Race to Witch Mountain Blu-ray Review

August 4th, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released Race to Witch Mountain a movie reimagined from an original Disney classic, on Blu-ray for the first time, in a 3-disc combo pack that includes the Blu-ray Disc, a DVD, and a Digital Copy for portable media use.

Jack Bruno (Dwayne Johnson) is a Las Vegas cab driver trying to stay clean after years working on the dirty side of the law. A chance encounter with two teenage aliens, Sara (AnnaSophia Robb) and Seth (Alexander Ludwig), turns his life upside down and really test the limits of Jack’s new morality.

Racing against aggressive federal agents who want to experiment on our other-worldly friends, Jack and friends must return to the secret Witch Mountain to recover the alien spaceship. The aliens must return home to save themselves and to preserve the future of earth and all mankind. A well-known UFO scientist (Carla Gugino) also joins the team.

There is plenty of action in this adventure movie from Disney. Not only must Jack, Sara, and Seth flee the feds, they must also escape another life form that has been sent on a mission to kill Seth and Sara. Sci-fi effects are prevalent throughout the movie as advanced technology and mystical powers are a part of the alien existence.

This role was surprisingly a good fit for Dwayne Johnson, who has thus far has presented a mixed bag of results in acting, since crossing over from the wrestling world several years ago. The story plays out intensely and with non-stop action, which helps keep the viewer engaged. One challenge with this, and other Disney movies, is its PG-rating. While Race to Witch Mountain makes for a decent family movie, it is not suitable for younger children who are sensitive to intense action and some violence.

Bonus features in the Race to Witch Mountain Blu-ray include:

• Exclusive to Disney Blu-ray
• “Which Mountain?” – Discover Hidden References to the Original Movie
• Deleted Scenes
• Bloopers

• Actors: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Cugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ciaran Hinds
• Directors: Andy Fickman
• Writers: Alexander Key, Mark Bomback, Matt Lopez
• Producers: Andrew Gunn, Ann Marie Sanderlin, Mario Iscovich
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: French, Spanish
• Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Walt Disney Video
• DVD Release Date: August 4, 2009
• Run Time: 98 minutes

Blu-ray Review by Neil of Movie Room Reviews