Sadly, this film also was prepared to be a 2-disc Special Edition but was reduced to a single disc. Again, like Escape to Witch Mountain, the first menu offers the option to go to "The Film" (what would be Disc 1) and "The Vault" (the would-be bonus disc that is also on the same disc).
"The Film", the first menu, allows you to play the film, and you can listen to a continuing audio commentary with Kim Richards, Iake Eissinmann, and John Hough. I listened to both commentaries on both discs. As much as I find John Hough to be an excellent director, he is incredibly boring. I would have preferred (on both Witch Mountain movies) to have separate commentaries, one for the director and one for the two children, who were a joy to listen to. (On a side note, I have read
reviews of Watcher in the Woods where people complain about John Hough's commentary, and I would probably have to agree with them.) You can watch the cartoon short "The Eyes Have It" (7:24), in which Donald
learns how to hypnotize Pluto - but of course things go terribly wrong.
Down in "The Vault", we have the choice to move to two different
sides (exactly like other Vault Disney releases). On the left side are
three features, "Making the Return Trip" (22:48), "A The Gang's Back in
Town" (8:13) and "Disney's Kids With Powers" (2:59).
"Making the Return
Trip" includes Kim Richards, Iake Eissinmann, John Hough, Erik Yothers
(Crusher), Brad Savage (Muscles), Christian Juttner (Dazzler) and Kevin
Cocoran (you'll remember him from Swiss Family Robinson and a
host of other Disney movies). Danny Lee (Special Effects of many
movies, including Bedknobs and Broomsticks) also makes an
appearance (notice he calls the movie Return to Witch Mountain
not once, but twice). It is a nice documentary, but after immensely
long documentaries such as the one on 20,000 Leagues Under the
Sea, this one feels like it has been chopped sort.
"The Gang's Back
in Town" gets three of the four gang members – Brad (Muscles), Erik
(Crusher) and Christian (Dazzler) – together for a reunion of sorts.
Christian Juttner really got irritating with his constant
interruption of Brad and Erik and his non-stop babbling. Also, the girl
who voiced over for Tia was terrible. By far this was the worst extra
yet. "Disney's Kids With Powers" was fun, but got old after seeing
these type of montages so many, many times before on other discs. This
highlighted the coming-soon Freaky Friday as well as Peter
Pan. (Watch at the end when they call Honey, I Blew Up the
Kid "Honey, I Blew Up the Baby").
On the other side of the Vault the first extra is (as usual) "Lost
Treasures". This time it's an interview Pepe Lupi had with Christopher
Lee (10:55) back in 1978. It's still in Spanish, but has English
subtitles. It's an interesting piece of work, and I personally liked
it, but the video quality is on par with "Water Birds" from The
Rescuers.
The next extra is the Galleries, which includes Production Stills (67
pictures), Biographies and Advertising (13 pictures). Though on the
back cover it claims this disc has a theatrical trailer, I could not
find it anywhere, leaving me to believe that it has been dropped or is
an Easter Egg.
Finally, the "1978 Studio Album" rounds off the disc. This 3 minute
collection features clips from The Cat from Outer Space,
Candleshoe and Hot Lead and Cold Feet, all three of which
are coming to DVD summer 2004. This was as good a Studio Album as I've
ever seen.
The Sneak Peeks in the beginning of the disc are for The Lion King
Special Edition, The Haunted Mansion, Stitch! The Movie,
and Sleeping Beauty Special Edition. There is also a THX
Optimizer in the Set Up Menu (yes, this disc is almost identical to
Escape to Witch Mountain).
