The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
Genre: Drama / Adventure
Duration: 110 minuten
Country:
United States / Germany
Directed by: Stephen Hopkins
Stars: Val Kilmer, Michael Douglas and Tom Wilkinson
IMDb score:
6,8 (70.180)
Releasedate: 11 October 1996
The Ghost and the Darkness plot
"Prey For The Hunters"
Lieutenant Colonel John Patterson, a young and brilliant engineer, sets out for Africa in 1896. His assignment was to finish the construction of a railway between Mombasa and Lake Victoria. The bridge over the Tsavori River, the main structure of the project, is intended to ensure the British Empire control over the ivory trade between East Africa and give it a decisive advantage in the fight against French and German competitors. The atmosphere at Tsavori's wharf is completely ruined, but Patterson manages to restore order. He earns the respect of his men when he shoots down a wandering lion with a single bullet. A few days later, however, another lion is spotted...
Actors and actresses
Charles Remington
Col. John Henry Patterson
Sir Robert Beaumont
Samuel
Helena Patterson
Dr. David Hawthorne
Angus Starling
Abdullah
Nervous Sikh Orderly
Mahina
Reviews & comments
Shadowed
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- 11421 messages
- 6719 votes
Movie with highs and lows.
To start with, I did not expect to actually take place in Africa beforehand. I expected another American film with a typical studio and fake set. But apparently this is actually Africa and that contributes considerably.
The movie itself is very predictable. Some things that you don't expect, but those are usually pieces that didn't necessarily have to be in there. 2 Lions for example. But for the rest it doesn't matter, because the film does look nice despite all that.
In terms of acting, it's meme. Kani is definitely the best here for me. Douglas again plays a bit of an average, American role with a very mean appearance while he is not that bad in the end. Kilmer is fine in appearance, but never seems to get into his role.
It's not that exciting anywhere. The nighttime attacks of the lion are fine to watch out, and when the lions or 1 of them walk through that thicket, the film is somehow atmospheric again. He is certainly unpredictable there, but in the end not much was achieved.
For the rest I didn't find it very boring anywhere, but unfortunately nowhere optimally exciting. It is a pity that the atmosphere is not optimally portrayed. The film often wants to be a kind of nail biter, but it really doesn't come close. And that's where the film mostly fails.
But the 110 minutes are quite fast and the film is good to watch. It is strange that drama is indicated here as genre, the thriller content is then much more present.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Filmkriebel
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- 10012 messages
- 4678 votes
Didn't like this. Although this is based on true facts, they have been adjusted to Hollywood standards in such a way that there is not much of it left. As a result, the film is nowhere really exciting, has silly scenes (the lion already mentioned by frans123 who is trapped with three armed Indians takes the cake) and with facts about the Tsavo lions that have been severely blown up (more than a hundred dead?). Also Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas do not leave a deep impression. The only things you can still enjoy are the beautiful shots in the African nature parks.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Sergio Leone
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- 4430 messages
- 3110 votes
Reasonable.
A little less than in my memory, but that was also one from the "distant" past, from the period when I, as a brat of about 8 years, was allowed to watch 9 adventure films like The 13th Warrior, etc. and just liked it. So this one was part of that too.
But in the end it all works out. The film is not very balanced - the urgency of the construction of the bridge suddenly disappears into the background -, but it is still a pleasant snack to watch. The suspense comes through every now and then, but otherwise it is the setting that provides the atmosphere. Val Kilmer is not very impressive, but Michael Douglas still has a nice role. And of course those 2 lions, who cause death and destruction (especially the slaughter in the hospital as a memorable scene), which provide some enthusiasm.
3
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