Search - Mighty Joe Young on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Violence, Suitable for Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1998 DVD Release: 03/23/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 54 mins Studio: Walt Disney Video Total Copies: 2 Genres: Adventure, Jungle Film, Animal Picture, Family-Oriented Adventure

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

Charlize Theron - Jill Young
Bill Paxton - Gregg O'Hara
Rade Serbedzija - Strasser
Peter Firth - Garth
David Paymer - Harry Ruben

Ron Underwood's gorilla movie comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. A closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1. There are no subtitles accessible on this release. Supplemental materials include a theatrical trailer and a production featurette. This family themed film underwhelmed at the box office and this DVD does little to change its fate in the home video market. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide