Rated PG for intense adventure action and some scary moments
93 Minutes
Directed By: Eric Brevig
Written By: Michael D. Weiss and Jennifer Flackett
Staring: Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, and Anita Briem
I am Googling at 30 thousand feet. -Sean
Review
A loose interpretation inspired by the Jules Verne Science Fiction novel, this family friendly adventure flick is a non stop exploration of the unknown that only the most curious imagination could conceive. Unfortunately director EricBrevig couldn’t conceive much more than the novel had already created. A heavy emphasis on special effects that aspired to be much more than they were, and an extremely short film length smoldering some of Center Of Earths possibilities, but still managed to pull through as an entertaining flick.
Professor Trevor Anderson receives takes his nephew Sean for a week while his sister in law makes preparations to move to Canada. Elizabeth gives Trevor a box full of his assumed dead brothers belongings and finds a book with information about his last journey. Upon some discoveries Trevor takes Sean and heads to Iceland, where they meet the guide Hannah Ásgeirsson and begin to uncover the mystery of what happened to Max. A series of events leads them to take shelter in a cave where they fall through a hole that leads them to a magical and unknown world.
Brendan Fraser is a creature of masculinity, valor, and bravery in this film. Somehow he manages to be all of that and maintain his initial nerdy persona, becoming both the brain and the brawn. It’s an irresistible combination that gives the film a life it may not have otherwise exuded. Without Fraser the film would have been significantly lessor. Corny action-adventure roles seem to suit him in a very positive way, as though they were the kind of roles he was meant to play. There’s something about him that makes me think he should have been born in a different era.
The special FX were actually a disappointment. The concept was amazing but the execution came across as weak CGI animation, that seemed like it was trying too hard. I have a habit of comparing all T-Rex’s to the one in Jurassic Park for realism and it’s fearful quality, but I feel that level of execution will never be met again, because it’s coupled with some of the greatest special effects ever and a movie magic that only comes in rare doses nowadays. I understand the film was intended for 3D quality but viewed on a normal screen it was far too fake and overdone.
Journey To The Center Of The Earth was entertaining, and kept a constant interest, but was also a very short film. It seemed to be over so quick, it was difficult to invest in. The actual time spent in “The Center Of The Earth” felt like it was over before it even began. The story was full of holes, and some of the execution was terrible, but Fraser made it a worthy adventure, though not something to be revisited. Perhaps it would have been more resounding in 3D and in the theatre, but here it just comes across as soulless relying entirely on the special effects that I wasn’t even impressed by to begin with.
Great review, i was thinking the same!
I had wanted to see this one in 3D since I have a weakness for that stuff ever since being a wee child and seeing a 3D flick in the theater with my Grandma. Somehow I’m not surprised that the effects don’t play well.