Reviews

I wanted so much to absolutely love this movie. I spent days researching all the characters, finding out all their singular talents, and the reasons they would be included in such a group.

I read the review of others here at IMDB, and thought, "no! This cannot be! It *will* be one of the greatest movies I've ever seen!"

Unfortunately, it wasn't.

Don't get me wrong, it is an entertaining way to spend 1.5+ hours. The special effects are good, the ways they dealt with the characters such as the invisible man (rather *an* invisible man... the *the* had died previously) and Jekyll. Captain Nemo I particularly enjoyed. That they created him as Indian was great and true to literature, and the grand scale of his inventions showed more of his brilliance.

However, under the fizzle, there is nothing. Besides Allan Quatermain, we really only have inklings of ideas, if anything at all, as to why people did what they did. The movie's major shortcoming was character development and motivation. There was very little that made you feel anything for the characters. Nothing to tie you in, or to make their actions seem merited (or un-merited) because you just don't know enough about them.

In the opinion of this reviewer, the bottom line is this: Entertaining for the time, and dissolves when you leave. Don't try to analyze it, because you'll get frustrated. It wasn't created to hold up to analysis.

A good ride to experience once... but not much more.

There are two kinds of good movies: The movies that, because of one or more characteristics, win grammys, oscars, and much lauding by critics. Gladiator comes to mind. Great cinematography, plot, acting.

Then, there are movies, that, although they don't win critical acclaim, seem to find their way onto my TV much more than an oscar-winner. Princess Bride is a good one. Timothy Dalton's bid for a James Bond movie as well. And Jewel of the Nile.

Jewel of the Nile is not a stellar specimen of a film in any way. There are movies that are better filmed, better acted, better scripted, ones that don't have as many plot holes, whatever the comparison. It doesn't leave you in a state of deep pondering or leave you not wanting to go to bed for fear of your life. But it is a movie that I, and my family, put in when we want to watch something light, uninvolved, comical, and with actors we like to see. It's something to watch on a Sunday afternoon, over whatever sorry excuse for lunch I decide to have, and to go to sleep on the couch to. It's a good movie to put in and listen to while doing housework, homework, or another activity. It is full of great one-liners that find their way into conversation as well as a severe cheesiness factor in some parts(which isn't a bad thing).

Bottom line, I guess, is this: You will find movies that are of superior quality to this one. Ones that you will feel outweigh this one in every single way. All the same, I would highly recommend adding this movie to your cabinet (but purchase and view Romancing the Stone first) because every once in a while, you'll come back to the Nile.