Movies: The Witch Takes on the Watch
By Erik Samdahl
Last week, Watchmen debuted to a $50+ million opening, granting it the title of the first major weekend of 2009. Chances are, however, that it will not even be the biggest money maker of the first three months, as most analysts expect the superhero drama to plummet like a Tyler Perry movie.
This gives Race to Witch Mountain more than enough of an opportunity to take the top spot, and deservedly so. While the movie doesn’t look particularly good, it doesn’t look particularly bad, either, and reviews seem to back up those expectations.
For a PG-rated Disney remake of a 1970’s franchise I don’t remember (granted, I wasn’t alive in the 1970’s), “just OK” should be more than enough for kids and parents alike. The movie, about super-powered alien children who try to outrun their pursuers with the help of The Rock, screams “safe choice” for families.
For those who don’t want PG action, there is a hard R-rated option in the form of The Last House on the Left, the latest horror film to get a 21st century update. For what it’s worth, it looks pretty good. Of course, considering that the original is known for a violent rape scene and this one appears to up the ante in terms of violence and gore, those looking for any kind of redeeming value may want to look elsewhere.
Just don’t look at Miss March, a teen romp that would have been popular ten years ago but now seems like an outdated afterthought. About a young man who wakes up from a coma to discover that his high school sweetheart is now a scantily clad Playboy Bunny and sets out with his best friend to track her down, expectations could not be lower.
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Erik Samdahl is a marketing director for a productivity firm and writes movie reviews for FilmJabber.com
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