Disney's sequel to 1975's "Escape From Witch Mountain" scuttles all interest in its teen characters, Tony and Tia (the returning Ike Eisenmann and Kim Richards),for the sake of jazzier special effects. The kids return to Earth from outer space, where Tony is kidnapped by villains Bette Davis and Christopher Lee (and their chauffeur, Anthony James, who earlier played chauffeur in "Burnt Offerings"). Terrific cast, well-enough made, but the movie loses sight of what was so special about the first film: a kids' flick with the emphasis on character, not outlandish effects. Davis is alert and anxious, but she's practically smothered under her gaudy make-up job; Christopher Lee unceremoniously blends into the background without much of a character to play (it's easy to forget he's even in the picture). The plotting gets too heavy, what with Los Angeles about to be decimated and delinquent children running amok, but the worst decision was to separate the siblings for much of the movie. Jack Soo does nice work in a supporting bit, and there's also a goat who nearly saves the day. *1/2 from ****

I will be honest about this one--I really don't like the Disney live action films of the 60s and 70s. And, I never saw the original film "Escape From Witch Mountain". So why would I watch "Return From Witch Mountain"? It stars Bette Davis---and I'd watch anything with her in it...anything (except porn...EWWW!).

The film begins with the two children from the previous film returning home with an adult of their species. The boy is a bit of a knucklehead and uses his amazing powers and then is sharply reminded NOT to do this again on Earth. However, moments later, a guy is falling to his death from a building and the boy uses his mental powers to stop the guy only a few feet from the ground--where he stays suspended! Needless to say, the folks watching (Davis and Christopher Lee) are amazed. And, since they are evil, they drug the boy and decide to take him with them to try to exploit him and his gifts. Then, they implant a mind-control device and turn the boy into their own personal weapon! However, his sister understands through her psychic connection with him that something is amiss--and she must go in search of him.

The film includes a bunch of annoying little jerks who call themselves 'the Earthquake Gang'. Without them, the film might have had more appeal to older audiences but Disney was clearly trying to appeal to the kids. It also might have appealed more with less broad humor. It's a shame actually, as the idea of the film isn't bad and the special effects are awfully good for 1978. I was particularly impressed with effects such as the broken glass containing the gold, the UFO landing as well as the floating items (it looked pretty seamless). I also liked the gold going into the car--it was a clever little scene. Overall, it's a film strictly for kids but one the parents won't hate if they are forced to watch. Not exactly a glowing endorsement, but it is what it is--a kid's film from Disney. It's a shame, though, as Davis wasn't particularly good or useful to the film--Lee was clearly more interesting and integral to the film.

This is a fine sequel to one of Walt Disney's better family projects Escape from Witch Mountain. The adult stars are Bette Davis and Christopher Lee as an old dowager financing a mad scientist in some nefarious experiments.

These two happen on the alien kids from Witch Mountain, Kim Richards and Ike Eisenman, when the kids are on holiday to Earth once again. They kidnap Ike after seeing an example of his powers of levitation and seek to use him and fit him with a mind control device that Lee's been perfecting.

Lee's dreaming some big dreams and Davis has some more mundane schemes like a trip to some gambling house or racetrack. Both of them looking like they are having one grand old time hamming it up for the cameras.

Of course the film wouldn't work at all if it were not for the winning personalities of Richards and Eisenman. Both come across as real kids, not sure of the extent of their own powers rather than Hollywood juvenile actors.

The whole of the film is Richards pursuing and trying to rescue her brother and in the process she recruits a gang of juveniles escaping from a truant officer played by the ever deadpan funny Jack Soo. Eventually Soo joins forces with the kids and proves of some help.

Both Escape to Witch Mountain and this sequel are fine family entertainment, some of the best that Disney studio produced.