Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)

July 11, 2008

July 11, 2008

Journey to the Center of the Earth (also promoted as Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D or Journey 3D) is a 2008 American 3D science fantasy action-adventure film directed by Eric Brevig and starring Brendan Fraser in the main role, Josh Hutcherson, and Anita Briem. Produced by Walden Media, it is an adaptation of Jules Verne's 1864 novel (which had previously been adapted multiple times, most notably in the 1959 film of the same name) and was released in 3D theaters by Warner Bros. Pictures through their New Line Cinema division on July 11, 2008. It tells the story of a volcanologist and his nephew who embark on a mission to go look for his missing brother with help from an Icelandic guide as they come across the center of the Earth.

The film also introduced the 4DX movie format, featuring "4D" motion effects in a specially designed cinema in Seoul, South Korea, using tilting seats and other effects to convey motion, wind, sprays of water and sharp air, probe lights to mimic lightning, fog, scents, and other theatrical special effects.

The film received generally positive reviews from critics and earned $244.2 million against a $60 million budget. A sequel, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, was released on February 10, 2012 with only Hutcherson returning of the main cast.

Storyline

In 2007, Trevor Anderson is a Bostonian volcanologist whose 13-year-old nephew Sean is supposed to spend ten days with him. Trevor learns at work that his brother's lab is being shut down because of a lack of funding. He had forgotten that Sean is coming until he receives several messages from Sean's mother Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth drops him off, she leaves Trevor with a box of items that belonged to Max, Trevor's brother and Sean's father, who disappeared 10 years ago. Sean suddenly takes interest in what Trevor has to say after he tells him about his father Max, whom he never really had a chance to know.

In the box, Trevor discovers the novel Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne. Inside the book Trevor finds notes written by Max, then goes to his laboratory to find out more about the notes. There, he decides to go to Iceland to investigate for himself.

Trevor intends to send Sean back to his mother, but relents at Sean's protest, so brings Sean to Iceland with him. They start by looking for another volcanologist. When they get to that scientist's institution, they meet his daughter Hannah, who informs them he passed away. She also tells them that both her father and Max believed that Jules Verne's books were factual accounts.

Hannah offers to help them climb up to the instrument that has suddenly started sending data again. While hiking the mountain, a lightning storm forces the three into a cave. The cave entrance collapses, trapping them, so they have no alternative but to go deeper into the cave, which turns out to be an abandoned mine.

Trevor, Sean, and Hannah investigate further into the mine and find a volcanic tube with walls containing various gems, including diamonds, which Sean takes. However, the ground under them breaks and they fall into a deep hole, taking them to the "Center of the Earth". They continue and discover Max's cave dwelling and his old journal.

Then Hannah and Trevor discover Max's dead body and bury him. Trevor reads a message from Max's journal that was written on Sean's 3rd birthday (8.14.97). He continues to read from Max's journal until he realizes from his notes that they must quickly leave, as the temperature is steadily rising.

Trevor figures out they must find a geyser that can send them to the surface. They must do this within 48 hours or all of the water to create the geyser will be gone. They also realise they must get out before the temperature rises above 135 degrees. They build a raft to cross the underground ocean.

However, during a storm, the adults become separated from Sean. Sean's guide is now a little glowing bird who has been present since the trio entered the Earth's center, and it leads him towards the river. However, he encounters an albino Giganotosaurus, and Trevor – who has been desperately searching for him – saves him. When they arrive at the geyser it is all dried up. All the water is on the other side of the walls.

Trevor uses a flare to ignite the magnesium in the wall to causes a geyser to shoot them through Mount Vesuvius in Italy. When they damage the vineyard of an Italian man, Sean gives him a diamond that he had found earlier. Trevor sees that he has many more in his backpack and he uses them to fund his brother's laboratory. Throughout the adventure, Hannah and Trevor gradually become so attached to each other that they share a kiss.

On the final day of Sean's visit with Trevor (and now Hannah), as he is leaving their new home, (which was purchased with some of the diamonds Sean took from the tube), Trevor hands Sean a book titled "Atlantis". This suggesting they could maybe hang out at Sean's during Christmas break. The glowing bird, also smuggled out by Sean in attempt to keep it as a pet, flies off.

Also See

Movie Trailer

  • Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) (Trailers)

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