Shawn's Journey to the Center of the Earth Review

2008 Movie #120 - Journey to the Center of the Earth

I can't help but wonder what came first, the movie or the 3D? Did they decide from the beginning they wanted to do a 3D movie and wrote a script centered around that? Or did they have this unproduced script lying around and decided to make it 3D? Either way it's lucky this movie does have the 3D aspect because aside from that, it really doesn't have much else going for it.

If you were to watch the mere two dimensional version, I really can't think of what appeal it would hold. The movie itself is a decent adventure movie, but it's never really that exciting. Once it starts to set up the action set pieces at around the halfway point of the movie, each one feels like it should be cool, but then simply doesn't deliver in the end. I did enjoy those huge lochness monster looking things, but that was about the most into the movie I ever got. It's not boring, it's just never as exciting as it wants to be.

There are really only 3 actors in the entire movie and they are all decent. Brendan Fraser needs a new routine though. He plays the same role here he plays in the Mummy movies and just about every other movie he seems to make. In fact before this we saw a trailer for something he's starring in called Inkheart. It really looked like it could have been the next Mummy movie. Please Brendan, you're not a bad actor, just trying something different. For me? Think about it.

The plot is simple enough. They get trapped in the centre of the earth and then get out. It seems like they spend very little time there. It feels like they get out mere minutes after arriving. I guess it's good the movie has a quick pace going for it but a little more time in the centerpiece of the movie could have been nice. Also nobody ever seems that concerned about the situation. They just joke around, even when seconds away from their death. Again, I get they were going for an overall light hearted tone, but it takes you out of the movie. Realistically these people would be terrified so at least make them give half a shit about their situation.

Also how in the hell does that kid get a phone call on his cell phone? He couldn't get reception a one point, then they go further into the center of the earth and suddenly the phone works at least decently? Some phone company missed a great opportunity for some publicity on that one.

The 3D is pretty good though, there's no denying that. We better enjoy it now we can before all of the movie studios bury the concept into the ground in the coming year or so. There's at least 5 more 3D movies coming out that I can think of , and the novelty is going to wear out fast. Especially once everyone realizes the movies themselves are not that good, just like this one.

**/5