loosid_dreamers

I was a little kid seeing this in the theatres for the first time and I remember that before the credits ran Heston and Forsyth did a little introductory summary about the middle ages speaking directly to the audience. I can't remember exactly, but I think they also addressed the issue of the violence in the movie - which by today's standards is pretty mellow. It seems to me they talked about it as adding credibility to the film in terms of historical content. When does that happen anymore? I don't know if it's included in the DVD but it would be cool. I also think Franklin Shaffner was a wonderful director. No slop. No unnecessary scenes. And as good as Heston is, the performance that blew me away was given by Guy Stockwell. Oh my god. How was his brother Dean more visible in the industry? I don't know. And of course Richard Boone was terrific - especially in his last tender scene comforting Heston - the son he never had. I usually hesitate watching movies that I saw as a child because I don't want to lose the special feeling they gave me as a child, but this one certainly retains the romanticism and excitement found in a few other movies such as Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Samson and Delilah, and Demetrius and the Gladiators. Definitely an "A".

I kind of agree with Matthew: "...I would probably buy it if I had the chance, but not because I thought it was a good movie, it would be because of the fact that there were two things I enjoyed: the unpredictability of the story, and how Malone deals with the T-Rex in the ending. " I have never read the original and I should before commenting on any of the movies, but this one was oh so dark, right from the beginning and all the way to the end. It's the only version I know of where everyone dies and the last person is marooned. NOTHING like any of the other versions. Now that's a courageous idea but unfortunately it was very badly executed. And what was Bergin thinking? He was so awesome in Mountains of the Moon.

One of my all time faves not only because of the adventure but also the way it taps our inner demons. How scary is it to go down, down, down into the unknown abyss? What will you find? How will it change you? Will you survive it at all? As an adult I finally visited Carlsbad Caverns and was dismayed NOT to find signs such as "this is the tunnel where the giant boulder chased the adventurers"!

Alas! It is a wondrous place and I cannot wait to get back!

None of the remakes have the moodiness and sure-footed direction that the 59 version has. Mason is perfect. Boone is a better actor than anyone ever gave him credit for. Dahl was feisty and effective.

It's the only one to own.

Update: Having just suffered through the latest version with Brendan Fraser (awesome in the Mummy series) and a child, I can only feel sorry for young movie-goers today. Hollywood's slavish adoration of special effects at the expense of good story telling (or ANY story telling) is just a crime. And while Verne may not have appreciated the story changes in the 1959 version (a human antagonsist instead of nature?) he should be livid with the crap that passes as JTTCOTE nowadays.