journey 2 where was it filmed

Where Was Journey 2 The Mysterious Island Filmed?

Brad Peyton helmed the blockbuster adventure movie ‘Journey 2: The Mysterious Island,’ the second installment in the Jules Verne-inspired ‘Journey’ series. Upon discovering a signal from Sean’s grandfather Alexander Anderson, Sean and his stepdad, Hank, set out for a sprawling adventure filled with lush greenery and uncanny creatures. They arrive in the far-flung island country of Palau, regroup with Alexander thanks to a cyclone, and embark on a search for the lost city of Atlantis.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson delivers a hilarious performance alongside Michael Caine , Luis Guzmán, Vanessa Hudgens , and Josh Hutcherson. Most of the story unveils in the turbulent pacific, while the finale takes place on a dreamy island. However, you may seek to identify the locations where the movie was filmed. If that is the case, let us divulge before you everything we know.

Journey 2 The Mysterious Island Filming Locations

‘Journey 2: The Mysterious Island’ was filmed in locations in and around the U.S., especially in Hawaii. Filming commenced on October 25, 2010, and was wrapped up by December 15 of the same year. Let us now take you to the specific locations where the movie was filmed!

O’ahu, Hawaii

Most parts of the movie were filmed in Hawaii, possibly including the Atlantis scenes. The director took his team to Kualoa Ranch, a 4,000-acre vast nature reserve, event venue, cattle ranch, and most importantly, a famous filming destination in Hawaii. Situated at 49560 Kamehameha Highway in the community of Ka’a’awa, at around 24 miles from Honolulu, the ranch is a popular tourist destination in the city.

The reserve has been home to more than 79 movie productions, including blockbusters such as ‘Jurassic Park,’ ‘ 50 First Dates ,’ and ‘Pearl Harbor.’ Look for the scene where they are heading towards the submarine, at around 46 minutes mark. You can locate the open space where filming of ‘ Jurassic Park ‘ took place.

Several scenes were also filmed at the Waimea Bay and its adjacent Waimea Bay Beach Park, located at 61-31 Kamehameha Highway in the community of Haleiwa along the north shore of O’ahu. Due to its situation at the mouth of the Waimea River and the proximity of several tourist places, Waimea Bay sees footfall all around the year. In the summer, you can go out surfing, while in the winter, you can enjoy the view of the towering waves with a bonfire.

Wilmington, North Carolina

The production team carried out several scenes in a controlled studio environment. The movie presumably contains several CGI-aided sequences, and the scenes were possibly developed in a full-service production facility in the community of Wilmington off the coast of North Carolina. EUE / Screen Gems Studios, a movie production facility located at 1223 North 23rd Street, lent its premises to film scenes.

The 50-acre expansive studio facility features ten fully equipped soundstages and a back-lot to tackle any global-scale production. Since its inception in 1985, more than 400 titles have come out of the studio. Movies filmed in the studio include blockbusters such as ‘ The Conjuring ‘ and ‘Iron Man 3.’ ‘Iron Man 3’ was one of the most significant projects the studio had ever seen, with filming taking place in all the ten soundstages simultaneously.

New York City, New York

Lastly, a few scenes at the movie’s beginning were filmed on location in New York City. New York City remains one of the most iconic places to shoot a film due to the city’s cultural significance. From Martin Scorsese’s ‘ Taxi Driver ‘ to Woody Allen ‘s ‘ Manhattan ,’ the towering landscape of New York City has been featured in timeless classics.

Read More: Best Dwayne Johnson Movies

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Where was Journey 2: The Mysterious Island filmed?

City locations.

K'a'awa (USA), O'ahu (USA), New York (USA), Wilmington (USA)

Location Types

Ranch, Film Studio, Unusual

Location Styles

Beachfront, Tropical, Muscle, Helicopter Style, Sail

About Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is an exciting and thrilling adventure movie that follows the story of Sean Anderson, a teenager who teams up with his mom’s husband in order to find his missing grandfather on a mythical island. In their search, they embark on a mesmerizing journey filled with unexpected twists and turns that take them across breathtaking landscapes and unimaginable creatures. Along the way, they also face trying circumstances that call for courage, problem-solving, and collaboration. The mysterious island they find themselves on proves to be full of surprises as they discover secrets that help them make it out alive. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island features a star-studded cast including Dwayne Johnson, Josh Hutcherson, Luis Guzmán, Michael Caine, Vanessa Hudgens, and Kristin Davis. It’s the follow-up to Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008), which was written by Richard Outten, Brian Gunn, and Mark Gunn.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island Locations

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island was primarily filmed in Honolulu, Hawaii, home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The picturesque coasts and sweeping landscapes of Oahu provided an awe-inspiring backdrop for the film's scenes. From Diamond Head to Hanauma Bay, Honolulu is a perfect place to bring classic literature, like Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth, to life onscreen. With its lush jungles and majestic waterfalls, viewers can practically feel as if they are part of the adventure. A trip to visit locations from Journey 2: The Mysterious Island would be worthwhile for any fan of the film or avid explorer. From Waimanalo Beach Park where much of the movie was shot, to Nuuanu Pali Lookout which served as a breathtakingly beautiful backdrop for several scenes; there are plenty of sights and activities that will transport visitors back into the movie's setting. Other popular filming locations include Laie Point State Wayside Park and Kualoa Ranch, both of which have appeared in other movies and television shows due to their stunning views. No matter what kind of traveler you might be, a visit to Oahu will be sure to impress you with its diverse landscape and rich culture, all captured beautifully in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.

An interesting fact about this movie is that it contains various elements from other Jules Verne works including Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea (1870) and Around The World In Eighty Days (1873). Moreover, there are references to other famous works like King Kong (1933), Star Trek (1966), and Clash Of The Titans (1981). By blending these references into one fantastic journey full of imagination and excitement, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is indeed an amazing cinematic experience!

Sean is arrested scene in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

New York City, New York, USA

Seventeen-year-old Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson), four years after his journey to the center of the earth, finds himself arrested for illegally accessing a satellite control center. He hopes to amplify a coded signal that may have originated from his grandfather, Alexander Anderson (Michael Caine), who has been missing for a long time. Sean's new stepfather, Hank Parsons (Dwayne Johnson), tries to establish a connection with him by assisting in decoding the signal. This effort leads them to three books, namely, Gulliver's Travels, Treasure Island, and Jules Verne's Mysterious Island. Situated on the east coast of the United States, New York City, also known as the Big Apple, is among the world's most iconic cities. It is also known as The Empire State and is celebrated for its rich culture, diversity, and history. The city currently houses more than 8 million inhabitants. Amongst its numerous prominent landmarks is the Statue of Liberty, which France gifted the city as a symbol of democracy and liberty. The Empire State Building is another well-known structure, an imposing skyscraper that provides breathtaking views of the city from its observation deck. Driving to New York is an option from nearby cities, with several highways that provide convenient access to the city. However, traffic congestion can be heavy at times, specifically during rush hour. Another way to get to NYC is via train. Amtrak provides train service from other major cities in the United States, with the main train station being Penn Station, situated in Manhattan. Additionally, there are also regional train services including Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road.

Helicopter scene in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Waimea Bay Beach Park, 61-31 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712, United States

Sean, his stepfather Hank, and helicopter pilot Gabato (Luis Guzmán) search for a way to reach the mysterious island. As the trio explores the area, they come across a stunning waterfall that flows into a lagoon. Hank quickly realizes that the waterfall can power their helicopter, which is low on fuel. After charging the helicopter's battery, they continue with their journey. Located on the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii, Waimea Bay Beach Park is a truly stunning destination renowned for its crystal-clear waters, golden sand, and world-famous surfing competitions. Nestled amidst lush greenery, this beach park provides a tranquil and serene environment perfect for visitors seeking to revel in the beauty of Hawaii. It's a popular spot for tourists and locals alike, offering a plethora of recreational activities and breathtaking natural scenery. Aside from surfing, visitors can relish other activities at Waimea Bay Beach Park such as swimming and snorkeling in clear waters teeming with marine life, hiking, picnicking, and sunbathing. If you have a rental car or your vehicle, you can drive to 61-31 Kamehameha Hwy. Take the H-2 freeway north from Honolulu to Wahiawa and follow the signs to Kamehameha Highway. Turn left on Kamehameha Highway and continue for approximately 15 miles until you reach 61-31 Kamehameha Hwy in Haleiwa.

Riding through the lush forests scene in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Kualoa Ranch, 49-560 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744, United States

Sean, his stepfather, and pilot Gabato ride ATVs across the stunning landscape of Kualoa Ranch. As they navigate the lush forests and grassy plains, they come across a beautiful waterfall that Sean believes will lead them to the mysterious island they are searching for. They quickly dismount their ATVs and set off on foot, trekking through the jungle and climbing up steep cliffs. Kualoa Ranch is a 4,000-acre private nature reserve situated on the northeastern side of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The ranch is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, offering numerous recreational activities and stunning natural scenery. The ranch has been owned by the same family for over 160 years, and it’s served as a filming location for many popular movies and TV shows, including Jurassic Park, Lost, and Hawaii Five-O. Visitors can take guided tours of the ranch to see the filming locations and learn more about the rich history of the area. If you have a rental car or your own vehicle, drive to 49-560 Kamehameha Hwy. Take the H-3 freeway east from Honolulu to Kaneohe and follow the signs to Kamehameha Highway. Turn right on Kamehameha Highway and continue for approximately 5 miles until you reach 49-560 Kamehameha Hwy.

Discovering the Island scene in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

EUE/Screen Gems Studios, 1223 N 23rd St, Wilmington, NC 28405, United States

Sean, his stepfather, and their guide Kailani (Vanessa Hudgens) explore the island's mysteries. They are taken aback by the realization that the miniature elephants, which belong to the prehistoric Dwarf Sicilian Elephant species, coexist with giant butterflies, resulting in a significant contrast in animal sizes. They stumble upon a clutch of eggs, but things get out of hand when Gabato unwittingly disturbs a massive frilled lizard, which gives chase and pursues them through the jungle. EUE/Screen Gems Studios is a state-of-the-art film and television production facility located in Wilmington, North Carolina. The studio complex covers over 150 acres and includes more than 10 sound stages, numerous production offices, and post-production facilities. Since opening its doors in 1984, EUE/Screen Gems Studios has played a vital role in the film and television industry, serving as a production hub for numerous blockbuster films and hit TV shows. The studio has been involved in the production of over 400 feature films, including Iron Man 3, The Conjuring, and A Walk to Remember, among many others. If you are driving from downtown Wilmington, take N. 3rd Street towards the north for approximately 2 miles. Then, turn left onto N. 23rd Street and continue for about one mile. You will find 1223 N. 23rd Street on your left.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is an exciting action-adventure movie that follows Sean Anderson and his family as they embark on an epic quest to find Sean's grandfather. Filmed in two stunning locations, Honolulu, USA, and Oahu, Hawai'i, the movie showcases breathtaking visuals, from lush jungles to sandy beaches. Along the way, the Andersons encounter a range of mysterious creatures, from giant lizards to a swarm of bees with metal stingers. Despite numerous obstacles thrown their way, they eventually reach the mystical island and discover a hidden world teeming with new life forms. The movie serves as an incredible reminder that there are still many unexplored places on our planet that hold undiscovered secrets and wonders. With its thrilling action sequences and captivating visuals, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is a great watch for anyone looking for an unforgettable journey!

Behind The Scenes Of Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

On set with The Rock and co

Heading To Hawaii

Film journalism can be tough. Like when you’re sent on a mission to Hawaii to uncover the secrets of Journey 2: The Mysterious Island . That really smarts. But, professional as ever, Total Film sucked it up and headed to the south side of Oahu island where the cast and crew of Journey 2 were setting up one of the movie’s biggest set pieces with Dwayne Johnson and Josh Hutcherson. For this sequel, Brendan Fraser is out of the picture, and Sean Anderson (Hutcherson) goes off on his next adventure with his mum’s new partner, Hank Parsons (Johnson). The pair set out to find Sean’s grandfather (played by returnee Michael Caine), in another riff on a Jules Verne story.

Setting The Scene

The scene that’s currently being shot comes as the mysterious island, an atoll that surfaces in the South Pacific once every 150 years and where the explorers have ended up, is rapidly sinking. The two actors were meant to be doing their own leaping off China Walls (the locals’ nickname for this stretch of coast), but yesterday the production had to be shut down after Hutcherson fell ill and was driven away looking very faint indeed (diagnosis: strep throat) so the young star’s stunt double will take over after close-ups and mid-shots are done. As for Johnson, the film’s panicky producers aren’t in the habit of letting their chunky leading man take too many risks. “If Dwayne so much as stubs his toe, everyone freaks out,” drawls one crew member to Total Film . Looking at the swells below, which look exceedingly dangerous, we reckon the producers’ claim that the actors were going to do their own ocean jumps could be a bit of hyperbole. With plenty of fake plantings and extra brush to beef up the jungle lushness, Hutcherson and Johnson stand on the bluff, gauging the leap below.

Harsh Conditions

Once they’re in the surf, their characters have to swim 100-feet under water to reach the submerged Nautilus submarine (told you this was loosely based on one of Verne’s rollicking adventures). Even though it’s late November, it’s a hot day and the crew's t-shirts are soaked through to a man (and occasional woman). “The sea level’s risen over 100 feet in the last 24 hours!” barks Johnson. Hutcherson, hobbling with the aid of a cane after his character plummeted off the back of a giant bumblebee, replies, “You know, if we die down there, mom’s gonna kills us.” After director Brad Peyton calls cut, the brollies go up to shield the stars from the Hawaiian sun, a lucky make-up girl sponges the sweat off Johnson’s naked scalp and a few Styrofoam rocks are moved around. The man formerly knows as The Rock decides to take a quick comfort break, although the production’s stinking portable conveniences have become a joke on the Journey 2 set. Before heading off, he turns to Total Film and laughs, “This is a $100m movie – we really need better Porta-Potties. Be very careful when you enter one.”

The Extra Dimension

Canadian director Peyton, who moved to LA two years ago, seems to be relishing the challenge of helming a large-scale blockbuster; “If you’re not filming giant lizards, then it’s diving into the ocean to find the Nautilus. There’s giant bees and birds and lizards and storms and helicopter crashes.” This movie is shot in 3D, and it was designed with the extra dimension in mind from inception. “A lot of the jokes and a lot of the action are designed for 3D.” That’s not the only high-tech hurdle to deal with. Some of the action sequences are being shot at 200 frames per second, so you’re going to be getting something coming out of the screen (like spear or some other pointy item) then freezing as the camera tracks around to examine it. “A lot of it is about how do you slow it down and just let it sit there and enjoy that moment,” adds Peyton. So can we expect 3D Bullet-time then? “Yeah it’s close.”

Return Journey

Peyton’s also keen to point out the massive increase in scale compared to the first film, from the scope of the production, to the sets being assembled and the crew that has been hired. “Not to denigrate the first movie but this is a better and more creative team and we’re going to have a much larger scale film.” Were there discussions about Brendan coming back? “It was always known that this film was a different adventure. So the answer is, yes, there was never any intent to have Brendan in this movie,” Peyton explains. “There was talk at one point of having Brendan do a cameo just because it would be fun – Brendan was interested and the studio was interested but story-wise it didn’t work out.” Peyton’s confident that it’s worth the audience taking a return Journey : “First of all, the script itself is better. It’s really more of a male-bonding story, this journey. The script is far superior and therefore the movie will be far superior to the first one.” Seeking solace from the overwhelming island heat, Total Film grabbed some shade for a chat with Dwayne Johnson and Josh Hutcherson.

Dwayne Johnson Interview

How does it feel to shoot at home in Hawaii? “It’s fantastic. It’s great to come back home, it’s great to shoot back here. You know, I grew up probably 30 minutes away from here and things were much different back then – for myself. It’s awesome to come back and bring a big movie back here to Hawaii, not only for the local businesses here in Hawaii but for me personally it’s very satisfying.” Does shooting in 3D affect your acting? “First of all, this is my first 3D movie so it’s been a fascinating experience. Does it affect the acting?” Because you’re already 3D yourself… “Thank you for saying that. You’ve known me for a long time, yes. No, I don’t believe it affects the acting, it mainly affects the shot set-ups. We’re the third generation users of Cameron’s 3D technology, we were the first generation with Journey To The Centre Of The Earth . He came by the set and was watching how all of his cameras, his technology was being utilised – and he was the second generation and now we’re the third. So it’s been fascinating.”

Bigger And Better

What was is that made you want to join Journey 2 ? “It was that, it was being part of a successful franchise. I really enjoyed the script and wanted to hopefully come on board and elevate it and make it bigger and better.” As an actor, what’s kind of films do you prefer working on? “Honestly I prefer everything. I’m really fortunate to be in the position that I’m in, to have the type of diverse career that I’ve been able to have, you know, being very comfortable in a lot of these spaces whether it’s adventure like this or action like Faster to a comedy.

"So I like the diversity and I like being able to work in all these different spaces, and I recognise that there’s not a lot of actors who have the opportunities that I have to work in such varied genres. I enjoy all of them. I think ultimately though, something that is part of my make-up is that I like taking care of things so I like that whether it’s in a comedy or an action movie or an adventure movie. Just the guy who may not be great but does get better by the end of the movie and does take care of things. Kicks a lot of ass too. You’ve gotta do that every once in a while.”

Finding Paradise

What about your character? “He’s a fun character to play. He’s an accomplished guy, was in the Navy, built his own business and gets taken on this incredible adventure with his stepson who has already journeyed to the centre of the Earth and is now going to explore, uh, this really cool, iconic Jules Verne novel and gets taken to this ethereal place that he never thought existed – and it does. So it’s been great.” What lost paradise would you like to go back to? “I’d love to go back to the Roman Empire; I would love that.” On the centurion or gladiator side? You could be Spartacus… “I’d love to take a crack at that… I don’t quite know – I would be an infusion of both. A Caesar who was a gladiator and got to compete – and get the girl, of course.”

Relating To Josh

What’s your relationship with Josh like in the movie? “He’s a young man and, like a lot of relationships - whether it’s with your real dad or it’s with your stepdad - oftentimes there’s a struggle to find some cohesiveness and find some balance. So we’re struggling, when we meet up with these two characters, we’re struggling to find that.

"And I was this way – like a lot of teenagers he feels like he knows the road, the path that he’s on, doesn’t necessarily need a lot of help, certainly not from his mom’s new husband. But now having children of my own and having gone through that myself, I know there are some wisdoms and some pearls that I can share so that’s how our relationships starts out. And then we ultimately bond together into a really nice relationship, which I liked.

"That was a point of movies that I like doing is that by the end your central character has just become better people, and they make everybody else around them better.”

Josh Hutcherson Interview

So, after a day off sick yesterday, you’re diving into the water later today? “I think so. We’re jumping off the end of the world into the ocean. I’m looking forward to it. It’s so hot out there and the water’s so nice. Especially on those rocks, because the heat just bakes them and turns them to hot stones and you’re just frying out there.” What happened to your foot? “Basically, I was flying on top of a giant bumblebee and I fell off and I rolled my ankle severely. As you can see we have a makeshift cast thing going on. It was pretty gnarly actually.”

Romantic Relations

What’s the appeal with Journey 2 ? “What’s cool about this cast is we’re all different genres coming together. With Dwayne it’s the action crowd and Luis [ Guzman ] is comedy and Michael Caine is a legend, and then Vanessa [ Hudgens ] is like my age. So it’s nice to have some different people around on set, and especially somebody younger like Vanessa so her and I can get along and hang out and stuff.” Your characters have a bit of romance don’t they? “Oh yeah, definitely. We definitely have a little something, a little something sizzling.” How was Dwayne to work with? “He is awesome. He’s so much fun, he’s so cool. I mean I grew up – when I was younger I used to love watching wrestling and he was The Rock back in the day. But now he’s transitioned over into a full-blown actor which is really awesome and he’s a great actor and he’s great with stunts, so he’s just a really all-round great guy.”

Absent Friends

How has it been shooting in 3D? “The 3D doesn’t really affect anything we have to do as actors. Sometimes it takes a bit longer to set up shots because they have the different special things they have to do with the two lenses. Other than that the biggest challenge for me is not being on the beach the entire time we’re here shooting. It’s so beautiful, you just want to enjoy the surroundings. The other day we were shooting on the most beautiful beach ever and we couldn’t get in the water because we were working all day. So that’s tough.” “The first movie it was like 80% greenscreen, although we got to go Iceland for a few days which was cool. This is like the polar opposite.” Is it strange coming back without the people who were there on the first film? “Um, it’s a little weird. To me it doesn’t feel like it’s at all the same movie. It’s a completely different adventure with a different cast and we’re in a different place.” What do you like to do in your free time? “I surf a ton. I’m always in the water. I love being in the water so much. I surf, work out, eat awesome food and enjoy the sights.”

Production Values

What’s next for you? “I have a couple projects that are on the horizon possibly but three days before I came down here I finished shooting this movie called Detention , which is a horror comedy, it’s a genre film that’s going to be cool. And I produced that as well so that was very exciting.

"It was great because I’ve grown up on sets since I was like nine years old and I’ve learned a lot about every aspect of filmmaking and I’ve always had my ideas and I’ve wanted to say things but I’ve never been in the right position to give my input because it would be out of place. So for the first time I was able to say my feelings about the project and in my opinion [ bring it to a better place ].” Do you think you’d like to direct in future? “Definitely. I love every aspect of filmmaking and I would love to direct something too.”

Getting Involved In The Action

What can you tell us about your adventures in Journey 2 ? “Can’t give away too much but there’s a giant lizard that chases us, giant bumblebees that we fly on. There’s tiny baby elephants that you want to keep as pets. And there’s a submarine that we have to swim down 100 feet and get to and there’s a little monster guarding that so there’s quite a few little adventures we have to go on.” Do you have many underwater scenes? “Yes, the Nautilus scene is the biggest one. We have to swim down a 100 feet and go into the Nautilus and come back up and get the rest of the gang. But I actually had to get certified for scuba diving to do that because we’re going to have to do a lot of underwater breathing and training and stuff like that.” Do you have a stunt tester? “Yeah, Ralph! It’s funny, I love doing my own stunts – I’m like a producer’s worst nightmare because I’m always trying to do my own stunts and they don’t like that. But Ralph is awesome, I’ve done three movies with him now – he’s a good guy.”

Friending Michael Caine

What fantasy journey would you like to take? “Atlantis would be pretty awesome, cos you always hear about the lost city of Atlantis under the water and the fact that in our movie it rises to the surface…? If that actually happened that would be a very cool place to go.” What’s it like working with Michael Caine? “Michael Caine’s a legend. I mean he walks on set and you’re like, Pinch me, that’s Michael Caine standing right there! He’s such a nice guy and it’s weird you’d think that as an 18 year old guy you wouldn’t – not necessarily not get along with him but you don’t think you’d be able to communicate very well with a 77 year old man. But he is hip; he understands what’s going on, he gets it, like he knows all the lingo. He’s down. He’s very sharp for being 77.” You two could be Facebook friends... “Exactly! My mom told me he was twittering the other day! I mean, I don’t even tweet, that’s ridiculous! Michael Caine’s beat me on the tweeting thing? That’s crazy.”

Perks Of The Job

You didn’t really know Vanessa Hudgens well before working with her on this, how do you get along? “We get along great. She’s so much fun to be around, she’s always dancing around and having a good time and joking. We were total goofballs together so it’s a lot of fun having her around.” Are there any other actresses you’d particularly like to do a romantic scene with? “Oh man, there’s so many beautiful actresses. I know it’s kind of ridiculous but I think Eva Mendes is absolutely beautiful. I know she’s like 10 years older than me but a guy can dream, right? It’s the movies, anything’s possible!” Journey 2: The Mysterious Island opens on 3 February 2012.

The Total Film team are made up of the finest minds in all of film journalism. They are: Editor Jane Crowther, Deputy Editor Matt Maytum, Reviews Ed Matthew Leyland, News Editor Jordan Farley, and Online Editor Emily Murray. Expect exclusive news, reviews, features, and more from the team behind the smarter movie magazine. 

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• Play Trailer

Believe the Impossible. Discover the Incredible.

Sean Anderson partners with his mom's boyfriend on a mission to find his grandfather, who is thought to be missing on a mythical island.

Screenplay, Story

Brad Peyton

Richard Outten

Top Billed Cast

Dwayne Johnson

Hank Parsons

Josh Hutcherson

Sean Anderson

Vanessa Hudgens

Kailani Laguatan

Luis Guzmán

Gabato Laguatan

Michael Caine

Alexander Anderson

Kristin Davis

Elizabeth Parsons

Anna Colwell

Stephen Caudill

Branscombe Richmond

Full Cast & Crew

• Discussions 1

A review by Kamurai

Written by kamurai on september 12, 2020.

Really good watch, would watch again, and can recommend.

Great casting choices, great subject matter, and plenty of production value.

When it comes down to it, I'm sure this is the movie that settled Dwayne Johnson as the guy for Jumanji.

Josh Hutcherson and Vanessa Hudgens are really cute together and play off of each other really well. Michael Caine and Luis Guzmán both act really well with their character kids as well as Dwayne.

The biggest actual problem I have with this is the insistence in 3d technology. It is really blatant and really weird sometimes.

The iconic action s... read the rest.

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Status Released

Original Language English

Budget $79,000,000.00

Revenue $355,692,760.00

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• missing person
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• Films set in Palau
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• Dwayne Johnson films

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

It has been four years since the events of the first movie. Seventeen-year-old Sean Anderson ( Josh Hutcherson ) is caught by the police after a brief chase on his dirtbike which ended with him driving into a swimming pool while trying to evade them. Minutes later, his stepfather Hank ( Dwayne Johnson ) arrives where a police officer (Stephen Caudill) who is friends with Hank tells him that Sean had broken into a remote satellite research center. The police officer also tells Hank that he has talked Mr. and Mrs. McGillicutty (the owners of the swimming pool) out of pressing charges. Hank takes Sean home where his mother Elizabeth ( Kristin Davis ) is not pleased with his actions or the fact that he and Hank don't get along well.

Hank discovers that Sean had broken into a satellite research center in order to boost the signal of a code he'd received from someone he suspects is Alexander Anderson, Sean's grandfather who had been missing for two years. Wanting to bond with his stepson the next day, Hank helps Sean decipher the code of Jules Verne characters which lead to three books: Treasure Island , Gulliver's Travels , and Verne's own Mysterious Island . Using the book's individual island maps, Hank suspects they are books of the same island and uses a back light in order to make them all one completed land mass with the coordinates to its location. Hank manages to convince Liz to let the both of them go in search of the island.

They arrive in Palau where their need of transportation to this dangerous part of the ocean attracts a Palauan helicopter tourism guide Gabato ( Luis Guzman ) and his daughter Kailani ( Vanessa Hudgens ) who Sean develops an immediate crush on. They agree to fly them out to the island for $3,000, but the helicopter gets caught in a category 5 hurricane and they crash into the Pacific, waking up on the island.

Crossing into the island, they discover one of the laws of the Mysterious Island that all animals big are small and all animals small are gigantic (inspiring Lilliput from Gulliver's Travels ). The crew find tiny elephants and giant butterflies, which are the first creatures they discover on the island. The group decided to explore further into the island.

After coming across a massive frill-necked lizard when they come across her egg clutch, they are rescued by Alexander ( Michael Caine ) who takes them to a large hut he'd built from the wreckage of the ship that brought him to the island called the Blue-Eyed Lucy. He has a radio, but due to the positioning of the communications satellite it would be two weeks before they could call for help.

The next morning, Alexander leads the group to the lost city of Atlantis which is usually submerged in the ocean and he also calculated that the island sinks once every 70 years. However, the sea water appearing from the ground is the evidence that Hank sees that leads him to prove that the calculations are wrong, and that the island will sink in a couple of days. Their only means of salvation seems to be the legendary Nautilus (Captain Nemo's submarine), hidden somewhere on the island. Kailani enters Nemo's crypt and finds his journal, which has the whereabouts of the ship in a cave at Poseidon's Cliffs. They decided to go to that cave through the heart of the island.

They mount giant bees in order to fly over a high ridge and make up time, but encounter large birds that try to devour the bees. After saving Kailani's life, Sean crashes and dislocates his ankle. Hank and Alexander later patch up Sean's ankle the best they can. Afterward, they have a good moment when Hank sings his rendition of "What a Wonderful World" to ease Sean's pain.

The next morning, the water has risen greatly and Hank deduces that the island will sink in a matter of hours, not days. Gabato is missing having gone toward the island's golden volcano (which was the inspiration for Treasure Island ) in search for the funds to give his daughter a better life. While Alexander and Kailani go after him, Sean and Hank head for Poseidon's Cliffs to look for the Nautilus. Alexander also finally calls Hank by his preferred name, as up to that point he only called him "Henry" and the family makes up.

To deal with the rising water after finding the Nautilus' cave underwater, Sean and Hank make makeshift oxygen tanks and dive down fifty feet in order to obtain the Nautilus and are nearly killed by a giant electric eel. They are unable to power the ship however because the vessel's batteries being 140 years old have run down. They find a way to power the submarine from the electric eel's electricity.

Meanwhile, Kailani and Alexander find Gabato and convince him to escape with them instead of trying for the golden volcano. They head toward the shore as the island begins to suddenly and violently rip itself apart. The golden volcano starts to erupt violently, pouring lava flows all over the area. Highly flammable lava bombs are thrown from the golden volcano into the air and suddenly land on the sinking island's debris. Sean and Hank use a harpoon to get an electrical jump start from the electric eel swarming around them and they are able to power the machine, just in time to pick up the others who had fallen into the water. Gabato pilots the submarine out of harm's way while Hank and Sean fire torpedoes into the path of falling island debris. As they clear the dangers, Kailani finally kisses Sean for his bravery.

Six months later, Kailani and Gabato are well off. Gabato is now running the most popular tourist attraction on Palau providing tours aboard the Nautilus and Kailani is attending college. Kailani goes to visit Sean on his birthday. While they are celebrating, Alexander shows up with a book for Sean's birthday present. Sean opens it to find Jules Verne's From the Earth to the Moon , Alexander's suggestion for the next adventure with the family to which Liz protests. Hank replies "What could possibly go wrong? It's only the moon!"

During the credits, the mini-elephants from the earlier scene are swimming underwater over Atlantis.

• Dwayne Johnson as Hank Parsons, Sean's stepfather and a former Navy code breaker.
• Michael Caine as Alexander Anderson, Sean's grandfather who is also the father of Max and Trevor Anderson.
• Josh Hutcherson as Sean Anderson, Hank's stepson who wants to find his missing grandfather on the Mysterious Island.
• Vanessa Hudgens as Kailani Laguatan, Sean's love interest who is part of the father-daughter tour guide team.
• Luis Guzman as Gabato Laguatan, Kailani's father, who is part of the father-daughter tour guide team.
• Kristin Davis as Elizabeth "Liz" Anderson-Parsons, Sean's mother.

• 1 The Longest Ride

Filming Begins on JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND Starring Dwayne Johnson and Josh Hutcherson

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Filming has begun in Oahu, Hawaii for Journey 2: The Mysterious Island , the sequel to the 2008 release Journey to the Center of the Earth . Josh Hutcherson ( The Kids Are All Right ) will reprise his role from the original, with Dwayne Johnson ( The Other Guys ) and Michael Caine ( Inception ) set to co-star along with Vanessa Hudgens ( High School Musical ), Luis Guzman ( Nothing Like the Holidays ) and Kristin Davis ( Couples Retreat ). Brad Peyton ( Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore ) is set to direct the 3D family flick.

Hit the jump for the official announcement, plus some of my thoughts.

This method of revamping and "kiddifying" classic Jules Verne novels may not exactly be my cup of cinematic tea... but considering that the first film wasn’t completely without its charms, I suppose there’s no harm in giving it another shot. And come on -- who hasn’t, at some point in their lives, desired to see Sir Michael Caine in glorious three dimensions? That’s what I thought.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is set for release September 23, 2011.

Here's the official press release:

Production Underway on New Line Cinema’s 3D Family Adventure “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine, Josh Hutcherson, Vanessa Hudgens, Luis Guzman and Kristin Davis to Star. Filming has begun on location in Oahu, Hawaii, for the 3D family adventure "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island," directed by Brad Peyton ("Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore"). Josh Hutcherson will reprise his role as young adventurer Sean Anderson in this exciting follow-up to the 2008 worldwide hit "Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D," the first live-action film ever to be shot in digital 3D. Dwayne Johnson stars as Sean's stepfather, Hank Parsons; Michael Caine as Sean's grandfather, Alexander Anderson; Vanessa Hudgens and Luis Guzman as a father-daughter tour guide team; and Kristin Davis as Sean's mom, Liz Anderson. The new journey begins when Sean receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist - a place of strange life forms, mountains of gold, deadly volcanoes, and more than one astonishing secret. Unable to stop him from going, Sean's new stepfather joins the quest. Together with a helicopter pilot and his beautiful, strong-willed daughter, they set out to find the island, rescue its lone inhabitant and escape before seismic shockwaves force the island under the sea and bury its treasures forever. "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" is being produced by Beau Flynn & Tripp Vinson, and Charlotte Huggins from a screenplay by Mark Gunn & Brian Gunn, story by Richard Outten. Serving as executive producers are Michael Bostick, Evan Turner, Marcus Viscidi, Richard Brener, Samuel J. Brown and Michael Disco. The creative filmmaking team includes director of photography David Tattersall ("Gulliver's Travels"), production designer Bill Boes ("Fantastic Four"), costume designer Denise Wingate ("Wedding Crashers") and Academy Award© nominated visual effects supervisor Boyd Shermis ("Poseidon"). Beginning in January 2011, production will move to Wilmington, North Carolina, to finish shooting after the holiday hiatus, and is scheduled to wrap principal photography in February 2011. "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" is a New Line Cinema presentation, a Walden Media and Contrafilm production and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

• Michael Caine

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Film details, brief synopsis, cast & crew, brad peyton, dwayne johnson, josh hutcherson, michael caine, vanessa hudgens, anthony carlino, technical specs.

Young adventurer Sean receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist--a place of strange life forms, mountains of gold, deadly volcanoes, and more than one astonishing secret. Unable to stop him from going, Sean's new stepfather joins the quest. Together with a helicopter pilot and his beautiful, strong-willed daughter, they set out to find the island, rescue its lone inhabitant and escape before seismic shock waves force the island under the sea and bury its treasures forever.

Kristin Davis

Stewart shaw, branscombe richmond, emilie claire barlow, anna colwell, luis guzman, walker bankson, stephen caudill, gary abrahamian, jan adamczyk, shane aherne, dayne ahuna, paul alexiou, william alford, steve alterman, chris anderson, scott anderson, carlos anguiano, galder apraiz, cristina de arce, billie joe armstrong, joseph ashmore, aymeric aute, amber axelton, heath baker, jesse balodis, john bankson, christopher barrick, marcos de barros, kip bartlett, ryan bennett, tina bennett, logan berkshire, christophe bernaud, marc berrouett, juergen billstein, ashton blessing, derek blume, tony bohorquez, austin bonang, chantal boomla, markus boos, michael bostick, s kai bovaird, keith brachmann, kane brassington, stefan braun, mark breakspear, richard brener, robby brenham, matthew brookman, john brooks, michelle lee brown, randy brown, ronni brown, jennifer brusciano, clint buckner, dave buehrle, elika burns, shannon leigh butler, roy cancino, david canning, marco capparelli, tim cargioli, john c casey, adolfo castanon, tom castronova, phoenix chan, alexis chapman, pete chesney jr., peter chesney, gina chuang, brian chumney, alex church, joe churchill, yamato cibulka, karl cizakowsky, ryan clarke, regina conroy, matt conway, scott corbett, benjamin cox, karl coyner, andy crawford, thomas crawford, joe creswell, tim crosbie, clay cullen, martyn 'moose' culpitt, robert cvengros, steve cypreos, britt cyrus, colette dahanne, nick damico, henry dando, alex daniels, craig h davidson, kristy dearholt, douglas a degrazzio, ralphie del castillo, brian demetz, robert e denne, lindsay irish desarno, robert deschane, mohammad yahya meta dia, ben dickson, pete dionne, michael disco, daniel dobrott, daren r. dochterman, nicholas dodd, holly dorff, james dornoff, kenji doughty, paris downes, cameron doyle, clayton drier, moosie drier, david drzewiecki, andrew dudman, reid d duke, john michael eaves, christopher edwards, karen eisenstadt, loren elkins, adam ellison, christian emond, sean england, david r espinoza, aaron estrada, henry e ezzell, tara farney, julia ferguson, gary fettis, craig fincannon, lisa mae fincannon, patrick finley, anna fishburn, bruce fleskes, gabriel franke, sally fuscoe, stephen gagnon-cady, tanya gallardo, brian galligan, eric gambini, giancarlo ganziano, hiram garcia, robert gardiner, jonathan s gaynor, sinje gebauer, matt giampa, colleen gibbons, mitchell j glaser, peter gleaves, jim gloster, nainoa glover, dan b goldman, dustin gomes, joanna n goslicka, leighton greer, bryan grill, caroline grubb, matti grüner, matthew k hacker, whitney hagan, erik halsey, jeff halsey, barbara efthymiou harris, daniel harris, miscellaneous notes.

Wide Release in United States Winter February 10, 2012

Released in United States on Video June 5, 2012

Sequel to "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (USA/2008) directed by Eric Brevig and starring Brendan Fraser, and based on Jules Verne's novel "A Journey to the Center of the Earth."

Project's storyline will be based on an original script titled "Myterious Travels" by Richard Outten that producers will repurpose for the sequel.

Brendan Fraser was previously attached to reprise his role as Professor Trevor Anderson.

Eric Brevig was previously attached to direct.

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Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Where to watch.

Rent Journey 2: The Mysterious Island on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

What to Know

Aggressively unambitious, Journey 2 might thrill tween viewers, but most others will find it too intense for young audiences and too cartoonishly dull for adults.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Brad Peyton

Dwayne Johnson

Michael Caine

Josh Hutcherson

Vanessa Hudgens

Kristin Davis

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Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)

Directed by brad peyton.

• AllMovie Rating 6
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Description by Wikipedia

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is a 2012 American adventure film directed by Brad Peyton and produced by Beau Flynn, Tripp Vinson and Charlotte Huggins. It is the sequel to Journey to the Center of the Earth. Following the first film, the sequel is based on another Jules Verne novel, this time The Mysterious Island. The film stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Michael Caine, Josh Hutcherson, Vanessa Hudgens, Luis Guzmán, and Kristin Davis. The story was written by Richard Outten, Brian Gunn and Mark Gunn, and the screenplay by Brian and Mark Gunn. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island was released in cinemas on February 10, 2012 by Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema and Walden Media to mixed reviews, but became a box office success with a worldwide gross of nearly $335 million, surpassing its predecessor. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island was released on DVD/Blu-ray on June 5, 2012.

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Where Was Journey 2 Filmed?

• By Robert Donovan
• Updated On July 11, 2023

If you’re a fan of the 2012 adventure film Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, you may be wondering where the movie was filmed. The answer is that it was shot in several locations around the world, including Hawaii, North Carolina, and Puerto Rico.

The film’s producers chose these locations for their natural beauty and unique landscapes, which helped to create the magical world of the mysterious island. However, filming on location also presented its fair share of challenges for the cast and crew.

From unpredictable weather to difficult terrain, making a movie like Journey 2 requires both creativity and perseverance.

Filming Locations for Journey 2

Choosing the locations, creating the mysterious island, challenges of filming on location, the legacy of journey 2, what was the budget for journey 2 and how much did it cost to film at the various locations, were any of the actors injured during the filming process, how did the filmmakers create the visual effects for the creatures on the mysterious island, were any scenes cut from the final movie that were originally filmed on location, did the filmmakers encounter any unexpected challenges during the production process.

Want to know where the action-packed adventure of Journey 2 was filmed? Let me take you on a journey to discover the exotic filming locations! The film was shot in various locations around the world, including Hawaii, North Carolina, and Puerto Rico.

In Hawaii, some of the scenes were filmed on Oahu Island, particularly at Kualoa Ranch. This location is famous for being used in many movies such as Jurassic Park and Godzilla.

In North Carolina, the production team used Wilmington as their base camp while filming some of the cave scenes.

Lastly, in Puerto Rico, they shot some of the scenes near San Juan and at Arecibo Observatory – a giant radio telescope that plays an important role in one of Journey 2’s major plot points. These locations have become popular tourist destinations because of their association with this fantastic film!

After scouting various locations, you and your team decided to film in Hawaii because of its stunning natural scenery, diverse landscapes, exotic feel, accessibility, and experienced crews.

You were captivated by the lush landscapes and unique rock formations that would make the perfect backdrop for your film. Some of the reasons why you chose Hawaii include:

• The stunning natural scenery: From towering mountains to cascading waterfalls, Hawaii boasts breathtaking views that will leave your audience in awe.
• The diverse landscapes: In Hawaii, you can find everything from dense jungles to rugged coastlines, providing a range of settings for different scenes in your film.
• The exotic feel: Filming in Hawaii gives your movie an otherworldly quality that transports viewers to a far-off land.
• The accessibility: With easy access to airports and highways, getting around Hawaii is convenient for crew members and equipment transport.
• The experienced crews: Hawaii has a thriving film industry with skilled professionals who can help bring your vision to life.

Overall, choosing Hawaii as the filming location for Journey 2 was a no-brainer. Its natural beauty, diverse landscapes, and experienced crews provide everything necessary to create a visually stunning movie.

To craft the mystical world of Mysterious Island, you had to rely on a combination of practical effects and CGI. The production team needed to create a visually stunning environment that would transport audiences to the fantastical land filled with strange creatures, hidden treasures, and ancient mysteries.

The team used a variety of techniques to bring the island to life. They built massive sets in sound stages and on location in Hawaii, which served as the backdrop for many of the film’s most memorable scenes. They also employed cutting-edge CGI technology to enhance the environments and creatures, bringing them closer to what was envisioned by Jules Verne in his original novel. Here is a table showcasing some of the amazing work done by the team:

Thanks to this creative blend of practical effects and digital wizardry, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island transports viewers into an unforgettable adventure through one of cinema’s most magical locations.

You may have faced some challenges when filming on location for a movie, such as dealing with unpredictable weather conditions or navigating unfamiliar terrain. But imagine having to film in exotic locations like Hawaii and North Carolina for the adventure film Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.

Here are some of the challenges that the cast and crew had to overcome while filming on location:

Weather conditions: Filming in Hawaii meant dealing with sudden downpours, strong winds, and high humidity levels. In contrast, North Carolina’s colder climate required actors to brave freezing temperatures during night shoots.

Terrain obstacles: The movie’s storyline required scenes to be shot on cliffs, beaches, and underwater caves. This meant that production crews had to transport heavy equipment across rugged terrain and set up complex rigging systems to ensure everyone’s safety.

Despite these challenges, the cast and crew of Journey 2 were able to create a visually stunning movie that transported audiences into a fantastical world filled with giant insects and volcanic eruptions. So next time you watch an adventure film set in an exotic location, remember the hard work it took to bring those breathtaking visuals to life!

The stunning visuals and adventurous storyline of Journey 2 have left a lasting impact on the film industry. The movie was filmed in various locations such as Hawaii, North Carolina, and Puerto Rico, which helped create the exotic look and feel of the film. It showcased the breathtaking beauty of these locations and gave audiences a glimpse into their unique cultures.

Journey 2’s legacy can also be seen in its influence on other adventure films that followed. Its success inspired more movies to explore exotic locations around the world and incorporate cutting-edge visual effects to create immersive cinematic experiences.

As a viewer, you can appreciate the legacy that Journey 2 has left behind by watching it again or checking out some of the other films that it inspired.

Frequently Asked Questions

You asked about the budget for Journey 2 and how much it cost to film at various locations. Unfortunately, I cannot provide that information without knowing more details about the production process and expenses.

No actors were injured during filming, according to reports. However, safety precautions were taken for the intense action scenes filmed in Hawaii and North Carolina, which contributed to the movie’s $79 million budget.

To bring the creatures of the mysterious island to life, the filmmakers used a combination of practical effects and computer-generated imagery. They meticulously crafted each creature’s design and movements to create a believable and immersive experience for audiences.

You might be interested to know if any scenes were cut from Journey 2 that were originally filmed on location. Unfortunately, there’s no information available on this topic without mentioning where the movie was filmed.

You may be interested to know that the filmmakers of Journey 2 faced unexpected challenges during production. However, this answer does not address where the movie was filmed.

So, you now know where Journey 2 was filmed! From the lush jungles of Hawaii to the breathtaking beaches of Australia, this film took audiences on an unforgettable adventure through some of the world’s most stunning landscapes.

The decision to film on location was risky, but it paid off in creating a sense of authenticity that couldn’t have been achieved with green screens and CGI alone. Despite the challenges faced during filming, including unpredictable weather and difficult terrain, the team behind Journey 2 managed to create a visually stunning world that captivated audiences around the globe.

With its legacy still living on today, it’s clear that this film has left its mark not only on Hollywood but also on viewers who were transported into another world for just a little while.

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Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

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Original Theatrical Release

February 10, 2012

Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

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Locally filmed 'Journey 2' hits the big screen on Friday

Wilmington's first 3D movie hits the big screen on Friday, but you won't see many familiar Port City sights in the film.

That's because most of the shooting for "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" took place on sound stages at EUE/Screen Gems Studios a year ago. The movie used Stage 10, the lot's largest, as well as a water tank built by the production specifically for the shoot.

"They would not have come here without Stage 10," said Bill Vassar, executive vice president of Screen Gems. "We built it to attract movies like that, and I believe that's what put us on the radar to attract other large, tent-pole movies."

During an October press conference to announce that "Iron Man 3" would film in our area this year, Chris Cooney, co-owner and chief operating officer of Screen Gems, mentioned the studios' decision to build "one of the largest stages in the world" as another factor that put Wilmington ahead of the game.

He was referring to the 2009 opening of Stage 10, a 37,500-square-foot, column-free production space that has one of the largest special-effects water tanks in North America.

"Journey 2" shot on location in Hawaii for five weeks in late 2010 before moving operations across the country.

"What drew ‘Journey' here was the tank on 10, but as they made the agreement to come here and the production escalated they actually ended up building a bigger tank to use in conjunction with our tank," Vassar said. "The thing was spectacular. There was scaffolding around the top and an elevator built to the scaffolding."

The execution of such a complex project was a major boon for the entire state, said Aaron Syrett, director of the N.C. Film Office.

"‘Journey' was a big deal for North Carolina," he said. "Its scope was huge. It proved to the industry North Carolina can handle large special-effects films. Additionally, it created jobs and a large economic impact into the local community."

People who see the film will take notice, said Vassar, who recently watched a snippet of the movie during previews for another film.

"The trailer came on for ‘Journey' and I got a chill," he said. "It'll definitely raise the consciousness of Wilmington and the capabilities of Stage 10, and we hope combined with all the other assets in town that we're going to see success for a long time."

There were only four location shoots in this area during "Journey 2" filming, which started last January and wrapped just before a Feb. 24 set-decoration sale.

Two were in a neighborhood off Eastwood Road near Autumn Hall, while one was at a private residence in Forest Hills and the other was on North 23rd Street between Princess Place Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.

"Journey 2" is a sequel to "Journey to the Center of the Earth," which was filmed in Canada and Iceland. That movie, released in 2008, had a budget of $45 million and grossed $231 million worldwide.

The sequel stars Dwayne Johnson ("The Scorpion King"), who is also known as The Rock; Michael Caine ("The Dark Knight"); Josh Hutcherson ("The Kids are All Right"); Vanessa Hudgens ("High School Musical"); Luis Guzman ("Punch-Drunk Love"); and Kristin Davis ("Sex and the City").

New Line Cinema has attached the team of "Journey 2" to "Journey 3," should there be one, and local film officials such as Johnny Griffin, director of the Wilmington Regional Film Commission, are hopeful the second sequel could come calling.

"Anytime we have a project like that, it just helps us sell it in the future," he said.

Judy Royal: 343-2019

On Twitter: @judyroyal

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Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is a 2012 American science fantasy action-adventure film [4] directed by Brad Peyton and produced by Beau Flynn , Tripp Vinson and Charlotte Huggins. A sequel to Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008), the film is based on Jules Verne 's The Mysterious Island (1875). It stars Dwayne Johnson , Michael Caine , Josh Hutcherson , Vanessa Hudgens , Luis Guzmán , and Kristin Davis . The storyline was written by Richard Outten , Brian Gunn and Mark Gunn, and the screenplay by Brian and Mark Gunn.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island was released in cinemas on February 10, 2012, by Warner Bros. Pictures , New Line Cinema and Walden Media to mixed reviews, [5] [6] but was a box office success with a worldwide gross of $335 million, surpassing its predecessor. [3] It was released on DVD/Blu-ray on June 5, 2012.

• 3.1 Casting
• 3.2 Short film
• 4.1 Theatrical release
• 4.2 Home media
• 5.1 Box office
• 5.2 Critical response
• 5.3 Accolades
• 6 Soundtrack
• 10 See also
• 11 References
• 12 External links

Four years after his adventure in the center of the earth , 17-year-old Sean Anderson is arrested by the police for breaking into a satellite control center in hopes of enhancing a coded signal that could have been sent by his long-missing grandfather, Alexander Anderson. Wanting to bond with Sean, his new stepfather Hank Parsons helps decipher the code, which leads to three books: Treasure Island , Gulliver's Travels , and Jules Verne's Mysterious Island . Using the books' individual maps, Hank uses a backlight to make them a single island, complete with the coordinates to its location. Hoping to prove to Sean that there is no mysterious island there, Hank agrees to take him to where the coordiantes point to.

In Palau, Hank reluctantly hires helicopter tourism guide Gabato and his daughter Kailani (on whom Sean develops an immediate crush) to fly to the coordinates, as they are the only ones willing to take them. The helicopter gets caught in a cyclone and they crash into the Pacific, waking up on the island.

Moving inland, they are shocked to discover miniature elephants (which belong to a prehistoric species, the Dwarf sicilian elephant) and giant butterflies. After coming across an egg clutch, Gabato accidentally wakes up a giant frilled lizard, which chases them throughout the jungle. They nearly get eaten, but are saved by Alexander. He takes them to a hut he built from the wreckage of the ship that brought him to the island. He has a working radio, but due to the positioning of the satellite, it will be two weeks before they can call out.

The next morning, Alexander leads the group to the lost city of Atlantis, which rises every 70 years and sinks again after a couple of days. Their only means of salvation seems to be the legendary Nautilus , Captain Nemo's submarine. Kailani enters Nemo's crypt and finds his journal, which shows that Nautilus is in a cave at Poseidon's Cliffs.

To go there, they mount giant bees and fly over a high ridge. When giant bee-eater birds try to devour them, Sean saves Kailani's life, but dislocates his ankle. Hank and Alexander reset Sean's ankle, then the group has a bonding moment when Hank sings his rendition of "What a Wonderful World" to ease Sean's pain.

The next morning, the water rises greatly and Hank deduces that the island will sink in a matter of hours. Gabato is missing, having gone toward the island's volcano in search of gold. While Alexander and Kailani go after him, Sean and Hank head for Poseidon's Cliffs.

To reach Nautilus ' underwater cave, Sean and Hank create makeshift oxygen tanks and dive down fifty feet, but are nearly killed by a giant electric moray eel. The 140-year-old batteries have run down, so they engineer a way to start the submarine with the eel's electricity.

Kailani and Alexander find Gabato and convince him to escape with them instead of trying for the volcano. As they near Poseidon's Cliffs, the volcano erupts. Sean and Hank arrive in Nautilus just in time to rescue the others from the water. Gabato pilots the submarine out of harm's way while Hank and Sean fire torpedoes into the path of falling debris. As they clear the dangers, Kailani kisses Sean for his bravery.

Six months later, Kailani and Gabato are well off, as he runs the most popular tourist attraction on Palau – tours aboard the Nautilus . Kailani visits Sean on his birthday. While the family celebrates, Alexander arrives with a book for Sean's birthday present – Jules Verne's From the Earth to the Moon , Alexander's suggestion for the next new adventure with the family.

• Dwayne Johnson as Hank , Sean's stepfather and a former Navy code breaker.
• Michael Caine as Alexander , Sean's grandfather who is the father of Max and Trevor Anderson from the previous film .
• Josh Hutcherson as Sean , Hank's stepson who wants to find his missing grandfather on the Mysterious Island.
• Luis Guzmán as Gabato , Kailani's father, who is part of the father-daughter tour guide team.
• Vanessa Hudgens as Kailani , part of the father-daughter tour guide company and Sean’s love interest.
• Kristin Davis as Liz, Sean's mother and Hank's wife. Portrayed by Jane Wheeler in the previous film .
• Anna Colwell as Jessica
• Stephen Caudill as Cop, a police officer who is a friend of Hank's.
• Branscombe Richmond as Tour Guide
• Walter Bankson as Hockey Player

Production [ ]

After the commercial success of the first film, New Line Cinema and Walden Media purchased Richard Outten 's spec script, Mysterious Travels , in March 2009 to serve as the basis for the film. In the story, the characters embark on a journey to a mysterious uncharted island thought to have inspired the writing of three literary classics: Robert Louis Stevenson 's Treasure Island , Jonathan Swift 's Gulliver's Travels , and Jules Verne 's Mysterious Island . Brian Gunn and Mark Gunn were chosen to revise Outten's script. Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema announced that Journey 2: The Mysterious Island would be released on February 10, 2012.

Casting [ ]

Josh Hutcherson was the only actor to reprise his role. Due to scheduling issues, Brendan Fraser and Anita Briem did not return. Kristin Davis replaced Jane Wheeler as Sean's mother Liz. Dwayne Johnson played Sean's stepfather, who is forced to accompany Sean on the trip to find his missing grandfather Alexander (played by Michael Caine ) on a mythical and monstrous island. [7] Vanessa Hudgens was cast as Hutcherson's love interest, Kailani.

Short film [ ]

The theatrical release of the film was preceded by a Looney Tunes short film titled Daffy's Rhapsody , featuring Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd in the first CG or 3-D depiction of these specific Looney Tunes characters. The short film's director, Matthew O'Callaghan, noted that " Daffy Rhapsody was originally recorded in the early 1950s as part of a kids' album". Unlike the earlier CG Looney Tunes shorts that appeared before Happy Feet Two and Yogi Bear , this short did not appear on the home video release of the film it accompanied.

Release [ ]

Theatrical release [ ].

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island was released in cinemas on February 10, 2012, by Warner Bros. Pictures , Walden Media and New Line Cinema . The film was accompanied by a 3D Looney Tunes short titled Daffy's Rhapsody . The short was originally going to play before Happy Feet Two , but was replaced with I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat to go along with the bird theme.

Home media [ ]

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island was released on DVD/Blu-ray on June 5, 2012.

Reception [ ]

Box office [ ].

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island grossed $103.9 million in North America and $231.4 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $335.3 million, against a production budget of $79 million [8] surpassing its predecessor . [9] [10] In North America, the film earned a $6.54 million on its debut Friday, ranking fourth at the box office. [11] Over the weekend, it earned $27.3 million, coming in third place, much higher than the original's $21.0 million debut. [12] Outside North America, Journey 2 began its run three weeks before its North American release. [13] It topped the box office outside North America for two consecutive weekends [14] and three in total. [15] It surpassed the original's total outside North America. [16] Its highest-grossing region after North America was China ($58.4 million), [17] followed by Russia and the CIS ($17.6 million) and Mexico ($12.7 million). [18]

Critical response [ ]

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 44% based on 131 reviews with an average rating of 4.92/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "Aggressively unambitious, Journey 2 might thrill teen viewers, but most others will find it too intense for young audiences and too cartoonishly dull for adults". [5] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 41 out of 100 based on reviews from 27 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [6] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale. [19]

Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a B grade, stating that "the movie flies by pleasantly, and is then instantly forgettable. Perhaps Jules Verne can explain the science of that". [ citation needed ]

Accolades [ ]

Soundtrack [ ].

• Letterbomb - Performed by Green Day
• Sleep Forever - Performed by Crocodiles
• Aloha Oe - Performed by Dwayne Johnson
• Hello Again - Performed by Meta & The Cornerstones
• Three Little Birds - Performed by Bob Marley & The Wailers
• What a Wonderful World - Performed by Dwayne Johnson

In August 2014, Carey Hayes and Chad Hayes were announced to write the script for a third film. [21] Brad Peyton and Dwayne Johnson were expected to direct and star in the sequel, respectively. [22] It was later stated that there would be two sequels. [23] By January 2018 however, Johnson stated despite the financial success of The Mysterious Island , and although a third film titled Journey from the Earth to the Moon was intended, its development had been cancelled due to a lack of immediate interest and troubles in adequately adapting the novel. [24] Despite this, reports from Hollywood production insiders arose in August 2020, stating that a sequel was once again in development. In December 2021, Hiram Garcia confirmed that Warner Bros. Pictures wants a sequel film, though Seven Bucks Productions decided to delay development in favor of pursuing other projects. [25]

Gallery [ ]

See also [ ]

• Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008 film)

References [ ]

• ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012): Full Production Credits" . Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Archived from the original on January 4, 2013 . Retrieved March 23, 2012 . Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.
• ↑ " JOURNEY 2 – (PG) ".
• ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 " Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012) ". Box Office Mojo .
• ↑ " JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ". Warner Bros .
• ↑ 5.0 5.1 " Journey 2: The Mysterious Island ". Rotten Tomatoes .
• ↑ 6.0 6.1 " Journey 2: The Mysterious Island Reviews ". Metacritic.com.
• ↑ McNary, Dave (8 September 2010). " Michael Caine set for 'Journey 2' ". Variety .
• ↑ " Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012) - Box Office Mojo ".
• ↑ " Jules Verne Showdown ".
• ↑ Subers, Ray (April 18, 2012). " Around-the-World Roundup: 'Journey 2' Wins Weak Weekend ". Box Office Mojo .
• ↑ Subers, Ray (February 11, 2012). " Friday Report: 'The Vow,' 'Safe House' Draw Huge Crowds ". Box Office Mojo .
• ↑ Subers, Ray (February 12, 2012). " Weekend Report: Moviegoers Say "I Do" to 'The Vow,' Check In to 'Safe House' ". Box Office Mojo .
• ↑ Subers, Ray (January 25, 2012). " Around-the-World Roundup: 'Sherlock' Outwits Competition for Third-Straight Weekend ". Box Office Mojo .
• ↑ Subers, Ray (February 21, 2012). " Around-the-World Roundup: 'Journey 2' Still Strong Overseas ". Box Office Mojo .
• ↑ Subers, Ray (February 21, 2012). " Around-the-World Roundup: 'Journey 2' Wins Weak Weekend ". Box Office Mojo .
• ↑ Subers, Ray (February 28, 2012). " Around-the-World Roundup: 'Ghost Rider 2' Catches Fire Overseas ". Box Office Mojo .
• ↑ Xia, Yun (March 17, 2012). " China Weekly Box Office (03/05 – 03/11): War Horse repeat while A Simple Life shined; Mission Impossible 4 crossed $100m ". Box Office Mojo .
• ↑ " Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012) - International Box Office Results ". Box Office Mojo .
• ↑ Weinstein, Joshua L. (11 February 2012). " Strong Friday Box Office Puts 'The Vow,' 'Safe House' on Track for $38M+ Weekend ". Reuters . ““Safe House” and “Journey 2” each got an “A-.””
• ↑ Roger Ebert (February 8, 2012). "Jump-starting the Nautilus with an electric eel" . Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved February 6, 2021 . Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.
• ↑ " ' Journey' Sequels in the Works With 'Conjuring' Writers (Exclusive)" . The Hollywood Reporter. August 14, 2014. Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.
• ↑ " Brad Peyton Wants A More "Mature" Journey 3 ".
• ↑ " Dwayne Johnson Journey 3 and 4: Writers Hired For Two More Sequels ".
• ↑ Stephens, David (January 3, 2018). " Dwayne Johnson Confirms That Journey 3 Isn't Happening ". Screen Rant .
• ↑ Weintraub, Steve (December 31, 2021). " Exclusive: Producer Hiram Garcia on ‘Red Notice,’ ’Black Adam,’ the Next ‘Jumanji’ Sequel, and Dwayne Johnson’s Upcoming Schedule ". Retrieved on January 5, 2022.

External links [ ]

• {{WP|Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
• Official website

• Journey 2: The Mysterious Island at the TCM Movie Database
• Journey 2: The Mysterious Island at AllMovie
• Journey 2: The Mysterious Island at the American Film Institute Catalog
• Journey 2: The Mysterious Island Now Shooting; Set Photos Surface at /Film
• 1 Tooned Out
• 2 Beetlejuice (character)

• Amazon Prime
• AMC Theatres On Demand
• Google Play
• Fios On Demand
• Xfinity Stream
• Director : Brad Peyton ,
• Producer : Charlotte Huggins , Tripp Vinson , Beau Flynn ,
• Production Design : Bill Boes ,
• Writer : Mark Gunn , Richard Outten , Brian Gunn ,
• Editor : David Rennie ,
• Cinematographer : David Tattersall ,
• Executive Producer : Evan Turner , Michael Bostick ,
• Set Costumer : Cory Ching ,
• Set Dresser : Benjamin Patterson , Kip Bartlett , Erik Parzwardek ,
• Costume Supervisor : John Casey ,
• Dialogue Editor : Douglas Murray , Marilyn McCoppen ,
• Modeling : Steve Cypreos , Suchitra Keshri , Chun Ho Ray Leung , Hyun Bo Park ,
• Set Decoration : Gary Fettis , Chuck Potter ,
• Cast : Josh Hutcherson , Vanessa Hudgens , Kristin Davis , Dwayne Johnson , Luis Guzmán , Michael Caine ,
• Stunt Double : Ralf Koch , Jennifer Brusciano , Tanoai Reed ,
• Story : Mark Gunn , Richard Outten , Brian Gunn ,
• Other : Vacheh Shahmoradian ,
• Hair Department Head : Joy Zapata ,
• Music Editor : David Metzner ,
• Visual Effects Supervisor : Nick Pill , Boyd Shermis ,
• Music Supervisor : Andrea von Foerster ,
• Screenplay : Brian Gunn , Mark Gunn ,
• Sound Designer : Randy Thom ,
• Visual Effects Producer : Julie Orosz , Randy Starr ,
• Original Music Composer : Andrew Lockington ,
• Animation : Larry White , Anthony Rizzo ,
• Conceptual Illustrator : Andrew H. Leung , Miles Teves , John Eaves , Michael Anthony Jackson , Darren Dochterman ,
• Set Designer : Greg Papalia , Dean Wolcott , Alex McCarroll , Chad S. Frey ,
• Art Department Coordinator : Lindsey Suggs , Jenne Lee ,
• Stunts : Tim Jarvis , Craig H. Davidson ,
• Supervising Music Editor : Stephen Lotwis ,
• Production Coordinator : Christie Kwan ,
• Animation Supervisor : Daryl Sawchuk ,
• Casting : Lisa Mae Fincannon , Craig Fincannon ,
• Visual Effects Editor : Gian Ganziano , Scott Anderson , Leona Naidoo ,
• Pilot : Rick Avery ,
• Visual Effects Coordinator : Stephanie Meyerink , Terri Watanabe , Trevor Wyatt , James Greig , Whitney Hagan ,
• Camera Operator : Mike Repeta , Gregory W. Smith ,
• Key Costumer : Cameron Doyle , Charles W. Kaeo , Sandra Collier ,
• Visual Effects : James Baker ,
• Script Supervisor : Anna Rane ,
• Greensman : Adolfo Castanon , Isaia Robins , Darrell Tachibana ,
• Makeup Department Head : Tarra D. Day ,
• ADR Supervisor : Gwendolyn Yates Whittle ,
• Second Unit Director : Boyd Shermis ,
• Property Master : John Bankson ,
• Costume Design : Denise Wingate ,
• Still Photographer : Ron Phillips ,
• Supervising Sound Editor : Al Nelson ,
• Stunt Coordinator : Alex Daniels ,
• Art Direction : Bruce Robert Hill ,
• Sound Effects Editor : Leff Lefferts , Josh Gold ,
• First Assistant Director : John Hockridge ,
• Special Effects Supervisor : Peter Chesney ,
• Construction Coordinator : Gary A. Krakoff ,
• Sculptor : James Van Houten ,
• Foley Editor : Colette D. Dahanne ,

Technical specifications

• Country: United States
• Language: English
• Release: February 10, 2012
• Duration: 94 min
• Genres: Action/Adventure, Family, SciFi/Fantasy

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Where to watch

Journey 2: the mysterious island.

Directed by Brad Peyton

Believe the Impossible. Discover the Incredible.

Sean Anderson partners with his mom's boyfriend on a mission to find his grandfather, who is thought to be missing on a mythical island.

Dwayne Johnson Josh Hutcherson Vanessa Hudgens Luis Guzmán Michael Caine Kristin Davis Anna Colwell Stephen Caudill Branscombe Richmond Walter Bankson Cody Easterbrook Paul Leo Klink

Director Director

Brad Peyton

Producers Producers

Charlotte Huggins Beau Flynn Tripp Vinson

Writers Writers

Mark Gunn Brian Gunn

Story Story

Brian Gunn Mark Gunn Richard Outten

Casting Casting

Craig Fincannon Lisa Mae Fincannon

Editor Editor

David Rennie

Cinematography Cinematography

David Tattersall

Assistant Director Asst. Director

John Hockridge

Additional Directing Add. Directing

Boyd Shermis

Executive Producers Exec. Producers

Michael Bostick Evan Turner Richard Brener

Camera Operators Camera Operators

Mike Repeta Gregory W. Smith

Production Design Production Design

Art direction art direction.

Bruce Robert Hill

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Gary Fettis Chuck Potter Kip Bartlett Chad S. Frey Alex McCarroll Greg Papalia Dean Wolcott Erik Parzwardek Benjamin Patterson

Visual Effects Visual Effects

James Baker Julie Orosz Nick Pill Daryl Sawchuk Boyd Shermis Randy Starr Hiroshi Mori

Stunts Stunts

Alex Daniels Jennifer Brusciano Ralf Koch Tanoai Reed Craig H. Davidson Tim Jarvis Clay Cullen

Composer Composer

Andrew Lockington

Sound Sound

Colette D. Dahanne Josh Gold Leff Lefferts Al Nelson Randy Thom

Costume Design Costume Design

Denise Wingate

Makeup Makeup

Tarra D. Day

Hairstyling Hairstyling

Walden Media New Line Cinema Contrafilm Warner Bros. Pictures

Releases by Date

19 jan 2012, 03 feb 2012, 10 feb 2012, 15 feb 2012, 16 feb 2012, 17 feb 2012, 24 feb 2012, 01 mar 2012, 02 mar 2012, 08 mar 2012, 09 mar 2012, 15 mar 2012, 16 oct 2012, 23 feb 2012, 31 mar 2012, 20 jun 2012, 18 dec 2012, 21 dec 2012, 23 aug 2014, releases by country.

• Theatrical PG
• Theatrical L
• Theatrical В
• Theatrical 15+
• Theatrical 11
• Theatrical U
• Theatrical 6
• Theatrical Κ
• Physical DVD
• Physical BluRay
• Theatrical T
• Digital PG12

Netherlands

• Theatrical 12
• Physical 12 DVD, Blu ray
• TV 12 SBS 6
• Theatrical M/6

South Korea

• Theatrical All

94 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by shay ★★ 1

the rock has 72 movies in total but he plays the same exact role in so many of them that when it really comes down to it he really only has like 5 movies

Review by C B ★½ 8

Hungry Gamer: I hate you, stepdad The Rock. There's so much tension between us.

Next scene.

The Rock: I'm good with codes and maps and stuff. Hungry Gamer: Great! Let's be buds.

On the island.

Michael Caine: Look, I'm on a giant bee. This mysterious place has loads of mysterious creatures like this. Mysterious. The Rock: This mysterious island is mysteriously sinking. "It looks like the liquefaction has tripled overnight!" (actual dialogue) Hungry Gamer: So, all these mysterious animals will drown? The Rock: ... am... Check out my tits... they can dance. Quick, throw berries at them.

Review by chloe 💓 ★★½

this hunger games mfer spends the whole movie spitting facts about explorer novels and their authors, has all this camping gear, a bedroom decorated like he does this kind of adventure stuff often, but then points at coordinates on a map and says “ what are those things?” ????? i can’t with this movie omfg

Review by heykorra ★★★½ 4

used to watch this religiously as a child for josh hutcherson and i am still obsessed with him

Review by mia <3 ★★★ 1

three stars all dedicated to josh hutcherson

Review by nick atkinson ★★½ 4

Logically, the film makes no sense. The acting is pretty much awful. The writing is terrible. But The Rock makes his pecs dance, so here’s two and a half stars.

Review by Ellie C. ★★ 4

I could see the rocks nipples the entire time

Review by Vidyuth Mahesh 11

love coming back from a long day out with my family and seeing the rock's titties bouncing off berries

Review by 𝓢 ★★★

sometimes you need a bad movie with terrible effects to put a smile on your face

Review by tasha ★★★★★ 1

a masterpiece. holy shit. dwayne "the rock" johnson sucker punched a giant lizard in the FACE in this movie and that wasn't even the best thing that happened

Review by ram<3 ★★½ 1

my josh hutcherson era starts… NOW

Review by andre ★★★½

vanessa hudgens and josh hutcherson are the reason i'm bisexual. the true meaning of whatever.

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"Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" looks like nothing so much as one of those live-action adventures that Disney used to grind out in the 1950s — and hey, here's Captain Nemo's Nautilus to prove it. Also, a tree house to humble "Swiss Family Robinson," which contains a short-wave radio that has been assembled from old spoons, I think I heard.

The movie is very, very loosely a sequel to " Journey to the Center of the Earth ," with only two connections: It's inspired by a Jules Verne novel, and it co-stars young Josh Hutcherson as the hero Sean. The film opens with him on a motorcycle and being chased by cops, but not to worry; all he did was break into a satellite-tracking station to boost the power on a message for help sent by his grandfather from a lost island in the Pacific.

Sean, whose father in the first film ( Brendan Fraser ) has disappeared (from the cast, anyway), now has to deal with Hank ( Dwayne Johnson , aka the Rock). Hank is his new stepdad. Josh and Hank make friends by decrypting grandfather's message; Hank glances at it and intuits that the two-syllable words stand for dots and one-syllable words stand for dashes, which means Grandpa has had enough free time on his remote island to figure out a way to make Morse code several times longer than it previously was. Unanswered is why grandfather would encrypt a call for help.

This Hank, what a swell guy. He proposes that the two of them fly off to the Pacific and find Grandpa. On arrival somewhere, they hire a tourist helicopter pilot named Gabato, played by Luis Guzman as another one of those low-comedy guys who gets all worked up and is scared of stuff. (I enjoyed a reprise of this classic shot: Gabato runs toward camera, falls on stomach, looks up …and up … and up.)

Gabato has a daughter named Kailani ( Vanessa Hudgens ), a Polynesian beauty who wears a tank top and Daisy Dukes throughout the film. These four fly off in the helicopter, are trapped in a Force Five hurricane that rips it to pieces and are lucky enough to find themselves alive on the beach of the Mysterious Island.

This is your complete island. It has an active volcano; waterfalls with no apparent water sources streaming down cliffs; elephants the size of dogs, and giant lizards that are nowhere big enough to account for the size of their eggs. (Josh falls through the shell of one, splashes in a pool of yolk and is attacked by an unborn lizard chick.) Also on the island is the lost city of Atlantis, even though it's in the wrong ocean, and bees so big Sean and Kailani can both ride on the back of one. And Alexander Anderson, Sean's grandfather, played by Michael Caine , who will not be editing this role into his videos about how to act in movies.

I hope you understand I enjoyed most of this stuff. The director, Brad Peyton , apparently intended it as a genial parody of countless other movies in this spirit. There is, for example, a scene were Sean, Grandpa, Kailani and Gabato all sit around the old campfire and listen while Hank strums a ukulele and sings "What a Wonderful World." And I mean he sings it: every word of three verses. It's not every day you see the Rock channeling Gene Autry.

Sean deduces that Verne's novel contains everything they need to know, and this comes in handy when the volcano explodes, and the island begins to sink into the sea. Sure enough, Captain Nemo's submarine is still hidden underwater. Hank and Sean, trusting Verne, dive off a high cliff, and while holding their breath and swimming underwater, are able to (1) find the sub, (2) open the hatch by tugging and twisting it, (3) swim inside, (4) push a lever to fill it with air, and (5) get the power generator working by jump-starting it with an electric eel.

This is transcendently goofy. It isn't a "good" movie in the usual sense (or most senses), but it is jolly and good-natured, and Michael Caine and Dwayne Johnson are among the most likable of actors. Johnson is such a good sport, he even shows young Sean how to impress girls by flexing your pecs so quickly that nuts will ricochet off them. I can't think of any reason to pay extra for the 3-D.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Film credits.

Journey 2: Mysterious Island (2012)

Rated PG for some adventure action, and brief mild language

Josh Hutcherson as Sean

Dwayne Johnson as Hank

Vanessa Hudgens as Kailani

Michael Caine as Alexander

Luis Guzman as Gabato

Directed by

• Brad Peyton

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Josh Hutcherson returns as Sean Anderson, who embarks on a mission to save his grandfather with the help of his mother's boyfriend, played by Dwayne Johnson.

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Journey 2: The Mysterious Island Still - H 2012

A menagerie of outsized fauna is royally upstaged by Dwayne Johnson ’s dancing man-boobs in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island , yet another from the Verne-adaptation school of fanciful family adventure.

A 3D update of one of the less widely read Jules Verne classics, it follows the 2008 hit J ourney to the Center of the Earth , a pioneer in the 3D resurrection that reached its zenith a year later with Avatar.

The Bottom Line Jules Verne rejuvenated for the iPhone age.

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Verne was a fantasist nonpareil, but his 19th century imagination would surely have balked at the notion of berries pinging wildly off The Rock’s pecs as they do in this kid-friendly excursion from Canadian director Brad Peyton ( Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore ).

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The targeted demographic, however, will gladly hop aboard for a cornball ride through colorful, often glaringly phony sets popping with miniature elephants, gold-spewing volcanoes and a monster-truck-sized lizard.

For the adults, there’s the edifying sight of Michael Caine astride a giant bee.

The New Line and Contrafilm presentation, bowing in Australia January 19 before a global roll-out that reaches North America on February 10, can expect to at least equal the $250 million box office drawn by 2008’s Journey.

Josh Hutcherson , whose teen idol status is set to hit critical mass with his upcoming role in The Hunger Games , returns as intrepid young explorer Sean Anderson. In Journey, he was accompanied by his uncle (played by Brendan Fraser ), but this time round a cheerily self-aware Johnson, as his Navy vet stepfather Hank, is the responsible adult on board.

VIDEO:Josh Hutcherson, Vanessa Hudgens and Dwayne Johnson Discover a ‘Mysterious Island’ in ‘Journey 2’ Trailer

Sean is now a rebellious 17-year-old and skeptical of the new father-figure chosen by his mom ( Kristen Davis ). The requisite male bonding ensues when Sean intercepts a coded distress signal which leads the pair to an uncharted island in the middle of the South Pacific and into the eccentric vortex of Sean’s adventurer grandfather, Alexander (Caine).

Equal and opposite attraction emerges in the form of the headstrong Kailani ( Vanessa Hudgens ), daughter of helicopter pilot Gabato ( Luis Guzmán , providing stale comic relief).

The island is a rainbow-filled world where evolutionary anomalies abound but, as the band of adventurers skips from one supersized Survivor -like challenge to the next, one can’t help feeling the creative potential of Verne’s vision is wasted.

There’s certainly nothing much here to frighten the children, although Johnson’s ukulele-accompanied rendition of “What a Wonderful World” might come close. The dense scientific discussion that characterized Verne’s “The Mysterious Island” is boiled down to an occasional spurt of exposition – and an iPhone cameo – as screenwriters Richard Outten, Brian Gunn and Mark Gunn braid together elements from that novel, together with Robert Louis Stevenson ’s Robinson Crusoe and Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, to produce an episodic storyline.

Like Jane Austen , Verne has provided a rich seam for Hollywood screenwriters to mine long after his death. There have been various cinematic adaptations of his 1874 novel; the most fondly remembered is 1961’s Mysterious Island, celebrated for Ray Harryhausen ’s stop-motion animation and the buckskin micro-dress worn by Beth Rogan . That film followed the 1959 version of J ourney to the Center of the Earth in the same way Journey 2 follows 2008’s Journey , but was considered a sequel to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in that the megalomaniac Captain Nemo also featured.

Nemo is referenced obliquely here, but a glorious steam-punk rendering of the Nautilus is featured prominently, eventually getting a jump-start from a gigantic electric eel in one of the film’s most inventive set pieces.

Where the 1961 film took its make-believe seriously, Peyton is content creating a series of visual spectacles. Johnson sets the tone with an affable goofiness, although never ignites the spark that his labored banter with Caine requires.

Opens: Australia, January 19; U.S. February 10 Production company: New Line Cinema presentation of a Contrafilm production Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Josh Hutcherson, Vanessa Hudgens, Michael Caine, Luis Guzman Director: Brad Peyton Screenwriters: Brian Gunn and Mark Gunn, from a story by Richard Outten, Brian Gunn and Mark Gunn Producers: Beau Flynn, Tripp Vinson, Charlotte Huggins Executive producers: Richard Brener, Michael Disco, Samuel J. Brown, Marcus Viscidi, Michael Bostick and Evan Turner Co-producer: Dwayne Johnson Director of photography: David Tattersall Production designer: Bill Boes Costume designer: Denise Wingate Music: Andrew Lockington Editor: David Rennie Rated PG, 94 minutes

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Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)

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In this sequel to Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D , we catch up with young Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson), now a bit older and getting into all kinds of mischief. Sean's mom (Kristin Davis) and step-dad Hank (Dwayne Johnson) try to pry the reason for his bad behavior out of the recalcitrant teen, and Hank finally manages to get the answer: Sean is trying to piece together the mystery of his missing grandfather, Alexander Anderson (Michael Caine), who went searching for a mysterious island of legend.

Working together, Sean and Hank decode a message from Alexander based on the famous adventure tales of Jules Verne, Robert Lewis Stevenson and Jonathan Swift. Sean immediately sets his sights on the island of Palau, the next step to locating his grandfather, and Hank - trying to bond with the boy and/or exhaust his curiosity - decides to chaperone the journey.

In Palau, Hank and Sean meet Helicopter tour guide Gabato (Luis Guzmán) and his daughter Kailani (Vanessa Hudgens) - who is pretty enough to make Sean risk a flight on her rusted copter into the eye of a hurricane that just so happens to hide the entrance to the mysterious island. Once they are (crash-)landed on the island, the party sets out to find Alexander - and then, find passage off of the mystical land mass before it sinks back into the sea, taking them with it.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island  is one of those "good for what it is" films - and what it is, is a light-hearted, family-friendly adventure film in the vein of  Goonies  or  Honey I Shrunk the Kids  (only not that good). The film is filled with cheesy dialogue and jokes, one-dimensional characters and an overdone plot that offers just a few notes of genuine heart or drama - but none of that really matters in this context. Kids will have fun with the material, and the adults accompanying them will be reasonably entertained as well.

Director Brad Peyton ( Cats & Dogs 2 ) crafts a suitable visual experience via some nice tropical locales and striking (but obvious) green-screen and CGI effects. Journey 2  is not likely to win any technical awards - but again, in the context of a kids' film, the visuals are sufficient. The 3D certainly adds to the fun - though it's more often than not used in that pop-out, 'in-your-face' manner meant to capture the fleeting attention of youngsters. But, to be fair, any movie that spends time showcasing The Rock bouncing CGI berries off of his pecs is just out to have a good time, rather than impress with its technical prowess.

Of course, all the silliness would be too much if not for the cast of actors who manage to ground it, and Dwayne Johnson and Michael Caine are two of the main reasons why this film works as effectively as it does. Both are great leading men in their own right, and the contentious relationship between Hank and Alexander (as Sean's competing paternal figures) creates some great banter, which are probably the movie's best moments.

Josh Hutcherson has become something of a bigger name since his first  Journey  film, but he does a good job holding the screen and potraying a somewhat layered protagonist - good qualities in a young lead. Hutcherson's chemistry with Johnson is also strong, and certain moments between Sean and Hank even manage to be somewhat moving as the film progresses.

Hudgens doesn't offer much except her pretty face (not that she's required to) and Guzmán gets the task of playing the irritating comic relief character - which he is certainly successful(?) in doing.

On the whole,  Journey 2  is just a fun ride from beginning to end. It's not a piece of classic cinema by any means, but between some great set pieces, a healthy mix of non-threatening action, (chessy) kid-friendly comedy, and some likable leading performers, you can easily set this Journey above the one that proceeded it.

BONUS: Journey 2 also includes a new 3D CGI Looney Tunes short featuring Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd. It's a different look for Looney Tunes, featuring some new voices behind the iconic characters and a spastic, hyper-kinetic pace - but the young'uns should enjoy. Although, it is a little unsettling to end an animated short on an image of a 3D shotgun pointed in the face of a young audience. But I digress.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island  is now playing in 2D and 3D theaters.

journey 2: the mysterious island

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is the follow-up to 2008's Journey to the Center of the Earth. The film takes place four years after the original, showing Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson teaming up with Hank, his stepfather, to find his lost grandfather. Due to scheduling issues, Brendan Fraser wasn't able to return as Trevor Anderson but was replaced by Dwayne Johnson as the film's lead.

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