It’s a shame that the vivid imagination of Jules Verne has been diluted into this lackluster, made-for-TV production.
I was more than willing to cut the film some slack knowing that this is a low-budget affair. However, "Journey" lacks any semblance of style or excitement. The movie was directed by T.J. Scott, a veteran of multiple television series and he helms the picture in an incredibly pedestrian way. All the actors seem to be simply sleepwalking through their roles. Nobody, not even the usually dependable Peter Fonda, brings any energy to their part. Tepid performances only emphasize the plodding nature of the script. There´s no flow to the story. Something happens and then something else happens. A few subplots such as a budding romance between Martha and Jonathan and Edward´s checkered past are briefly toyed with, but never followed through. Finally, this is supposed to be an adventure film and I kept waiting for the adventure to begin. There´s a lot of walking going on. Seriously, a big chunk of the first half of the movie is just the characters walking. At least with a runtime of under 90 minutes, "Journey" doesn´t overstay its welcome.
VIDEO:
The video is presented in anamorphic widescreen with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The film was shot in high definition so the transfer is very clean. Colors don´t exactly pop off the screen though.
AUDIO:
The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1. The sound is crisp and clear, but nothing exceptional.
EXTRAS:
The Journey of a Lifetime: A Sit-Down Interview with Peter Fonda (7:49) is exactly that a sit-down interview with the legendary Peter Fonda. He talks about his own career, his fondness for Jules Verne, and why he signed on for this project.
Behind-the-Scenes with Ricky Schroder and Victoria Pratt (13:49) is more of the same this time with the film´s other leads. They discuss working on the film as well as their fellow cast mates.
FILM VALUE:
Those of you looking for a raucous adventure in "Journey to the Center of the Earth" will have to keep looking. This version of Verne´s famous novel is about as fun as watching paint dry. It´s bland, boring, and not worth your time.
VIDEO:
The video is presented in anamorphic widescreen with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The film was shot in high definition so the transfer is very clean. Colors don´t exactly pop off the screen though.
AUDIO:
The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1. The sound is crisp and clear, but nothing exceptional.
EXTRAS:
The Journey of a Lifetime: A Sit-Down Interview with Peter Fonda (7:49) is exactly that a sit-down interview with the legendary Peter Fonda. He talks about his own career, his fondness for Jules Verne, and why he signed on for this project.
Behind-the-Scenes with Ricky Schroder and Victoria Pratt (13:49) is more of the same this time with the film´s other leads. They discuss working on the film as well as their fellow cast mates.
FILM VALUE:
Those of you looking for a raucous adventure in "Journey to the Center of the Earth" will have to keep looking. This version of Verne´s famous novel is about as fun as watching paint dry. It´s bland, boring, and not worth your time.
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[release]24029[/release]