The Internet Movie Database Movie Reviews
From the novel of the same name by Jules Verne
Well, what do you think? a bunch o’ people travel down to the center of the earth, duh. What else?
This was my favorite book in what was then called Junior High School. I read it over and over and over, and loved it. So when we settled on the theme of Underground for the New Year’s Day Videofest, and Mr. Hair said that this was his favorite movie ever, I said, good, bring it along and we’ll watch it.
He did warn us ahead of time that it had Pat Boone in it…singing…but we were undismayed.
And it was wonderfully silly. I recognized many people/places/events from the book, but it’s been so long since I read it that aside from knowing that the book was in no way as silly as this movie, I couldn’t tell you what was faithful to the story and what wasn’t. I’m pretty sure they didn’t take no GIRLS on a trip like that, though…
But yes, this was good amusing fun, and I’ll probably watch it again sometime. James Mason chews scenery with the best of them, Pat Boone is just LUDICROUS, and the Icelandic giant who is their porter and general factotum is a totally hot babe who takes off more clothes as the movie goes on, very nice. The Birdlady was there and was horrified that the duck was killed, so that’s the big warning for this movie: THE DUCK DIES.
The songs are forgettable, much of the dialogue is idiotic, and the costumes are very very fifties. Perfect for msting if your tastes run that way, which ours did. We had a fine time.
theotterlimits 