Sunday, November 5, 2017

The Diamond of Jeru (2001)

Directors: Ian Barry, Dick Lowry

Writers: Beau L'Amour, Louis L'Amour

Composer: Christopher Tyng

Starring: Billy Zane, Paris Jefferson, Keith Carradine, Jackson Raine, Khoa Do, Peter Carroll, Wi Kuki Kaa, Piripi Waretini, David Webb, Bay Abbey

More info: IMDb

Tagline: Deep in the jungle . . . terror awaits.

Plot: An American scientist and his wife hire an ex-pat war veteran to act as a guide on a journey up an uncharted Borneo river in search of diamonds.

My rating: 6.5/10

Will I watch it again?  No.

Change the music and make it B&W and this would fit right at home in 1955 (the year it takes place).  The filmmakers did a good job of giving you a sense of time and place as well as how adventure flicks were made all those years ago.  I'm a fan of those jungle adventures from way back when and I dug it.  The performances are good, it's taken seriously, the cinematography and the location shooting are great.  Fans of the genre shouldn't pass it up.  Besides, who doesn't like them some Billy Zane in Indiana Jones mode?  The USA Network DVD presents the film in fullscreen.  The extras are pretty decent.  It's 10 1-4 minute interviews with the stars and crew.  Unfortunately there's no play all feature.

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