Journey to the Center of the Earth

Theatrical Release Date: 2008 07 11 (USA - 3D)

UPC: 794043123412

Studio: New Line Home Video

MPAA Rating: PG   Contains:[Violence, Scary Moments]

Summary: Academy Award-winning visual effects artist Eric Brevig makes his feature directorial debut with this adaptation of the classic Jules Verne fantasy starring Brendan Fraser. When an ambitious science professor (Fraser) develops a decidedly unconventional hypothesis, the mere mention of his name is enough to elicit laughter within the academic community. However, during a subsequent excursion to Iceland, the professor and his nephew make a major scientific discovery that sends them miles beneath the surface of the Earth, where they discover not only strange new worlds, but also encounter creatures so alien they appear to be from another world entirely. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Category: Fantasy

Features: Commentary by Brendan Fraser and director Eric Brevig
A World Within Our World: various historical "Hollow Earth Theories" about what lies beneath our planet's crust [in Hi-Def]
Being Josh: Profiling 12-year old costar Josh Hutcherson [in Hi-Def]
How to Make Dinosaur Drool [in Hi-Def]
Includes 3-D widescreen format plus 2-D widescreen format [limited time only]

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Format: Blu-ray

Release Date: 10/28/2008

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Runtime: 92 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,Spanish

Subtitles: English,Spanish

Jason Buchanan

A scientist and his nephew travel to Iceland in order to explore some unusual seismic activity, and instead stumble into the adventure of a lifetime in this family-friendly summer blockbuster that has the distinction of being the first full-length live-action feature shot in digital 3-D. The result is a harmless tale of family bonding that isn't too intense for the youngsters, but still feels rather generic, despite a few memorable action set pieces and some truly dazzling 3-D effects. Compare it to something like vintage Spielberg and you're bound to be disappointed, but take it as a typical summer blockbuster with the added benefit of being presented in 3-D, and odds are good that the kids will be happy and you'll at least walk out of the theater feeling as if you've gotten your money's worth. Things are a bit slow to start, as we learn that scientist Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) has been carrying the torch of his missing brother's research ever since his brainy sibling disappeared on an Icelandic exhibition several years prior, and that his lab is about to close down due to lack of funds. When his teenage nephew, Sean (Josh Hutcherson), arrives for a scheduled visit bearing a box of his father's old belongings, Trevor discovers a copy of his brother's favorite book -- Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth -- with some most unusual notes scribbled in the margins. Those notes may finally verify the controversial theories that made Trevor's brother the laughing stock of the entire scientific community, and in no time, the eager scientist and his nephew are on a plane bound for Iceland. From that point on, the adventure begins to quickly pick up steam. Journey to the Center of the Earth is a special-effects-heavy adventure film for the entire family, and as such it succeeds rather admirably; the action never gets so intense as to be genuinely frightening, potentially touchy themes of death and familial loss are handled with restrained honesty, and Fraser's portrayal of a heroic scientist is endearing in its cartoonish innocence. Screenwriters Michael D. Weiss, Mark Levin, and Jennifer Flackett display a skillful knack for undercutting moments of high tension with playful humor, their deft handling of a hair-raising repelling scene and a treacherous trek across some magnetic rocks serving as two prime examples of how to keep viewers in suspense without putting them through too much punishment. Crafting a rousing adventure film that's entertaining for the little ones while staying safely in PG territory is no easy endeavor, and while the filmmakers behind Journey to the Center of the Earth walk this precarious tightrope with relative confidence, such compromises don't go entirely unnoticed in action scenes that may have otherwise had much more bite. Behind the camera, special-effects artist-turned-director Eric Brevig proves himself a competent first-time feature filmmaker by handling such action sequences as a turbulent mine ride and a toothy T. rex encounter with energy and a fair sense of visual flair. Of course, some of this flair will no doubt be diminished when the film is viewed in standard "flat" format -- as opposed to experiencing it in a theatrical setting in dynamic RealD 3-D -- but for parents in search of a summer blockbuster that isn't too intense for the kiddies and doesn't drag on too long for the adults, Journey to the Center of the Earth is a consistently entertaining adventure romp once the action gets flowing...and who knows, it might even encourage that little one to lay down the PSP and crack open a book for once as well. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Michael Disco  Actor 
Douglas Jones  Actor 
Cale Boyter  Actor 
Mylan Stepanovich  Actor 
Alex Schwartz  Actor 
Evan Turner  Actor 
Brendan Fraser  Executive Producer 
Mark Levin  Screenwriter 
Eric Brevig  Director 
Beau Flynn  Producer 
W. Mark McNair  Executive Producer 
Charlotte Huggins  Producer 
Jennifer Flackett  Screenwriter 
Toby Emmerich  Executive Producer 
Michael D. Weiss  Screenwriter 
Andrew Lockington  Composer (Music Score) 
Tripp Vinson  Executive Producer 
Brendan Fraser  Actor 
Anita Briem  Actor 
Josh Hutcherson  Actor 

Country: USA