Review – Escape to Witch Mountain

After several disappointing brushes with movies from my childhood, I was nervous about watching this again. However, it turned out to be a bit better than other Disney live action fare from the 70s. To be sure, it isn’t a masterpiece of the cinema arts. The dialogue is simple-minded enough to appeal primarily to the target age group. And I fear that in a world of flashy CGI most kids nowadays won’t be impressed with the low tech effects used to create the kids’ telekinetics. On the other hand, the story – rich creep seeks to exploit psychic siblings, who go on the lam and befriend a crotchety old man who helps them escape – is clever enough. I was particularly impressed with a rare bit of studio sensitivity to animals, who appear in this production without being killed or even seriously imperiled. Overall this is a charming little picture from an age when movies for kids didn’t have to be packed with innuendo for adults. Mildly amusing