The Emerald Forest

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The Emerald Forest

R,

1985,

1h 53m,

Adventure

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Watchlist

Watchlist

82%

17 Reviews

Tomatometer

79%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

17 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

American Bill Markham (Powers Boothe) has taken his family to the jungles of Brazil, where he has been hired to design a dam. Unexpectedly, a native tribe abducts his son, Tommy (Charley Boorman). Bill spends an entire decade looking for Tommy, only to discover that the boy has adopted the ways of the indigenous people he's been living with. Bill tries to convince his son to return to his family, but their reunion is interrupted when another group of natives attacks Tommy's tribe.

David Robinson

The Times (UK)

Apr 5, 2022

The mystery and menace of the wilderness excite John Boorman; and the suspense of the action is sustained through consistently fine images, in which the green forest light predominates.

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

Apr 4, 2022

This simplicity of expression, combined with Boorman's usual sophisticated visual technique, makes it a genuine oddity. But, whatever its faults, it looks glorious, tells a fascinating story and is a piece of sheer cinema you have to see.

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

Jan 3, 2018

This long, wheezy tribute to the Noble Savage has some pretty scenery, but not much else -- it's not a movie, it's a National Geographic special.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Dec 26, 2023

3/4

Here’s a “save the rainforest” film that succeeds so well as an adventure yarn and as a familial drama that one might forget about its pro-environmental slant until the closing text helpfully brings it back to the forefront.

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Carol Cling

Las Vegas Review-Journal

Sep 29, 2006

5/5

Emotionally gripping, visually stunning.

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Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Oct 9, 2005

2/5

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Hagrid M

Mar 15, 2019

Beautiful but at times it reads like a boring long winded documentary.

Kylo R

Feb 5, 2017

I first saw this as a kid and it stuck with me, I finally re-watched it after wanting to for many years. It is an interesting story, and is "based on a true story" about I white boy taken by a tribe in the Amazon Rain forest. Powers booth is the father who never stops searching for his lost son and the director's son, Charlie Boorman plays the teenage version of the boy. I found the film somewhat flawed, but ultimately enjoyable. For me, Charlie Boorman was a weak link, but most others seem to enjoy his performances. The film is definitely worth a watch though.

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John Boorman

Director

Powers Boothe

Bill Markham

Charley Boorman

Tomme

Meg Foster

Jean Markham

William Rodriquez

Young Tommy

Yara Vaneau

Young Heather

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Synopsis

American Bill Markham (Powers Boothe) has taken his family to the jungles of Brazil, where he has been hired to design a dam. Unexpectedly, a native tribe abducts his son, Tommy (Charley Boorman). Bill spends an entire decade looking for Tommy, only to discover that the boy has adopted the ways of the indigenous people he's been living with. Bill tries to convince his son to return to his family, but their reunion is interrupted when another group of natives attacks Tommy's tribe.

Director: John Boorman
Producer: John Boorman, Michael Dryhurst
Production Co: Embassy Pictures, Christel Films
Rating: R
Genre: Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Feb 6, 2001
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.0M
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Surround

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