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Peter Jackson is a mad scientist. I can picture him in a dimly lit den with reflections of a warm fire dancing around the dark paneled walls. He is
holding his Oscar and rocking back and forth. He mulls over how he can follow up something as astounding as his Lord of the Rings Trilogy? Then it comes to him… I have no idea if this scenario ever took place. The where and why of his decision to remake the 1933 classic King Kong is not as important as the end result. Which is incredible. Jackson’s love for the original helped him make some very wise choices with the story line while paying homage to it’s legacy.

The first smart move was to keep this new take true to the original. The look and feel of the 1930’s is important to the plot and adds to the wonders of the characters as they see this larger than life beast for the first time. They have yet to be desensitized by movies and video games and over the top effects. No one had ever seen anything like this and you get to experience that along with them. Though the story and characters are the same the names and faces are slightly different. Carl Denham (Jack Black) is a frustrated filmmaker who just wants to create amazing movies. When he decides to shoot his next picture on a remote, uninhabited island he takes playwright Jack Driscoll (Adrien Brody) and vaudeville actress Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts) along with him. What they discover is a land time forgot, including the colossal Kong (Andy Serkis).

The second intelligent decision was to make this movie as huge as the legendary ape. Jackson could have used the big monkey as his focus and let the hairy beast carry the excitement and thrills all alone. But then it would have just been another remake and not the Peter Jackson we dig. So he uses dinosaurs, giant bugs and every other sort of mean and slimy thing that lives on this island to create a world that is well, out of this world. The scenes on the island are stunningly visual and alive. The action sequences with Kong and the other creatures will leave your heart racing. And it is non-stop. Just when you think you can finally catch your breath he kicks it back in gear and away you go. That is what movies like this have to do. This isn't a film about relationships and emoting. We want screams and thrills and over the top action. We want to leave after three hours and not ponder the love of Kong for Darrow; we want to look at each other in wide-eyed amazement and go, “Did you see that!?!” And that is what Jackson delivers.

Plus it doesn’t end once you leave the Island. New York, in its entire 1933 splendor, is the setting for that great climactic scene of beauty, beast and architecture. For the most part the acting is doable and even Jack Black fits into the role of dramatic filmmaker. His eyes convey the eccentric gleam you would expect Denham to have. Watts and Brody are doable. I think Jackson could have put anybody else in these roles and the result would have been the same. But at least you have familiar faces to watch running and screaming.  If you are the pondering sort you may try and figure out a few of the scenes between Darrow and Kong. Her attachment to the big brute seems a little odd at times and you wonder if the line between caring and survival are blurred in her blonde head. But it isn't totally distracting.

King Kong is rated PG-13 for frightening adventure violence and some disturbing images. I will say that if you are going to see this film, and you should, please see it on the largest screen possible. Though this will fly off the DVD shelves when it is released next year, this must be seen on the big screen to be totally appreciated. I give it 4 out of 5 handfuls of monkey love. It isn't perfect, but it is perfectly entertaining.

The Mungle (12/12/05)

Matt hosts the weekly syndicated Indie Rock Radio Show Spin 180. Plus with his wife Cindy they do a weekly radio feature, The Mungles on Movies. For additional reviews and interview clips visit the website www.mungleshow.com