Story
Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) is a vulcanologist who has just had his research funding cut and is about to be ejected from his lab. To make matters worse, his 13-year-old nephew Sean (Josh Hutcherson) has just arrived for 10 days of quality time with his uncle. Sean’s father Max (Jean Michael Pare), Trevor’s brother, went missing 10 years earlier while exploring a volcano. Trevor has being working ever since to prove his brother’s theories about the centre of the Earth. While looking at a computer screen displaying seismic activity throughout the world, Trevor realises that the readings are identical to those on the day that his brother went missing. Trevor decides to investigate the situation for himself. He goes to Iceland, taking Sean along as well.
In Iceland, Trevor and Sean team up with Hannah (Anita Briem), a mountain guide who leads them to the top of a volcano to get a reading from one of Max’s seismographic instruments. An electrical storm erupts, with lightning strikes forcing the trio into a cave. When lightning strikes the cave’s entrance, the trio are sealed inside. Their escape attempts lead them to the centre of the earth and many adventures.
Themes
Volcanos; prehistoric plants and animals
Violence
Journey to the Center of the Earth contains scenes depicting intense action adventure and accidental harm and danger. There is, however, no blood and gore or interpersonal violence. Examples include:
Sexual references
The film contains a couple of low-level sexual references. Examples include:
- While climbing the side of a mountain, Sean says to Trevor in relation to Hannah their guide, ‘I’ve got dibs on the mountain guide’. Trevor responds with, ‘Thirteen-year-olds don’t have dibs’. A similar exchange occurs towards the end of the movie.
- When Hannah arrives in a makeshift boat, she states to Trevor, ‘You didn’t think you could escape me? You will have to work harder than that’.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
None of concern
Nudity and sexual activity
There is some mild sensuality and very low-level sexual activity in this movie. Examples include:
- Hannah wears low-cut tops that reveal cleavage, shorts that reveal her thighs, and at one stage a clinging wet top.
- Hannah and Trevor kiss a couple of times on the lips.
Product placement
The following products are displayed or used in this movie: Sony PSP, Google and the TV cartoon series Family Guy.
Coarse language
None of concern
Ideas to discuss with your children
Journey to the Center of the Earth is a 3D science fiction action adventure targeted at a younger adolescent and child audience. It is likely to entertain adults as well. The main messages from this movie are:
- not to lose sight of what is truly important and meaningful in life or you may come to regret it
- that family is more important than work, or making money
- to persevere through adversity, never giving up no matter what the odds are
- that it’s important to stick together.
You might wish to discuss the movie’s portrayal of the only female character. Hannah is presented as more capable in every respect than the film’s male characters, who rely on her for guidance and to bail them out of trouble.