L'Aventure fantastique

Binge watching Jules Verne's adaptations I was about to watch the 1988 version when I noticed it was it was actually a sequel to this odd little film.

Starring the always adorable Kathy Ireland with her baby voice cranked right up and Thom "Return of the Living Dead/Friday 13th" Matthews it's an odd little film that nobody would ever connect to Verne's work.

It tells the story of a nerdy young girl who goes in search of her missing father and finds herself trapped beneath the earth in the legendary city of Atlantis. Trouble is the people there don't believe in the "Above world" and therefore she finds herself an alien in a hostile land.

Clearly not based on Verne's novels we see no giant monsters here, just warring factions and a really strong 80's vibe.

The film has a really critically low rating on IMDB and though I think this is a bad film it's not really "That" bad. Sadly it's structure is awful, the whole thing is ugly as hell, the writing is poor and it doesn't have much going for it.

Certainly niche viewing I'd say its one for Kathy Ireland fans only.

The Good:

Erm.....

The Bad:

Ridiculous levels of overacting

Terribly paced

Not the most visually pleasing film

Many may find Irelands voice grinds after a while

This film isn't for everybody. It's not realistic. It has bad special effects, a poorly written plot, etc. But if you enjoy campy, fun films that were intended to be bad, then you probably ought to rent this. I would put it in the same genre as "Joe versus the Volcano", "Earth Girls are Easy", "It came from Outer Space", and all of the "Naked Gun" movies. Kathy Ireland is cute and fun to watch. The story is remarkably stupid, but at the end of the film, I could honestly say, "I had a good time". So, I give it a "10".

Mystery Science Theater 3000 took this very bad film (and one of the most current that they used) and made a very funny comedy bit out of it. It is a far more satisfying way to watch the film!

This movie is so bad, that it needed horror movie helper (MSTK 3000) to get anybody through it alive. Kathy plays a teenager who goes looking for her father in the underworld (filmed in somebody's basement in Ohio). You will cringe every time she says, "I'm looking for my Fa- father" How a young woman can sound like a helium breathing Marsha Brady is beyond me.

Kathy, please, PLEEEZE stick to modeling.

Caution: Do not, I mean do not watch this film unless you are occupied by the robots and Mike Nelson. (MSTK 3K). Otherwise comatose may result.

Even in her glasses wearing geek mode Kathy Ireland is very easy on the eyes but her acting is not easy to watch. Most of the actors in the film either take it way over the top (beyond "campy fun") or act slightly embarrassed at being there. The effects and soundtrack are nothing special and fairly low budget. The plot line REALLY stretches ones ability to suspend disbelief. Catch this one to laugh at if it comes on a premium movie channel or network Saturday afternoon TV, but DO NOT waist money on this thing.

One worthy mention for trivia purposes is that one of the underground mobsters is played by Deep Roy. Deep is now famous for playing (and doing it well) all the Oompa Loompas in Burton's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."