Movie Review - Journey To The Center Of The Earth 3-D

Just got back from seeing Journey To The Center Of The Earth 3-D at the midnite advanced screening. Since I am still significantly behind at work, I will try to keep this as short and sweet as I am capable of doing so that I can get going.

If you recall my review of Beowulf 3-D, I had counted how many times were almost having a heart attack moments and I think it was 7. This entire movie was filled with these moments! The ones that stick out in my mind the most are the bug at the very beginning (I had to actually close my eyes it freaked me out so bad), all of the ocean scenes (I jumped when the piranha came at me) and the t-rex scenes (which were very plentiful...you would have expected just one or two almost getting eaten scenes, but this thing kept coming and you really couldn't imagine how they were going to get away from it!)

Might I suggest NOT getting popcorn for this movie (I bought a small and I think I ate 2 kernels...the rest of the time I was so enthralled in the movie that I wasn't even missing the mindless motion of hand to mouth), but you will definitely need some kind of beverage...something about adrenaline pumping thru you seems to dehydrate you or something. Maybe that's just me.

Anyway, so the main story is that Trevor, who is a scientist, is in charge of watching his nephew, Sean, for 10 days. When Sean's mom drops him off, she has a box of her late husband, Max's, things and Trevor comes across Max's copy of Jules Vernes' book, Journey To The Center Of The Earth, and it is marked with all kinds of weird symbols and diagrams. Apparently, Max believes that this book was based on fact and according to the conditions of the earth at this very moment, it is the same conditions that existed when the book's story took place, so Trevor decides to take the same journey that his brother did...with Sean in tow. Their search for the man that was working with Max brings them to the man's daughter, Hannah, who is a mountain guide and helps them on their way and long story short, the thin rock gives underneath them and they end up in the center of the earth, where things that were long extinct on the surface are alive and well in this beautiful new environment.

Gorgeous photography, excellent graphics and effects, so many wonderful and amazing things to look at and experience, and a terrific storyline! Unlike Beowulf, I would see this movie even if it wasn't in 3-D, but I am so glad that it was. It was just breathtaking! I will most definitely be seeing this one again tonight!

On a personal note, Hellboy 2 was also showing a midnite sneak preview and the theater I went to had hundreds of people there, but only 6 or so were watching the Journey movie. I'm sure Hellboy will end up being good (I will review that this evening) but I would have thought that everyone would have jumped at the chance to see this revolutionary action adventure flick. Nothing extra after the credits, but the credits, themselves, are in 3-D that you don't really notice towards the end until you see the flare floating behind them. From the supercool opening credits to the very, very end, this movie was extremely satisfying! AND...they sorta set it up for a possible new adventure, which would definitely be something to look forward to if it is anything like this one.

Let me know what you thought of it. It hasn't been getting the best of reviews, but *I* plan on seeing it at least 2 more times before it leaves theaters.

Bottom line: If you are a fan of either 3-D movies or science-fiction adventure, you would like this movie and if you enjoy both, you would be a fool to miss it.

Vixy :]