First of all, it's not great. Second, any of the reviewers who talk about the original being a classic, I was 11 in 1975. Give me a break. It was typical of the Disney crap released at this time. Finally, when I say close to great, I mean in an ET/Iron Giant way. Instead, it's more along the lines of Cocoon.
This is a good movie, and at times, it IS great. But as a whole, it falls short. Much of the film is typical. You know, Aliens are good, men in black are bad, action, chase, environment message, yada yada. Here's where it's better than your typical sci-fi action family film.
1. Everyone except Carla Gugino (Dr. Alex Freidman) is excellent in their rolls. Even she isn't particularly bad, just not as good. There are some good cameos. Gary Marshall is great.
2. The action: while this is PG, it doesn't shy away from violence or guns. But the catch is when Dwayne Johnson and the teen-Aliens are running from an Alien Bounty hunter early on, the teens look scared. Anna Sophia Robb's eyes really deliver a sense of vulnerability. I found this as effective as the Train Tunnel chase.
3. It is rather dark for a PG film. The men in black are a culvert group from our federal government, who point their loaded weapons constantly at innocent US citizens. The film briefly makes the parallel to the Alien Bounty Hunter, who is a military agent from the teen- aliens' planet. Washington is mentioned behind the men in black. They want to kill our beloved Alien teens.
4. As with most great Sci-Fi, it relates to our times. Our protagonist teens have no rights because they are illegal aliens. The Men In Black are out of control. Granted, this would work better if Bush was still president, but still, it directly plays on the reality that the executive branch of our government has unchecked power.
5. Two sections of the movie takes place around a sci-fi convention. This allows for plenty of gags that remind us that the film makers didn't take this movie too seriously.
Now, if this isn't your kind of film, don't be tempted to see it. But for family action, yes. For Sci Fi, it's a must see. For a Sci fi action flick, it does everything well, except the ending. And that's its fault. It is the typical corn ball alien ending (al-la Cocoon, or Splash). After the first two acts being so strong, it's too bad.
Let's compare this to Bolt, since both are PG family Disney fare. After a poor second act, Bolt delivered with a rather emotion resolution. With Race to Witch Mountain, Act 3 becomes a Ron Howard formula. Strange, as Act 1 and Act 2 were almost good enough to be a must see for everyone.
How could this film have delivered better in the end? First of all, play up the teen-aliens sacrificing themselves to save our world. Environment, so it reminds us of "This Island Earth". And Sarah dies making this sacrifice. Now, Seth and Jack stay strong until the end, when they finally let loose with the tears. Sarah's innocence was very effective in this movie, and this would be just emotionally devastating. But in the sequel we discover that Sarah's body has been reproduced, and her soul was stored in Jack Bruno's brain (think Star Trek 2 and 3). So he has a sudden fetish for female teen accents and a strange fascination with Hannah Montana. Would you pay to see Dwane Johnson air singing with a Hannah Montana wig, earrings, and a bow in his hair? I think so. So, Disney may have missed the boat on this. Big time
So close.
This is a good movie, and at times, it IS great. But as a whole, it falls short. Much of the film is typical. You know, Aliens are good, men in black are bad, action, chase, environment message, yada yada. Here's where it's better than your typical sci-fi action family film.
1. Everyone except Carla Gugino (Dr. Alex Freidman) is excellent in their rolls. Even she isn't particularly bad, just not as good. There are some good cameos. Gary Marshall is great.
2. The action: while this is PG, it doesn't shy away from violence or guns. But the catch is when Dwayne Johnson and the teen-Aliens are running from an Alien Bounty hunter early on, the teens look scared. Anna Sophia Robb's eyes really deliver a sense of vulnerability. I found this as effective as the Train Tunnel chase.
3. It is rather dark for a PG film. The men in black are a culvert group from our federal government, who point their loaded weapons constantly at innocent US citizens. The film briefly makes the parallel to the Alien Bounty Hunter, who is a military agent from the teen- aliens' planet. Washington is mentioned behind the men in black. They want to kill our beloved Alien teens.
4. As with most great Sci-Fi, it relates to our times. Our protagonist teens have no rights because they are illegal aliens. The Men In Black are out of control. Granted, this would work better if Bush was still president, but still, it directly plays on the reality that the executive branch of our government has unchecked power.
5. Two sections of the movie takes place around a sci-fi convention. This allows for plenty of gags that remind us that the film makers didn't take this movie too seriously.
Now, if this isn't your kind of film, don't be tempted to see it. But for family action, yes. For Sci Fi, it's a must see. For a Sci fi action flick, it does everything well, except the ending. And that's its fault. It is the typical corn ball alien ending (al-la Cocoon, or Splash). After the first two acts being so strong, it's too bad.
Let's compare this to Bolt, since both are PG family Disney fare. After a poor second act, Bolt delivered with a rather emotion resolution. With Race to Witch Mountain, Act 3 becomes a Ron Howard formula. Strange, as Act 1 and Act 2 were almost good enough to be a must see for everyone.
How could this film have delivered better in the end? First of all, play up the teen-aliens sacrificing themselves to save our world. Environment, so it reminds us of "This Island Earth". And Sarah dies making this sacrifice. Now, Seth and Jack stay strong until the end, when they finally let loose with the tears. Sarah's innocence was very effective in this movie, and this would be just emotionally devastating. But in the sequel we discover that Sarah's body has been reproduced, and her soul was stored in Jack Bruno's brain (think Star Trek 2 and 3). So he has a sudden fetish for female teen accents and a strange fascination with Hannah Montana. Would you pay to see Dwane Johnson air singing with a Hannah Montana wig, earrings, and a bow in his hair? I think so. So, Disney may have missed the boat on this. Big time
So close.