This did not stand up to memory as well as I thought it would, but the stop motion is very good. Especially, as was pointed out in the short feature on the movie, the section with the cowboys roping the Allosaurus. The Eohippus was nicely done and Gwangi is plainly awesome to watch as he strides around. Obviously, his posture is a matter that has since been changed through scientific study, but Harryhausen's creatures are always so alive. I think that if Ray had been animating Gwangi in the accepted modern pose, the result would have been lessened, because the roping scene would have come off differently.
On the bad side? The human love story was a little contrived (they often seemed so in Harryhausen's films, not though his fault). The elephant makes some really strange sounds. And, horror of horrors, a spunky kid. At least the young boy did not know everything there was to know about Gwangi.
During the film, I noticed that Jenna would get really excited and start squealing in delight whenever Gwangi was on the screen. She even giggled when the dinosaur ate the midget. Kind of funny, since she loves her alligator (my contribution to her toy stash.) I make it apparently eat her foot or such and she laughs and laughs. Well, I guess that we found a name for the alligator.
(http://www.badmovies.org/request/jenna-gwangi1-s.jpg) (http://www.badmovies.org/request/jenna-gwangi1.jpg) (http://www.badmovies.org/request/jenna-gwangi2-s.jpg) (http://www.badmovies.org/request/jenna-gwangi2.jpg)
Just wait Andrew till she sees DESTROY ALL MONSTERS. After seeing that movie I just had to draw all of the monster from Monster Island and then place them on my bedroom wall. Don't show this movie till your little girl can draw on paper. Even then you should check her closet for monster drawings with a camera in hand. Nice monster pictures. Does she take martial arts, I think she is about to apply a Ju Jitsu choke hold from the guard position on that alligator. I've seen that technique before. Cute girl you have there Andrew.
AWWW! That's a cute picture.
-the first rule of fat club-
I loved Valley of Gwangi. The actors were positively excellent. I couldn't quite tell if it was set in the 20th century at first but the lady, TJ, wore clothing that showed it was.
I loved Valley of Gwangi. The actors were positively excellent. I couldn't quite tell if it was set in the 20th century at first but the lady, TJ, wore clothing that showed it was.
aww cute lil 'B'aby in'nt she?:)
VALLEY OF GWANGI was one of those movies that I saw a lot of trailers for on TV when I was a kid. I remember that I REALLY wanted to see it in the theater but I didn't get the chance. In fact, I had to wait until about 5 years ago when I bought my nephew a VHS copy (okay . . . I admit it . . . I bought it for him because I wanted to see it).
I think I would have enjoyed it more when I was a little kid.
Cuuuuute kid!
I liked the monsters, but the humans were...well, bleah. But, as per the Joe Bob quote in my " DOG' posting....
She will likely be daddy's girl, with Katie's brains, and your sense of humor....oooh, spooky!
All parents are convinced that *their* kid is the cutest, but your sprog comes across very well! A word of warning - watch out for that toy stash, because it will inexorably expand to take over your entire house. I speak from experience.
VotG - I remember seeing some of this many years ago, and seeing one of the extras/Expendable Background Character actors being surprised by the Gwangi as it burst forth from the scenery, shortly to nibble upon him. How, I wondered, does a 30 foot high, ten ton monster manage to *sneak up* on someone?
How does a 30 dino sneak up on someone? Verrrrrryy carfully!
Andrew....try to get her intrested in toy you like too...make play time more fun for both of you....
No, that don't include daddy gun collection...least till she turns 16...