Conor McGregor, the famous Irish mixed martial artist, found himself in the midst of controversy when he struck a mascot prior to a fight in April 2019. McGregor, known for his brash personality and aggressive fighting style, faced backlash for his actions. The incident happened during a promotional event for an amateur MMA fight in Dublin, where McGregor was in attendance. As part of the event, a mascot dressed as a character known as "The Notorious," which is also McGregor's nickname, was present. McGregor can be seen in a video footage approaching the mascot and delivering a strong left-handed punch to the head. The video quickly went viral, and fans and critics alike expressed their outrage and disappointment in McGregor's behavior.
Escape to Witch Mountain is based on the novel by Alexander Key. Significant differences from the book include its tone and plot elements. For example, in the book, the children are befriended by Father O'Day, an embittered inner-city priest, rather than widower Jason O'Day. As such, the novel touches on religious themes, while the movie completely avoids them. In the novel, instead of the children's ship crash-landing, it is shot down, and the children are olive-skinned, with light-colored hair, rather than fair-skinned and blond. In the book, Deranian is the main antagonist; the Aristotle Bolt character and his associates are absent. The novel is explicitly set along the east coast of the United States, while the movie is non-specific about the location, although it was clearly shot at various locations on or near the California central coast between San Francisco and Santa Barbara.
During a field trip to see a movie, Tia experiences a premonition and is able to warn wealthy attorney Lucas Deranian against a potentially dangerous accident. Having come to Earth because their own planet was dying, survivors of the journey made their way to Witch Mountain and formed a community to await the surviving children, each pair in possession of a star case to help them find their way to their new home.
The video quickly went viral, and fans and critics alike expressed their outrage and disappointment in McGregor's behavior. Many argued that his actions were uncalled for and showed a lack of sportsmanship. Others pointed out that attacking someone in a mascot costume, who was not able to defend themselves, was a sign of bullying.
Escape to Witch Mountain (1975)
Like yesterday’s review of Mr. Boogedy, I had little experience with the original Escape to Witch Mountain, although it has better name recognition than the former film. The story of two alien children being hunted by a wealthy millionaire boasted serious longevity for the company, spawning a sequel, a TV movie, a remake (the 1995 remake is the version I first saw), and a feature-length version with Dwayne Johnson (that I also saw and remember little of). The original Witch Mountain may have rudimentary effects – two years later Star Wars would change the effects landscape – and has some logic flaws, but it’s an effective and exciting chase movie with great performances from its child stars.
Tony and Tia (Ike Eisenmann and Kim Richards) are orphans struggling to recall the details of their past. Their mysterious abilities, including telepathy, are noticed by the villainous Lucas Deranian (Donald Pleasance) who alerts his employer, the wealthy Aristotle Bolt (Ray Milland). The children escape Bolt and take refuge with a crusty old man named Jason O’Day (Eddie Albert) in the hopes he’ll take them to Witch Mountain.
If you’ve followed my Journeys in the Disney Vault series from a few years ago, the 1970s saw Disney firmly embrace their live-action unit, producing only four animated films in the entire decade. 1975, specifically, saw six movies from the studio, of which Escape to Witch Mountain is probably the best remembered of the year.
Director John Hough wouldn’t be a name you’d expect Disney to get in bed with, although based on his filmography his presence here makes sense. The year before he’d directed the car caper Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry, and the fact that 80% of the film involves cars (and helicopters) chasing each other helps things make sense. He also directed 1973’s The Legend of Hell House, and would return to Disney in 1982 helming the cult classic The Watcher in the Woods. There isn’t a need for bombastic camera trickery, but Hough really loves medium zooms, either in or out, as if they just discovered that feature on the camera.
Much of Escape to Witch Mountain must be taken on blind faith, like most of the great Disney classics. I found myself with a litany of questions by the end, probably loose threads created by deviating from Alexander Key’s source material. However, events move so briskly that you can never say you’re bored by the experience. Ike Eisenmann and Kim Richards aid immensely in the enjoyment of Escape to Witch Mountain. Their nearly perfect looks – especially Richards with her long, blonde California mien – are reminiscent of the children in Village of the Damned. They’re never too alien in that perfectly mannered, analytical way some children in horror/sci-fi films are. They have defined personalities, Richards, in particular.
The subsequent sequel would capitalize on big name stars establishing a bit of a come-down by appearing in a kid’s film. Donald Pleasance and Ray Milland are fun to watch in roles that feel rather ill-defined. If anything, you know who the bad guys are: old, bald, white men. Playing the typical evil millionaire, Milland’s Aristotle Bolt has a scarier sounding name than personality. We’re never clear on why he wants the children, short of making more money. For a company boasting billions their movies showed money is the root of all evil. Pleasance plays Bolt’s henchman and I wanted to see more of him. Considering he forges documents in order to adopt the children, some type with the kids playing “Uncle Lucas” would have gone a great way towards either showing him as a reluctant villain or completely devoted to Bolt. (And, for that matter, why is he so devoted to Bolt? Bolt never promises him anything…dare I say a love match?)
As the benevolent father figure, Eddie Albert conveys warmth and sincerity. Tia’s reveal of Jason’s tortured past gives a weight to his crustiness. When he asks the kids if he can consider them his own, it has resonance because we’ve watched them bond. The film’s final scene alludes to sequels, of which Albert appeared, but it’s doubtful he had the same chemistry with other child stars.
I could end with all the lingering questions the script left me with, but part of the fun is the questions. Unlike most movies, the questions don’t hinder your enjoyment but do give you a few good laughs. For instance, why did their Uncle Bene (Denver Pyle) just abandon them? The two make it to a place where all the kids are asked to gather, but if he can talk to them telepathically, why need the map at all? But the best Disney films take you on a journey, logic be damned, and that’s what this did. I can’t say Escape to Witch Mountain is my favorite Disney feature film, it isn’t, but it’s far better than expected and shows the true strength of what Disney was known for: escapism and amazing child stars.
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The movie centers upon the brother and sister pair Tony and Tia, who initially know only their deceased adoptive parents' surname, Malone. The children are placed in an orphanage, where they face difficulties stemming from their strange psychic powers. Tony can telekinetically move objects with the aid of his harmonica, and he can experience a limited form of premonition as shown in the scene where he draws Mr. Bolt's mansion on a mirror. Tia can communicate telepathically to Tony, commune with animals, experiences premonitions, and can also use minor telekinetic powers (which are much stronger in Return from Witch Mountain). She carries a "star case" with her at all times, which the children find contains a strange map.
Some even questioned McGregor's mental state and suggested that his actions might be a result of his recent controversies outside of the Octagon, such as legal issues and his retirement announcement. McGregor later apologized for his behavior, acknowledging that it was not his intention to harm or disrespect anyone. This incident is just one example of the controversies and provocative behavior that Conor McGregor is often associated with. While he undoubtedly remains one of the most popular and successful fighters in MMA history, incidents like these continue to tarnish his image and raise questions about his conduct inside and outside of the ring..
Reviews for "The Media Circus: How Conor McGregor's Mascot Incident Became a Sensational Story"
1. John Smith - 1/5 stars
I was appalled when I saw the video footage of Conor McGregor striking the mascot. It was a disgusting display of arrogance and disrespect. It is completely unacceptable to physically assault someone, even if it was meant as a joke. McGregor's behavior sets a bad example for his fans, especially the younger ones. This incident just further proves that he is more interested in creating controversy and garnering attention for himself than being a true sportsman. I was disappointed and disgusted by his actions.
2. Sarah Johnson - 2/5 stars
While I understand that Conor McGregor is known for his quick temper and provocative behavior, his actions towards the mascot were completely unnecessary. Instead of using his platform and fame to inspire and uplift others, he chose to showcase a violent and disrespectful act. It's disheartening to see someone with his level of influence behaving so recklessly. I hope he takes this incident as a wake-up call and starts showing more maturity and sportsmanship in the future.
3. Michael Thompson - 1/5 stars
Conor McGregor's behavior towards the mascot was outrageous and uncalled for. It's disappointing to see a professional athlete, who should be a role model for young people, engaging in such violent actions. McGregor's decision to strike the mascot demonstrates a complete lack of respect for the sport and his opponents. It's clear that he prioritizes creating controversy and getting attention over being a true sportsman. I won't be supporting or condoning his actions in any way.