King Kong (2005)

REISSUED DVD WITH LESS SCOPE THE SECOND TIME AROUND
And still no bonus features. The original dvd release is presented in 2:35.1 panavision widescreen. The second release is presented in 1:78.1 widescreen. That means alot of the scope has been taken away. I don't know if the picture quality has been improved because of this, but that really doesn't matter because I'm a stickler for the maximum width of the picture over enhanced colors. Now let's talk a little about the movie. First thing is the music John Barry's score was at times brilliant and led up to great crescendos, but that wierd keyboardy stuff detracted from the intensity of the film. Especially in the opening title sequence. Now, who came up with that ridiculous name DWAN? Did Tony Orlando have a copyright on the name Dawn? Or did the studio think the movie going public was too stupid to differentiate between the blonde girl in Kong's hand and the two non-blonde female back-up singers. The ape suit looked very good, but as stated by another reviewer Rick Baker the designer and wearer of the suit was told to walk upright against his better judgement to walk more apelike. But then again would he have moved about like a real ape as portrayed in Peter Jackson's KING KONG or would it have been a Planet of the Apes slouch. The tribal chant leading to Kong's first appearance is the best in this version. Even if they didn't want dinosaurs in the movie a few other animals for Kong to fight would have been a good idea. The mechanical King Kong that the publicity machine boasted about which only appears for 4 seconds should have been completely deleted. I also remember reading articles that extras were needed for the final scene and that they were going to drop a large stuffed Kong from the World Trade Center building. I couldn't make it into the city that day, but you can see the New York skyline pretty good from our local beach. Well that drop never happened. The only thing was a giant styrofoam Kong lying in the middle of Kong's impact point. Amazing how so many people were duped into making an okay movie look more epic by being tricked into appearing in a film they weren't entitled to get paid for. Sometimes the island scenes looked like they were shot on a stage. I don't mean a soundstage. I mean a stage like a school auditorium stage. Time magazine ran an article on this movie with a photo that reveals a topless Jessica Lange in Kong's hand. Unfortunately this did not appear in the actual film. But you can get a little compensated. Look for the scene when "Dwan" is first rescued from King Kong and puts her arms around Jeff Bridges. I remember how horrible I felt for the next couple days after leaving the theater when King Kong got shot up pretty bad by the helicopters' guns. This by far was the most gruesome and emotionally impacting Kong death on film.

In King of Camp--Kong is Champ
Perhaps the most memorable movie of my childhood is this 1976 remake of "King Kong." Over the years, much has been said to discredit this underrated film, and those fans of the 1933 classic (including myself), have inevitably made comparisons. Peter Jackson's new Kong (2005) will no doubt go under similar scrutiny in years to come.

When I tell people that the 1976 version of "King Kong" makes my top ten list of all time favorite movies, there's generally a smirk of disapproval. Admittedly, there are flaws in the special effects by today's standards, but there's a magical quality to this production. Perhaps it's the engaging musical score of John Barry that lures viewers into the heart of this picture. And despite its intentional campy nature, this film has heart.

As I grow older, I still watch this film with a sense of fondness. Jessica Lange's performance has long been belittled by the press, but I cannot recall an actress that made more of an impression on me as I watched her as a 9-year-old boy. Her beauty still resonates on screen, and I appreciate the producer's insight in recognizing her as a true talent (as she would later demonstrate). To me, I'll still listen for Dwan's voice in all of Lange's characters. I saw glimpses of this childlike innocence in her performance in "Tootsie" a few years later, which she was awarded an academy award.

I find the rest of the cast equally good, particularly Grodin's performance as Fred Wilson. He's perfectly cast here, and fits in well with the campiness. Jeff Bridges gives a solid performance, and plays off Lange well. The real star of the picture, Kong himself, is not as ape-like as some would have hoped. He seems to have a human element to him, which I think is the point. We are saddened by Kong's death when he plummets from the World Trade Center, particularly because he is more human to us than animal. And notice Dwan's reaction at the end of the film when approached by Jack...not the typical happy-ending for a Hollywood film.

The overall production was lavish of course, making this remake one of the most expensive of its time. But I would like to echo the thoughts of some other reviewers here by stating that the 1976 remake of "King Kong" was not a commercial flop. In fact, the film did exceptionally well at the box office and was given some excellent reviews by some respected film critics.

Watch "King Kong" with an open mind and appreciate its campy nature. It's not merely a remake more than it is a retelling of a classic story. This movie took chances, and some of these chances work better than others. But it's not just a mimic, trying to recreate the past. It's fun at times, silly at others, but in the end, you will remember this film. For that reason, the 1976 remake will forever be a favorite of mine.

In King of Camp--Kong is Champ
Perhaps the most memorable movie of my childhood is this 1976 remake of "King Kong." Over the years, much has been said to discredit this underrated film, and those fans of the 1933 classic (including myself), have inevitably made comparisons. Peter Jackson's new Kong (2005) will no doubt go under similar scrutiny in years to come.

When I tell people that the 1976 version of "King Kong" makes my top ten list of all time favorite movies, there's generally a smirk of disapproval. Admittedly, there are flaws in the special effects by today's standards, but there's a magical quality to this production. Perhaps it's the engaging musical score of John Barry that lures viewers into the heart of this picture. And despite its intentional campy nature, this film has heart.

As I grow older, I still watch this film with a sense of fondness. Jessica Lange's performance has long been belittled by the press, but I cannot recall an actress that made more of an impression on me as I watched her as a 9-year-old boy. Her beauty still resonates on screen, and I appreciate the producer's insight in recognizing her as a true talent (as she would later demonstrate). To me, I'll still listen for Dwan's voice in all of Lange's characters. I saw glimpses of this childlike innocence in her performance in "Tootsie" a few years later, which she was awarded an academy award.

I find the rest of the cast equally good, particularly Grodin's performance as Fred Wilson. He's perfectly cast here, and fits in well with the campiness. Jeff Bridges gives a solid performance, and plays off Lange well. The real star of the picture, Kong himself, is not as ape-like as some would have hoped. He seems to have a human element to him, which I think is the point. We are saddened by Kong's death when he plummets from the World Trade Center, particularly because he is more human to us than animal. And notice Dwan's reaction at the end of the film when approached by Jack...not the typical happy-ending for a Hollywood film.

The overall production was lavish of course, making this remake one of the most expensive of its time. But I would like to echo the thoughts of some other reviewers here by stating that the 1976 remake of "King Kong" was not a commercial flop. In fact, the film did exceptionally well at the box office and was given some excellent reviews by some respected film critics.

Watch "King Kong" with an open mind and appreciate its campy nature. It's not merely a remake more than it is a retelling of a classic story. This movie took chances, and some of these chances work better than others. But it's not just a mimic, trying to recreate the past. It's fun at times, silly at others, but in the end, you will remember this film. For that reason, the 1976 remake will forever be a favorite of mine.