If my memory serves me correctly, Jules Verne’s characters in “Journey to the Center of the Earth” spent a considerable amount of time getting down there. Today’s film version of the tale concentrates on the perils that lurk far below the Earth’s surface rather than on the journey. Scientist Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) has a very personal reason for seeking the portal to the fabled lost world that he believes exists at the center of the Earth. On an expedition to Iceland, Trevor and his nephew, Sean (Josh Hutcherson), find the passage in and wander into a world where danger takes on another dimension, literally, the third dimension.
“Journey to the Center of the Earth” director Eric Brevig is an award-winning special effects master best known for his work on “Total Recall” and “Pearl Harbor.” His extraordinary talents showcased in this exciting film depict a world filled with frightening creatures that seem to jump right off the screen and put the audience directly in harm’s way. Probably the most sophisticated 3-D that has come to the big screen to date, however, the dazzling visuals are considerably greater than the story.
Mary K. Morgan is a member of the St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association. |
