Movie Review: King Kong (2005)

Starring: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Andy Serkis
Directed by: Peter Jackson (LOTR)

the highly hyped and critically acclaimed remake of the 1933 quintessential monster movie delivers on almost all levels.

[mild spoiler alert - read accordingly]

Plot: having not seen the original, i can only compare it to the various spoofs and homages paid to the classic through cartoons and such references. King Kong is an epic story told in three acts. the most recent movie to follow this formula was Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World. act 1: backstory, narrative set-up. act 2: island fun. act 3: new york, new york. the less patient may complain of the length (3 hrs 7 min) and the various points of monotany (chugging boat gears) that perforate an otherwise action-packed film. The movie seeks to cover almost every genre known to film. set in mid-Depression 1933, the first act touches on the harsh times (after watching Cinderella Man all the Depression references were pretty easy to pick up), framing the desperation and climate of a populace in need of distraction. There are dashes of vaudeville schtick (i kept thinking of those vaudeville guys on Family Guy) and mild romance to provide that distraction, but they are inevitably brushed aside for the things that matter (i.e. dinosaurs). at the outer core lies the whole monster horror/thrill/suspense/action ride where you can turn your brain off for a few minutes and enjoy senseless adrenaline. at the heart of the movie is the relationship between beauty and beast: Ann Darrow (Watts) and Kong (Serkis). where the original played up a certain amount of sexual tension between Darrow (Fay Wray) and a rapacious Kong, Peter Jackson recreates a more touching relationship (not physical touching -- heartstring pulling touching). other (actual) critics have touched on this aspect, wondering why that part was 'tamed' and Peter Jackson deftly addresses it early in the movie when Jack Black's character Carl Denham is pleading his case before a panel of movie executives. one of them asks if his movie will have boobies (since people only watch movies with boobies), and Denham calls him an idiot.

Visuals: breath-taking. from glittering cityscapes to towering jungles, King Kong is definitely worth the price of admission. the cgi is improved in comparison to the LOTR movies. Kong himself is beautifully crafted, based on actual gorilla specifications and animated with life-like precision by Andy Serkis (Gollum/Smeagol) after he spent two months studying gorillas in Jane Goodall fashion. the cinematography is gorgeous throughout, but gets a bit melodramatic towards the end. but since it's 1933, that's probably an intentional tribute.

Dialogue: having not seen the original, i cannot exactly tell if they followed the same script in this remake. however, the intonations and diction was anachronistically 21st century. dialogue definitely took a back seat in this movie and i think i could have watched it deaf and still understood everything.

Soundtrack: epic, as characteristic of the only Peter Jackson films i've seen. the tracks were evocative and spot-on. there isn't much else to comment on as i wasn't really paying attention to it.

Characters:
Carl Denham - this character is Jack Black's first crack at a 'serious' protrayal and i thought he did an outstanding job of it. as a desperate movie producer in search of 'the big one' (film, that is) Denham coerces those closest to him into a dangerous expedition all for the perfect film. Black's best scene is his Super Saiyin moment. his true allegiances are shown in counterpoint to the supposed monster.
Jack Driscoll - Adrien Brody plays a sensitive screenplay writer and third-wheel to the Ann-Kong relationship. his acting is above average -- emotive and all that -- but his nose sort of steals each scene.
King Kong - gorillas are usually considered ugly in my books and only cool under certain contexts (such as smashing stuff). this latest incarnation of King Kong is easily the most life-like, not just because of technological advances. the mannerisms and physical acting spoke volumes of Kong's inner lonliness and his jealous protection of that connection to Ann.
Ann Darrow - Naomi Watt's performance has opened my eyes. first to her striking resemblance to fellow Australian Nichole Kidman; second to her screaming skill. she doesn't say much so most of the acting is done facially. Watts does a brilliant and beautiful job (considering a lot of her screentime is spent with the computer generated and not physically present Kong) and now i have a huge crush on her.

Overall: watch this movie, plain and simple. the only failing really is the dialogue, which is uninspired and boring (it ain't no gilmore girls -- closer to smallville in terms of melodrama).

* * * * 3/4