Journey To the Center of the Earth (New Line Cinema)
Without the 3-D Effects It Is Just A Middle of the Road Movie
The new version of Journey To the Center of the Earth is a movie made to be viewed in 3-D. Unfortunately a lot of theaters do not have the necessary equipment to view it this way. I saw it in just plain viewing mode and found it to be silly and strung out. The 3-D effects might have made it a little bit better.
Brendan Fraser plays Trevor Anderson, a professor wh0ose brother died trying to follow the theories contained in Jules Vernes novel A JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH. Now many years later Trevor discovers the Earths makeup as far as tremors and things are the same as when his brother possibly found a tunnel into the earths core.
He travels, with his thirteen year old nephew Sean (Josh Hutcherson) who is visiting, to Iceland. There he meets a friendly guide named Hannah (Anita Briem) who goes with them on their expedition.
Of course they do find a way into the earths core and the thrills begin. You can see the 3-D effects being set up, and you can also see fun rides in a theme park being established. It all feels contrived, and totally unbelievable.
Fraser is a bit of a goof as Trevor. Hutcherson acts circles around him and is the most appealing member of the cast. He actually seems to have a foothold in reality while Brendan/Trevor does not. Briem is the pretty girl who instantly becomes romantic with Trevor.
This is the kind of movie where there is always enough light to see clearly what is happening, even though they are in the middle of the earths core. There are also dinosaurs roaming around. Go figure!
The film is rated PG for violence.
The action of the movie is fast paced and thrilling and that is the saving grace of the movie. While you are watching it you are having a pretty good time. It is only when the movie is over that you realize how far-fetched it all was. There are supposedly some people who believe what Verne wrote was truly plausible. After seeing this movie they will reconsider that stand.
I scored Journey To the Center of the Earth a molten 5 out of 10.
