Blu-ray News and Reviews | High Def Digest
Film & TV All News Blu-Ray Reviews Release Dates News Pre-orders 4K Ultra HD Reviews Release Dates News Pre-orders Gear Reviews News Home Theater 101 Best Gear Film & TV
Blu-Ray : Give it a Rent
Ranking:
Sale Price: $7.94 Last Price: $9.98 Buy now! 3rd Party 2.29 In Stock
Release Date: June 5th, 2012 Movie Release Year: 2012

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Overview -

The new journey begins when Sean receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist - a place of strange life forms, mountains of gold, deadly volcanoes, and more than one astonishing secret. Unable to stop him from going, Sean's new stepfather (Dwayne Johnson, Walking Tall) joins the quest. Together with a helicopter pilot (Luis Guzmán, Boogie Nights) and his beautiful, strong-willed daughter (Vanessa Hudgens, Sucker Punch), they set out to find the island, rescue its lone inhabitant (Michael Caine, The Dark Knight), and escape before seismic shockwaves force the island under the sea and bury its treasures forever.

OVERALL:
Give it a Rent
Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Technical Specs:
Region Free
Video Resolution/Codec:
1080p/AVC MPEG-4
Length:
94
Aspect Ratio(s):
1.85:1
Audio Formats:
Thai Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles/Captions:
Thai
Special Features:
Ultraviolet Digital Copy
Release Date:
June 5th, 2012

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

'Journey 2' tries to do and be a great many things in a short amount of time. How well it succeeds at any of them makes the difference between it being a fun and exciting thrill ride for the whole family or one of the tamest and most vapid voyages into seemingly dangerous territory. After suffering through 90-minutes of very much PG-rated action, I'm leaning heavily towards the latter, which I admit is largely my fault for expecting a bit more than what is seen in previews. And unless you're so young as to be frightened by the sight of ginormous red ants lifting trees by their roots or prehistoric electric eels the size of a house, I'm guessing you'll probably feel the same.

As a loose sequel to 2008's 'Journey to the Center of the Earth' with Brendan Fraser, the family comedy tries to recapture the same audience which made the first movie a hit. It succeeded for the most part and shockingly surpassed its predecessor at the box office by a fairly decent margin, guaranteeing a second sequel in the near future, which is already hinted at by film's end anyways. In spite of making more money, the story is less funny and not the least bit exciting, which I would argue is quite a challenge given how terrible the first movie actually is. The extent of the humor ranges from Luis Guzmán acting the clown, the presence of giant bird poop, and bouncing berries off of Dwayne Johnson's pulsating pecs. And those are the moments I found myself chuckling.

As some kind of heart-warming family adventure, the movie tries to insert a dramatic subplot that sees Sean's (Josh Hutcherson) hokey bad-boy persona at odds with his well-to-do, well-intentioned stepfather, Hank (Johnson), but apparently, the filmmakers' definition of a problem teen is a straight-A student who's smart enough to break into a satellite research center so he can boost his radio signal. In the first minutes, we quickly surmise Sean is a completely ungrateful, off-putting little jerk. You know the cliché: boy hates his stepdad for no genuine reason. When we meet his grandfather (Michael Caine), we also realize where he gets his ugly attitude. Essentially, as far as the filmmakers see it, acting unappreciative, annoying and insulting strangers like grandpa does signifies family troubles. There's no surprise where this is going, especially when it's clear Hank makes a fantastic father. Indeed, it only makes the journey that more mind-numbingly boring and frustrating to watch.

Journey 2

As a sci-fi fantasy, the closest we come to science-fiction is Captain Nemo's legendary submarine, Nautilus, and the fantasy aspect is pretty much the result of a weak imagination. As harsh as that may sound, it's a fair assessment since we're talking about a story where adventurers discover an island with so many possibilities. It's reasonable to expect something a tad more fanciful than everyday creatures simply turned monstrous, or perchance exploring the island a bit longer than a couple days. There's never a feeling that the group, which includes Guzmán's goofy helicopter pilot and Vanessa Hudgens as his daughter, is ever in any real mortal danger, and not once was I swept away by the adventure. The chase with the colossal lizard is more of a light jog, and the aerial dogfight with the enormous bees is a cross between 'Return of the Jedi' and 'Honey, I Shrunk the Kids' and none of the fun.

'Journey 2: The Mysterious Island' toys with many of our childhood imaginations — stranded on an exotic island like the 'Swiss Family Robinson' or 'Robinson Crusoe' but with overgrown creatures. In fact, this adventure is sparked not only by Verne's classic 1874 novel, but also by Stevenson's Treasure Island and Swift's Gulliver's Travels — all beloved childhood favorites. The early sequence where they discover the secret map is probably the movie's most clever aspect, other than figuring a way to erase Fraser's memory from the story. The problem comes from director Brad Peyton, whose only other filmmaking duties of note is 'Cat & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore,' unable to make the expedition into the fantastically unknown something thrilling or rousing. Instead, he treats the entire film like a five-dollar tour on Guzmán's rickety, dilapidated helicopter.

Journey 2

The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

Warner Home Video brings 'Journey 2' to Blu-ray as a two-disc combo pack with a code for an UltraViolet digital copy. On opposing panels inside a blue eco-keepcase with a glossy slipcover, the first is a Region Free, BD50 disc while the second is a DVD-9 copy. After a couple of skippable trailers, viewers are taken to a rather ugly main menu window with a photo still and music. The movie will also be available as a 3D release.

Video Review

Ranking:

The movie may offer little in terms of adventure, but at least the journey to 'Mysterious Island' isn't a complete loss, offering a stunning reference-quality video presentation. The movie was obviously shot with a 3D design in mind, so many sequences come with visual gimmicks meant to take advantage of the technology. Nonetheless, the 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode looks practically flawless in its current 2D incarnation and is sure to impress viewers even without the added third dimension.

Presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the freshly-minted transfer is razor-sharp and squeaky-clean from beginning to end. Granted, much of the video does look somewhat digitized with a made-for-television feel, even before arriving unto the CG-infested island, but it's not detrimental to its enjoyment. Fine lines around foliage, local wildlife and the architecture of an ancient civilization are very distinct and detailed. Pores, wrinkles and other trivial blemishes are apparent while hair and clothing are clearly outlined.

The rest of the cinematography displays lush, sumptuous primaries and an extensive array of vivid secondary hues, giving the family comedy a pulsating, animated quality that leaps off the screen. Contrast is vibrant and pitch-perfect with brilliant, clean whites while black levels are inky rich and luxurious, providing the image with plenty of pop and a great deal of depth. In the end, the high-def video is simply astounding.

Journey 2

Audio Review

Ranking:

Although the audio doesn't quite match the visuals — meaning, it's not as equally impressive — the DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is still pretty enjoyable, especially when the group arrives on the island. Discrete effects are employed often to enhance the soundfield and generate some decent ambience. Action sequences, in particular, provide nice moments with good panning and directionality. The problem is the design never feels immersive or convincing and given the movie's setting, it's fair to expect a bit more from the rear activity to surround and pull viewers into the scenery.

The rest of the lossless mix delivers clean, precise vocals in the center of the screen and excellent channel separation. But much like the surrounds, the fronts are not all that striking or exciting despite coming with a nice, broad imaging and lots of off-screen commotion. The mid-range is detailed and for the most part full-bodied, yet the upper frequencies are never pushed very hard and the soundstage can be sometimes feel somewhat narrow and limited. Low bass is adequate with good depth in a few scenes although it's nothing that will give the system a lengthy workout.

All things considered, the high-rez track is satisfying and ample enough for a light family comedy.

Journey 2

Special Features

Ranking:

Two supplements which can also be found on the DVD release are accompanied by a code for an UltraViolet Digital Copy.

  • Gag Reel (HD, 1 min) — The usual footage of the cast flubbing their lines, missteps and having some fun on set.

  • Deleted Scenes (HD, 6 min) — Five trivial scenes that add nothing to the overall plot.

Journey 2

'Journey 2: The Mysterious Island' is a loose sequel to 2008's 'Journey to the Center of the Earth,' minus the Fraser. Despite being a slightly bigger hit than the first movie, this family fantasy adventure is less funny and less exciting than the its predecessor, but the arduous journey to see it through to the end is just as grueling and tiresome. There is very little sense of adventure or excitement in its entire 90-minute runtime. The Blu-ray, however, arrives with amazing reference quality video and a very good audio presentation. While supplements are the same as the DVD release, one small interactive exclusive adds a bit of fun to the package, making it a decent purchase for the little ones in the family.