Journey to the Center of the Earth isn't so much an adaptation of the book but a very weak narrative film that uses action sequences from the book to make for cool, 3-D effects.
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07/13/08
Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)
61
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:149
Fresh:91
Rotten:58
Average Rating:6/10
Consensus: Modern visuals and an old fasioned storyline make this family adventure/comedy a fast-paced, kitschy ride.
Theatrical Release:Jul 11, 2008 Wide
Box Office: $101,653,320
Synopsis: This 2008 movie update of Jules Verne's classic sci-fi/fantasy novel uses the 1864 tale as a template, with its hero, scientist Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser), referring to his missing brother's... [More]
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem, Jane Wheeler
Director: Eric Brevig
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Reviews for Journey to the Center of the Earth
That dinosaur looks like it's popping off the screen! Cool!
07/11/08
As a 3-D film, Journey to the Center of the Earth is a feast for the eyes that you won't want to miss, but in 2-D, I can only confidently guess that it is just another run-of-the-mill action adventure tale.
07/11/08
Director Eric Brevig knows he's not really shooting a Jules Verne mind-blower; this is pure blockbuster, and it's a fine specimen.
07/11/08
The stars here are the novelties of 3D, which certainly make it fun %u2013 just a tad repetitive for anyone over 25, I suspect
09/18/08
The comin'-at-ya effects are certainly state of the art ... but any hopes that the film might blaze new trails are squashed the first time someone picks up a paddleball. Kids should lap it up; for anyone else, Dramamine is advised.
07/09/08
Journey to the Center of the Earth is terrific family entertainment, an action comedy on a par with Night at the Museum and National Treasure.
07/10/08
Most of the movie, directed by Eric Brevig, is as daft, outlandish, and speedy as it needs to be, and, for all its newfangled effects, touchingly old-fashioned in its reverence for the Jules Verne novel that inspired it.
07/21/08
Even without 3D at the screening I attended, some scenes in 'Journey to the Center of the Earth' caused audience members to squeal with excitement.
07/12/08
As it chugs along like a novice marathon runner aware of its inability to win the race, Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D does nothing to dissuade us from its earnest need to entertain.
07/11/08
The real star here is the pair of 3-D glasses you're handed when you walk into the theater. With them, Journey is a kick (if not much more).
07/10/08
If it's 3D, it's fun. Without the glasses, it sucks hard.
07/17/08
Obviously aimed at kids, but it's an enjoyable romp.
07/14/08
In your face. In more ways than one. That's the twist -- and the appeal -- of Journey to the Center of the Earth.
07/11/08
The last time I saw a 3-D movie in a movie theater I got the glasses from a cereal box. Suffice it to say, the technology has advanced a bit, and the filmmakers use it to impressive effect.
07/11/08
Simplistic as can be with its cliched squabbling-family dynamics offering little more than a hook for the 3-D technicians to hang their hats on. But for most audiences, this one included, that was plenty.
07/11/08
I was full of constant wonder, as if I was a kid again.
07/11/08
A breathtaking adaptation of Jules Verne's classic sci-fi novel, filled with eye-pleasing gags and sudden shocks of surprise that fall under the spell of strong performances from its terrific three-person cast.
07/05/08
Clean, lightweight escapism with a top-notch gimmick.
07/11/08
...a fun amusement part ride that may actually get some young moviegoers to read the Jules Verne novel that inspired it.
07/11/08
Latest News for Journey to the Center of the Earth
March 13, 2009:
Brevig Plots Another 3-D Journey 
Thanks to a $240 million worldwide gross and some healthy DVD numbers, "Journey to the Center of the Earth" will be getting a sequel, with Eric Brevig back in the director's chair. More...
February 25, 2009:
Eric Brevig Directing Yogi Bear
One 3-D project deserves another, so Eric Brevig will go from directing "Journey to the Center of the Earth" to Warner Bros.' 3-D live-action/CGI "Yogi Bear" feature. More...
January 06, 2009:
Academy Names Shortlist for Visual Effects Oscar
The Academy has narrowed its choices for this year's visual effects Oscar, naming "Australia," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D,"... More...
October 27, 2008:
RT on DVD: Zombie Strippers, Meet Kit Kittredge!
For the week leading up to All Hallow's Eve, there's a surprising dearth of new horror releases hitting DVD. Rest assured, though, titillation and scares can be found in a trio... More...
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