Critic Reviews
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Anthony Lane, New Yorker
Most of the movie, directed by Eric Brevig, is as daft, outlandish, and speedy as it needs to be, and, for all its newfangled effects, touchingly old-fashioned in its reverence for the Jules Verne novel that inspired it.
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Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
Perfectly charming as well as predictably eye-popping.
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Claudia Puig, USA Today
Flat and predictable, though the visuals are often striking.
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Philip Marchand, Toronto Star
If 3D is indeed the future of movies, we're going to need something more substantial than Journey to the Center of the Earth to convince us.
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Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
If, at this moment, the child next to you grabs your arm and hollers "Duck!", the movie will have been worth the ticket price.
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Tom Keogh, Seattle Times
The absence of star charisma in Journey denies the audience some focus in a movie that keeps changing backdrops and is ultimately no more than the sum of its wild-eyed parts.
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Burl Burlingame, Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Brendan Fraser's physical dexterity and comic timing are laid out in good order here, and "Journey" is pretty much a Frasermobile. Without him, it just doesn't go anywhere.
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Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
Journey relentlessly dishes out the action and offers the bespectacled audience plenty of goopy, grabby 3-D jolts, but it all resembles a run of the mill video game. Brevig can't shake the material loose from its unbridled artificiality."
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Anders Wotzke, Moviedex
Whilst 3D glasses might mask this lapse of originality by putting it all in your face, from a standard visual plane, the creative potential of Verne's novel appears to be inexcusably wasted.
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Cole Abaius, Film School Rejects
Overall, everyone involved does well, but no one besides the 3D is doing much to drop your jaw.
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James O'Ehley, Sci-Fi Movie Page
A live-action Looney Tunes cartoon!
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John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
For this adult...it was a chore, in 2-D or 3-D, and not even the high definition helped. (2-D/3-D Blu-ray Edition)
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John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...rather juvenile...with many of its shots intended more to show off the 3-D process than to further its story line.
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Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
Brendan Fraser's playful force of personality rules, 3D or no 3D, one of the few funny guys who could grab attention away from a dinosaur in assault mode, in the center of the earth or anywhere else on the planet.
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Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
Many of the engaging scenes can be enjoyed the old fashioned way, minus the 3D glasses, simply for the sheer infusion of wacky humor and that playful force of personality Fraser provides. Who knew science fiction and comedy could reactivate Jules Verne.
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Sandra Hall, Sydney Morning Herald
The movie proves the perfect showcase for 3D. I can't say that it does the same for Fraser.
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Julie Rigg, MovieTime, ABC Radio National
It's all good clean fun: a rattling good yarn, in fact, with mostly nicely modulated performances from Fraser, Hutcherson and Bream, emphasising confidence, growth, solidarity and self-reliance.
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Vicky Roach, Daily Telegraph (Australia)
Fraser salvages his reputation as a solid, matinee-style action hero in this family-oriented fantasy.
Read all 18 critic reviews
Featured Audience Ratings
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Surprisingly light and easy to watch. completely fantastic fare with decent effects, something kids will enjoy and ooooh and awwwe over.
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A pointless and awful adaptation that makes Henry Levin's version (which I did not like) look like a masterpiece. It's tired and badly written, the only thing they got right was to hire Brendan Fraser who is the actor equivalent of a big dumb lovable dog. Why cast the most… More
A pointless and awful adaptation that makes Henry Levin's version (which I did not like) look like a masterpiece. It's tired and badly written, the only thing they got right was to hire Brendan Fraser who is the actor equivalent of a big dumb lovable dog. Why cast the most unlikable boy in the movie business today (Josh Hutcherson) is anyone's guess, does anyone actually like his acting? You'd be better off watching the dozen or so films it rips-off (Temple of Doom, Jurassic Park, etc) or better still, read the book.
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The tweeners will appreciate this redo of the Verne classic, filled with special effects galore, from a tweener perspective, but nary a character to relate to at all. Fraser nicely helms this effort w/o effort. Eh.
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Eric Brevig's debut feature might not be anything more than a visually breathtaking adventure film without that much logic or coherence, but it is entertaining ride for the whole family. Especially children will love this non-stop action ride which has suspense, comedy and… More
Eric Brevig's debut feature might not be anything more than a visually breathtaking adventure film without that much logic or coherence, but it is entertaining ride for the whole family. Especially children will love this non-stop action ride which has suspense, comedy and outstanding vision of world inside the earth in it.
Brevig does not even try to make this film anything more than a pure entertainment without too much logic. it is also positive to see that film's lenght is trimmed to minimun. Story this thin would not survived for two hours and everyone involved seems to understand it.
Brendan Fraser is mostly ok if slightly over the top in the leading role, but it is Josh Hutcherson and especially Anita Briem as younger adventurers who standout and make their characters worth to hang out with. Still this is not a film for people who are looking for great acting with depth. This is a film made to please the fans of adventure and fantasy films and in that mission Journey to the Center of the Earth mostly succeeds.
It might be completely silly and at times even a bit annoying to watch but you got to admire it's visual power and the fast paced rhytm it has. One thing is for sure, you will not get bored while watching it.
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Here's a perfectly fine, fluffy family movie. Brendan Fraser stars as a science professor who gets stuck with his nephew(Josh Hutchinson) for 10 days. When he is dropped off so is a box of Fraser's late brother Max's'. The box contains a book called… More
Here's a perfectly fine, fluffy family movie. Brendan Fraser stars as a science professor who gets stuck with his nephew(Josh Hutchinson) for 10 days. When he is dropped off so is a box of Fraser's late brother Max's'. The box contains a book called "Journey to the Center of the Earth" with notes/directions on how to get to the center of the Earth. So they set off on an adventure to see if the book was real. Shot in 3D(I didn't watch it in 3D), it has a lot of 3D specific special effects, but it never goes too overboard. The effects as a whole, are okay, but nothing spectacular. Well, my one year old did like the dinosaur:-) Really a movie for everyone in the family, as the adults will be entertained, and the kids will be in awe, and love the adventure elements. Perfect for a morning watch when nothing else is on, and you just wanna escape for 90 minutes.
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I did see this after the first one which isn't always ideal and I can say I wonder how on earth it got a sequel commissioned. The story was cliche and simple, the characters were stereotypical and uninteresting and the acting was pretty bad. The visual effects were ok and pretty… More
I did see this after the first one which isn't always ideal and I can say I wonder how on earth it got a sequel commissioned. The story was cliche and simple, the characters were stereotypical and uninteresting and the acting was pretty bad. The visual effects were ok and pretty much the only redeeming feature of this film. To be missed.
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"Journey to the Center of the Earth" let's you know right from the start that the premise is going to be silly, so you begin to accept it for what it is, even if some of the facts are distinguishably fake. After Sean (Josh Hutcherson) is dropped off at his uncles house… More
"Journey to the Center of the Earth" let's you know right from the start that the premise is going to be silly, so you begin to accept it for what it is, even if some of the facts are distinguishably fake. After Sean (Josh Hutcherson) is dropped off at his uncles house while his mom is looking for a new place for them to live, his uncle (Brendan Fraser) goes through his dead brother's (Sean's dad) discoveries. They find that there may in fact be a center to the earth. This film is a fantastically fun family adventure film. Sure the dialogue is simple and laughable, the effects are cheesy, the premise is quirky, but when you place yourself into this world, it just seems like it was meant to be that way. This film is much better than it should be. "Journey to the Center of the Earth," plain and simple, is a hell of a lot of fun!
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When I first about this film I was thinking 'oh god more crapol, but again I have been surprised. With so many versions to compete against there is a pretty high bar to hurdle but it hurdles it well. The effects are really nice and colourful, much alike the 60's version,… More
When I first about this film I was thinking 'oh god more crapol, but again I have been surprised. With so many versions to compete against there is a pretty high bar to hurdle but it hurdles it well. The effects are really nice and colourful, much alike the 60's version, there are some dodgy moments of bluescreen but generally it looks like a nice cross between 'Indy' and 'Pirates'.
The dangers faced are corny and predictable including dinosaurs and man eating plants but the appeal of Fraser and the light hearted enjoyment factor win through. You actually want Fraser to survive cos he does really seem like a nice guy.
Its a really fun film in 2D and I can imagine in 3D its even better, with some great scenes in there which really give you that boys own, gritty, classic adventure feel that may be really silly but somehow just works, better than 'The Mummy' for me as its not taken as seriously.
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An ok action/adventure film for the whole family to enjoy, especially younger kids. The story isn't great, but the visuals and SFX are pretty good. It has enough to keep all ages entertained for 90 minutes but the kids will no doubt enjoy it more.
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Jules Verne must be turning in his grave right now. For the past few years, we've helplessly witnessed as beloved classics like <i>Around the World in 80 Days</i> and <i>10 000 Leagues under the Sea</i> have been beaten, abused and robbed of all their soul… More
Jules Verne must be turning in his grave right now. For the past few years, we've helplessly witnessed as beloved classics like <i>Around the World in 80 Days</i> and <i>10 000 Leagues under the Sea</i> have been beaten, abused and robbed of all their soul and dignity. I mean, just look at what <i>The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen</i> did to Captain Nemo. Granted that they're still watchable and somewhat enjoyable in their new and reinvented forms, but considering the pure story-telling brilliance of Verne's original work, you can't help but think that Hollywood has long since stopped caring. As for this film, it's pretty much the same thing. Although not bad, it's leagues away from the greatness of the source material. Entertaining yes, but so crammed with blue screens and unconvincing CGI, that it comes off more like a video game than anything else. Decent, as far as family adventures go, but I'm sure glad I didn't pay to see it in the cinema.
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3D propaganda wins again. The plot was boting, the cast was ba, but the visuals will keep people happy and one of those films where it actually pays to have seen it in 3D, it was an okay movie and I got my 3D moneys worth.
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JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH was OK. I don't plan on watching it again.
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Cast: Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem, Giancarlo Caltabiano, Kaniehtiio Horn, Garth Gilker
Director: Eric Brevig
Summary: A hunch and the defunding of his lab prompt geology professor Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) -- whose outrageous theories have made him a… More
Cast: Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem, Giancarlo Caltabiano, Kaniehtiio Horn, Garth Gilker
Director: Eric Brevig
Summary: A hunch and the defunding of his lab prompt geology professor Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) -- whose outrageous theories have made him a laughingstock in academia -- to set off for Iceland in search of a portal to Earth's core. With his sullen teenage nephew (Josh Hutcherson) in tow and a fetching mountaineer (Anita Briem) as a guide, Anderson finds a passageway leading to a vast primordial world at the center of the planet.
My Thoughts: "It was OK. The kids really liked it and laughed throughout. It was funny. But definitely more of a kids film. I love Brendan Fraser, and he's really good in these kinds of kid flicks. Josh Hutcherson was good in this as well. The kids really like him from films like Zathura and R.V. It was a cute film, but more for the kiddo's."
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Horrible casting with an equally proportioned horrible directing. Nice visuals, but over-all could have been better.
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I didn't see this at theater or in 3D, so maybe I'm missing something, but I did watch the movie on the computer. It was ok, but the original from 1959 is sooooooooooooooo much better!!
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An amusement park ride masquerading as a movie but taken on those terms it's okay.
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There's something sweet and childish about the 3-D gimmick, and this is notable among recent movies for not being ashamed of its contrivances - the whole point is to stick trilobite antennae in your face, take you on a <i>Temple of Doom</i>-style underground… More
There's something sweet and childish about the 3-D gimmick, and this is notable among recent movies for not being ashamed of its contrivances - the whole point is to stick trilobite antennae in your face, take you on a <i>Temple of Doom</i>-style underground rollercoaster ride or have you plummet miles iwth the screaming heroes. This is the first 3-D film to combine live-action and CGI to any great extent (<i>Beowulf</i> was all CG), and - though early trailers looked murky - the effect is often startlingly good.
Brendan Fraser gives an open-hearted adventurous performance as a genuinely daring scientist: it's funny and touching when his companions are overcome to find valuable jewels but he is as excited by ordinary rocks. Josh Hutcherson has the usual arc from sulky tween to fully-engaged adventurer, but is miraculously non-icky and especially fine in an outstanding sequence where he crosses a chasm.
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While the film itself may not be more than decent popcorn entertainment, having little more to do with the classic Jules Verne story than the basic idea, it is the IMAX experience that is so much fun and should be rated here. The film lacks the atmosphere and charm of the old James… More
While the film itself may not be more than decent popcorn entertainment, having little more to do with the classic Jules Verne story than the basic idea, it is the IMAX experience that is so much fun and should be rated here. The film lacks the atmosphere and charm of the old James Mason adaption of the book, Brendan Fraser has to do little more than channel his Mummy performances here. That said, it is still action packed, fast, exciting and makes perfect use of the 3D-IMAX experience of animals, juices and obstacles coming at the audience. The result makes it hard not to leave the movie theater with a broad smile. 3D may be the future of cinema, after all.
Read all 20 featured audience ratings
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