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Val Kilmer stars as Lt. Col. John Patterson, a 19th-century Irish engineer drafted by Britain's railroad bosses to build a trestle bridge over an African river, thus expanding the empire a tiny bit more. In Tsavo, Patterson is instantly hailed for killing a man-eating lion that had been making life hell for native workers. But morale sinks when a pair of unstoppable big cats devour more men and destroy the project. Along comes an Ahab-like, expatriate American hunter (Michael Douglas) to help Patterson face the almost preternatural powers of the two killers. The script by William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) is based on fact, though the film owes more to Spielberg (specifically to Jaws) than history. There are also suggestive echoes of Kipling and Conrad in the material and characters, and there are hints of emotional complexity and psychological nuance that make one wish this could have been a great film instead of a merely fun one. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (84)

Old fashioned, Hollywood production
This movie tells the story of Lt. Colonel J. H. Patterson, D.S.O., and engineer that was commissioned to build a bridge in the Tsavo region of Africa during the colonial period. His work was interrupted by the activities of a pair of male lions, intent on thinning out the conscripted and hired labor as quickly as possible. This is based on a true story. The film takes liberties with the book from which it came: "The Man-Eaters of Tsavo", by Colonel Patterson, but I can't say I minded that too much. If it's one thing that drives me to distraction its "experts" that nit-pick about the details of a genre picture. This is a Hollywood film, a Hollywood blockbuster, no less - not a documentary. In short, this was a tremendously tense film throughout, and Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer turned in two fine performances. The cinematography of Africa was beautiful, and the lions were terrifying. Did you expect a historical document?

Contrary to criticism, this is an excellent film.
Lt. Col. John Patterson (Val Kilmer) is sent to Tsavo, Africa to build a bridge across a river, thus allowing the British railroad to enter deeper into Africa, bringing civilization and advancement into the Dark Continent. Once Patterson arrives, he is greeted by a situation in which a man-eating lion is harassing the workers and delaying the construction of the bridge. He goes out one night and kills the lion with one shot, winning the confidence of the workers and, therefore, pushing the project ahead of schedule.

Unfortunately, two more man-eating lions begin to make daily harassments on the work camp, killing over 30 men, and eventually halting the construction, in spite of all that Patterson can do.

Enter Charles Remington (Michael Douglas), famous and professional wildlife hunter.

The rest of the drama unfolds as we see how Remington and Patterson deal with the crisis as the death toll reaches over a hundred.

Contrary to many previous reviews on the movie, The Ghost and the Darkness is an excellent film. Brilliant cinematography, breathtaking scenery, and beautiful and robust music are only a part of this great adventure yarn (which is based, stronger than you might think, on the true story). The acting of all the actors, once again contrary to popular criticism, is very good; not "over-the-top" at all. The film has a robust and powerful feel that accurately echoes the ruggedness and strength of Africa and the great men who tried to tame her. The authenticity of the film's props (costumes, weapons, tools, vehicles, etc.) is also impressive. The special effects are perfectly convincing and the lions are real.

The film has a good length (an hour and forty minutes) and never loses its pace or sense of direction. The film is straightforward and, at many moments, downright powerful. The tension is strong and, yes, this film is better than "Jaws" in every way, not to mention more mature than the sharkie movie. And, "The Ghost and the Darkness" is much more than a mere thriller. It is also a historical drama of high caliber.

Warning: If you are a feminist, you will find this movie too "macho". But if you admire the indomitable spirit of the Victorian era's adventurers, you will appreciate the film's strong (and realistically imperfect) characters. And sorry, there are no sugar-cutie boys who run to Angelina Jolie for help and no Super-Chicks who come to save the day (thank goodness).

Well, if you have not seen the movie, rent it and watch it. I would buy it but purchasing it is up to you. I highly, highly, recommend this film.

At times, hard to watch for those who know the true story
While the jacket and intro says this is a "true" story, those who have read Patterson's account, or later retellings like Capstick's know there is a lot of fiction in this Hollywood version (surprise!). Tree-climbing lions with manes, a rouge American hunter who arrives to save the day, the stereotypical British cad who sends Patterson, Masai tribesmen, and numerous other digressions from the truth made this a bit uncomfortable for me. Kilmer isn't a very convincing Irish engineer, either. The scenery and cinematography are superb, however.

LION EYES
THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS is a well made movie, with sweeping vistas of the African landscape; glorious sunsets and night scenes; a wonderful score by the ever talented Jerry Goldsmith. Unfortunately, the actors and script don't match this type of excellence. William Goldman's story never really lets us know what makes Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas tick. Kilmer is saddled with an Irish accent that he can't maintain for the whole film, and Douglas attempts to be Crocodile Hunter Jim Irwin. Only John Kani as Samuel, Bernard Hill as the doctor, and Tom Wilkinson as the despicably hateable Beaumont emerge with fine performances.
Admittedly, some of the scenes with the lion attacks were effectively frightening and there is one in a dream sequence that is actually breathtaking.
Ultimately, I found myself apathetic to the fate of our heroes, and in fact, one of them is cheated out of a good scene (no plot spoiling, though).
All in all, an entertaining, if empty thriller.

Not Worth Watching More Than Once
This African adventure based on a real account pumps the adrenalin in true Hollywood style - and that's not necessarily a good thing. Val Kilmer plays engineer John Patterson, who has always been able to overcome all obstacles through sheer will and hard work, until, that is, he gets sent to Africa to build a bridge. In Africa, the country of his dreams, John's work is sabotaged not by man but by beast. Two man-eating lions are mauling and dragging off workers not only in their sleep but eventually in broad daylight, completely against the nature of their species. They kill not for food but for "sport." Charles Remington (Michael Douglas), an experienced hunter, is called in to help restore calm by killing the lions.

This might have been an exciting story if the filmmakers had not chosen to ratchet up the terror by making these lions seem supernaturally invincible. The lions are imbued with so much (supposedly scary) intelligence that they trick Remington and Patterson more than once so they can make their kills. They become evil instead of unpredictable. As the film progresses, everything gets even more unbelievably hokey as the actors strap on their machismo. Still, the scenes with the lions are chair-grabbing tense; it's only after the scenes have ended that the viewer is likely to see how ridiculous it all is.

The best part of this film comes before the lions appear, when Patterson is suffering from the pride we know he'll lose, and as the camera pans over the African savannah. But most viewers aren't watching this film for its character development and cinematography. If only the suspense had not been artificially heightened, this could have been a solid thriller.

This is a decent escapist movie with not much to offer on second viewing. I'd make this a rental instead of a purchase. ... Read more

Description

Academy Award(R)-winning star Whoopi Goldberg (Best Supporting Actress -- GHOST) lights up the screen in her latest hit -- the exhilarating and entertaining SARAFINA! In a world where truth is forbidden, an inspiring teacher (Whoopi Goldberg) dares to instill in her students lessons not found in schoolbooks. In doing so, she challenges their freedom and hers. Applauded by critics and audiences everywhere, this upbeat and powerful story promises to stir your emotions and make your spirits soar! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Love it!
The movie tells a lot about what went during the turbulent times in South Africa.

Sarafina is a South African girl who is part of an anti-segregation group in Soweto, South Africa. She went to a school governed by white soldiers learning only about the white history. Her history teacher secretly taught about how the students could make a difference. Sarafina participate in many dangerous protests where her friends have gotten injured, arrested and even killed.

This movie is very educational and would do well in a eighth grade classroom.

Sarafina is great CD
A powerful soundtrack from a great movie about apartheid in South Africa

Still powerful after all this time
I think all who have seen Sarafina agree it is a powerful movie. What's more, it's beautiful at the same time. Listen to the voices of the choir in this movie. Sarafina started as a musical, and that talent is prevalent in the film version as well. The accapellas are spectacular, and the choir sings in South African fashion. It gives me a chill.

I enjoyed seeing Whoopi Goldberg in a dramatic role, versus the comedy shtick she usally does.

Lastly, tt's interesting seeing the conditions that apartheid era blacks lived in South Africa. Thank goodness apartheid is over. I'm glad what we see in this movie is now history!

Great Movie
This movie is excellent. It's about a young girl, her taecher, and her friends during the apartheid (separation of blacks and whites that ended in the 1980's.) This movie is showing everything from the prisons to the houses.

EVERY CHILD/HUMAN SHOULD WATCH THIS MOVIE
THE MOVIE AND THE MUSIC IS SO POWERFUL THAT YOU ARE READY TO GET UP AND GO OUT TO THE STREETS AND SCREAM FROM THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD TO WAKE UP AND FIGHT FOR THE JUSTICE OF ALL PEOPLE!!!
... ALSO, WATCH MALCOLM X, BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE, ... ... Read more

Reviews (3)

beautiful film
This was a wonderful movie about the change God can make in the worse racist's heart. Very well filmed, brilliantly written. By the way, the movie is rated R for violence, there is no swearing or nudity or blasphemy.

If you can get your hands on "to end all wars", do so, it's another similiar themed movie that is worthy of a look. It stars keifer sutherland and robert carlyle.

Hope for Mankind
This film shows that true change is not political but spiritual. The hope for the future of mankind is not his design but through spiritual reconciliation. There is a reason that the United Nations asked to premier this film at the World Economic Summit in November 2002.

Hate and forgiveness in South Africa
The movie is set in South Africa during the last days of apartheid in the early 1990s.

The story revolves around a young, white man who has been indoctrinated to be a racist. His racism is as virulent as you can imagine. His racism is extremely violent and all encompassing. But the young man slowly changes and sees the error of his ways. He is changed by the love of a woman and by the guidance of a priest.

The violence perpetrated at random to blacks is graphically shown. However, it is not gratuitous. It makes you feel the incredible hardships endured by the black South Africaners.

This movie provides hope that the most difficult human problems can be solved. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

The Wild Geese
This is one of the best made and realistic mercenary action adventure movies ever made. The film depicts how it happens in the real world how mercenaries are hired to go on a mission but are then left out to dry after a deal is struck between the adversaries. They then have to improvise their way out from deep within enemy territory and they even have room for honor and idealism and payback. It reminds me of a modern version of the Magnificent Seven with similar star power with Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Roger Moore and other good actors better known in the UK. I just wish it was available on video again. I would certainly purchase it and so would many other fans of quality action adventure.

It's the BEST WAR drama
The WILD GEESE demonstrated, unequivocally, that Officers are indeed GENTLEMEN. These men (Richard Burton, Roger Moore, Richard Harris, Hardy Krooger, etc,) are extra-ordinary mercenaries, they have scruple. These bunch would not do just anything for money, they are on the side of good, and goodness saw them through all the dangers they faced in the jungle of South Africa when they were abandoned. It is not just a war about killing, but of killing evil dead in all its forms. There are many real life issues that touched the heart, and are so very well dramatized that every scene arrests a viewers attention. This movie has every emotion in it, humour, actions,espirit de corps, sorrow, losses, recovery of humanity and new understandings, etc. It started with Roger Moore refusing to be a cocaine pusher, to Richard Harris failing to fulfill his promises of a wonderful Christmas holiday to his only son because of a heart wrenching tragic event, to Hardy Krooger (a black hating South African)finding a new understanding of humanity and friendship in the black president Limbani they went to rescue. It ended by paying treachery in its own coin. Just when the doer proclaimed peace a sudden distruction landed on him. A clear lesson for discerning minds. It is a movie I have watched over and again many years ago, and still long to see it again. BRING IT OUT AGAIN, and "Shout at the Devil".Many would love it for Christmas. I am hoping it would come out in DVD version suitable for the USA viewers.

A Classic 70s Study in Moral Ambiguity
Murderers and mercenaries with conscience? The scene where Roger Moore forces a dope dealer to eat a bag of heroin is particularly disturbing. That, and the sacrificial ending, which I will not spoil.

I loved this film as a kid. This, and the excellent (and available) "The Dogs of War" are two of the best mercenary films ever produced.

As a fan of Burton, Harris and even Moore, I would love for somebody to finally release a region 1 version of this film on DVD. They've already done the telecine for region 2, so what's the hold-up?

Oh, and Hardy Kruger is great, too--as he was in "The Flight of the Phoenix."

PLEASE RELEASE THE REGION-1 DVD!!!

"THE WILD GEESE" Soar
Like everyone else who has discussed this extraordinary film, I implore the powers that be to please release it on dvd as soon as possible.

Burton, Harris and Moore are excellent...
I am truly a fan of great films and this is arguably my favorite. The synopsis has been given in previous reviews here so I will avoid a lengthy description...this is probably the best mercenery film made to date, and films like "Tears of the Sun" pale outlandishly in comparison. I encourage all to sign up on the waiting list to hopefully persuade the studio to release this on DVD. Hard to believe ALL the second rate sequels, which star none of the original cast, are readily available on either DVD or at least VHS and it is next to impossible to find a good used copy of this, which has been out of print for some time. My VHS copy is getting worn and I feverishly await the DVD release!! ... Read more