[James_Kiang]

Let me begin by saying I have never seen the '33 King Kong and have no recollection of seeing the 70's version. I was familiar with most of the details of the story going in, but had no emotional attachment to the characters or story. Having said that, I found Peter Jackson's version of King Kong to be a very entertaining film, though not without flaws.

I did not feel the movie was too long. I pretty much agree with what Patrick said about it. The pre-Skull Island portion of the film wasn't too long for me as it did introduce the characters, but it was not entirely successful as it did not completely establish the relationships that would have been key to the film establishing that emotional connection with me. Some sequences did go on too long and Jackson did use his slo-mo camera trick a litt too much, but I think there was only enough fat to trim a few minutes from the length.

I pretty much mentioned the major problem I have with the film. Some of the characters and their relationships just did not work for me. Perhaps of lesser importance - and therefore kind of intriguing as to why such prominence was given to them - are Jimmy and Mr. Hayes. I don't have a major problem understanding their relationship, but I don't think there was enough history given to accept it. Then they become basically throw-away (no pun intended) characters and we get no resolution at all with Jimmy.

Somewhat the same can be said of two more important characters: Jack and Ann. Again, I understand them. The problem is that I did not feel invested in their relationship. That is something that more time should have been given to explore.

A smaller complaint concerns the special effects. Don't get me wrong - some of the effects work was perhaps the best I have ever seen. Unfortunately, other segments were of such inferior quality that it distracted me and drew me out of the films. The bronto chase has already been mentioned and I do find many problems during this part. There were more than a couple of times during this sequence that the actors were clearly added in to the scene (or vice versa). Perhaps the worst effect for me was the pole vaulting native coming to capture Ann. That one was almost laughable.

Still, despite these complaints, I felt the film did work for the most part. I did not have the emotional connection I would have liked and it did lessen the impact of the conclusion for me. I didn't mention my problems with the dialogue, but there were some bad lines. Jack Black also bounced between being very good and being...well, Jack Black. Overall, I would give the movie a B+/A-.

[Quentin]

I think the key to your frustration, Paul, is twofold. And, I think they both lie in your love of the original (and the same shared elements in the 76 version)

First, is the underdevelopment of Jack in this film. You are correct about Jack in the 3rd act. Yes, he serves the purpose of developing HIS character, but this Jack is on an island with little connection to the main story (Ann and Kong). The extra scene needed in this film is not between Ann and Kong, it is between Ann and Jack. They never fall in love. They never consummate (and I don't just mean sexually). Their 'relationship' is mostly unrequited. He loves her, is devoted to saving her, but we NEVER see her reciprocate. Sure, she runs off the island with him willingly. Sure, she is clearly attracted to him pre-Kong. But, after Skull Island? She's not thinking of him while she's crying on stage. She's crying over Kong. It's a vital missing piece of the puzzle. As much as I love this film, it goes a different direction than the first two Kong's, and I think it is a mistake. Their relationship needs to be stronger and more realized.

The second problem is with the other side of the same coin. Ann cares for Kong (whether it is maternal or master/pet or whatever...doesn't matter), and Kong clearly loves her. In fact, this film far more than the other Kong's HUMANIZES Kong to such a great degree in order to fully convey his 'love' for Ann. This is what makes the 'sunset' scene and the 'ice skating' scene work so very well. And, while I would not love this film as much as I do without those two great scenes, it is still a problem that has stuck in your craw.

You see, because he is humanized and THEIR relationship is the focus, two things happen: 1) Jack is made tangential and so much less important and 2) Kong is no longer a monster. One of the great things about the original (and I think the 76 remake keeps this) is that Ann loves Jack - not Kong. She STILL thinks of Kong as a beast and he scares her. Kong's 'love' for her is unrequited. She never understands it. Ultimately, she sort of 'dumps' Kong for Jack.

But, we still sympathize for Kong...just for different reasons. Jackson has us sympathize for Kong because he's a lovable pet who just loves the girl and she loves him. It's very MIGHTY JOE YOUNG. But, the original KONG is a beast to the end. Never understood. We sympathize with that Kong because he is the chump who is tossed to the side and used. Never understood and never loved. THAT is why Beauty kills the beast in the original - she doesn't love him! It's the unrequited love that kills him.

In Jackson's version it is very, VERY different. And, the more I think about it, the more I think Jackson made a mistake. Still...I love the sunset and ice skating scenes...

[Blake Siefken]

Hated Lord of the Rings, but I loved King Kong!

Am I the only one who thinks Jack Black was doing a Jack Nicholson impersonation for the entire first act?

[Patrick Sun]

With faster theater-to-DVD time windows, KK will not have anywhere the length of run at the box office that Titanic had. As someone else mentioned elsewhere, when Titanic came out, the release of the DVD or VHS tape came out far after its theatrical run, but these are different times, and the box office performance will reflect that. Hell, we got Underworld 2 coming out in January!!!

Plus, I would be remiss if I didn't shame Jack into seeing this movie on the big screen, and not at home on a much smaller TV to give the visuals the justice they deserve to convey the size and power of KK and also the dinos. If you're not seeing KK at the theater, you're part of its box office problem! Muhahahaha!

[MattHR]

Quote:

If you're seeing KK at the theater, you're part of its box office problem!

Don't you mean if you're not seeing KK at the theater...?

(Admin note - edited for clarity)

[Paul_Scott]

a real shame people won't have a chance to see the climax (or any other part) of this film on an Imax screen...

[Kevin Grey]

Wow. Just wow. Loved every minute of it.

I wouldn't cut a single scene. The first hour, in particular, just flew by for me. I enjoyed the embellishment of the crew. Yeah, I would have like a little bit more payoff for it, but it was worth it just for making them a bit more than red shirts on Skull Island.

I really liked Jack's character too. I thought Adrian Brody had a real natural charisma from his first moments on screen and segued nicely into an "unassuming" action hero.

Liked Jack Black's portrayal of Denham. Loved how you could see his eyes framing everything he sees in terms of the camera. When "friends" of him died it was always "we'll finish for him, its what he would have wanted" because, hey, that's what they do in the movies.

Naomi Watts- what more can be said? Luminous. I fell in love with her right from the first scene.

Count me as someone who loved the Brontosaurus chase. Yeah the effects weren't too great there but I thought PJ staged the whole sequence with fantastic forward momentum. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the sequence since I had read so many complaints about it prior to the movie.

Loved the pacing beginning with the shipwreck scene. Just felt like the movie really kicked into overdrive.

The native scene was unexpectedly intense and brutal. Probably shouldn't have been surprised considering PJ's resume but it really came out of left field for me. Same with the Spider Lair. Both of those sequences really pushed the PG-13 envelope and I saw a fair amount of parents taking their young children out of the theater after the spider scene.

My only isses with the film:

-The bizarre slow motion shots mentioned earlier. Have hated them in every PJ film and this is certainly no exception.

-James Newton Howard's score. Generally serviceable until the Park sequence where it turned really great. I have to give him credit though because it really is a good score for such a limited time to do the score in. Still, I can't help but wonder what Howard Shore would have done and it hurt all the more seeing him during the stage show. Hope this issue is addressed on the DVD (though I expect it won't be).

And, uh, yeah that's pretty much it for issues. Fantastic film and the best moviegoing experience I've had all year. Definitely will try to hit this again before the holidays are out.

[Chris]

I watched this tonight and enjoyed it a lot. It was far better then I had ever expected. This may be one of the best "spectacle" movies I've ever seen.

The way that 1930s NY looked was stunning, it was not just a matter of film, it was like watching good art, like a Rockwell painting of the era.

I've recommended it to almost anyone I know, a real winner

[Kami]

Quote:

Count me as someone who loved the Brontosaurus chase. Yeah the effects weren't too great there but I thought PJ staged the whole sequence with fantastic forward momentum. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the sequence since I had read so many complaints about it prior to the movie.

Me too, I LOVE the part when the herd rounds the corner onto that cliff edge. I also loved the dinos complete disregard for their neighbors by pounding and trampling on eachother - none of them wants to be the one who is eaten alive!!

[Johnny Angell]

Kami, a little OT--the Kong pic in your sig. Have you seen it for sale as a poster, other than the UK Quad poster? I found the UK versions on ebay and bought one.

I presume you cropped it that wide to fit the sig requirements?