Bill Paxton, Charlize Theron, Rade Serbedzija

Charlize Theron is the latest stunning blonde to be hanging around some big ape in a Hollywood movie, this one a remake of the 1949 semi-classic with echoes of the superior King Kong. Theron pl...( read more  read more... )ays the daugher of an American researcher killed by poachers in Africa. The baby gorilla left in her care grows up to become a hugely tall and broad specimen named Joe, living in the mountains as a mostly unseen legend among people who live there. Along comes an eco-minded emissary (Bill Paxton) from a California sanctuary, who talks the jungle girl into providing safe haven for Joe at the L.A. facility. The transition is not without discomfort, but everything is aggravated via a conspiracy of poachers to get Joe into their own greedy hands. Director Ron Underwood (City Slickers) uses a combination of special-effects techniques to give Joe life and personality, and he succeeds quite effectively. The requisite giant-ape-goes-amok scenes are all in place--a couple of them pretty intense--as is a conclusion that finds the simian hero performing a stunning feat of escalation. Underwood attempts to give a little modern spin to some classic Hollywood conventions regarding wild hearts lost in civilization, and the results are pretty agreeable family fare. --Tom Keogh

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48% liked it

179,469 ratings

Critics

52% liked it

42 critics

PG, 1 hr. 54 min.

Directed by: Ron Underwood

Release Date: December 25, 1998

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DVD Release Date: March 23, 1999

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Stats: 3,863 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (3,863)


  • September 15, 2008
    A more family friendly version of King Kong with all the usual Disney criteria. Joe looks brilliant throughout the entire film whether he be man in suit, puppetry or even a bit of CGI..I think. Joe and Theron have a real sweet relationship, I was all like "aaaawwwww bless". Same ...( read more)can't be said for Theron and Paxton, as much as I love Paxton he's a bit all over the place here as his character can't find a strong foothold. There is of course a one note villain and his slightly more complex sidekick "she's not an animal she's a human being" "You're not a hunter, you're a murderer" with lines as classy as that you know this is going to be deep stuff. A bit long but for the most part fun and enjoyable.
  • March 15, 2008
    Modern day 'King Kong'. Mighty Joe has to flee the wild to be safe from poachers.
  • March 7, 2008
    Mighty Joe ASS
  • November 29, 2007
    Love this movie. Big gorillas just hit my soft spot.
  • September 27, 2007
    loved it
  • November 18, 2009
    Love the old version of this one but this one good too.
  • November 18, 2009
    If you like Charlize(and who doesn't) you'll appreciate this fluff. Even w/Paxton this mivie is nothing more than practice for them. The original was better...of course I saw that when I was nine
  • November 16, 2009
    Family film that kept interest but wasn't magnificent
  • November 16, 2009
    again ..im tired of writing how much more i loved the originals than there just ok ,money grubbing,sequals
  • November 5, 2009
    Muuuy buena. Me super maxi mega encanta Charlize Theron!!!

Comments


  • shortybrooklyn
    December 23, 2007
    this is a very good movie it roxs
  • duncandonuts92
    October 17, 2007
    Let me set everyone straight: Mighty Joe Young CAME FRIST!!!!!!!!! It was around WAY BEFORE King kong.
  • LaggiexArexThexy
    January 23, 2007
    that is a f**king big gorilla...

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Mighty Joe Young Trivia


  • In which movie did Bill Paxton Team up with Charlize Theron to save a giant gorilla?  Answer »
  • Other then King Kong, there is another large gorilla, also featuring a blonde actress...what is this movie?  Answer »
  • name the actor~ Vertical Limit (PG-13, 2000) U-571 (PG-13, 2000) Mighty Joe Young (PG, 1998) A Simple Plan (R, 1998)  Answer »
  • Name the actress that has appeared in the following films -Mighty Joe Young- -Waking Up In Reno- -North Country- -Monster-  Answer »

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