"Earth has a deadline"

The Core (2003): 7/10

After being pushed back several times, The Core is finally in theaters. If anyone tells you that it is bad, see for yourself. It may not have great development in characters and plot, and it may not be the easiest to understand, but if fun is what you look for in movies, fun is what you’ll get from this movie.

Aaron Eckhart is Josh Keyes, a science teacher who is teaching his college students some of the same stuff we’re talking about in eighth grade earth science. He gets called in to investigate odd deaths that occurred. Meanwhile, Rebecca “Beck” Childs (Hilary Swank) safely lands the space shuttle Endeavor after going more than 150 miles off target. They are both to help restart the earth’s core spinning, since that is what caused the deaths and the shuttle to go off target, since it’s destroying technology.

Along with Josh and Beck, Dr. Brazleton (Delroy Lindo), who created the device that they are going into the earth with, and Dr. Conrad Zimsky (Stanley Tucci), a famous scientist, are going into the earth to trigger a nuclear device that will get the core to spin. Believe me, if you think this immediate plot is inconceivable, than you’re in for two hours plus of things that don’t make sense.

To make a successful movie, you need many elements, but the major one is to keep the audience enthralled with whatever is on screen, whether it be a comedy, drama, horror, or an action movie. I was enjoying myself during the overlong runtime of The Core. I was entertained, which I feel is more important than convincing acting, a great script or plot, or perfect music cues. Of course, all of those are important, but without wanting to enjoy yourself, you can’t see a successful movie.

The special effects were numerous and amazing, although they don’t really look like they’d be in the center of the earth. I mean, come on! Crystals? I couldn’t help not believing what I was supposed to be seeing. And, during while the crew was in the crust, you could see the studio where it was being shot out of the window, not to mention other continuity errors, like the spelling of the secret project. As I’ve said before, there’s not really and plot or character development, but when a movie’s as entertaining as this, you won’t mind.

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi life/death situations and brief strong language.

Review Date: March 30, 2003