ALL SCI-FI

Maurice · Last edited by Maurice on Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:16 am; edited 2 times in total

My YouTube recommendations recently included this version of Journey to the Center of the Earth (IMDb). See cast image here (link).

It's was viewable online at the time I posted this, but the link is now dead.

I was able to confirm that this was a pilot for a TV series via the trades:

Bud Brewster · Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 1:58 pm Post subject:

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Excellent post, Maurice! Well researched and well written. Mr. Green

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Pow · Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2023 2:10 am Post subject:

I thought that the design of the Avenger & the sets were well done. The concept of the Avenger using sonic waves to burrow through the earth was a refreshing change of pace instead of having the old cliche of a big ole' drill on the front of the vehicle. Although one has to wonder if any of it is remotely feasible.

Other than that, yeah, this pilot will never ascend to the heights of marvelous television science fiction.

Had it become a series, what would they do for good story material each week? Just how many subterranean civilizations and monsters can you encounter on a weekly basis and still manage to produce entertaining and compelling stories?

Maurice · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 1:41 am Post subject:

What I expect is they'd do a "Strange New Underworld" many weeks, redressing the same sets over and over, much like Star Trek TNG's "Planet Hell" set, because they'd never have been able to afford to build underground new cave and civilization sets every week.
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"The absence of limitations is the enemy of art."
― Orson Welles

Maurice · Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2023 8:33 pm Post subject:

I forgot to mention my suspicion that F. Murray Abraham's character, who vanishes into the volcano, presumably to his death, would probably have been been brought back for a very special episode or two had the series actually gone into production, possibly as having "gone native" in some underworld civilization and acting as an antagonist. In fact, watching the TV movie, at first I thought the bad guy was supposed to be his character, but he turned out to be some completely generic villain easily disposed of.

I didn't like most of the casting, and the characters were either bland and uninteresting or stereotypes. Only the Yeti got my attention. I couldn't care less about anyone else or what happens to them since they exhibit so little personality and we don't know what motivates them to join this underground joyride.

Finally, the whole subplot about the rich industrialist who funds this... that went nowhere and I can't see how he'd factor into a series.
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"The absence of limitations is the enemy of art."
― Orson Welles

Pow · Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2023 11:08 pm Post subject:

I'm guessing that the uber-wealthy industrialist had his own secret agenda regarding the whole project. The creators/writers of the pilot would have unfolded it over time, had the pilot gone to a series. You can bet that he'd be revealed as another selfish rich schmuck ready to sacrifice anyone for his own purposes. Ya know, like real life billonaires.