Yesterday I had the opportunity to watch 'The Secret of Skeleton Island'. To keep it simple: I liked the movie. Nonetheless, the movie is obviously made for a family audience, kids, younger teens. As Wikipedia says 'The Three Investigators' are a juvenile detective book series, good mystery books for kids/teens. The movie tries to be the same. In my opinion they succeed even though the changes are more than obvious. 'The Secret of Skeleton Island' as a book is up to 5 percent in the movie. 95 percent are modernized, relocated etc. For those you know and love the books (or tapes): you will not be bored because you don't know the story. The question is: is it a good thing? What was changed? The movie has plenty of humor. It is funny, yes, but do we want to remember 'Home Alone' by seeing 'The Secret of Skeleton Island'? Bob seems to know more than Jupiter. That is odd. The investigators are younger than expected. Yet, filming several movies will let them grow into it. The location of the movie is South Africa. Quiet interesting. It enriches the movie. The 4th kid is a girl. That's OK if you forget the puberty scenes. What was good about it? As I already said. South Africa was a good choice even if the topic eventually comes to the different races. Jupiter appears to be a little Sherlock Holmes (just a little bit) and mentally grown-up. I liked the popping up of hints. Hints towards other cases, e.g. 'The Stuttering Parrot' or 'Terror Castle'. From the beginning of the movie you have the impression of other movies: - James Bond (music, starting scene), - Indiana Jones (cave). The only thing I still can't answer myself: are the changes good and do I want it similar in 'Terror Castle' or more like the book?
