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Ape
A*P*E
USA / South Korea 1976
produced by Jack H. Harris, Paul Leder, K.M. Yeung, Reuben Leder (executive) for Worldwide Entertainment, Kuk Dong, Lee Ming Film
directed by Paul Leder
starring Rod Arrants, Joanna Kerns (as Joanna DeVarona), Lee Nak-hun, Alex Nicol, Jerry Harke, Woo Yoin Jang, Paul Leder, Bob Kurcz, Woo Yeon-jeong, Kwan Choi Sung, Larry Chandler, J.J.Gould, Charles Johnson, Jules Levey, Walt Myers
written by Paul Leder, Reuben Leder, music by Bruce MacRae, performed by the Seoul Symphony Orchestra, musical director: Sup Chung Min, special effects by Nam Park Kwang
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Available on DVD! To buy, click on link(s) below and help keep this site afloat (commissions earned) |
Always make sure of DVD-compatibility!!!
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Someone has found a 36 foot ape somewhere (this part is never
explained) and now wants to ship it to the USA - however, during
transport, the ape, who was supposed to be drugged during the whole
journey, wakes up, wrecks the ship and heads for Korea.
Seoul: Filmstar Marilyn Baker (Joanna Kerns) has just arrived in town
to start her latest movie, and wouldn't you know it, she is welcomed by
her reporter-boyfriend Tom (Rod Arrants) from back in the States ...
Soon enough, the news of a 36 foot gorilla roaming the countryside hits
town, but while US American army colonel Davis (Alex Nicol) tries to play
the news down, Korean police captain Kim (Lee Nak-hun)becomes increasingly
worried, and soon he and Tom start to investigate. Sure enough of course,
the gorilla is real, and as these movies go, he not only wrecks everything
in his way, he also eventually comes across Marilyn's movie set, and
wouldn't you know it, he snatches her off the set. And it takes him a
whole while to release her again, and then it takes the army a whole while
to gun him down by massive use of tanks ...
By the way, the film was originally presented in 3D, which is why every
now and again, characters (including of course the ape) throw objects
directly towards the camera (which is most of the time handled rather
crudely though).
Of course, this film was more than a little inspired by King
Kong, however, regarding special effects this film (done a full 43
years after King Kong) is a
giant step back: It's pretty much a man in a monkeysuit stepping onto a
bunch of cardboard houses, with neither the monkeysuit nor the houses
looking all that realistic (actually they are both crappy to the hilt).
The only saving grace of the film is that it doesn't take itself too
seriously, but even so, this doesn't make this piece of crap much better.
However, trashfilm fans like myself will want to see this film anyways,
and will probably get a kick out of it, too !!!
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