Congo 4K UHD (1995) coming from Vinegar Syndrome

[JupiterMission]

Just confirmed:

Available for pre-order right now:
https://vinegarsyndrome.com/collecti...products/congo

This special limited edition deluxe magnet box + slipcover set (designed by JJ Harrison and Haunt Love), includes a 40-page perfect bound book and is limited to 10,000 units. It is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.

TraviCom owner, and multimillionaire, R.B. Travis (Joe Don Baker, Walking Tall) sends his son Charles (Bruce Campbell, The Evil Dead) and his friend Jeffrey (Taylor Nichols, Metropolitan) to the Congo to search for rare blue diamonds that can work as powerful conduits for telecommunications lasers. When Charles and Jeffrey are ambushed, his ex-fiance Dr. Karen Ross (Laura Linney, The Truman Show), who observes the attack via remote video feed, is sent by R.B. Travis to follow in his son's footsteps back to the Congo to finish what was started and, hopefully, find Charles alive. Upon embarking, Karen encounters Dr. Peter Elliot (Dylan Walsh, Nobody's Fool), his assistant (Grant Helsov, True Lies) and a gorilla named Amy, who can communicate with humans via a sign language-controlled glove that translates her movements into audible dialogue (voiced by Shayna Fox, Reggie Rocket on Nickelodeon's Rocket Power). Dr. Elliot is on a poorly-funded expedition to bring Amy back to the Congo, which ends up being made financially viable by a Romanian philanthropist (Tim Curry, Clue) and Karen, who opts to tag along. Once in Africa, they meet up with their guide (Ernie Hudson, Ghostbusters) and find themselves targets of various local militaries, tribes, and a race of gray, killer apes along the way to find the Lost City of Zinj.

Based on a long-gestating 1980 novel by Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park, Disclosure), CONGO started its adventure to movie screens well over a decade before it hit theaters in the summer of 1995. A similar mash-up of tech-heavy sci-fi and roaring adventure to blockbuster juggernaut Jurassic Park two years prior, Frank Marshall's (Arachnophobia) screen adaptation of Crichton's unclassifiable genre amalgam comes to vivid life with a script by noted playwright and screenwriter John Patrick Shanley (Moonstruck, Joe Versus the Volcano), lush cinematography by Spielberg collaborator Allen Daviau (E.T., The Color Purple) and a suitably bombastic score by Jerry Goldsmith (Alien, Poltergeist). Vinegar Syndrome Ultra is proud to present this undeniable staple of mid-90s blockbuster filmmaking in its world UHD debut with a brand new 4K restoration from its original 35mm camera negative alongside a robust assortment of new extras.

directed by: Frank Marshall
starring: Laura Linney, Dylan Walsh, Ernie Hudson, Tim Curry, Grant Heslov, Joe Don Baker
1995 / 108 min / 1.85:1 / English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Additional info:

- 2-disc Set: 4K Ultra HD (High Bitrate UHD100) / Region A Blu-ray
- 4K UHD presented in Dolby Vision High-Dynamic-Range
- Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative
- Commentary track with author/screenwriter Kelly Goodner and film historian Jim Hemphill
- "A Crash Course in Ape School. Looking Back at the Creation of Congo's Gorillas" (50 min) - a new making-of documentary featuring interviews with Stan Winston Studio crew: Christian Colquhoun, Richard Landon, J. Alan Scott, and gorilla suit performers Misty Rosas and Nicholas Kadi
- "Withstand the Test of Time: A Conversation with Congo's Make-up FX Team" (13 min) - a featurette with artists Matthew Mungle and Michael McCracken
- "Journey into the Unknown" (25 min) - an archival making-of featurette
- Extensive behind-the-scenes photo gallery (7 min)
- Original teaser trailer
- Original theatrical trailer
- 40-page perfect bound book with essay by Simon Abrams, Matt Singer, and Justin LaLiberty (exclusive to the limited deluxe case edition)
- Reversible sleeve artwork
- English SDH subtitles

[starman15317]

I have an old laserdisc of this film but I've still never seen it.

[JupiterMission]

Originally Posted by starman15317

I have an old laserdisc of this film but I've still never seen it.

You're missing out! It's a really fun jungle adventure movie, as Ebert pointed out, with a great cast and awesome production design and creatures. Very fun post-Jurassic Park 90s blockbuster. Also has a phenomenal score.

I've seen it dozens of times and never tire of it. My friends actually rented a theater and screened it for me for my bachelor party years ago.

Story time:
I was nine when it came out, and being Jurassic Park and Michael Crichton obsessed, I bugged my parents for weeks if not months about seeing this. I read the book, lit up every time a commercial came on, etc.

Well, one Saturday afternoon my dad asked me to hop in his old Jeep Cherokee and go for a ride with him. He wouldn't say where we were going. I kept asking what was up and finally he said, "Listen, when you were born the doctors said that you had a condition. They said it might go away when you got older, but it might not. So we're going to the hospital, and they're going to do some tests and see if you're going to be okay or not."

I was stunned. I asked how long I'd be gone for. "We don't know." What's the condition? "We're not sure." Am I going to die? "We don't know."

I still remember that we were passing over a highway on an overpass when he told me this. I could tell you the exact spot.

"Anyways," he said. "Look into that bag in the back seat and make sure mom packed enough clothes for you."

I was in the front passenger seat, so I reached back and pulled down the side of a paper grocery bag. Inside was a re-usable popcorn bucket that you got cheap refills on at our nearest AMC theater.

"It's just a popcorn bucket..."

My dad laughed.

"WE'RE GOING TO SEE CONGO?!"

He confirmed that yes, we were going to see Congo. And I've never been the same but I've always had a deep love for the film. Maybe because for a brief moment at the age of nine I thought I was going to die of some rare medical condition, and I'd been granted a new lease on life and the first thing I got to do was see Congo, but the movie also has Ernie Hudson, Bruce Campbell, Tim Curry, killer apes, cool lasers, ancient diamond mines, sesame seed cake, and all sorts of stuff so who is to say.

[Ruemorgue10]

Originally Posted by JupiterMission

[Show spoiler]You're missing out! It's a really fun jungle adventure movie, as Ebert pointed out, with a great cast and awesome production design and creatures. Very fun post-Jurassic Park 90s blockbuster. Also has a phenomenal score.

I've seen it dozens of times and never tire of it. My friends actually rented a theater and screened it for me for my bachelor party years ago.

Story time:
I was nine when it came out, and being Jurassic Park and Michael Crichton obsessed, I bugged my parents for weeks if not months about seeing this. I read the book, lit up every time a commercial came on, etc.

Well, one Saturday afternoon my dad asked me to hop in his old Jeep Cherokee and go for a ride with him. He wouldn't say where we were going. I kept asking what was up and finally he said, "Listen, when you were born the doctors said that you had a condition. They said it might go away when you got older, but it might not. So we're going to the hospital, and they're going to do some tests and see if you're going to be okay or not."

I was stunned. I asked how long I'd be gone for. "We don't know." What's the condition? "We're not sure." Am I going to die? "We don't know."

I still remember that we were passing over a highway on an overpass when he told me this. I could tell you the exact spot.

"Anyways," he said. "Look into that bag in the back seat and make sure mom packed enough clothes for you."

I was in the front passenger seat, so I reached back and pulled down the side of a paper grocery bag. Inside was a re-usable popcorn bucket that you got cheap refills on at our nearest AMC theater.

"It's just a popcorn bucket..."

My dad laughed.

"WE'RE GOING TO SEE CONGO?!"

He confirmed that yes, we were going to see Congo. And I've never been the same but I've always had a deep love for the film. Maybe because for a brief moment at the age of nine I thought I was going to die of some rare medical condition, and I'd been granted a new lease on life and the first thing I got to do was see Congo, but the movie also has Ernie Hudson, Bruce Campbell, Tim Curry, killer apes, cool lasers, ancient diamond mines, sesame seed cake, and all sorts of stuff so who is to say.

I also have vivid memories of seeing CONGO in the theater that summer. It was the afternoon following my dad's retirement ceremony from the Navy. My grandpa wanted to take my brother and I to a movie. We wanted to see DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE but it was rated R, se we went to see CONGO instead.

The studio really tried to sell it as "the next Jurassic Park", and even though it wasn't anywhere near that level, it was and still is a fun jungle adventure with some pretty intense moments.

[Surge92]

Originally Posted by Ruemorgue10

I also have vivid memories of seeing CONGO in the theater that summer. It was the afternoon following my dad's retirement ceremony from the Navy. My grandpa wanted to take my brother and I to a movie. We wanted to see DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE but it was rated R, se we went to see CONGO instead.

The studio really tried to sell it as "the next Jurassic Park", and even though it wasn't anywhere near that level, it was and still is a fun jungle adventure with some pretty intense moments.

I went to see it in the movie theater also. I was in full fanboy phase back then and practically spent that summer of '95 at the movies. I remember not liking it as much as I thought I would, but I'll probably pick it up at some point, just on era nostalgia.

[DMRI2006]

I could hardly justify paying for the Blu-Ray when it was in the bargain bin. $65 for the deluxe 4K...yeah I think I'm good lol.

[motorheadache95]

Yeah I mean even the power of time and nostalgia isnt enough to get me interested in this one. It was a pretty lousy adaptation of the novel, and the effects were really bad. I’d actually support a new crack at it with Andy Serkis involved.

[MifuneFan]

I remember enjoying this one when I was younger. Haven't seen it in a long time though, so not sure how it holds up now.

[drb999]

It’s a decent movie. I enjoyed it. Of course the novel is better.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by drb999

It’s a decent movie. I enjoyed it. Of course the novel is better.

Any Crichton novel is better than the associated movie.

[figrin_dan]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Any Crichton novel is better than the associated movie.

Unless he also directed it!

[MaskedBandit77]

Originally Posted by figrin_dan

Unless he also directed it!

Great Train Robbery? I think that's the only movie he directed that is an adaptation of one of his novels.

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by MaskedBandit77

Great Train Robbery? I think that's the only movie he directed that is an adaptation of one of his novels.

Westworld as well.

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Any Crichton novel is better than the associated movie.

An exception would be Andromeda Strain. I think it compliments the book perfectly and adds a visual aspect to the story that the book could not. I adore the novel too, I think Robert Wise and the writers nailed it.

Jurassic Park is a great movie, not as info dense as the novel obviously but still gets the spirit of the film well and is really fun to watch.
Lost World the novel is as good if not better than the original but the movie is not faithful to it at all.
Sphere is a great novel, okay movie.
Congo is a great novel, trash movie save for our favorite weapon.
Timeline is another film that completely missed the point of the novel.
I just found out that there was a Terminal Man film, no idea how that compares to the excellent novel.
I have not seen Great Train Robbery (great book) but hey 'ol Crichton himself wrote and directed it so how off could it be right?

So, yeah, you are basically correct save for AS.

[ThulsaMike88]

One of my all time favorite guilty pleasures! Is it a good movie? Lol no, but some of the performances and comedy make up for that, including Tim Curry, Delroy Lindo and Ernie Hudson hamming it up! Day one!

[mpls1981]

Originally Posted by singhcr

An exception would be Andromeda Strain. I think it compliments the book perfectly and adds a visual aspect to the story that the book could not. I adore the novel too, I think Robert Wise and the writers nailed it.

Jurassic Park is a great movie, not as info dense as the novel obviously but still gets the spirit of the film well and is really fun to watch.
Lost World the novel is as good if not better than the original but the movie is not faithful to it at all.
Sphere is a great novel, okay movie.
Congo is a great novel, trash movie save for our favorite weapon.
Timeline is another film that completely missed the point of the novel.
I just found out that there was a Timeline film, no idea how that compares to the excellent novel.
I have not seen Great Train Robbery (great book) but hey 'ol Crichton himself wrote and directed it so how off could it be right?

So, yeah, you are basically correct save for AS.

Timeline is a very forgetful movie that tries to be more of an action blockbuster than faithful adaptation of the book.

[mulscul]

Originally Posted by singhcr

An exception would be Andromeda Strain. I think it compliments the book perfectly and adds a visual aspect to the story that the book could not. I adore the novel too, I think Robert Wise and the writers nailed it.

Jurassic Park is a great movie, not as info dense as the novel obviously but still gets the spirit of the film well and is really fun to watch.
Lost World the novel is as good if not better than the original but the movie is not faithful to it at all.
Sphere is a great novel, okay movie.
Congo is a great novel, trash movie save for our favorite weapon.
Timeline is another film that completely missed the point of the novel.
I just found out that there was a Timeline film, no idea how that compares to the excellent novel.
I have not seen Great Train Robbery (great book) but hey 'ol Crichton himself wrote and directed it so how off could it be right?

So, yeah, you are basically correct save for AS.

What about Disclosure? I Love that movie

[Fat Phil]

Ahh, Congo. It's like an old friend at this point. The UHD format needs more Tim Curry.

Loaded Weapon 1 and Home Alone 2 must happen. I will complain non stop until they're released.

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by mulscul

What about Disclosure? I Love that movie

I haven't seen that so I couldn't comment.

[raptors661]

I'm assuming the one listed on their site is the "limited deluxe case edition" that has the booklet? It doesn't specify either way.