Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008 film)

Infobox Film
name = Journey to the Center of the Earth


caption = Promotional poster
director = Eric Brevig
producer = Brendan Fraser (executive)
writer = Jules Verne
Michael Weiss
Mark Levin
starring = Brendan Fraser
Josh Hutcherson
Anita Briem
music = Andrew Lockington
cinematography = Chuck Shuman
editing = Paul Martin Smith
Dirk Westervelt
Steven Rosenblum
distributor = New Line Cinema
Walden Media
released = July 11, 2008
runtime = 92 min.
country = USA
language = English
Icelandic
budget = $60 million
gross = $154,776,533(worldwide)
website = http://www.journey3dmovie.com/
amg_id = 1:350410
imdb_id = 0373051

"Journey to the Center of the Earth" (also promoted as "Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D" or Journey 3-D) is a 3-D film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Jules Verne. It was released on July 11, 2008. The film stars Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, and Anita Briem. The movie is rated 6.3 [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373051/ Journey to the center of the earth IMDB web page] ] out of 10 at IMDB.

Plot

Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) is a Bostonian volcanologist whose nephew, Sean (Josh Hutcherson), is supposed to spend ten days with him. Trevor learns at work that his brother's lab is being shut down because of a lack of funding. Trevor has forgotten that Sean is coming until he receives several messages from Sean's mother. When Sean's mother drops him off, she leaves Trevor with a box of items that belonged to Max, Trevor's brother and Sean's father, who disappeared years before. Sean suddenly takes interest in what Trevor has to say after he tells him about his father, whom he never really had a chance to know. Trevor discovers in the box Max's old baseball glove, a yo-yo, and the novel "Journey to the Center of the Earth" by Jules Verne. Inside the book Trevor finds notes written by his late brother. Trevor goes to his laboratory to find out more about the notes. There he realizes that he must go to Iceland to investigate for himself.

He intends to send Sean back to his mother, but relents at Sean's protest and brings Sean along for the adventure. They start by looking for another volcanologist. When they get to that scientist's institution, they meet a woman named Hannah (Anita Briem), who offers to help them climb up to the instrument that has suddenly started sending data again. While hiking the mountain a lightning storm forces the three into a cave that collapses.

Trevor, Sean, and Hannah investigate farther into the cave until they fall into a deep pit, taking them to the "Center of the Earth". They all continue until they discover a cave dwelling that Max lived in. Trevor and Sean find Max's old journal. Hannah and Trevor discover Max's dead body and bury him. Trevor reads a message from Max's journal that was written on Sean's 3rd birthday (8-14-97). This means that Sean's birth date is (8-14-94). Trevor continues to read Max's journal until he realizes from his notes that they must quickly leave, as the temperature is steadily rising.

Trevor figures that they must find a geyser that can send them to the surface. They must do this in 48 hours or all of the water to create the geyser will be gone. They also figure that they must get out before the temperature rises past 135 degrees. They begin by crossing the underground ocean, and then the two adults become separated from Sean. Sean's guide is now a little bird who has been present since the trio entered the Center, and it takes him towards the river. However, he encounters a Tyrannosaurus and Trevor - who desperately is searching for him - saves him. When they arrive at the geyser it is all dried up. All of the water is on the other side of a wall.

Trevor uses a flare to ignite the magnesium in the wall and causes a geyser to shoot them through Mount Vesuvius in Italy. When they destroy the home of an Italian man, Sean gives him a diamond that he had found earlier. Trevor sees that he has many more in his backpack, and he uses them to fund his brother's laboratory. Throughout the adventure, Hannah and Trevor gradually become so attached to each other that they kiss. The film ends on the final day of Sean's visit with Trevor (and now Hannah), and he is leaving their new home, which was purchased with some of the diamonds Sean took from the cave, and Trevor handing Sean a book titled "Atlantis", suggesting they could maybe hang out at Sean's during Christmas break, alluding to a possible sequel.

Cast

* Brendan Fraser as Prof. Trevor Anderson
* Josh Hutcherson as Sean Anderson
* Anita Briem as Hannah Ásgeirsson
* Giancarlo Caltabiano as Leonard
* Goo Goo G. Gaa Gaa as Goo

Production

Filming

The film transposes the novel into the present day and is mostly live action, with only the landscape and creatures supplied by computer-generated graphics. [ [http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=13866 "Journey 3-D"] Profile at Comingsoon.net. Accessed on March 14, 2007] The film is projected using Real D Cinema technology, a format that made its debut with the release of "Chicken Little".

Rating

The film is MPAA rated PG for intense adventure action and some scary moments.

Marketing

The first trailer was shown during the re-release of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and the release of "Beowulf", with the "", and during the 2008 Kids' Choice Awards.

Warner Bros. marketed the film like a theme park attraction. However, the studio had to slightly tweak the campaign (including dropping "3D" from the title) when it became clear that the film would be shown in 3-D in far fewer theaters than anticipated. [ [http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-et-word10-2008jul10,0,2129497.story Hollywood's 3-D kick hits a bump] Accessed on July 14, 2008]

Release dates

*Malaysia: July 10, 2008
*Philippines: July 10, 2008
*Puerto Rico: July 10, 2008
*Brazil: July 11, 2008
*Canada: July 11, 2008
*UK: July 11, 2008
*USA: July 11, 2008
*France: July 16, 2008
*Argentina: July 17, 2008
*South Africa: July 18, 2008
*Taiwan: July 18, 2008
*Turkey: July 18, 2008
*Israel: July 24, 2008
*Colombia: July 25, 2008 (3-D version)
*Mexico: July 25, 2008
*Thailand: July 31, 2008
*Singapore: August 7, 2008
*Panama: August 8, 2008
*Hong Kong: August 14, 2008
*Colombia: August 15, 2008
*United Arab Emirates: August 21, 2008
*Poland: August 22, 2008
*Peru: August 28, 2008 (3-D version)
*Portugal: August 28, 2008
*Finland: September 3, 2008 (limited)
*Serbia: September 3, 2008
*Czech Republic: September 4, 2008
*Hungary: September 4, 2008 (Budapest)
*Netherlands: September 4, 2008
*Slovenia: September 4, 2008
*Finland: September 5, 2008
*Romania: September 5, 2008
*Spain: September 5, 2008
*Russia: September 11, 2008
*Iceland: September 12, 2008
*India: September 12, 2008
*Australia: September 25, 2008
*Greece: September 25, 2008
*Bulgaria: October 3, 2008
*Venezuela: October 3, 2008 (3-D version)
*Japan: October 25, 2008
*Norway: November 7, 2008

Reception

Critical reception

The film received mixed to positive reviews. As of July 20, 2008, Rotten Tomatoes reported that 61% of critics gave positive reviews, giving the film a "Certified Fresh" rating. [ [http://rottentomatoes.com/m/10008588-journey_3d/ Rotten Tomatoes: Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)] Accessed on July 14, 2008] Metacritic reported that 58% of critics gave positive reviews based on 32 reviews falling under the category "Mixed or Average". [ [http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/journeytothecenteroftheearth Metacritic: Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D] Accessed on July 13, 2008]

Box office

"Journey to the Center of the Earth" opened #3 behind "" and "Hancock" in North America. The film grossed $21,018,141 in 2,811 theaters with an average of $7,477. 57 percent of the opening gross was taken from theaters which showed the film in 3-D. [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2503&p=.htm Box Office Mojo: 'Hellboy II' Sizzles] Accessed on July 14, 2008]

As of September 14, 2008 the film has grossed $154,776,533 worldwide. [ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=journeytothecenteroftheearth.htm Box Office Mojo: Journey to the Center of the Earth] ] So far, the film has received generally favorable opinions from audiences. It is rated as "Fresh" by Rotten Tomatoes users with 70% of the user reviews being positive. On Box Office Mojo, it is rated a B by users. And on the Internet Movie Database, users rated it 6.4/10. However on Metacritic, the users only gave it a 4.7/10.

It is slated to be released for blu-ray and DVD on October 28th, 2008.

References

External links

* [http://www.journeymovie.com/ Official site]
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* [http://madeinatlantis.com/movies_central/2008/journey_to_the_center_of_the_earth_production_details.htm Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D Production Notes]