The recently released Race to Witch Mountain is only the latest in what appears to be a massive campaign to give modern makeovers to every family film of our youths. If you remember 1975's Escape to Witch Mountain, you may be wondering if the remake will ruin everything you liked about the original. And childhood tastes being what they are ... you may also be wondering if the original is actually much worse than you remember. So we took the two Witch Mountains—and four other recently remade classics—and pit them against one another, head to head, film to film, to see which version comes out on top for today's kids.
Escape to Witch Mountain (1975)
vs.
Race to Witch Mountain (2009)
Shared Plot: Two adolescent aliens enlist the aid of a lovable loner to travel across the Southwest, find their spaceship, and flee from baddies who want their powers.
THE GOOD
A creepy atmosphere, building suspense, and a slowly unraveling mystery give this adventure a look and feel all its own.
THE BAD
The special effects show every ounce of their 34 years. And the alien boy's ability to make things happen magically by playing a harmonica is a bit silly.
THE UGLY
The screenwriters seem to have forgotten about the "don't talk to strangers" lesson; after watching this, parents may want to reinforce the negatives of hitchhiking.
WHAT THEY CHANGED
A lot. First off, there's no mystery; the kids are fully aware of their E.T.-ness from the start. Slow-building suspense is traded for explosions and car chases. And fistfights. And more explosions. And lots of guns. And a grotesque alien bounty hunter. There's a lot more humor here than there was is in the original, but also a lot more ... did we mention the explosions?
AND THE WINNER IS...
Those looking for nonstop, fast-paced action should stick with the new version, but the original was, well, original. Its uniquely eerie tone and creative storytelling made it a film many adults still remember more than a third of a century later. We don't think the remake will hold up as well.
