"The devil has come to Tsavo..."      

THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS (R) 

You've never seen anything like this on National Geographic!  Starring Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas, The Ghost And The Darkness retells the true story of the African town of Tsavo, which in 1898 fell victim to the attacks of two African Lions who, working in tandem, managed to kill a hundred or so people from this African town.  Kilmer plays John Patterson, an English engineer sent to construct a bridge near Tsavo just when the killings start, and the man who initially sets out to destroy these animals.  He fails, of course, and that's when Michael Douglas, who plays a legendary hunter named Remington, steps in, as they both pursue these lions in hopes of ending the killing spree.

The Ghost And The Darkness clearly has the potential to pull out Jaws-level terror from the audience, and it does seem to be something the filmmakers go for.  Unfortunately the film never quite makes it there.  This movie implies that these lions were different from normal lions--that they were smarter, killing humans for fun.  However, as the killings progressed I was never sold on how smart these lions were; instead I saw one bungled capture attempt after another, leaving me thinking that perhaps it was the people's fumblings (not the lions' intelligence) that allowed the killing to continue.

Still, this is not a bad film, though its true stars are not Kilmer and Douglas, but rather Africa and the Lions. Credit the filmmakers for some awesome shots of the African landscape, and for giving these lions a fiercesomeness that does get menacing at times.  For those who care, the killings are effectively gruesome here, and there are a number of scenes that'll definitely give you a good jolt. Grrrrrrr...

IMPRESSIONS

From the Political Correctness police: I know this is set in the 19th Century, but there's a "fearless white man saves ignorant and scared African village" undertone to this film that, depending who you are, could be slightly offensive.  I'm just observing, that's all...

Museum-goers of America: At the end of this film it states that these infamous lions can be seen at the Field Museum in Chicago.  I wish I could say that I noticed this exhibit when I was there, but if you're ever in the Chicagoland area, go visit the Field Museum...it's pretty cool!

Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing, folks!!

Hayles gives this movie  stars: "Kilmer is good but Douglas is pathetic as the "tough" hunter. He looks very self-concious when dancing with his tribe in the beginning. The stars are the lions and the little Irish dud who gets asted." (5/16/01)

sarah_mcmullen@yahoo.com gives this movie  stars: "it way kick butt!!! i love it! it is one of the top movies in my movie list! it is so cool thats why it gets 5 stars!!!!! " (3/16/01)

bullrider_88_99@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "This movie is awesome.I like the African music in it also." (1/28/01)

tharney1@juno.com gives this movie  stars: "I thought that this movie was very realistic to what originally happened at Tsavo a little over 100 years ago. I read both the movie novel and the book by John Patterson entitled The Man Eaters of Tsavo and it tied in really well." (3/20/00)

tadhg gives this movie  stars: "I am doing a project on the historical relevance of this film. i've watched it five times within the week and find it just as thrilling every time." (2/22/99)

angell_2000@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "Wow! I didn't know that anything like this has ever happened. I use to wonder if there ever were lions that hunted together, and now I know. I love the casting job it rules! All in All The Ghost and the Darkness is Totally Cool man! IT'S THE BOMB!!!!!!!!" (11/1/98)

Tigress gives this movie  stars: "The Ghost and The Darkness is the best most realistic movie I've ever seen. Now I don't know all the facts but hey who cares. 'cause this movie ROCKS AND ROLLS IT REALLY KICKS BUTT BABY!" (10/1/98)

Clare Sisley gives this movie  stars: "It rules man! Totally kicks butt!!!!!!!!" (9/10/98)

mcregnie@club-internet.fr gives this movie  stars: "I have always been much interested by true stories as this one. I do really like the situation in which wild and powerful animals have defeated and scared men. When I thought about the film later, I just realized that those two lions were probably more victims than men cause they were to die anyway I am now trying to find the J. H. Patterson book. The Ghost & the Darkness is one of the greatest films I ever seen." (7/7/98)

c1gonzo@aol.com gives this movie  stars: "I believe that the people that pay to see the movies are the best critics, they have an investment in it so it better be good!!! And "The Ghost and the Darkness" was a very good movie!!! Based on a true story, the actors bring the story to life, and it would have been easy for Hollywood to have blown this movie way out, but i think they even laid it back abit to keep it believable. Micahel Douglas and Val Kilmer played their roles very well, you could believe Michael was a hunter, and Val an engineer which if you couldn't believe that, then the movie is finished. The action is great, not overdone, the setting in Africa is fantastic and it brings out the best in the movie. This is a movie that keeps getting better everytime you see it!!! so see it again and again like I do!!! (6/15/97)

pondoro@hotmail.com gives this film  stars: "I, too, cannot believe the bad reviews this movie has gotten. It is the best movie of 1996, and it has my vote for one of the best movies of all time.The special effects were remarkable, and, with the exception of the character of Remington, it was amazingly historically accurate. Oh, and by the way, it is Tsavo, and it took place in 1898. Sorry, the whole great white hunter schtick is just my thing." (3/23/97) (I've corrected the errors you mentioned...thanks for pointing 'em out!)

horvaszi@rs3.szif.hu: "This film is about Africa, the lions and the open wilderness of this continent.The cast is good, but the most interesting thing in the film is the Black Continent. It is beautiful, mysterious and "wild". You feel sorry for the black people, who just cannot beat their enemies:the ghost and the darkness.They think, that these animals have mystic power and they're can't be killed. Also black people are not civilized enough to know, how to cope with the wild nature, that surrounds them. They can be anything but winners in the fight against the lions. But then come the two europeans, who finally- as a judgement - beat the lions(finally Kilmer does it). You can also see, how different the african and european mentalities are. It was a good film, but you just knew what it's end will be, before it ended." (3/8/97)

murrayg@melbpc.org.au gives this movie  stars: "I can't believe how this movie can get bad comments. Sure, it's not perfect but I found it overall to be quite excellent. The photography was great, the suspense built good and there were many small twists to the story each failed hunt attempt. The whole movie built up to a wonderfully exciting climax and it was surprises such as the exit of one of the major characters through a night attack that keep you wondering how the problem of the lions will be solved. I went and saw this movie twice, which is unusual for me. Congrats to its makers!" (2/1/97)