I mistook a period to be a dead pixel. That is all.
No spoilers here, just subjectivity masquerading as objectivity.
So I went almost halfway across town to watch Journey to the Center of the Earth because of a special deal that some Cineplex theatres still have, which is half-price Tuesdays. Normally, I don’t go for adventure stories because they all seem to be from the same cookie-cutter, but I read the book when I was a kid and I wanted to see the movie adaptation.
Key word in the previous paragraph: adaptation. Which it disappointingly was – adapted from the original book’s plot. Instead of Jules Verne’s character going down to the center with all the intrigue and suspense associated with exploration, the movie was actually a search for some nutcase who went by himself and didn’t come back for 10 years. In other words, there was no sense of discovery. A Journey to the Center of the Earth by Verne became a guidebook for the characters, literally.
Jules Verne fanboyism aside, the film is decent enough. Clever screenplay making use of 3-D technology accentuated certain scenes – our hapless scientist brushing his teeth, and the crossing of an underground ocean involving some prehistoric fish to name a few. (The actual parts in the film are more exciting than I make it seem.) There’s also an IMAX version, which I would assume to be even more spectacular.
I also noticed a few instances of wit – lively retorts between Trevor Anderson (the hapless scientist) and his 13-year-old nephew, and running gags about which one of them had dibs on their toned Icelandic mountain guide. And speaking of that mountain guide, the actress who plays her has a subtle accent which I found particularly agreeable.
Did I enjoy the film? Sure. I just wish that the producers could have followed the original plot instead of coming up with one with mirrors what Verne wrote. I might have seen the earlier adaptations too, but they didn’t leave much of an impression.
Once again, the book has proven superior to its movie counterpart.
Filed under: 3-D Has More Substance, Reviews | Tagged: 3-D, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Movies
I am actually surprised anyone would like the movie. When I saw it I automatically put it out of my mind since it was another 3D movie. I never read the book to be honest with you, though the idea seems pretty interesting enough to read the original sometime.
Nice to hear someone enjoyed the movie XD because I was really having some negative thoughts about this one.
This reminds me of the time I watched the first Narnia movie. I was pretty much sitting there, half dozed off, and telling my friend the plot. Nothing in that movie was any surprise to me and needless to say, everyone around me were pretty ticked off because I pretty much spoiled everything, despite how “amazing” it may seem.
I didn’t get the chance to see any movies lately, so consider yourself lucky that you got to see something.
It’s really hard to find any movie comparable to the original book. If I already read the book to a movie, I tend to enjoy the film a lot less, simply because I know what to expect and the film loses all element of surprise. Though, even if I know I won’t like it as much as the book, I always end up seeing the movie anyway. As for Journey to the Center of the Earth, it’s not on my “to see list”, but seeing it in IMAX version would probably worth my money…
Hmm I’d probably be disappointed if I went to see this then since I loved the book when I was little.
I tend to agree, most times with a movie adapted from source material such as a book, if it doesn’t follow it closely I feel there will always be disappointment on some level.
I’ve never heard of this before. It proves either I don’t watch enough tv or go out to see the advertisements, or Australia is simply too slow.
Kairu: You should give the book a try. It’s a great adventure story, but not as entertaining as 20 000 Leagues Under the Sea.
gndynames: I think people were mad because you were talking throughout the movie, and not because you spoiled the plot.
lostty: Yeah, save your money for the IMAX version of Dark Knight. Although I really do want to watch both…
I know what you mean though – it’s not as exciting knowing the plot already.
Sakura: Well, a movie adaptation is only the director’s interpretation of the book, so maybe we’ll enjoy adaptations that we direct ourselves. Maybe.
Blissmo: No, I think it’s neither. I didn’t see any ads for this on television here – just one giant poster at the threatre where I watched Hancock.