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Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:
The IMF team heads to the Pacific island of New Belgium where the commissioner of the territory is using cyanide in an illegal gold-mining operation. The cyanide is killing a large portion of the indigenous population, and the team aims to protect the natives and get them on their side.
Memorable Quote:
What about our bringing Otagi and Regehr to justice? ~Shannon
This is the Kontu Jungle, Shannon. They'll be judged by the same kind of justice they handed out. ~Jim
Highlight:
All three of the antagonists (the lead commissioner, his abrasive lieutenant, and the guy pretending to be a god) were strong characters and well-acted.
What about our bringing Otagi and Regehr to justice? ~Shannon
This is the Kontu Jungle, Shannon. They'll be judged by the same kind of justice they handed out. ~Jim
Highlight:
All three of the antagonists (the lead commissioner, his abrasive lieutenant, and the guy pretending to be a god) were strong characters and well-acted.
Lowlight:
The depiction of the "simple hill people" seemed insulting to primitive people in general given how gullible and wishy-washy they were. Just because they're primitive doesn't mean they're stupid.
Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:
- The scene where the natives capture Nicholas, Shannon, and Max has an Ewok/Return of the Jedi feel to it.
- Ridiculous moment when Jim waves his arms and the natives wake up at exactly the same time.
Final Analysis:
I like this one despite not having many comments. The plot is fast moving and action oriented, the villains are strong, and the Pacific island makes for a good setting. Ranking it 7 out of 30.
Wow! And here I was eagerly awaiting your review of this one to see if you would find the episode worse than "The Devils". The last thing I expected is that you'd like it. This was the worst episode of the series for me, fully embracing the most insultingly stereotypical portrayal of native people I've come across....comparable of the worst B movies of early cinema. The story made no sense (nobody dared to EVER cross the bridge...until they did). And Grant's special effects scared everyone into submission as ridiculously here with the talking volcano spirit as any of the other episodes where you ripped that recurring theme. The storyline with aboriginal people in "The Cattle King" was not exactly inspired but light years better and less overtly racist than we see here. Some of the visuals were pretty strong throughout the hour but the same was true with "The Lions" and that had a mess of a story too. This one is dead last for me.
ReplyDeleteWow, dead last! Can't say I was expecting that either. I think a big part of it is that I'm a big "Pacific Islands" fan and am predisposed to enjoy just about anything that is set there.
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