So while I haven't read Journey to the Center of the Earth in years, after watching the new trailer for the 3-D kid's flick, I doubt it would matter even if I did remember the source material. Cineplex is now hosting the first trailer for the digital kiddie flick based on Jules Verne's classic novel. The film was directed by Eric Brevig (who has the dubious credit of Captain EO on his IMDB resume) and stars Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, and Anita Briem.

Besides being the first wide-release film to be released exclusively in the Real D Cinema format, Journey is an update on Verne's original story about three adventurers in, well, a journey to the center of the earth. Michael Weiss' script does away with a lot of the original plot; Fraser now stars as Trevor, a scientist who is the laughing stock of the academic community and who likes to teach his son (Hutcherson) about Jules Verne's book. It turns into the field trip of a lifetime when Trevor proves to the kid that these stories are very real.

Erik had brought us the poster for the film back in January, and there have been a few photos, but this is the first trailer to hit the net. After watching the trailer once or twice, I'm afraid to tell you that there isn't all that much to recommend (I guess you really do need the 3-D). Luckily, I don't have any little ones that I have to take to the movies, so I think I will be skipping this one. Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D opens July 11th, 2008.

[via Empire]

So in spite of everything, I have always enjoyed watching Brendan Fraser on screen. There have been highs, and God knows there have been plenty of lows, but I have stuck with the fellow Canuck through thick and thin -- up until now anyway. CinemaBlend is hosting a gallery of images from the update of Jules Verne's sci-fi classic, Journey to the Center of the Earth. The story has been updated ever so slightly and now centers on Fraser "as a science professor whose untraditional hypotheses have made him the laughing stock of the academic community. But on an expedition in Iceland, he and his nephew stumble upon a major discovery that launches them on a thrilling journey deep beneath the Earth's surface, where they travel through never-before-seen worlds and encounter a variety of unusual creatures". Joining Fraser are Josh Hutcherson as his nephew and Anita Briem as a fairly glamorous-looking mountain guide helping Fraser find his lost brother.

Rumor has it that originally the indie director Paul Chart had been slated to direct, but once the 3D technology was part of the production, Chart bowed out. His loss was visual effects artist Eric Brevig's gain, and Journey is Brevig's first foray into directing a feature film. Erik brought us the exclusive first look at the poster for the film a few days ago, and it's kind of funny that a film that is going to rely on the visuals has released not one but two sets of relatively blah images -- I guess you really need the glasses to make it pop. Well, at least the film still has the distinction of being the first wide-release to be released exclusively in the emerging technology of Real D Cinema. Journey is set to arrive on over 1500 screens on July 11th, 2008.

New Line was cool enough to send Cinematical this exclusive first look at the new poster for Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D (click on the image above for a larger version), starring Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson and Anita Briem. Based on the classic Jules Verne story, Journey follows a scientist on a quest to find his missing brother. Joined by his nephew and a mountain guide, the three soon discover a fantastic and dangerous world at the center of the earth. The film was directed by visual effects wiz Eric Brevig, and was shot using 3-D technology. The first trailer for Journey apparently screened before IMAX prints of Beowulf recently, and fan reaction was pretty positive. If there ever was a story that could use a good re-tooling for a new 3-D generation, this is definitely it. Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D is set to arrive in theaters on July 11.

For a while, "Freak Show" meant a gathering that showcased anyone who was a bit different. Perhaps they had much excess hair, or were particularly tiny or tall. Maybe they were twins who were bonded by more than sibling love, or dudes missing appendages. But times have changed, and that's not really acceptable anymore. So, if you want to delight in all things freak, you've got to be able to stomach seeing dudes nail things into their body, or, in the case of cinema, see a Freak Show that's more fantastical than "freakish."

The Hollywood Reporter has posted that Cal Naughton Jr., aka John C. Reilly, Josh Hutcherson (Bridge to Terabithia), and Chris Kelly (Boys Life) are in final negotiations to star in Cirque du Freak -- a kidlit adaptation that's being put together by Universal. Based on a series written by Darren Shan, the story focuses on best friends (Hutcherson and Kelly) "who visit an illegal freak show, where an encounter with a vampire and a giant deadly spider forces them to make life-changing choices that result in vampire servitude and vampirism itself." (The show also has a really bitey werewolf.) Believe it or not, Reilly will play "Larten Crepsley, the centuries-old vampire and owner of Madame Octa, the spider." This crazy, yet weirdly appealing, story is the brainchild of About a Boy writer/director Paul Weitz, who wrote the script and will direct it when production starts in February. So, what do you think? Are you ready to see Reilly get his bite on?

I saw Bridge to Terabithia this past weekend with my nine-year-old daughter, who is also a huge fan of the book on which the film is based. I'll have a full review and an interview with screenwriter David Paterson to come soon, but for now, suffice it to say that any concerns I had about Disney getting away from the heart of the story and focusing too much on effects have been laid to rest. If you, like me, were a fan of the book when you were growing up, you've probably been waiting to see this film for a while, and you're going to really love what they did with the film. If you've never read the book, that's okay, you don't have to have read it to see and appreciate the film -- it's good enough to stand on its own.

To keep you satisfied until the film opens this weekend, we have some goodies for you:

TRAILER: Bridge to Terabithia Trailer on Moviefone

VIDEO: Behind-the-Scenes of Bridge to Terabithia on Moviefone:

Zooey Deschanel chats in AIM with Moviefone about Bridge to Terabithia

Also, Disney has made available lots of images of really cool concept art from the Terabithia sequences. One of the images is above; you'll find a ton of other Terabithia images, after the jump.

SPOILER ALERT: If you've never read Bridge to Terabithia, and you don't want to know anything about it before seeing the movie, stop reading. Now. Then drive to the nearest bookstore, buy a copy, and read it. Laugh. Cry. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson's classic novel about two kids who form an unlikely friendship, is one of my favorite books ever, so when I heard a new movie was in the works earlier this year, I was filled with both excitement and trepidation. On the one hand, I just introduced my nine-year-old daughter to the book over the summer, and I knew she'd be excited about the film. On the other hand, though, what if "they" screwed it up? I know, I know, it's just a movie, right? I shouldn't get so worked up. But seriously, this book was one of the literary bedrocks of my childhood; I read my first copy to pieces, and have read it countless times since. I still cry every time.

Rather fascinating review of RV by Grady Hendrix over at Slate. Hendrix doesn't have much to say about it (calling it a "disaster"), but the way that Hendrix describes the movie makes it seem like there's something truly unexpected going on with the film and that it's more than just a loopy, gross-out family comedy:

"Faces, disfigured with boredom, gaze dully out over blasted landscapes. Septic hoses drip fecal matter onto the body of a middle-aged man. The sun blasts an anonymous , flat landscape interrupted only by rundown bars and empty campsites. Welcome to the world of RV ... its bleak dissection of middle-class angst and emotional depth is guaranteed to shock audiences, some of whom might even cry."

Wow, I had no desire whatsoever to see this movie (Robin Williams hasn't been funny in a long, long time), but this actually makes me want to see it. Well, maybe on DVD later this year.

A cast update on the recently annouced Bridge to Terebithia adaptation (remake?) has been announced. After the two young leads (played by Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb), one of the most significant characters is that of the the teacher whom the children admire. The team of Disney and Walden have annouced that this role will be filled by popular actress Zooey Deschanel.

I've got rather mixed feelings on Zooey as an actress- heresy, I know, for an admitted geek. I tend to think of her as hit-or-miss. I loved her performance in Elf, for instance, but thought she gave a rather half-hearted attempt at Trillian in the HHGG movie. Perhaps it was just the material she was given to work with- I don't know. I just know that the part felt flat and uninspired to me. Thoughts? Feel free to chime in and disagree with me, or remind me of other roles that Zooey has pulled off tremendously.