Escape to Witch Mountain (Special Edition)
by Clyde Geronimi, John Hough
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DVD details
Actor: Donald Pleasence, Eddie Albert, Ike Eisenmann, Kim Richards, Ray MillandDirector: Clyde Geronimi, John Hough
Cinematographer: Frank V. Phillips
Producer: Jerome Courtland
Producer: Ron Miller
Producer: Walt Disney
Writer: Alexander Key
Writer: Robert M. Young
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Special Edition, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.75:1
Running Time: 97 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-09-02
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
DVD Reviews of Escape to Witch Mountain (Special Edition)
DVD Review: Average Disney Fantasy
Summary: 3 Stars
Tony and Tia Malone (Ike Eisenmann and Kim Richards) have just been placed in an orphanage. Their adoptive parents have just been killed. But the kids wonder about their birth parents, especially since they have special powers. Among other things, Tony can move things with his mind (as long as he is playing a harmonica) and Tia can communicate with animals.
Just as they discover a weird map in the star case that Tia always carries around, they catch the interest of Aristotle Bolt (Ray Milland). Mr. Bolt is rich, but he's always looking for ways to become richer. He thinks the kids ability to see the future would help him with his goal. But they aren't convinced the fancy place he has built for them isn't a trap, so they escape. With Bolt and his henchmen, lead by Deranian (Donald Pleasance), after them, the kids find an ally in Jason O'Day (Eddie Albert), a loaner traveling around in his motor home. Will that be enough to help them escape? What about the strange memories the kids are having? And where does the map lead?
I finally got a chance to watch this 70's Disney classic recently, and I was underwhelmed. The plot took quite a while to get going, so the first half was rather slow. Once we reached the second half, things did pick up, but I still wasn't as caught up in the story as I expected to be. There are a couple of plot points that are completely glossed over in the course of the movie. This left me scratching my head. The adults were fine with their acting, but the kids were a little too earnest, making it seem over the top. While some of the special effects, especially around the climax, are rather dated, most of them actually hold up pretty well today.
This movie will certainly entertain young kids. But the adults in the audience probably won't be nearly as thrilled with it.
DVD Review: I Dedicate This Movie To all Aspies and Autistic Adults and Children!
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember the first time I saw this movie when I was only 8 years old. I was in the 3rd grade when it first came to the movie theatres. It was re-released at the theatres in 1978 when Return From Witch Mountain (the sequel) came out as well. I really was a kid who wasn't that much into mainstream movies, but I was a Disney Movie fan though. I remember how much the story of Tony and Tia really paralleled my own life and coming to understanding about why I didn't fit in and trust me I will reveal why later in the review. I was shy and withdrawn and didn't have many friends and I usually kept to myself. Watching the movie made me open up my feelings about things and it instantly became one of my most prized "obsessions" in my entire school years growing up from elementary up to almost high school. I was also teased as "the kid from Witch Mountain" because I could actually act every scene from the movie word for word and to this day, I still remember the movie almost word for word. I'm now a 40 year old guy living in Los Angeles and this movie still will remain special in my heart. This is a great movie for all families to share, especially families with children with special needs. I dedicate this movie to all people with autism and Asperger's Disorder (like myself) because of how it "magically* can open our hearts to reach out to those who have difficulty reaching us. Being an adult with autism is almost like how Tony and Tia felt as outcasts, freaks, weirdos (in the words of Dermott Downs). I wish more people would look beyond the Disney part of the movie and really see the emotional part that Tony and Tia feel and what it's like to walk in their shoes. It's good to know that there are special people like *Jason O' Day* who are patient and understanding to search for the answers. I call them special education teachers, general education teachers, parents, and people who are willing to work with people like us. Thank you Disney for opening our eyes and reaching us who would have never been reached without the magic of this magnificent production.
Aspiecub
DVD Review: Poor in every way but...
Summary: 1 Stars
my wife wanted it. Personally, this is one of the lamest, poorest quality movies ever produced. The special effects look like something from a high school film class. The story line is totally pathetic.DVD Review: Good Old Classic from the Days When Kids Movies Could be a Bit More Realistic Thrill Wise
Summary: 5 Stars
This classic 1975 adventure is hilarious in parts (granted some laughs are also from the old very dated special effects) of the storyline and edge of your seat thrilling in others. This movie is based on the book of the same name by Alexander Key which was a lot different to this movie wand is a little bit less complicated character wise for the child actors and I guess Disney made it a bit more family friendly as well. Alexander Key was the Steven King for junior fiction back in the 70's and 80's and it's a shame most of his novels are out of print now, but at least the movies or his books are being re-released again. What is also good is that back in this era of film kids films could be a bit more realistic and include things like adults chasing kids with guns (I'm glad they didn't do what ET did and replace the guns with flashlights or something ridiculous), and a bully getting his comeuppance with baseball equipment, stuff like this are all classic scenes and unfortunately in this politically correct cotton wool kid generation world of today have disappeared from films.
This is a great film and is the story of two kids named Tony and Tia Malone who as the film begins are being put into an orphanage as their foster parents just died. Even though they swore to each other not to reveal their powers a bully pushes the wrong buttons and Tony unleashes his powers (with hilarious results). They save a man's life who shows his gratitude by pretending to be their uncle (with the backing of an evil millionaire) and taking them back to his employers mansion who has plans to exploit the children. The children have plans of their own to journey to a destination on a map hidden in Tia's starkit but corrupt police, rednecks and everyone will do whatever they can to stop them. Classic film, region 4 DVD has no extras but it looks like the region Amazon sells has a few. You can also get this DVD as a double movie package with its sequel with the very imaginative title Return from Witch Mountain. Not just for kids, adults will love this too!
DVD Review: A Great Escape
Summary: 5 Stars
A Great film for anyone from 5 to 95 if they have any imagination at all. Special effects are somewhat minimal but are good considering when the movie was made. The computer graphics used now were not available at that time. As far as I could see only one reviewer came close to attributing the script to it's 'spiritual' if not it's real source. The entire story could have come directly from Zenna Henderson's 'universe' of the People.
The film covers a short period in the lives of two children of the "People" during which they discover why they are different from others around them and eventualy find a large group of others like themselves. For those not familiar with the ultimate source of the tale, The "People" are survivors of a planet of a star which became a nove. One of the escaping starships traveled toward our earth but was damaged on the way. On entering the atmosphere most of those who escaped in lifeboats were widly scatered, usually in small family groups across the Western great plains of the USA. (The ship crashed in the Colorado Rockies). These People were exactly like us in appearence, even to genetic compatibility, but had many mental power powers we do not have.
To anyone wanting to know more about these People I highly recommend four of Zenna Henderson's books: "Pilgrimage: The Book of the People", "The People, No Different Flesh", "The Anything Box" and "Holding Wonder". These were written in the 1950's or early 1960's, so may be difficult to find.
I have always been disapointed that no other films were made based on these stories.
Description of Escape to Witch Mountain (Special Edition)
A vehicle floats in midair ... a coat rack comes to life and attacks a sheriff ... and wild animals are putty in the hands of Tony and Tia Malone in Disney's thrilling fantasy adventure about the psychic powers of two young orphans. Their clairvoyance prompts evil millionaire Aristotle Bolt (Ray Milland) to lure them to his mansion to exploit their powers. While escaping, they meet a friendly camper (Eddie Albert) and begin to unravel the mystery of their origin. Soon, all three are fleeing townspeople who have branded the children witches. But then IT happens! Someone with even greater powers takes over and leads the children -- and the audience -- into a dazzling and unexpected experience ... one that is truly out of this world!The effects are low-tech and no longer special, but Escape to Witch Mountain still has plenty of Disney live-action charm. It's rather quaint by later standards, coming just two years before Star Wars upped the ante on movie magic, but the story's got timeless appeal as a precursor to Harry Potter's more lavish brand of kid-wizardry. Here you've got Tony (Ike Eisenmann) and sister Tia (Kim Richards), orphans unaware of their mysterious past, who are taken in by a nefarious liar (Ray Milland) seeking to exploit their supernatural powers. Populated by '70s stalwarts like Donald Pleasance and Eddie Albert (the later playing the kids' grown-up accomplice, unwittingly rescuing them from Milland), this lightweight Disney fare is perfect for kids under 10, with such enticements as a clever cat mascot named Winky (because he winks a lot), Tony's magical harmonica... and a Winnebago that flies! With a sci-fi climax, this popular hocus-pocus spawned a 1978 sequel (Return from Witch Mountain) that has proven similarly popular with kids. --Jeff Shannon
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