Journey to the Center of the Earth

Rating:
Summary: Icy Cool
Review: This is the best exploration adventure movie I have ever seen. It is so well grounded in science it makes you think you could find this cave yourself and follow their path. The acting is top notch with James Mason, Pat Boone, Arlene Dahl,Thayer David, and Peter Ronson. Bernard Herrman's score is magnificent adding elements of mystery, danger, and exhilaration. The dinosaurs with recent skeleton discoveries are well done especially considering it was made over forty years ago. You will be drawn in as Profesor Lindenbrook (James Mason) finds a clue in a lava rock that leads them to Iceland and an ancient trail to the center of the Earth. Incredible sets along with the outstanding cast, music, and direction make this a must see.

Rating:
Summary: You'll have a good time...
Review: ...on your way to the center of the earth.

It's amusing that the DVD is titled "Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth" since the movie has so little to do with the original book. It's an entertaining piece of work nonetheless, full of danger and courage, surprise and villainy, romance and loyalty, fear and wonder.

I recall being fascinated by the special effects as a child, though now they seem soemwhat crude. But the plot holds one's interest, the acting is certainly passable, and the climax thrilling, if risibly improbable. If you are willing to suspend disbelief, you and your kids will have a ball.

Rating:
Summary: Remastered Saturday Matinee Favorite
Review: I remember watching this movie on the old "Family Classics" in Chicago back in then 70's. When it was released on DVD I snatched it up. Overall, it stands up really well. Sure the effects are campy, but this is pre-digital days. The best thing is that this has been fully remastered! Clear, crisp images and video make it a pleasure to view!

Rating:
Summary: Rated "G" for "Great"
Review: This movie captured my imagination as a child, and I'm pleased to say that it retains all its adventurous charm twenty-five years later.

Based loosely on the Jules Verne novel, the movie tells the story of a group of scientists (and a scientist's widow ... and a hunky Icelander ... and a duck) as they follow the trail of a long-dead explorer into - wait for it - the center of the Earth. The film is partly a vehicle for Pat Boone's singing career, partly an excuse to design one fantastic set after another (partly filmed in Carlsbad Cavern National Park), but it's mostly a decent adventure story with the ever-wonderful James Mason leading the way. Sure, some effects are poorly done with blue screens, matte paintings, and miniatures (not bad by late '50s standards, though), but it doesn't take much suspension of disbelief to get into spirit of the thing (my 4-year-old screamed at the Dimetrodons), and an emotional connection is built between the audience and the characters (Count Saknussem's fate is richly deserved). Be sure to watch for Alfred the Butler (Alan Napier) as a University of Edinburgh dean.

The limited bonus materials are all worthwhile (as opposed to DVDs that cram in the extras, mostly mediocre). Included are movie trailers for nine Fox sci-fi movies (Sean Connery's Zardoz must be seen to be believed) as well as the trailer for Journey. The only other bonus is a before-and-after comparison of how the film was restored. There's no documentary showing the process, but the side-by-side and split-screen comparisons help you realize how close this treasure was to being lost.

This is a great film that deserves to be part of anyone's collection. The effects may be dated, but the adventure and characterizations are as powerful today as they were in 1959. If you're looking for a film the whole family can enjoy that isn't so sugary sweet it necessitates a visit to the dentist, Journey to the Center of the Earth fits the bill.

Rating:
Summary: Top Adventure Gets Grade A DVD Treatment
Review: The movie is beautifully restored for DVD. The film is crisp and clear the sound is great. The movie looks like it was just filmed yesterday. The story itself is an excelent adventure yarn. At every moment something new happens. There is a fantasitc music score by Bernard Hermann and enough drama, innuendo, and humor to keep even adults very interested and entertained. Yes there are some very hokey and even campy moments but I found these to only add to the entertainment. Everyone gives a very very good perfomance including even Pat Boone and of course the always excelent James Mason. Although not all the sets and special effect hold up by todays standards they are all fun. That said many of sets and special effects are still stunning. For anyone who grew up loving this film - it is well worth seeing again and even owning. Even more highly recommended for families with kids. Journey stands along side of other adventure films of its time including Swiss Family Robinson and 20,000 Leages Under the Sea. By the way the price for owning a DVD of this quality - under twelve dollars - for this movie - makes it a steal!!

A note - A number of reveiwers feel the giant lizard monsters are not credible and hurt the film. Personaly I loved these monsters. First of all they are real! Not a guy in a lizard suit and not animation - I feel the effect to be very good - especially for the time.I was amazed as to how well these scenes are matted in and how big and dangerous these guys look. The giant reptile acting? - how did they get these heavy looking kick-but lizards to attack and run around? Plus the monsters get a special scarey Bernard Herrmann music too - via some sort sort of wierd horn. The Ocean at the center of the world protected by monsters on it's sandy beaches? I loved it - Sounds crazy but I feel it works with and has atmoshere to burn.

Rating:
Summary: A film for the whole family
Review: Fox Studios was so successful with this film that they immediately made another Verne classic, "The Lost World" with Claude Raines as Professor Challenger. "Lost World" didn't fare as well. The reasons were obvious.

"Journey" was put together by a team of Hollywood professionsls at all levels: script, direction, actors, production deisgners. They were all dedicated to one goal: to entertain the audience while not pandering to them. The actors take their roles seriously, bringing them to vivid life.

This is a long film for a general release, family oriented project. It goes into good, solid character development, rather than settling for action over story, as they did with "The Lost World." The only thing both films have in common appear to be dinosaurs.

The special effects are excellent. Try not to compare them to what can be computer-generated today. Matte painting artists of the old Hollywood studio system could truly be called artists; this film is a prime example of this art.

Bernard Hermann's score is one of the true stars of the picture. It supports the film; it is like a character all its own; it complements the story rather than overpowering it.

This is a movie that can be seen over and over through the years and it still appeals. Once again, the DVD format presents the film in its original CinemaScope aspect ratio, which is the only way to appreciate a truly excellent example of the old Hollywood in its finest form.

Rating:
Summary: A film for the whole family
Review: Fox Studios was so successful with this film that they immediately made another Verne classic, "The Lost World" with Claude Raines as Professor Challenger. "Lost World" didn't fare as well. The reasons were obvious.

"Journey" was put together by a team of Hollywood professionsls at all levels: script, direction, actors, production deisgners. They were all dedicated to one goal: to entertain the audience while not pandering to them. The actors take their roles seriously, bringing them to vivid life.

This is a long film for a general release, family oriented project. It goes into good, solid character development, rather than settling for action over story, as they did with "The Lost World." The only thing both films have in common appear to be dinosaurs.

The special effects are excellent. Try not to compare them to what can be computer-generated today. Matte painting artists of the old Hollywood studio system could truly be called artists; this film is a prime example of this art.

Bernard Hermann's score is one of the true stars of the picture. It supports the film; it is like a character all its own; it complements the story rather than overpowering it.

This is a movie that can be seen over and over through the years and it still appeals. Once again, the DVD format presents the film in its original CinemaScope aspect ratio, which is the only way to appreciate a truly excellent example of the old Hollywood in its finest form.

Rating:
Summary: all time classic
Review: i remember seeing this movie as a re-release in t he 1960's
these are the type of movies that should never be put to dvd,
instead released to the theatres every so often where
mom's can drop off the kids for saturday afternoon fun.
james mason did a great job
alene dahl was hot to trot
pat boone played a 2nd fiddle good performance
thayer david ( what a wimpy creep..!)

Rating:
Summary: You'll have a good time...
Review: ...on your way to the center of the earth.

It's amusing that the DVD is titled "Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth" since the movie has so little to do with the original book. It's an entertaining piece of work nonetheless, full of danger and courage, surprise and villainy, romance and loyalty, fear and wonder.

I recall being fascinated by the special effects as a child, though now they seem soemwhat crude. But the plot holds one's interest, the acting is certainly passable, and the climax thrilling, if risibly improbable. If you are willing to suspend disbelief, you and your kids will have a ball.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable movie
Review: We watched this movie at a bread and breakfast. It is a very good movie. The best part of the movie is the journey to the center of the earth and the scenary there. The characters of the movie were an "unlikely bunch of explorers". They were truly, non-memorably, the unlikely bunch. There is also a very non-memorable bulging breast scene. Nevertheless, we could not forget one line of the movie. It was the cry of a grown man for his killed duck: Gertrude, Gertrude.