Journey to the Center of the Earth

they could open up a Western Union. I watched this thing on a plane and even with the crappy audio, I could always figure out what was coming next. From the initially disaffected kid to the purdy icelandic "guide", the screenplay writers didn't so much write a script as they did a bunch of set-up and payoff lines with really lame jokes. And they even provided a rollercoaster ride a' la the Indy Jones movie. And if one carnival ride is worth doing, its worth over-doing with two more.

Still, it provided an hour and a half of mindless entertainment which was successful at passing the time. Its probably fun for the young kids without being too scary but if you have other things to do, you're better of doing them instead of watching this.

The movie itself doesn't have much substance, but has some cute one-liners, and is fun to watch in 3D. After fumbling with the glasses and getting them situated in the right place, I actually enjoyed the movie. Lots of neat special 3D effects, but I must admit, dealing with the glasses was a hassle. They did make the movie appear darker, and there were double lines and images at times. No doubt, DVD 3D processing needs much improvement, but for now, this seems to be the only thing we have. Hopefully, they will keep working on the technology and bring back 3D movies with better viewing options. If you can, get the 3D version, and watch the movie for what it is - just a fun experience.

It'd be tough to pin down exactly how many times JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH has been adapted to TV and the big screen, but a fairly accurate accounting might be "too many." I've been able to find at least eleven adaptations (a few of them foreign productions, but still productions). What's more puzzling is that in 2008 not one but TWO versions of the book made it to film. The first was a horrible television adaptation in January starring Rick Schroeder (Scrubs). And the second is this supercharged action version starring Brendan Fraser (Crash) who's probably best known for his portrayal as Rick O'Connell in the new Mummy series' of films.

The big question as to this particular Jules Verne story's appeal is obvious: Why? Why so much fanfare and Hollywood hype? Many people have been critical of Hollywood and their lack of originality, and if you use Journey to the Center of the Earth as a barometer to that affect, then you'd be absolutely correct; they have to keep reinventing old shtuff because they can't come up with anything else.

Regardless of your take on originality, the one large positive that comes from these hyperbolic recreations is that it introduces a new audience to Verne's masterpiece. And the action in this one is really fun to watch on a big screen with 3-D images plunging into your vision.

Although this edition is cool from a visual perspective, I still hold the 1959 version starring James Mason as the penultimate adaptation. Quirky, funny, and outlandishly impossible (and in technicolor!), the `59 film was an adventure fantasy/SF film ahead of its time. At the 1960 Oscar's it was nominated for three awards, including special effects. I doubt this 2008 recreation will be so blessed. But...

It is fun, however. You can't help but smile at some of the newly introduced lines ("What? You're thirteen, you can't calls dibs." -- when the two males in the party realized how attractive their guide was). But herein also lay a big problem: distance from the source material. With the exception of getting to the center of the Earth and how they leave it, there's not much Jules Verne left in here. For a beloved classic, that's a shame. But, again, the film will hopefully introduce a new set of readers to the novel.

It is also noteworthy to mention newcomer Anita Briem as the incredibly attractive guide Hannah. A stunning looker in terms of natural beauty, she not only prettied up the film but also gave a surprising rugged quality to her character. Also of note is veteran child star Josh Hutcherson as Sean. Many will recognize him from his roles in Zathura, Bridge to Terabithia, RV, and the soon-to-be-released Cirque Du Freak. He played well next to Fraser and was the sympathetic character most will come to identify with.

The final word...

It's an okay diversion with lots of action and an update to Verne's classic, but it's not really Verne's anymore. Beware purists.

This was a great movie for kids with the 3D. I however could not watch the 3D. Being over 40 my eyes would not both focus at the same time to ensure the 3D effect. The 2D version was good but I lost interest in the story line about half way thru the movie.

If I had not seen the old version with Pat Boone then it would have been more interesting.

The visual effects are very good.

I give it three star because it lost my interest so quickly and I am usually easily amused!

I saw this movie in the theaters and really enjoyed it. I couldn't wait to get it on DVD. I was not disappointed.

The disc came with four 3D glasses and a widescreen and pan and scan 2D version and a Widescreen 3D version. I only have a small TV and I was still able to enjoy the 3D effects.

If you've missed this movie in the theater, the plot centers around Trevor Anderson and his nephew Sean. When the two discover that seismic activity has been detected in Iceland, they set out to investigate.

Aided by their mountain guide, they come into a cavern and find themselves falling into the Center of the Earth. Here they find all kinds of wonders that was described by Jules Verne in his novel including giant mushrooms, birds that glow and a T-Rex.

In the meantime they must find a way to return to the surface before the temperature at the center reaches the boiling point.

The Special Features include a featurette on Josh Hutcherson, the making of the movie, as well as two games that you can play with your remote.

This is one of the movies I truly enjoyed.