Deb’s Blog of Mac, Life, and Stuff

Looking for a good, wholesome film to enjoy with your kids? If you saw and enjoyed the 1975 original version of Escape to Witch Mountain with Tia and Tony (as I did), you’ll enjoy this updated version. (They kind of call it another chapter and there are hints of that, but as a future chapter, it’s a bit flawed, so suspend that and just enjoy.)

Adults will love the humor and the references to the original film. If you follow sci-fi or the question of UFOs you’ll  get even more of a kick out of it. But if you don’t have a clue about sci-fi or UFO debates you’ll still catch a lot, which is part of why you’ll enjoy it.

Meanwhile, as you catch the adult humor and references, your kids will simply enjoy the adventure. And you will too.

To give you an idea of my frame of reference, movies I can think of as great for both kids & adults: Monsters Inc, The Incredibles, and Cars.

Note: I keep hearing from people around 30-45 that they were not impressed by the previous Witch Mountain stories. Invariably, they are recalling the 1995 remake. Put that one out of your mind.

One more thing: The good guys always use Macs. Only now, maybe the bad guys do too.

In 1975, Disney came out with Escape to Witch Mountain. I loved it and have remembered it fondly. Later another version was released and I don’t mind that I missed knowing about it.

Today I’m excited that I’m about to see a preview of the latest version. As a teen I saw the original story as whimsy. As an adult now with this updated version and today’s scientific knowledge, I see the actual scientific possibilities of things like passing you arm through a solid closed door and Warp Drive. And I’ve seen the mind control matter in the form of brainwave or muscle-controlled computers, so it’s not really far-fetched that Sara and Seth move solid objects. There is so much fun stuff in this film that is actually possible — and the what-ifs promise to be as much fun as the plain fun of a good adventure.

I’m looking forward to Race to Witch Mountain.