It's official -- Peter Jackson's next film: King Kong
http://filmfreakcentral.net/screenre...kingkong05.htm
| King Kong is gloriously uninhibited, fearlessly silly and willing to express itself through grandiloquent statements and breathless pronouncements. At three full hours, I wanted three full hours more. I hadn't felt as exhilaratingly free and goofy in a film since I was an eight-year-old watching Raiders of the Lost Ark through my fingers. They don't really make movies like this anymore; I don't know if they ever did. |
| I think Spielberg is a "name" director. |
Yeah, he's the only director since Hitchcock who can reliably draw crowds on his name (although he's probably declined a bit since his peak in 93). I think King Kong will go a long way toward determining how much pull Jackson's name has.
I'm not sure what Women think of Kong, but just speaking for myself, I might have to see this one on my own. My fiancee watched the original with me when I got the dvd and while she admired the film very much, and cried during the climax, she ultimately didn't have very much fun watching it. I think she's much more a fan of the happier Mighty Joe Young
Unfortunately I have a Final on Wednesday night and I'll need to study all day...we'll see if that happens.
Damn it, Peter Jackson, if my grade drops in Psychology I'm blaming you!
| Was Hitchcock the last director that drew in the general public based on his name alone? I can't think of another one. |
I would say Spielberg is in that category. Not every film of his has been a big hit, but neither was Hitchcock's.
| The Los Angeles Times's chief film critic, Kenneth Turan, gave the film a rave review in this morning's edition. |
Hmm, that must be only in the print edition... Some woman I've never heard of reviewed it online.
My theater isn't doing a midnight thing which is a bit annoying, I'll go to a matinee if they have one.
I'm so excited.

Also did you guys see the post in the software forum about the Kong DVD, it's coming out in April! This was during the software upgrade before it was reverted back so I don't know if anyone posted it again.
| I would say Spielberg is in that category. Not every film of his has been a big hit, but neither was Hitchcock's. |
Definitely Spielberg. To a lesser extent, M. Night Shyamalan as well.
Oh, and of course Uwe Boll.
I think the biggest "name" directors in today's marketplace are Spielberg, Jackson, Cameron, and Shyamalan. Moviegoers trust these names (regardless of who is appearing in their films) to consistently put out good work (for the most part anyway).
If Jackson continues the way he's going, he could very well end up being considered among history's elite directors (joining cats like Hitchcock, Spielberg, Kubrick, Ford, Wilder, Capra, Scorsese, and Lean), but that's a whole other conversation.
"Quite an experience to live in fear isn't it? That's what it is to be a slave."
| A negative review from The New Yorker: |
The New Yorker panned BATMAN BEGINS, they panned REVENGE OF THE SITH, they pan nearly every fantasy film(especially since Pauline Kael passed away), so what they say about KONG carries very little weight IMHO.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/13/movies/13kong.html?hp
And from the Los Angeles Times:
http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/r...o&track=widget
"Quite an experience to live in fear isn't it? That's what it is to be a slave."
| A negative review from the New Yorker |
I wouldn't call it negative. Mixed is more like it. For example from the review:
| This “Kong” is high-powered entertainment, but Jackson pushes too hard and loses momentum over the more than three hours of the movie. |
| The New Yorker panned BATMAN BEGINS, they panned REVENGE OF THE SITH |
Let's hear it for The New Yorker! Right on!
He's got the bit between his teeth... all right!
"Jee-sus, it's like Iwo Jima out there" - Roger Sterling on "Mad Men"
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| Let's hear it for The New Yorker! Right on! |
Such needless negativity against decent, fairly well-reviewed and loved-by-fans movies.
Your gloating at any negative verbiage before you've even seen King Kong is depressing.
I'll read the review after I see the movie.
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Favorite films of 2007: There Will Be Blood, Across The Universe, The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford, Black Snake Moan
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| Anyone see the disturbing Burger King commercial spoofing King Kong, with an oversized Burger King in the role of King Kong looking inside an apartment and delivering a Kong-sized whopper through the window? |
Yep, I saw it. Their ad campaign with this stupid King continues to turn me right off BK.
Uncle Joe: I'll never marry you, Selma Plout! You may as well take off that wedding dress and put it back in your Hopeless Chest!
--Petticoat Junction--
| Also did you guys see the post in the software forum about the Kong DVD, it's coming out in April! |
Yes, I seem to remember that thread. It got a bit (okay, waaay) off track for a while, but with some editing by the moderators, it is fine again.
That was based on the comments of the guys who filmed for the documentary to be SE content on the DVD itself, not "production diary" content.

-mw
| Such needless negativity against decent, fairly well-reviewed and loved-by-fans movies. Your gloating at any negative verbiage before you've even seen King Kong is depressing. |
I agree. While I hope this is a great movie, I'll make up my mind after I see it.
Johnny
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| the director hall of fame |
But as I've previously stated elsewhere, I don't think that, with the advent of DVD and home theater any movie ever again will hit the heights that Titanic did (and this from one who is NOT fond of that film.) That ROTK got even within spitting distance of it is awesome. I would think that, for the most part, the demographics for most popular movies is very aware that within 3-4 months or so you can own the movie you see in the theaters, and would regulate the number of times they go to see it accordingly.
| Well, Ebert's homepage is displaying his 4-star review, but when you click the link it still takes you to the old preview capsule... |
Even the link is gone now. Maybe he's changing it!
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/...VIEWS/51203002

