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In 1933 New York, an overly ambitious movie producer coerces his cast and hired ship crew to travel to mysterious Skull Island, where they encounter Kong, a giant ape who is immediately smitten with leading lady Ann Darrow.
Naomi Watts: Ann Darrow
If it had been made public that a remake of the 1933 King Kong was being created without Peter Jackson attached to it, there is no shred of doubt that viewers would have been enraged.
After the huge success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, it would seem that the public has rightly learned to put their faith in director Peter Jackson, an affirmed favourite director.
After watching his version of King Kong at the Cinema in December all that time ago, I would have to say that their trust was well placed.
Jackson now firmly cements his name as a masterful film-maker, the kind that all aspiring directors want to become. The attention he pays to the smallest details, the sheer class he shows in terms of production and scale, the amount of skill he has in controlling our fragile emotions.
Jackson certainly brings his considerable skill and flair to show here in Kong. While a different director likely would have sped up the story to the crew's arrival on Skull Island, Jackson takes his time with a nice, leisurely build up to their arrival, giving us lots of time to really get to know these characters, and also providing time for a slow and genuine romance building between the characters of Anne and Jack. This romance does lead to the very few and seldom weaknesses of Kong. Throw in a rather dire Brontosaurus chase that really doesn't work, resulting in the effects in this sequence looking shoddy and choppy, that let the film down to a degree,which is frustrating for fans.
But going back to the good qualities of King Kong, in essence be it a lush jungle and tropical rain forest with giant reptile dinosaurs. Be it the giant, parasitic, warm-like maggot larvae or scary insects. Be it the bond between Kong and Ann Darow, that retains detail rivalling even it's original 1933 version, that shows us the love and connection between the two. A loving protector of Ann, Kong really does fall in love with her. That last dance on an icy lake really sets the emotions going, preceding the events to follow, it warms the heart while preparing it for what we know will inevitably happen.
Whether it's sneaky ambitious obsessed Carl Denham played by Jack Black, or beaky nosed, supposedly heroic writer Adrien Brody as Jack Driscoll, it shows performances from the human casting to be impressive.
Also fave of mine Thomas Kretschmann as Captain Englehorn is in there or a Jamie Bell playing Jimmy on the ship.
Andy Serkis also deserves a mention for his movements involving Kong and not only that, a chef who ends up with a horrifying demise was memorable.
Worth getting the extended King Kong which offers more tantalizing material and scenes that really add to a masterpiece of a remake. That fight with the dinosaurs that kong has, flapping it's jaw when he is victorious, is totally memorable and a tribute to the original, as is the last scene that will induce tears and emotions for Kong and will have you overwhelmed.
A Magical Journey emotionally,ladies and gentlemen, I give you KONG!.
9/10
