Congo

Rating:
Summary: Good Clean Adventure
Review: After years and years of filthy language and bare boobs and bottoms it is refreshing for someone like myself to find a traditional adventure movie that is not insulting to my sensabilities and fun to watch. Too bad that these types of films are scarce. Most script writers can write a line without the " F" word in it and love can't be conveyed by them without nudity, but this movie was a treat for me.

Rating:
Summary: Wake me up when it's over
Review: I absolutely hated this movie! The whole movie was a waste of time. All they do is go through the jungle in search of some diamonds for a telephone company...laser?? You didn't even see the flesh-eating...gorillas until the end of the movie, and the people, very predictably I may say, were caught in a situation that they couldn't possibly get out of, but something saves them, but still adds to the danger. OK, I'll give them this, a volcanic eruption saving them was the last thing on my mind. And what's with the talking gorilla? It did nothing in the film except annoy you and say stupid things.

Rating:
Summary: Most powerful movie ever
Review: Alot of people rip on this movie and i feel it my duty to step in and "enlighten" them. this is a very deep movie. The internal and external conflicts rage throughtout... it has alot to say about human beings and are feeling of dominance on this planet. Very powerful with amazing special effects at the end.. This is classic and belongs in everyones movie collection.

Rating:
Summary: One Of The Worst Movies Ever!
Review: This movie looked and felted like it took about three days to put together. Apes that you don't even see until the last ten minutes of the movie leave bloody trails of uncharismatic actors. This film was a HUGE disappointment. If you have any copies in your house, I suggest you throw them out immediately before you get any dumber.

Rating:
Summary: Yawn
Review: I am not going to describe what this movie was about. What I will tell you is that this is absolutely the worst adaptation of a Michael Crichton book I've ever seen. Usually, acually almost always the movie adaptations of Crichton's books are fair to excellent. This movie was HORRIBLE! It differed in so many ways from the book it could almost be an entirely different story altogether! First of all, in the book Amy is a CHIMPANZEE, not a gorilla for crying out loud! There is a BIG difference! The hippo scene in the movie lasted about 30 seconds while in the book it took an entire chapter to describe. I'm not going to go on about all the differences, but I'm telling you Crichton fans DON'T BOTHER! I enjoyed the book "Congo." It wasn't one of my favorites but it was good and I do not appreciate having it made into a screwed up version of "The Jungle Book." One good thing: Karen Ross in the movie followed the character of Karen Ross in the book very well. But believe me, this movie is not worth your time.

Rating:
Summary: Didn't I see this in Planet of the Apes?
Review: Technology, Cardboard actors, no script, and a recylcled plot from Planet of the Apes are the hightlights of this film (one of the worst movies of 1995) with Marshall showing us that he has a lot to learn abut directing, you can see why Linney has not been in a major movie since, (she can't act), and Tim Curry has not been wise about the movies he stars in either.

Rating:
Summary: very good
Review: It's a cool movie with all the monkey's and the big white monkey who kills many people. Dylan Walsh is a good actor and Laura Linney to together they put up a nice acting work. It's like all other animal movies.

Rating:
Summary: An entertaining(kind of)film...
Review: I enjoyed it. Leave it at that.

Rating:
Summary: Preposterous, But Fun Jungle Adventure
Review: In the tradition of H. Rider Haggard and "Indiana Jones" comes another blockbuster adaptation of a bestselling Michael Crichton novel. Up until now, this has not been one of his better known books, although it was a good enough read. The film is okay, but hopefully it will lead people to the even better book.

The story begins in the jungles of the Congo. An expedition of scientists has discovered an incredible find: a huge source of pure, blue diamonds. They communicate the good news back home, but before they can transmit their coordinates, they are suddenly attacked and killed. But by what?

Another scientist is sent in to find out. Dr. Karen Ross (Laura Linney), for reasons best left unexplained, attaches herself to a mission already bound for Zaire. A primatologist (Dylan Walsh) is returning his talking gorilla-she communicates through sign language-to her home in Africa. He is accompanied by a mysterious and very shady Romanian "philanthropist" with the unlikely name of Herkermer Homolka (Tim Curry). Karen comes along at a crucial time with a pile of money and is soon part of the gang.

Once in Africa, they meet up with Monroe Kelly (Ernie Hudson), their Great White Hunter "who happens to be black." That's when their adventure begins in earnest and it is a wild one. I won't give it away here-you probably wouldn't believe me anyway-but it is exciting and suspenseful, if never actually believable.

The screenplay for "Congo" was written by noted playwright John Patrick Shanley ("Moonstruck"). He has an odd sense of humor-witness his underrated "Joe Vs. the Volcano"-that is very much in evidence here. The story at times borders on the ludicrous and it is filled with all the delightful cliches that usually populate jungle adventure films (e.g. porters who go missing in the night, and a corpse with a diamond clutched in its hand).

Maybe the film wouldn't have worked any other way. I don't know. By making the story a pseudo-spoof, though, Shanley has removed the dramatic tension and suspense that made the novel work. Since everything is played for laughs-all too frequently unintentionally-then it is almost impossible for us to really get involved and care about what is happening.

Still, there is always pleasure to be had from a film that doesn't take itself too seriously and is not above poking fun at the customs of its genre. "Congo" has that, plus a few exciting scenes and some fun performances, particularly by Ernie Hudson. It is certainly not a great film, but it is a pleasant diversion on a hot summer day.

Rating:
Summary: Cheeseball film
Review: Inspiring?no. Funny?no. Real looking gorilla?no. Good acting?no. Entertaining?no. Thought- provoking?no. Pure brain fodder. If you watch this, I think you will lose brain cells. Do yourself a favor, skip it. I wish I did.