It's official -- Peter Jackson's next film: King Kong

#601

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12/3/05 at 6:44pm

Mark Walker
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No, it's more because he has extreme prejudices against any movie involving fantasy and when he can't come up with good, solid criticisms, he'll resort to mocking a movie instead of critiquing it. On the other hand, I'll give the guy his dues when it comes to smaller movies. I went to see Hustle and Flow mainly because of how hard he pushed it and he was right, that really is one of the best films of the year.

Another things Wells does is attack a film when he is really only showing his own ignorance. Case in point, he though Jackson had added the Shelob scene and decided to plunk "a monster movie," in LOTR.

A guess being a critic doesn't mean one has to be a good journalist or even take two seconds to google "Shelob," and find that she was part of the LOTR books.

Wells isn't alone though: Ebert complained about the war machines in the remake of WoTW being tripods. But Ebert only rarely (at least to me) comes off as an arrogant prick looking down his nose at the rest of us.

As Gregg Araki had one of his character say, "Those who can't do, write. Those who can't write get paid $.25 a word to rip apart the work of those who can."

#602

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12/8/05 at 10:58am

Kami
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Check out these tv spots:

"Tremble"
http://kingkong.com/unk_30_large.html

"Unknown"
http://kingkong.com/unk_30_large.html

"Alone"
http://kingkong.com/alone_large.html

"King"
http://kingkong.com/king_large.html

"Warrior"
http://kingkong.com/warrior_large.html

"Epic"
http://kingkong.com/epic_large.html

#603

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12/8/05 at 12:07pm

Ray H
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So, how about the marketing for this movie?

I was watching Alias last night and during one of the commercial breaks, they aired a tv spot that made the movie look like an inspirational love story complete with triumphant music as King Kong is jumping around on top of the Empire State building! It really gave off the "we can do anything as long as we're together!" vibe.

"Here's looking at you, kid."

#604

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12/8/05 at 12:30pm

Mark Walker
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Word is the film is a "must see" for boys, but that the female contingent isn't yet convinced. Hence, a romantic tv spot.

#605

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12/8/05 at 12:38pm

Haggai
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Word is the film is a "must see" for boys, but that the female contingent isn't yet convinced.

That isn't exactly counter to expectations, is it? The original King Kong from '33 isn't anyone's idea of a chick flick, what with all the monsters fighting each other and Kong tearing shit up all over the place.

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#606

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12/8/05 at 1:41pm

DavidPla
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The original King Kong from '33 isn't anyone's idea of a chick flick, what with all the monsters fighting each other and Kong tearing shit up all over the place.

But at its core, isn't it a love story? Beauty and the beast... literally.

#607

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12/8/05 at 1:56pm

Richard Kim
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And Jackson's version adds more screentime dealing with Kong and Ann's relationship than the original.

#608

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12/8/05 at 1:57pm

Johnny Angell
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But at its core, isn't it a love story? Beauty and the beast... literally.

Only on Kong's side. I don't remember any point in the original where Ann is less than terrified in his presence and just wants to get away from him.

It appears this will be very different in Jackson's version.

Johnny
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Another cat? Perhaps. For love there is also a season; its seeds must be resown. But a family cat is not replaceable like a wornout coat or a set of tires. Each new kitten becomes its own cat, and none is repeated. I am four cats old, measuring out my life in friends that...

#609

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12/8/05 at 3:10pm

Ray H
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My point about the tv spot is that it made the film seem like it was the feel good movie of the year.

"Here's looking at you, kid."

#610

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12/8/05 at 3:13pm

Johnny Angell
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Feature length commentary track: ZAZ provide us with a theatrical trailer that is the same one that was on the previous release. It is enjoyable, but much of the information is in the video interviews and the trivia track.

I get your point.

Warning Spoiler! Click to show

However, if Jackson is successful in creating a Kong (and a relationship with Ann) that is convincing and involving, the ending will be all the more tragic.

Johnny
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Another cat? Perhaps. For love there is also a season; its seeds must be resown. But a family cat is not replaceable like a wornout coat or a set of tires. Each new kitten becomes its own cat, and none is repeated. I am four cats old, measuring out my life in friends that...

#611

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12/8/05 at 5:28pm

Kami
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The rave reviews continue to pour in...

Rolling Stone
http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/...on=6.0.12.1040

Variety
http://www.kongisking.net/perl/newsview/17/1134060999

Rotten Tomatoes is at 94% but only 16 reviews in so far. The only negative one there (2/4 stars) is the only negative one I've seen so far.

#612

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12/9/05 at 2:34am

Mark Schmitt
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I've seen the movie, saw a preview screening Monday, but my last post was lost with the new software.

The movie, to me, kept the faith of the original. Some others I know (who I contend are all way too cynical) were less praising. Of course, one of them likes the '76 remake, so he don't count. Well, sorry, to be fair, any movie where Charles Grodin gets stepped on can't be all that bad.

EXTREMELY mild spoiler below, regarding what you guys were just talking about (I really hate ruining things, I prefer you all make your own opinions):

Warning Spoiler! Click to show

We can agree that the scenes with Kong and Ann are the best of the movie. The relationship is different than the original, that's true, but it's all done realistically. Hell, you're trapped on an island with ravenous T-Rexes, wouldn't you want to have a little protection from something that hasn't eaten you...yet?

I'd say more, but you know you're all going to see it anyways and I don't want to lose my job. Besides, I'm not gonna give anything else away.

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#613

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12/9/05 at 3:29am

Paul_Scott
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as someone who enjoys and has a lot of affection for the 76 version, i find it interesting that Jackson found some key elements within that interpretation to utilize and tweak, and from what i've read so far- his tweaking should work. without having seen the film, the dynamic between Ann and Kong in this one sounds perfectly logical, and this film looks like it fulfill what Dino DeLaurentis hyped that his would (but couldn't) "when the monkey die, the audience cry"

i was disappointed to hear that Jackson dispensed with the pulpy, spicy adventure style sexual subtext, but in all honesty the film sounds better for not having it.

#614

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12/9/05 at 4:31am

Sam Davatchi
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The most beautiful phrase that I have read about this film is this one :

Quote:

It's the Return of the King all over again!

nice.

#615

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12/9/05 at 10:09am

Kami
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5 days...

#616

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12/9/05 at 10:17am

Chuck Mayer
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Damn, but does Kong look good. Fantastic work by the team to make him a tactile part of the film.

Awesome,
Chuck

Hey buddy...did you just see a real bright light?

#617

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12/9/05 at 10:20am

Quentin
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I saw it last night.

Utterly fantastic! Is it a bit overlong and indulgent? Yes. Does it start slow? Yes.

But, folks, this movie delivers in spades. Man, I can't wait to see it again. And, I'm officially beginning my personal campaign to bring an oscar nom to Naomi Watts. She is beautiful, and mesmerizing. Yes, Kong is the most amazing SFX ever seen - the first SFX to truly emote. But, she deserves credit for making their chemistry and relationship work. Great performance.

#618

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12/9/05 at 10:37am

Bob_L
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I was probably in the room with Quentin last night.

A singularly remarkable film. Faithful and reverent to the original but expanding on all the plot points in brilliantly intelligent ways.

A SFX spectacular that, like the LOTR films, still remains deeply rooted in character and story. It just goes from one high point to another.

The "spicy adventure" comment above is great. The movie doesn't neglect this aspect, actually, but puts it where it belongs: In the NYC show mounted around Kong (in which they use the original Max Steiner music, by the way. Another brilliant touch.)

#619

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12/9/05 at 12:23pm

Jack Briggs
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Bob, Quentin: Where might you guys have seen this film? JB

#620

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12/9/05 at 12:30pm

Bob_L
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Jack:

There was a screening last night at Universal which was held as an employee holiday event. They showed the film in the Amphitheater on that venue's HUGE screen. Pretty darned cool.

#621

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12/9/05 at 12:59pm

Johnny Angell
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There was a screening last night at Universal which was held as an employee holiday event. They showed the film in the Amphitheater on that venue's HUGE screen. Pretty darned cool.

I need an emoticon for "eat my heart out" but I'll have to settle for

Johnny
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Another cat? Perhaps. For love there is also a season; its seeds must be resown. But a family cat is not replaceable like a wornout coat or a set of tires. Each new kitten becomes its own cat, and none is repeated. I am four cats old, measuring out my life in friends that...

#622

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12/9/05 at 1:01pm

Chris Atkins
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Yes, Kong is the most amazing SFX ever seen - the first SFX to truly emote.

Isn't this a bit unfair considering what ILM was able to do with Yoda earlier this year (I'm thinking the order 66 scene here)?

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#623

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12/9/05 at 1:15pm

Bob_L
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Chris:

There's no denying that Yoda looked (and performed) wonderfully; but Kong represents a decisive step forward in performance subtlety; largely because he expresses a great deal of emotion, yet always remains a gorilla with a gorilla's somewhat impassive (and limited) range of expressions. The Weta team managed to evoke a moving performance from Kong without succumbing to false anthropomorphisms.

#624

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12/9/05 at 1:21pm

Chris Atkins
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That's great, Bob. I definitely want to see KONG, though I haven't been wowed by any of the trailers yet.

And, perhaps Kong emotes BETTER than Yoda, but I think it's a stretch to say that no other CG creation has truly emoted yet.

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#625

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12/9/05 at 1:22pm

Steve Christou
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Yes, Kong is the most amazing SFX ever seen - the first SFX to truly emote.

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#626

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12/9/05 at 1:25pm

Bob_L
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I think it's a stretch to say that no other CG creation has truly emoted yet.

I totally agree with you, Chris.

#627

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12/9/05 at 1:28pm

Chuck Mayer
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Gollum and Yoda (2005) both emoted. That said, Kong does look a level above either, but I'll admit we're on the level of diminishing returns at this point

CG characters have really moved forward since 2002. I did think Yoda was outstanding during Order 66. He had some easier tells than Kong has, but I think it's been a banner year for CG characters (Yoda and Kong). That picture got me as excited for this film as anything before.

I'm going at midnight Chris. Just a heads up. I don't have my ticket yet, though.

Take care,
Chuck

Hey buddy...did you just see a real bright light?

#628

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12/9/05 at 3:21pm

Greg_S_H
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Like him or not, Yoda, Gollum and now Kong owe a little something to Jar Jar Binks. And, as an added bonus, they all help us to forget the abominable Hulk CGI.

Sorry, I know you're a fan, but I just saw the movie recently and

#629

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12/9/05 at 4:15pm

Mark Walker
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Yoda owes something to Gollum, too.

Jackson and Lucas are pals, and Jackson showed Lucas how they used a painting technique to make the skin look better, depper and less rubbery on Gollum.
Giovanni ____ at WETA is largely responsible for
Yoda lookin better, but the acting and technology
have also been improving. Those CGI guys are getting
better at acting.

Still, Lucas shouldn't take home any FX awards for
accepting such shoddy work on attaching Temura's head
to the CGI body of clones during the scene when Obi-Wan
heads goes to confront Grievous.

#630

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12/9/05 at 5:07pm