Congo
A friend once told me that Congo was the first movie he remembers in real-time while watching in the theater was bad, like not good. My friend was in his early tweens at the time, and Congo had just hit theaters, to tons of fanfare and support. It had what should have been a winning mix: best selling book; state of the art graphics and CGI; and a massive budget. It was not a winning mix.
ROTTEN TOMATOES OVERVIEW
Critics Score: 20%
Audience Score: 29%
Congo (1995), directed by Frank Marshall was based on Michael Crichton's best-selling novel of the same name. The movie is often remembered as a wild ride gone awry and has earned its place in cinematic infamy for all the wrong reasons. Critics were quick to pounce on its convoluted plot and muddled execution. Critics panned the film for its chaotic storytelling and lackluster execution. Roger Ebert described it as a "classic example of a film with too many ideas and not enough sense of purpose," feeling it stumbled over its own ambitions (RogerEbert.com). The New York Times agreed, calling it a "disjointed and overly elaborate thriller" that could not quite juggle its myriad plot threads effectively and that it that stumbled through its jungle adventure with all the grace of a clumsy tourist (The New York Times). Meanwhile, Entertainment Weekly derided it as a "muddled mess," suggesting it missed the mark despite its adventurous spirit (Entertainment Weekly). In essence, Congo turned out to be more of a jungle of confusion than the gripping adventure it set out to be. The movie's special effects and acting came under fire for failing to deliver the excitement promised by its premise. Instead of an exhilarating adventure, audiences were treated to a tangled narrative that even the most dedicated fans found hard to navigate. In summary, Congo turned out to be more of a jungle of confusion than the thrilling escapade it aimed to be.
But that was then, and this is now. Let’s be kind and rewind on this rewatch of Congo, so that we can pick the blood diamonds out of this abandoned mine of cinematic history.