Is this a film? Technically, yes, but it feels more like a theme-park ride as you are taken on a white-knuckle ride to the center of the earth without ever leaving your seat. Fifteen years after the hype (remember those days sitting front of your tiny analog TV with your funny glasses?) the promise of 3D cinema comes to fruition.
Based loosely on the classic science fiction novel by Jules Verne, the plot follows science professor Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) as he travels to Iceland following hints in his missing brother’s notes. He has his nephew Sean (Josh Hutcherson) towing along and enlists the suitably pretty Hannah (Anita Briem) to guide them. Much of the science in the original novel has since proved to be less true than our childhood belief in Santa Claus, but it probably works to this film’s advantage as the plot is pushed to the side with the focus firmly on the special effects.
At times you do notice that the effects come before the plot or character development, but you don’t mind as long as you go to see it knowing that it’s more of an adventure experience than a classic film. With this in mind, it’s hard to say whether it’s really worth seeing the film in 2D, especially when there’s a state-of-the-art 3D cinema in Budapest and so much of the film is based around making you feel like you’re dangling over a chasm, sliding down a mountain or being chased by big green and ugly creatures. Don’t go after a big dinner, because it can leave you feeling queasy and your date wouldn’t like the remains of your lángos adding to their troubles of having to escape from the earth’s interior.
Brendan Fraser tries to make science professors look cool and sexy, which is nearly as hard as escaping the attack of the giant fish on a flimsy raft, but he manages in his clumsy cute way. His two companions play their required roles well and the three make a happy enough bunch falling, jumping, dodging and running their way to and from the only part of the earth where Funzine is not regularly distributed.
It’s not a faithful adaptation of the book, but nor could any modern film be, what with the outdated science. Instead, the idea of a different world existing within our own is taken and run with as fast and exhilarating as it can go. It’s the kind of movie to see on a Saturday afternoon when you want fun out of the sun and under the crust of our little blue planet.
The film will be shown in 3D at WestEnd
