A Royal Remake
King Kong (2005)
Cast: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Colin Hanks
Director: Peter Jackson
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Straight up I'll admit that I enjoyed King Kong. Sorry for taking away the suspense! I've noticed that many critics have panned the film, as if the original made back in the 1930s is a sacred object never to be touched or imitated. Well, I hate to burst their bubble, but while the 1930 film paved the way with an excellent story (it was, and remains, unique), everything else about it is sub-par compared to this most recent edition. I do agree that the 1970s version is crap.
This veneration of the past always amuses me. I suppose it is an intrinsic human trait, and while many things are to be revered as genuine classics (including many films), certainly not all, and certainly not the majority. Many films back then were, to put it bluntly, pretty bad. They had nothing to compete against and it shows. Also, I am convinced that because of the pioneering spirits of those that have come before, our database of information is such that the acting today is, on the average, better than that of yesteryear. It's simply a byproduct of time. I am not saying that there are not great actors of the past- there are plenty of them- but the craft itself has matured.
I think that this version of King Kong is superior, from acting, directing, cinematography, and special effects, amidst a whole lot more. Yes, there are places where the s/f is obvious- and a few where it's downright bad- but overall the visuals are spectacular. King Kong himself is, of course, magnificent and horrible. He is played perfectly (digitally by Andy Serkis), not as a pseudo-human, but as an animal worthy of his grandeur. His battles with the dinos are awesome to behold, and generally speaking, the action moves along at a fast clip without sacrificing plot.
The action starts in 1930s New York. Ann Darrow (Watts) is a stage comedienne whose stage is sold out from under her. curse the Depression. Meanwhile, Carl Denham (Black) is a director whose most recent film is about to be pulled out from under him by the studio bosses. Desperate, he steals the film and goes out looking for a new female star. Guess who he finds? He also pulls aboard a ship bound for a secret location his most trusted writer, Jack Driscoll (Brody).
They eventually find Skull Island, as dark and brooding as the name implies. A brush with murderous natives and a kidnapping sends the principles and crew off into the jungle, where horrific dinos and, of course, King Kong await them.
The rest I'll leave for you to discover. As stated, it moves along smoothly, very briskly during the action, but stops long enough to sketch out the characters (some briefly, some more detailed). I think this is a worthy remake, even better than the original. You don't hear that said very often.
King Kong In The News
Jackson Finishes Shooting Kong, Rests Before Bones - February 2005 |
