King Kong: Then and Now

King Kong (Old)
            This is worth seeing. It’s not terribly convincing, and it’s not terribly long, but it sure is fun, and it’s a lot more believable than the ferry tale that Peter Jackson made in homeage to this. There’s no real love story in this, but the theme remains the same. Beauty is unattainable, because it fades. Don’t die trying to capture worldly glory.

            That’s what King Kong does. He pursues the unlasting unattainable. And this chronicle is actually quite fun and entertaining, as a piece of film history and a very original concept with very well donw effects considering the time and place. It’s worth watching, and gets a 2. Good old movies, they sure are old.

King Kong (Remake)
         This is an epic by Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings), and inn some ways it does not live up to the hype that accompanied it to the theaters, being billed as one of the greatest films of all time, and the film that offers everything. It does offer something Unexpected.

            A Movies Producer (Jack Black, School of Rock) sets out on a quest for a forbidden island, uncharted and technically undiscovered. The face of the island is shrouded in fog which hides a massive wall, kept guard by primitive villagers who worship Kong, a massive prehistoric gorilla.

            Beyond the wall, is an undisturbed land of prehistoric nature, peopled by massive insects, and real dinosaurs. It is really unreal, and the director finds everything he expected. Along for the ride are the leading lady (Naomi Watts, I Heart Huckabees) and the movie writer, who fall in love on the voyage.

            After encountering every danger of the island and losing his film and camera, the director decides to try and capture Kong with the help of the crew. They succeed and bring him home, with disastrous results, as Kong escapes and runs riot through New York. It’s a classic tale with modern updated effects, not always convincing, but state of the art, for sure. The Brontosaurus Stampede is one of the coolest scenes.

            While it may not be what some are calling it, King Kong is still an excellent movie, and fun to watch. It’s a little long, but, it’s two fold approach manages to separate the drag a little bit. A 2 for sure, and Peter Jackson’s most flamboyant picture yet. The point is somewhat vague, just that beauty is fleeting, and worth dying for.