Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)

"Haven't you ever seen a dinosaur before?"

"Not with the skin on it!"

Trevor Anderson (Fraser) is a professor and scientist.  His students are apathetic and his research is in danger.  His brother, Max (Jean-Michel Pare), was a scientist and explorer who disappeared 10 years ago.  Max's lab, which Trevor runs, is going to be shut down due to a lack of funding / discovery.

Later that day he is joined by Max's teenage son Sean (Hutcherson), who will be staying with him for 10 days.  While looking through a box of Max's things, they uncover his coy of Jules Verne's "Journey to the Center of the Earth", filled with random notes in the margins.  The notes match readings from Trevor's lab.  They travel to Iceland to find Max's instruments, and hire mountain guide Hannah (Briem) to lead the way.  They fall through a hole in a mountain to find the lost world of Verne's novels.  Can they navigate through the treacherous land and find their way home?


Based on Jules Verne's 1864 novel "Journey to the Center of the Earth".  The novel has been adapted for film and TV many times.

The Good:
The story is good, once they start the trip, and with a 93 minute running time, the action moves at a brisk pace.  It was made as a family film, so none of the effects are overly scary or intense, but it does keep you interested in the story and the fates of the characters.  Brendan Fraser can juggle action and comedy, and is a smart choice to lead this film.  Fraser and Josh Hutcherson have good chemistry, which builds as the film progresses.  Anita Briem is the fearless survivalist that keeps them alive.  She is a strong and confident, and makes the other characters work for her trust and affections.  The trio work well together.

The Bad:
The film was made for 3D, so items are constantly thrown at, dropped on, etc the screen.  I'm sure it was great in 3D theaters, but it is jarring at home.  Some of the effects are obvious attempts to utilize the 3D experience, and they take you out of the story.

Other Comments:
-Walden Media made a sequel, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island in 2012, based on Verne's novel "The Mysterious Island."  Hutcherson returned for the film, alongside some new characters.
-The sequel sets up the possibility for a third film, based on Verne's novel "From the Earth to the Moon".  The film, called Journey from the Earth to the Moon, was planned but later cancelled.

Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) 93 minutes
Director: Eric Brevig
Starring: Brendan Fraser as Trevor Anderson
Josh Hutcherson as Sean Anderson
Anita Briem as Hannah Asgeirsdottir