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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Fun Adventure In The Vein Of The Old Cliffhangers, December 15, 2004
I'll admit that I'm probably giving this film a higher rating than it deserves, but I really enjoy watching it. It seems like a really good attempt at capturing the essence of the old cliffhanger movies starring the likes of Tarzan from way back in the 30's and 40's. Although it isn't the greatest film around, it's one of the best high adventure flicks to roll out since "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Of course, it's nowhere near as good as "Ark," but at least it gives us a good story with some solid characters.
The characters are relatively stock, but that's to be expected in a film like this. Dylan Walsh plays the young, smart, and helpful scientist. Ernie Hudson is the great hunter who fears nothing. Tim Curry is the over-the-top, greedy "philanthropist" with wicked intentions. The rest of the cast does a great job, considering the overall material they work with.
For 1995, the special effects are just fine. Having the wicked gorillas rumble around and attack people looked pretty good considering it was a bunch of guys in suits. Walsh's signing gorilla was full of RC facial expressions.
This film was obviously made with the intent of riding the coattails of another Michael Crichton book-turned-movie, "Jurassic Park." Trust me, "Jurassic Park" is ten times as good as this rumble in the jungle, but "Congo" will suffice for some above-average Sunday afternoon entertainment.
I'd consider it a safe buy due to the fact that it isn't too expensive and the story is better than most of the latest jungle flicks.
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Congo is an entertaining film to watch on a Saturday night., January 5, 2000
Reminiscent of those Saturday matinee serials, Congo is an adventure film directed by Frank Marshall and written by Oscar winner John Patrick Shanley. I have read the book before and it's quite different from the film. Many regard this as the worst film adaptation of a Michael Crichton novel but I don't think so. Marshall seemed to be heading for trashy fun when he directed the film and that's exactly what the audience gets. The plot begins with promise. An expedition in the virunga region of the Congo travel to Mount Mukenko in search of a diamond that will enhance a large company called Travicom. However the entire group is slaughtered by what seems to be a gorilla. Now, a group led by Monroe Kelly (Ernie Hudson), Peter Elliot (Dylan Walsh), and Karen Ross (Laura Linney) head to the Congo to renew the search for the diamond and find out what happened to the other expedition. While Crichton's novel was full of nail-biting tension, Marshall and Stanley go more for the light-hearted and offer some moments of humor. That's not to say there's no tension. There's plenty of it in the last half hour of the film not to mention a bit of gory violence that involves a thrown decaptitated head. The action sequences aren't bad. They aren't up to par with Indiana Jones but they still maintain excitement and tension. The performances in this film are borderline camp. None of the actors are ever really serious until they encounter the killer apes that created the original expedition massacre. For a film that was clearly disliked by audiences and critics (although Roger Ebert found it to be good trash) it certainly did well at the box office. If you haven't seen this film I would say to watch it expecting a fun action/adventure that's not to be taken seriously.
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18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
EXCELLENT STORY-EXCELLENT MOVIE!!!, June 26, 2004
Definitely a great adventure and one of my personal favorites, Congo, brings to the screen a tale set in the African jungles involving an unlikely group that has banded together in search of a lost city and the rare diamonds that are rumored to exist there in abundance. The actors' performances are outstanding, especially Tim Curry whose "Romanian philanthropist" character steals the show. The plot, the jungle ruins, and the battles are all wonderful, making this film one of the best of its kind. Congo is an action packed movie with strong elements of Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider, therefore, a "must see" for those with a passion for archaeology, mystery and adventure.
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