Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)
vs.
Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)
Shared Plot: A small band of explorers follow the clues left by a missing geologist and find themselves spelunking into a mysterious new world below the earth's crust.
THE GOOD
The scientists have some neat inventions that actually came into being, like wind-up lights. And there's a cute duck.
THE BAD
Twenty actionless minutes go by before the heroes undertake any sort of journey, and we're nearly 50 in before they start heading down toward the center of the earth. And the cute duck gets killed!
THE UGLY
The one woman on the team hears a lot about the things she can't and shouldn't do because of her gender.
WHAT THEY CHANGED
The scientist brings along his teenage nephew rather than a mostly shirtless twentysomething hunk. The female guide is the toughest, strongest member of the crew. And with the exception of one sad moment (in which we learn of the death of an offscreen character we never actually see), the movie is pretty much nonstop action from the 20-minute mark on.
AND THE WINNER IS...
For today's kids, the remake is easily the more entertaining choice.
