It was New Year's Day and I was feeling somewhat under the weather (part self-inflicted, and partly not I have to add!), so settled on the sofa with my duvet and put one of my Christmas DVDs in the player! This was one of my gifts bought by myself for myself from my huge Amazon wishlist!

I have memories of watching 'Escape to Witch Mountain' and to a lesser extent its sequel 'Return from Witch Mountain' as a child. The box set of the two DVDs set me back £5.98 - a bargain if it was going to bring back happy childhood memories! On Ciao I have chosen to review the box set (illustrated with screenshots from both), while on DooYoo I am reviewing each film separately.

Escape to Witch Mountain

'Escape to Witch Mountain' was made in 1975 (directed by John Hough) and is based upon a book (with the same name, written in 1968) by Alexander Key. Blond haired Tony (Ike Eisenmann) and Tia Malone (Kim Richards) are orphans, and tragically their foster parents have just died too (we don't really find out anything about that - think they were old). They end up at some sort of children's home, and go to a school where there's a nasty ginger haired kid. On an outing one day to the cinema, Tia foresees a stranger getting hurt in a car accident and tells him not to get into the car, and thus his life is saved. Soon afterwards the man, Mr Deranian (Donald Pleasence) turns up at the home claiming to be the child's long lost uncle. Of course, all is not as it seems!

We can ascertain that Tony is 11 and Tia is 9, as they were 5 and 3 respectively when they were adopted by Mrs Malone. They are extremely close to one another, and pretty much keep themselves to themselves. We learn early on that they have strange powers such as Tia being able to communicate with Tony telepathically and some telekinetic stuff. Neither remembers what happened in the past, although increasingly throughout the film Tia has flashbacks. I remember that as a small child I used to find these a little bit scary, as they involve a kind of shipwreck and struggle where it seems that people died.

Tony and Tia are not stupid (and are pretty mature for their years), and realise that this man is probably not their uncle, but they don't really have a choice but to go with him. In fact the man is an employee of the evil millionaire Aristotle Bolt (Ray Milland), and has brought the children to his house so that Bolt can make money out of their special powers. I love the part when they get shown to their room - this is the bit I remember most from my childhood. Although it was the 1970s, the children's room still seems to me to be absolutely amazing - every child's dream, with an ice-cream bar and everything! There are even special quarters for Winky, the children's cat. Not to mention the horse riding lessons.

Although the children try to hide their secret powers (Tony can work magic with his harmonica, and visualise places, Tia can speak to animals, and can see into the future) they are unable to, and soon realise that they are in great danger and must escape. Tia has had a little box with two stars on since as long as she can remember, and while in the children's home it 'broke' revealing a map. The children must get to the place on the map to find out where they originally came from, and why they are different from other people (i.e. why they have special powers).

Along the way the children manage to hitch a lift with a nice man (who isn't so nice at first - there are reasons for this you'll find out) called Mr (Jason) O'Day (Eddie Albert), and get into a number of tricky situations, involving the police, a bear and a dancing coat rack. Meanwhile Tia starts to remember more, and memories of their Uncle Bené start coming back. However, the escape to Witch Mountain is not easy with Bolt and Deranian hot on the children's heels.

More of my thoughts…

To say more would be to give away too much of the plot (and I fear some might criticise me already - but it was all relevant, I couldn't miss anything out!). This is however a typical Disney film from that era. There's drama and a bit of a car chase, there's naff special effects, and there's a happy ending mixed with a twinge of sadness. Will it have you reaching for the hankies? Er, probably not.

While child actors today can be pretty irritating, I don't think that Ike Eisenmann and Kim Richards could be seen as irritating (perhaps that's because they're a part of my childhood though?). I think they play their parts exceptionally well. In fact I don't think any of the acting could really be faulted. It's just a genuinely nice film to watch for adults and children alike.

The special effects are a bit dubious and I hope Ciao readers (sorry dooyoo, you can't see them!) will appreciate the photos of the flying motor caravan and flying saucer! But hey, it was the 1970s, and since when were flying saucers ever realistic?! It's actually funny that you can see the strings when things are 'floating'!

Other

Lasts approximately 93 minutes, and is rated a U(niversal), containing 'mild peril'!

There are no extras on the DVD, but it is shown in English, French, Dutch, German and Portuguese.

Well, I've been doing some research whilst writing this review, and I've learnt some interesting things which I think I'll share with you! If like me this is a childhood favourite of yours you might enjoy reading this - otherwise, sorry!

Interesting facts:

*You might or might not be interested to know that Tia in the flashbacks was playing by Kim's younger sister Kyle (now I had thought they looked alike!)

*I haven't read it, but the Internet tells me that the original book has more religious undertones as the children are befriended a Father. There are also themes of communism - it all sounds a bit scary. In the book look the children apparently look quite different with pale hair, olive skin and dark eyes, and Tia does not speak out loud as is mute - she writes things instead. Apparently (and it does sound like it!) the film is much more light-hearted and suitable for children.

*The sequel "Return from Witch Mountain" was made in 1978 - my review on that follows this!

*An hour long TV sequel to this was made in 1982, called "Beyond Witch Mountain", with different actors. Then a remake of 'Escape to Witch Mountain' was made for TV in 1995, again with different actors (obviously!) and the twins being called Anna and Danny. The plot was different, and although effects were (apparently) better being 20 years later, unsurprisingly the film hasn't got great reviews!

*There is a remake called "Race to Witch Mountain" scheduled for release in March/April 2009. Ike Eisenmann and Kim Richards will be making cameo appearances! However, it will essentially be a remake of the film with two children playing Tia and Tony (rather than being a follow up). I can't imagine that the remake will be any good - what's the point when the original still works today? I suppose Disney just want to make more money for old rope. But perhaps it'll be worth a look, the storyline will no doubt me more 'modern'.

Anyway, well worth watching the original!

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Return from Witch Mountain

I have reviewed 'Escape to Witch Mountain', so now it's time to review its sequel (also directed by John Hough), which I watched directly following watching the first DVD. Although I had seen the first film numerous times on TV as a child, the sequel was not shown as much, and although I had seen it several times my memory of it was a bit hazy. While ideally people should watch the first film first, this can work as a stand-alone film as long as you're aware that the children are from another planet and have special powers.

It's now 1978, so children Tony (Ike Eisenmann) and Tia (Kim Richards) are now 14 and 12 - they have clearly grown up a lot in the past 3 years, and the age difference between the two is now noticeable (previously they looked more like twins). It's fantastic that the sequel to "Escape to Witch Mountain" has the same child actors in it - often these things don't as the children have grown up too much and are too old for the roles.

Tony and Tia are brought down to Earth (to Los Angeles) in a flying saucer with their Uncle Bené (Denver Pyle) for a little holiday having spent 3 years working hard on their home planet - they are meant to be staying in a hotel and visiting museums and learning about the human world. Tony would prefer surfing, but there you go!

The flying saucer is parked in the Rose Bowl Stadium, and Uncle Bené sees the

Pictures

In the best bedroom EVER!

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children off in a taxi before leaving them. The taxi driver's a bit of a maniac really. On running out of petrol through he goes off to fill up a can. Meanwhile Tony's special powers tell him that there is someone in trouble, so off he wanders, leaving Tia in the car.

Letha Wedge (played by Bette Davis) and Dr Victor Gannon (Christopher Lee - he does evil so well!) are evil villains who are trying out a mind controlling device on Letha's nephew Sickle (Anthony James). Following an argument the remote control has broken, and Sickle is heading for the edge of a high-rise building. This is the danger that Tony has sensed, and he manages to stop Sickle from falling to his death.

Letha and Victor are impressed with Tony's abilities and kidnap him and take him to their secret laboratory. With his special powers who knows what he can be made to do with the mind controller?! Letha is hungry for money, and Victor is hungry for power, scientific recognition and world domination!

Tia is worried when Tony doesn't return, and goes looking for him. She ends up getting involved between a fight between gangs, and manages to stop the Earthquake gang (a group of boys who are not particularly gang-like at all except that they skive off school) getting hurt by the older and stronger gang, by using her powers. In return for her help they offer to help Tia look for Tony.

While it would normally be easy for Tia to find Tony due to their telepathy and Tia being able to see what Tony sees (the whole telepathy and telekinesis powers they have), it's not so easy since he has been bugged. And so the adventure commences….

The gang are always being pursued by their worse enemy Mr Yokomoto (Jack Soo) or "Yo-Yo" who is the city truant officer - all he wants is to get the kids to school. Then there are Letha's plans to steal gold, a goat called Alfred, and a plutonium plant. It's all very exciting, and a race against the clock.

More of my thoughts…

The special effects are more impressive in "Return from Witch Mountain" than in the first film. The museum scene in particular is one big special effect, but most impressive (for the time anyway) is the repair of Yoko's van. The film certainly has action, especially when Tony and Tia are using their powers against each other (of course Tony isn't doing this by choice - his mind is being controlled). The evil villains in this film are certainly more evil than in the first film, and the film is probably darker - I mean, Victor trying to get Tony to kill his sister is just bang out of order!

The storyline lets this film down a bit really, and while the acting is good (Christopher Lee in particular) the actors don't have much to work with. Personally I'd also like to know more about what the children have been doing on Witch Mountain and why they need a holiday to Earth.

The moral of this story seems to be that children should go to school (it's cool to be in school you see!), and in this way it is pretty cheesy - but then it is Disney, and it is the 1970's.

I have to say that I got pretty annoyed with Tia's red outfit which she wears throughout the film (they lost their luggage in the taxi you see). It's very 1970's, and very red. The whole gang storyline is pretty weak. I was also annoyed by the name 'Letha' as it sounds like Lisa with a lisp!

Although "Return from Witch Mountain" is good as far as sequels go, it in no way lives up to the original. However, certainly it's worth buying in addition to the first.

Other

The film lasts approximately 90 minutes and has a U(niversal) rating 'suitable for all'.

There are no extras on the DVD but it's in English, French, Spanish, Dutch, Norweigen, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, and Portuguese.

Interesting facts found from Wikipedia (which aren't that interesting!)

*The actor playing Mr Yokomoto was ill (although undiagnosed) with cancer at the time of filming, and died less than a year later. That's a shame, he was one of the highlights of the film.

*The museum attempted robbery was filmed at the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park, LA.

*I have found that Ike was born in 1962 and Kim Richards in 1964, so the actors ages 16 and 14 at the time of filming. As I said earlier, they will be appearing together again in cameo roles in the remake of "Escape to Witch Mountain" (called "Race to Witch Mountain") which is coming out in March/April 2009.

Finally

Anything you'd like me to add, please let me know. Please note, I have got some of my facts from Wikipedia, but the opinion and writing are all mine!