the usual clichés of the genre, with the heart-warming hero; the despicable villain; the chase and the car race; the corny conclusion after the first contact; despite of that, I liked "Race to Witch Mountain" a lot. The pleasant cast performs enjoyable characters, and I particularly like The Rock, AnnaSophia Robb and Carla Gugino very much; only the boy Alexander Ludwig is unknown for me. I do not understand why some masochistic viewers that do not like this type of movie waste their time watching them and then write bad reviews; what would they expect? My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "A Montanha Enfeitiçada" ("The Bewitched Mountain")
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4/10
Race Away from Witch Mountain
RichardSRussell-124 March 2009
Dwayne Johnson plays Jack Bruno, Las Vegas cabbie, and Carla Gugino is Dr. Alex Friedman, UFO expert. Perhaps you saw the preview in which Bruno and Friedman are crawling thru a tubular tunnel and she admits to a bit of claustrophobia. Just then Bruno reaches an opening into a deep vertical shaft and asks "How are you with heights?". It was a good scene, with a bit of low-key but contextually appropriate humor that the former Rock has learned to deliver effectively, making him a big, strapping brute of a guy that you feel comfortable with. But that scene isn't in the film itself. Instead, we see the aftermath, in which Friedman is still a bit freaked out, for no apparent reason.

The rest of the movie was like that, too. People seemed to be doing things with no credible motives. The 2 adults flee from no fewer than 4 sets of pursuers exhibiting varying degrees of hostility (The Government, a space-alien cross between Predator and Inspector Javert, Bruno's former mob boss Mr. Wolf and his henchthugs, and the LVPD). They do so to protect 2 teenage Swedish, I mean space, aliens who are here to retrieve the mcguffin, um, recording device that will prevent their planet from launching a hostile takeover, uh, invasion. The gal of the pair, Sara, is played by AnnaSophia Robb. We know from her performance in Bridge to Terabithia (2007, 9*) that she can be a tremendously appealing young actress, but here she gets to do stuff like pointing her finger and monotonically saying "Go that way, Jack Bruno.". The boy, Seth, is played by Alexander Ludwig, a cipher.

The government's head alien tracker warns Bruno that the kids are not what they seem to be. Anyone who's ever seen a science-fiction movie (which apparently includes precisely zero of any characters who are actually IN an SF movie) can only begin to imagine what might lurk beneath those placid blond exteriors, but this proves singularly untroubling for Bruno, leading right up to the snuggle-bunny ending (Disney, y'know), which was likewise not well set up by any of the preceding events.

The scenes set at a UFO convention make good sport of fannish stereotypes, which some people might find offensive but I choose to treat as endearing. And I loved the sly humor that they DID leave in the script, wherein Bruno asks the kids at the controls of the flying saucer "Do you know how to fly this thing?", they respond "How do you think we got here?", and he replies "Well, you crashed!". More of that, from another couple of passes thru the typer, would have earned this one an upgrade.

–––––

*Best SF&F film of the 21st Century so far, IMHO
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all right film but the original was better
dtucker8614 March 2009
I think its nice that Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann have cameos in the film as a waitress and sheriff, they were the kids in the 1975 original. I remember my mother taking me to see it when I was seven. This is an all right film but the original was so much better. Dwayne Johnson (formally known as the Rock)takes over Eddie Albert's part as the earthman who befriends the two young aliens, the difference is that Eddie Albert could act a lot better! One thing I have to say about this film is that its certainly not boring! I would have loved to have seen the special effects budget. It has enough explosions and car chases for three films.
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7/10
Some Cabdrivers Do Get The Most Interesting Fares
bkoganbing13 April 2009
As they did with reviving Herbie the Love Bug for a film with Lindsay Lohan a few years back, the Walt Disney Studios decided that the two popular Witch Mountain films from the Seventies could also use a nice computer graphic remake. The Magic Kingdom has always been known to milk a good thing to death.

In this case I think they did better here than with Herbie. Two alien kids with some extraordinary powers get into a cab that's driven by none other than Dwayne 'the Rock' Johnson. What a fortuitous circumstance that turns out to be, because youngsters Alexander Ludwig and Sophia Anna Robb are going to need every bit of the fighting skills that the Rock can muster.

They've got two enemies on their trail, first the US government who has kept a lid on news of visiting aliens for decades and they're represented by hardnosed bureaucrat, Ciaran Hinds. They've also got a robot assassin on their trail, just as deadly as Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator without any of his wit and charm. In addition Johnson's trying to steer clear of some wiseguys for whom he worked as a wheelman and did time in prison for same.

They do get some help in the form of scientist Carla Gugino who proves to be resourceful in her own right.

The kids here are as winning as Ike Eisenmann and Kim Richards who starred in the two Witch Mountain features back in the Seventies. They have a good chemistry with the Rock and with Gugino.

I'd recommend Race To Witch Mountain as a fine family film, one of the better items to come from the Magic Kingdom.
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5/10
Alright, but not a totally great Disney film.
DarkVulcan2923 March 2009
I liked the idea, that this is not a remake of the Disney classic Escape to Witch Mountain(1975), it's more of a rebooted version. Some remakes try to be carbon copies of the original, like Pyscho(1998), and The Bad News Bears(2005). This films premise is sort of the same but others ways different.

The story begins in Las Vegas, where Jack Bruno(Dwayne Johnson) is a cab driver, and is really not a people person. But one day things change, when two siblings named Seth(Alexander Ludwig) and Sara(Annasophia Robb) enter his cab ask him to drive to a certain location, and they give him large sums of money. Jack is hesitant, but does it anyway. But then things are not so simply, when the government starts chasing them. Turns out these kids are aliens with special powers, that need to get to a certain location called Witch Mountain in hopes to prevent an alien invasion that could destroy earth. And a famed scientist(Carla Gugino) comes along for the ride.

Now the moments between Dwayne and the kids are memorable. But the rest of the film kind of falls on itself. The action and effects where alright but nothing you'd call spectacular. Carla Gugino I felt by watching that she was written in at the last minute,cause they wanted a beautiful actress for Dwayne play off of, but Dwayne and Carla have no chemistry. And she does not look like she is having any fun doing this, she is just in it to cash a paycheck. And so was the rest of the cast, besides Dwayne and the kids. I didn't know when too laugh at times, I mean there times it was funny, other I couldn't tell at times if they where trying to be funny or serious for some scenes.
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7/10
Great for the family!
blackbuster_critic13 March 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I just saw this movie about an hour ago, and I gotta say I was impressed. I'm not big on remakes of classics, and I was kinda turned off by The Rock being in the movie, but I ended up being entertained quite well. Surprisingly, I didn't expect so many people to catch The Rock's elbow blow. XD He kicked some major ass in the movie. The movie is basically about two alien children with powers, that employ The Rock, who is a taxi driver, to take them to their destination, to find some alien object; and later to their ship. They have to achieve this all while being chased by the government agents. Gun fire, explosions, alien weapons, and alien powers all rolled into one film. This movie is a great movie to take the family to see, or you could even go see it yourself. Even with all the action, and The Rock smacking heads, and the great chase scenes, they managed to put in a pinch of funny into the film.
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3/10
Boring, stiff and rushed
kwaski5 May 2009
I gave this movie three stars for the three things I liked about it. Seeing Tia all grown up. Seeing Tony all grown up. Seeing the reporter in the beginning, thinking she looked familiar, and then she said, "This is Natalie Gann, reporting for (such and such).." It was Meredith Salenger, title character from the 80's movie "The Journey of Natty Gann"...one of the best Disney movies ever. That was really fun and unexpected for me, who loved that movie so much. Those three appearances were there only thing I liked about this movie. My kids thought it was "OK." Wish I had saved my small fortune to take my family of 6 and waited for the DVD. This movie had no emotion, no heart. Do your kids a favor and rent or buy the original "Escape to Witch Mountain." It's a hundred times better. In the original, the alien children had powers but acted human, I grew to care about them, I felt for the old man who helped them, he had emotion, he was believable as a crusty old man whose heart was softened as he helped the kids. By the end you will care about them. In this movie you won't. The special effects in this movie of course surpass those in the original by far- but it had NO HEART.
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9/10
Good family movie
ladystorm28200114 March 2009
I don't see why some people say that they don't like this movie. I thought it was a very good family oriented movie. It had a great blend of comedy and action and I found it very refreshing.

I love the Rock and I think he does very well in these types of movies. I love the old Witch Mountain movies and wasn't sure at first about this one but it was different enough to be well liked by those who have watched the old ones and enough action to get the younger crowd. I also love Ciran Hinds and even though he was playing the bad guy in this movie it was nice to see him in a role that had him in most of the movie instead of bit parts, he is a great actor and I hope he gets some larger roles in the future.

Over all a nice family movie.
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6/10
Disney fantasy full of tension , intrigue and spectacular images
ma-cortes24 July 2010
Engaging Walt Disney Sci-fi/fantasy in which we meet Seth (Alexander Ludwig )and Sara (Anna Rob) as they are arriving in a flying saucer that crashes at a mountain . They have special telekinetic powers which make getting along with the rest of the kids difficult . During their escape , they get a strong feeling about a Cabman (Dwayne Johnson ,The Rock) getting into a car across the street. They runs over to him and tell him that he should not get into the car. The man listens and reluctantly decides to help them . Just then out-of-control cars crash into the doors. They are pursued by evil agents (Ciaran Hinds , Tom Everett Scott) who happen to work for government looking for clairvoyant kids , hoping to put his special faculties to evil use and the children confront using their special powers . The discover their supernatural powers and effect they can have on humans . They escape their pursuers and meet up with a scientific expert on UFO ( played by Carla Gugino). She agrees to help them find a place called Witch mountain.

This mystery-fantasy is packed with noisy action , thrills, suspense and spectacular scenes with abundant computer generator effects. The two children with mysterious powers played by Alexander Ludwig and Anne Rob are enjoyable and The Rock is likable as tough and agreeable ex-convict cabbie . The picture results to be a modern remake of ¨Escape to Witch Mountain (1975)¨ and sequel ¨Return from Witch mountain (1978)¨ by John Hough but quite different , as the pursuer was a millionaire played by Ray Milland who wanted to use their powers for his own aims and in recent version is performed by Ciaran Hinds as government agent . As homage to former adaptation appears the children Kim Richards as Sara and Ike Isenmann as sheriff in a brief roles . Furthermore , the movie contains a colorful cinematography by Gardiner and moving musical score by Trevor Ravin . A good children's film with impressive special effects . The motion picture is professionally directed by Andy Fickman though with no originality because being a simple remake .
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3/10
Speed Racer??
thesar-221 March 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I am an avid movie watcher, a lover of the cinema. And the very first movie I can recall seeing, ever, was 'Escape to Witch Mountain' back in the 70s sometime, at a Kodak "family" day – my parents worked for Kodak in Rochester, NY and they had us all watch this movie on a big screen in the basketball stadium. So, I thought it fitting, that for my 35th birthday, I would go see the re-imagining of that film: 'Race to Witch Mountain.' I sure did love that original movie when I was a child. I could relate with the boy in the film and imagine myself as him and sister (I, too, have 1 sister/sibling.) Unfortunately, you get none of the magic in this update. You do get two kids who know they are aliens, an ex-con-turned-straight cabbie who befriends them and a bounty hunter out for them. These are all new to the 2009 film. In fact, very little is transferred from the original to this, other than the fact there's two alien kids who can use telekinesis, a mobile home and a place called "witch mountain." I give Disney kudos for making another kid/family friendly film void of language, sex, drugs and nudity. Unfortunately, they erased any of the adventure of the original and added a boat-load of violence along with an unusually bad performance of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who nearly killed the film with bad acting and dialogue. 'Race' is not an appropriate term, much as 'Speed 2: Cruise Control' was in 1997 as neither contained any sort of speed. Not recommended, though not a horrible film. It's just that the original was so much more entertaining and wholesome. Might be great for the 10-14 year old male crowd, but avoidable for the rest.
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6/10
Decent family entertainment
TheLittleSongbird30 October 2011
I have nothing against remakes, and I had wanted to see Race to Witch Mountain for some time now. I think it is a decent movie, I do remember the original movie with fondness and feel it is a superior movie, however compared to other remakes I've seen like Psycho, Stepford Wives and Wicker Man Race to Witch Mountain is not a bad movie. It looks great visually, whether it is in the effects, the scenery, the cinematography or lighting. The soundtrack has some pleasing and memorable themes, direction is solid and the script while not award-worthy is good. The cast are fine, Dwayne Johnson carries the movie and he has so much charisma that it is a joy to watch him. AnnaSophia Robb once again proves herself a promising actress, and Ciaron Hinds is a fun villain. Only Carla Gugino disappoints, she's beautiful but her performance and character are dull and she and Johnson have no chemistry. The characters are on the stereotypical side particularly those of Gugino and Hinds, the pace is rather jerky in places and the story while having an appreciative nostalgia as well as a darkness the original didn't have I feel has a number of predictable spots. All in all, a decent if unexceptional family film. 6/10 Bethany Cox
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6/10
Fun for the family...
paul_haakonsen29 December 2015
This is a Walt Disney movie in the very essence of the meaning. As such, this is a movie that is suitable for the entire family. Watching it as an adult with no kids around, then chances are that you will find this movie to be too family-friendly.

The story is about a taxi driver in Las Vegas who find two teenagers in the back of his taxi. These teenagers claim to be from outer Space, and as things become turbulent around every corner, taxi driver Jack Bruno starts to think that there might be something to the extraterrestrial claims.

There is a lot of action and adventure in "Race to Witch Mountain", but it is done in a manner that allows even a younger audience to watch the movie as well. And the storyline is fast paced and has a good continuous flow to it.

The effects in the movie were good, and the visual effects department did a good job in bringing the movie to life on the screen.

While this isn't Dwayne Johnson's best movie, it is still fun and entertaining for the family to watch.
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3/10
Blah!
Ramascreen14 March 2009
Warning: Spoilers
The so-so remake of the year. You won't be blown away by RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN and you won't miss out on much if you don't see it either. It's got some thrilling moments thanks to… the UFO chasing the taxicab, and the movie does a good job at entertaining young audiences with all the special effects and the spaceship and humor intended for kids only. But to me, in the end, the movie is just one big blah!

Here's another movie about environment and saving planet earth once again. If I could get a penny for every time I come across a movie with this kind of agenda, I'd buy me the Bahamas by now. First half of the movie might get you as confused as Dwayne Johnson's character as to what on earth (or beyond the earth) is going on. The pacing is a bit inconsistent, the direction is all over the place, and it's too predictable but it's a family movie that comes out in the spring, so what'd you expect, right?

WWE Superstar turned actor The Rock, who now only goes by his real name Dwayne Johnson once again tries to be the ordinary honest joe-schmo with a rough background, the perfect ingredient for a hero and I think Johnson gives a decent job of pulling that off except he could definitely show some more 'kick' to his performance, because there are times when you can tell his character's supposed to panic and yet his reaction doesn't show it. Maybe he's too concerned about looking all macho. Carla Gugino who is an eye-candy plays the sexy professor (something you don't see everyday), is a character way too familiar, the ones that others mock but then something comes along and proves her right, other than her looks, she doesn't add much for her role really. Annashopia Robb and Alexander Ludwig who play the two young alien passengers must've seen a thousand alien sci-fi movies or something because they have that robotic, clueless but know-it-all expressions down pat. By the way, is it just me or does Anna Sophie Robb look like she could play a younger version of Keira Knightley?!

I kinda have to blame the director Andy Finkman who also helmed The Game Plan. The tone of this movie is flat, for the most part you feel like you've been robbed, it dumbs you down and only has a few exciting scenes that come off desperate because without them, the audiences would've walked out halfway through the movie already. Frankly, it baffles me why Disney keeps hiring Finkman to do their bidding. What irritates me is Cheech's cameo who doesn't do much as a comic relief, the movie doesn't allow him to be what he's famous for, what you'd usually expect him to be.. a show-stopper. The only actor that does a splendid job in this movie is Ciaran Hinds who was fantastic in Munich and HBO series Rome and he's just too damn good for this kind of gig, an easily forgettable family movie.

--Rama's SCREEN--
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7/10
Solid Disney Sci-fi
Tweekums21 March 2019
Jack Bruno is a Las Vegas cabbie trying to go straight after earlier troubles with the law. It isn't easy as former criminal associates don't want him to retire and it only gets tougher when two teenagers, Sara and Seth, turn up in the back of his cab. They aren't ordinary teens though; they are aliens whose space ship crashed in the desert. They also have special powers; Sara is a telepath with telekinetic abilities and Seth can alter his molecular density, enabling him to pass through objects or stop bullets. The US Military now have their ship and are searching for them; that isn't all; an alien assassin is also hunting them. Jack drives them out of Vegas and after various events learns the truth about them and why they are on Earth. They need to get back to their ship if their planet is to be saved and an invasion of Earth averted... it won't be easy though.

Given that this is a PG rated film from Disney one shouldn't expect intense action or a high degree of threat. That doesn't mean it is boring though; it just means it can be enjoyed by all the family. The story is fairly simple, without major twists which suits the target audience. Dwayne Johnson is solid as Jack; he plays the role straight, never dumbing down because it is a child-friendly movie; teens AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig are good as Sara and Seth and Ciarán Hinds is solid as Henry Burke, the military man after them, despite the character being far from original. There is a decent amount of action, much of it enhanced with high quality special effects. Overall I'd say this is a solid sci-fi adventure; it made a refreshing change to have such a film that didn't feature material to bump it up to a '12' Certificate.
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1/10
Should come with a warning label
per-jakob22 April 2009
Just came back from spending an hour and a half in a movie theater wishing I had stayed at home.

The plot is so-so and full of loopholes, the acting is surprisingly lame (I really like Carla Gugino, but here she gives her weakest performance to date), but what really irritates me is the camera-work and editing.

In the style of all to many movies today, the camera is never still. I mean never. The camera-work is supposed to mimic the authenticity of a hand-held camera I suppose, to create action, but the only thing it creates is motion sickness. Then add an editing that just throws images at you in a furious pace and you get something that just is not watchable. It gave me a splitting headache. In my opinion; this kind of camera-work and editing is used to hide the lack of plot and should come with a warning label.

Don't waste your money on this, I would have liked mine back.
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7/10
A worthy sequel
cosmic_quest11 April 2009
There was much complaining to be had when it was first announced this film was in the making. Understandably, fans of the previous two 'Witch Mountain' films were concerned that this was to be an unnecessary remake and a shoddy one, at that. However, 'Race to Witch Mountain' is not a remake but a sequel to the 1970s Disney films and, as someone who was worried themselves, I have to admit that it is actually quite a good film in its own right. The film begins with a space ship crash-landing on Earth, near Las Vegas, and agents of some sinister government group quickly work out that there were two occupants of the crash who are now on the run. It is then revealed that the two aliens are, in fact, fourteen-year-old siblings Sara and Seth who have psi abilities and have attached themselves to taxi driver Jack Bruno thus embroiling him in their adventure to allude the agents and an assassin from their own planet while retrieving an object that is the key to saving both their home and Earth. Along the way, the trio gain assistance from astrophysicist Alex Friedman and Junkyard the dog.

The teen leads AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig do a good job in portraying their roles as the young aliens who are more somber and restrained than typical human teenagers. They do well in both expressing this 'alien' awkwardness to their characters but differentiating themselves by the depiction of Sara as more empathic (in part, due to her telepathic skills) and open compared with Seth, the stand-offish sibling who initially doesn't trust humans. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, who plays Jack Bruno, is actually a bit of a surprise to me in this film because he proves he can bring a sensitive nature to his character and do more than just look good and jump around in action-packed scenes. While he's not quite ready for a part in 'Schindler's List', he does stretch himself as an actor and prove he can do the paternal with a deeper emotional side role with some flair.

In terms of the actual storyline, 'Race to Witch Mountain' is quite dark compared to recent Disney films over the last decade or so and it is a refreshing change to find a Disney film that is actually aimed at most of the family rather than primary school kids and shallow teenagers. The characters are put in danger, they are hurt, they have guns aimed at them (well done to Disney for this rather than dumbing down a la Spielberg with his rubbish re-release of 'ET') and they are hunted by adults who are not nice and never will be nice, and this all makes for a film that can be enjoyed by everyone over five. In fact, this is a very good film for sci-fi fans to introduce their children/younger siblings to the genre since there is a lack of age appropriate science fiction films out there for children. What was also a huge positive to this film was the absolute lack of teeny booper romance, as if Disney realised that it is possible to have a film featuring teenagers who don't fall in 'love'.

There were a couple of negatives to the film. It may have 'Witch Mountain' in the title but it really does not have much connection to the previous films other than cameos from the two former child actors of the 1970s film and the inclusion of male and female siblings. Although that does not diminish that this film is enjoyable in the slightest, it just seems that there could have been at least some tie-in/homage to the prequels. The character of Alex Friedman should have contributed more to the plot or should not have been included since she seemed to be there just for the sake of it, added on as an after-thought to provide a female adult lead.

In all, 'Race to Witch Mountain' is good family/sci-fi lite film to catch over the Easter holidays and it certainly does not let down the 1970s films. It's a film that almost reminds me of the 'old days' (pre-2000) when Disney was good for producing worthwhile family flicks that did not condescend entirely to the nine to thirteen crowd and with characters that were likable rather than obnoxious or snotty adolescent brats.
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5/10
OK movie but not what I expected.
imaplowboy17 March 2009
Warning: Spoilers
First of all, I would not consider this a remake of either of the earlier movies Escape to and Return From Witch Mountain.

I would consider this movie closer to the Close Encounters of the Third Kind (the one where everyone was making mountains out of whatever they had handy and ended up going to the actual mountain where a secret government operation was going on to actually attempt to communicate with the aliens, in which they somehow succeeded.

In the original movies, Witch Mountain was a place where the aliens parked their spaceships (or lived) and has nothing to do with the government at all. I also felt that the title was misleading as well.

I do feel that this movie would have gone off better as a sequel to the original two movies other than a remake attempt. It should have stayed along the lines of the originals

I also think that a good story line would of been that Tony and Tia (or Anthony & Tina) have grown up and get married and have kids of their own. While taking their kids to visit Earth something happens to their parents, then the two kids find out that they have powers and have to get help from someone to get them back to Witch Mountain to get help to rescue their parents. Something along the lines of the original movies with some variations to avoid being an exact copy of the originals.

In conclusion, from the Witch Mountain perspective, it doesn't even come close to the original movies, however, from the Close Encounters perspective, the movie wasn't half bad
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10/10
Unique story that made me race in nostalgia!!
Gmechanic14 March 2009
Despite a good amount of bad reviews, people are flocking to see this film! I wonder if it's the picky old men that don't find a kids film decent enough for a proper work that disappoint me. I mean, who worse to judge a kid's movie than an adult? At least a teenager has still got the perspective of a child...

The film really brought me back to good times at the theaters. I wasn't around for the original so, I can't compare the two, and went in not knowing what to expect.

Initially, you could go in and see all the things structurally or aesthetically incorrect and unpleasing about the story film-wise. However, if you take the movie for what it is, you'll see that it's truly the beautifully crafted action-adventure every kid longs to experience and captured within the mysticism and excitement of a good space story using just enough cgi to compliment the film, without overpowering it's actors as so many movies do today. It promises a simple story with inspiring ideals and experiences woven into its heart.

So, I couldn't help but put myself in the story for this one, and became completely immersed in the race. The great plot, unique characters, and pulse-racing adventure will keep you at the edge of your seat until the end!
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6/10
Race to Witch Mountain was an okay update on a couple of Disney hits from the '70s
tavm18 March 2009
Having seen and enjoyed both Escape to Witch Mountain and Return from Witch Mountain as a double feature during the late '70s at the Broadmoor twin Theatre back then, I decided to give this new one starring Dwayne Johnson a shot especially when I read that the original kids-Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann-would make cameos. This version takes place in Las Vegas during a sci-fi convention where cab driver Johnson takes passenger Dr. Alex Frideman (Carla Gugino) to. As he goes further down the desert, two kids-Seth (Alexander Ludwig) and sister Sara (AnnaSophia Robb) stow in his car and ask to be taken far away. From here is where you get some plot points of the original Witch Mountain. Not bad and there are some amusing touches like Meredith Salenger playing a reporter with a very familiar name not to mention that those original Witch Mountain kids-now grown up-provide some speculation with the roles they play here of their, and this, movie's connection. And then there's Garry Marshall as...well, watch the movie. So in summation, while no great shakes, Race to Witch Mountain is fast paced in a pretty entertaining way.
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1/10
Bad
rusros199912 August 2009
This is one of the ugliest movies I've ever seen. Okay so one line of text is not enough to submit a comment. Uhmm.. so what can I say about this movie ? Nothing really. It's boring from start to finish. All the scenes are very predictable. The music is horrible. The special effects stinks (and I watched it in blu-ray). The dramatic scenes never moved me and it made me yawn. The comedy scenes aren't even funny and 99% of the punchlines are all clichés. There's nothing new to this movie that will excite you and it's very dragging. It's just a terrible movie and I really don't like it. This one is definitely included in Disney's top ten worst movies.
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7/10
Cute Film!
alwayssmiilinu22 July 2012
I think this was a great little SCIENCE FICTION FILM! I really enjoyed. It was cute, funny, action packed, and my 3.5yr old son also loved it! He was glued to the TV! haha! :) I quite liked that it was relatively unique, the acting was quite OK, and I am very judgmental over that usually, and the plot was fun, action packed, and had emotions. I find it much more entertaining than most other 'Alien' related movies! :)If one can open their mind and take the film for exactly what it is meant to be..an entertaining, fun, Aliens on Planet Earth movie, to entertain the mind, then one can enjoy it! For those who are too overly critical and don't like unrealistic plots in movies..this movie isn't for you! For all those with an imagination and open mind, this is a film for you! Looking for a fun film to watch on a Saturday night with the family, I recommend it! :) Enjoy! :)
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