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Brendan Fraser tackles some travel problems |
Journey into the earth proves a hole lot better than you’d think
JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH
Directed by Eric Brevig
Certificate PG
BASED loosely on the Jules Verne book, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, this quick-moving, kiddie sci-fi flick comes out in a passable 3-D format which will keep young ones happy on a wet summer afternoon.
Starring Brendan Fraser (The Mummy), it tells the story of volcanologist Professor Trevor Anderson who wants to unravel the mystery of what happened to his scientist brother on the slopes of a volcano in Iceland.
When he is asked to look after his grumpy teenage nephew for 10 days, he discovers among his brother’s papers some clues as to where he might have been.
They rush to Iceland and the adventure starts in earnest when they knock on the door of a wooden hut-cum-research station and are greeted by the beautiful Hannah Asgeirsson. Hannah, a mountain guide, reveals her scientist father disappeared in similarly odd circumstances, and says that she believes it is because both of the missing men were Vernians – people who believe the novels of Jules Verne are actually based on facts – and wanted to prove it.
From here on in, the tale essentially focuses on the three falling down a very big hole (right to the centre of the Earth) and then having to find their way back out again.
It’s a rollickingly good adventure and is made even better by the grandstand special effects. With 3-D glasses, you are offered a wonderful underground vista to gaze across, coupled with the usual silly stunts as things come flying out towards you at top speed.
The dialogue isn’t up to much – wobbly wisecracks abound – and the actions of the three leads are occasionally incomprehensible.
But no matter how improbable the storyline can be, they all scream and yelp at just the right moments and with a good dollop of feeling.
The leading lady, Anita Briem, appeared at the New End Theatre three years ago in the play Lenin in Love. She is superb, and a strong female lead in a boyish action flick is so refreshing.
It makes a change: so often in these types of gung-ho adventures the main lady is there simply to be rescued. Not Hannah: she is practical, hardy, strong and double brave.
Perfect fare for the start of the summer holidays. |
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