The Lost City of Z 2016

     British explorer Percy Fawcett journeys into the Amazon at the beginning of the 20^th century.  He discovers evidence that an advanced civilization may have inhabited this region.  The scientific community deems the indigenous people to be savages.  This means that they are not worthy of discovery.  Fawcett returns many times to the jungle attempting to prove his case that the people are unknown but worthy of study.

     Fawcett was determined to prove that the current racist attitudes of the British were wrong.  He believed that certain nonwhite civilizations were more advanced than any in western society in existence at the same time.  He also felt the need to prove himself as a respectable Englishman.  His father’s Army career was reduced due to constant alcoholism.  Nina thinks of herself as a feminist but her life is the role of wife and raising her children instead of pursuing any of her own dreams?  I wondered about Fawcett leaving his family for so long that his first son asked him if he was his father?  The character played by Robert Pattinson states he now has a wife and child.  He will not be going on the next planned trip to the jungle.  Why could Fawcett not see this course for his own life and family?  Personally, the jungle isn’t for me and a lot of scenes are at night so details can be skipped!!  2 1/2* (This movie was OK)

141 min, Adventure directed by James Gray with Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller, Tom Holland, Edward Ashley, Angus Macfadyen, Ian McDiarmid, Clive Francis, Pedro Coello, Matthew Sunderland. 

Note:  Imdb 6.7 out of 10, 87% critic 59% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3 ½*, Amazon 3.4* out of 5* with 309 reviews, Metacritic 78 out of 100 with 44 critics 6.9 out of 10 with 150 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Magdalena, Colombia; County Antrim, Belfast, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK.  Director James Gray wrote to Francis Ford Coppola asking for advice about shooting in the jungle.  Coppola directed Apocalypse Now of 1979 and his advice was “Don’t go!”  Coppola received the same advice from Roger Corman and he directed Piranhaconda of 2012.  Hunnam was awakened by a sound like a drill in his ear.  He found that an insect had burrowed into his ear and hit the eardrum.  It kept trying to burrow further!!  Holland went swimming with the local children and the next day he found out black caimans were in the water.  They are like mean looking big crocodiles but docile and usually don’t attack people.  The film was shot on 35mm and computers could not work in the jungle humidity.  During shooting, the villagers shouted that the river was about to rise.  Six minutes later the entire set was flooded and totally under water in 45 seconds.