RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN [2009 / 2011] [Blu-ray] [UK Release]
Fantastical Family Fun! A Hit for All the Family!
Enjoy the ultimate ‘RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN’ experience with Disney’s fun family action adventure on Blu-ray – turbocharged with spectacular picture and sound.
Fasten your seat belts for the thrill of your life in Disney’s ‘RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN.’ Starring Dwayne Johnson as Jack Bruno, a Las Vegas cab driver struggling to stay on the right path, gets an out-of-this-world incentive when two teenagers who are disguised as aliens Sara [AnnaSophia Robb] and Seth [Alexander Ludwig], suddenly appear in his taxi and are in a race against Government agents, an alien hunter and time itself. Jack Bruno must help the two teenagers recover their lost spaceship so they can return home and their home planet and ours. Breath-taking chases, close calls and special effects, make this an action-adventure for the whole family to enjoy – especially in Blu-ray High Definition.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 2009 ALMA Awards: Nominated: Actor in Film for Cheech Marin.
FILM FACT No.2: Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann, who portrayed Tia and Tony in the original Witch Mountain films of the 1970s, made cameo appearances in ‘RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN.’ Kim Richards appears as a roadhouse waitress named "Tina," a minor change from the original character “Tia” she played in the 1975 and 1978 films and Ike Eisenmann appears as Sheriff Anthony a reference to his character “Tony” from the previous films. Meredith Salenger, the star of Disney's 1985 adventure” The Journey of Natty Gann” has a cameo as a TV reporter named "Natalie Gann."
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Carla Gugino, Ciarán Hinds, Tom Everett Scott, Chris Marquette, Billy Brown, Garry Marshall, Kim Richards, Ike Eisenmann, Tom Woodruff Jr., John Duff, Bob Koherr, Kevin Christy, Bob Clendenin, Sam Wolfson, Bryan Fogel, Robert Torti, John Kassir, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Harry S. Murphy, Ted Hartley, Thomas Conroy, Meredith Salenger, Andrew Shaifer, Suzanne Krull, Steve Rosenbaum, Christine Lakin, Corri English (Brokedown Cadillac Singer), Randy Dunham (Brokedown Cadillac Singer), Don Ian (Brokedown Cadillac Singer), Jeff LeGore (Brokedown Cadillac Singer), Danny Reuland (Brokedown Cadillac Singer), Dave Engfer, Omar J. Dorsey, Joseph Leo Bwarie, Paul Nygro, Brandon Scott Miller, Andrew T. Janey, Dennis Hayden, Shengyi Huang, Hiromi Oshima, Christina Wun, Christopher Dobler, Garrett Patrick Marshall, Buck (Junkyard), Cheech Marin, Bonnie Joy Ashley, Joey Aliano (uncredited), Len Anderson IV (uncredited), Joey Bell (uncredited), Mark Berman (uncredited), Nathaniel Best (uncredited), David Black (uncredited), Patty Chong (uncredited), Bill Clinton (archive footage) (uncredited), David Cohen (uncredited), Jeff Corbin (uncredited), Hugh Daly (uncredited), Rose Davidson (uncredited), Lawrence Degala (uncredited), Natasha Delahunt (uncredited), Kevin Deon (uncredited), Aliza Finley (uncredited), Cindy Gold (uncredited), Gilley Grey (uncredited), Lanette Fugit Hannah (uncredited), Bryan Harris (uncredited), Brian Irvin (uncredited), Christopher Karl Johnson (uncredited), Waymond Lee (uncredited), Natalina Maggio (uncredited), Greg Maness (uncredited), Stefan Mavi (uncredited), Ryan McBay (uncredited), Matt Mitchum (uncredited), Marilyn Monrovia (uncredited), Joe Murphy (uncredited), Bob Pepper (uncredited), Stanley Peternel (uncredited), Ronald Reagan (archive footage) (uncredited), Lee Reherman (uncredited), Mark Rendahl (uncredited), Shannon Robles (uncredited), Franklin Ruehl (uncredited), Michael Santos (uncredited), Kyle Shaw (uncredited), Delia Sheppard (uncredited), Rob Simone (uncredited), Chambers Stevens (uncredited), Kevon Stover (uncredited), Whitley Strieber (uncredited), Tino Struckmann (uncredited), Matthew Thane (uncredited), Thom Tran (uncredited), Pleasant Wayne (uncredited) and Linda Wood (uncredited)
Director: Andy Fickman
Producers: Amy Stenftenagel, Andrew Gunn, Ann Marie Sanderlin and Mario Iscovich
Screenplay: Mark Bomback (screenplay), Matt Lopez (screenplay/screen story) and Alexander Key (book "Escape to Witch Mountain")
Composer: Trevor Rabin
Cinematography: Greg Gardiner (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
French: 5.1 DTS-HD Audio
Spanish: 5.1 DTS-HD Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finish and Swedish
Running Time: 96 minutes
Number of discs: 1
Region: Region B/2
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: The original ‘Escape to Witch Mountain’ film seems so ideal for remake treatment. They are good enough to be remembered, but simple enough to benefit from being updated. As an added bonus, there is the fact that many fans of the fantasy adventures now have children around the same age they were when taking to them.
Since the favourable reception given 1975's ‘Escape to Witch Mountain’ and 1978's ‘Return from Witch Mountain,’ Disney twice delved back into the world imagined in print by Alexander Key.
The first time was a television pilot that, not chosen to become a series, merely aired in 1982 as part of the company's 1-hour Saturday night program. The second was a bona fide made-for-TV “Escape to Witch Mountain” film remake in 1995. For the third revisit to the universe of supernatural youths, Disney cranked up the ambition and went for broke.
With a high-profile cast, an estimated budget of $50 million [£60 million], ‘RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN’ went about as big as a live-action family film can without having a summer or holiday season opening. You would think, then, that the studio betting on this project would know better than to entrust it to the star and director of ‘The Game Plan,’ which I can confidently declare the worst Disney film to have graced cinemas this decade. But, they didn't, and so Race bowed in March as something of a vehicle for wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson, better known as "The Rock," which as you know was his professional wrestling ring name, which now he has officially stopped using.
The difference between how 1970s Disney treated the subject of aliens and how 2000s Disney does becomes clear immediately. Race opens with a montage of headlines and presidential sound bites that exude the "truth is out there" sentiment that seemed to peak fifteen years ago with the height of "The X-Files." ‘Escape to Witch Mountain’ conveyed the fun of extrasensory gifts. Whereas ‘RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN’ instead dwells on the danger that follows them.
Sara [AnnaSophia Robb] and Seth [Alexander Ludwig], a couple of blonde siblings in their early teens, somehow turn up in the taxi of Jack Bruno [Dwayne Johnson], a Las Vegas cabbie with both aspirations and a criminal record. Jack is sceptical toward extra-terrestrial life, especially on the weekend when most of his fares are loony believers in town for the UFO convention. But after Sara and Seth demonstrate some of their unworldly abilities, the driver's mind opens, at least enough to realize there are greater forces in pursuit than some underworld hoods.
Of initial concern is a Siphon, an armoured terminator who seems to have wandered off a "Power Rangers" set. Then there is the U.S. Department of Defence, led by the shady-acting Major Henry Burke [Ciarán Hinds], which is already investigating some breakthrough local phenomena. Joining Jack and the kids in this race is astrophysicist Alex Friedman [Carla Gugino], who's convinced that hard science, can be used to prove that alien life exists.
Both of the 1970s “Witch Mountain” films delivered bits of action and science fiction, but this reimagining goes much further, leaving little time for the comedy and silliness once mandatory in live-action Disney. At first glance, the slightly younger leads of yore seemed to be cut from the same cloth as Mary Poppins, their enchantment neither specified nor questioned. Here, it feels like everything gets explained but in ways that don't engage or matter. ‘RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN’ takes its time before spelling out the facts. Unfortunately, by that time, enough hooey has transpired for viewers to have stopped wondering.
There is very little to distinguish the routine chase, as suits in black SUVs and aircrafts trail our unquestionably harmless and noble good group. That ‘RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN’ departs from its source's fairly light storyline doesn't bother. That it ends up inferior and lacking at every turn does. Case in point, whereas Tony and Tia had their telepathic communication and foresight, Sara and Seth are given far less interesting powers of withstanding impact and obnoxiously reading minds. Tony and Tia looked and acted like normal kids. The steps taken to establish that Sara and Seth are different rob them of the humanity that any sympathetic film character needs.
Appealing to any audience is always difficult, while ‘RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN’ instead pays mind to effects looking nice and extra special. Rather than playing out as an exciting family film, the production opts for frantic pacing, an edgy tone, unwarranted fisticuffs, and ineffective suspense. That design renders it a genre B-movie, one that's more acceptable for children than most, although still mildly disconcerting in content. That it can boast a higher budget and recognisable talent does little to boost its worth. Those elements lose meaning when there isn't the storytelling to support them. For the most part, such storytelling isn't found here and though competently executed.
Probably the most exciting thing about this film for fans of the 1970s “Witch Mountain” flimss are the brief appearances made by Kim Richards and Lake Eissinmann, the actors who played the original Tia and Tony as children. They turn up as a small-town waitress and sheriff carrying names close to their most famous film parts. Also making cameos are Meredith Salenger, whose briefly-seen news reporter is named after her eponymous “The Journey of Natty Gann” heroine, and Disney chairman Dick Cook as a blink-and-miss train conductor. Meanwhile, TV comedy legend and oft Disney director Garry Marshall gets a bit more to do and his amusing scientist character provides a Winnebago that harks back to the original film's semi-iconic RV vehicle.
RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN MUSIC TRACK LIST
STARS (Written by Brian Leseney Fennell) [Performed by Barcelona]
FLY ON THE WALL (Written by Miley Cyrus, Antonina Armato, Devrim Karaoglu and Tim James) [Performed by Miley Cyrus]
PERDONAME (Written by Juan Zambrana) [Performed by Sonic Quitriche]
SCARLETT (Written by Randy Dunham) [Performed by Brokedown Cadillac]
EYEWITNESS NEWS (Written by Chris Garis and Frank Gari) [Performed by Chris Garis]
SOUTHERN NIGHTS (Written by Randy Dunham) [Performed by Brokedown Cadillac]
BIG CITY (Written by Randy Dunham and Corri English) [Performed by Brokedown Cadillac]
BOOGIE WOOGIE SATURDAY NIGHT (Written by Randy Dunham and Corri English) [Performed by Brokedown Cadillac]
BREAKERS (Written by Randy Dunham and Corri English) [Performed by Brokedown Cadillac]
I’M NO ONE ELSE (Written by Christian Salyer, Francisco Santacruz and Dhana Taprogge)
EMERGENCY (Written by Steve Rushton, Tim Woodcock and Paul Meehan) [Performed by Steve Rushton]
* * * * *
Blu-ray Image Quality – The Blu-ray presents the film ‘RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN’ in 2.40:1 aspect ratio. It may be growing frightfully dull to keep saying this, but once again Disney has delivered a really excellent 1080p encoded image. Other than one lone and minor moiré effect on a roof, the picture is free of any sort of digital noise or flaws. It's unsurprising to see a 2009 feature transferred to high-definition with a completely clean, sharp, and vibrant image, but that doesn't take away from the awe factor. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio surround soundtrack is equally impressive, if not more so. With its many action sequences, ‘RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN’ has the potential to deliver an enveloping surround experience, and it doesn't disappoint. The most obvious demo scenes involve explosions, crashes, and gunfire, all of which may even be a bit too over the top. These aren't the only scenes mixed well, however, for even ambience in a locale like the sci-fi convention offers nice directionality. Despite the aggressive effects and score, dialogue still manages to come through cleanly without having to fight to make itself heard.
* * * * *
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Deleted Extended Scenes [2009] [1080p] [2.40:1] [23:21] First and most substantial is a collection of eight deleted extended scenes individually and collectively introduced by director Andy Fickman. The section contains some interesting material. Most striking is a fully-cut scene in which Kim Richards' waitress encounters the Siphon. There are also two brief set-ups for Rock beat downs, the latter of which poses Carla Gugino as a Southern damsel in distress. The kids use their powers to comedic and dramatic effects, like moving dinner condiments in one, and disarming a security fence in the other. Finally, there is an extended version of the teary goodbyes and Ciarán Hinds' best menace comes in a dark, lengthy, sequel-suggesting tag to the end credits scroll bits. Much of this footage is better than what is in the final cut and it's all worth seeing.
Special Feature: Bloopers [2009] [1080p] [2.40:1] [3:37] focuses mainly on the antics of Dwayne Johnson, showing him get silly in improvisations, alternate takes, and when "cut" is called. Even when the dark filmic footage is juxtaposed with dramatic bits from the film, the entertainment value is quite slight and in my opinion was a complete waste of the Blu-ray, as the scenes were totally vacuous and not at all funny, in fact they should be ashamed including this section.
Special Feature: Backstage Disney: Witch Mountain? [2009] [1080p] [2.40:1] [8:20] The only supplement unique to this Blu-ray Disc, and also the only feature offered in high definition is "Witch Mountain?" where Director Andy Fickman is the sole participant, but his enthusiasm manages to carry this piece as he points out the hidden references to and cameos from the previous “Witch Mountain” films and other parts of the Disney universe. It can't replace a true making-of feature, but it's certainly fun to watch.
SNEAK PREVIEWS: The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos [Blu-ray]; Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure [Blu-ray]; Disney Channel: Wizards of Waverly Place [wow this was such a lame presentation, with ghastly precocious American kids making me feel totally sick]; Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs [Diamond Edition] [Blu-ray]; UP [3D Blu-ray]; Hannah Montana: The Movie [here again is another ghastly precocious American child, showing what is worse about American children so called actors] and What’s On Disney Blu-ray Discs.
Finally, film studios like remakes, reimagining, reboots, etc. because brand recognition always boosts business returns. The downside is that viewers in the know are always able to recognize when the project falls short. ‘RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN’ does and not because it takes things in a different direction or because the original film couldn't be surpassed. It's not all bad, but potential is squandered and rarely is the flashy spectacle better than mediocre. If you haven't already seen the film, I'd recommend renting before buying. If you're sure you wish to own it, none of Disney's three releases is apt to fully satisfy. But despite this, I personally enjoyed this third remake and was an enjoyable ride and I was very surprised how Dwayne Johnson was really good actor and helped in my opinion held the film together really well and I really enjoyed it and again is my own opinion and so pleased to add this to my Blu-ray Disney Collection. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
