Review: Island at the Top of the World

For the un-initiated, my CFI (chewed fingernail index) is how I rate suspense. I really should copyright that.

Island at the Top of the World

Disney.

Donald Sinden plays Sir Anthony Ross, a businessman in search of his lost son, Donald Ross. He has disappeared while seeking the fabled Island at the Top of the World where all whales go to die. Sir Anthony persuades an American archaeologist, Ivarsson, (David Hamilton, who looks extremely like Chuck Tyler from All My Children: “I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV”) to join him. They hire a French captain to carry them in his lighter-than-air craft across the arctic. We meet Umiak the Fearless, an Inuit, whom Ross betrays into joining their expedition. We also meet a wavy haired platinum blonde... miniature poodle.

We eventually meet a whole Nordic civilization with their own platinum blonde, this one with two legs. Except for the missing horses, you would think you had met the riders of Rohan. They are a superstitious and fearful people, craving peace but goaded on by Goda, a wild eyed religious zealot. (This dates back to when Disney pictures still gave lip service to respecting Christianity. The crazed one is a polytheist!)

In the 21st century, we have been spoiled by computer graphic animation. What we see in IATTOTW is what may have been cutting edge special effects from 40 or 50 years ago. To Disney’s credit, there is footage of arctic wildlife, a dizzying aerobatic display from an understated hero, lovely blue ice caves and a delightfully cheesy killer whale attack. And since I was a kid, I have loved volcano scenes. I don’t care how they’re spliced; they’re just plain coooool.

IATTOTW makes Disney history with one notable flaw. Donald Sinden is Disney’s first British character that is neither quaint, amusing nor likable. (James Mason, where are you?) Everything Sir Anthony says shows he feels the universe is all about him. Even his search for his son comes off as selfish. His apologies to the captain are egocentric regrets and ask no forgiveness. He knows it all, is reckless and impulsive. With that mouth, how he succeeded in business is unclear.

Would I pay money to see this movie again? Well, if it were on television, I might turn it on while I fold laundry. Or maybe I would just play my Point of Know Return CD.

Oh, I did forget one other plus. The old Disney videos lack that half hour of commercials in the beginning. That’s worth a buck or two to rent!

CFI: 2.

Discussion points:

Notice how attractive a modestly dressed young lady can be!

Power plays and control issues

Superstitions

Ancient (Nordic) religions

Recognizing the Kingdom of Self in others and in yourself

What defines heroism?

Loyalty and faithfulness to one’s word

Review: the OLD Journey to the Center of the Earth

This review is from 2005, the movie long before Brendan Fraser.

Journey to the Center of the Earth

We grew up watching this movie, one of those that got frequent Saturday afternoon slots, not to mention “The 4:30 Movie.” Back then, we loved the saga of the duck Gertrude, were amazed by the giant lizards. Although I could giggle with the adults when we saw him in the kilt, back then the opportunity to see Pat Boone shirtless was lost on me. 

James Mason reappears as another Jules Verne scientist, this one not as crazed and self righteous as Captain Nemo. Driven, yes, but more personable.

Kid rating: my seven year old watched the movie with the ceaseless question, “Will the duck be all right?” punctuated by “Oh, no!” and again, “Will the duck be all right?” I had forgotten what happened to Gertude. Mea culpa. After the movie, we talked about movies being pretend and Gertrude really wasn’t ever in danger, which helped.

Romance: beats me how they could spend a year underground and still be speaking to each other. There is a tender scene in the sand, well done with restraint on parts of actors and directors. (If you’re looking for it, you see some untanned flesh, but so mild by today’s standard you wouldn’t have noticed it if I hadn’t told you. A big contrast to Liz Taylor’s sprawling in Cleopatra! Blech.)

I don’t quite understand the forest of giant mushrooms. Any sensible person (other than a hobbit) knows you don’t just walk up to mushrooms and eat them! Evidently these weren’t amanita, nor were they hallucinogenic. Did Verne use mushrooms for –er– medicinal purposes? I don’t know. 

It was a fun flick from memory lane, overall acceptable for 10+ year olds (due to suspense and peril). Parents could use the movie to discuss fidelity to one’s sweetheart. They could also use it to springboard kids into the concept that scientists aren’t automatically boring. Honor and betrayal concepts in the storyline also merit discussion. 

Recommendation: Kind of a goofy movie, but fun. I don’t think it will kick teenage hormones into overdrive, so not too bad for a date movie. Then again, there is Pat Boone.