CONGO

US, 1995, 110 minutes, Colour.
Laura Linney, Dylan Walsh, Ernie Hudson, Joe Don Baker, Grant Heslov, John Hawkes.
Directed by Frank Marshall.


Congo is based on a 1979 Michael Crichton novel. The basic plot is retained but the technology is very up-to-date. And the basic plot is a variation on the King Solomon's Mines adventure. A motley expedition into central Africa undergoes expected dangers. Also on board is a young gorilla, Amy, who can sign language and is connected to a machine which vocalises the signs. There are satellites enabling instant communications, a mod heavy artillery which make the whole thing a glossy, special effects matinee movie. Matinee Crichton.

1. An action entertainment in the aftermath of Jurassic Park? From a book by Michael Crichton?
2. American settings, big corporations, working on satellites? The African settings? Central Africa, the jungle, the mountains, volcanos? The King Solomon’s locations? The diamonds?
3. The world of the guerrillas, Amy and the training, the demonstration, sign language, her being able to talk? The decision to return her to the wild? Accompanying the adventurers?
4. Basically, a Saturday matinee show? With better technology? Though not credible for the grey gorillas? Action adventure, stunts, special effects? Musical score?
5. The title, Africa, expectations? Mystique of the past? King Solomon’s mines? The dangers of the present, mercenaries, hostile tribes? Animals, Amy winners, the grey gorillas and the menace, the threatening hippopotamus and its death?
6. Karen, her contact with James, the satellite communication and images? His quest, the diamonds, his companion, the discoveries, going into the river? Disappearances and death? The intimations of the guerrilla? The head of the corporation, greed, wanting to get in early on up-to-date technology? Callous attitude towards his son and his fate? Sending Karen to Africa? Her ultimatum about his motivations?
7. Karen, ex-CIA, tough, her relationship with James? Working for his father? Her motivation for the journey? Discussions with Peter, with Homolka, having the resources, on the plane? Her personality, interactions with Peter? With Amy? The secrecy of her trip?
8. The group on the plane, Peter and his background, his work with Amy, the demonstrations, Richard and his fears, going along? Kelly, the mercenary, in charge? The other mercenaries? Homolka, from Romania, watching Peter’s demonstration thinking that the gorillas could communicate and indicate King Solomon’s mines?
9. The attack on the plane, parachuting out? Assembling in the jungle? Kelly and his leadership? The friendly gorillas? The mysterious grey gorillas? The dangers of the terrain, the quakes, the volcano?
10. Karen’s communication, Amy destroying the equipment? Her later contact?
11. Kelly, his personality, tough, the encounter with the natives, language, explaining the rituals, seeking for the soul to come back, Bob, conscious, his being terrified of the gorillas, death by fright?
12. Homolka and his ring, the emblem of the eye, seeing it in the statue? Into the caves, the hieroglyphics, the images, the chambers, the discovery of the diamonds, Homolka and his ambitions, surrounded by the gorillas, his death? Richard’s death?
13. Threats, the death of the mercenaries? The irony that only Peter, Karen and Kelly survive?
14. Amy, her disappearance, reappearance, the control of the grey gorillas? The diving into the lava?
15. Peter, setting Amy into the wild, her reaction to the gorillas?
16. Kelly, his leadership, wisecracks, his ability to lead?
17. Karen, her using the laser to destroy the grey gorillas, contact with the boss, his harsh attitude towards the death of his son, Karen keeping her promise, destroying the diamonds?
18. Satisfying as an afternoon entertainment?