Review of Congo

Introduction

"Um Bongo, Um Bongo, they drink it in the Congo!"

Sorry, I couldn`t resist it.

Another Michael Crichton book-turned-film, Congo tells the rather contrived story of an expedition sent to retrieve a very rare blue diamond that is to be used in industry-leader TraviCom`s latest high power laser weapon. During one of their transmissions to base HQ, the team are attacked by what sound (and look) like a bunch of exceedingly scary-looking monkeys. No further transmissions are ever received from the team...

Rather foolishly, a second team is dispatched to investigate the loss of the first and so begins our story. Standby for some monkey business of the most ridiculous variety.

Video

We are treated to a very good quality anamorphic 16:9 transfer with accurate colouration and no visible artifacting. However, I`m sure when I saw this in the cinema (yes, I was the one!), it was in 1.85 format; maybe Paramount had their reasons but I would have liked to have seen this movie as it was meant to be viewed.

Audio

This movie really brings the Congo home. Your viewing room will be filled with various jungle-type whistles, hoots, cries and shrieks, thus adding a great deal to the overall experience. There are some great sub-stretchers too during the special effects segments.

Vocals are clear and well separated and a decent musical score rounds off this impressive section.

Features

Very poor really (in true Paramount fashion). We are "treated" to the original theatrical trailer and a pretty uninspiring teaser trailer. Even the menus are boring being totally static and dull.

Conclusion

I imagine it was pretty difficult to follow-on from the legendary "Jurassic Park". But they must`ve been able to do better than this. It really is full of second-rate stars and some incredible hammy acting. Our old friend, king of ham himself, Tim Curry features as a Romanian philanthropist named Homolka who`s accent is a hoot. And things don`t really improve with the other cast members, most of which look extremely embarrassed and uncomfortable in their roles. They are probably even now trying to forget they ever agreed to take part in this fiasco.

Every cliché in the book is thrown into the mix - erupting volcanoes, killer hippos and lost tribes to name but a few. It is actually hard to think of something jungle-related that has been left out.
And as for the gorillas - wait until you see the laughable outfits! And just when you think you`ve seen everything, one of the buggers talks!

So what we have here then is a real Saturday-night-after-a few-beers-and-a-curry movie. Probably not worth buying as I for one certainly wouldn`t want to sit through it again, but worthy of a rental. Maybe.