dragonfire88's Full Review: Around the World in 80 Days
For the last year, I have been able to see many more movies in the theater than I had in the past. I love movies and enjoy going to the theater to see them. I’m always seeing previews for other movies that I want to see. I first saw previews for Around the World in 80 Days months ago. I’m not sure what movie I was at the first time I saw it, but I have seen the preview many times. I thought the movie looked like it would be good and I wanted to go see it.
A man was on the run from the police. He came across Phileas Fogg, an inventor who was getting ready to try a new experiment. Phileas needed a new valet. The man, who said his name was Passportout, took the job to hide out from the police. Other scientists in London thought that Phileas and his inventions were a joke, especially Lord Kelvin. Phileas made a statement that lead to a wager between him and Lord Kelvin. Phileas believed that he could travel around the world in 80 days. If he succeeded, he would take over Lord Kelvin’s position. If he failed, Phileas would not invent anything again. Phileas ended up accepting the bet. Passportout, who wanted to get to China as fast as possible, saw the journey as his way to accomplish that. He encouraged Phileas when he had doubts.
Lord Kelvin did not want Phileas to win the bet. Lord Kelvin had also been plotting with General Fang, a deadly woman, to take over an area in China. Lord Kelvin did what he could to prevent Phileas from completing the journey, including blaming Phileas for the robbery and sending General Fang after him. Phileas and Passportout met Monique Roche in Paris. She wanted to be a painter and decided she wanted to go on the trip for inspiration for her art. Phileas wasn’t happy about that at first, but an attraction developed between him and Monique during the trip. Phileas, Passportout, and Monique ended up in many strange and dangerous situations. They met Prince Hapi, who wanted Monique to be his seventh wife. They even met Orville and Wilbur Wright at one point.
CAST
Jackie Chan - Passportout/Lau Xing
Steve Coogan - Phileas Fogg
Jim Broadbent - Lord Kelvin
Karen Joy Morris - General Fang
Cecile De France - Monique Roche
Arnold Schwarzenegger - Prince Hapi
Frank Coraci - Director
Around the World in 80 Days was released in theaters on June 16, 2004. The movie was around two hours long and rated PG. There wasn’t anything that would be objectionable for a young child to see, but the running time may be a little long for them. The movie was based on the book by Jules Verne. I have not read the book, so I don’t know how close to it the movie stayed. There was a version of the movie made in 1956, and a version made for tv in 1989. I have not seen the previous versions.
I enjoyed Around the World in 80 Days. I thought the movie was interesting and entertaining. The plot wasn’t that complicated, but it kept my interest. There were a few moments here and there that slowed down a bit, but it wasn’t too many. The movie was fairly fast paced for the most part, but the pace did slow down a few times. I wasn’t bored during the few slower places, but they did seem to mess up the flow of things a little. The movie mainly focused in on Phileas and his attempt to travel around the world. Some other things happened, but everything ended up tying into the trip.
There were some fight scenes in Around the World in 80 Days, but the movie really wasn’t violent. Jackie Chan’s character was involved in the fights. He did the choreography for the fights like he does in all of his movies. The fights were well done, though toned down a little from some of his other movies. I’m sure that is because this was a family movie instead of an action movie like his others have been. People expecting a typical Jackie Chan movie will probably be disappointed with this one.
I thought that Around the World in 80 Days was funny. Phileas had some interesting looking inventions that he used at different times that made me laugh. Phileas also said and did some things that were funny. I thought that Passportout was funny as well. Arnold Schwarzenegger had a small role as Prince Hapi. He had long, curly, black hair. He looked a bit strange, and the hair did make me giggle a bit. There were a few things that happened, like someone losing their pants, that were a little juvenile, but there were only a few of those things in the movie. After meeting, Phileas and Monique seemed to be attracted to each other. There wasn’t really any romance in the movie, but there were a few romantic moments between the two of them. They did share a kiss or two. There weren’t any sex scenes in the movie.
Phileas and Passportout were the main characters and one of them was in most of the scenes. Monique joined them on their trip when they were in Paris, and she became a main character after that. They were fairly well developed, but there wasn’t a lot of character development for any of the characters. Other characters, like Lord Kelvin, were important to what was going on, but he was a flat character. Some other characters only turned up briefly, so there wasn’t any time for any character development.
The acting in Around the World in 80 Days was pretty good. I haven’t seen Steve Coogan in anything before this, but I thought he was good in the part. I really enjoyed Jackie Chan, though I have enjoyed all of his movies that I have seen. This movie was a little different for him, but he still did some fighting and some funny things. Jim Broadbent was good in his scenes. He seemed to be over acting a little at times, but that worked for the character. This performance did remind me of his performance in Moulin Rouge. Arnold Schwarzenegger was fine as Prince Hapi, though he didn’t do too much since he wasn’t in much of the movie. I haven’t seen Cecile De France in any other movies either. She was fine as Monique. Several other actors, like John Cleese, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, and Kathy Bates, make short appearances as other characters.
CHARACTERS
Phileas Fogg - Inventor traveling around the world in 80 days to win a bet. He was serious and looked for facts to explain everything.
Passportout - He became a valet for Phileas to avoid the police. Passportout did something he shouldn’t have to help his village in China. He started off going with Phileas just to return to China as fast as possible, but he came to consider Phileas a friend.
Monique - Woman that wanted to be an artist that Phileas and Passportout met in Paris. She wanted to go on the trip to inspire her art. She was a little sneaky about getting to go along, but she was a nice woman.
Lord Kelvin - Scientist that made the bet with Phileas. Lord Kelvin was mixed up in some other things as well. He plotted to keep Phileas from finishing the trip. Lord Kelvin had a temper and he had a habit of throwing things at people who upset him.
I enjoyed Around the World in 80 Days. It kept me interested and entertained. This is a good family movie that shouldn’t bore adults too much.
A comic take on the classic novel finds a Chinese thief and an eccentric London inventor as travel companions on a trip around the world.More at eCOST.com
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