All-new Pop-up Fun Facts, Making the Return Trip, The Gang's Back in Town, Disney Kids with Powers, The Eyes Have It. Lost Treasure: Christopher Lee, the Lost Interviews, 1978 Disney Studio Album, Audio Commentary

Not unexpected but highly unnecessary, "Return From Witch Mountain," continues the journey taken three years prior. This time, the city of Los Angeles hinges on the resourcefulness and courage of our supernatural tweens, as two devious villains plot nuclear devastation. If this reads a bit comical, consider yourself perceptive. "Return From Witch Mountain," is a goofy, over the top sequel, wh ich becomes altogether aimless entertainment. Inconceivably, studios continue to cling to old concepts, reusing old ideas. Nothing has changed today, of course, as sequels and trilogies continue to pop up all over the place, dying off as they are expected to after audiences get there quick-fix. More often than not, a movie is judged by its marketability, rather than its substance, which is the evaluation that "Return To Witch Mountain," likely received. Will it make money? Yes. Why? Because audiences liked the first one...Good. ****

The eerie aspects of this sequel fail to resonate, and our villainous counterparts might as well have been laughing at themselves. It would seem that not even the creators took this project seriously. It screams campiness, which is confounding considering the fact that John Hough also directs the follow-up. Much like the new "Indy" or the recent "Get Smart," interpretation, it was as if the writers sat down one weekend, watched the first film, and then wrote a screenplay partly mimicking the original, partly mocking it. Yet, some of the elements of "Escape To Witch Mountain," are retained, especially the style of effects, and the overall mood regarding the supernatural. The leads are still effective and children are bound to be diverted, but in that three year gap, an emotional connection was severed. The story is less riveting, as it becomes more about flying automobiles, rather than the people flying them.

The special features in "Return From Witch Mountain," are equal to those of its predecessor. There is a pop-up trivia track, which provides extra interest in repeated viewings, as well as a nice commentary track. Don't be fooled by this so-called "Walt Disney Family Classics Edition," however, it is simply a re-release.

The better portion of the extras is within the extensive making-of feature that featurette, which gives us a glimpse of the majority of the cast, and includes vintage footage/ photos/film clips, etc...Worthwhile also is "The Gang's Back in Town," which gives Brad Savage, Poindexter Yothers,, and Christian Juttner time to reminisce about the film while clips play intermittently.

A Christopher Lee interview is somewhat aggravating, as he plugs other films, often better films that he stars in. Finally there is a Disney Studio Album, which is simply a clip montage, not unlike the album in "Escape's" special features. Rounding out the bonus features is a Donald Duck cartoon, "The Eyes Have It." Standard, generic, but moderately entertaining, much like the film itself. ****

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