The Magic Heat Wood Stove is a popular heating solution among homeowners. This innovative device is designed to maximize the efficiency of wood stoves, allowing users to generate more heat while using fewer resources. The Magic Heat Wood Stove is a heat reclaimer, which means it captures the excess heat that is typically lost through the chimney and recirculates it back into the room. This significantly improves the overall efficiency of the wood stove, as it ensures that no heat goes to waste. The device is made up of a small fan and a heat exchanger. The fan is located at the front of the wood stove and pushes the excess heat through the heat exchanger.
Director: Andy Fickman / Writers: Matt Lopez (screen story & screenplay), Mark Bomback (screenplay), Alexander Key (book)
I think Dwayne Johnson has a likable screen presence and is a good choice for an innocuous family entertainment like this, and also he once sent me some Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Brickle. Bridge to Terabithia s AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig of The Seeker The Dark is Rising seemed like smart casting, but neither does anything special with the automaton roles unless you count her annoying overuse of her driver s full name and the movie doesn t suffer when the kids basically disappear late in the game.
The fan is located at the front of the wood stove and pushes the excess heat through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger consists of a series of tubes or fins that absorb the heat and transfer it to the surrounding air. As the fan blows the heated air out, cooler air from the room is drawn in and heated by the stove.
Race to Witch Mountain (2009)
Children with paranormal abilities; love of nature; dread of adult ruthlessness; compassionate adults; tense chase sequences; dramatic, paranormal escapes and isolationist communities living apart from ordinary society: These are the hallmarks of the juvenile science fiction of Alexander Key. Nearly all of Key’s novels are now out of print, including his best-known story, Escape to Witch Mountain, which encapsulates all of his characteristic themes, and is the basis for the highly successful 1975 Disney adaptation as well as a theatrical sequel, two made-for-TV follow-ups, and now Race to Witch Mountain.
Directed by Andy Fickman. Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Carla Gugino, Ciaran Hinds, Tom Everett Scott. Disney.
Artistic/Entertainment Value
Moral/Spiritual Value
Age Appropriateness
Kids & Up*MPAA Rating
Caveat Spectator
Much intense action violence; menace to children.I first read Escape to Witch Mountain in about the fifth grade, I guess — after the 1975 Disney adaptation had been made, but before I saw it. The story stuck with me, in part, I guess, because in some ways I related to Tony and Tia: I was gifted in my own way, and somewhat isolated from my peers and misunderstood, among other things. (I also really liked the ideas of mental telepathy and telekenesis, but my short-lived experiments with these feats were entirely discouraging and quickly abandoned.)
I mention this to highlight how substantially Race to Witch Mountain departs from its creative roots. Publicity materials call the new film a “modern re-imagining of Key’s book,” and director Andy Fickman has called it “a new chapter within the world of Witch Mountain,” but neither description is really accurate.
Yes, there are still a brother and sister with paranormal abilities (and alliterative names) fleeing from ruthless adults and aided by decent ones. And there are still tense chase sequences, a dramatic paranormal escape and a strange, remote community. There’s still a Witch Mountain — and a Stony Creek — though the Witch Mountain connection is completely different. There’s even a white-haired old man who drives a Winnebago motor home, like the first movie, and a jaded taxi driver with race-car affinities, like the sequel.
However, the focus is no longer on the paranormal siblings, here reduced to supporting characters. Nor does it deal with their exploration of their powers and origins, which are never in doubt — to them. Instead, Race to Witch Mountain is the story of a tough Vegas taxi driver named Jack Bruno (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), whose day takes an unexpected turn toward disaster when a pair of steel-eyed blond children appear in the back seat of his cab.
“We require your transportation services immediately,” the boy says urgently, and the girl helpfully adds, “You require a financial transaction, Jack Bruno. We understand.”
As the rapid-fire, quasi-Vulcan speech patterns suggest, siblings Sara and Seth (AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig) are not aimless orphan castaways searching for home, but rather strange visitors recently arrived. His profession and stock-car racing past recalls the race-car wanna-be taxi driver from Return to Witch Mountain, but Jack’s disposition — testy and wary of becoming entangled with the children, but ultimately loyal and brave — is more like Eddie Albert’s crusty old Winnebago driver from the original movie. Just with bulging muscles, a lantern jaw and an attitude.
He needs it. Menaced on a remote desert road by a trio of ominous dark SUVs, Jack, an ex-con determined to sever his ties to organized crime, supposes it’s his former life coming back to haunt him. The siblings know there’s more going on, though, and before long display some tricks Tony and Tia never even dreamed of.
They also face greater threats: Besides government pursuers led by Ciarán Hinds, there’s also a faceless, armored alien menace called the Siphon. On the other hand, they’re also aided by disgraced astrophysicist Dr. Alex Friedman (Carla Gugino of Watchmen and the Spy Kids franchise), whose views on extraterrestrials have made her persona non grata in the scientific community, and by eccentric UFO convention regular Dr. Harlan (Garry Marshall), who drives a familiar-looking Winnebago.
The plot ultimately requires the heroes to break into a top-secret government facility at Witch Mountain, Arizona, to recover a captured UFO. (In the previous films, Witch Mountain was the site of a secret settlement of Tony and Tia’s people. This change makes it difficult if not impossible to locate the new film in the same world as earlier Witch Mountain stories.)
Rather than a coming of age story, then, Race to Witch Mountain is a dark family action-adventure movie, with moderate doses of X-Files paranoia and Galaxy Quest sci-fi fandom satire, and a sometimes obnoxious rock soundtrack. It’s slicker, darker and funnier than the original films, not to mention quite a bit rougher than most of today’s family action films (e.g., Journey to the Center of the Earth). The action is wall-to-wall relentless, making for a one-trick pony movie with no room for the characters to catch their breath and display more than one side.
Seth’s one side is that he is intense and narrow-eyed, and has a withering view of humans. Sara is sensitive and gazes meaningfully through wide eyes, and either wants to tell Jack something extremely important or else just has a crush on him. Jack is gruff and fatalistic, and goes the movie dealing with the craziness by tossing off deadpan one-liners for nobody’s benefit but his own.
At times Jack’s wry commentary even defuses some of the movie’s more dubious moments. He does miss a few tricks, though: If Sara can blow up government vehicles to prevent pursuit while fleeing a small-town tavern, why couldn’t she take out the SUVs in the desert road sequence — or even the Siphon’s spaceship? For that matter, if Seth can drop his molecular density to near-zero and phase through solid objects, why is he ever in danger?
Witch Mountain fans will get a kick out of that small-town tavern scene, in which Sara and Seth are aided by a helpful waitress and a quietly self-assured sheriff played by Kim Richards and Iake Eissinmann, the original Tony and Tia. (On another level, second-amendment fans will appreciate a humorous demonstration of the benefits of a well-armed civilian populace.)
But the perfunctory plot mechanics detract from the Witch Mountain mythology rather than adding to it. Spoiler warning: Do we really need our heroes’ homeworld contemplating invading Earth as their own planet is dying, even sending nearly unstoppable alien assassins to our world to kill two of their own? First The Day the Earth Stood Still — another sci-fi remake–cum–eco-parable, with a less-than-enlightened Klaatu — and now this. Whatever happened to the noble aliens?
Tags: Action, Family, Science FictionRelated
Return From Witch Mountain (1978)
Better structured and faster-moving than its predecessor, the sequel has more energy and wit in one sequence — the gold theft at the museum, in which a rolling stagecoach and floating manniquins evoke scenes from a Western — than all the special effects in the first movie combined.
Escape to Witch Mountain (1975)
One of the most popular Disney films of its era, Escape to Witch Mountain only loosely follows Alexander Key’s comparatively dark original tale about a pair of troubled orphans escaping a grim juvenile-hall orphanage and a sinister pursuer with the help of a heroic Catholic priest.
RE: Witch Mountain reviews
Very interesting reviews. I must admit, I expected you to give Escape to Witch Mountain a higher review than Return from Witch Mountain, but of course, I haven’t read the books.
To tell you the truth, I saw them both when I was 14 or so, and I thought Escape was a great little film. It had all the elements of a great kids’ movie and all the elements to keep a teenager or even adult interested for a sustained amount of time. The story was interesting, the characters were likable, and the effects were well done (if underused like you mentioned).
However, I was bitterly disappointed with Return. Mainly I didn’t like it for the overall cheesiness and silliness that you mentioned in your review. Where Escape was engaging and entertaining, Return was merely silly. Whenever the plot turned to the street gang of rejects from “The Little Rascals,” I cringed. It was a little better when the plot turned to Christopher Lee and his mind control device, but it still felt cheesy and cliched. It had great effects, but that couldn’t save what is exclusively a kiddie film.
I haven’t seen Race to Witch Mountain as of yet, but I plan to in the near future, although I have mixed feelings about it. When I first heard about Race, I though, “Oh boy, another Witch Mountain sequel, maybe this one will redeem that awful Return movie.” But after seeing the trailer, I realized that it wasn’t a sequel, it wasn’t even a remake, it was a reboot. Okay, so I could go with reboot, as long as it’s done well. The Day the Earth Stood Still had an interesting reboot (really remake in that case) that couldn’t touch the original but still took the story in an intriguing direction.
But something didn’t feel right about the trailer for Race; you know at once that they’re aliens (which was the whole point of Escape, and was one of the things that film so great was the journey of discovery). With the kids’ new powers, why do they even need a taxi driver to help them? If they can walk into cars and bullets bounce right off them, why would government officials be a problem? The powers Tony and Tia possessed had limits and made them more relatable, but Sara and Seth seem almost indestructible and distant. As a cheap action flick, Race seems okay. But not having read the books, it seems that the original Escape hasn’t been beaten.
RE: Witch Mountain reviews
Very interesting reviews. I must admit, I expected you to give Escape to Witch Mountain a higher review than Return from Witch Mountain, but of course, I haven’t read the books.
To tell you the truth, I saw them both when I was 14 or so, and I thought Escape was a great little film. It had all the elements of a great kids’ movie and all the elements to keep a teenager or even adult interested for a sustained amount of time. The story was interesting, the characters were likable, and the effects were well done (if underused like you mentioned).
However, I was bitterly disappointed with Return. Mainly I didn’t like it for the overall cheesiness and silliness that you mentioned in your review. Where Escape was engaging and entertaining, Return was merely silly. Whenever the plot turned to the street gang of rejects from “The Little Rascals,” I cringed. It was a little better when the plot turned to Christopher Lee and his mind control device, but it still felt cheesy and cliched. It had great effects, but that couldn’t save what is exclusively a kiddie film.
I haven’t seen Race to Witch Mountain as of yet, but I plan to in the near future, although I have mixed feelings about it. When I first heard about Race, I though, “Oh boy, another Witch Mountain sequel, maybe this one will redeem that awful Return movie.” But after seeing the trailer, I realized that it wasn’t a sequel, it wasn’t even a remake, it was a reboot. Okay, so I could go with reboot, as long as it’s done well. The Day the Earth Stood Still had an interesting reboot (really remake in that case) that couldn’t touch the original but still took the story in an intriguing direction.
But something didn’t feel right about the trailer for Race; you know at once that they’re aliens (which was the whole point of Escape, and was one of the things that film so great was the journey of discovery). With the kids’ new powers, why do they even need a taxi driver to help them? If they can walk into cars and bullets bounce right off them, why would government officials be a problem? The powers Tony and Tia possessed had limits and made them more relatable, but Sara and Seth seem almost indestructible and distant. As a cheap action flick, Race seems okay. But not having read the books, it seems that the original Escape hasn’t been beaten.
Recent
- Ethan Hunt’s second act and Tom Cruise’s third: The unending impossible mission
- Indiana Jones movies and Raiders of the Lost Ark: Why the original still stands alone
- The Lourdes Effect: The Miracle Club director Thaddeus O’Sullivan on Irish trauma and miracles
- An Elemental misstep: Does Pixar still need — or benefit from — anthropomorphic fantasy?
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is an incomplete triumph
Now Playing
Home Video
Copyright © 2000– Steven D. Greydanus. All rights reserved.
This convection process helps distribute the heat more evenly throughout the room, making it more comfortable for the occupants. The Magic Heat Wood Stove is easy to install, and most models are compatible with different wood stove sizes and chimney types. It typically attaches to the chimney via a flue pipe, and the fan is powered by a thermostatically controlled motor. This allows users to adjust the fan speed and heat output according to their needs. One of the key benefits of the Magic Heat Wood Stove is its ability to help homeowners save on energy costs. By reclaiming and redistributing the excess heat, users can rely less on other heating sources and burn less wood. This not only saves money but also promotes environmental sustainability. Additionally, the Magic Heat Wood Stove helps reduce the amount of creosote buildup in the chimney. Creosote is a flammable substance that can accumulate over time and pose a fire hazard. By reducing the amount of heat escaping through the chimney, the Magic Heat Wood Stove minimizes the conditions for creosote to form. In conclusion, the Magic Heat Wood Stove is an excellent investment for homeowners looking to maximize the efficiency of their wood stoves. It helps capture and redistribute the excess heat, allowing users to generate more warmth while using fewer resources. With its easy installation and energy-saving benefits, the Magic Heat Wood Stove is a smart choice for any wood stove owner..
Reviews for "The Art of Getting the Perfect Fire in a Magic Heat Wood Stove"
1. Jane - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the Magic Heat Wood Stove. I had heard great things about it, but it just didn't live up to the hype. First of all, it was incredibly difficult to install. The instructions were confusing and the parts didn't fit together properly. Once I finally got it set up, I found that the heat output was not as strong as I had hoped. It didn't warm up my whole living room like I expected it to. Overall, I wouldn't recommend the Magic Heat Wood Stove.
2. Mark - 3 stars - I have mixed feelings about the Magic Heat Wood Stove. On one hand, it does produce a decent amount of heat and helps to warm up my small office space. However, I have found that it is not very efficient. It seems to burn through wood quickly and I am constantly having to add more logs. Additionally, the stove gets extremely hot to the touch, making it difficult to adjust or move once it has been lit. I would suggest looking for a more reliable and user-friendly wood stove option.
3. Sarah - 1 star - I had high hopes for the Magic Heat Wood Stove, but unfortunately, it fell short in many areas. Firstly, it was quite expensive compared to other wood stoves on the market. I expected a top-notch product for the price, but instead, I received a flimsy and poorly constructed stove. The metal was thin and easily dented, and the door did not close properly, causing smoke to escape into my home. Furthermore, the stove did not provide consistent heat and often emitted a strong, unpleasant odor. Save your money and choose a different wood stove brand.