DVD Review: Journey to the Center of the Earth

Starring Brendan Fraser, this is the latest in a series of movies and telefilms based on Jules Vern's famous novel of subterranean adventure.

The fast and fun storyline bypasses the unending claustrophobic underground journey of the explorers of the original novel...no loss...replacing it with lots of action drenched in dumb science that provides a fast transition to the Earth's depths.

Continental drift scientist Trevor Anderson (Fraser) and his nephew drop everything and head for Iceland when it's discovered that's where his long-missing brother disappeared during an expedition from which he never returned ten years before. Except for a mine train ride I didn't like in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and don't like here, its an exciting journey that happens too fast to get wrapped up in the ridiculousness.

See, the idea is to substitute Verne's tunnel access to the Earth's core with a vertical tube that plummets directly to the center with water slowly accumulating to help break your fall so you don't pulverizing every little bone in your body. The imporatant (plot) point is it does get you into the wonderland at the center quickly, so don't sweat it.

The writers do have Fraser referring to Verne's novel as a guide. In the story, the Frenchman was inspired by the experiences of a real person, complete with mushroom forest, subterranean sea filled with prehistoric beasts, and a volcanic exit, interspersed with some new wrinkles to give the story originality.

Extras include a making of featurette and several other options such as How to Make A Dinosaur Drool (blindfold him and wave a steak under his nose).

Worth watching. Even a keeper, depending on your standards. Mine can be pretty low so I'm holding on to it for awhile.