Post by BIGFANBOY on Aug 8, 2008 5:29:27 GMT -5
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH 3-D
Review by Gary Dean Murray
Live action 3-D films have always been more of a gimmick than a form of cinematic excellence. The entire process was used in the 1950’s to get people to come to the theater and not watch television. But, the fad faded and the two-color blue/red glasses slipped into history. Now, we have polarized lenses, which make the 3-D image work on a grander scale. And with computer animation, the makers can force the audience to concentrate on their images and keep the look perfect. Unfortunately this doesn’t work as well with filmed actors. Such is the case with our newest adventure using this process, Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Brendan Fraser plays Trevor Anderson, a science researcher with a missing brother. It seems that the brother believed the Jules Verne novel "Journey to the Center of the Earth" was a real event and has been trying to prove it for years. Now Trevor has to watch his nephew Sean (Josh Hutcherson). Well, the two find information that suggests the brother/father may have left a clue about his disappearance. This leads the duo to Iceland and a tour guide Hanna (Anita Briem), who is Hollywood beautiful the way normal people seem to be only in the movies. Her missing father was another who believed in the Verne tales being true.
This trio follows some volcanic tubes that lead them into the center of the earth. There they encounter an old mineshaft that gives them a stunning roller coaster of an adventure. Also along the way to find a way out is a giant free fall, man-eating plants, and an underwater ocean full of flesh eating creatures. The world is filled with glowing birds that look like an outtake from Song of the South. And of course, there has to be some prehistoric creatures to give chase.
The movie is more like a ride, like those crazy motion pictures that were shown at the bottom of the old UA in Dallas or the Galaxy in Garland. The runaway mine scene feels exactly like one of those ride/films crossed with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. And as a ride it does work, but it isn’t much of a motion picture.
Brendan Fraser has done this goofy hero role many times before in The Mummy franchise of films. Here it is more of the same with him fighting his way trying to save his partners. This is a role he could have done in his sleep and he doesn’t bring much more to this role. Josh Hutcherson has this gee-whiz expression on his face most of the time, like a kid just enjoying the ride, which is basically what he is. Anita Briem doesn’t act as much as she reacts, but boy oh boy she looks pretty while doing her reacting. She is our real eye candy in this adventure.
Now the only reason to see this film is for the 3-D effects, and they are for the most part well done. We do get those ‘jump out of the screen’ moments as well as those stunning vistas that can only be accomplished with this technology. But the opening credits have the most impressive feature of being in 3-D. And the chasing T-Rex is one heck of a cool monster.
The aspect I liked best from Director Eric Brevig is his loving homage to the original James Mason/Pat Boone film. The sets and construction of the interior could have been from the same film. The lighting matches what was done 50 years ago. It is obvious that he studied the other film and wanted to make a companion piece to it.
While not a great film, Journey to the Center of the Earth is a decent ride. While it is no E-ticket, it is a diversion to kill time and at 90 minutes, it never wears out its welcome.
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