Reviews

The first of two Three Investigator movies, the first movie is actually the second of the books. The first book titled, The Secret of Terror Castle, was the second movie made (although renamed The Haunted Castle). The movies are German productions filmed in South Africa. The movies are an attempt to capitalize on the popularity of The Three Investigators on Germany, where the book series continued even after they ended in the US.

Other than the titles and main character names, nothing in the movie is from the book. In this movie, Skeleton Island has been moved to South Africa, Pete's dad does not work for a film studio, and Germans must love to have French villains because Victor Hugenay, who made a couple appearances in the books (but not this one), is the villain twice in this film. I would have enjoyed the movie more if it had an original title, since the story was original, having absolutely nothing in common with the book. The actors cast for Jupiter and Pete resemble the book characters but Bob ended up as a curly haired redhead, without glasses. On the gadgets side, which was kept to a minimum, we see what the Three Investigators are like with 21st century electronics.

More than a few of the plot points are ridiculous, but no more so than many made for TV films aimed at a tween audience. (Parasailing down the street, accidentally dropping his plane ticket on his dad's table at a random café?)

It's been several years since this film and the sequel were released so it's doubtful that any more will be made. The actors have grown out of their roles. If the series ever does continue, I recommend leaving it to Nickelodeon, who would probably put Rocky Beach, California, back in California. I still have hopes of a good studio bringing The Three Investigators into the 21st century, and doing justice to the books.

I have both movies and I will watch them again in the future. My reaction to this movie is the same as any movie I see that was taken from a beloved book. Eventually I come to terms with them and life goes on. It's just a movie.

Having read The Three Investigators in the 70's & 80's, I've wondered what they would be like in the 21st century. Well, this is it. Sort of. But first you have to get over the fact that other than the words 'Steven Terrell' and 'Castle', there is nothing in the movie that resembles the book. You also have to get over Bob being a curly haired redhead without glasses.

While this was the first book, it is the second film that was made. The first being The Secret of Skeleton Island. Like the first film, this is a German production, filmed in South Africa. They slipped up at the end of the movie when the Rolls Royce drove on the wrong side of the road… for California, but the correct side for South Africa. As with the first film, most of the plot points were ridiculous. With access to 21st century technology they had GPS, but why didn't they do an internet search to find out who Steven Terrell was? In the book they did the research and went in knowing everything about him. Why move the castle from the Hollywood Hills, near their home, to the Sierra Nevada Mountains? What's the deal with the psycho sheriff? Is that view Germans have of Americans? If you have a county sheriff he as to be psycho? The tie in with Jupiter's parents was also ridiculous. And the most ridiculous of all was having the same villain as the first movie. What is it with Germans need for a French villain? Any movie that makes me use the word ridiculous this much can't be rated higher than 5 stars, but I'll give it 6 because The Three Investigators are a part of my life and I'll watch anything about them (like Harry Potter, if you read the books, you'd understand).

Had I watched this movie under a different title, and didn't try to associate the movie with the book characters, I would have enjoyed it more. At some point I will watch it again and enjoy it more as I've numbed myself to the flaws. The characters are done well, except for Bob (no offense to Cameron Monaghan's acting. He just isn't Bob).