Journey to the Centre of the Earth 3D

 

• Released Internationally on 10/07/08
• Released in Malta by KRS on 20/08/08

 

Showing in 3D at Empire Cinemas in Buġibba, and in 2D elsewhere

In a nutshell

The classic Jules Verne tale is retold in a 21^st century setting, and serves both as a quality film in its own right, as well as a showcase for some seriously stunning three-dimensional effects.

Who’s in it?

Brendan Fraser stars as a volcano scientist who sets out to try and discover what happened to his missing brother, a fellow crater explorer. He drags his nephew (Josh Hutcherson) along, and aided by a local mountain guide (Anita Briem) they set off across the Icelandic mountain wilderness, but end up getting much, much more than they bargained for.

3D?

As mentioned in the Hannah Montana review earlier this month, this is the first ever live action full-length feature made with the new Real-D technology, which promises to have a big impact on the world of cinema in the coming years. Whilst the concert video was a good introduction to the quality of the 3D image, this film lets us see just how films can take advantage of the 3D effects to enhance the visual experience and immerse you in their world. And that is just what is needed here, because after the brief introduction we’re soon dropped down into a visually stunning world of rock formations, crystals, lava and underground eco-systems.

Besides the 3D?

The story is a memorable one, and it’s told briskly and charmingly with good performances by the three main actors. The computer-generated imagery isn’t exactly groundbreakingly realistic, but when it’s hurtling out of the screen at you, it doesn’t matter. I suspect I still would have enjoyed the film had it been two-dimensional, but it would be a bit of a waste considering how great the 3D looks, and numerous scenes would lose most or all of their visual impact.

 

(Overall mark for the 3D experience)

Trailer:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/newline/journeytothecenteroftheearth/ (High-res QuickTime)