Escape to Witch Mountain was a favorite of my mom's childhood as she grew up when this film came out as a kid, and I remember when she bought the DVD for share the film with her family in my childhood years. I could have easily passed off this film as too silly or dated, but even 8-year-old me growing up in the CGI era of visual effects was still sucked into the charm of Tony and Tia Malone.
I still think this movie holds up remarkably well. Sure, the narrative is needlessly complicated at times when you try to think about the final twists of Witch Mountain and some of the effects have not aged in todays standards, such as the flying camper in the third act, but I am still sucked into the charm and magic of this movie regardless. Honestly, I feel like a kid watching this movie, watching this adventure of these two kids trying to find their place and where they came from, seeking to find the answers and exploring their telepathic powers when it seems like most are out to exploit them. This movie features two solid child performances with good chemistry, but the veteran actors really excel in selling the film in its entertainment factor, particularly the appearances of Donald Pleasance and Ray Milland as villains. Also give props to Eddie Albert who gives a tender performance as Jason O'Day, who helps the kiddies out along the way.
The film also works as a sci-fi thriller and a mystery film along with the adventure, and I also welcome some of the "scarier" moments to make the film a blast for kids and adults.
If you haven't watched Escape to Witch Mountain, and you're a Disney fan, it was one of the studio's biggest hits of the 1970s and I do recommend it. It's a good watch for the Disney nerds and I guarantee it will wow any child viewer.
I still think this movie holds up remarkably well. Sure, the narrative is needlessly complicated at times when you try to think about the final twists of Witch Mountain and some of the effects have not aged in todays standards, such as the flying camper in the third act, but I am still sucked into the charm and magic of this movie regardless. Honestly, I feel like a kid watching this movie, watching this adventure of these two kids trying to find their place and where they came from, seeking to find the answers and exploring their telepathic powers when it seems like most are out to exploit them. This movie features two solid child performances with good chemistry, but the veteran actors really excel in selling the film in its entertainment factor, particularly the appearances of Donald Pleasance and Ray Milland as villains. Also give props to Eddie Albert who gives a tender performance as Jason O'Day, who helps the kiddies out along the way.
The film also works as a sci-fi thriller and a mystery film along with the adventure, and I also welcome some of the "scarier" moments to make the film a blast for kids and adults.
If you haven't watched Escape to Witch Mountain, and you're a Disney fan, it was one of the studio's biggest hits of the 1970s and I do recommend it. It's a good watch for the Disney nerds and I guarantee it will wow any child viewer.