Romancing the Stone

Plot synopsis:
Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner) is a New-York based writer of cheap romance novels. She's a bit clumsy in real life, although in her novels she writes about strong-minded heroines and sexy male adventurers falling in love passionately. One day, she finds her condo, where she lives with only the company of a cat, in a mess. Right away she has a frightening call: her sister Elaine (Mary Ellen Trainor) has been kidnapped in South America. She decides to go there to save her. There is a map which leads to a huge treasure which is the price which the kidnappers ask for to free Elaine.She has to take a bus to Cartagena, in Colombia, but she has trouble with the language spoken there, Spanish. She gets on a coach, but she is afraid she has taken the wrong one, so she asks the driver (Camilo García) while en route. The driver gets distracted because he can't understand her and has an accident. The bus is wrecked.Joan asks adventurer Jack T. Colton (Michael Douglas), to take her to the place in the map. He accepts because he wants the money to buy a ship. They are followed by some mysterious Latin men and soldiers, commanded by corrupt policeman Zolo (Manuel Ojeda). Ralph, (Danny DeVito) is organizing their capture from far away, because he wants the map as well. He is even less equipped to life in a poor Latin American country than Joan is.Joan and Jack fall down a spring, they have to cross a wide river, and eventually they get lost. They find a crashed airplane with boxes of marijuana, and they spend the night there, because outside it's pouring down with rain. When they leave the next morning, after Jack has saved Joan from being bitten by a poisonous snake, they arrive at a small village. They ask for a phone or a car there, but several dangerous-looking men tell them there is not any. Asking at a mansion, they are helped because Juan (renowned film director Alfonso Arau) recognises Joan. Juan calls her Juanita Wilder, and says that he always reads her novels aloud to the thugs. He invites Joan and Jack, and inside, the town cottage looks like a hacienda mansion with all the amenities of a luxurious manor house. Juan lends them his 4x4. That way they ran away.Ralph will find Joan and Jack eventually, dressed up in Colombina-like outfits for the party. Zolo also pursuits them. They fight each other, they run after one another, and there is the suspicion that Jack is going to betray Joan at any moment because of the treasure. They are about to be eaten by crocodiles all the time, which is a funny moment in the film. All the main characters are about to fall in the crocodile pond while fighting and going back and forth in pursuit of the treasured green diamond.Finally, Joan and Elaine are together again. Soldier of fortune Jack and Joan must face their mutual attraction, although they are completely opposites in many respects.A true modern classic!================================================The movie opens in the middle of a Western cowboy story where a beautiful blonde woman is confronted by an evil man named Drogan. Drogan has come for a treasure of considerable value and demands it and sex from the woman. As she prepares to undress, she throws a hidden knife at her foe, killing him, proclaiming that Drogan had killed her dog, raped and murdered her sister and stole her Bible. After she's dressed, she packs up her horse and rides out, only to stop at the sight of Drogan's men on horseback. Suddenly her hero, Jesse, shown only in shadow, appears and shoots all the men dead. Jesse and the woman embrace and she says they'll be together forever.The scene shifts to Joan Wilder, an author of bestselling romance novels, crying as she types out the scene she'd just narrated. It's the finale to her latest book. Joan is happy that she's completed what could be her biggest selling novel yet. In her kitchen, she hears a noise behind her and greets someone she calls "Sweetheart" -- it's her cat, Romeo. She gives him a can of Bumblebee tuna to eat and celebrates with him. She looks up at a poster on her wall of Jesse from the cover of one of her books and hopes aloud that she'll one day find a man like the one she's created.Joan leaves her apartment, late for a meeting with her editor. On the way, she meets an elderly neighbor who gives her a package that the mail carrier couldn't fit in her box. The package is from her brother-in-law and has arrived from Colombia. At the meeting with her editor, Joan presents the manuscript. Her editor has had them meet in a bar thinking that it'll be good for Joan to see single men in a social setting. Joan remains reluctant because none of them can match her vision of Jesse. Joan also mentions to her editor that she'd gotten a package from her brother-in-law, Eduardo, who'd recently been found dead and mutilated in Colombia.In Cartagena Joan's sister, Elaine, is leaving her apartment in a hurry. Outside, a boy is playing with a bola and as Elaine drives her car out of her garage, the boy throws the bola at her, knocking her unconscious. The boy drives Elaine in her car to a nearby fortress where Ralph, a small-time crook, sees him arrive. He talks to his cousin, Ira, telling him that they should leave Colombia because things have gotten too dangerous. Ira tells Ralph that they have one more treasure hunt to go on & they'll leave.Joan arrives home to find that her apartment has been ransacked. Earlier, a shady character had been standing at Joan's front door and had killed the building's janitor. Joan finds her cat safe and suddenly gets an unexpected call from her sister Elaine. Elaine sounds upset and asks Joan if she'd gotten the package from Eduardo. Joan finds a treasure map inside. Elaine tells Joan to bring the map to Cartagena. Joan is reluctant, thinking that Colombia is too dangerous. Elaine is able to convince Joan to come. Joan packs up and leaves her cat with her editor, who tries to talk her out of going.Joan arrives in Colombia and looks for a bus that'll take her to Cartagena. The shady character that ransacked her apartment, Colonel Zolo, tells her that the bus, which is really going to a remote town in the mountains, will take her to Cartagena and joins her on the bus. Ralph also happens to be at the airport and spots Joan on the wrong bus just as it leaves.Joan wakes up on the bus, which is winding it's way through a mountain pass surrounded by rainforest. When she asks the driver when they'll arrive, the driver is distracted and crashes into a parked Land Rover. The bus is wrecked and the passengers continue on foot. Zolo tells Joan she can wait for another bus & soon draws a pistol on her, demanding her purse. Just then a man appears at the top of a ridge. Zolo fires a warning shot at the man, who raises his hands and suddenly grabs a shotgun from a scabbard on his back. The two men shoot at each other until Zolo runs out of ammo and retreats. Joan, hiding under the bus, hears the mystery man cursing in English about the wrecked Land Rover and losing a bunch of birds. He eventually finds her hiding under the bus. Still angry about losing his vehicle and the birds he'd been collecting, he acts very callously toward Joan, who asks him to take her to a town with a phone. The man demands $500 & Joan talks him down to $375 in American Express traveler's checks. He also refuses to carry Joan's suitcase.In the meantime, Zolo is picked up by Ralph, who had been following the bus. The two go to the nearest police station where Zolo orders the chief to assemble his men. Ralph calls Ira & tells him where he is, also spotting a police notice with his picture on it. He tears it down just as Ira tells him to get the map Joan is carrying.Joan and her rescuer continue on foot through the mountains. The man asks Joan if she has anything truly important in her suitcase and throws it into a ravine so they can move faster. Joan is furious and about to berate him when the ground beneath her gives way and she falls into the ravine. The man watches her for a moment, irritated, and the ground collapses under him as well. The two end up sliding down the side of the hill until they land in a marsh. Soaking wet, the man seems to have enjoyed the ride while Joan sits whimpering. He asks her what her name is and gives her a hearty welcome to Colombia.After they are able to clean themselves up, the man uses his machete to chop the heels off Joan's pumps so she can walk more easily. Suddenly, they are shot at by Zolo and the small police force he's gathered. They take off through the jungle, finally stopping at a deep ravine. There's a bridge across but it's too dilapidated to use. The man plans to fight, while Joan tries desperately to cross the bridge. Halfway across, a plank gives way and, grabbing a large creeper vine, swings across, landing safely on the other side. The man manages to do the same, narrowly escaping shots from Zolo.The two continue through the jungle, with the man giving Joan the opportunity to learn how to use his machete. She's startled when she finds a wrecked cargo plane with the rotted body of a pilot sticking out of a cockpit window. The two take refuge in the fuselage which is filled with hundreds of pounds of marijuana. Near the dead pilots they find a small bag with food and a bottle of tequila. The man, wanting to build a fire, looks in Joan's purse for matches & finds the map. Also in the pilot's bag is a fairly recent copy of Rolling Stone magazine -- the man is exasperated to find out that the Doobie Brothers had broken up. Joan is curious & man tells her that he'd come to Colombia as a mate on a boat but decided to go into catching and selling exotic birds. The man also tells Joan that her sister's life doesn't depend on the map itself -- that the treasure it leads to is more important. The treasure, whatever it is, is called "El Corazón" Spanish for "The Heart." He also tells her that it's located in Cordoba province, which they are in the middle of. Joan is angry with him for suggesting that they should greedily get the treasure first. When he appears not to be listening, she begins another tirade and he suddenly kills a large snake near her shoulder with his machete.Later, while the man explains his business, collecting and selling exotic birds, Joan asks him his name. He tells her it's Jack T. Colton. When she asks him what the T stands for, he tells her "trustworthy", one of the characteristics she looks for in a man.The next morning, Joan & Jack arrive in a tiny village. The locals regard them with caution and hostility. At one point they seem ready for a confrontation when Joan politely asks them if there's a car in the village. One of the men tells her that a man named Juan, the bell maker, has a car. Jack and Joan go to his house and find the man just as unfriendly as the others. When he points a gun at them both and they find themselves also facing the villagers, Jack lets Joan's full name slip and Juan recognizes her -- she's his favorite author and he reads her books to the local men each week. He invites them both inside where they find he has an elaborate and luxurious home. When they ask him about his car, he's amused saying the vehicle is his "little mule, Pepe."Just then, Zolo and his men arrive looking for Joan and Jack. Suddenly, Jack, Joan and Juan all burst out of Juan's garage -- "Pepe" is actually Juan's sport Ford pickup truck. The trio roar out of town with Zolo right behind. They charge through several fields until they head directly for a nearby stream. Juan has set up a ramp that carries them across the stream which he activates with a remote. After they've crossed, he rigs the ramp so that Zolo's men crash into it and are unable to follow them. Some time later, in a field overlooking a nearby town, Jack spots a tree that looks like a pitchfork. It's one of the markers on the map called El Tenedor del Diablo, the Devil's Fork. When they arrive in town, Jack checks them into a hotel and buys some clothes for Joan. He also plans to steal the map and make a copy of it for himself. Also in the town is Ralph, who spots Jack and Joan, and calls his cousin to tell him.At a town festival, Jack & Joan have dinner together and dance. Ralph tries to steal Joan's purse, only to be beaten up by a large woman who thinks he's trying to molest her. Jack and Joan go back to their room and spend the night together in bed. Jack tells Joan he'd like to take her around the world on the sailboat he dreams of buying. Joan suggests they use the map to find the treasure -- Joan is convinced that finding the treasure will give her more leverage to free her sister from Ralph and Ira. They both agree to do it and split the take from the treasure 50/50.In the morning, sneaking out of the hotel ahead of Zolo, they steal the very car that belongs to Ralph, not knowing he's sleeping the back seat. They follow the map back into the countryside. After finding another of the landmarks they continue only to stop when the road seems to run out. Joan listens for a bit & hears falling water. She also discovers that the map has a hidden clue: when folded, it shows the waterfall she heard and an X marking the resting place of the treasure. The two find the waterfall & a cave under it. In the cave is a final clue, a marker saying "Leche de la Madre", "Mother's milk". Jack spots a small pool under a few white stalactites that drip white-colored water. They dig in that spot for a few minutes & right after Joan tells Jack that she's enjoyed the adventure they've gone on, they find a bundle. In the bundle is a cheap ceramic bunny statue. Jack is frustrated until Joan remembers that in her 1st book the treasure was hidden inside the statue. They break it open and find El Corazon, a large green emerald. Jack quips that they're "in a lot of trouble" and Ralph suddenly appears and demands the emerald at gunpoint. Outside the cave, he accuses Jack of sweet-talking Joan into finding the jewel when he really wanted it for himself. Ralph tells them he's going to steal it for himself and tries to leave, only to find that Zolo and his men have found them all. Ralph runs off, but Jack and Joan easily catch him in their car and take the jewel back. They wind up in the river and tumble over a large waterfall. Both of them surface, but on different sides of the river, which is uncrossable. Joan is upset but, as Jack tells her, she still has the map & can still trade it for her sister. He tells her to head for the setting sun & she'll reach Cartagena and that he'll meet her there.Joan arrives in the city & goes to the hotel. She calls Ira, who tells her to meet her at the fort across the bay. Joan goes there and is met by Ira and his men. After seeing that her sister is alive, she hands Ira the map. He looks it over, sees that it's genuine and frees Elaine. As they walk away, a burst from a machine gun stops them. Jack steps out of the shadows; he's been captured by Zolo. Zolo tells Ira that the map is worthless since they have the stone -- among his captives is Ralph, who's been beaten and has likely told Zolo about the emerald being found. Zolo takes Joan to a nearby marsh where Ira had been keeping crocodiles. He slashes her hand and threatens to let her be eaten alive if they don't hand over the emerald. Jack tells them its in a safe place and when he keeps silent on the location, one of Zolo's men hits him in the crotch with his rifle butt. Jack then slides the emerald out of it's "hiding place" and kicks it to Zolo, hoping he'll choke on it. Zolo catches it over the water in the marsh, thanks Jack and loses the jewel when a crocodile suddenly bursts up and closes it's jaws on his hand.Jack grabs a machine gun from a guard and opens fire. Ira's men show up and a large gunfight ensues. Ira escapes, leaving Ralph behind. Jack chases after the croc that swallowed the jewel, eventually holding it by the tail over a drop into the bay. Joan and Elaine are pursued by Zolo until Joan, having stolen Zolo's stiletto, throws it at him. He blocks the blow with a board. Eventually, she is able to throw him off and when he lunges for her, he falls through a wooden grating and into another crocodile pit. Jack, unable to stop the croc from diving into the water, had tried to scale one of the fortress' walls and finally catches up to her. He tells her to go to the American consulate & tell them the whole story -- the Cartagena police are approaching and he doesn't want to be arrested. He dives off the wall after the croc.Some time later, back in New York, Joan is meeting with her editor. She's written another novel about her experiences and her editor is ecstatic. Joan is a changed woman, much more confident and longs to be with Jack again. Outside her apartment building, she sees a large sailboat. Jack is aboard and wearing boots made from the croc that ate the emerald. He and Joan share a kiss as the boat is pulled on a trailer up Joan's street.

Tags: mystery, cult, action, romantic

Review:
Maybe in "Peggy Sue Got Married" or in "Prizzi's Honor" perhaps even in "Body Heat", but, it's safe to say that without her enormously captivating, thoroughly fabulous performance as Joan Wilder opposite Michael Douglas' career best comic performance as Jack Coltin, the movie wouldn't be such the modern-day classic it is and always will be.As far as I'm concerned, Turner was robbed of the Oscar for Best Actress in 1984 for this film.
It's a mystery why she's never really been a bigger star before now, with her groundbreaking, Emmy Award-winning work on "The Practice" at least giving us a taste on what we've been denying ourselves by not making a big noise in support of her landing bigger, juicier starring roles.So 16 years later, "Romancing the Stone" is still unequivocally the best of its genre and makes you wish the Turner would get the chance to work far more than she's been in recent times.
Great action comedy adventure from the mid 80's starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny De Vito.
Sadly like most sequels it wasn't nearly as good as this, actually its not really worth bothering about unfortunately, Douglas, Turner and De Vito also teamed up again in another film "War of the Roses" but that film has no connection with this or Jewel of the Nile.
Kathleen Turner stars as Joan Wilder, a romance novelist who flies to the South American country of Colombia to rescue her kidnapped sister.
There's Zolo (Manuel Ojeda), an evil colonel who's on to Ms. Wilder (and is the real nasty bad guy of the bunch); Ira (Zack Norman), one of the crazed kidnappers who's obsessed with crocodiles (he's always saying "Look at those snappers!"); and Ralph (Danny DeVito), Ira's bumbling cousin who goes to the airport to pick up Ms. Wilder, see's at the last second that she got on the wrong bus, and is forced to go into the jungle to find her.
This is one movie that's a must-see for people who like a mix of action, suspense, adventure, romance, thrills, and lots of comedy.
Kathleen Turner stars as a romance novelist who receives a mysterious map from her murdered brother in law and then must go to Columbia to save her kidnapped sister by giving up the map for ransom.After getting on the wrong bus she meets up with Michael Douglas and the adventure begins..as Douglas seeks the treasure also..A fast paced adventure that features great chemistry between Douglas and Turner (they would make two more movies at least after this...including a sequel "jewel of the nile").
It is everything: entertaining, exciting, thrilling, great fun, hilarious, involving, dark, sometimes scary, very pleasant and a timeless classic.Adventure is something which isn't missing in this movie by any means.
The backgrounds/landscapes are simply brilliant: forests, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, clouds, etc...This film features the talents of actors such as Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito, Zack Norman, Alfonso Arau, Manuel Ojeda, Holland Taylor, Mary Ellen Trainor, Kymberly Herrin, Ted White and others.
There's also a Shelby Cobra replica in this film (a fantastic and charismatic car) driven by a boy who looks like Joaquin Garay III but I don't know for sure if that's him."Romancing The Stone" is one of the best movie choices to watch on a Saturday afternoon.
This film has a good plot, lots of adventure and action but in a way that makes it so much fun to watch and without excessive noise, action and violence (although there are ultra-violent scenes).
The exotic settings are beautiful and inviting.Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner shine as the lead actors (Jack Colton and Joan Wilder), with a flawless chemistry.
Zolo and his army are feared even by Ralph and Ira. Nevertheless, the fact that Zolo is so bad only means that the actor is good because he is quite convincing.Even the actors who play minor roles were selected by finger, including the very few children seen in it, such as the kid who kidnaps Elaine and drives her car.'Romancing the Stone' is a movie filled with charm.
Robert Zemeckis directed this great movie but refused to make its follow-up, 'The Jewel of the Nile' which stars once again Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito and Holland Taylor.
This exciting adventure tale concerns about a romantic,feisty writer named Joan Wilder-Kathleen Turner-who becomes involved in a dangerous journey to Colombia.He goes to rescue her sister,being kidnapped by a sympathetic mobsters-Danny DeVito-.Into lush jungles of Colombia,she finds a soldier of fortune named Jack Colton-Michael Douglas-who becomes to her ally.This agreeable comedy-adventure blends unstopped action,rip roaring,love story,cliff hunger,tongue in cheek and is extremely funny and entertaining.For comic relief with delightful bit of humor are supplied by Danny DeVito and continuous jokes about relationship between both stars: Turner and Douglas.The picture contains spectacular scenarios,some nice stunts and funny lines.Colorful cinematography by Dean Cundey,Zemeckis's usual cameraman(Back to the future trilogy,Who framed Roger Rabbit).Noisy though catching music with synthesizer score by Alan Silvestri,posteriorly he made an excellent symphonic soundtrack,he's also Zemeckis habitual(Polar Express,Castaway,What lies beneath,Forrest Gump).The motion picture is well directed by successful director Robert Zemeckis.It's followed by an enjoyable sequel directed by Lewis Teague: Jewel of Nile.The film will have you on the edge of your seat but the adventure and action never let up.It's a winner for Douglas and Turner fans.Worthwhile seeing it but will not displease those seeking likable and rip-snorting stories..
I just wish that the movie company would put out a special edition DVD with commentary by the stars...I'd love to hear what Michael Douglas, Danny DeVito, and Kathleen Turner have to say about the making of this film.
Romancing The Stone plays like a modern-day Indiana Jones film, but can also be seen as something very different - a kind of eighties classic - eighties musical score, eighties clothes, and that common eighties film combination of all genres in one film - comedy, action, adventure, romance.
Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner are "Romancing the Stone" in this 1984 adventure film, well-directed by Robert Zemeckis.Turner plays romance author Joan Wilder, who in order to ransom her sister Elaine, flies to Colombia to deliver a map sent to her by her late brother-in-law.
Jack talks Joan into going after the treasure themselves to give her more of a bargaining chip.This is a very fun film, with lively performances by Douglas, Turner, DeVito and the rest of the cast.
I certainly wouldn't call Romancing the Stone the best adventure film ever or anything, but it is a truly entertaining and fun one at that.
Michael Douglas is quite world-weary here and his character is nothing special but he also has a lot of charm about his performance, while Danny DeVito is great fun as the inept kidnapper.
As an action/comedy/romance, it struck gold in a market hungry at the time for Indiana Jones type adventures, and succeeded by delivering non-stop, fourteen carat entertainment from start to finish.OK, enough with the "precious stone" analogies :) Seriously, more than anything, this movie is just plain FUN.
The amazing leading cast members, composed of Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny Devito, turned this into one of the all time great hidden gems.
I saw something on TV about Robert Zemeckis, and it showed some clips of this film, so I decided to check it out, since it looked pretty exciting.Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner) is a romance novelist in New York.
Enroute she takes the wrong bus and ends up in the jungle with a rugged adventurer/rogue (Michael Douglas) who joins her in her search for her sister.The pace is breakneck, the pratfalls and laughs are continuous, the lines are witty and the performances are all great.
However, I still always see this film as an 'action' movie, rather than luvvy-duvvy stuff!A writer (Kathleen Turner) finds her sister has been kidnapped in a South American country and sets off to rescue her (or rather just pay the desired ransom).
The film itself got an Oscar nod for Editing.Some others in this gifted cast are Mary Ellen Trainor as her sister, Holland Taylor as Turner's editor, Alfonso Arau who is a drug dealer fan of her work, and Manuel Ojeda as the army colonel obsessed with that big green jewel.Romancing The Stone is a lushly photographed and vigorous satire on all those old action/adventure films.
Romancing the stone (1984) starring Kathleen Turner, Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito is an immensely entertaining film that is full of romance, action, and some comedy is even thrown in the mix for the audience to enjoy.
It was director Robert Zemeckis' first financial success, and was essential to his career, paving the way for Back to the Future and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.Kathleen Turner portrays Joan Wilder, a meek romance novelist who has yet to find any adventure in life and must save her sister from smugglers.
I remember loving this movie on its original release back in the 80's and didn't want to miss its being shown here as part of an 80's movie season, but sadly learned that like so much other popular culture from that particular decade - music and fashion come just as prominently to mind - "Romancing The Stone" definitely shows its age.It has its charms, notably the chemistry between leads Douglas and Turner and a little Danny De Vito (or should that just be little Danny De Vito!) goes a long way, but it wasn't the rip-snorting adventure packed, fun-filled romantic romp I remembered, instead now coming across with as much flair and pizazz as a moderate TV adventure episode, a la "Heroes" or the like.Now my critical eye discerns that the prologue just seems to hold up the action, Douglas takes too long to make his appearance, the baddies aren't bad enough and the supposed excitement, danger and intrigue served up en-route just isn't exciting, dangerous or intriguing enough.It's still likable, I still laughed at Douglas' throwaway comment about The Doobie Brothers disbanding and I was still pleased to see the couple sail off, if not into the sunset, then certainly down the boulevard, but on reflection I wished I hadn't watched it at all and thus preserved intact my youthful happy, I dare say more innocent recollections of a popular family entertainment which hasn't aged at all well..
A classic romantic action adventure, Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas masterpiece!.
Plot: Kathleen Turner is Joan, a romance novelist who gets caught up in a real life South American adventure when she is forced to find a mysterious treasure in order to rescue her sister.
Directed by Robert Zemeckis, it stars Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito.
The film was followed by a 1985 sequel, The Jewel of the Nile.10/10 Grade: Bad Ass Seal Of Approval Studio: 20th Century Fox Starring: Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito, Alfonso Arau Manuel Ojeda, Zack Norman, Holland Taylor, Mary Ellen Trainor Director: Robert Zemeckis Producer: Michael Douglas Screenplay: Diane Thomas Rated: PG Running Time: 1 Hr. 46 Mins.
Michael Douglas & Kathleen Turner have never been involved in a more entertaining movie & almost certainly never will again.
Colton (Michael Douglas).Director Robert Zemeckis has made a fun adventure romance.
An all star cast is assembled with Kathleen Turner as Joan Wilder, Michael Douglas as Jack T Colton, Danny DeVito, Alfonso Arau and Manuel Odeja.
The couple, however, need to get on because there are others after the map...Holding up surprisingly well on a revisit these days, well except for Colton's white dance attire that is, Zemeckis' romantic adventure is one of the most telling and fun films of its type to follow in the slipstream of Indiana Jones.Everything works here, from the screenplay that is infused with mud- slides, grumpy banter, bandit dodging, water peril, snakes, treasure, gun fights, colourful villains and crocodile wrestling!
I still liked this movie despite that because it has charm, adventurous spirit, and likable actors.This film is about a romance novelist, Joan Wilder who travels to South America to rescue her sister from kidnappers and along the way she must enlist the help of the adventurous Jack T.
Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and especially Danny DeVito are really entertaining.
Romancing the Stone is one of many action/adventure films that followed in the wake of Raiders of the Lost Ark; from Michael Douglas's rough and ready hero, who looks like the only raiding he's been doing is of Harrison Ford's wardrobe, to the regular action set-pieces, the influence of Spielberg's mega-successful blockbuster is plain to see (as is the lower budget, unfortunately).But although Romancing the Stone occasionally comes across as 'Raiders-lite', lacking that film's relentless verve and spectacular special effects, it does possess a unique charm all of its own thanks to a witty screenplay blessed with genuine heart (or should that be 'genuine corazon'?), and an incredible on-screen chemistry between stars Douglas and Kathleen Turner (something that is sorely missing in many a modern adventure movie).Being an avid Kathleen Turner fan ever since seeing her all sweaty and nekkid in Body Heat, I could be accused of bias, but I rate Romancing the Stone 8/10— its a fun slice of good old-fashioned escapist action (one that just happens to benefit from the gradual transformation of Turner from plain-Joan to sizzling sex bomb)..
Kathleen Turner stars as a romance adventure novelist who ends up on a romantic adventure of her own "Romancing the Stone." Naturally, fans of romance adventures will most enjoy this one, but to its credit there's a good balance of action to make this film enjoyable for just about everyone."Romancing the Stone" is a writer's fantasy about a writers' fantasy that comes true.
Joan flies to Columbia where another man interested in the map sends her off into the jungle instead of straight to her destination where Indiana Jones more or less in the form of Michael Douglas as Jack Colton finds her and helps her begrudgingly.The film certainly capitalizes on the popularity of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" only targeting itself at women.
He also brings a healthy sense of humor that makes the movie easier to enjoy, knowing that even its maker wants this to be nothing but light-hearted entertainment."Romancing" is predictable adventure with even more predictable romance, but Zemeckis finds a way to make it inherently more likable than even Turner or Douglas as talents do.
A young Kathleen Turner plays a romance writer in over her head when she flies to Columbia to rescue her sister from kidnappers.An equally youthful Michael Douglas demands money from the damsel-in-distress before he'll assist her, and manfully chops the high heels off her shoes with his machete.A fun treatment of romance novels and novelists - paired with a mildly serious exploration of the gulf between fictional adventures and dangerous, grimy reality.
Not Indiana Jones, But a Pretty Good Runner Up. A terrific action adventure film obviously modeled after the Indiana Jones films.Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner have boatloads of chemistry together as a cocky diamond hunter and a pampered New York writer, respectively, trekking through the jungles of Colombia in search of treasure.
"Romancing the Stone" is about a timid novelist (Kathleen Turner) joining forces with a soldier of fortune (Michael Douglas) on a fantastic adventure in Columbia in search of priceless jewel.
STONE also features a memorable supporting turn from Danny DeVito, who manages to effectively serve as comic relief without interfering with the surrounding romance and action.Although nominally an exotic jungle adventure involving a mysterious treasure map and a priceless jewel, ROMANCING THE STONE is actually a perfectly structured showcase for the amazing Kathleen Turner, in a terrific, Golden Globe-winning performance.
This is a fun movie to watch, as the writer (Turner) runs into Michael Douglas and the interplay between these two is great to watch.
It's lifted out of pure romantic comedy rut by a young and feisty Michael Douglas playing a hard-bitten, coarse adventurer by name of Jack Colton and young, sultry Kathleen Turner playing naive New York romance novelist Joan Wilder.
It's about a mousy novelist (Kathleen Turner) who travels to Colombia to find her sister, but met and fell in love with an American fortune seeker (Michael Douglas) on a treasure hunt to find her and stop a con (Danny DeVito) who kidnapped her.
Danny DeVito is really very funny and Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner are solid in the lead roles.
As I said before, "Romancing the Stone" is good Romantic/Comedy/ Action movie.
It combines both Michael Douglas' and Kathleen Turner's great acting with Indiana Jones type action.
It also helped Michael Douglas make the jump from television to A-list movie star and shot Kathleen Turner's career into the mainstream.Ms. Turner plays romance author Joan Wilder, who in order to ransom her sister Elaine, flies to Colombia to deliver a map sent to her by her late brother-in-law.
Their constant bickering is funny and they definitely have chemistry.Danny DeVito (who directed "Roses," incidentally) co-stars and handles the short, funny comedic relief role quite well - he returned for the sequel as well, but in this one he actually seems to make sense (whereas in "Nile" he didn't seem to serve much of a purpose).If you enjoyed the "Indiana Jones" series or any other serial adventure-style movies, you'll love "Romancing the Stone.".
Especially Danny DeVito does a nice job playing the role of one of the criminals, but Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner are sometimes very funny to watch too.
Romancing the Stone is a classic film that has a great cast including Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito, Zack Norman, Alfonso Arau, Manuel Ojeda, Holland Taylor, Mary Ellen Trainor, Kymberly Herrin, and Ron Silver!
If you like Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito, Zack Norman, Alfonso Arau, Manuel Ojeda, Mary Ellen Trainor, Kymberly Herrin, Ron Silver, the rest of the cast in the film, Alan Silvestri's great score and Robert Zemeckis great directing, Action, Adventure, Family, Thrillers, Comedy, Romance, Dramas, and interesting films then I strongly recommend you to see this film today!.