Known as ‘The Father of Science Fiction’, Jules Verne wrote Journey to the Center of the Earth in 1864.  Today in 2008 director Eric Brevig directs his first feature film which is another adaptation of Journey to the Center of the Earth.  Adapted and written by Michael Weiss and Mark Levin, Journey to the Center of the Earth stars Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson and Anita Brien.  After his brother Max went missing, a scientist Trevor Anderson and his nephew Sean Anderson embark on a journey with a mountain guide named Hannah to the center of the Earth.  Along the way the discover a fantastic lost world that is full of dangers and wonder.  Ever since I saw the first trailer I figured this film would turn out to be bad.  Since the film is geared towards children and it has a 3-D option, all I expected was a pretty light show to feast your eyes on and not a translated epic from a legendary novel and writer.  After seeing the film, not in 3-D by the way, I was right in assuming that this movie isn’t that good at all and turns out to be a disappointment.

I’ll just come right out and say it and keep it short.  Journey to the Center of the Earth is an awful movie.  I really didn’t like it and I don’t want to hear “but Phil, it’s a kid movie” because you know what, I don’t care who it’s geared towards, this movie down right stinks and I can’t find almost anything to redeem it.  Among other things the largest complaint I have about this film is that it doesn’t feel magical.  The center of the Earth is supposed to be this wondrous magical lost world were we see such amazing and fantastic things, NO!  All we got to see was some huge mushrooms, neon birds, a T-Rex and some floating rocks.  I can’t find anything that’s special with this film and it really disappoints me because this story deserves so much better.  With today’s technology on visual effects they could have created something that wasn’t lame like this.  According to IMDB an independent filmmaker Paul Chart was the first person aboard to write and direct this film.  Originally, his script was to be an “epic action-adventure” but in the end was replaced so a effects specialist, Eric Brevig, could take over and a 3-D film could be made.  Brevig’s involvement caused a huge script change.  I would love to see Charts’ original script and see how much better it is because I say anything is better than this movie.  The Librarian films should have gotten a theatrical release compared to this piece of crap.  On top of all the above, the acting is terrible, the dialog is sooo lame and the feeling of adventure wasn’t even showing itself.  I was bored, annoyed and terribly underwhelmed.  I don’t even think children would like this movie.  Honestly, if you want your children to have a fun time at the theater take them to see Wall-E, it’s still playing and it will for several more weeks.  At least with that film, everyone of all ages would enjoy it. 

I wish a more serious take on this film could have been made.  To make a film that would be worth seeing you’d need the likes of a Steven Spielberg or a Guillermo del Toro, Peter Jackson or a Ridley Scott.  Those directors have an eye for a world that should be magical, beautiful, dangerous and adventurous.  If I had a pick out of those four directors, I’d go with Ridley Scott.  Watch Legend and you’ll understand why. 

A couple of things angered me throughout the film.  During the movie we see our main cast on a mine cart ride, like a rollercoaster.  The damn thing was ripped right out of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom!  It was the same damn thing.  Think about that scene in Temple of Doom without bad guys chasing them, it’s the same thing in this movie… LAME!  How about the fact that it took more then 45 minutes to actually advance the story into the center of the Earth and once there I was let down.  The landscapes created for the feature weren’t impressive.  Even the Tree God from Hellboy II which I saw before this was more impressive, even more magical.  Filmmakers tried too hard to make this picture an adventure and it really turned out to be bad.

I don’t recommend this for anyone.  If you want your children to see a movie go support Wall-E.  Adults, you can either see Hellboy II or just wait until The Dark Knight.  Journey to the Center of the Earth in one word is LAME!  I rate this an embarrassing 2 out of 10.

-Phil