Wonderful Disney film about a pair of orphans (Kim Richards, Ike Eisenmann) with special powers being pursued by a greedy millionaire (Ray Milland), who wants to use their powers to his advantage. With help from a grouchy old man (Eddie Albert) in a Winnebago, the kids try to reach a place called Witch Mountain they feel drawn to.
This is one of Disney's best films from the '70s and a personal favorite from my childhood. The cast is excellent. Kim Richards is best known today for being a reality TV "personality," but before all that embarrassing nonsense she actually had a fairly successful career as a child actor. Eisenmann also had a lot of work as a kid before moving on to other things. Both hold their own well with solid veteran actors Ray Milland, Eddie Albert, Donald Pleasence, and Denver Pyle. The vets are all terrific. It's a sci-fi family film with healthy doses of Disney cuteness. Whether or not that cuteness will be your cup of tea I can't say. The special effects are dated now, sure, but they're not bad for their time. Besides, the datedness actually adds to the charm I think.
Sometimes we like movies from our youth solely because of nostalgia or because they are tied to a special memory. While that is no doubt the case for many of us with Escape to Witch Mountain, I really do think it holds up well today on its own merits. If you grew up with this, you don't need me to tell you how much fun it is. To everyone else, particularly the younger viewers weaned on CGI, Ritalin pacing, and music video cinematography, open yourself up to this movie and I'm sure you'll like it. It's a magical adventure with heart, humor, and an emphasis more on story and characters than glitz and hollow special effects.
This is one of Disney's best films from the '70s and a personal favorite from my childhood. The cast is excellent. Kim Richards is best known today for being a reality TV "personality," but before all that embarrassing nonsense she actually had a fairly successful career as a child actor. Eisenmann also had a lot of work as a kid before moving on to other things. Both hold their own well with solid veteran actors Ray Milland, Eddie Albert, Donald Pleasence, and Denver Pyle. The vets are all terrific. It's a sci-fi family film with healthy doses of Disney cuteness. Whether or not that cuteness will be your cup of tea I can't say. The special effects are dated now, sure, but they're not bad for their time. Besides, the datedness actually adds to the charm I think.
Sometimes we like movies from our youth solely because of nostalgia or because they are tied to a special memory. While that is no doubt the case for many of us with Escape to Witch Mountain, I really do think it holds up well today on its own merits. If you grew up with this, you don't need me to tell you how much fun it is. To everyone else, particularly the younger viewers weaned on CGI, Ritalin pacing, and music video cinematography, open yourself up to this movie and I'm sure you'll like it. It's a magical adventure with heart, humor, and an emphasis more on story and characters than glitz and hollow special effects.