Sidewalks On The Corner

“It is a world within a world” as Brendan Fraser would say in the latest adaptation of the novel and film, "JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH."

Follow up:

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH
New Line Cinema / Walden Media / Warner Bros. Pictures
Opening Date: Friday, July 11, 2008 (Wide & RealD 3D where available)
MPAA Rating: PG for intense adventure action and some scary moments
Running Time: 92 minutes
URL: www.journeymovie.com

STUDIO SYNOPSIS
An exciting adventure based on the classic Jules Verne novel "Journey to the Center of the Earth," Journey to the Center of the Earth stars Brendan Fraser ("Crash," "The Mummy") as a science professor whose untraditional hypotheses have made him the laughing stock of the academic community. But on an expedition in Iceland, he and his nephew stumble upon a major discovery that launches them on a thrilling journey deep beneath the Earth's surface, where they travel through never-before-seen worlds and encounter a variety of unusual creatures. Journey to the Center of the Earth is directed by Academy Award-winning visual effects veteran Eric Brevig (“Total Recall,” “Pearl Harbor”) from a screenplay by Michael Weiss and Jennifer Flackett & Mark Levin. The film is a co-venture between New Line Cinema and Walden Media. “Journey to the Center of the Earth” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

J.P.'s TAKE
The classic Jules Verne novel makes yet another return with this Disneyesque remake of the original film adventure from 1959. "Journey To The Center Of The Earth" is a story that has been reincarnated numerous times from several TV shows to movies. So what made the filmmakers decide to create another film? My guess is because they wanted to exploit the new 3D technology that has improved over the years.

"Journey" is nothing more than a vehicle to test drive Real D, the latest in 3D technology. It's really the type of film you would want take the kids to on summer break, mainly because it's easy to follow drivel with only three characters as the center of attention -- reacting to the special effects that reach out and touch you. In short, this film felt more like a Disney theme ride than a movie. I felt like I should be standing in line for an hour and a half in the hot sun while animatronics characters speak to the crowd as they walk by. Remember “Captain E.O.” staring Michael Jackson at Disneyland? When I look back on that film/ride, I realized that was pretty cheesy.

Don't get me wrong, it's a fun family oriented mini adventure and it's worth seeing only if you're taking the kids with you. Other than that, the only real reason to see the film is for its visual effects and to witness the new technology.

There wasn't much life to the characters as well. Brendan Fraiser (playing Geology professor Trevor Anderson) was basically just going through the motions as creatures jump out at him and his co-stars. It was all just knee jerk reactions. His co-stars Josh Hutcherson (as nephew Sean) and Anita Briem (as mountain guide Hannah) weren't really much help to the film. Not that they did a horrible job, it's just that they were all pretty much forgettable.

I have to admit the most impressive thing about "Journey" was the 3D effects from Real D Corp., which looked and felt very natural. Gone are the days of the old blue and red lensed glasses that make you feel like you're having a technicolor trip. Real D is vast becoming the new industry standard in how 3D movies are produced and viewed. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have bothered to see this movie in the theater. Come to think of it, that's what the filmmakers wanted us to do. There will be more movies to come, boasting the new technology.

If you just gotta see "Journey To The Center Of The Earth" in 3D, then I suggest going to a matinee, because I can't see spending a truck load of money. If you if you don't mind spending the dough, watch it in IMAX 3D. Others may want to wait until it hits Netflix and rent for the kids.