Rating: 
Summary: Did NOT get its just deserves.
Review: I am very angered that this film was not more successful than it was. However, at the time, the world was in love with happy, singing lions thanks to Disney, so that could possibly be the effect.First, I think I should inform almost everyone who reads this that, despite what you hear, almost everything that happened in this story is true. The hunters in the boxcar missing the lion at close range over and over? True. The lions killing just to kill. True. Constant rifles being dropped, thus allowing the lions to escape. True. Patterson jumping out of a tree and killing the lion as it was EATING HIM! TRUE. Everything in this film is true, and if you read any of the books about it, you'll see that it really did happen. Now onto the review. There's one bad thing about the acting in this movie: Val Kilmer's accent. It's not quite realistic enough. Whenver things get intense, he loses it. However, the rest of the acting is superb. Michael Douglas does a fabulous job as the Man With No Name character, and the supporting cast of natives is great. Fear can be seen by everyone, and more importantly, it is real fear. No on to the script. I have always been a huge fan of William Goldman's since I saw Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid when I was 12, but he truly does a brilliant job here. The lines are great and the characters are what they are intended to be, either likable, mysterious, or jerks. The only thing that irks me about the writing is how the character of Remmington(or Redbeard, as it was intended) given a history. I know that Goldman was forced to write this in, but it truly makes the character look like a wuss instead of keeping his air of mystery around him. Other than that, Goldman's script is terrific. The directing by Stephen Hopkins is right on and as tense as it should be. When there is supposed to be fear or paranoia invoked, it is right there and in your face. This movie also contains some of the most beautiful scenery of the African continent I've seen since OUT OF AFRICA. Hopkins photographs everything in Tsavo in a washed out sephia that works very well since Tsavo is supposed to be surrounded by death, whether it be from Malaria, religious fights, or those pesky lions. The one thing to me, besides Goldman's script, that stands out is the spectacular musical score. I can't think right off hand who did the music, but it is PERFECT. It's dreamy and intense and airy at just the right times. If I could find it anywhere, I would definitely buy it, and I do not buy movie scores much. It works with the picture beautifully. As you can tell, I love this film. I think it is great and powerful and I think everyone should watch it, especially if you love adventure stories or incredible true tales. For more insights on the film and story, I also reccomend you read Goldman's "Which Lie Did I Tell?" It adds insight on this truly terrific movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Ghost Does not Deliver
Review: Film of this sort had great potential, but the lions just were not scary enough. Great location filming, but Douglas and Kilmer were not given enough on-screen time together for any chemistry to develop. Douglas character does not enter movie until an hour into the plot. Story is about Kilmer accepting job to build bridge in Africa in 1898 until lions start messing up the works. If you want to see a good bridge movie minus the lions then rent Bridge on the River Kwai which is excellent.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: I loved this movie, it was so realistic that it chilled me to the bone. When the Lions attacked the man in the village and dragged him away, I was in a state of shock. It was amazing to see the intelligence of the Lions and to actually watch while they boldly carried people off, I was as frightened throughout the whole show as the cast. I have ordered it for my personal library. It was based on facts making it even more exciting. I would highly recommend it to anyone. If you like shocks this is the movie for it.
Rating: 
Summary: Great movie
Review: A manly movie, perfect for hunters and outdoorsmen that want a movie to get in the mood for camping or hunting. Just great.
Rating: 
Summary: all right
Review: this is ok i suggest veiwing before buying I wasn't crazy about it but everyone who I saw it loved it. douglas was very good though
Rating:
Summary: Great scenery, Good Story, Great Music; a fine Film.
Review: I usually don't leave reviews for films that have this many reviews by other viewer because I am usually just repeating what others have said. However, in this case I am a real fan of this film and thought I would leave review anyway. Initially I did not want to see this film because I had read reviews that said this film was just a standard Hollywood film that injected white males into Africa to save the locals from danger. I'm glad I finally ignored these reviews and viewed this film. While Kilmer and Douglas (especially Douglas who breaks from his victimized male roles) provide fine acting I enjoy this film for it's basic but intriguing story line, it's beautiful scenery and the background music. I have never been to Africa and have never had a great desire to visit. However, this film shows a beautiful land and the music provides the right feel and now I find myself hoping to one day vist and tour the land. I do not know too many people who have seen this movie but those who have agree with me that this is movie that feels real. For those like myself who are unfamiliar with this story they will be drawn to the story line and unlike some films will not be sure that they can predict the ending. A good family movie as long as the kids are probably 8 or older. Some kids may be frightened by the lions but there is no real bad language or gore that may offend some viewers. Overall this film does what all films should, provide a good story, good scenery and good characters that the viewer can identify with.
Rating:
Summary: A stunning safari adventure.
Review: I was so glad that I saw this when it was originally released. This film is absolutely stunning. It is not an all-out horror film like some people might think. This is a great adventure story with well drawn-out characters. Tom Wilkinson makes Beaumont so despicable that you just want to throw HIM to the lions and let them have at it. Michael Douglas is also very good as Remington. But the film belongs to Val Kilmer as Patterson, the Irishman who comes to build a bridge and finds himself being blamed for the lion attacks, and John Kani as Samuel, the tribal chief and Patterson's friend and foreman. Jerry Goldsmith's brilliant score perfectly captures the essence of Africa (African chants are incorporated into the score). Director of photography Vilmos Zsigmond demonstrates with this film that he is a master of the widescreen format, and his shots of the African landscape are breathtaking. Then, of course, there are the lions themselves. The attack scenes are VERY well done, and Zsigmond's shots of the lions' eyes are still stuck in my head. Add to this some terrific sound effects and you have a real winner.
Rating:
Summary: A 12 year old's point of view
Review: First off to say, it was definently overrated. A few people get eaten, you don't see guts flying left and right, and an intense movie wouldn't be so without a few people eaten, but it really happened!
Rating:
Summary: Did you know?
Review: Did you know this movie is based on the book "Maneaters of Tsavo" by Col. Patterson? Did you know the real lions did not have manes? Did you know that Col. Patterson always hunted alone? Did you know that the Remington character played by Michael Douglas is a fictional composite of many white gamehunters? Did you know that scene where the Masai flush to lion out of the bush isn't in the book? Now you know. Rent this video.
Rating:
Summary: Flawed action/suspense film
Review: The Ghost and the Darkness has two big things going for it: a surprisingly complex and intriguing performance from Michael Douglas, and some tense action sequences. What it has going against are Val Kilmer delivering another uncharismatic performance and plenty of action cliches. Granted, the movie is fun to a certain extent where you don't really notice some of the flaws but the simple fact is, the film really should have been a lot better. Watch it for the action, but don't expect plot depth.
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