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Editorial Review:
The extended version of Peter Jackson's King Kong adds 13 minutes to the running time--fortunately those 13 minutes include two dynamic action scenes and no material has been added to the movie's belaboured set-up, which tries to give depth to these quintessentially b-movie characters with a clumsy patchwork of melodrama and in-jokes. But once movie-maker Carl Denham (Jack Black, School of Rock) and his crew finally arrive at Skull Island, the movie kicks into gear with spectacular action, technical wizardry, and genuine feeling. Though Kong seems crafted to dazzle the eye on the giant screen, the overlong structure improves when you can take an intermission at will. At home, each scene can be approached on its own terms, be it the insanely choreographed battle between Kong and three T. Rexes or the subtle and multi-layered interplay between Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts, Mulholland Drive) and Kong (played, through motion-capture technology, by Andy Serkis, who previously played the similarly animated Gollum in Jackson's Lord of the Rings). The addition of a rampaging ceratops and an underwater race with what the movie's crew dubbed a "piranhadon" not only add more eye candy, but provide some valuable moments of character development. But in the end, that's frosting on the cake; when the movie's weaknesses and strengths are weighed, the emotional power of the fantastical relationship between a woman and a giant ape is a real cinematic achievement. --Bret Fetzer
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
beautiful and grand - but also long and slow This is an epic version of 'King Kong' with many virtues. The cast is uniformly good, particularly Naomi Watts in the Fay Wray part, vulnerable but feisty, naive but characterful. Peter Jackson has a proven track record of visual splendour, and he does not disappoint here. The special effects are mostly very impressive indeed, and there are some pleasant imaginative and humorous touches. I've seen it twice, and the first time I liked it and it just about held my interest, but the second time it dragged.... more info
Not so "KING" Kong
Before everyone starts shouting at me I want to say that I am a big fan of Peter Jacksons work. What he did with Lord Of The Rings was breathtaking. Unfortunately I think that this project was a little too personal for him to take on. Pete claims that the original Kong was the reason he wanted to make movies and for that reason i think the movie is a little too self indulgent. Whilst Kong himself surpasses Gollum in terms of technology, it seems that certain other effects shots have been... more info
A Monumental Success of a Movie If it had been announced that a remake of the classic "King Kong" was being made without the name Peter Jackson attached to it, there is no doubt audiences would have been outraged. But after the enormous success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, it would seem that the general public has learned to trust director Peter Jackson. After watching his remake of King Kong, I would have to say that their trust was well placed. Jackson now firmly cements his name as a master filmmaker, the kind that all... more info
Shoddy Packaging and Layout Spoils This Set First of all, I liked the film. It's a well made movie with a lot of love and care gone into it. How much, exactly? One only needs to indulge in the astonishing amount of extras to appreciate the level of hard work and creative vision that's gone into this project. Sadly, this release is let down by the most basic elements that are inexcusable. First of all, you may think that 'packaging' is a lame criticism, but anyone who's buying the three disc deluxe set would reasonably expect the deluxe status of... more info
