Sunday, January 22, 2012

MOVIE REVIEW ... JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND

 
journey-2-the-mysterious-island-movie-poster-2012-1020743629This sequel to 2008’s ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’ continues its borrowing from various literary classics.  Jules Verne’s works are a big influence which ‘Journey 2’s’ story freely admits.  Sadly it only has a modicum of Verne’s style as it dazzles audiences with vast amounts of CGI.  Some may find this display appealing even if it is less engaging than the beasties its characters encounter.
 
No stranger to having adventures in unusual climes, Sean (Josh Hutcherson) embarks on another when his grand-father Alexander (Michael Caine) goes missing.  Accompanied by his step-father Hank (Dwayne Johnson) and guide Kailani (Vanessa Hudgens), Sean travels to the island from which Alexander vanished.  Discovering a world of colourful and dangerous creatures the group attempt to save their lives while on the run from its mysterious inhabitants.
 
At best a pedestrian plod through action clichés, ‘Journey 2’ is a feeble mess.  Existing so it can spend its mega-budget on a cavalcade of CGI proves no amount of dodgy special effects can cover a terrible script.  It’s just about as bad as it gets with this low-grade yarn petering out long before the final reel.  The blending of humour and action fails to enliven the spectacle as there is never any doubt our heroes will find a way out of the calamities they face.
 
For any type of movie you have to be able to invest in what’s happening.  This fails to materialise due to ordinary direction and half-hearted acting which makes one sit back and watch the increasingly silly carry-on.   Although they attempt to inject some characterisation into their roles, the actors don’t make much of an effort with their minds seemingly on their pay-cheque.
 
A poor successor to a movie that wasn’t much chop in the first place, ‘Journey 2’ is a time-waster of the highest order.  A ‘file it and forget it’ film it can only be hoped another journey isn’t forthcoming as the trek endured here is long and arduous.
 
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Movie Review Rating  1 / 10
Movie Review by Patrick Moore
If you have any comments to make about this Movie Review, then please use the comment box, titling your comments with Movie Review Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at current movie releases in Australia. 
 
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