Journey to the Center of the Earth
 | Average Customer Rating: Recommend The accent is on fun and fantasy in this film version of Jules Verne's classic thriller that stars James Mason, Pat Boone, and Arlene Dahl. With spectacular visuals as a backdrop, the story centers on an expedition led by Professor Lindenbrook (Mason) down into the earth's dark, threat-laden core. Members of the group include the professor's star student, Alec (Boone), and the widow (Dahl) of a colleague. Along the way lurk dangers… Product details and pricing info |
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161 Customer Reviews Posted
- Classic video
- I saw this movie on TV and wanted a good old fashioned adventure movie that the whole family could enjoy and the interest level is high for kids of all ages.
- 2008-08-27, 0 of 0 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Jules Verne movie
- Hard to find classic. Video most enjoyable, brings back childhood memories . Family enjoyed seeing the difference between sci-fi of today and of yesteryear !
- 2008-08-17, 0 of 0 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Journey To The Center Of The Earth DVD
- Still a great family classic. DVD format makes it all the better.
Fast delivery. - 2008-08-12, 0 of 0 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- GREAT MOVIE
- Journey to the Center of the Earth
All time favorite movie !! So glad to find it on DVD !!
Great memories !! - 2008-08-11, 0 of 0 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- A terrific flic
- I first saw Journey to the Center of the Earth on a Saturday afternoon at the Roxy Theatre in Pacific Beach, California. The movie was a profound visual experience to me and at the age of eleven made a lasting impression.
Based on a Jules Verne story of the same name, the movie is a fairly fast paced adventure. Though it moves a little slowly in the beginning, preliminary scenes build in drama and promise that much adventure is to be forthcoming.
It all starts with a lump of suspiciously heavy lava that is given to Professor Lindenbrook (James Mason) by Alec McKuen (Pat Boone) a student in one of his geology classes. The gift is from the class in recognition of Lindenbrook's recent knighting. Puzzled that the lava is heavier than it should be, Lindenbrook chips a small portion of the lava away only to find an object at the center of the sample. Eventually a plumb-bob is discovered with a message inside and that cryptic message ultimately sends Lindenbrook and young McKuen to Iceland for the journey of a life time. Of course, there is treachery along the way and other sinister forces at work. In the end the group who make the trip to the center of the earth grows to five; Lindenbrook, McKuen, and Carl Goteborg (Arlene Dahl) along with a large Icelander Hans Belker (Peter Ronson) and his pet duck, Gertrude (Gertrude). Though rather simplistic in what is conceived to be at the center of the earth, the movie is charming and certainly worth the cost of taking it home.
Some reviewers have been quick to point out the simplistic special effects. Given the fact that the movie was released in 1959 I think the criticism is uncalled for. For its time, Journey to the Center of the Earth has held up quite well and will entertain children and adults even today. There is very little blood, and no language that would make a parent blush, nor is there any overt sexual content.
Part of what makes this movie such a wonderful experience is the terrific soundtrack. Hermann Bernard captures the essence of what a trip to the center of the earth would be like by the use of moody and atmospheric music. The music is such a part of the experience that when I saw the movie Vertigo as an adult I immediately recognized a similarity between that soundtrack and that of Journey to the Center of the Earth. Well, why not? Both movies were scored by Bernard.
Obviously, Journey to the Center of the Earth is a product of a Hollywood of a different era; a different generation of filmmakers. Journey stands as a testament to better days as do hundreds of other films.
I highly recommend.
Peace - 2008-08-07, 0 of 0 people found this review helpful, Rated:
