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| Ghost and the Darkness, The |
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  (5/10)
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Runtime: 109 |
| Public Rating: 8.06 (71 votes) |
Director: Stephen Hopkins |
MPAA Rating:  |
| Genre: Action/Drama/Thiller/Adventure |
Year: 1996 |
| Writer(s): William Goldman |
| Reviewed by: Sinomatictool |
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Ghosts and the Darkness is only what I expected and that comes with no disappointment yet a feeling of lost unkown hope. An unknown hope you feel when watching a film with promising points that you would rather restrain from admitting after greeting and viewing the poor film but are still there. Creating a battle inside your mind of liking the film because you wanted to so much or hating the film for its lack in most everything,; the honest truth. I had such an expierence finally taking the path frequently chosen in giving you the truth on this picture rather than my distorted views influneced from the premise. A premise enticing me with its obscure idea of killer lions. Although the theme is one much used throughout the film scene of man vs beast. I still longed to see how the seducing plot brought things together in the end, the curtain closing, the pre credit roller. It was only what I expected.
A man, an engineer, an actor, Val Kilmer, is building a bridge for a boss who's self centered around his own wants. A boss who doesn't even look for needs in a passive behavior more understandable. A cold hearted man with a quick tounge and only untrained power backing it up. Sadly no conclusion to this selfish soul is shown. An enineer is building a bridge. A railraod bridge and he is on a contant interruption by the man-eaters or one of a group of lions who actually hunt men. But these man eaters turn even strange compared to there pre-thought reputatons. They hunt together and they hunt for sport not food. This are not man-eaters they are believed to be demons paying the white man back for what is happening to the land. Or how the legend goes which is coicedentially named; Ghosts and the Darkness. It becomes then an unrealistic game of cat and mouse where each switch roles as the dominant feline. Ending in a conclusion I only expected.
Michael Douglas had no reason for this arrival in the picture. He does not do a single thing but burn around 15 minutes of film in his role. A character confusing for his purpose and a character I became annoyed with for Doglas's lack in intensity and thill. Edit him out I would say. Val Kilmer though does not spit a perfect irish accent but suitable in his role. He also comes though in his first chance to add some depth to a charcter and showcase his fine skills of acting. The photography was beautiful and directing controlled but only generic. A film decent in aspects but still an entertaining value near a negative.
The premise sold it to me but I doubt that would be the same for others. It has a B-movie style in its plot and not even an original theme. Some added elements rather than a strightforward lion hunt would have been more complex and different. The letters to his wife were refreshing but played down. A film of a few tense scenes and advanced effects using lions. Only a stroytelling of legend that should have been kept in the minds of the relatives of survivors and off celluoid.A probably thilling story when told at campfires was downgradged to a hollywoodized fluff ending film packaged in generic white wrappers.It was only what I expected.
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