JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH is a loose adaptation of the famous Jules Verne novel about explorers heading into the bowels of the Earth and discovering a secret world beneath our feet. It was made by Hallmark, who did a number of classically-based TV miniseries around the turn of the century, and is cheap and cheesy enough to feel more like an Edgar Rice Burroughs adaptation rather than something more serious.
The main problem with this miniseries is that there just isn't enough incident to extend to a three-hour running time, thus half of it is padding with endless romantic sub-plots and the like. The cheap CGI effects used to animate the dinosaurs are really appalling, and the wooden acting isn't much better. Treat Williams looks mildly embarrassed to be here, while Jeremy London's acting pales in comparison to that of his twin brother Jason. Hugh Keay-Byrne is a larger than life Scotsman and best known for his villainous turns in MAD MAX numbers one and four, while Bryan Brown gives the most entertaining and over-the-top turn. This Aussie production was directed by one George Miller, but it's not the MAD MAX fellow, sadly.
The main problem with this miniseries is that there just isn't enough incident to extend to a three-hour running time, thus half of it is padding with endless romantic sub-plots and the like. The cheap CGI effects used to animate the dinosaurs are really appalling, and the wooden acting isn't much better. Treat Williams looks mildly embarrassed to be here, while Jeremy London's acting pales in comparison to that of his twin brother Jason. Hugh Keay-Byrne is a larger than life Scotsman and best known for his villainous turns in MAD MAX numbers one and four, while Bryan Brown gives the most entertaining and over-the-top turn. This Aussie production was directed by one George Miller, but it's not the MAD MAX fellow, sadly.