DVD: Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D
Latest in Many Adaptations of Jules Verne's Classic Hits DVD in 3-D
Nov 10, 2008
The latest in an endless gimmick of studio tie-in gadgets (in this case nifty, somewhat semi-effective 3-D plastic glasses), Journey to the Center of the Earth still manages to keep a shrinking audience entertained, as to an adventure better handled by CGI companies such as Pixar and Lucasfilm.
Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D Synopsis
Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) is a seismic specialist who focuses on volcanic activity throughout the planet, with the intention of studying tectonic movement. Having lost touch with his assumed-dead scientist brother Max a decade prior, Trevor is faced with many professional perils, namely the impending loss of his research lab due to his late brother's lack of findings, the other being a consistent loss in student enrollment.
Having been warned about his department's impending shutdown, Trevor forgets about an upcoming visit by said late brother's son, his nephew Sean (Josh Hutcherson), who is to spend a 10-day vacay with his absentminded uncle.
As his sister-in-law drops off her aloof offspring, she hands Trevor a box filled with his late brother's research materials. It soon becomes evident that brother Max had begun extensive research in what became a dangerous quest in discovering a world within a world, namely the famous 19th century writer Jules Verne's famous "Center of the Earth", the origin of his fictitious novel.
Trevor and Max immediately head off to Iceland, having assumed that Max might have survived, or at least stumbled onto actual real world data, pointing to an unforeseen land untouched by man, fathoms beneath the Earth's crust. With the help of a late Icelandic researcher's mountain guide daughter (Anita Briem), they soon locate real-life landmarks which may point to an entrance to undiscovered nether regions, and many dangers lurking within.
Journey 3-D Plot Analysis
To say that this film is but the latest in a series of made-for TV movies, direct to DVD projects, and several adaptations, just doesn't do it justice. If anything, this film refreshingly doesn't only refer to the original novel as a source material, it actually includes the novel as a story within a story, alluding to a secret society of Vernians (i.e. people who firmly believe that Verne's novel was actually on to something), which may have in fact, informed the author as to the true existence of a world hidden miles beneath our own, hiding secrets and wonders only hinted at in fiction.
As this film was mainly designed as a tool for the use of maximizing on the 3-D anaglyph format (i.e. the nifty double images made 3-D by wearing mostly uncomfortable red and cyan tinted shades), most of the scenes are predictable, replete with things falling towards, or jumping at the camera. That being said, the film doesn't quite condescend to the lowest denominator, nor does it insult its own audience, by slathering it with sappy Disney-like life lessons about family and love, and all that yummy stuff. If anything, Journey 3-D emphasizes the need to recognize one's own family roots, and how to be proud of one's heritage and background, even if it leads to initial scientific embarassment.
The cast doesn't matter much in this film, but those actors cast in the roles, work well together nonetheless. They merely go through the motions of the storyline, and manage to keep the viewer entertained, through what is nothing more than a rehash of the classic novel, with a modern approach.
Fraser, a genre favorite thanks to The Mummy series, holds his own in this movie, which says a lot, given the copious number of scenes supported by green-screen CGI. Josh Hutcherson's character Sean could easily have been played by any child actor, but he too manages to slip in a few good scenes (some of them involving clever wordplay, nuff said). As for Anita Briem, as the sole female lead in the entire movie, one can't help but to root for her, and to hope she finds love, amidst this mess of a science-fiction adventure.
Final Judgment on Journey 3-D DVD
One can't really blame the producers and writers of this film for the weak, simplistic product they offered the masses. The summer movie season required a gimmicky, formulaic, family-friendly film, and this film delivered on target. Let us only hope the movie itself promotes interest in the good old 19th century science fiction genre, and all of the quality material it has offered Tinseltown in the past half century.
This film is recommended for fans of the book (but not the hardcore fans of such -- you'll be dissapointed), as well as families looking for lighthearted, clean fare. Brendan Fraser has managed to deliver in that genre, and this film is no different.
Note: not everyone is able to enjoy the film's 3-D feature, be it due to inability to process the color tones of the effect, or simply ocular indifference. For those 3-D challenged folks out there, flip the DVD over, the disc also offers a good old 2-D standard version.
