Posted on 12/14/2005 2:54:49 PM PST by Phsstpok
My team lead set up for my group to go see the first showing at the local multiplex of King Kong at mid-day today (and the company picked up the tab as our Christmas party). It lived up to every bit of hype I've seen and heard and then some.
First it is long, and I knew it was going to be, so in the back of my mind I kept analyzing scenes to see if I thought they could be cut. Everytime I thought a scene could have been trimmed he throws in some bit of business that makes the length of the build up entirely necessary to the structure of the scene in my opinion. I didn't find anything at this first viewing, on thinking back on it, that I think can be cut. I also remarked to my friends that it didn't seem too long when it was over. It really never lagged.
The realization of Kong, as a character, is note perfect. The very first momentary glimpse of the full figure of Kong, a little bit out of focus in the background of the scene where he comes up to the sacrificial heroine, is when he jumps down from a ledge. It's only a moment but the movement was reminiscent of the "man in a suit" of the 1976 remake monstrosity. I immediately went "oh no, it's not going to work." That's the ONLY moment where I don't buy the ape 100%. I doubt this, but the thought has even crossed my mind that Jackson could have done this intentionially.
There are a few bits where the live action doesn't 100% work with the CGI scenery, particularly during the dinosaur stampede. But on reflection my friends and I kind of liked that touch. It wasn't real. It didn't have to be perfect. It was still perfect. I liken it in my own mind to a Navajo rug. Within the pattern they always leave an imperfection so that the spirit of the work is not trapped in the rug and can get out. It had that sort of feel to it. I might actually have been annoyed if I'd felt it was too perfect, feeling a need to look at everything with a microscope to find flaws to satisfy myself. Again, it worked.
The leads were very good. Naomi Watts' Ann Darrow is bug house nuts to do what she does, but I would be bug house nuts if I'd gone through what she had gone through, so it fit. Jack Black comes dangerously close to creating the most hated character to ever be in a film in Carl Denham. He doesn't so much redeem himself as exhibit enough failure and personal flaws that you end up not hating him, just not wanting to trust him. Ever. Adrian Brody is very strong and stoic, which is what his character needs to be. He's an unlikely hero and he knows it. Kind of like Arthur Miller driven to heroics to rescue Marylin Monroe (something I could actually see him having done).
A nice surprise is the actor playing Bruce Baxter, the "lead actor" in Carl Denham's (Jack Black) movie. He's played by Kyle Chandler, the actor who starred in the TV Series "Early Edition." He's an enjoyable character and, at times, the person the audience is most likely to identify with, even when he's not being the most heroic. Particularly when he does what I know I would have done under the circumstances. He can also run very fast, when necessary.
Finally I can't speak about the performances without emphasizing the quality of the jobs Andy Serkis does. He plays both the ships cook, Lumpy, and also provided the live action for Kong for the motion capture magic. From what I've seen of the TV specials he really did act the part and the computer animators largely provided the photo realistic covering over his performance. His Kong is truly amazing and award worthy. equally astonishing is his Lumpy the Cook. I knew he was playing this part going in and it sill took me three or four minutes the first time I saw the character to realize it was him, and then only because I knew the casting. The person he most reminds me of, performance wise as Lumpy, is Ross Martin, in some of his more outlandish makeup from the old Wild Wild West TV series. His constant business with the short cigar stub is priceless. When you compare that to his appearance as Smeagle at the beginning of Return of The King it's astounding. This is someone whose career I really want to follow.
One final comment on what has stayed with me. Most everyone will have heard of or seen parts of the T Rex fight. It lives up to all my expectations and then some. The moment at the end of that fight where Kong rises up and pounds his chest is visceral. That is every warrior that has ever come through a desperate fight and triumphed. As a guy I could feel it in my bones. Better than Mel Gibson after the winning fight in Braveheart. It was primal.
Oh, and one inside joke. See if you can figure out what the hidden reference (not really that hidden) when Jack Black is running down the list of possible actresses to replace his lead in the taxi early in the movie. Film buffs should be able to get it right away. It's Jackson's personal tip of the hat to his hero.
I've heard nothing but praise for this film, and am looking forward to seeing it. I've also heard it's full of "in-jokes" that refer to the original film, and since I know that one frame-by-frame, it should be very entertaining. :)
I'll have to go see this. I have, after all, been referred to at times as a big ape.
They made Kong a really sympathetic character in this when he laughed at Ann doing tricks to amuse him. Very well done.
saw it this afternoon - absolutely the best of the three renditions - very very well done and prbably one of the best films Ive seen since LOTR
"... liken it in my own mind to a Navajo rug. Within the pattern they always leave an imperfection so that the spirit of the work is not trapped in the rug and can get out"
Through many fascinating bits of business Jackson made Kong an equal character to the human actors in the film without ever stooping to anthropomorphic chicanery. I saw him as a fully developed character without ever thinking that he was anything other than the huge animal that he was.
Amazing accomplishment.
.....a classic but on such a lower level LOL
my only two complaints were - the shot with the girl in the apes clutches, being carried down the street, the matting of her was a bit jerky. Then again at the top of the building, the camera circled her at the pinnacle, and her motionless feet appeared to slide slightly. There was also a scene in which someone (I think Jack) exits a cab with a smooth 1932 license plate. NY 1932 plates were embossed (I own a 32 ford w/plate)
I would pay handsomely to see this one in Imax or 3D
Thanks for this review. I wonder if Jackson will release the DVD in two versions, an earlier, film version, and a later, extended copy?
I thought the exact same thing after the movie. Peter Jackson is the only director that I would trust to bring a blockbuster to the screen.
Spielberg is more of an activist now than a director. Lucas is basically a talented guy in many areas that doesn't realize that he is a terrible script writer. He is also a very different man than he was 30 years ago.
Other directors working today are very hit or miss.
Did you catch which scene PJ makes his cameo in? I can never seem to notice until someone points it out to me. I didn't even know he had cameos in LOTR until I watched the DVDs with the commentary and he told the audience when to look for them!
I loved the movie, and I am not the King Kong movie type. It was great!
I liked Godzilla vs. Mecha Godzilla. The Godzilla in those days were the best.
Just like Hitchcock!!
PJ starred in his first movie (Bad Taste, a cult classic) and has made a point to be in them all ever since. He made Bad Taste with his friends on weekends, and did everything, including special effects, himself. It's quite an accomplishment, and a great flick if you like campy movies.
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