Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3D

Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D is 3D porn. I haven't seen the 2D version, but I can't imagine it's worth much; scenes with yo-yo tricks breaking the second dimension and a money shot of a dinosaur coughing flem on someone's head would seem awkward if seen in normal projection. Having every possible thing that can poke you in the eye do so is a lowbrow use of 3D---but the effects are impressive, and the movie has no shame in the fact that it only wants to be fun. It's this summer's one large-scale movie that doesn't try to deny that it's made for kids. Scientist Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) is joined in his quest to figure out the truth about the disappearance of his brother by his angst-ridden teenaged nephew, Sean (Josh Hutcherson). Along with self-sufficient Icelandic travel guide Hannah (Anita Briem), the pair get stuck in a cave, then go on a very long fall. The Earth's core, it's discovered, contains enough beautiful oceans and glowing birds to make it almost worth putting up with all the other things inside the earth wanting to kill the travellers.Purists of Jules Verne's novel might take exception to the way scientific contemplation gets slighted for breathless action. But the film that results is actually faithful in intent. In its own lowbrow, eager-to-please way, the movie-version of Journey to the Center of the Earth provides an adventure into the unknown. All this seems to contradict the fact that the film's big action scenes feel like Spielberg set pieces (the Indiana Jones mine-car escape; the T-Rex chase in Jurassic Park) fused with Disneyland rides. But the movie's goofy belief in its childhood passions makes the scenes an exciting trip. This applies only to the 3D version---where the format edges out the commendably funny Fraser as the real star.