The Race to Witch Mountain is a 2009 American science fiction adventure film. It is a remake of the 1975 film Escape to Witch Mountain, which is based on the 1968 novel of the same name by Alexander Key. The film was directed by Andy Fickman and stars Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ciarán Hinds, and Carla Gugino. The story follows two siblings, Sara and Seth, who possess extraordinary powers. They are aliens from another planet and are trying to get back home. Along the way, they encounter a Las Vegas cab driver named Jack Bruno, who becomes their unlikely protector and helps them journey to Witch Mountain, where their spaceship has crash-landed.
Along the way, they encounter a Las Vegas cab driver named Jack Bruno, who becomes their unlikely protector and helps them journey to Witch Mountain, where their spaceship has crash-landed. As the group races against time, they are pursued by government agents, led by Henry Burke, who is determined to capture the siblings and harness their powers for military purposes. Along the journey, Jack Bruno learns about the children's true origins and becomes a hero as he fights to protect them.
Real witches cry foul at portrayal on "True Blood"
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Critics of bloody violence and excessive sex on TV have long had HBO’s vampire drama “True Blood” in their cross hairs, but now the popular series has another group of wary citizens -- witches, real ones.
A woman dressed as a witch walks along the street during Halloween celebrations in Port Washington, New York, October 31, 2007. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
The series’ fourth season has focused on Marnie Stonebrook (Fiona Shaw), a seemingly harmless medium and leader of a Wiccan group who becomes the physical conduit for Antonia, a long dead witch who is hellbent on vengeance against vampires who persecuted and burned her at the stake.
Marnie winds up as the mouthpiece for Antonia’s spell to drive the bloodsuckers of fictional “True Blood” town Bon Temps into the daylight. And that sort of deadly revenge, say some modern-day witches, is what gives witchcraft a bad name.
“I’m absolutely disappointed with the portrayal of Marnie,” said one witch -- and professor of biology at a college in New England -- who goes by the magickal name Taarna RavenHawk.
“When Marnie gives up her ‘power within,’ which is a witch’s ability to practice the craft without harming others, it allows possession by Antonia who becomes the controlling entity. Marnie lets it happen. It’s unconscionable a witch would act this way.”
Elaanie Stormbender, a witch and mother of five who lives in Jackson, Mississippi, said all the members of the small community of witches to which she belongs are displeased with Marnie’s behavior. “When witches invoke a spirit, they take precautions and retain full control to banish,” she said. “Marnie didn’t stay in control, so she’s entirely to blame for giving herself over to being possessed.”
Marnie’s behavior also feeds into some people’s fears about witches tampering with forces beyond their control, and the character’s recklessness only reinforces this fear, said Stormbender.
Christopher Penczak, co-founder and president of The Temple of Witchcraft, a religious nonprofit organization based in southern New Hampshire that teaches witchcraft to students worldwide, also had concerns about Marnie’s negative impact on the overall reputation of witches.
“Marnie does communicate with the dead but she comes into witchcraft lacking groundedness,” said Penczak, author of “The Inner Temple of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation and Psychic Development. “A witch who gets good training usually learns to balance that with discipline, strength and focus. I would have liked to see a witch who was more competent and had a clearer sense of will and purpose.”
Another red flag for Penczak is how Marnie has begged spirits to enter her. He said modern-day witches don’t look for spirits indiscriminately. In fact, they are very specific about what they want to summon. “They’d never say ‘I’m opening the door to whoever wants to come through,’” Penczak said.
Being a witch is hard work, too, and a key complaint about Marnie is that she makes her job seem way too easy. Moreover, she actually raised the dead -- something real witches don’t do. They just communicate with those who have passed on.
“Ethical witches communicate with the dead, not bring them back to life. Crossing these lines was very grave and not something any of us would advocate. She went overboard,” said RavenHawk.
Of course, going overboard is exactly what “True Blood” does best with not just its vampires, but its shapeshifters and werewolves and even were panthers. It’s the sort of behavior that spikes ratings and lures viewers.
Suzanne, also known as Moon, a witch in Atlanta, Georgia, who declined to give her last name, has observed Marnie’s huge appeal through the local online forum for solitary pagan practitioners that she created and manages.
“Since the new season of ‘True Blood’ began, I’ve seen an increase in new members who are in their teens and may be easily impressed by Marnie’s display of power,” she said. “It’s dangerous when viewers think witchcraft, as Marnie does it, is so easy. For this reason she’s a bad example.”
Still, all that complaining doesn’t seem to make the witches want to cast their own spell to hurt the “True Blood” viewership -- not yet, anyway.
“My witch friends are rabid fans of ‘True Blood,’ and watch it every week,” said Ellen Dugan, a witch and priestess of a six-member coven she co-founded in St. Louis, Missouri.
Dugan, the author of “Practical Protection Magick” and “Natural Witchery,” conceded that Marnie’s portrayal contains a sensational element, but noted that her witch friends laughed during a recent levitation scene.
“Most witches have a good enough sense of humor,” she said.
Editing by Bob Tourtellotte
Being a witch is hard work, too, and a key complaint about Marnie is that she makes her job seem way too easy. Moreover, she actually raised the dead -- something real witches don’t do. They just communicate with those who have passed on.
The Race to Witch Mountain is a thrilling adventure filled with action, suspense, and heart. It explores themes of family, friendship, and the power of belief. The film received mixed reviews from critics but was a commercial success, grossing over $106 million worldwide. Overall, the Race to Witch Mountain is an entertaining film that appeals to both children and adults. It is a modern retelling of a classic story and offers a fresh take on the concept. With its charismatic cast and exciting plot, it remains a memorable entry in the science fiction genre..
Reviews for "The Influence of Race to Witch Mountain: The Original on Contemporary Sci-Fi"
1. John Smith - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Race to Witch Mountain Original". The story felt very predictable and lacked depth, not to mention the cheesy dialogue and poor acting. The special effects were also unimpressive and looked outdated. Overall, I think it failed to capture the magic and excitement of the original "Witch Mountain" movies.
2. Emily Johnson - 3/5 - I found "Race to Witch Mountain Original" to be just okay. While it had some entertaining moments, I felt like the plot was too convoluted and rushed. The characters lacked development, and I found it hard to connect with them. The action sequences were decent, but the overall execution fell short of my expectations. It's definitely not a movie I would actively recommend, but it's also not the worst I've seen.
3. David Thompson - 1/5 - "Race to Witch Mountain Original" was a complete waste of time for me. The storyline was cliché, and the attempt to modernize the film failed miserably. The dialogue felt forced, and the characters were one-dimensional. There was no emotional depth or meaningful message to take away from the movie. I was left feeling underwhelmed and disappointed. It's definitely not worth your time or money.
4. Sarah Williams - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Race to Witch Mountain Original", but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The pacing was off, with too much action and not enough character development. The plot felt hollow and lacked substance. I found it difficult to stay engaged throughout the movie. The special effects were its only redeeming quality, but even they couldn't save it from being a mediocre film. Overall, "Race to Witch Mountain Original" was a missed opportunity and didn't live up to its potential.
5. Michael Roberts - 2/5 - I wasn't impressed with "Race to Witch Mountain Original". The storyline felt recycled and lacked originality. The acting was average at best, and the characters were forgettable. The action sequences were decent, but they couldn't compensate for the overall lackluster experience. I would recommend skipping this movie and watching something more engaging and memorable.