Lions Kill People...you know you are interested
The Ghost and the Darkness
Upon going to a friend's house, we decided to watch a movie. He had a large selection of movies both him and I had never heard of. We just picked out one with an interesting case and slid it in. The Ghost and the Darkness is what we got. Surprisingly, this movie is a much better experience than one would think. The story is a little farfetched, but not enough so you feel alienated from the story.

John Patterson is sent to Africa to build a bridge. This story takes place in the late 1800s when many European countries were attempting to control Africa. Patterson is sent to build a bridge that would complete a railroad. Upon arriving in Africa, Patterson learns that a lion have attacked a man and killed him. Patterson accepts the responsibility of hunting the lion. Later that night he kills the lion in a single shot. The worker's morale is up do to the thought of safety. Soon another lion threat arrives. Two lions begin attacking the workers. The workers believe they are legendary lions known as The Ghost and The Darkness. Patterson must kill these lions to ensure the workers survive and build the bridge.

The story may sound a bit ridiculous, but you learn to love it. The scenery used in this movie is fantastic. My complaint is that sometimes the lighting is too absent. It is hard to see the characters or lions. This is 1996 though, so lighting does not come as easy. The music in the movie works very well. Suspense is perfectly implemented.

One problem in this movie is the lifeless characters. They try to be characters, not normal human beings. Patterson is flat and boring. The workers are also hurt by trying to be a character instead of a person. Remington, a world-renowned hunter, brings life to this film. Sadly, he only appears near the end of the viewing.

There is some light gore in this movie. You do not see anything, but blood flies all over the place. At one point in the film, there is a giant mass of blood in the middle of the field. This is probably all okay for any mature child. However, if lions attacking people frightens them, this may not be for them.

There are not any extras available on this DVD. This works as a cool movie. Watching the cunning lions is interesting. You just have to accept the story for what it is. I recommend giving this one a rent at least.

too dark
most of this movie is filmed in the dark & you can't see half of what is going on. Plot was good but it needed to be a lot lighter.

Africa movie
My boyfriend hunts in Africa so I got this for him before he went on his trip

the ghost and the darkness
I love this movie,that is why I bought it and being that it was based on a true story and the lions are in the museum in Chicago, it was very visual and graphic, but the whole idea gave you of the intellegence of these animals, the movie is a keeper and I recommend it to others.

Exciting drama--good transfer to DVD--but not Anamorphic
This review refers to the Region 1 "Widescreen Collection" DVD edition of "The Ghost and the Darkness". Based on a true story in 1898 British colonial Africa, the film deals with man-eating lions that are attacking & killing workers on a railway construction project through Uganda. The lead engineer assigned to the project (perfectly played by Vil Kilmer) was hired to build a bridge across a river. Little does he know that he will face the biggest challenge of his life in tracking down, outwitting, and killing these savage beasts. Micahel Douglas joins the action about half-way into the film.

This is a fast-moving, well-crafted, action/drama/horror/thriller type of film--very entertaining and suspenseful. If you like the "Jurassic Park" films--you will like this action and suspense (who will be eaten next?). The movie is rated R--but there is absolutely no nudity, no profanity (I think the "S" word was used once or twice--but no "F" word). The R rating is due to some gore relating to the lion attacks (which look very real, but computer graphics & special effects must have played a large part)--but this is no slasher type movie. The gore shown is minimal--enough to give the viewer a flavor as to how powerful and efficient these lions were in hunting and attacking their prey. This film is much closer to PG-13 than R.

Hopefully there will be a future anniversary or special edition that this film deserves. This a bare bones DVD. It is a shame that there is no historical account given regarding the actual events (it is mentioned that the actual lions are stuffed and on display in a museum in Chicago). While the transfer to DVD gives excellent sound and a good picture (sharp and crisp with excellent color), as viewed on my 46-inch large screen, high-defintion TV, played on a Toshiba 1080p HD DVD player)--the picture format is letterboxed, not anamorphic. The letterbox does seem to be larger than other letterboxes. Nonetheless, this DVD is worth owning.