If you are an avid Jules Verne fan, and hoping that this film starring Rick Schroder and Victoria Pratt is close to the novel, you will be disappointed. If you are looking for an engaging adventure, filmed amidst gorgeous scenery, and don’t mind literary liberties, this can be a fun family film.
Journey to the Center of the Earth, the novel by Jules Verne has always been one of my favorites, in spite of the story seeming to run out of steam and finish abruptly. I also love the old James Mason/ Pat Boone movie version, because it captured the novel’s sense of epic adventure. I haven’t seen the newest foray into the story now out in theatres but I plan to go to add one more vision of the story to my “collection.”
This made for cable version has some of the key elements of the original, an unorthodox professor who undertakes to find the path to the center of the Earth, the story is told in the words of his nephew who accompanies him on the journey, and the Midsummer noon sun points the direction they must travel.
If you are willing to transplant the story to Alaska, add a woman Martha Dennison (Pratt) who hires Professor Brock (Schroder) to lead the expedition to find her missing husband (played by Peter Fonda,) and accept the events that occur as reasonable storytelling, then this film can be interesting and actually a lot of fun.
The special effects are good, and in very much in keeping with this version of the narrative. The acting of all cast members is nearly perfect as characters from the 19th century, bouncing by turns from dramatic emotions to the completely prim and stoic.
Journey to the Center of the Earth is presented on single disc, widescreen format with a running time of around 93 minutes. A special feature included on the disc is an extended interview with actor Peter Fonda, which is interesting. His portrayal of Mr. Dennison, the man who has been in the underground world for several years, is a blend of complexities.
We see emotion and disassociation battling with nobility of purpose and selfish desires. In other words he is very human.
The other special feature is a behind the scenes look at the filming hosted by Rick Schroder and Victoria Pratt.
It isn’t Jules Verne, it is more as if Mark Twain wrote a story about explorers searching for the path to an underground world out in the frontier.
It was entertaining and I enjoyed many aspects of the story, especially the nod to the Verne original with the Saknussem Vortex.
Journey to the Center of the Earth is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for this version of the DVD in the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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