Opinions/Reviews

What Sasquatch is-According To Me
Henry M.

There has been much speculation on what exactly Sasquatch is, and just about every opinion you can think of has been presented. Everything from aliens from outer space to quasi-physical to interdimensional to half-man half-ape have been presented as possible explanations. In my opinion (and in other people's opinions as well) it is an unknown primate which occupies the forests of North America. I see no reason that it could be an alien, or quasi-physical or half-man half-ape. I don't necessarily subscribe to those theories because there's really no evidence for those theories. In my opinion, it is an unknown primate, one that must be brought in and studied.

Has the Patterson/Gimlin film been proven a hoax?
By Henry M.

A recent book by author Greg Long, The Making of Bigfoot, purports to "expose" the famous Patterson/Gimlin film taken on October 20, 1967 at Bluff Creek in northern California. In the book, Long interviews dozens of witnesses who claim that in one way or another, Roger Patterson was a crook and a thief, a liar and a swindler. Long, not being too particularly bright (and driven by a seeming hatred for Patterson) takes this to mean that if Patterson was all of this, he must have faked the film as well. He interviews two important people to his investigation, the man who claims to have worn the "suit", Bob Heironimus, and the man who claims to have made the suit, Philip Morris. However, there are discrepancies in both men's stories which cast doubt on their versions of the truth. There are apparently no less than two conflicting stories about the alleged "suit"; Heironimus' version describes a 3-piece suit made from skinned red horsehide which stunk, while Morris' version describes a 6-piece suit made from artificial materials. These two stories directly contradict each other, yet Long, his associate Kal Korff and television producer Bob Kiviat don't see anything wrong with that. Now, two more stories as to the origin of the alleged suit have come out in the past 6 months; one comes from the mouth of Bob Heironimus, who claims that the maker of the suits for the film "Planet of The Apes" was the maker of the suit, which contradicts his earlier statement from Long's book; the second new story that has come out is that Heironimus' sister called Mrs. Roger Patterson, the widow of Roger Patterson, to try to get her to go along with a story of a GREY horsehide suit allegedly worn by Heironimus in the film so they could all make money off it. The problem is, Heironimus has been going around Yakima for over 30 years claiming that he had the suit that he claims to have worn in the film in the trunk of his mother's car. I have no doubt that he had such a suit, but it has not been absolutely established that it was the same suit allegedly seen in the film. Certainly his mother saw a gorilla suit in the trunk of her car, but was it a modified gorilla suit as is claimed to have been worn by Heironimus, or just a regular gorilla suit that could be bought in any costume shop? The question is certainly an interesting one, and we may never know the true answer to it. Heironimus claims that both Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin were in on the hoax, and were going to pay him $1,000 for the job. He claims he has not seen a dime of that money, yet he's willing to do this TV special for money. But with 4 conflicting stories as to the origin of the suit, shouldn't Long know that he's been duped? Or is he so self-deluded with his hatred of Roger Patterson that he'll swallow the story hook, line and sinker? I think it is the latter myself. Long doesn't seem too particularly bright anyway, and seems to have an unnatural hatred of Roger Patterson as well. In my opinion, Long and company have not convinced me that the film is a hoax; I am 80% convinced the film is real. However, I still don't believe Bob Gimlin was in on the hoax, as Heironimus claims. If he's not an honest man, I don't know who is.

How Do We Prove Their Existence ?
By Henry M.

One of the main questions about the Sasquatch issue is, "How do we prove their existence?" What I mean by that question is, "Does one have to be killed to prove its existence?" I say yes, as harsh as that may be to some people. Some people say we should tranquilize a Sasquatch, but there's a problem with that: it's completely unreliable, because you have to know exactly how much of a dose to use; too much could make the animal die a long, horrible death; too little could make the creature run off into the deeper woods and hide, possibly dying in the process there. Some say that good photos or video would be all it would take to convince the skeptics, but again, there's a problem with that: videos and photos can be faked, and videos especially can be digitally manipulated, and special effects can be added to video to make it look better, and this will not convince the skeptics. Look at the controversy surrounding the Patterson/Gimlin film-37 years later, and opinion is still divided as to its authenticity. So it's impractical to say that video or photos will prove their existence. Some have even suggested that maybe a piece of skin could be removed from a Sasquatch creature and DNA could be taken from the skin sample. Only one problem-you have to get close enough to get a sample, and a Sasquatch isn't exactly going to stand still for that. No, the only definitive way to prove their existence is with a body, and it may take more than one body. That may sound grisly and harsh, but it's true. Now, I myself would never shoot a Sasquatch, but I wouldn't condemn anyone who does shoot one. If a person wants to go out and shoot a Sasquatch for science, I say be my guest.

Is there a Bigfoot/UFO Connection?
By Henry M.

There are those who say that Bigfoot is an alien from outer space, and that they fly around in flying saucers, travelling from planet to planet dropping off passengers. Some people claim they've seen Bigfoot creatures being dropped off by alien spacecraft, or seen Bigfoot creatures around the same time as seeing a UFO. In these people's minds, there is a connection, and I would never tell these people that they're wrong, but in my own personal experience, the two phenomena do not go together. I do not suscribe to the theory that Bigfoot is a space alien, or came out of a flying saucer. Certainly, the Bigfoot mystery is not one that is easily solvable, and there are many theories surrounding their origin, but I like to quote John Green here and say that "I don't feel comfortable in explaining one mystery by bringing in another." As far as I am concerned, there is no Bigfoot/UFO connection.

The Evidence of The Footprints The footprints of the Sasquatch have constituted the bulk of the evidence for the existence of the creature for more than half a century. There have been some tracks that have been faked, but they are usually easily discernable from the real ones. The tracks have been found in all types of environments, from muddy trails to snow-covered mountains; from dirt roads to patches of forest, and they all have one thing in common-their tremendous size. Many times the tracks measure anywhere from 14" to a whopping 24 inches in length. Many times they are 6 or 7" across the ball of the foot, 5" across the heel. I believe the tracks, in some cases, constitute the greatest evidence for the existence of Sasquatch. The most impressive to me are a set of four tracks which were examined by Conroe, Texas forensics police officer Jimmy Chilcutt. The four sets were found in different areas of the country, some more than 20 years apart. Chilcutt examined the tracks, and found they had dermal ridges in them, the foot's equivalent to fingerprints. The dermal ridges were determined to have twice the thickness of a human's dermal ridges. Chilcutt was initially skeptical of the existence of the creature, but after examining these tracks with the dermal ridges, he came to the conclusion that yes, there is an animal out there making these tracks. Having found unusual tracks myself, I can attest to the reality of this animal. The Lunatic Fringe By Henry M. Many Sasquatch researchers believe, as I do, that Sasquatch is a large, undiscovered primate, a Great Ape species living in North America. However, there are those individuals who believe some pretty weird things about these creatures. There are those who believe that Sasquatch is an extraterrestrial from outer space, sent here to check out humans. There are also those who believe that Sasquatch is an interdimensional being, who can shapeshift and appear and disappear at will. There are even those who claim multiple encounters with these creatures in their own minds, being able to communicate with them through ESP. These individuals are in a group called the "lunatic fringe", and they seem to be very pervasive and omnipresent. They seem to get a lot of press and TV coverage, which hurts the efforts by legitimate Sasquatch researchers, because it makes the legitimate efforts look bad, and makes us all look crazy. It's no wonder the media thinks so lowly of Sasquatch! Unfortunately, we have to deal with these individuals, no matter how much we may wish they'd go away. The Patterson/Gimlin Film-Is It Real? Henry M. Nearly 37 years ago, on October 20, 1967, two men, Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin, rode out towards Bluff Creek in northwestern California. Suddenly, Patterson's horse reared, throwing him off. There was a creature squatting by the creek neither man had ever seen before, but they knew it to be a Bigfoot. Gimlin tried to maintain the horses and keep them calm while Patterson grabbed his movie camera out of his saddlebag. He squatted down and took footage of this creature as it walked across the sandbar. As it kept walking into the thicker brush, Patterson ran closer to the creature, continuing to film. The creature turned and looked at Patterson and Gimlin, revealing it to be a female, and then kept on walking towards the woods. Patterson shot 952 frames in color of this creature, 24 feet of film. Opinion was divided on the film-real creature, or brilliant hoax? Recent developments tried to cast doubt on the authenticity of the film, but have done no harm to the film. Over the years, as I have seen this piece of film on numerous documentaries. I knew this to be a real creature. Now that I know a little more about the film, I feel there is no way that it could have been hoaxed; the technology to produce such a brilliant hoax just wasn't available in 1967. Looking at the primate costumes in films today, they still look fake. This creature looks and feels real to me. The muscle movement underneath the hair is what really convinces me-well, that and the apparent hernia on the upper right thigh, which seems to me to be a detail a hoaxer would not have thought of. I am 80% convinced the film is real. I do not think that Bob Gimlin, the only living witness, was a party to a hoax (if it was a hoax). His honesty is very striking to me. If he's not telling the truth, then no one is. The Skookum Cast Sasquatch, Bear or Elk? In September 2000, in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest between Mt. Saint Helens and Mt. Adams in Skamania County, Washington, the Bigfoot Field Researcher's Organization (BFRO) was on an expedition to find evidence of Sasquatch. They played calls of what is said to be a Sasquatch from Ohio, hoping to get a response. They did receive a response very similar to the calls they had been playing. Then, on the next to last day of the trip, BFRO member Richard Noll decided to lay out fruit to bait a Sasquatch in a mud wallow off a Forest Service road to see if tracks could be seen in the dirt and mud. The fruit was left overnight, in the hopes that something would take the bait. The next morning, a few members of the BFRO went to the mudhole and found an extraordinary sight-a 2/3 impression of some animal like they've never seen before. They found tracks of other animals in the impression, such as elk, deer and coyote, but the large impression puzzled them. It appeared that some creature (possibly a Sasquatch) had laid down on the outer edges of this mudhole and reached across and grabbed the fruit. Hairs were found and examined, but unfortunately they were deemed inconclusive. The impression was cast in plaster and sent to Seattle to be examined. No less than 4 well-respected scientists examined the cast; the late Dr. Grover Krantz, Dr. Jeff Meldrum, Dr. Henner Fahrenbach and Dr. John Bindernagel all examined the impression, now dubbed "The Skookum Cast" because it was found on Skookum Meadows, and found that an unknown primate had thrashed around on that mudhole. My opinion of the Skookum Cast is that it shows an unknown primate. Though there are elk, deer and coyote tracks in the impression, it's hard to conceive of a bear laying down and rolling around in a mud wallow; it also doesn't seem to be a deer or an elk either, because this impression shows butt marks, leg marks and an arm mark, all inconsistent with a deer or elk. The Skookum Cast is that of an unknown primate, possibly Sasquatch. -------------------------------------- Book Review of Sasquatch: The Apes Among Us Author: John Green I bought this book back in late-January from an ebay auction and read it voraciously. It is THE bible of all books on the subject. The book boasts information on sightings from all over the United States and western Canada, with several onsite interviews with witnesses conducted by Green himself. Topics covered range from the Patterson/Gimlin film, to classic Sasquatch stories, to creatures around the world, to Indian legends, to mysteries set in stone, to various other aspects of the Sasquatch mystery. At 492 pages, this book is a marathon read, but highly recommended to all who are interested. The book is being reprinted by its original publisher, Hancock House, for release next Spring, but it can be purchased at www.abebooks.com for a reasonable price.

Review of "Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science" DVD Director and producer: Doug Hajicek, Whitewolf Entertainment I got this DVD in March of 2004, and watched it with great interest. The documentary was originally shown on the Discovery Channel in January 2003, but the DVD version has a little more material. The documentary itself examines the Patterson/Gimlin film, as well as Sasquatch physiology, anatomy, footprints, hair samples and the Skookum Cast body imprint. Also, a piece of videotape, known as the "Memorial Day footage", is examined, and a high-tech recreation is done of the video to determine if the subject of that film is running at a speed to fast for humans, or too slow. DNA is also examined, as are footprints and the dermal ridges in them. Scientists such as Dr. Jeff Meldrum, Dr. Daris Swindler, Dr. Esteban Sarmiento and Dr. John Bindernagel are interviewed on their impressions of the Sasquatch, as well as police officer Jimmy Chilcutt,former BFRO member Richard Noll, Dr. Robert Benson and several other luminaries. The DVD is excellent enough with this documentary, but it doesn't end there. The disc also has a Q & A from the BFRO, witness sighting statitistics and a photo slideshow. The best aspect of the DVD is 3 pieces of footage, shown in their entirety; the Patterson/Gimlin film (from John Green's copy), shown for the first time in crystal-clear clarity; the Paul Freeman footage of a Sasquatch walking from right to left into the woods and possibly picking up an infant; and the aforementioned "Memorial Day footage", which apparently shows near the end a protrusion on the creature, as if an infant had been placed on its shoulders. This DVD is available for $29.95 at www.bfro.net, and is highly recommended. It is the gold standard of Sasquatch Documentaries. An accompanying book is due this fall, as well as a sequel within the next year or so. Book Review Of "Meet The Sasquatch" Author: Chris Murphy, in association with John Green and Thomas Steenburg I received this book a month ago, and read it in 4 days. The pictures in the book are excellent, over 600 of them. Some of the things covered in this book are the old Indian Legends, including a look at the Yokut Indian tribe's "Hairy Man" legend by Kathy Moskowitz; the classic encounters with Sasquatch by such men as Albert Ostman, Fred Beck, William Roe and others; the Patterson/Gimlin film, with Cibachrome prints photos shown; other evidence such as hair, footprints, handprints, the Skookum Cast, sounds and possible nesting areas of the Sasquatch; the Washington state environmental atlas entry, as well as the law in Skamania County, Washington, prohibiting the killing of a Sasquatch; tributes to different researchers, such as John Green, the late Rene Dahinden and Grover Krantz, Bob Titmus, Daniel Perez, Ray Crowe, Richard Noll and several others; and the Russian Almasty and the Yeti. This book is highly-recommended to those even with a casual interest in the subject. The book can be purchased from www.hancockhouse.com for $29.95 (softcover edition); $75.00 (hardcover signed edition) and $400.00 (leatherbound signed edition). Book Review of "The Best of Sasquatch-Bigfoot Author and editor: John Green I received this book yesterday (September 14th), and am reading through it. I have read the books that are compiled in this collection before ("On The Track Of The Sasquatch" and "Encounters With Bigfoot", also known as "Year Of The Sasquatch"), but there is new material in the first four chapters of the book. The first chapter, "The Ape and The IM Index", examines the various ways that people have tried to debunk the Patterson/Gimlin film (without success, of course), as well as the Intermembral Index which determines how long the arms are in proportion to the legs. In humans, it's 70, while in the P/G film creature, it's in the high-80's, which makes it impossible to be a human in a costume. The second chapter, "Recent Developments", discusses some of the prominent scientists who have come forward in defense of the Sasquatch, such as the late Dr. Grover Krantz, the late Dr. Leroy Fish, Dr. Jeff Meldrum, Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. Russell Mittermier and several other luminaries. The Skookum Cast is also examined, as are the dermal ridge footprints examined by Jimmy Chilcutt.Chapter 3 focuses on the media attention which surrounded the death of Ray Wallace in late-2002, and the chapter is appropriately called, "Bigfoot Did Not Die". The final chapter is called "100,000 Reward", which is a real reward given to anyone who can successfully duplicate the tracks found in and around Bluff Creek, California. The first four chapters are an excellent setup for the rest of the book, which is wonderfully written and researched. Get this book if you can. The book can be purchased for $15.95 from www.hancockhouse.com Book Review of "Dark Woods" author: Jay Kumar I read this book within two days, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a novel about a hunt for a Sasquatch in fictional Skookum County, Washington (which is based on Skamania County, Washington). A hunting party apparently finds a dead deer and a dead body, one member shoots a Sasquatch, which gets angry and attacks one of the party members. Deputy Sheriff Frank Vaughn is the man who shot the Sasquatch, and team rushes the wounded man to the hospital. Vaughn returns to the area along with an employee of Carolina Pacific, Chris Mackey, to try to humanely put the Sasquatch out of its misery. Along the way, they meet a University professor, Arthur Lansing (who is modeled after the late Grover Krantz) and a member of the national Fish and Wildlife Commission, Alison Lombard, who is sent by her aunt, Brenda Underwood, a bigwig in the Fish and Wildlife Commission, to "keep an eye on things". As the party tracks down the Sasquatch, finding more footprints and hearing eerie howls, it becomes clear that they are the hunted rather than the hunters. I won't spoil the book for you, but it comes to an exciting and satisfying conclusion. A very highly-recommended book even for those who are not into Sasquatch. Book Review of "Bigfoot At Bluff Creek" Author: Daniel Perez This booklet was first written in 1992, 25 years after the Patterson/Gimlin film was taken. It is an invaluable resource for those who are interested in the film. It basically tells the story behind the filming, and also includes insights on the film from Bob Gimlin, the late Rene Dahinden, John Green, the late Dr. Grover Krantz, Bob Titmus and several other luminaries. It has maps of the area, overhead satellite photos, photos of some of the major figures prominent in the behind the scenes story and several other photos. The booklet, updated in 2003, now includes a bibliography of resources and references to the film as recent as last year. This booklet, only $9.00, is available at www.bigfoottimes.net and his highly recommended. Review of The International Bigfoot Symposium DVD's I purchased this 4-disc DVD set in late-June of this year, and watched all 4 discs in 2 days. This event was held in Willow Creek, California, September 12th-14th, 2003. On each disc is commentary by primate naturalist Jane Goodall on different question about the Sasquatch mystery. Disc 1 opens with a Keynote Address by longtime Sasquatch chronicler John Green, who addresses different aspects of the Sasquatch mystery, including his own works. The next presentation is by Russian researcher Dmitri Bayanov, taking his first trip to the U.S.He addresses different aspects of American Sasquatch research, and he discusses the Patterson/Gimlin film. Bob Gimlin, the only living witness to that filming, next addresses his feelings on that day, October 20, 1967. The next presentation is by Chris Murphy (author of "Meet The Sasquatch") on the P/G film, including the Cibachrome prints from the film and his model of the film site. The final presentation on Disc 1 is by Bayanov once again, reading a paper by fellow Russian researcher Igor Bourtsev, on the Russian version of the Sasquatch, the Almasty. Disc 2 opens with wildlife biologist Dr. John Bindernagel on aspects of the Sasquatch anatomy and his own footprint find in 1988. The second presentation on this disc is by California archaelogist Kathy Moskowitz on the "Hairy Man" legend of the Yokut Indian tribe of northern California. Doug Hajicek of Whitewolf Entertainment gives the last presentation of this disc, discussing his footprint find in the Arctic in 1988, as well as the discovery he made of a hernia in the upper right thigh of the P/G film creature. Disc 3 opens with an excellent presentation by Dr. Jeff Meldrum from Idaho State University discussing footprint morphology. Keeping with the theme of footprints, police officer Jimmy Chilcutt of Conroe, Texas discusses dermal ridges that he found on 4 different sets of footprint casts which helped him realize that they were made by a real creature. Richard Noll, formerly of the Bigfoot Field Researchers' Organization (BFRO) gives an excellent presentation of the "Skookum Cast", a lower-torso impression found in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Skamania County, Washington in September 2000 by the BFRO. He addresses the thought that it was made by an elk very well, in my opinion. As a bonus, Disc 3 closes with a piece of footage of a possible Sasquatch taken in July 2000 in the Marble Mountains in northern California. Disc 4 opens with the "Pioneer Panel" a group of researchers who mostly live in and around the Willow Creek/Bluff Creek area where the "Bigfoot" mystery began in the late-1950's, discussing their recollections of the events. Canadian researcher Thomas Steenburg next interviews author Lunetta Woods in an odd aside-odd because Woods discusses her theories that Bigfoot is interdimensional. Steenburg didn't seem to be buying it. The final presentation is by BFRO member Alton Higgins, who presents two photos taken in Oklahoma in 2001 of a possible Sasquatch-like creature, and discusses whether they're fake or real. This set can be ordered from www.bfro.net for the price of $75.00. A bit steep, but if you can afford it, get this set. It is highly recommended. Review of "Sasquatch Odyssey: The Hunt For Bigfoot" This 70-minute documentary focuses on the "Four Horsemen of Sasquatchery"-John Green, the late Rene Dahinden, the late Dr. Grover Krantz and Peter Byrne. The four discuss the early days of Sasquatch research, and their own contributions to each aspect. Dahinden is the most entertaining of the four, in my opinion; his salty language is in evidence regarding interdimensional Sasquatch advocate Jack "Kewaunee" Lapseritis, saying that he wasn't interested in encounters Lapseritis had "in his goddamn mind". Green is the most reserved and knowledgeable of the four, describing his initial investigations into Sasquatch as if they had happened yesterday. Krantz is definitely the more academic of the four, giving his learned opinions on what should be done about the issue. Byrne has been the most prolific of the four, using over 3 million dollars of other people's money to do publicity and awareness of the subject. The documentary takes us through the four men's journeys, from northern California to southern British Columbia, on their lifelong quests to search for the elusive creatures. This documentary also puts into perspective the animosity between the four men, giving us an insight as to why the four hated each other (and still do today). This documentary is about to be released on DVD, and is highly recommended for a look at the grand old men of Sasquatchery. Book Review: In Search of Giants: Bigfoot Sasquatch Encounters By Thomas Steenburg This book is in my view an excellent overview of the Sasquatch activity in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. Steenburg writes with the comfortable style that endears many to the way John Green writes; no wonder, since Steenburg and Green are friends and close associates. Steenburg has interviewed many witnesses for this book, and the interviews are well-written and not tedious. All of the witnesses interviewed are absolutely certain about what they have seen, and have no doubt as to what they saw. The majority of the reports in the book come from eastern B.C. and western Alberta, which shows that Steenburg has travelled a great deal to get these stories. Steenburg asks each witness the same questions, but doesn't always get the same answers, which indicates that the witnesses are credible. This book is well-written and very concise, and can be purchased for $16.95 from www.hancockhouse.com. It is highly recommended. Review of Bigfoot! The True Story of Apes In America Author: Loren Coleman This book was released in March 2003, and has been a consistent best-seller in the realm of books on this subject. Coleman gives an excellent overview of major Bigfoot events over the past half-century. He writes of footprint finds, the Patterson/Gimlin film, the Ray Wallace controversy, the Skookum Cast, the Myakka Ape controversy, and several other notable cases in Bigfoot lore. He even includes a list of the twenty best places to see Bigfoot. His writing style is inimitable and smooth, and he makes the reader seem like a comfortable friend. Some people say that Coleman rubs them the wrong way, and that he tends to overgeneralize things, but he is a solid writer and his accomplishments in the realm of publicity for the mystery are not to be denied. In the book, Coleman credits the film Half-Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman as his starting point for his interest in cryptozoology in general, and Bigfoot in particular. His book can be purchased for $14.00 at www.amazon.com, or sometimes for cheaper at www.abebooks.com. It is highly recommended. Review of Sasquatch Bigfoot: The Continuing Mystery Author: Thomas Steenburg Thomas Steenburg wrote this second book after his first book, The Sasquatch in Alberta, was released in 1990. This book covers the areas of eastern British Columbia and western Alberta in Canada and the encounters that took place in those areas. The sightings date back quite a few years, going back to the 1950s and earlier. Steenburg's writing style is comfortable and easy to understand, and gives the reader a sense of the importance of the sightings described. Many of the sightings were being written up for the first time in print, but some of them were forwarded to Steenburg via John Green, from his own investigations. Steenburg is a definite advocate of bringing a body of a Sasquatch in, whatever the cost, which may put him at odds with some Sasquatch researchers. He also can spot a hoaxer pretty easily, but doesn't see too much of that in these stories. This book is available at www.hancockhouse.com for $11.95 and is, as always, highly recommended. Review of Raincoast Sasquatch Author: J. Robert Alley This book is a wonderful walk-through of sightings in and around the Ketchikan area in the Alaskan wilderness. Many sightings are being written up for the first time, but some are from other contributors such as John Green and Thomas Steenburg. The book primarily focuses on Ketchikan, but it also discusses sightings on Vancouver Island and western British Columbia. Such topics as Indian legends are discussed, as well as swimming Sasquatches, Sasquatches seen on the shore of the Pacific, footprints, bones that are found and thought to be giant Indians' bones, sounds, traces of hair and other topics. Alley doesn't discuss his own sighting, but it is discussed in the Chris Murphy book Meet The Sasquatch. Alley also includes a field guide to Pacific Coastal Sasquatch, as well as a summary list of Southeast Alaskan reports and B.C. Coastal reports. He also includes a bibliography of recommended books on the topic. This book is wonderfully and excellently written, and is absolutely highly recommended. It can be purchased for $14.95 at www.hancockhouse.com. Review of Tom Yamarone: Bigfoot World This four-song album is a joy to listen to, and the songs are easy to understand and sing along with. Tom Yamarone wrote all four songs and did a great job on all four. The first song, "Bigfoot-The Living Legend" is a terrific song looking from a Bigfoot's perspective at the world around it and is really wonderfully written. "Roger and Bob" gives a wonderful history surrounding the Patterson/Gimlin film and gives a laundry list of names connected to the film, including Al Hodgson, John Green, Rene Dahinden, Bob Titmus and of course Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin themselves. The next song, "The Skookum Cast" is a humorous look at the events surrounding the finding of the 2/3 body imprint of a Bigfoot found by the BFRO in September 2000, told from the Bigfoot's perspective. The final song, "The Ballad of Albert O", is a recounting of the Albert Ostman story which really puts that event in perspective. The album is short but sweet, and very well-thought out and executed. You can ask Tom himself for a copy of the CD through www.bigfootforums.com. He is listed as Bigfoot Dad. This album is a joy and triumph to listen to, and highly recommended. Book Review of The Making of Bigfoot Author: Greg Long, foreword by Kal Korff This book sucks. I don't know how else to put it. And not just because it's a book purporting to expose the Patterson/Gimlin film, but because Greg Long cannot write a good book. He's a hack writer and also a bad investigator. Certainly, he did go around Yakima and interview dozens of witnesses for the book in regards to Roger Patterson (who, by the way, he doesn't think much of, and wrote a 475-page character assassination to prove it), and certainly a good majority of those witnesses did say that Roger Patterson was a con artist, but Long failed to really paint Patterson as someone who could've faked the film. Besides, there's no proof that Patterson was a con artist or a thief or cheat; certainly he didn't always pay his bills on time, and certainly he didn't return his rented movie camera on time, but it doesn't make him a con artist or thief or cheat. Long also interviewed several different Bigfoot researchers to get their take on Roger Patterson and the film, and of course they support the film, if not necessarily Patterson. Long should have made the actual film his focus, rather than Patterson himself, because anybody can spread lies about a person that cannot be substantiated, and Long seems to delight in the constant character assassination he is engaging in in this book. He seems most excited by two finds-the man who allegedly wore the suit in the film, Bob Heironimus and the man who allegedly made the suit, costume maker Philip Morris. But, there is a problem-Heironimus says in the book that Roger Patterson skinned a red horse, sewed it together and glued an old fur coat to it, making a 3-piece suit; Morris alleges that he made a 6-piece dynel suit for someone who allegedly called him claiming to be Roger Patterson asking for a $435 gorilla suit. So that makes two different stories of an alleged suit, and more importantly, two contradictions. While the book was being released, Bob Heironimus appeared on MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" backing up Morris' story, when he himself said in the book it was a red horsehide suit. Since the release of the book (which has been a terrible flop) Heironimus has contradicted himself twice more, once on KATU-2 out of Portland, Oregon, stating that the man who designed the suits for the movie "Planet of the Apes" designed the suit for the P/G film. That would have been John Chambers, however, not Philip Morris. Also, according to Bigfoot researcher John Green, there is a fourth story in which Heironimus' sister is said to have called Mrs. Patricia Patterson, Roger's widow, and asked her to go along with a GREY horsehide suit having been worn in the film so they could all make money off it. To quote John Green, "This book is garbage", and it is. It took me a week and a half to finish it; the book is tedious, poorly written and agenda-driven. The agenda is Greg Long hates Roger Patterson for some unknown reason. Do not buy this book unless you are desperate or curious. But if you must buy it, it can be bought at www.amazon.com for $17.00, $8.00 off the original price. I do not recommend this book at all. Book Review: Bigfoot Exposed Author: David J. Daegling Review by Henry M. Interesting book, but Daegling misses the point This book, while a great improvement over Greg Long's The Making of Bigfoot,is still a damning expose' of Bigfoot research full of suppositions and speculations, but very little facts. Daegling certainly had good intentions in mind to try to debunk Bigfoot as a phenomenon, but he spent too much time in suppositions and speculations and not enough time stating facts. For instance, he misrepresents the late Grover Krantz by saying that he did not endorse the "Skookum Cast", a 2/3 body impression of what may be a Bigfoot, but I saw an interview with Krantz in which he said it looked to him like a Sasquatch had been thrashing around on the ground. Daegling takes the word of two Bigfoot researchers who have never seen the cast that it's of an elk. Daegling also buys into the Ray Wallace nonsense hook, line and sinker, as well as praising known hoaxers like Ray Pickens, Rant Mullens and Paul Freeman. He seems to imply that Bigfoot researchers are wasting their time looking for something that may not exist (in his mind) and the book loses its objectivity there. He gives what are seemingly plausible solutions to things like tracks, the Patterson/Gimlin film, hair samples and fecal matter, but his bias comes through when reporting these things, whcih is unfortunate. He seems to imply that Krantz and Dr. Jeff Meldrum (his old college roommate) were gullible enough to but into the Bossburg "Cripple-Foot" tracks, and also some of tracks found by Freeman which may or may not contain dermal ridges. In short, Daegling's book fails to really make the case for the skeptics that Bigfoot is not real. Still, I would recommend this book over Long's even if with reservations. Review of The Sasquatch Odyssey DVD A great documentary about the Grand Old Men of Bigfootery I saw this documentary originally on video, presented as the original 70-minute documentary shown on television. This DVD, while it presents the original documentary, also has new segments, such as 3 short vignettes with Stan Winston (Aliens, Terminator 2) with him commenting that the Patterson/Gimlin film is most likely a brilliant hoax. There's a new question-and-answer segment with Bigfoot researcher Richard Noll in which he discusses his thoughts on Bigfoot and the Bigfoot field in general. It also shows him in the field finding a set of tracks. There is also a photo gallery featuring the four principles of the documentary. This documentary features the story of the four Grand Old Men of Bigfootery, John Green, Rene Dahinden, Peter Byrne and Grover Krantz, featuring classic footage of each man, which tells the story of each man's quest to find the Sasquatch. Two of the men (Krantz and Dahinden) have passed on since the filming of this documentary, but of the four, only Green continues to be semi-active in the hunt. Byrne is semi-retired and laregly out of the public spotlight. This documentary is highly recommended for those who want to know more about the personalities in the field of Bigfoot research. Book Review of America's Bigfoot: Fact, Not Fiction Author: Dmitri Bayanov Written by: Henry M. This is a very well-written book, and very educational as well. The book's main focus is the Patterson/Gimlin film. There is also a backstory behind the film which is covered, as well as the Russian analysts' take on the whole matter. Bayanov writes in a style that is comfortable and full of good information. Bayanov includes personal correspondence with several prominent figures in anthropology, cryptozoology and science, including Dr. John Napier, Dr. Grover Krantz, Richard Greenwell, Bernard Heuvelmans, Rene Dahinden, Dr. Marjorie Halpin, Dr. Donald Grieve and Bob Gimlin. Bayanov highlights the work he and several of his Russian colleagues have done on the film, luminaries such as Igor Bourtsev, Dr. Boris Porschnev and Dr. Dmitri Donskoy, who have all done work on the film and found it to be authentic, although Dr. Donskoy was a little more hesitant to get involved with hominology than his Russian colleagues were. There is also coverage of the 1978 conference on monsters held at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, which Bayanov and Bourtsev submitted a paper to for reading there. The paper was, however, not included in the book based on the conference, Manlike Monsters on Trial. Bayanov and Dahinden had an apparent falling-out with each other over Dahinden's ownership of the P/G film as well. The book is illustrated with photos and illustrations, including 8 pages of photos from the film. The book is very worth-reading, and should be read by all people interested in the subject. Review of the National Geographic Special Behind the Mysteries: Bigfoot Written by: Henry M. This special aired on Sunday, January 30th, 2005, and was presented in an unfortunate tongue-in-cheek matter. The program was very unfair and very unbalanced to the Bigfoot enthusiasts and seemed to take the tone that all Bigfoot believers bordered on lunacy. Some of the major pieces of evidence, such as tracks with dermal ridges and the Patterson/Gimlin film were examined but explained away by such luminaries as skeptics Benjamin Radford, David Daegling and Daniel Shmitt. Daegling and Shmitt don't think too highly of the P/G film and think it's not a very good piece of scientific evidence. They seem to enjoy putting their skeptic hats on and mocking and making fun of anyone who believes there's a tall, hairy biped walking around in the woods. However, the dermal ridges do have support from recently retired Conroe, Texas police officer Jimmy Chilcutt and also Dr. Jeff Meldrum, anthropologist at Idaho State University. Meldrum also supported the P/G film and gave it his seal of approval. The special also showed Texas Bigfoot hunter Chester Moore, who is out to kill a specimen for the good of the species. Janice Carter is also profiled at her farm where she claims to give an English-speaking Sasquatch named Fox garlic. The P/G film is examined last, with the hoax claim being put forward by Bob Heironimus (alternately known as "Bob Haironmyass"), who attempts the "Patty" walk from left to right in Yakima, but looks more like he has a corncob stuck up his rear, and his knees don't bend nearly as dramatically. He is shown sitting with his buddies, guffawing and saying, "We knew it was you in that suit, Bob. Hyuk, hyuk, hyuk, hyuk." Then a reenactment of what allegedly happened with Bob H. being in a suit is shown, with out-of-focus shots of the "man in the suit". The special ends there on a sour note.This show was very unfair and unbalanced, and did not show Bob H. in a Bigfoot suit as promised. However, that may be forthcoming if Greg Long and company get their own prime-time special in the spring. This show was pretty much garbage. Review of Operation: Nightscream DVD Produced by: Bluenorth.com Written by: Henry M. This 40-minute documentary chronicles one expedition by Bluenorth.com in 2003, more specifically BFRO investigator John Freitas and his friends' efforts to prove once and for all Bigfoot exists. He is joined by James "Bobo" Fay, an actual Bigfoot eyewitness and Tom (no last name, just Tom), who had an encounter of his own in 1979. They employ some techniques that the BFRO has used on expeditions past-pheromone chips, call-blasting, night-vision equipment-which they hope will draw a Sasquatch in. They do record one vocalization, but they of course don't count that as definitive proof. Freitas has never seen one, although he believes he's heard one. They also find some suspicious tree twists and breaks, but again, these are not definite proof of anything. The 40-minute documentary is very interesting, but there are two bonuses-10-minute interviews with Dr. John Bindernagel and John Green, which are very informative and interesting. The DVD can be purchased at http://www.bluenorth.com and is highly recommended for all researchers, armchair or field. Book Review of The Bigfoot Film Controversy Authors: Roger Patterson and Christopher Murphy Review by Henry M. The newest offering from Hancock House and the author of Meet The Sasquatch is a very fascinating look not only at some of the early history of the Bigfoot legend in America, but also at the most famous film of the primate. The first 5 chapters are chock-full of newspaper clippings, magazine articles and personal interviews from the early days of Bigfoot research in the Pacific Northwest. The Albert Ostman story is recounted here, as is the Ape Canyon and Baumann stories. However, it is obvious that Patterson's fire and passion for the subject is evident throughout the book. He really was very interested in the subject and took it very seriously. He also speaks of track finds and expeditions he himself undertook into the remote areas of the states of California and Washington. Those first five chapters, written circa 1966, are an excellent setup for the last two chapters, devoted exclusively to the Patterson/Gimlin film and Murphy's assessments of it. The studies done by scientists such as Dmitri Bayanov, Igor Bourtsev, Dmitri Donskoy, Donald W. Grieve, Grover Krantz and Jeff Glickman are documented, and very succinctly. There is also a segment about the John Chambers connection and also the claims by Bob Heironimus, Greg Long and Kal Korff. Murphy effectively shows that it is impossible for Heironimus (or any man) to have been in a suit in October 1967. An illustration is shown of a photo of Heironimus (the actual photo was not permitted to be used by Murphy), and this illustration is compared to various photos of "Patty", and it is clear that Heironimus looks nothing like "Patty" in terms of size, arm length, leg length or any other way. It is effectively shown the Heironimus' arms are too short and his legs are too long. This book is a worthy addition to any library, and very highly-recommended. It can be purchased at http://www.hancockhouse.com Book Review of Big Footage: A history of the Sasquatch on film Author: Mike Quast Reviewed by Henry M. This book is privately published by the author, and is a very fascinating read about the history of Bigfoot on film up to the year 2000. There are, of course, some of the more famous cases of filming the creatures, such as the Patterson/Gimlin film, the Paul Freeman footage, the Ivan Marx footage and other forms of footage and photos. But there are also more obscure photos and footage examined as well, which bring attention to different aspects of whether or not they're fake, inconclusive or real.The good majority of the cases he examines are inconclusive, but some of them are either determined to be real or outright fakes. The book is 130 pages, but pretty easy to read and easy to understand. One of the things that kind of bothers me about the book is the mention of Jon-Erik Beckjord several times by the author, but the author even knows that E.B. is not to really be taken seriously. Other than that, the book is worth reading. It can be purchased for $18.00 from the author. Review: "Squatching/Journey Toward Squatchdom" Absolutely recommended to all believers and non-believers alike!!! This double-DVD is really well-crafted, and Scott Herriott uses a good deal of comedic elements to make his point. "Squatching" is seriocomic, and describes Scott's true passion for the subject of Sasquatch. It's a little more serious than "Journey Toward Squatchdom", but it does have comedic moments. We meet his mom and dad, his girlfriend, even his dog. We also meet other well-known Bigfoot personalities along the way, such as Loren Coleman, William Dranginis, Dr. John Bindernagel and Craig Woolheater, and get to see some really beautiful country in northern California. "Journey Toward Squatchdom" is so much funnier than "Squatching" It really showcases Scott's comedic talents and is genuinely hilarious. We meet more Bigfoot personalities, such as Ray Crowe, the late Datus Perry and Frank Kaneaster. I laughed out loud more than once watching this documentary. If you like serious, scientific documentaries on Sasquatch, buy "Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science." But, if you want to watch a semiserious documentary that will make you laugh your butt off, this is the one to buy! Review of Bigfoot Lives! Deal with it Author: Chester Moore, Jr. Reviewed by Henry M. This book is Chester Moore's second book on the subject of Bigfoot, and it's a good one. Chester delves into different aspects of the Bigfoot mystery, including where these creatures go down on all fours and walk and run (an idea not shared by researchers in the Pacific Northwest). Some of the more familiar pieces of evidence are examined, such as footprints, hair samples, fecal matter and even the Patterson/Gimlin film. Chester writes with a style that is comfortable and well-versed in the ways of the outdoors. Chester describes his adventures with his dad and his friends and makes the reader feel as if they are along for the ride, and this makes the reader feel comfortable with reading the book. Chester also gives some tips on how a person can become their own researcher, speaking from experience. This book can be purchased for $20.00 from http://www.cryptokeeper.com and is highly recommended. Review of "Bigfoot: Man? Myth? Monster?" This DVD is over an hour in length, but has plenty of good information about the subject of Sasquatch. There are rare pictures on this DVD of the Minnesota Iceman, as well as photos of the "DeRidder, Louisiana Road-kill" of an unusual creature from 1996. There is also a good deal of information about different tracks, alleged Yeti hands, handprints, fecal samples and different forms of evidence. There are several different photographs, and films (including the Patterson/Gimlin film) shown which are regarded as either real or fakes. Two famous cases of cryptids are featured as well-the coelacanth and the ivory-billed woodpecker, both thought to be extinct until they were discovered in the real world. I would highly recommend this DVD. It is full of great information and rare photos and films. To get a copy, contact Scott Matthews at david7168@sbcglobal.net Review of "Sasquatch Horror Triple Feature" DVD's This two-DVD set features one of the rarest Bigfoot movies ever produced-"Sasquatch: The Legend of Bigfoot", a cult-classic in its own right within the Bigfoot community, and two other films that have seen their share of DVD action in recent years, "Snowbeast" and "Snow Creature". First, the good. All three films have been fully restored ("Sasquatch" is much more noticably clearer and crisper than it has ever been). "Snowbeast" and "Snow Creature" are also very well-preserved. Unfortunately, "Sasquatch" is the best of the three movies. "Snowbeast" (a TV-movie in its original format) is a bit amateurish, and "Snow Creature" is a bit too poorly acted, and the creature looks more like a guy in a suit (of course, in all the movies, it is a guy in a suit, but in this one, it's even more painfully obvious). Still, the three DVD's are enjoyable in their own way; all three are cheesy but it's good cheese at times. "Sasquatch" has its share of poor acting, to be sure, but it to me is the most enjoyable of the 3 films. I feel a sense of excitement when they find the creatures near the end of the movie, and the creatures...well, if you've seen it, you know the rest. "Snowbeast" is nothing more than a "Jaws" rip-off with a Sasquatch as the protaganist instead of a 30-foot Great White shark. "Snow Creature", credited as the first Yeti/Sasquatch movie ever, is really not all that compelling or exciting, and all it has going for it is it's the first Yeti/Sasquatch movie ever made. Still, I will give the entire DVD set 3 stars, mainly for the production and crisp restoration done to the three films. I recommend it only for "Sasquatch". Skip the other two movies unless you're really desperate. Book Review: "In Pursuit of a Legend: 72 Days in California Bigfoot Country" by T.A. Wilson An entertaining travelogue centered around this great mystery This is a really excellent book, a great read for a cold fall evening. First-time author Wilson weaves a story of a 72-day jaunt into the backwoods of the California Sierra Mountains and points further north. He and his friend, a firefighter named JT, encounter a strange set of tracks, 21 inches long, that do not appear to be of bears. After JT leaves to fight a raging forest fire, Wilson has several strange encounters on the trail alone, including a strange call in the middle of the night, a dung sample he cannot identify, some strange happenings on the trail and a possible sighting of his own. Wilson's style of writing is comfortable and easy to read, and the book really takes us deep into the territory he is exploring. We can almost picture the trails he takes into the mountains of the High Sierras and the other points he explores. This book is highly recommended even for those who are non-believers. It can be ordered through amazon.com Review of "Manbeast: Myth or Monster" This documentary was made in the late-'70's, and it's a good one. It features the hunt for Bigfoot as seen through the eyes of Peter Byrne, now retired and living in the Los Angeles, California area. This short film documents his first major efforts into finding the elusive Sasquatch in the Mount Hood, Oregon region, as well as points to the north and south, specifically Northern California and Washington state, as well as Canada. Byrne undertakes the journey with then-wife Celia Kileen, and Byrne gives his theories as to the creatures' origins. There are several well-done recreations, featuring humans in Bigfoot costumes. They look eerily similar to the real thing. The hunt also takes us to the Himalayas where Byrne continues his efforts into the hunt for the Yeti, or Abominable Snowman (circa 1978). Byrne at the time was bankrolled by the Boston Academy of Applied Sciences and made good use of the resources he was provided with. He might not have gotten much results other than a few footprint casts, but he gave it a good effort. This rare documentary can be purchased from Phil and Penny Raza at penn@epix.net on VHS or DVD. DVD Review: "Shaawanoki: The "Skunk Ape-Florida's Bigfoot" Produced by: Peter Byrne, Ronnie Roseman and Andreas Wallach This DVD documentary is very interesting and unique in that it focuses on the Florida version of Bigfoot, a creature the local Seminole Indians call "Shaawanoki" ("man of the swamps"). Interestingly enough, the local tribe does not believe in the Shaawanoki or that it exists! Peter Byrne, former big-game hunter and world-renowned Bigfoot pursuer, takes us through the swamps of Southern Florida, giving us a view of the truly primitive and desolate country that the Shaawanoki calls home. A series of photos taken by a British tourist allegedly of the creature is examined, and determined by Byrne's analysis to be a hoax, a man in a gorilla costume. However, a photo taken by former fire chief Vince Doerr seems to have some validity in Byrne's mind. We get a good glimpse of the local wildlife and also of Byrne's efforts to locate this creature, even though he has limited knowledge of the area or the creature. There are also interviews with witnesses of the creature. Byrne, Roseman, Wallach and two others, re-enacting the Shaawanoki in ape suits (Rara, Peter's daughter and longtime Bigfoot enthusiast Larry Lund) really give the documentary a comfortable and professional feel, and they are all to be commended. I highly recommend this DVD to all Bigfoot enthusiasts. It can be purchased at http://www.shaawanoki.com Book Review: The Search For Bigfoot: Monster, Myth or Man Author: Peter Byrne This book, written in 1975 and revised in 1976, is one of the best books of that era, and the author is well-versed in the stories of Bigfoot from the past. The book chronicles Byrne's efforts to locate Bigfoot near The Dalles, Oregon, where he established his Bigfoot Information Center. He had an observation point on top of a high hill which he would sit in often to observe the terrain to see about spotting a Bigfoot, which was reported to live in the area. He never saw anything, of course, but he made an attempt to. Byrne chronicles his early years in Ireland, his Royal Air Force stint, his work as a tea plantation owner in India, his efforts to find the Yeti or Abominable Snowman and his initial efforts to find Bigfoot, under the guidance of Tom Slick in the "Pacific Northwest Expedition" which also included John Green, Rene Dahinden and Bob Titmus. That early effort unearthed some tracks, but not too much in the way of true evidence. Ray Wallace, however, the well-known hoaxer, had tried to sell an alleged baby Bigfoot he allegedly had trapped in a cave, to Byrne and Slick. Wallace was also allegedly feeding the creature Frosted Flakes, which he said was expensive. The creature, however, supposedly got sick and had to be let go. This was what Byrne and the others faced in the early years of research into Bigfoot. Byrne then moves into describing sighting reports he has received in his research, and also his footprint finds. Byrne rules out the credibility of all but a very few reports, and personally investigates each report as much as possible. I highly recommend this book to all Bigfoot enthusiasts, and can be purchased in different places on the internet, such as abebooks.com and amazon.com. DVD Review: Sasquatch Science: Searching For Bigfoot This two-disc DVD set features four lectures from an unknown location sometime in 2003, and the material is very interesting. Disc 1: The first lecturer, Dr. Jeff Meldrum of Idaho State University, is about footprint morphology, and is very well-done by Dr. Meldrum. After the lecture, he takes questions from the audience. Dr. John Bindernagel is next, with a history of the Sasquatch being left out of the field guides and also his feelings on the whole field and the rejection by science. He also takes questions from the audience. Disc 2: Gordon Strasenburgh, a longtime Bigfoot enthusiast, lectures on the Patterson/Gimlin film and why he thinks it's real and also his theory as to what Bigfoot is (he believes it's australopithecine). He also shows some native drawings and sculptures of apelike creatures from Native Americans. The last lecture is by John Green, the esteemed Sasquatch chronicler, who gives a history lesson of his involvement in it and also his descriptive nature of the creatures. This set is available at http://www.ufotv.com and is highly-recommended for anyone's Bigfoot DVD collection. Review: "Giganto: The Real King Kong" This special, produced by Doug Hajicek and Whitewolf Entertainment (the same folks behind "Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science") aired on the History Channel December 15th, 2005, and was really very well-done and well-researched. There was even a story on this special I didn't know about-Teddy Roosevelt apparently had a sound encounter with a creature unlike anything he'd ever heard before. I thought that was very interesting and unique, as the only connection Roosevelt had with Bigfoot was the Baumann story from "The Wilderness Hunter". This special explored the Gigantopithecus which existed millions of years ago and supposedly died out 100,000 years ago. However, some still believe it lives today (I am also of that opinion) as our modern-day Bigfoot or Sasquatch or Yeti. The origins of Giganto are explored, as well as the modern-day sightings. Several Bigfoot notables are interviewed, including Dr. Jeff Meldrum, Chris Murphy, Kathy Moskowitz-Strain and Richard Noll. Noted Giganto expert Dr. Russell Ciochon is also interviewed, and followed on a quest to find more Giganto teeth and bones in China; however, he discounts the idea of there being a modern-day Giganto still living today. He is, however, willing to search for bones of dead Gigantos, which makes one wonder why he does not put more effort into searching for live specimens. This special was very educational and was quite enjoyable to watch, and is coming to DVD for those interested in ordering it from the History Channel website. I highly recommend that purchase. This is a great and balanced documentary. Review: "King Kong (2005)" Normally, I don't review mainstream films here on my website, but this one deserves the review treatment. This is a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat, action-adventure with a hint of comedy and a great deal of tenderness and sadness. Director Peter Jackson does something with Kong no other filmmaker did-he gives Kong personality. He's not just some big lumbering ape in this one. The film starts out in New York City during the Great Depression, 1933. A struggling young filmmaker, Carl Denham (played by Jack Black) is looking for a cast for his next picture. He needs a young lady to fill out a "damsel-in-distress" role. He finds her in Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts). Assisted by his screenwriter Jack Driscoll (Adrien Brody), he and his film crew take a boat allegedly to Singapore, but it is actually an uncharted island with the ominous name of Skull Island that Denham wants to use to film his picture. Unfortunately, Denham has some trouble with an uncooperative captain and crew, until a weird freak occurrence puts them on the island. Once there, they run into the natives who are definitely not friendly to outsiders. The filming is put on hold when the cast and crew have to return to the ship, where Ann is kidnapped by the natives and taken back to the island and kidnapped by a 24-foot-tall ape the natives call "Kong". Embarking on a rescue mission, the cast and crew run into some extraordinary creatures on the island, and attempt to resuce Ann from the clutches of Kong. But Ann seems a bit reluctant to be rescued, because she seems to have gotten attached to her captor. After being drugged with chloroform, the beast is taken to New York and expolited by Denham, and escapes, wreaking havoc on New York. I may have given away too much already, but suffice it to say, if you've seen the original film, this one takes it up a few more notches, and the ending is emotional and spectacular. The film is wonderful and touching and very exciting, and well-worth the price of admission. There is also a cryptozoological joke that many crypto-enthusiasts will appreciate (as I did) in the film. The cryptozoological implications are there as well in the film-a giant, apelike creature talked about by natives but never seen by white men in a remote location (sound familiar?). Go see this movie.