Frank Marshall

The story of the survivors of the 1972 air crash in the Andes where survivors eked out their existence waiting for rescue by resorting to cannibalism. Because we know how the story ends, the tension is in seeing just what the survivors had to do to save their lives.

This would be a fairly static film - it could almost work as a stage play - were it not for the first ten minutes. This is the most graphic depiction of an air crash you are ever likely to see; it is chilling me as I write this, show more just thinking about it. Of course, this then makes for a very lop-sided film as the exciting bit comes right at the beginning. So it is important to look at the story as a whole as an examination of the determination of the human spirit to survive, if necessary at all costs. show less

Good rainy Saturday afternoon stuff, with a Michael Crichton storyline, better acting than you'd expect, and some pretty good action stuff. Tim Curry's accent is thicker than mud, but he's a lot of fun as the guy you love to hate. The scene with the strongman ("Stop eating my sesame cake!") is priceless. Think it got an Oscar nomination for best of of the song "California Dreaming" in a jungle environment.

Good Will

Amazon.com
This is a terrible movie. Frank Marshall (Arachnophobia) demonstrates no control over story, actors, effects, or general presentation in this adaptation of a Michael Crichton novel about an expedition into deep, dark Africa that runs into an unknown race of killer apes. The big monkeys attack and attack and attack and have to be fought off with machine guns and lasers--that's pretty much the story, except there's probably an even better one behind "fourth Ghostbuster" Ernie show more Hudson's bizarre decision to speak with a British accent. While Marshall wants us to root for the human characters, they're all so obnoxious and unbelievable you can't help but feel lousy for the poor apes when they get chopped to bits just for defending their homes against these twerps. If you're not feeling enough environmentalist ire these days, watch this and get angry. --Tom Keogh show less