The Core

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Ralph R The Core might not win any awards for scientific accuracy, and sure, the premise alone invites every kind of eye-roll, but what it does deliver is something we’ve been losing fast in today’s cinematic landscape: original storytelling that doesn't try to go viral or squeeze itself into a franchise mold. It’s from that 2000 to 2010 cultural crossroads, before everything became about metrics and trend-chasing. This was when movies still dared to be weird, flawed, ambitious, and most importantly, human. It has all the hallmarks of that era where studios were still funding original scripts, even if they were risky. And yeah, it paid the price at the box office, but I’d argue it aged better than a lot of so-called “hits” from its time. Directing-wise, Jon Amiel keeps things grounded even when the plot is anything but. He never tries to oversell the drama or throw in unnecessary flash. Instead, he lets the characters carry it. And that’s where The Core shines. The script is quietly brilliant. It doesn’t scream its cleverness, it just talks like people talk. You’ve got emotionally loaded one-liners, smooth transitions, and character-defining dialogue that lands in seconds and moves on. There’s no pandering, no exposition dumps. You either keep up, or you miss it. That kind of confidence in the audience is rare now, especially when studios are so obsessed with clarity over character. One thing that stands out even more today is how unfairly movies like The Core have been treated just because their science wasn’t explained in a way that “felt” believable. The truth is, there are tons of movies with equally ridiculous science that were accepted just because the script guided the audience more carefully. If a movie gives you a decent explanation, even a weak one, it becomes forgivable. But when it doesn’t handhold, even if the logic is the same, it gets slammed. And that’s a problem. The Core didn’t flop because it was more far-fetched than others. It flopped because it didn’t explain its madness in a way that made audiences feel safe. But honestly, once you get past that, what you find underneath is a character-driven, surprisingly well-written story with actual heart. Watching this in 2025 hits different. You realize just how rare it is now to get a non-franchise, non-remake, non-based-on-existing-IP kind of film. Out of the top 66 movies to earn over $100 million in recent years, around 70% were franchise flicks. That tells you everything. Studios are scared to invest in originality, so they don’t. And we as an audience? We’ve gotten used to that. But The Core, for all its plot holes, reminds you what it's like when a movie just wants to tell a story, not trend. It's a reminder that when you kill risk, you kill magic. So if you want to rewatch something that speaks to the lost art of character-driven, original cinema, give this one another look. You might be surprised at how much it says when it’s not trying to go viral. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/24/25 Full Review Donn A It was just bad. 😅 Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 04/10/25 Full Review Brad S. R A completely stupid popcorn flick, but one that nevertheless still holds some interest. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/19/25 Full Review Paul H Strangely, one of my very favorite popcorn disaster films of all time. The effects and action are very good, even if the drama seems to be formula. Every so often, I need to rewatch and enjoy this one. I didn't understand when Roger Ebert was thumbs down on what I consider a worthy 134minutes of great entertainment. This film is no throwaway. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/21/25 Full Review movies4granted yea I get it but this is one of my comfort movies and makes my adhd anxiety ridden brain calm. don't ask why Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/16/24 Full Review Robert B I don't get the hate or the complaints. I thought this was fun popcorn jaunt in the spirit of the old 60's Jules Verne adaptations. Everyone moaning about it really need to get that pickle out of there ass.🙄 Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/15/24 Full Review Read all reviews

The Core

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