Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1828 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-08-24
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 94 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Loosely based on Alexander Key's novel Escape to Witch Mountain, Race to Witch Mountain is not so much a remake of the 1975 film Escape to Witch Mountain as an entirely new film based on some key plot points from the former film. When two innocent-looking teens appear in Jack Bruno's (Dwayne Johnson) cab and tell him "we must travel in that direction", Jack thinks it's a bit strange but shrugs it off and starts driving. Soon they're being followed and chased off the road, but is it Jack's past catching up with him or something much larger? Sara (AnnaSophia Robb) and Seth (Alexander Ludwig) reluctantly confess that they are aliens from another planet, but Jack refuses to accept their statement until Sara starts moving things with her mind and Seth slips through the body of the car and deflects the SUV that's pursuing them. Sara and Seth tell Jack that they must recover their crashed spaceship in order to save earth from being taken over by aliens, so Jack takes them to see Dr. Alex Friedman (Carla Gugino); a scientist who he met by chance and who believes in the possible existence of extra-terrestrials. While the four are initially wary of one another, Dr. Friedman provides some valuable contacts and they begin trusting one another out of sheer necessity. Soon they're battling secret government agencies, heavily armed personnel, and even a cybernetic Siphon (which looks a lot like a Cylon from Battlestar Galactica) in a desperate attempt to gain access to the heavily fortified Witch Mountain and the crashed spacecraft. Action-packed car chases dominate the film (a bit excessively, in this reviewer's opinion), but the acting and chemistry between actors is good as is the suspense and intrigue. Rated PG due to sequences of action and violence, frightening and dangerous situations, and some thematic elements. (Ages 9 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

Synopsis
Disney restarts their beloved Witch Mountain franchise with this family-friendly adventure. Dwayne Johnson (THE GAME PLAN) stars as a taxi driver who gets more than get bargained for when he picks up two teen runaways (AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig). Not only does the pair possess supernatural powers, but they're also trying desperately to escape people who have made them their targets.

Stills from Race to Witch Mountain (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews

Good Family Film
With my two boys being fans of Dwayne The Rock Johnson there was no way I was allowed to dodge a trip to the cinema when this hit our screens. After some of the dire Hulk Hogan film vehicles I had anything but high expectations of this.
However I was pleasantly surprised. I still have some vague memories of the original and this is a pleasant update. The boy from the said original makes a cameo as a small town sheriff. The cast are all pretty good in fairly black and white roles. The child actors are especially good as are most of the many the CGI effects. As for the grappling Mr Johnson he's not that bad and comes across as a believable hero without the need for the wearing of vests and throwing the villains about ala WWF style. I have been known to drop of watching these sort of films but I remained awake throughout. Whilst perhaps not the best way to recommend a film I would say this is inoffensive,undemanding entertainment. Therefore a safe bet to buy for the youngsters. By no means an ET but no Howard The Duck either.

Not exactly a sequal but not a remake either.
Rather than explain what happens, which you can read off the back of the case, I'm just going to give my opinion.
As a child I loved Escape To Witch Mountain and Return From Witch Mountain but I havn't seen them in a while and can't seem to remember much more than the basic plot lines from them. Despite that I was still eager to see Race To Witch Mountain. I was slightly wary of paying out to see this on cinema as I origionally thought this was a remake of sorts but I suppose it's more of a sort of half sequal, half stand alone movie (if that makes any sense).
I'm happy to say I was not dissapointed. This was a wonderful film, wether you consider it a remake, a sequal or if you even just want to forget/not bother with the 1st two films.
Far from being a fan of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson (I can't stand the guy), I was extremely surprised to find that not only could I tolerate his presence but I acctually came to like him, or his character at least.
Having seen Carla Gugino in several other films I knew I was in for a perfectly capable performance from a versatile actress and that's exactly what I got.
As for the child actors, they were both wonderful. It's an incredible shame to know that they will both most likely fade from the big screen over the next few years as they meet the curse of the child actor and disapear into the void (though I hope that is not the case). Anna Sophia Robb in particular seems to be an incredibly likable and talented young actress and her performance here only goes to prove that further.
You may also be interested to know (if you don't already) that the actors who played the children in the origional films, Tia and Tony, make small appearances here as a waitress and sherif.
The film itself is well made, well scripted, nicely paced and well directed. It only takes it's basic creation from the origional movies and other than that is a whole new experience. In fact, it's a lot more realistic, if such a thing can be said of this sort of movie.
If your looking for an easy to watch family film with a minor morality tale about polution and a bit of action and mild peril then this comes highly recomended.

Racing against the clock
This glossy update of the 1970s Disney minor classic is great fun for all the family. Dwayne Johnson aka 'The Rock' plays a cynical Las Vegas cabbie, who is stunned to discover that he is suddenly embroiled in extra-terrestrial affairs and is being pursued relentlessly by a cyborg and a self-serving government agent, the grimly efficient Ciaran Hinds.
Johnson's brand of laid-back tough guy charm is ideal here, and his rapport with the alien children who one day appear in his cab is superb.
There are some good moments for the mums and dads too; the Sci-fi convention complete with wannabe Stormtroopers and other alien characters adds humour to the story which means the fim never becomes cloying or dull, but it isn't brainless fodder either. The special effects are impressive and the acting of the extra-terrestrial siblings is pretty accomplished too; there are moments of violence but not enough to frighten or disturb, and all in all this is a worthy remake that my daughter and I watched together and throughly enjoyed.
Great movie and highly recommended for families and kids from 5 upwards.