King Kong (2 Disc Special Edition) [2005]

Amazon.co.uk Review

Movies don't come any bigger than Peter Jackson's King Kong, a three-hour remake of the 1933 classic that marries breathtaking visual prowess with a surprising emotional depth. Expanding on the original story of the blonde beauty and the beast who falls for her, Jackson creates a movie spectacle that matches his Lord of the Rings films and even at times evokes their fantasy world while celebrating the glory of '30s Hollywood. Naomi Watts stars as Ann Darrow, a vaudeville actress down on her luck in Depression-era New York until manic filmmaker Carl Denham (a game but miscast Jack Black) entices her with a lead role. Dazzled by the genius of screenwriter Jack Driscoll (Adrien Brody), Ann boards the tramp steamer S.S. Venture, which she--and most of the wary crew--believes is headed for Singapore. Denham, however, is in search of the mythic Skull Island, hoping to capture its wonders on film and make a fortune. What he didn't count on were some scary natives who find that the comely Darrow looks like prime sacrifice material for a mysterious giant creature....

There's no point in rehashing the entire plot, as every movie aficionado is more than familiar with the trajectory of King Kong; the challenge facing Jackson, his screenwriters, and the phenomenal visual-effects team was to breathe new life into an old, familiar story. To that degree, they achieve what could be best called a qualified success. Though they've assembled a crackerjack supporting cast, including Thomas Kretschmann as the Venture's hard-bitten captain and young Jamie Bell as a plucky crewman, the first third of the movie is rather labored, with too much minute detail given over to sumptuous re-creations of '30s New York and the unexciting initial leg of the Venture's sea voyage. However, once the film finds its way to Skull Island (which bears more than a passing resemblance to LOTR's Mordor), Kong turns into a dazzling movie triumph, by turns terrifying and awe-inspiring. The choreography and execution of the action set pieces--including one involving Kong and a trio of Tyrannosaurus Rexes, as well as another that could be charitably described as a bug-phobic's nightmare--is nothing short of landmark filmmaking, and a certain Mr. Spielberg should watch his back, as Kong trumps most anything that has come before it.

Despite the visual challenges of King Kong, the movie's most difficult hurdle is the budding romance between Ann and her simian soulmate. Happily, this is where Jackson unqualifiedly triumphs, as this unorthodox love story is tenderly and humorously drawn, by turns sympathetic and wondrous. Watts, whose accessibility balances out her almost otherworldly loveliness, works wonders with mere glances, and Andy Serkis, who digitally embodies Kong here much as he did Gollum in the LOTR films, breathes vibrant life into the giant star of the film without ever overplaying any emotions. The final, tragic act of the film, set mostly atop the Empire State Building, is where Kong earns its place in movie history as a work that celebrates both the technical and emotional heights that film can reach. --Mark Englehart, Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

TOO LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG.......2007-10-24

The film goes on forever. I think i timed over an hour before we see a gorilla!!

That said, the special effects are stunning, from the TRex punch up, the swamp creepy crawlies to the Empire State shoot out.

The story is good and well acted. The special effects carried the film and without them you may have been forced to doze off.

A remake that is as good as the original!.......2007-10-20

Not much to add to the other reviews: at 3 hours long, it is a tad too long, but it's well worth the "wait", as the ending is magnificent. The start, whilst slow, is essential in building some background to the story. The stuff on Skull Island is amazing CGI, and a vast improvement on the original, of course. Naomi Watts is superb, as is Jack Black. Agree that Adrien Brody's performance is OK, but would have liked a more developed character in the plot somehow. That said, it was very good overall, and does what it says on the tin! Loved the original, as well as "Mighty Joe Young", and this one is great, too!

King Kong.......2007-09-22

I seem to remember when this film came out a big deal was made of it because it was Peter Jackson's first piece of work since completing LOTR. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to live up to his previous work. I found the first 45 minutes very difficult to sit through and they really didn't add much to the film. The special effects looked quite good but I felt the film just lacked a little something in the plot and although I know that Peter Jackson did not write the story the film just failed to grip me in the way I thought it should. Sadly I won't be adding this to my DVD wishlist.

Highly enjoyable film with big monkey.......2007-09-10

Although not a fan of monkeys (please see my review for Gorillas in The Mist for a full explanation) I was prepared to give this film an airing on the grounds it featured my cousin, who appeared briefly in the background in the city scenes (sadly his shot was deleted when the movie was cut.)
King King is a two thousand foot tall monkey, a baboon I believe. Everyone knows the story of how King Kong befriends the nubile woman and they strike up an intense relationship. This film version surparsed my every expectation and whim in that department. Some of the romantic scenes between Alice and Kong were highly erotic and made me feel a little uncomfortable. I understand a lot of footage was dropped as it was deemed too risque for audiences, including a scene where Alice beds the monkey in a New York hotel room.
Dspite the romance, there is action aplenty and likeable performances from Jack Palance and Helen Hunt. It is vastyly superior to the 1908 original and the 1980's Joe Pesci remake. Bravo!

No donkey, just Kong.......2007-08-27

Half an hour too long, but otherwise an absolutely wonderfully interpreted piece of film-making about one of the best stories ever told. Mind-boggling special effects, but too long at three hours. Can't drop a star for that though.

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