The TV Addict 

Despite my best attempts otherwise it’s become inevitable that the older I’ve gotten, the more movies I’ve seen, and the more I’ve watched them in a somewhat critical state of mind, the more jaded I’ve become as a result. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still fully capable of enjoying films that are fun and exciting, but that sense of wonder and joy I had as a child watching movies? That’s been left behind, as I imagine is the case for most of us who have moved past our teens.

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH 3-D brought it back for me.

It’s not that the film - as a film - is actually that great. The story is predictably full of thinly sketched characters, a forced underdeveloped romance, and little more than a “we need to get out of here” plot tying together its scenes of high adventure. There’s also some loose stabs at greater drama with Brendan Fraser and Josh Hutcherson struggling with the disappearance of their brother and father (respectively), and finding the joys of family in each other along the way. It’s not that surprising though because - as one of this sites regular commentators (Linda B.) pointed out a few days ago - when you think about it, this is really just a kids movie aimed to please that specific audience.

So why did it work on me? Though it didn’t work as a film, it works as an experience, and that’s because of the 3-D. Having always considered 3-D to be some cheap gimmick that should have stayed dead, I’ve skeptically regarded the resurgence of the “format” as misguided and desperate (”If we can’t come up with original ideas, let’s use a cool gimmick to make old ideas seem cool and new!”.) Consider me converted (for now) because the 3-D effects are nothing short of astounding and undeniably fun. Most importantly, the film knew to use the effects not just for your typical monsters-jumping-out-at-you or point-fingers-aimed-at-you, but for letting the gorgeous scenery of this underground world really pop out . Sure there are occasions where the 3-D is used just because it’s there, but once the characters get to the centre of the earth in the film it becomes a much more seamless experience as the extra dimension keeps popping out at you and serve to pull you that much more into what is going on. There were more than a few moments where I jumped, or smiled, or simply watched dumbfounded as something really pretty and sublime showed up on screen.

It is precisely that inherent fun of seeing strange creatures and landscapes projected in loving third dimension that propelled in me that youthful awe and excitement. It helps that whatever its dramatic short comings, JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH undeniably has form mirror content. The movie captures the energetic and youthful spirit of high adventure that we loved as kids, and that I think many of us grown-ups still long for.

That’s why when halfway through the film I heard a child in an aisle behind me lean towards his father and whisper, “This is the greatest movie EVER!” I couldn’t completely agree as a now jaded adult, but I still knew exactly what he was talking about. The part of me that the movie turned back into a kid even wanted to turn around and say: “It SO is!”

Overall rating: B+