Rating: 
Summary: Dolby Surround-Sound Magic
Review: A 19th century French businessman, Jules Verne decided rather late in life to give up the stock market and write children's fantasy novels. I'm so glad he did. The movie version of his "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea", in 1954, set off an explosion of major Jules Verne film adaptions(over 12 movies in 10 years). One of the finest was "Journey to the Center of the Earth". As the story opens, an Edinburgh professor receives a gift; a meteorite fragment from his student. Intuition fires Prof. Lindenbrook's imagination: Could an historic scientific message be hidden inside? After testing, the rock explodes. Lindenbrook assembles an expedition to follow an explorer's trail down into an extinct Icelandic volcano. Enemies surround him. Mysterious creatures are everywhere. For Prof. Lindenbrook and his party, a fantastic adventure is about to begin. "Journey to the Center of the Earth" stars Pat Boone, Arlene Dahl, Thayer David, Alan Napier, and the magnificent James Mason. But the real "star" is composer Bernard Herrmann, who's thundering, booming film score is nothing short of classic(and actually, only one of many). Director Henry Levin fashioned a lively, colorful saga in 1959's "Journey to the Center of the Earth". Extensive shooting in Hollywood, Scotland, and Carlsbad Caverns produced sweeping set-pieces of subterranean caverns, a giant mushroom forest, and even the lost temples of Atlantis. Special effects include miniature constructions, matte painting, and more. Sadly, the film's main draw-back is a horde of painted lizard "dinosaurs" thrown at the camera in the exciting finale. This brand new widescreen anamorphic (2.35:1) DVD is an excellent transfer. Fox found the original 1959 camera negative worn and faded. A search for viable film elements led to a black-and-white silver print; from this came a 35mm interpositive. Finally came digital restoration and video enhancement. DVD extras include 40 chapter stops, 8 trailers, and a conclusive restoration documentary. Famous and wealthy in his time, Jules Verne predicted the future use of submarines, space-travel, and crustaceous exploration. Over 80 motion picture and TV productions around the world have heralded his work. The first science-fiction movie was made in 1902 by George Melies. And yes, you're right. It was written by Jules Verne.
Rating: 
Summary: Pat Boone with a concertina??
Review: This is the first scary movie I saw. I must have been 8. Honest to God, for a few days I didn't sleep, figuring I'd see those early dinosaurs ready to gobble me while I slept.
It's been years since I've seen this classic. And it's been so long since I read the book that I can't relate the film to the novel.
I realize that, for the time, the special effects were pretty good. (Still, can one imagine Pat Boone acting?????????)
Interesting that the thing that scared me decades ago was the dinosaurs. You know, there really weren't all that many of them. In fact, those were the days before film disclaimers about animals not being harmed by the filming. I suspect they sewed those fins from the Precambrian period onto the backs of some harmless...damn, what is that breed of lizard I saw in Guatemala? Well, you get the picture.
The film is stylized, but not too much. Like, there had to be a couple of Pat Boone tunes (also on the soundtrack CD by the way). And there were other songs too, like the University of Edinburgh classes singing to their professor (played by James Mason--not much like the role in "Lolita," by the way.) And there was the "they all lived happily ever after," not unusual for Hollywood.
Lots of the film tricks used, e.g., fitting the enlarged lizards into the picture with the human characters, were a little dated in retrospect, but they worked at the time. And there was only one scene I noticed with a turnstyle the cast was one, apparently to show their dilemma deep in the earth. Must have been pretty expensive for a few-second scene. But not bad. Not bad at all.
The additional features included the original "theatrical trailer" which I'd never seen before. That added to the value of the DVD, really. And then there was the unusual description, then example of how they improved the quality of the film for the DVD. Technically interesting anyway.
No, it's not among the best films ever made--despite how it scared the bejeebees out of me long, long ago. but it's great if you'd like to get your kids interested in Jules Verne who wrote some interesting stuff for his time--or sci fi--or even Pat Boone.
Rating: 
Summary: "JOURNEY INTO MY FONDEST MEMORIES ABOUT THIS FILM!"
Review: Hello everybody! This is one of my definite, all-time favorites. I'm 32 y/o and I still get goose bumps watching this. I have always been fascinated with dinosaurs and stop-motion photography-ala RAY HARRYHAUSEN etc. The DIMETRODONS which were from the PERMIAN PERIOD, resembled the komodo dragons of Asia which obviously were descendents of some type of prehistoric reptile,(maybe DIMETRODONS-however they weren't dinosaurs). This scene was a misnomer due to dinosaurs not existing in the PERMIAN PERIOD.
Every scene was memorable including the begining sequences- with the Earth spinning while opening credits are rolling to Atlantis blowing up- hence the volcano, to the dinosaur(actually it looked like some type of monitor lizard), protruding it's tongue as ARLENE DAHL gives a blood-curdling scream. This scene is simular to the fiery/dinosaur laden ending of the "LOST WORLD" with MICHAEL RENNIE, JILL ST. JOHN AND LORENZO LAMAS SR.(yes it's Lorenzo's father). I believe that came out in 1960 and also one of my favs. The giant mushrooms looked beleveble and the underground spring w/ glistening quartz rocks set was absolutely breath taking. I remeber as kid, drawing every scene and stapling it together as sort of a storyboard picture book. Other films I recommend of this genre are as follows: MYSTERIOUS ISLAND(1960), JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS(1963), THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD(1974),SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER(1977), ONE MILLION YEARS B.C.(with RAQUEL WELCH and JOHN RICHARDSON-1966),THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT(1975) and it's sequel THE PEOPLE THAT TIME FORGOT(1977), CLASH OF THE TITANS(1981) and THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD(1956). These films may not have had the incredible and elaborate c.g. of today's big budgeted films, but they posses an innocence in film making which evokes an overall satiated feeling after viewing this film genre.
I highly recommend this and you'll want to watch this repeatedly as I most certainly do; I always catch something new or a little detail I've never noticed before. -JULIUS-ALLAN
Rating:
Summary: My opinion of this film
Review: It's very easy to take. Jules Verne (author of the book on which it's based) definitely had a mushroom fetish as he shows in this and his Trip to the Moon book. It's nifty to see the future Ben Stokes of Dark Shadows (actor Thayer David) in a role starring opposite both James Mason and Pat Boone (wonder if Pat's daughter later singer Debbie Boone was on set and met them all). The science of the movie is truthfully left a little unexplained (how exactly while underground are they floating on an outdoor river?) but why quibble? A very satisfying late 50's scifi entry.
Rating:
Summary: My All-Time Favorite Sci-Fi Picture
Review: What a great movie, and to have it out on DVD too. Pat Boone is great. This movie is so entertaining...never a dull moment. I loved the color and the old fashioned devices. The acting is superb by everyone...even the duck. It can be kinda scary for younger children, so maybe wait until they are older. The scenes under the earth were very real looking, except for the mushrooms. I love Pat Boones singing. Also the part about adminsitering justice under the earth was thought provoking. All around good movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat. There are giant lizards, so ladies beware. But overall a very enjoable, suspence filled flick with lots of twists and turns!!! The part when James mason and Pat Boone are thrown into a feather bin is very humorous!!! Enjoy!!!!
Rating:
Summary: one of the best movies ever made
Review: this is one of the best movies ever made. It's a fantastic journey through many marvellous things and dangers. It's the door to another world, the world of fantasy and the questions man is asking since thousands of years. this movie deserves 10 stars. It's a milestone of cinema.
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: Très exotique même fait en 1949 ce film fait rêver.
Review: J'ai trouvé ce film unique vraiment spécial.Romance,mystère et décor très bien pensé.Un film digne des romans de Jules Verne. J'ai eu l'agréable surprise de constater que la version Américaine/Canadienne avait été édité en 3 langues(Français ,anglais ,espagnol)
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..!)
|
