Reise zum Mittelpunkt der Erde

Of course many will argue that the original is always the best, and I'm not denying that it isn't. I just think this version on the Jules Verne classic was not that far behind the original.

However, the special effects could stand to be a bit better, I might just think that compared to "Jurassic Park", but I guess they had to stick to the TV film budget.

Most of the characters in the film were portrayed excellently. Treat Williams playing Theodore Lytton, brought across his character's feelings for Alice beautifully, whether concealing it or not. Jonas Lytton, Theodore's nephew was played by Jeremy London. Jonas was definitely my favourite character, he represented the heart and the youth in this film. His infatuation with Ralna(Petra Jared)was at times adorable. Petra Jared and Jeremy London had an incredible chemistry, some scenes were hilarious and some were romantic.

The plot in the film is followed mostly to the book. The film is not up there with the original, but what film is eg. The remake of "Psycho" was nowhere near as good as the original. However, this TV remake proves to be almost as good.

Now let's get one thing straight before I fire my gun: I'm a BIG fan of Treat Williams (and I am not ashamed to admit I LOVED "Deep Rising"). I even like both the London-brothers, and fondly remember young Petra Jared from the TV-show "Sky Trackers". BUT what's with all these positive user comments? It doesn't make sense compared to (at the time of writing) a user rating of 4,6!

And here's why, I am sad to say, it deserves just that low rating: it's god awful BORING! It goes on for three hours and barely nothing happens!!! Sure, a few cool monsters here and there, some "cavemen", and the presence of Treat Williams, but still: this Hallmark production doesn't come close to the excitement of reading the original Jules Verne classic.

1/3 of the time is spent in a monotonous climb through caves (which all look like they are walking through the same studio over and over again). Then they reach to the "center", where another 1/3 is spent on another sound stage made to look like a village surrounded by a deep forest (for the occasion spray painted in blue). Two or three times they are attacked by some badly computer animated dinosaurs. Definitely not what one would expect from any studio SIX years after the lifelike "Jurassic Park".

And not forgetting the worst thing of it all: the soundtrack! What soundtrack? It reeks and stinks so bad I could not believe it made it to a production of this magnitude. This is one time I actually believe it was written by a computer! It doesn't fit any of the action, come to think of it: it is so simple, so without charm or any redeeming qualities what so ever it could fit ANYTHING. As a big fan of movie music I can't in my wildest dreams even begin to imagine what creature actually got paid for composing it! The end credits even tell us the crap is available on CD!!! Oh... my... God!

A nice bonus however is the appearance of some real maori tribesmen, and the fact that it is shot on location in New Zealand and Australia. All that said, this re-telling of "Journey to the Center of the Earth" isn't that bad. It just has cheesy effects, a laughable "soundtrack", and is presented in an excruciatingly boring way! And this comes from someone who has never had a problem sitting through looong movies, or mini-series for that matter.

This one is an unimpressive adaptation of one of the most important novels of Jules Verne known as the writer who creates science fiction as a literary genre (in fact, Journey to the Center of the Earth is credited by Arthur C. Clarke as the best novel of Verne). This version have some good special effects but lacks impact and originality. If you want to see a better view of the same novel, see the version with James Mason instead. I give this a 4 (four).

This is the best movie!! I give it 10/10. Even though most of the story wasn't from the book, it's the best movie I've seen in years. The whole cast did perfect on acting. The music was so moving. I plan to buy anything I can on this movie. (Posters, etc). Anyone who hasn't seen this, buy it or rent it now! Jeremy London did excellent as the unexperienced nephew on the expedition. So did Treat Williams and the Professor. Go rent this once-in-a-lifetime movie NOW!!

But I have to say, it takes a set of balls the size of ostrich eggs to make a movie and put a title on it that belongs to an entirely different story. Jules Verne is spinning in his grave on this one, believe me--this isn't even vaguely in line with the book. None of the characters even have the same name, fer crying' out loud! There's tribes of lizard men and humans living down there, AND THE HUMANS SPEAK English!!

I did find the movie entertaining however, my only real issue with it is blatantly stealing the name of one of the greatest science fiction fantasies ever written in history and dropping it on another story in the blatant interest of tricking people to come in and think that they're about to witness the real thing. For God's sake, they even credit Jules Verne!!! For what, writing the title? On the up side, the women are all beautiful, but on the other hand, the men don't look like any of them, at least the subterranean dwellers, have bathed in years. What IS that stuff on them, anyway, if not dirt.

I hear that they're remaking Plan 9 From Outer Space next year, and they're going to call it Gone With the Wind.