Dr. Ross (Laura Linney) is sent on a mission to Africa by her soon-to-be father-in-law to retrieve his missing son Charlie. Charlie was in Africa to find a rare diamond that can immensely power his father's telecom satellite. Charlie's last sat-link video feed reveals that the camp was destroyed, and they see a grey ape before it blacks out. Dr. Ross travels to the Congo with Dr. Elliot, a primatologist who has trained an ape, Amy to talk with sign language, a philanthropist Mr. Homolka, and Richard, Elliot's assistant. Dr. Elliot is taking Amy back into the wild, whereas Homolka is motivated by Amy's drawings of a peculiar symbol. In Africa, they are met by Eddie and Monro, their mercenaries/armed detail. When the team lose their guides, Amy leads the way. They reach Charlie's deserted and ruined camp, but there are no bodies. When Richard is assaulted and killed by vicious grey apes, the team fortify their camp with assault weapons and come under siege by the apes. The team learns that the diamonds are located in the legendary King Solomon's mines, and that the apes were treated as slaves by their human masters. Amy's drawings are the same ones as the ones depicted in the lost city. When Elliot is surrounded at the ruins, he is rescued by Amy. Dr. Ross finds Charlie's dead body, along with the diamond. She sat-links with her father-in-law, who cares more about the gem than his son. She then programs the laser to blast the telcom's satellite and signs off. Amy says goodbye to Elliot, and joins a group of gorillas and disappears into the jungle.
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Best part of story, including ending:
It's Indiana Jones meets Predator, mysterious and action-packed.
Best scene in story:
When Amy, a seemingly harmless domesticated ape fends off wild and ferocious gorillas to save Dr. Elliot.
Opinion about the main character:
Bravery and no-nonsense traits that get things done.