Doug Wallen
Senior HTF Member
Purchased a copy from BB, the nostalgia factor and all. While not high art (whatever that is?) , I still enjoyed it. Glad I could get a copy. Seems gone at Walmart and Amazon.
Reviews were actually pretty good when it was released. Here’s a screenshot from the King Kong book The History Of A Movie Icon
Another reason was that scuttlebutt indicated Mr. De had purchased the rights and the negative to the OG Kong and was planning on preventing it's been screened officially in perpetuity.In Ray Morton's commentary track, he suggests a couple of reasons why the movie gained a less-than-stellar reputation, despite the decent reviews and pretty good box office.
For a whole year De Laurentiis had been boasting that the film would make $200 million, and it made less than half of that worldwide (still not bad for the time). Also, unlike many other popular movies of the 70s, it never got a theatrical re-release, didn't come out on video until well into the 80s, and only aired on TV two or three times in the intervening years. So it sort of came and went, and left the public's consciousness for a while.
I also think Star Wars probably had something to do with it. When that came out, it pretty quickly made all the other big effects films of the era look dated.
In Ray Morton's commentary track, he suggests a couple of reasons why the movie gained a less-than-stellar reputation, despite the decent reviews and pretty good box office.
For a whole year De Laurentiis had been boasting that the film would make $200 million, and it made less than half of that worldwide (still not bad for the time). Also, unlike many other popular movies of the 70s, it never got a theatrical re-release, didn't come out on video until well into the 80s, and only aired on TV two or three times in the intervening years. So it sort of came and went, and left the public's consciousness for a while.
I also think Star Wars probably had something to do with it. When that came out, it pretty quickly made all the other big effects films of the era look dated.
And I have the Skull Island disc too. While that was a pretty good film, seems odd that it reboots the series.
Kind of like Alien vs Predator? I haven’t seen the AvP series. But I have seen the Alien and The first two Predators.
I mentioned in the other thread that I was just going thru the commentary and just got to the part where he talks about Grodin. How sad.Charles Grodin Dies: ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ Actor, Unrivaled Talk Show Curmudgeon Was 86
Charles Grodin, scene-stealing comic actor of such film as 'The Heartbreak Kid' and 'Midnight Run' who later was a coveted talk show guest, has died.deadline.com
I think I'll watch the Shout disc tonight in his memory.
I think the first AvP is pretty good. Don’t bother with AvP-Requiem. IMHO.Kind of like Alien vs Predator? I haven’t seen the AvP series. But I have seen the Alien and The first two Predators.
But Requiem has Reiko Aylesworth! I agree that the first AvP is "pretty good". AvP:R is more in the "Well, it's not really that bad...but Lord it isn't good" territory (which to bring this back around to the topic, is kind of how I feel about the 1976 King Kong).I think the first AvP is pretty good. Don’t bother with AvP-Requiem. IMHO.
Reiko who?But Requiem has Reiko Aylesworth! I agree that the first AvP is "pretty good". AvP:R is more in the "Well, it's not really that bad...but Lord it isn't good" territory (which to bring this back around to the topic, is kind of how I feel about the 1976 King Kong).