''Journey to the Center of the Earth'' (released in the
UK as ''Journey to Middle Earth'') is a 2008
direct-to-DVD
Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, TV series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strategy was p ...
film created by
The Asylum
The Asylum is an American independent film company and distributor that focuses on producing low-budget, direct-to-video films. It is notorious for producing titles that capitalize on productions by major studios, often using film titles and sc ...
and directed by David Jones and Scott Wheeler.
The film is a loose adaptation of the original 1864 novel ''
Journey to the Center of the Earth
''Journey to the Center of the Earth'' (french: Voyage au centre de la Terre), also translated with the variant titles ''A Journey to the Centre of the Earth'' and ''A Journey into the Interior of the Earth'', is a classic science fiction novel ...
'' by
Jules Verne, but bears a close similarity to ''
At the Earth's Core'', a similar 1914 novel by
Edgar Rice Burroughs. It is also the second film by The Asylum to be based on a Jules Verne novel, the first being ''
30,000 Leagues Under the Sea''. A
mockbuster
A mockbuster (also known as knockbuster or a drafting opportunity) is a film created to exploit the publicity of another major motion picture with a similar title or subject. Mockbusters are often made with a low budget and quick production to max ...
, it was released to capitalize on the higher-budgeted
film of the same title starring
Brendan Fraser
Brendan James Fraser ( ; born December 3, 1968) is an American-Canadian actor known for his leading roles in blockbusters, comedies, and dramatic films. Having graduated from the Cornish College of the Arts in 1990, he made his film debut in '' ...
.
Plot
The film follows two intertwined subplots: a drilling operation that is taking place in
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...
, and a rescue mission to save a research team that has been teleported 600 km beneath the Earth's crust.
The drill, a fully Argentinian project, is powerful enough to send miniature drills through solid rock at a fast pace and is used to try to rescue the team from their fate. The operation begins, but the drills accidentally break through the Earth's crust and into the very mantle of the Earth. This is where the operators encounter hidden dangers awaiting them at the Earth's core. The team has to deal with prehistoric creatures in order to both save the research team and to return safely to the surface of the
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surfa ...
.
Cast
*
Greg Evigan
Gregory Ralph Evigan (born October 14, 1953) is an American film, stage, and television actor. He began his career in theater, appearing in the Broadway production of ''Jesus Christ Superstar'', followed by a stage production of the musical '' Gr ...
as Joseph Harnet
*
Dedee Pfeiffer
Dorothy Diane "Dedee" Pfeiffer (born January 1, 1964) is an American actress, the younger sister of Michelle Pfeiffer. She began her career appearing in films include '' Vamp'' (1986), '' The Allnighter'' (1987) and '' The Horror Show'' (1989). ...
as Emily Radford
*
Vanessa Lee Evigan
Vanessa Lee Evigan (born March 18, 1981) is an American actress. She is the daughter of actor Greg Evigan and model and actress Pamela Serpe. She is also the sister of actress Briana Evigan and singer-songwriter Jason Evigan.
In 2001, Evigan a ...
as Victoria Jansen
* Caroline Attwood as Gretchen Lake
* Amelia Jackson-Gray as Kate Burroughs
*
Sara Tomko as Betsey Case
* Vanessa Mitchell as Eve Abraham
* Michael Tower as Marty
See also
*
Kola Superdeep Borehole
The Kola Superdeep Borehole (russian: Кольская сверхглубокая скважина, translit=Kol'skaya sverkhglubokaya skvazhina) SG-3
is the result of a scientific drilling project of the Soviet Union in the Pechengsky District ...
, The deepest hole ever actually drilled into the Earth's crust
* ''
Viaje al centro de la Tierra
''Viaje al centro de la Tierra'' (English: ''Journey to the Center of the Earth'') is a 1977 Spanish adventure film based on the 1864 novel ''Journey to the Center of the Earth'' by Jules Verne. It has been released under the titles ''Where Time ...
'', Spanish adventure film based on ''
Journey to the Center of the Earth
''Journey to the Center of the Earth'' (french: Voyage au centre de la Terre), also translated with the variant titles ''A Journey to the Centre of the Earth'' and ''A Journey into the Interior of the Earth'', is a classic science fiction novel ...
'' by
Jules Verne.
References
External links
''Journey to the Center of the Earth'' at The Asylum*
''Journey to the Center of the Earth'' official trailer on YouTube
{{Journey to the Center of the Earth
2008 films
2008 direct-to-video films
2008 directorial debut films
2008 independent films
2000s fantasy adventure films
2000s science fiction adventure films
American fantasy adventure films
American independent films
American science fiction adventure films
The Asylum films
Direct-to-video adventure films
Direct-to-video fantasy films
Direct-to-video science fiction films
Films about dinosaurs
Films based on Journey to the Center of the Earth
Films directed by David Jones (Asylum)
Films directed by Scott Wheeler
Mockbuster films
2000s English-language films
2000s American films