Journey to the Centre of the Earth 3-D

This is a film that is really only worth seeing if you catch it in one of the 3-D showings. The whole film seems to have been pretty well built around ideas for effects shots which get the audience jumping as different objects come hurtling towards them.

Less a re-make of the 1950s version or a fresh adaptation of Jules Vernes' novel, than a loose kind of sequel about people who believe Vernes' work to be true and some who discover it is. Brendan Fraser (basically re-jigging his role from The Mummy) plays the muscular scientist who stumbles into the world below the surface whilst on a trip to Iceland with his nephew (Bridge to Terabithia's Josh Hutcherson) and their blonde icelandic guide (Anita Briem), who's there for the inevitable romantic subplots, but does at least get to rescue Fraser as much as she's rescued.

Fraser is on likeable form as the lead, far more convincing as action man than scientist. Briem has her moments early on, but gets reduced more and more to damsel in distress as the film progresses, whilst Hutcherson's talents are largely underused. The script has some good moments, (unfortunately, mostly in the trailer), but this is all about the action sequences and effects and on the whole, these work well. It contains the best mine cart sequence since Temple of Doom and some good use of the 3-D technology. The problem is that after having found a good 3-d shot, it will then be repeated until the impact starts to wear thin. After having Fraser spit toothpaste at the camera in the opening moments, the same idea is used at least twice more. Similarly not just one, but many flying fish are shot at the audience.

The world created is rather patchy, with parts of it definitely more convincing than others. The creatures, especially the gruesome fish and fluorescent birds are rather better realised. The plot is as full of holes as the crumbling landscape. Leaving aside the numerous instances of terribly bad science, little details like backpacks that seem to travel by themselves (always re-appearing after being left behind). And, also, if that's Fraser's brother who disappears into a lava-filled chasm in the movie's opening shot, then who's under the pile of stones on the beech later on and just who buried him?

Overall - 2.5/5 It's all rubbish, effects driven-ribbish at that, but in the hands of Fraser it's actually quite likeable, entertaining and fun rubbish.