Movie Notes: The Ghost And The Darkness

March 6th, 2008

Movie Notes: The Ghost And The Darkness

starstar = 2 stars

Starring Val Kilmer, Michael Douglas, Tom Wilkinson
Directed by Stephen Hopkins

Synopsis

Semi-true story of John Henry Patterson (Val Kilmer), dispatched to 1890s Africa to build a railway. Unfortunately, the project goes awry when two lions (the “Tsavo maneaters”) begin lunching on the workers. Professional hunter Charles Remington (Michael Douglas) helps Patterson hunt down the predators.

The Good

  • Open air, adventure feel, which soon shifts to a horror / action flick as the lions kill several people and the hunt begins.
  • There’s a relatively solid premise of danger. Patterson is in the heart of Africa with a bitchy boss bearing down on him, so he can’t turn and run. Far away from the British Empire, he’s low on resources and armed only with shotguns.
  • A timely theme of humans encroaching on nature, and being eaten in return. Shouldn’t be much of a surprise.


The Bad

  • Val Kilmer literally sleepwalks through this flick. Only near the end when he decides to take care of business is there a glimmer of life. He was more animated in The Island Of Dr. Moreau.
  • Michael Douglas’ appearance is welcome, but his character doesn’t appear for quite some time. His character also seems terribly out of place, almost as if he’s in another film - a western, most likely. I was a bit miffed to later learn that his character was totally fictionalized. I thought this was supposed to be a true story?
  • Poor Emily Watson, looking all Mary Steenburgeny, is abruptly yanked off camera in an unintentionally funny bit.

Conclusion

Despite starring Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer, I had never heard of this flick until it showed up as a $0.99 iTunes rental. I think there’s a reason for both my ignorance and Apple’s cheapness. Even at that price, I feel like I lost two hours.

IMDB: The Ghost And The Darkness
Wikipedia: The Ghost And The Darkness
Rotten Tomatoes: The Ghost And The Darkness 53%

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  • JC
    Oh, come on. It wasn't quite that bad. Okay, maybe it was. But I didn't feel like it was a waste of $0.99.
  • I love that you're writing up all the apple movies of the week now - maybe you should make that a feature :) I haven't had a chance to watch the hours yet let alone the ghost and the darkness - must get apple TV, too much hassle to watch on my computer when i'm already sitting at it all day.

    by the way, to answer your question on ParisLemon - yes, I am now officially a full-time blogger/writer :)
  • Ha ha, now I'm trying to think of what I could have done with that $0.99 and having a hard time thinking of anything. Maybe buy a bag of Cheetos. Would I have enjoyed that more than this movie? Frankly it's a toss up.

    MG I hope it's a feature, although I've only done two so far. Maybe if I get through four I'll call it as such. The flick for this week is Changing Lanes.
  • still waiting too see that film in germany... think it's not that bad
  • Sorry thats wrong... thougt its a new movie.. that one is quit boring
  • I have plans to go watch this movie on sunday. I will see if your rating is justified after I see the movie myself... :)
  • I have plans to go watch this movie on saturday. I will see if your rating is justified after I see the movie myself.
  • I don't think its that bad. maybe the acting but the story is great.

    I have heard of and watched this movie a longgggg time ago. maybe you were too young to remember :P
  • saw this movie a few weeks ago and wasn't that bad..not great, but bearable
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