Hey guys, people know me as TheCinemaChick and I see more movies than I should. I know, I haven’t been as busy as I normally am, but you know, real life kicks in every so often. My current phone has been having some issues, so I’ve decided to replace it. There went my money.
Also, I’m not feeling so hot today, so my apologies if this review isn’t as spirited as my others. The constantly fluctuating weather is hell on my joints and since it was twenty degrees warmer yesterday, my knees and back are screaming in discomfort. However, I feel obligated to write this, so I will. I mean, I’m sure there’s someone out there who really wants to read this.
A girl can dream.
So yes, I had the chance to watch Journey 2: The Mysterious Island last night with Butterfly and Just Joe. Well, I didn’t know Just Joe would be joining us, but then again, I never know when he’s showing up. I do like it when the three of us get together because it’s always a little more fun that just two. Plus, we sort of schemed together and walked out with a movie poster. And no, I don’t think I was bad to take it. The posters were just laying around in various locations.
For those of you who don’t know, Journey 2 is actually a sequel to Journey to the Center of the Earth. Some of you are probably thinking that this is common knowledge and everyone should know this. Well, I didn’t. I know these films are based off Jules Verne’s novels, but I haven’t read any of his work. That’s not to say its bad, but I just never got around to it. I also haven’t seen the remake of Journey to the Center of the Earth, the one starring Brendan Fraser. I’ve seen the original, which I really enjoyed, so I do have some knowledge of the series.
Here’s a bit of interesting trivia. The novel “Journey to the Center of the Earth” does not actually have a sequel. However “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” did have one and it was “The Mysterious Island”.
The movie itself was pretty good. We saw it in 3D only because it was the only time we could all manage. As most people know, I normally can’t stand 3D movies, but this one was decent. We start of with Sean (played by Josh Hutcherson, who will be playing Peeta in the upcoming Hunger Games) getting caught by the police for breaking into a radio tower. Sean claims he got a transmission from his grandfather who disappeared years earlier. His stepfather Hank (Dwayne Johnson) then agrees to go on a journey to find the island.
Another interesting fact. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson replaced Brendan Fraser, which is ironic because the same thing happened in another series. Fraser was the male lead in “The Mummy” films, until Johnson took over in the subsequent sequels and spinoffs. Methinks there might be a rivalry brewing between the two.
The movie also has Vanessa Hudgens and Luis Guzman. I’ll admit, I’m less than impressed with Hudgens. She hasn’t done anything that I liked and while she is likable in this film, I was a little put off by how revealing her clothes were. For the most part, she wears very short shorts and a shirt that’s pulled up from her hips. There’s even a shot of her butt, which I found almost obscene. Other than that, she’s good in this movie, though it reminds me a lot of her role in “Beastly” and even “High School Musical”. She’s the super smart girl who dreams of going to college. Been there, done that, let’s move on.
Guzman doesn’t quite cut it as a paternal figure, but he makes up for that by being a great comedic source. He is hilarious and gives one of the best performances in the whole movie. Sure, Hutcherson is good and Johnson is mediocre but Guzman is the only one who manages to show emotions. Everyone else looks like they’re taking everything so seriously but he decided to have fun with it.
Now, about the 3D aspect. Like I said, normally, I just see no use for it or there is very little need for it in the overall film. This is only partially true in this case. For about thirty minutes, I saw no need for the 3D. However, there are several times where I was glad to have it. Some of the graphics are amazing and I’m glad I paid a little extra for it. If you’re bent on seeing this, I’d swing a matinee showing.
I really liked the movie. There’s nothing objectionable about it, other than Hudgen’s often revealing clothing. I was surprised to see that there was no foul language, no violence, just nothing. There are a few scary parts in it with monsters, so that might scare little kids. I wouldn’t take children under the age of ten because the monsters might be too scary for younger ones.
As usual, this movie isn’t perfect. The comedy gets a little too juvenile at times, the plot seems thin and it’s more about the visuals than the acting. Since I haven’t read any Jules Verne, I can’t compare the film to the books. I really liked the movie though. For once, the 3D really added to the overall feel. Like, there’s a scene where they ride giant bees and it’s incredible to watch. Or when flakes of gold come down from the volcano, it’s like you could actually touch them.
I do recommend seeing it in 3D, which is something I never do. The last movie I saw in 3D that I absolutely loved was Legend of Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole. Now, Journey 2 does set itself up for a possible sequel, which I’m not sure will happen. Apparently the next book in the series is “From the Earth to the Moon”. It could be interesting to see in an adaptation, but honestly, I think Hutcherson won’t be able to revive his role. “The Hunger Games” is already in line to dethrone “Breaking Dawn” and is selling out nationwide for midnight showings alone. People are prediction that it’ll make about seventy five million in it first weekend alone.
Ok, enough about “The Hunger Games”. Time for some exciting news! I, TheCinemaChick, will be doing my first ever vlog at a midnight showing! However, because I am highly sensitive to certain things, I do plan on altering my appearance. I will be layering on the make up, adding some spray in hair color and who knows, I might even fake an accent. Despite my desire to remain anonymous and be a girl in the shadows, I know vlogs are now more popular than blogs.
There you have it, dear reader! Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
Next up will be my 80s fantasy film fest. I watched both “Labyrinth” and “The Dark Crystal” recently, so I’d like to share my thoughts on those.
I’m TheCinemaChick and if you ever make a movie, I’ll be first in line to buy a ticket.
On a personal note, a friend of mine is going through a very difficult time. He recently had a death in his family and my heart goes out to him. Jaysen, I know the possibility of you ever reading this is slim and we never talk, but I wish I could give you a hug. So Jaysen…from “Izbian” (he’ll know what that means), my condolences.
No comments:
Post a Comment