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Visitors Review

tfrizzell 2013-05-20 16:30:09

Bedtime for "Congo".

Terrible little would-be action thriller that bores very quickly. MichaelCrichton's over-rated novel comes to life, barely, in this unintentionallyfunny mess. Big-time businessman Joe Don Baker sends his son (BruceCampbell) into the titled area to find diamonds that are literally all overthe ground. However something happens to Campbell and a search party led byhis on-again-off-again wife (Laura Linney) is sent in to try and find outwhat happened. Those in the search party include Dylan Walsh, Ernie Hudson,Tim Curry and a female ape who uses sign language and a computer-generatedvoice to talk (I am serious). A really stupid film that is never toointeresting and is overall a sub-par production from top to bottom for themost part. 2 stars out of 5.

Aaron1375 2013-05-20 03:40:20

Ugly movie...go away!!!

This is just one of those movies that continually make you groan andthat I wished was over. The problems are many and the good points arefew. I feel the main problem with this movie is that it has whatamounts to a cheesy plot and they try to make it out to be a epicmovie, which a movie about super evil monkeys and smart ones that signjust is not epic, it is cheese. When you have cheese you make the moviemore fun. Granted, the final scene with the monkeys and that laser wasvery nice to watch and more of things of that nature was needed.Instead the actors are doing such a serious job that you feel the moviejust has a corny plot amid all the serious tension the movie is tryingto set up. The plot revolves around a woman trying to find whathappened to her missing ex-husband while also searching for some sortof legendary diamonds. She uses these two guys who trained an ape to dosign language and now wish to return her to the wild as cover to getinto the country and begin the mediocre adventure of a lifetime. Theonly things that make this movie somewhat tolerable is Ernie Hudson'scharacter and the laser attack at the end.

silverzero 2013-05-19 05:44:58

Entertaining mixture of noisy action and campy horror.

Based on the novel by Michael Crichton, `Congo' is a flawed but enjoyableaction packed adventure movie. The only noticeable flaw is the computereffects that are used in some scenes. They look rather shoddy and aren'tvery convincing. The theme is quite similar to that of `Jurassic Park' which was also writtenby Michael Crichton. Thankfully, `Congo' doesn't try to duplicate theearlier movie. It's not as good or as memorable as Jurassic Park, but it'sstill good enough. The cast is standard but could easily have been replaced by any otheractors. Dylan Walsh is good as the hero of the bunch, even if his career hasfaded away. Ernie Hudson is also good as the tough cookie. Laura Linney isthe most successful out of the entire cast and her career got to biggerplaces after `Congo'. She shows the most flare here and is good as thefeisty tomboy. Tim Curry has been in many bad movies in the past and present(`Loaded Weapon 1' and Scary Movie 2 come to mind) but `Congo' is one of hisbetter films as of late and he's good as the campy villain.As I said, it isn't as good as Jurassic Park but it is a close second.`Congo' isn't perfect but it is entertaining and watchable and that's goodenough. 6.3/10.

2013-05-18 13:05:53

Congo is Terrific !

This movie is filled with adventure,excitment and chills. Dylan Walsh is great as Dr. Peter Elliot. The killer gorillas are quite scary and can always deliver chills. Espescialy the part when the people find the lost mine and the gorillas come out and attack. The end is finished off with a volcano exploding and Amy, the silverback gorilla, being reunited with her family. A terrific film.

2013-05-18 13:20:29

Congo review

This review is from: Congo (DVD) Another movie that I watched when I was younger happy to purchase a great copy and at a great price

pgetugi 2013-05-17 14:41:33

Was the name Helkemer Homolka inspired by Heinrich Himmler!

I find the two names Helkemer Homolka and Heinrich Himmler rhyming,even in some cases the mannerism, mental state and don't care attitudeto people lives-that is when i watch the movie and read about Himmler.When you read History of Third Reich and the second world war: whenHimmler's arrest and conviction was imminent for crimes he was partyto, too well-he still thought he could negotiate and become the postwar German minister of police! Mr Homolka could see death in his eyesbut could not let go of his diamonds! Is the rhyming deliberate ormerely coincidental Nevertheless Homolka is very funny, especially whenhe tells Kelly to call him Mr Homolka and not his first name (Helkemer)in retaliation for his earlier rejection by Mr Kelly to allow (Homolka)use his first name.

Jake Euker 2013-05-17 00:38:42

A completely unintentional laugh riot and, in that sense, top-drawer Crichton.

James O'Ehley 2013-05-16 09:08:53

If you have a highly developed sense of the absurd and an appreciation for movie clichés, then you'll find Congo a hoot.

FlashCallahan 2013-05-15 07:08:41

Stop eating my sesame cake....

A megalomaniac C.E.O. sends his son into the dangerous African Congo ona quest for a source of diamonds large enough and pure enough tofunction as powerful laser communications transmitters.When contact is lost with his son and the team, his sometime daughter-in-law is sent after them.She is a former CIA operative and, accompanied by gee-whiz gadgetry anda few eccentric characters and sets out to rescue her former fiancé.What they all discover is that often what we most want turns out to bethe source of our downfall.yes, the film was basically selling itself as the new Jurassic Park,and while it's nowhere near as good as that behemoth, it still has it'smoments.Despite the poor script, there are some good characters here who reallymake you want to like the film more. Curry as always is the one with asecret, Linney plays the straight woman, but most of all, it's Hudsonhere who really steals the show.With his tongue firmly in cheek, he spouts his lines with cheesy gleestealing the thunder from anyone else.Effects are not the best, but i think it adds to the films silly charm.Not to be taken seriously, just a big silly movie.

2013-05-14 22:29:47

STOP EATING MY SESAME CAKE!!!

With a classic line like that, you cant go wrong.

2013-05-14 07:43:04

This Movie Has Everything!

Killer hippos? killer monkeys!? Joe Pantoliano!?!!!? This movie has everything!!! Back in 1995, when this movie hit theatres, I'll bet I was the only person who walked away satisfied. Even after reading the much-more-complete novel, I couldn't be more thrilled with this film. It has all the elements of the classic high-budget action/adventure film: no real big names (at the time the film was made), the airpline ride to impending doom with the handful of unsuspecting travelers staring blankly out the window, and just diverse enough characters to make them interesting. The movie opens with the second unit in the deep rainforests of the Congo area of Africa. During a transmission to base, the camp is taken over by what look like gorillas. On the receiving end is a CEO of a telecom firm who was funding the expedition to the Congo. His purpose was to mine a special rare blue diamond that would allow him great advancement in the telecom industry. With him is Laura Linney, another scientist who's boyfriend happened to be on the expedition. Most of the plot points are formulaic, but it doesn't really matter in a movie like this. People want to see killer hippos, erupting volcanos and talking monkeys, and there's plenty of that.The rest of the hour and forty-five minutes are filled with nail-biting airplane chases, whirring motion-sensored machine guns, and crazy ancient white gorillas who crush human skulls. It's all here folks. True adventure movies are few and far between, and this one's a keeper.

2013-05-14 03:24:44

Nasty Cheese Burger....

You know how sometimes you are starving and you could have steak, but a nasty, dripping, loaded cheese burger is just the way to go? Well, that pretty much sums up Congo for me. It's that greasy little treat that we all need every now and then with everything pilled on to it you can think of: killer Apes, a talking Ape, natives ushering soals, a giant laser, an exploding volcano, a lava chase, an escape in a hot air balloon, and a shoot out with flar guns vs. heat seaking missals. Not to mention Bruce Campbell stopping in for a quick "Eureka and all that" It's not steak and it'll probably give you heart burn after it's done....but you'll enjoy it for what it is when it's right there in front of you.

2013-05-12 18:46:04

"Stop Eating My Sesame Cake"

This movie is an instant classic that must be watched several times to be truly enjoyed. Congo is a serious attempt at a summer blockbuster that fizzes into one of the most hilarious movies in recent time. The horrible script, the zippers apparent on the ape suits, and the atrocious accent performed by Tim Curry make this movie not only a classic, but one mysteriously absent on the AFI's top 100 movies list.

2013-05-12 06:43:55

Killer Gorillas in the Mist

One of those movies that begs the question, "Why and for what reason was this movie made?!". CONGO was probably made because of the success of JURASSIC PARK when someone asked, "What other Michael Crichton novels can we make into a movie?"...Well, they picked this one. A safari team of people with questionable backgrounds go to Zaire to the Lost City of Zinj. They are there to find diamonds and specifically to find the the lost treasure of King Solomon's Mines. There, they encounter a group of killer grey gorillas guarding the city and must fight them off and each member, minor or major falls victim to the killer gorillas. There is nothing new, exciting, or inventive here and the gorillas are laughable as much as the human co-stars. Ernie Hudson (GHOSTBUSTERS) is decent as the big game hunter along with his fake British accent, and Tim Curry plays his usual slimeball-type character. However, the suspense and adventure is flat and the characters are not memorable. Lastly the set design looks like it was stolen from the Chuck Norris/Louis Gossett,Jr. adventure FIREWALKER. Overall, the film is an accounting write-off for Paramount.

2013-05-11 10:52:28

The most underrated comedy of the 90's

People may make the mistake when viewing Congo in thinking that they are seeing a suspenseful action flick. On the contrary, it is in fact an unintentional jungle adventure spoof comedy. Ernie Hudson is hilarious and delivers great lines such as "I'm your great white hunter, though I happen to be black." Tim Curry is hilarious as always. The scene where Hudson, Linney and Curry are bribing the warlord is one of the best comedy scenes of the 90's (Seriously, who doesn't find "STOP EATING MY SESAME CAKE!" funny?) This movie was misrepresented as a thriller but in reality it is Crichton's successful stab at comedy. I give this funny piece of crap 5 stars.

ChrisT 2013-05-11 01:04:44

Congo

"... is an out-of-control adventure movie! It's also one of the best action movies set in the jungle! The gorillas are awesome and the story is outstanding!"

2013-05-08 22:48:31

missed opportunities.

Bruce Campbell and Tim Curry in the same movie? A movie addict's dream? Not anywhere near it. More like a waste of two great talents, as well a squandering of Michael Crichton fun thriller, though Curry is giggle as OTT Herkermer Homolka (in a role originally going to Ian Ogilvy). Wasted is the whole premise of what the apes were, how they got there; they are just big bad ape monsters protecting diamonds for who know why.Nice popcorn movie if there isn't something better to watch...like Abbott and Costello Meet Dracula!

2013-05-08 08:06:25

Enjoyable

I actually loved this movie. Funny, I have read the terrible reviews and I don't agree with them at all. I must have watched it a dozen times, and found it a fast paced, exciting watch that is just as enjoyable the 12th time as it was the first.

2013-05-08 09:14:12

I agree with the amazon review

Pretty bad that even the company that sells this movie agrees with me...this has my vote as worst movie I've ever seen...hell, at least Plan Nine from Outer Space was fun to poke fun at...this is just...torture!

2013-05-07 13:02:30

THIS WAS A GOOD MOVIE

I actually liked it. I read the book after I saw the movie. There were a lot of changes from the book to the movie, but hey isn't that normal for Hollywood. What attracted me to the movie was(yes) the apes and the lost city storyline. I love lost city storylines.But I thought Tim Curry's character was going to be more sinister actually, because when they showed him up close at the demonstration of Amy at the University, he had this sinister, dark, greedy look in his eyes. We all knew he had his own agenda, but he just turned out to be a coward. Also I loved the Laura Linney character. She took no heat from anyone. She was tough from beginning to end. I liked that. Usually some of the female characters are whiney and simpering "I want to go home" types. It's okay to be scared, but don't ruin it for everyone and I'm saying that as a female myself. But not Laura Linney's character. She was rough, tough and still feminine. Ok! It's not a big, dramatic,serious piece, but just watch it for the fun of it.