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• Family fun posted on 30 Aug 2009

  Race to Witch Mountain is a surprisingly fun and enjoyable remake of the classic "Escape to Witch Mountain"...a movie one year older than I. Some plot elements have been changed in a manner to "update" the film for modern audiences, and to give it more "meaning" rather than a couple kids on a random adventure.A nice note, though, is that this is an action adventure film that a parent can comfortably allow their children to watch with little to know worries of overt violence. Scenes where traditionally someone would die in most films of this nature, they are either badly injured, but will live, OR simply not mentioned/shown dying.Disney does know how to make a family film that can rely on plot and story, over violence and questionable content. Yet, while doing this, still deliver a film that the entire family can enjoy.

• Way Better Than Expected posted on 28 Aug 2009

  I saw this film because nothing else was playing that I wanted to watch. While I like animated films, and, in particular, Disney animated films, I find most Disney live-action films pitched far too low for my taste.I also read several reviews, which were not encouraging. These focused mostly on acting style and pacing. Apparently, it never occurred to the reviewers that any acting style and pacing will do if it happens to be appropriate to the film. Instead, the reviewers appear to feel that acting style and pacing, in and of themselves, can be bad.This film was far better than I expected. The acting style and pacing are entirely appropriate to what it is: the summer action movie we never saw last summer. If, like me, you spend summer 2008 watching a series of alleged "summer action movies" and seeing nothing of the sort on the screen, you should see this film.

• Exciting and fulfilling action for adults (and families, too). Great film! posted on 26 Aug 2009

  If you fancy a night out with the wife or your mates and just want a light-ish, but fulfilling action movie that pleases the eye and entertains the mind, please go see this. The cast is superb--- the hero is properly human and flawed, but big-hearted and true (Dwayne Johnson), the heroine (played by Carla Gugino, the mother from the "Spy Kids" films) is attractive, brilliant, and resourceful, and the kids are able actors bringing a realistic depth to their characters. One finds oneself rooting for the good guys to win this one! As an audience member, you will certainly be the winner yourself.As a much younger person I enjoyed the first two instalments of Disney's "Witch Mountain" movies. I was hesitant to see this one, because watching a kiddie show as an adult can be tedious (and a bit embarrassing, if you are not in the company of your kid).Reading some great reviews, however, I decided to take a chance. Also, Dwayne Johnson is likable. I was very surprised by how UN-kid-like this movie was. Child-wise, it was more adult than "E.T." but not as "conceptual" (and therefore boringly adult) as "Close Ecounters of the Third Kind." This movie is suitable for the whole family--- but I would wonder what a child under 10 would get out of it. There is real peril, lots of action, lots of special FX, crashing cars, shooting enemies in flying saucers and helicopters, "Indiana Jones-ish" adult danger/adventures, and a very close encounter with an "almost vivisection" that was kind of gruesome to contemplate. If a child was old enough to get the implications of all that, I would like to feel the child was also old enough to understand it is just a film, and to know how to avoid falling into terror or fear.Bottom line, great and exciting film, even if it is for families too.

• The Race Is On posted on 22 Aug 2009

  Jack Bruno is a surly former felon who is trying to stay out of trouble by driving a cab in Las Vegas and who embarks upon the adventure of a lifetime when two teens appear in his taxi and need a ride to the middle of nowhere. He quickly realizes that the mysterious siblings, Sara and Seth, are far from average. With the help of Dr. Alex Friedman, the trio travels to Witch Mountain, a secret government outpost in the Nevada desert, with the hopes of evading their pursuers and sending Sara and Seth home--and saving Earth in the process.I would like to note that I have not seen the original film. RTWM is a sci-fi action flick which seems to be targeted to kids below the age of, I don't know, nine and below. However, I was surprised the tone of the film was a little more darker and mature than what usually comes from kid's movies these days, especially with the opening credits which gives a vibe of the BOURNE series. RTWM is the final product of what Paul Greengrass would have made if he were to make a PG rated BOURNE movie, action and pacing wise.This is a good thing because the movie will entertain both the adults and kids for a couple of hours. It's a roller coaster ride because the action starts right from the beginning, pulling the audience into a world filled with hyper kinetic cuts and a fast moving score playing throughout the movie. The film has little time to fully develop each character, but it doesn't need to because a couple of minutes is all we need to get a basic idea of who these characters are.RTWM knows its goal and does it with so much eccentric energy and fun that you forgive its implausibilities. The action sequences are really well done, although there are some uses of the shaky cam in which we usually see in most action movies these days. The visual effects is mixed, some parts which is really well done while other parts which seem too cartoonish and fake. Dwayne Johnson brings some charm into this film with his funny and sympathetic role. The kids, AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig, also do a well job as the alien visitors.RTWM is a film that knows exactly where its heading and what to do. The film is very enjoyable with its highly octane non-stop action sequences, along with its many explosions, although I think it should be PG-13. The MPAA is too lenient with Disney movies, don't you agree? The film is also supported with its strong performances by the three main leads and by the end, you may be a bit disoriented and confused, but you know the ride was fun. No complaints here.

• Race Away from Witch Mountain posted on 22 Aug 2009

  Dwayne Johnson plays Jack Bruno, Las Vegas cabbie, and Carla Gugino is Dr. Alex Friedman, UFO expert. Perhaps you saw the preview in which Bruno and Friedman are crawling thru a tubular tunnel and she admits to a bit of claustrophobia. Just then Bruno reaches an opening into a deep vertical shaft and asks "How are you with heights?". It was a good scene, with a bit of low-key but contextually appropriate humor that the former Rock has learned to deliver effectively, making him a big, strapping brute of a guy that you feel comfortable with. But that scene isn't in the film itself. Instead, we see the aftermath, in which Friedman is still a bit freaked out, for no apparent reason.The rest of the movie was like that, too. People seemed to be doing things with no credible motives. The 2 adults flee from no fewer than 4 sets of pursuers exhibiting varying degrees of hostility (The Government, a space-alien cross between Predator and Inspector Javert, Bruno's former mob boss Mr. Wolf and his henchthugs, and the LVPD). They do so to protect 2 teenage Swedish, I mean space, aliens who are here to retrieve the mcguffin, um, recording device that will prevent their planet from launching a hostile takeover, uh, invasion. The gal of the pair, Sara, is played by AnnaSophia Robb. We know from her performance in Bridge to Terabithia (2007, 9*) that she can be a tremendously appealing young actress, but here she gets to do stuff like pointing her finger and monotonically saying "Go that way, Jack Bruno.". The boy, Seth, is played by Alexander Ludwig, a cipher.The government's head alien tracker warns Bruno that the kids are not what they seem to be. Anyone who's ever seen a science-fiction movie (which apparently includes precisely zero of any characters who are actually IN an SF movie) can only begin to imagine what might lurk beneath those placid blond exteriors, but this proves singularly untroubling for Bruno, leading right up to the snuggle-bunny ending (Disney, y'know), which was likewise not well set up by any of the preceding events.The scenes set at a UFO convention make good sport of fannish stereotypes, which some people might find offensive but I choose to treat as endearing. And I loved the sly humor that they DID leave in the script, wherein Bruno asks the kids at the controls of the flying saucer "Do you know how to fly this thing?", they respond "How do you think we got here?", and he replies "Well, you crashed!". More of that, from another couple of passes thru the typer, would have earned this one an upgrade.–––––*Best SF&F film of the 21st Century so far, IMHO

• Adventurous!! posted on 20 Aug 2009

  Andy Fickman is a good filmmaker... I really liked 'The Game Plan' and I enjoyed 'Race To Witch Mountain' as well. Author Alexander Key's 1968 novel Escape to Witch Mountain sure must have been a rage at that time. I haven't seen the 1975 version, but I must say, I repeat, this one's a quite good flick. Don't think of watching an EPIC when you tune in 'Race To Witch Mountain', this film promises to entertain, and it does! A catchy script, with good execution doesn't disappoint the viewer! Another reason I enjoyed the flick is because, it stars my all-time favorite Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock, who's the ultimate Rockstar and a WWE Legend.I summing up the review, Get this straight: 'Race To Witch Mountain' is escapist at very best. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's energy is enough to keep the interest alive! Two Thumbs Up!

• Not even close to my expectations posted on 20 Aug 2009

  I usually enjoy these kinda movies, but Race to Witch Mountain was a painful watch. Almost everything in the movie is mediocre at best. Could it have been better handled? Yes! And I like the Rock. He was a good choice for the film. But, the film fails in several aspects. The effects are not up to the mark. Especially the scene where all of them get shot at! terrible.. The movie would have probably been made on a shoestring budget. If that is not true, there's nothing left to blame. Could have been handled better by another director with a vision probably.Dwayne Johnson was good. The kids were alright. The story was interesting too. Everything else basically fails. Maybe i am being a little tough but 3 on 10 is what i felt the movie deserved. You could probably take your kids to watch it but if you are an adult looking for some entertainment, try something else.

• It was all it was set to be posted on 16 Aug 2009

  Every now and then a movie about innocents being pursued by evil while on a mission for the good of all comes out and we all have to accept it as what it is: a kid movie. This one is about kids, aliens, alien kids, dogs, The Rock and evil cardboard government agents and alien clone assassins.I thought it was fun enough. Completely predictable, of course, but also fun, which is what these movies are all about. I like Dwayne Johnson and I really think he could do better as an actor. He does play well in this movie, though the emotional range of his character is epsilon.Bottom line: nice family adventure movie, with aliens and kids. And dogs. Not alien dogs, though.

• Disappointing and Does The Originals No Justice... posted on 16 Aug 2009

  This film was disappointing and did the original movies no justice. At least the movies from the 70's were smart and didn't treat the audience like we're all stupid. This new movie does that.As well, with the high budget and the massive effects staff, the effects were insulting. The helicopters looked fake, the explosions were obvious chroma keys.The highlight was Dwayne Johnson, one of the smart action actors working right now. He has really come into his own with this acting gig and watching him on screen was very entertaining. Also, the girl (name slips my mind), was VERY good. She's the sort of preteen version of the little girl from the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie, except far less annoying.I am not likely to sit through this again. As well, as someone avidly interested UFO's and Air Force test aircraft, the "facts" of this movie hold no water. ID4 did a better job with conspiracy "Facts".That's my two cents.5/10. The five is for TheRock Obama!

• Sometimes cliché filled films work better than sleek new fun machines. posted on 12 Aug 2009

  Restart/sequel to the 1970's (semi-)classic films escape from Witch Mountain and Return to With Mountain about youthful aliens being chased by dark forces.Here the story concerns a crashed alien saucer and a shadowy governmental group bent on getting the technology and the occupants. As the agents go to the crash site the aliens, looking like blonde teenagers, end up in Las Vegas where they get into a cab driven by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Of course the kids are tracked and the chase is on.Okay, here's a film that is as clichéd as they come and yet it works. I was Groaning during the set up scenes as every bad scifi cliché was hit. We've been here how many times...and then some where about the time Johnson shows up it all comes together in such a manner so as to say "Yea you've seen this but come anyway because the ride is fun". and it is. Its like riding the sister roller-coaster of your favorite one. Sure you know how its going to go but you don't care because you're having fun.High art it ain't. Real fun it is. Whats especially nice is the references to the first two films that include cameos and knowing nods (the camper).Honestly normally I loath the blatant promise of a sequel for a film doesn't need one, but in this case I'm actually looking forward to the implied second film, especially if they can make it as fun as this.Give this a shot. Its a well oiled action film that is a real popcorn burner.

• race to the washroom - where your kids at? posted on 06 Aug 2009

  To start off, I would just like all of you to watch your kids during this movie, yet again. Last week, they ran away from one movie (JOE BROS)...but this week, they stayed for a minute but realized they had more potential in the washroom. And I was left in the theaters, YET AGAIN, watching a horrible childish movie like this one here. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON POINTLESS KIDS MOVIES - like Jonas Brothers. I saw that last week, trust me fellow mothers. I went to find my kids and realized they were projectile vomiting on others. It was quite messy and I had to run out of the empty theaters, wasted my 10 bucks, and had to run on home to get them clean. BAD MOVIE, unique plot with no twists. The theaters has now (officially) put us on their "unwelcomed" list. Hooray for me. My husband has officially left me for someone who can actually give birth to kids who like movies. Hopefully, the Hannah Montana movie that will be coming out next week will be more promising than the last two Disney crappies. Wait, Hannah Montana is Disney.

• Hardly inspiring science fiction posted on 02 Aug 2009

  Dwayne Johnson, the actor formerly known as "The Rock," has a megawatt smile, a torso of tendons, and a bit too white a smile--overall he's a charmer. Despite his charisma, he can't make Race to Witch Mountain any more than a third-rate sci-fi, kid flick with dialogue as barren as the Nevada landscape and signature city in which it is set. The only exception to the banality: When hero Jack Bruno (Johnson) starts to go through a portal disguised as a refrigerator, he says, "Don't go in the pimped out fridge Jack." Two kids (AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig) are aliens who need to get back to their home, but the authorities have a different idea, a takeoff on the Bush administration's "hold-them-forever" plan (the only remotely cerebral part of the film). Most of the film is races, either with Bruno's cab to Witch Mountain (like Devil's Canyon, a mystical alien landing place) and multiple visuals aping Close Encounters of a Third Kind or by foot-- hardly inspiring science fiction.A satisfactory part of the film is the UFO convention in Las Vegas. Having witnessed a Star Trek convention, I can vouch for the plethora of nerds at these affairs—the film is faithful to the outrageousness of the believers. Their absurd behavior actually saves the film from being even more boring than a private session with a new secretary of the Treasury.Dwayne Johnson's career does not advance beyond his much better Game Plan; in fact it takes a step back with Witch Mountain. Yet, he is a brand destined to transcend this drivel, which I awarded a "C" based on my preview audience's applause and my abiding affection for science fiction.I'll keep on searching the screens for signs of intelligent movie life.

• Sequel or Triquel? posted on 31 Jul 2009

  Race To Witch Mountain meets boxing. With several movies baring the title Witch Mountain and Return to Witch Mountain, this movie completes the Witch Mountain Trilogy. I have not seen the first two in a long time, but this one, I liked. I don't know if it was the special effects or The Rock, it was energetic and jumping off the edge of my seat kind of movie. I loved the special effects. And I also liked how the director incorporated the storyline to the effects. Congratulations to Disney – with the other two movies, this one outranks. With The Rock leading the cast to Annasophia Robb, they both are great. Are they really going to make another one? What will be the storyline? As far as the movie goes, I would give it a standing ovation with 9 ½ stars.

• all right film but the original was better posted on 25 Jul 2009

  I think its nice that Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann have cameos in the film as a waitress and sheriff, they were the kids in the 1975 original. I remember my mother taking me to see it when I was seven. This is an all right film but the original was so much better. Dwayne Johnson (formally known as the Rock)takes over Eddie Albert's part as the earthman who befriends the two young aliens, the difference is that Eddie Albert could act a lot better! One thing I have to say about this film is that its certainly not boring! I would have loved to have seen the special effects budget. It has enough explosions and car chases for three films.

• Good fun posted on 23 Jul 2009

  Every once in a while Walt Disney Pictures issues a movie like this, family feel-good movie, action movie or anything similar to that, and it always contains some amount of humor, no gore and it's basically made for "younger" audience. Many times the Walt Disney Pictures have failed to deliver enough amount of fun and entertainment with their usual recipe which i mentioned above, that wasn't the case with 'Race to Witch Mountain'.This movie was good fun for me, easily something more and surely nothing less. Of course acting is flawed, we have here our dear Dwayne Johnson who i consider as a replacement for Arnold Schwarzenegger (only for these kind of movies), because if Arnie was still acting he would be perfect for these kind of roles. Dwayne Johnson is mostly fun and entertaining in his roles but always flawed (not annoyingly flawed, but more like funny flawed). Rest of the cast is mixed bag, for movies like this one it's important (in my opinion) that the cast is likable and enjoyable to watch, after all this is some kind of Sci-Fi/action/comedy. So the boy Seth (Alexander Ludwig) was annoying and highly unlikeable while on the other hand the girl Sara (AnnaSophia Robb) was over-likable which makes it even with those 2 characters. Others aren't so much noticeable, but let's say that Ciaran Hinds as Henry Burke was kind of annoying (to me at least). Plot, well it's same recipe as always for Disney Pictures, highly fictional, highly oriented towards "saving of the world" in kid-style, etc. Overall this movie is quite enjoyable and it brings more than you can see in plot summary.All in all, a good little bit underrated innocent fun that's out there for anyone to watch and possibly enjoy.

• WITCH plus KNOWING = perfect double feature for fans posted on 17 Jul 2009

  Lots of good news here: 1)The ROCK (aka Dwayne Johnson) has honed his acting skills enough to top Nicolas Cage. 2)If the racing vehicles toward the end of KNOWING make no sense, switch to WITCH. 3)If the secret garden sequence in WITCH seems too cheesy, check out Ezekiel's wheels at the end of KNOWING. 4)When the omniscient dog-whisperer HULK-challenging alien kids in WITCH get on your nerves, rest with the powerless pair from KNOWING. 5)When the absurd numbers sequence in KNOWING strains your credulity past the breaking point, relax in the gentle vacuum of WITCH's plot holes. Sure, you will have to research the film schedule for your local multiplex to find compatible show times, but trust me, watching only the "best" half of these two flicks will greatly enhance your cinematic experience.

• Courageous Ethical Behavior Is Its Own Reward! posted on 17 Jul 2009

  Race to Witch Mountain proves Hollywood can make an exciting and intelligent film the whole family can enjoy! You can have plenty of action without nauseating violence! It was also a delight to see a powerful science fiction story suitable for even small children.I like the underlying premise that an alien race, with tremendous technological and mental powers, can act in an ethical and selfless fashion. It's also interesting that there can be more than two sides to a story, in this case 4 sides - two factions of aliens and two factions of humans all with different agendas!This is also a blatantly anti-military, anti-military intelligence and anti-secret government story. Two opposing philosophies are made crystal clear: Might makes right, on one hand; and courageous ethical behavior is its own reward, on the other! I shudder to think what would happen to an extraterrestrial alien if they were ever captured by our government or any other major power! As silly as this may sound to some people, I really hope an International treaty is ratified and Federal laws are passed giving sentient extraterrestrials legal standing! Otherwise, why would they ever want to risk exposing themselves in this selfish, and violent, world of ours? As one of the arrogant bad guys in Race to Witch Mountain said, "they have no passport, they don't exist, I can do what I want with them!" May that someday not be true!

• A Nutshell Review: Race to Witch Mountain posted on 17 Jul 2009

  If aliens exist, and if they have access to the films made from Earth, they would likely make a mental note to remind themselves that should they visit our planet on terms other than a hostile takeover or annihilation, to avoid landing in the USA at all costs. Hollywood has enough dough to continuously churn out effects laden science-fiction movies, and most of them are big budgeted action fests like Independence Day and Men In Black, which don't exactly paint a good picture of the extra-terrestrials. Aliens who have more benign intent, would be frightened by how trigger happy and violence prone the US is toward illegal aliens, even if popular culture meant the landing zone for extra terrestrials is the USA and not other larger countries.Race to Witch Mountain being Disney fare means the toning down of practically everything to ensure that it is safe for the entire family to experience together. Dwayne Johnson seems right at home in family friendly flicks like The Game Plan (also directed by Andy Fickman), and I guess his action days on screen will be few and far between, especially when he gets to flaunt his dramatic and comedic flair. Woe is the fan boy like me who have grown up with The Rock, but there's no more people's eyebrow, and we should start to get used to seeing our idol in a different light on celluloid.Johnson plays a Las Vegas cab driver Jack Bruno who has a colourful past that he tries to bury, in order to earn an honest living to buy his dream Mustang featured in the Steve McQueen movie Bullit. In a confluence of the stars he picks up a scientist who specializes in extra terrestrials, before chancing onto two of them when they boarded his cab without his knowledge. The brother and ssister aliens – Sara (AnnaSophia Robb) and Seth (Alenxander Ludwig) – are here on a noble mission, and are in hot pursuit by the shady government agents led by Henry Burke (Ciaran Hinds) as well as something like a Terminator from many light years away.This naturally gives rise to your standard set action sequences where we get to see the alien twins exercise their rather innocent demeanour ("they're only kids!") to their advantage, behind which hides the immense powers they possess such as Telepathy and Density manipulation, which I thought was a very cool power to have. Imagine being able to pass through walls, yet having tremendous strength in the form of a road block, literally. AnnaSophia Robb whom I felt did a fantastic job in The Bridge to Terabithia, stars as the female child, and because of her character's ability, she brings forth a more trusting, and empathetic character, in direct contrast to the other alien Seth (The Seeker from The Dark is Rising is all grown up now), who's more direct, commanding, aloof and untrusting of humans in general, no doubt their initial experience was in having their space ship confiscated to Witch Mountain, and being chased for the conduct of experiments.Carla Gugino, last seen as the aged Silk Spectre in Watchmen, got active only in the last third of the show, which was somewhat of a pity because she shared great chemistry with the rest of the cast, and got involved quite late into the thick of things. But of course if there's any consolation, like how the bits during the end credits would suggest, and depending on the box office results, there might be room for more in a sequel, if it comes. There are references galore in the film given that there's a science-fiction convention event featured in the movie, and you can't help but also think about the potential for theme park rides with the yellow cab being pursued and pretty banged up. In fact I was wondering each time the cab got put through an action sequence, that it would make for a great 4D ride in Disneyland. You can't help it because it was quite in your face, with the sequences designed in that manner, deliberately or otherwise.Despite some glaring plot loopholes, Race to Witch Mountain has all the ingredients for a great family outing. The story doesn't try to be more intellectual than it can handle, and doesn't let the special effects run wild and take over everything else. For being such a sentimental fool, the ending also got some brownie points from me, as it's tough not to shed a tear or two given the trials and tribulations from which a solid bond is formed amongst all the characters. Recommended for a family outing, but don't go expecting something out of this world (pun not intended), as everything's pretty formula.

• Mountain dreck posted on 15 Jul 2009

  The Rock and company may be game, but the race turns out to be less a game than a drudgery. A victim of its own desire to have Dwayne Johnson's crowd-pleasing macho element sub for the youthful innocence of its young protagonists (and even for the amiable charisma of Johnson himself), "Race to Witch Mountain" loses much of the sweetness in this re-imagining of a 1970s adventure tale that starts amusingly enough but ultimately never comes across as more than a turgidly forgettable family fare.Ex-con Jack Bruno (Johnson) is trying to attain a clean slate by living a reformed life as a Las Vegas cab driver when he inadvertently becomes the chauffeur of two young passengers (AnnaSophia Robb and Ludwig) who show him a big wad of cash to drive them out of the city. It turns out that the juvenile customers are superpowered aliens out to save the Earth from an imminent invasion by their kind, and the only way to prevent the planet from being taken over by an intellectually superior extraterrestrial race is if Jack, along with an ardent astrophysicist (Carla Gugino), successfully guides these kids to the mysterious Witch Mountain past a joyless baddie (Ciarán Hinds) and his military men.To get there, however, means having to endure a tedious chase punctuated by flat action setpieces so perfunctorily packaged as a merchandise to fit every member of the audience, where everyone gets a dumbed-down sample but no one gets the real dose. Director Andy Finkman was responsible for the highly forgettable "The Game Plan" which, if nothing else, got Johnson into a tree costume; no surprise, then, that here, in what seems to be an attempt to buff up the former wrestling star again, Finkman diminishes Johnson's everyman appeal and Robb's likable presence into mere players in a race that never gains enough momentum.

• One of the better Disney Films posted on 09 Jul 2009

  An update of an old, beloved Disney film, "Race to Witch Mountain" is smarter than it trusts itself to be. After an excellent setup, the movie becomes bogged down in chase scene after chase scene on its way to its inevitable ending. Former wrestler-turned-action movie star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson plays Jack Bruno, a Las Vegas cabbie with a shady past. While dealing with freaks and geeks during a UFO convention, he tells his former Mafia connections that he's gone straight and won't be their wheelman. He then finds two strange kids in his cab. Sara (AnnaSophia Robb, looking like a young and untainted Lindsay Lohan) and Seth (Alexander Ludwig) don't really hide the fact that they are not of this world. They are on a mission that is crucial both to their home world and to ours, and Bruno gets pulled into a plot that tests his driving skills and his loyalty to the kids. The first third of the movie clips along at a good pace and doesn't talk down to the kids or the adults in the audience. Then the chases start. It's true that dialogue-light action scenes help movies earn international box office, but when they're not integral to the plot they feel like filler. Such is the case here. Whenever a chase scene starts, the plot stops. Luckily, all these action scenes in "Race to Witch Mountain" are competently put together, so it feels like the story is moving even when it isn't. Ultimately, as with '50s science fiction, the military leaders are the villains because they act without thinking of the bigger picture. In this case, both the Earth and the other world are in jeopardy, and it's up to the kids (with the help of The Rock) to save both of them. Not a bad message.