What I find appealing about Verne is that he is free from the cynical and existential bindings that have fettered other illustrious but more contemporary science fiction writers. Chiefly because the story is compelling and true to the quasi whimsical and scientifically speculative writings of Jules Verne. "A Journey to the Center of the Earth" is a movie I see over and over again. Many years later Spielberg and Lucas would pay homage to that moment in their throwback serial film "Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark" but in the intervening years I have had recurring dreams about being chased by a boulder down a narrow passageway. Dimly aware that the film had scary elements, we vowed not to eat any of our limited budget sweets until a truly "scary" moment appeared. We felt as if we were fellow travellers, accompanying the Lindenbrook expedition on its mission to the center of the earth. My best friend David Vail and I were 7 years old apiece and thrilled at the prospect of being allowed to see the movie un-supervised (a very rare privilege) and the cavernous, dark movie theatre only heightened the sense of mysterium tremens. I remember that day well, back in Brewster, NY, late 1959. I suppose the best way to appreciate a widescreen Cinemascope film is to have seen it on a large movie theater screen in the first place.
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