Kong is king - King Kong Reviews

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! MY REVIEW: Rarely ever do I bestow an A+ rating on a movie, but Peter Jackson's rendition of Cooper and Wallace's "King Kong" has earned it. From the stunningly gorgeous visuals, to the amazing locations and recreations of 1932 New York City, to the King himself, the film takes you on a visual and emotional rampage that doesn't let go until the credits roll at the end. Much praise to Jackson's sense of storytelling and artistry, and for staying with the original 1933 script. Although extensive use of CGI and animation was used throughout the movie, it was always done in *support* of the story; the special effects were never over-played, an ailment that afflicts far too many modern screen-stories. From the vistas and creepy jungles of Skull Island, to the hustling city street and somber skyline of New York City, every shot is framed for glorious visual impact. Jackson's use of camera angles shows his (or, more likely, cinematographer Andrew Lesnie's) understanding of keeping the action shots interesting, yet not too confusing or overly-busy. Particularly arresting are the shots that follow the ship's crew as Kong tries to shake them off of an ancient tree-bridge over the brink of a foreboding canyon. Not all is perfect, however. Although Jack Black ("Carl Denham") provides charisma and bravado, he sometimes overplays the part; there's too much Black in Denham, making it hard sometimes to believe in him as a true charachter. The biggest problem, however was the beginning. It takes a full *hour*, 1/3 of the movie, to set up the fact that Denham's a third-rate director, Ann Darrow (played by Naomi Watts) is a down-and-out Vaudeville actress, and that they're all going on a sea-adventure to "Singapore", as Denham fools the S.S. Venture's crew into believing. But you know that something big is about to happen when the Venture *ventures* into the Dark Spot on Denham's mysterious map. Two words, from then-on-out: Hold on. Not once on the island will you have time to catch your breath. From the initial encounter with the island's indiginous people, to the dinosaur stampede and fight, to even the capture of mighty Kong, the watcher is horrified, mystified,and - ultimately - satisfied. Particularly amazing (and disgusting) was the "bug pit" scene, after Kong shakes the Venture's crew off the log bridge into a deep ravine. The tentacle monsters are my favorite! Also, the fight between Kong and the Tyrannosaurs is downright jaw-dropping. However, there's much more to "Kong" than just fast-paced action. The relationship that develops between the gorilla and Ms. Darrow is heartwarming, strong, and - surprisingly - believable. One can't help but be deeply moved as we see Kong's treatement through Darrow's eyes. Kudos to Naomi Watts for her moving performance. Credits to Andy Serkis as well, who lent his expressive talents to Kong (he also plays the Venture's cook, "Lumpy"). Serkis' ability to evince strong emotion and insight through physical means is evident on Kong's face (Serkis, as you may recall, provided the "face" and voice of another Jackson CGI charachter, LotR's "Gollum"). The immortal climax with Kong over the top of New York's tallest building is dizzily amazing. As the giant climbs the skyscraper, and later as the fighter planes circle and attack, you're well-aware of how high up this fight is taking place. Again, credit goes to the cinematography team for the wonderful plane's-eye-view of Kong, adding to the overall "bigness" of the final scenes. The best is for last, however. The powerfully-connected emotions of Kong and Darrow are played out beautifully and heartbreakingly. Words can't describe the feelings that pull at the viewer's heartstrings during the film's last moments. Even as the credits began to roll, no one in the theater spoke, and many were wiping away tears. In the end, even a King must fall for man to understand that not every wonder is meant to be conquered. ***** WHAT WORKED: Everything, except the first hour. WHAT DIDN'T: The first hour. FAVORITE MOMENT: Three-way Tie! 1.) Kong and Darrow sitting on the cliff ledge, overlooking Skull Island at sunset. 2.) Kong's fight with the Tyrannosaurs. 3.) The "bug pit" scene. Swamp tentacles are creepy-cool. FAVORITE QUOTE: When Denham asks his assitant, Colin Hanks's "Preston" if they can get actress Fay Wray as the leading lady in his film (Wray was the *original* Ann Darrow in the 1933 film). OVERALL OPINION: Stunning visuals, poingnant storytelling, and excellent direction and cinematography, combined with great acting makes "Kong" King. ***** GRADES: Story (A+), Acting (A), Direction (A), Visuals (A+) Overall Grade: A+