Race to Witch Mountain (2009)
This is another family film that was good enough to watch on video and share with everyone. I think it was put together well enough by director Andy Fickman to hold your interest, it is a straightforward story, with a bit of action and well played scenes performed by Dwayne Johnson aka “The Rock” from the wrestling world who made his debut in The Mummy Returns as Mathayus the Scorpion King and later would star in the prequel: The Scorpion King (2002). In this film he plays Jack Bruno and does a fantastic job with the part, you can tell he has grown as an actor after watching this film. This film is kind of a remake of the original Escape to Witch Mountain (1975) based upon the science fiction book written by Alexander Key in 1968. It later spawned a sequel Return From Witch Mountain (1978).
The story which was written by Matt Lopez and Mark Bomback which is about two small visitors from another world in humanoid form played by AnnaSophia Robb as Sara who has telekinetic powers and can movie things with her mind and read people thoughts. Her brother is played by Alexander Ludwig as Seth who can manipulate his molecules to become transparent or solid as steel which helps them in their quest to reach Witch Mountain, an underground lair which the government uses to conduct secret experiments on extra terrestrial life – only there can they get back to their world and save things for everyone. Carla Gugino appears in this as an intellectual scientist named Dr. Alex Friedman who has dedicated her studies to space. She aids them on their quest alongside Jack who she seems to have feelings for later on in a typical Hollywood scenario.
One of the characters was named Analyst D. Pleasance in honor of late veteran actor Donald Pleasence who starred as Lucas Deranian in the Escape to Witch Mountain (1975) version. Keep your eyes open as Ike Eisenmann appears in this as Sheriff Antony he also starred in Escape to Witch Mountain (1975) as Tony Malone and Kim Richards plays Tina who also was in the original 1975 version as Tia Malone. There are more noteworthy appearances in this including: Ciarán Hinds as Henry Burke, Tom Everett Scott as Matheson, Chris Marquette is Pope, Billy Brown is Carson, Garry Marshall appears as Dr. Donald Harlan, Tom Woodruff Jr. is Siphon, John Duff plays Frank, and Bob Koherr is Marty.
Looking at the advertisements I didn’t expect this to be as good as it was, I think it is surely worth your time if you need a family oriented type film with an action-paced style to watch. I will recommend this one.
Tags: Alexander Key, Alexander Ludwig, Analyst D. Pleasance, Andy Fickman, AnnaSophia Robb, Billy Brown, Bob Koherr, Carla Gugino, Carson, Chris Marquette, Ciarán Hinds, Donald Pleasence, Dr. Alex Friedman, Dr. Donald Harlan, Dwayne Johnson, Escape to Witch Mountain, Frank, Garry Marshall, Henry Burke, Ike Eisenmann, Jack Bruno, John Duff, Kim Richards, Lucas Deranian, Mark Bomback, Marty, Matheson, Matt Lopez, Pope, Race to Witch Mountain, Return From Witch Mountain, Sara, Seth, Sheriff Antony, Siphon, The Rock, Tia Malone, Tina, Tom Everett Scott, Tom Woodruff Jr., Tony Malone
[...] he previously had written the screenplay for Live Free or Die Hard (2007) starring Bruce Willis and Race to Witch Mountain with The Rock (Dwaine Johnson) [...]