'Congo': Another Chrichton blockbuster
By Pandu Sjahrir
JAKARTA (JP): After the mega-hit Jurassic Park, another Chrichton novel has come to the big screen. This time it is not from his latest book, but from a book written 15 years ago.
Although it would be most unfair to compare the movie with Jurassic Park, which is especially known for its spectacular special effects and the magical touch of director Steven Spielberg, Congo, directed by Frank Marshall, is still an entertaining movie to watch. With special effects made by Oscar- winning visual artist Stan Winston, it is sure to grab the audience's interest.
The story tells of a supernatural white killer gorilla living in the Solomon's city of Zinj and a talking female gorilla accompanied by four people with different objectives. Congo is a heart warming, exciting and heart pounding movie experience.
Traviscom, a communications giant, sends a team of researchers to search for a diamond so rare that it can only be found in the jungles of Congo. With the help of technology and the ambitions of the uncompassionate conglomerate, they find the diamond and report to their office in Houston.
Unluckily, the researchers wander off and find a sight so compelling that they are amazed at what they find. An ancient ruin, with such complex and colossal designs, and the carvings of heads with golden eyes in each buildings make them dumbfounded and want to search for more.
A few hours later, as Houston resumes contact with them, they are bewildered at what they see. Dead bodies scattered, human organs coming out from the bodies and blood everywhere. Suddenly a white blur covers the camera and makes such a defiant attack communication is halted.
In Berkeley, California, another event is unfolding. The first talking ape with the help of equipment that is able to translate every sign language known to men is presented to a lucky few. The gorilla is called Amy, a female gorilla from the jungle of Congo, while the trainer is Dr. Peter Elliot (played by Dylan Walsh), an ambitious primatologist without money for research who has trained Amy since she was little.
When the event is completed, Dr. Peter Elliot is suddenly faced with a crisis. Amy, who has been acting up lately by drawing strange pictures, reminisces about scenes of jungles and has nightmares that make her restless and homesick. Elliot, who has been emotionally attached to the gorilla, doesn't have the heart to contain her. He and his associate agree to send her home, the only problem is that they don't have enough funding.
As Amy becomes more and more distracted by her dreams, a Rumanian philanthropist comes to help. The philanthropist, played by Tim Curry, wants to help Elliot bring Amy home with a reason in mind.
When the two characters are ready to go, a third party joins in. A woman with unlimited fund asks both men if she can tag along with them. The woman, named Karen Ross, played by Laura Linney, is from Traviscom and she has been ordered to retrack the lost diamond.
The journey starts as soon as they enter Africa. At an obscure country near Congo, they have to dodge bullets, heat-seeking missiles and a greedy general. Thanks to the help of a hunter (played by Ernie Hudson) and his 11 native men, they survive and set out for a safari in the jungle.
As they enter the jungle, they face a great deal of interferences, especially from the venturesome world of a jungle. Floods and volcanic activities do not dampen their spirits, especially as Amy soon becomes familiar with her forgotten surroundings.
They are then able to find the ancient ruin, thanks to Amy's direction, the two researchers' mangled bodies. Only the Rumanian doesn't care about the event. He is ecstatic with the findings. All along he uses Amy, because her drawing matches the symbol he brings along with him, and he believes she's the only one who knows the place.
The ancient ruin is the Lost city of Zinj, a place where Solomon kept all his treasures and diamonds. It's a kingdom guarded closely by white gorillas so aggressively that it contradicts the belief of Dr. Elliot that gorillas never assault people.
As they try to explore deeper into the heart of the city, men soon become history. Attacks of the killer gorillas are brief but deadly. Dr. Elliot and Ross are terrified of the events unfolding in front of their eyes.
The next day, though, because of the Rumanian persistence they scrutinize the city. When the volcanoes react again, they hide in a hollow cave in which lies Solomon's diamond mine. The Rumanian is delighted, while the other three are aghast by the surroundings.
As an epilogue, Amy is separated from Elliot, and finds a mate in a striped male gorilla.
Nice, but lacking
The movie Congo is a type of movie that relies on action and not much else.
There are many elements missing from the novel that seem to be essential for the movie to be knotted together and at the same time add to the excitement. The scenes seem to be too exaggerated and dampen the feeling of unity between the characters.
Another exaggeration is explicitly shown when they arrive in a distraught African country. As they land and are directed to their carriages, there are bombings of trucks, fighting and shooting at the airport. Atrocities are everywhere and all of them act as though it is something usual. The funniest scene is when one of their accompaniments stamp their visas telling them it is unnecessary for them to go through the hassle. What kind of country is this, the audience perhaps think.
The conversation is also an aspect worth noting. For once, a Chrichton movie so full of four letter words that it is questionable if the movie is for teenagers. Unlike Jurassic Park, the language here isn't subtle; instead, it's most often provocative.
Although there are aspects lacking in the movie, there are many positive things.
Amy, the female gorilla, is, in my opinion, the star of the movie. Amy, who is actually played by an actor, overshadows everybody else in the movie (that's why she's in the movie poster, not Dylan Walsh). Her protective and romantic personality gives the audience a feeling of enjoyment, sadness and, most importantly, happiness.
Laura Linney is also played well as a sensitive and savvy ex- CIA communication expert. She has that lovely look and acting like Sandra Bullock that surely will make her a star in the near future.
The ex-Ghostbuster, Ernie Hudson, also plays successfully as a safari leader. He often jokes to brighten things up after horrible incidents, and he also gives funny lines during the climax of most scenes.
And perhaps one of the best parts of the movie is the special effects. The scenes where the group must stay overnight and defend their turf against the killer gorillas are probably the best example. The various laser colors and the futuristic detector gadgets give the audience a feeling of pleasure and a thirst for more.
In the end, Congo is, at best, a ride full of excitement, with the strong credentials of Michael Chrichton but without a strong plot to back it up. If excitement and fun is what you are looking for, then buying the novel will perhaps be more to your liking.