Rating: PG
Genre:
Adventure
Release Date: 03/23/1999
SubTitles: English
Dubbed: English
Sound: 5.1/2
Run Time: 114 Minutes
Flags: Violence, Suitable for Children, Adult Language
Distributor/Studio: Walt Disney Video
This 1998 version of
Mighty Joe Young begins with a
Gorillas in the Mist-type prologue and then jumps forward twelve years to find
Bill Paxton leading a safari expedition to capture the legendary giant (two-ton) gorilla, the subject of the film's title.
Paxton's intentions are admirable; he wants to remove the majestic beast from the imminent danger of poachers and set him up on a posh nature reserve in California. The x-factor comes in the form of
Charlize Theron's beautiful jungle girl,
Jill Young.
Jill has been
Joe's soul mate from birth and is the only human who can communicate with him. She is also the reason
Paxton's maverick-on-the-run lingers at the reserve after his task is completed. From there, the plot is spurred on by the nefarious actions of a poacher with an Ahab complex and a battery of money hungry scientists who want to exploit
Joe. Naturally, all of this puts a burr under the towering simian's skin, causing him to break free and go ape in L.A.'s concrete jungle.
~ Tom Meek, All Movie Guide
;)
