Under The Mountain (2009/Lionsgate DVD)
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: C Film: B+
When a pair of teenage psychic twins Rachel and Theo are sent to live with
their aunt, uncle and cousin in the beautiful land of Auckland
things looked great. Soon they are
dragged into a race to save the world, turns out their neighbors, the
Wilberforces aren't human. Hidden on
islands deep underground beneath the dormant volcanoes are forces of evil,
imprisoned after few centuries they would like nothing better than to destroy
the human race. Along with the
mysterious old man, Mr. Jones a fire-raiser and their wayward cousin can they
discover the power within themselves to stop the Wilberforces? Now, the fantasy film Under The Mountain arrives on DVD from Lionsgate.
This was amazing film, the film takes a land's natural land formations and
creates a legend/folklore that they were not naturally formed but they were
created to entomb an evil alien race beneath them, the Wilberforces: a
slug-like race thriving on turning worlds in to mud wastelands. The two main characters the twins Rachel and
Theo, whom are telepathically linked, they are guided and protected by Mr.
Jones who tells them they are the key to stopping the Wilberforces forever. Mr. Jones is actually the last surviving
member of another alien but benevolent race whom is sworn to stop the
Wilberforces on any planet they are found. Mr. Jones is a 'Fireraiser' can use fire to
read minds, teleport, or throw energy to combat the Wilberforces. Sam Neill leads a cast of mostly unknown
actors.
This was a great film to watch, based on the book by Maurice Gee, this film was
actually filmed in the beautiful landscape of Auckland, filled with beautiful vistas of the
natural landforms, islands and waters. The
movie creates a story about two children who get caught up between forces
beyond their imaginations, and that the source of the two children's powers was
not their abilities but the bond that existed between them. This film I would say is good for families,
children, or anyone who like books or movies like Chronicles of Narnia, of fantasy stories. Extras include commentary with the director,
and making of featurette.
- Ricky Chiang
