Here we take a look at Congo: The Movie sticker album from Panini, which was released to tie in with the film in 1995. I went to see this movie in the cinema when it came out and thought it was great. It is still one of my favourite movies. I know it didn't get a good response from critics, but I thought it was a good adventure yarn set in the wilds of the African jungles, something you don't see a lot of in movies these days. It also had a number of good actors in the cast, while Tim Curry hams it up good and proper as the villain, though villain is too strong a word for his character really.
The screenplay was adapted from a Michael Crichton novel of the same name, so I think people were expecting a special effects extravaganza along the lines of Jurassic Park.
I never completed the album unfortunately (anyone got any spare stickers?). They don't really make sticker books for movies like this anymore. These days it seems to only be animated or comic book movies which get collections.
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| It's always nice to get sticker No.1 |
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| Spoiler* Bruce Campbell doesn't last long in the movie, but he gets a lot of stickers! |
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| Only 168 stickers in the book, but I never completed it. |
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| I was never too sure about Tim Curry's Romanian accent, I was convinced he couldn't be trusted! |
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| A close up of the Killer Ape! |
There was a 4-page fold out poster in the centre of the album which held a number of stickers. I'm afraid the minute it was completed it was taken out from the centre pages, probably to be stuck to a wall or a door somewhere. Either way, now I have no idea where it is!
I also bought this film on VHS tape when it came out and I'm sure I have it on DVD laying around the house here somewhere too.
On top of this I also got my hands on the Congo videogame for the SEGA Saturn. It was only released in America I believe. It is a rather good Doom-type game, if you like those sort of games (which I do).
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| The trek to find King Solomon's Mines will be hard and dangerous. |
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| What's worse than killer apes? Missing one sticker to finish a page! |
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| Tim Curry's Herkermer Homolka just wants those diamonds! |
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| Ernie Hudson is great as guide Munroe Kelly. |
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| Last page, and they escape the volcano in a balloon. |
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| The Back Cover, and the album only cost 60p! |
Saw this once in 1996 and didn't like it, but the more I hear about it over the years, the more I want to see it again! Never knew there was a game of it, but I DO have a few of the toys that came along with Congo - namely, the three "evil" gorillas. How or even IF they feature in the film I don't know, just thought that it was about time I had some monster gorillas on the shelf.
ReplyDeleteIt was on Film4 the other night, I think it still holds up! I believe there was a megadrive game too, but not sure if it was released, I've never seen one in the wild. Although, I've never seen those figures either! The animatronic gorillas in the film weren't anything special, so I'd say the figures are pretty close to the race of killer apes in the movie.
DeleteI was obsessed with this movie when it was released. I read the book beforehand and loved it and was really excited about the movie. I thought the film was a good adaptation of the book. I remember having this sticker album but never finished it. I've lost it now which is a shame but I would love to pick it up again. Great review!
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