lesley_65

I agree with others here that this is a throwback not only to 90s disaster movies but also to the old TV movie style which always included outrageously contrived sub-plots and cliched characters. I went with the flow on that and really enjoyed the disaster element of this movie, not to mention the magnificent scenery and the spectacle of it all. The volcano and the island are the real attractions of the movie along with the superb CGI that created such an awesome rendition of the disaster. I read that this is quite a plausible real life scenario which for me gave the show even more impact. I didn't think it was too long at all except for the final airport kerfuffle which I agree was ridiculous.

This movie was more interesting than I expected mainly because of its slick production and storytelling. The cinematography was superb, especially the jungle close ups and the beautifully lit interiors of the indigenous homes.

The story of the rescue was interesting in itself but was made more so by the slow revelation of earlier troubles in the family and the inclusion of a subplot about the tensions amongst the rescuers. The latter explored the interesting history of the troubled relationship between the indigenous population and the military. The filmmakers cleverly wove these different elements together in a way that kept me interested throughout.

I particularly liked the sequence towards the end where the eldest child recounts her experience of being lost in the jungle through a voice over and her delightful drawings. I found that quite moving.

Even if the story itself doesn't hold a lot of interest to you, the production and story-telling might. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

If I had been watching this in 1966 I imagine I would have been mainly struck by the journey into the future of science, but watching it in 2024 I was more taken by the journey back to the 1960s with its distinct style, and when film sets were all made by hand. I loved the set colours and the playful interpretations of how the body might appear, and it reminded me of those fabulous sets in the original "Journey to the Centre of the Earth". I also enjoyed the slow pace of the movie showing every step of the miniaturisation process, and every step of the journey. It certainly felt like you were experiencing the voyage in real time. A modern rendition of this film might show the body more realistically and have faster paced thriller elements, but it would be hard pressed to show it more imaginatively, or to better convey the awe that we might feel on such a voyage. In that sense it really is a fantastic voyage.