The Core

release year: 2003
genre: adventure
viewing setting: home DVD, 8/6/09 and 10/2/06 and theater, 4/10/03

synopsis: The Earth's core has stopped rotating, thus guaranteeing the end of the world...unless a special vessel can tunnel down there and set things right.

impressions: The science is iffy, but the fiction is entertaining. Think Armageddon but going in, not up. The increasingly-bad signs of impending doom are suitably convincing, the tunneling scenes are suitably suspenseful, the human tensions are suitably stressful. I had my questions about the construction, shape, etc of the ship, but that's the way my mind works.

things to watch for: I'd say the initial launch sequence - quite gripping.

acting: Hilary Swank and the main scientist guy did good jobs. Delroy Lindo is unrecognizable under a thick beard, but he does a good job as the guy who built the ship. The guy who played the "slightly more evil" scientist Zimsky also did a good job. The main pilot and the French scientist did okay, but barely seemed to be there. The main general topside was a real jerk.

final word: Entertaining.

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