Today’s quick review: The Core. Following a series of bizarre disturbances in the Earth’s electromagnetic field, Dr. Joshua Keyes (Aaron Eckhart) makes a shocking discovery: the planet’s core has stopped spinning, threatening to wipe out modern civilization in a matter of months. With the full backing of the United States government, Dr. Keyes and a team of specialists mount a subterranean expedition to plant a bomb that will kick-start the core.
The Core is a sci-fi action movie about a desperate mission to the center of the Earth aboard an experimental vessel designed to resist the heat and pressure. The premise is far-fetched but makes for a good story hook, kicking off a perilous journey to accomplish the impossible. The Core sticks to a predictable formula, but it has all the pieces it needs to make it work. The result is a shallow but reasonably fun popcorn watch.
The Core fits comfortably into the subgenre of science fiction that involves hazardous journeys to remote locations. Once it gets moving, the plot is a linear stream of obstacles and heroics. The center of the Earth ends up being a decent pick, justifying not only a fair amount of setup while Keyes and the others determine what’s going on but some unique challenges for the crew to overcome. However, the plot doesn’t have much to offer beyond the basics.
More broadly, The Core is missing what it needs to stand out. The script serves the movie’s purposes, but it doesn’t have any iconic lines or shocking twists to truly capture the audience’s attention. The characters are middle-of-the-road: enjoyable to spend time with, but not given enough development to get attached to. The Core also gets clumsy in a few key places, such as the pacing of the ending or the drama bout the mission at the command center.
In spite of its shortcomings, The Core is a reasonable watch for anyone in the mood for a sci-fi adventure. The movie packs no real surprises, but it has competent enough execution to satisfy casual viewers simply looking for some popcorn. However, it lacks the craftsmanship or originality to match other movies that play in the same space. Those looking for actual tension, emotional potency, or anything resembling real science should look elsewhere.
For a more dramatic take on a similar premise, try Sunshine. For a sci-fi action movie with a similar setup, a star-studded cast, and greater emotional impact, try Armageddon. For other science fiction journeys that follow a similar trajectory, check out Red Planet or Interstellar.
5.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for basic but enjoyable science fiction.