I'm not sure why it took me 35 years to watch this, but I'll just say I was pacing myself. So there.
This movie proves that Sigourney Weaver is a Hollywood treasure. Truthfully, she has always been. Her performance here is nothing short of amazing. Along with John Omirah Miluwi who played her assistant/tracker, Sembagare. His gentleness and determination in helping Dian Fossey is admirable.
The story itself is a great one; a woman has a dream of helping the gorillas in the jungle that are being wiped out due to poaching. Nothing will stop her from helping and studying them. Nothing will stop her from protecting them. She acclimates herself to the groups of primates while also taking on poachers and government officials trying to rid themselves of her.
However, the movie, in my opinion, loses points for a couple things. One; the scene where she tells her group of workers to tie up a young boy so she can scare the bejesus out of him. That kid is going to have some serious psychological scars. Of course, this scene also shows exactly where Fossey's true priorities are. Secondly, the seemingly forced romance subplot. I don't know if it was a really relationship or not- I didn't research, but it was pointless. And(!) she knows he's married and still goes for it. That's just wrong.
Anyway, Dian Fossey did some amazing work and Sigourney Weaver forever deserves praise for this and all other roles. Alien/Aliens, The Ice Storm, Galaxy Quest, Avatar- the woman can do it all.
I'm addition; the special effects are astounding. It was made in the late 80s, cgi wasn't yet as prominent- and the FX team did amazing work with animatronics and the like.
This movie proves that Sigourney Weaver is a Hollywood treasure. Truthfully, she has always been. Her performance here is nothing short of amazing. Along with John Omirah Miluwi who played her assistant/tracker, Sembagare. His gentleness and determination in helping Dian Fossey is admirable.
The story itself is a great one; a woman has a dream of helping the gorillas in the jungle that are being wiped out due to poaching. Nothing will stop her from helping and studying them. Nothing will stop her from protecting them. She acclimates herself to the groups of primates while also taking on poachers and government officials trying to rid themselves of her.
However, the movie, in my opinion, loses points for a couple things. One; the scene where she tells her group of workers to tie up a young boy so she can scare the bejesus out of him. That kid is going to have some serious psychological scars. Of course, this scene also shows exactly where Fossey's true priorities are. Secondly, the seemingly forced romance subplot. I don't know if it was a really relationship or not- I didn't research, but it was pointless. And(!) she knows he's married and still goes for it. That's just wrong.
Anyway, Dian Fossey did some amazing work and Sigourney Weaver forever deserves praise for this and all other roles. Alien/Aliens, The Ice Storm, Galaxy Quest, Avatar- the woman can do it all.
I'm addition; the special effects are astounding. It was made in the late 80s, cgi wasn't yet as prominent- and the FX team did amazing work with animatronics and the like.