Movie number one from Somara’s recovery marathon!
This is what Peter Jackson was originally going to do until The Lord of the Rings came his way? The DeLaurentis remake wasn’t very good yet I’ve always felt that the 1933 original with Fay Wray didn’t need to be improved upon. It was a product of its time and today’s audiences are more terrified by mists, alien butt probing, Japanese ghosts on videotapes and serial killers wearing goalie masks.
I did give Jackson a pass due to his great sense of vision and the casting was pretty solid.
Sadly, more is less with this remake. Around an hour could’ve been edited out to tighten up the story and pacing. Kong isn’t based upon a rich, detailed novel like Rings so nothing would have been lost by streamlining the trip or exploration of Skull Island. The giant gorilla is the star, Denham discovering him, capturing him and exploiting him takes takes too long to achieve.
The film’s duration is its only flaw. What Jackson and crew did right is plentiful. Black is great as the alcoholic Denham, a struggling film maker who is constantly scheming and rationalizing his actions as the situation keeps shifting. Watts is equally great as Darrow, the vaudeville actress Kong grows fond of; it explains why she has acrobatic abilities; to keep the brute amused. The supporting cast is outstanding too because when the various personalities of the ship or filming crew are killed, their deaths have an effect to the story and Denham. What I’m trying to articulate (poorly]) is Jackson’s ability to get the audience emotionally invested in those supporting characters as he did in Rings. Remember Boromir’s death? Same goes for Kong, I just won’t spoil it with the names.
Skull Island is fleshed out more with its numerous insects, dinosaurs and freaky natives, another Jackson strength. Kong climbing the Empire State Building with Darrow in his hand (not a spoiler) definitely invoked my fear of heights.
Is it really worth watching? Yes. Maybe it’s best watched in two sittings. When you get to about 90-100 minutes in, find a logical place to stop it and finish the next day. One user comment on imdb.com said it best: “A 10-star 2-hour movie screaming to get out of a 7-star 3-hour movie.”