If you are going to see Journey to the Center of the Earth, see it while it's still showing (dur, Barry) and see it in 3-D.

This is great fun for kids, and amusing for anyone prepared to switch their brains off re the science. (The idea of eco-systems living in eco-systems, encaspulated in air bubbles, is beautifully twee, while the premise that dinosaurs are still around, drooling as they roam the earth's core, doesn't really play that well to anyone.)

Sad scientist Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) lost his bro, also, coincidentally, an adventurous scientist, some years back in mysterious circumstances (his disappearance is 'central' to the plot...sorry). Trev takes his bro's kid, Sean (Josh Hutcherson) and jumps on a plane to Iceland, the last known whereabouts of said rellie. They hook up with beautiful mountain guide Hannah (Anita Briem) to check out some seismic shift monitors and, bing bang bong, before you know it they are rock and rolling into another world.

This movie, as with earlier and more melodramatic efforts, is based on the book written by Jules Verne back in 1864. In a very cute shuffling of plot cards, it turns out the missing bro is a 'Vernian' - someone who believes Jules Verne's writings are factual (or 'science faction'). They use the missing bro's copy of the novel as a guide throughout their adventures. Just don't get stressed as to how the novel and made its way back 'topside' but the bro didn't.

Highlights to watch out for are the 'falling' scene and it's bookend piece, where Our Heroes rise back to the surface world. While battles with carnivorous plants are merely ho hum, the T Rex chase and an aquatic fight with freaky fish and sea monsters are equally riveting.

The mention of the sea scenes raise the question of the 'fun factor' of 3D: it may cost a tad more to see it in this format, but if you are due an outing then why wouldn't you spend a few extra shekels, knowing a lot of the stunts and choreography was consciously and effectively designed to utilise the 3D magic? Kids rightly love that stuff. That said, the movie overall still works in '2D': director Eric Brevig excels at set action pieces (he's the bloke who devised the action sequences in movies such as Men in Black and The Day After Tomorrow).

There is no huge moral to the story, which plays lip service to themes of abandonment and loss, hope and the need to cling to your dreams.

Rated PG for action adventure and some scary scenes, this film offers bloodless violence (not counting plant goo) and batting practice - you are unlikely to be genuinely scared or shocked, but you may end up with sore ears from Brendan Fraser's yelping.

Journey to the Center of the Earth has already made more than 100 million US. It's more than 90 minutes of childlike, occasionally childish, fantasy. 

Barry Gittins