Journey 2: The Mysterious Island [DVD] [2012] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

I must say, I was in two minds wether to give this film a chance as it did seem to me like a second rate money spinning sequal on paper. The only returning actor from the first film is Josh Hutcherson and this again made me think it wasn't going to be great.I did eventually give in to my son who kept nagging me to take him to see it, we saw it in 3D.I really couldn't have been more wrong, the film was absolutely fantastic, I didn't miss Brendan Fraser at all and Dwayne 'The rock' Johnson who I don't normally like was great as Sean's(Josh Hutcherson) stepdad and Michael Caine as his grandad brought plenty of humour to the mix.The story was an exciting adventure based on the Jules Verne novel of the same name,Sean and his stepdad, along with a tour guide and his daughter travel to a pacific island in search of his grandfather who hasn't been heard from in a while. Along the way they come across a hurricane, tiny elephants,a giant lizard and a gold erupting volcano among other things. once they find him, they have to get off the island before time runs out and the island sinks into the sea.The cinematography and effects are breathtaking, it is the best film I have seen in 3D and I can't wait to watch it again. I have ordered the Blu-ray as I think it's worth paying for the better picture quality with a film like this, I just hope they make a third !

Briefly - Excellent picture, sound and subtitles. A really good fun film for all the family. Humour, excirement, tension and terrific CGI. It's daft of course, but great fun like it's predessessor (sic?). Recomended.

I don’t care if it makes me a saddo, I love this film. True, it’s not as good as Journey to the Centre of the Earth and, yes, I would have loved Brendan Fraser and Anita Bream to return, but they didn’t and at least we got a follow-up of sorts.It’s been a few years since Sean Anderson had his adventure at the center of the Earth. He’s living with his mother and stepfather, Hank, who is struggling to connect with him and live up to the memory of his dad and uncle, when he receives a mysterious coded message aimed solely at Vernians. This sends Sean off on an adventure to Verne’s Mysterious Island and a reunion with his long-lost grandfather.I can’t really say too many negative things because a film that has a submarine being jump-started by a giant electric eel should really not be taken seriously. It has its tongue firmly in its cheek. The cast look like they’re having a laugh and Michael Caine and Dwayne Johnson make a surprisingly funny double-act. I could cringe at the sight of Johnson singing along to a ukulele, but he’s actually pretty good at it. Or I could moan about the objectification of Vanessa Hudgens, except that her character, Kailani, is not just there for eye-candy. She has a pivotal part in getting Nemo’s journal, she looks out for her dad and she firmly puts the panting Sean back in his place. Michael Caine looks like he’s having a ball as the eccentric adventurer Alexander Anderson, trading barbs with Hank. And, yes, maybe Luiz Guzman as Gabado has been saddled with the silly comic relief role, but there’s a reason for that - he happens to be just as good at comedy as he is at drama. Ultimately the film has a nice message about parents and kids - Gabado and Kailani, Sean and Hank - sticking together and looking out for each other.Effects-wise, there are some nice set-pieces, the standouts being the lost city, Nemo’s cave and the Nautilus. The film looks hyper-colourful and gorgeous, especially in blu-ray. Mostly, I like this film because (along with Journey 1) it’s one of the few films that I can enjoy with my 6-year-old nephew without having to worry about it having anything inappropriate in it. Nephew loved Journey 1 and has started his own rock collection (Which makes things easy for me: ‘What do you want for your birthday/Christmas?’ ‘Nice rocks please.’). He was thrilled when I told him there was another Journey film even if he did moan that there was no Uncle Trevor or Hanna and the mum was different. But he got over it. And, unlike me, he found the pec-popping hilarious.It would have been nice to have a Journey 3 and I would have liked to have seen what they did with a moon visit, but as Josh Hutcherson is now in his twenties, I can’t see that that’s going to happen. But at least we got this one. It may be silly but its heart is in the right place and it’s just plain fun.Special features on the blu-ray includes a lot of short featurettes on the making of various scenes in the film. You have to play a sort of interactive map to get to them which I found really long-winded but my nephew enjoyed it. There’s also a funny gag reel and some deleted scenes which hint that they were weren't too sure how to write out Brendan Fraser. Downside there isn’t a (old-school) 3D version of the movie with the cardboard glasses like Journey 1 which is a shame.

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Good family film lots of action and very entertaining

Enjoyed it as a family, like most of Dwayne Johnson’s films it’s good clean fun.

This is a marvellous movie with plenty of amusement with action for all to see, Adventure and comedy thrown in as well what would you expect from a terrific actor with a great cast to back him up. Throughly enjoyed by all who watch it. Set in the jungle and those nasty, pesty and rotten little insects play the part too, I wont mention the others critters that are a lot bigger but a fantastic movie wonderful ideas and all put together for us all. Remarkable picture and why say too much as to spoil it that would be a shame. Sit down, relax break out the goodies and enjoy. I rated this an A plus, worth taking a peek.

Such a good film love it