KING KONG

[Benjamin Grimm]

Peter Jackson's remake of the 1933 classic opens on December 14.

There was a three-minute preview on my TiVo last night, and watching it gave me goosebumps.

I had low expectations for Fantastic Four this summer, and I was able to be pleasantly surprised.

I have very high expectations for this movie. I may be setting myself up for a disappointment, but I don't think that will happen.

I just can't wait for this movie to open!

[Guest Edgy DC]

Jeff Bridges in the 1976 version is my idea of the great seventies hero: the sixties countrecultural type who, despite his indifference to hygeine and Joy of Sex beard, hauls himself through an elite college and into an appointment as a bigshot junior execuive with a multinational firm, having busted through by virtue of his brilliance being rewarded in the new meritocracy that the cutural revolution established in place of their parent's old-boys network. (74 words)



So, as the evil guys in suits plot to rule the world, this conscientious smelly guy in Hawaiian shirts inexplicably always gets a voice at the table. Other lesser examples include Michael Douglas in China Syndrome.

[metirish]

King Kong is getting rave reviews...the industry is talking Titanic type box office for it...Jack Mattews from the Daily News is very excited...

Climbing to the top? The terrific 'King Kong' could be very, very big – maybe the all-time No. 1 In assessing this year's Oscar race last month, I wrote that if Peter Jackson's "King Kong" turns out as well as his three "Lord of the Rings" movies, you can count it in as a Best Picture nominee. I should have been more optimistic. Now that I've seen it, the question is whether it can top 1997's "Titanic" as the highest-grossing movie of all time. The short answer is, probably not. "Titanic's" box-office performance is in an orbit of its own. It sold $600.8 million worth of tickets at home — $140 million more than No. 2 "Star Wars" — and $1.8 billion worldwide, more than $700million better than the last "Lord of the Rings" episode. But "Kong" is the first film to come along in years with at least a shot at the No. 1 spot. "The pedigree of the filmmaker and the scope and breadth of 'Kong' lead me to believe it's the first movie that could remotely challenge 'Titanic' in cultural and box-office impact," says Paul Dergarabedian, president of the theater trend-watching Exhibitor Relations Inc. "Kong," which opens nationally next Wednesday, is as good a movie as "Titanic," and it would seem to have a broader audience. You'll remember that "Titanic's" spectacular run was fueled by teenage girls smitten by the ill-fated love of Leonardo DiCaprio's Jack and Kate Winslet's Rose. "King Kong" has its own love story — two, if you count the one between humans — and its run will be ­fueled largely by teenage boys smitten by the action on Skull Island. It is there that Kong, while protecting blond actress Ann Darrow ­(Naomi Watts), takes on herds of dinosaurs, squadrons of giant bats and scores of pesky humans before succumbing to chloroform bombs and being hauled back to New York for his disastrous Broadway debut. As we have seen with the "Star Wars" movies — which hold three spots in the all-time box office top 10 — teenage boys will risk even repetitive-stress injury clutching tickets to the same action movie. And "Kong," whose budget is in the $200 million range of "Titanic," offers those kids a lot more bang for the buck. Watching the Titanic go down in the second half of James Cameron's movie is visually and viscerally stunning, but Kong scaling the Empire State Building to swat at fighter planes is sheer inspiration! Just as importantly, "Kong" is also very sentimental — not just in the ­famous last scene, where he lies dead in the street next to the Empire State Building, the victim not of planes or bullets but of beauty. In Jackson's movie, which he wrote with his "Rings" collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, beauty is more than blond-deep. It's the sense of life, love and freedom. Women, as my swooning colleague Jami Bernard has already attested, are going to fall hard for this Kong. Watts' Ann Darrow is far friendlier to the ape than the wiggly, screeching Fay Wray was in the '33 film. She gives out a few early hollers, but after being saved several times by Kong — and sensing a refreshing gentleness in this non-New Yorker — she might be house-hunting on Skull Island if it weren't for her boyfriend, Jack Driscoll (Adrien Brody), and the film crew tracking her into the jungle. In the scene where Ann wakes up in Kong's paw to see Jack motioning for her to slip away, there is a look of disappointment on her face, as if she wants to say, "Sorry, Jack, I'm with him now." Sentiment is an essential element of blockbusters. Once "Star Wars" got going, teenage boys kept it going, but in the 1977 original, which ranks second behind "Titanic" on the box-office chart, there was the irresistible sexual tension between Han Solo and Princess Leia. "Shrek 2," the third-highest ­grosser, was fueled by the audience's enchantment with the sublime romance between the ogre and Princess ­Fiona. And, of course, with "Gone With the Wind" (the most popular movie in history in terms of ticket sales adjusted for inflation), the power of love has passed the test of time. So has the power of the timeless tale of the beauty and the beast, which has made King Kong Hollywood's greatest and most sympathetic monster. Jackson's remake will only enhance his reputation, and I'll be surprised if it isn't seen by ­everyone who has ever heard of him. A monster boost for the box office Regardless of whether "King Kong" ends up challenging "Titanic" for all-time box-office champ, analysts think it — along with "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" and "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" (which opens this weekend) — will take the gloom off Hollywood's slumping year. After being down from 7%-10% through the year's first 10 months, the U.S. box office has rallied under the Hogwarts banner of ­"Harry Potter," and is now down only 5.5% from last year. With more than $229 million in ticket sales since its Thanksgiving Weekend opening, ­"Harry" has boosted Hollywood to a 10% increase over the same period in 2004. "It's a moral and psychological victory for Hollywood," says box-office analyst Paul Dergarabedian. "It won't pull us completely out of the slump, but we'll end the year on a very positive note." However the numbers turn out, Dergarabedian and others believe America's movie ­habits are changing. With home entertainment systems, moviegoers are willing to wait on all but the most appealing films for the DVD releases. "We're getting to the point where people only want to go out to see movies that are as big as the screen," says Dergarabedian. "They want to see 'event movies' like 'Kong.' The rest they'll wait for."

[Willets Point]

is as good a movie as "Titanic

Faint praise.


I've had a crush on Jessica Lange since I was a child starting with her appearance in the 1970's King Kong.

[Guest Edgy DC]

That review is almost all speculation on bankability.

[metirish]

Yes that's my fault, his review was the day before, a 4 star one.

[Elster88]

This deal about grossing is such bullshit, unless they adjust for inflation. How much do you think the 1977 Star Wars would've made in 2005 dollars?

[metirish]

I'm certain they do that Elster, Star Wars would have to be ajusted to beat out Shrek I would think.

[Elster88]

metirish wrote: I'm certain they do that Elster, Star Wars would have to be ajusted to beat out Shrek I would think.

Apparently they don't since the article says this:

And, of course, with "Gone With the Wind" (the most popular movie in history in terms of ticket sales adjusted for inflation), the power of love has passed the test of time.

If Gone With the Wind sits at four and is number one after adjusting for inflation, then I'm guessing the list as it sits is not adjusted.

[metirish]

It's confusing to say the least that article...anyway I can't wait to see King Kong.

[Zvon]

t-minus 2 days.
(i wont see it with the 1st flock but i hope to b4 Xmas)





as soon as i found out he was back to climbing the Empire State Building,(and a 1930's ESB to boot) I was down for this.

Been following the online production diary for about 3 months.

http://www.kongisking.net/kong2005/proddiary/

http://www.theonering.net/scrapbook/nontolkien/kingkong/range/253

[Benjamin Grimm]

I have never, ever, even when I was a kid, been so eager to see a movie as I am this one.

I want to see it on Wednesday morning, but I think it'll either be Friday evening or some time on Sunday before I'm able to.

I think the movie will give me three hours of goosebumps.

Is it possible to overdose on goosebumps? Is there any medication I should take before the movie starts?

[Willets Point]

I like this thread because there's a picture of Jessica Lange in a most drool-worthy pose. Thanks to y'all who keep bumping it up.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Her relationship with Kong ended badly.

[Willets Point]

You think that's a Kong pelt she's got draped over her?

[Guest Edgy DC]

That's what I fear --- maybe a little bit off the knee, trimmed to a managable length.

[Benjamin Grimm]

This was in The Daily News this morning. In some parts, it reads as if it were written by an 11-year-old.

Here's a blast from the past - an excerpt of the Daily News' three-star review of the original "King Kong," reprinted from March 1933. BY IRENE THIRER 'King Kong," as spectacular a bolt of celluloid as has thrilled movie audiences in a couple of sophisticated seasons, is the product of a number of vivid imaginations. The late Edgar Wallace and Merian C. Cooper conceived the idea. James Creelman and Ruth Rose elaborated on it in the screen treatment. Ernest B. Schoedsack, who always works with Cooper on adventure films, contributed suggestions. And David O. Selznick, as executive producer, spoke his say. Yesterday's crowded houses at Radio City were held thoroughly engrossed. No hysterical screams were heard, however. The folks took "King Kong" good-naturedly. They often guffawed with sheer delight at the exciting, preposterous situations. And yet we've got to admit there's a tenseness about "King Kong" which defies you to glance away from the screen. The human cast takes direction well. But the chief role is essayed by the 65-foot prehistoric monster gorilla, constructed by RKO mechanical experts. He's encountered in the forests of a far-off island, worshiped by frenzied, painted natives. The reason Robert Armstrong, Fay Wray and Bruce Cabot come in contact with King Kong is that Armstrong portrays a director renowned for the thrill films he brings back from the jungles of the world. He employs Ann Redman [sic] (Miss Wray) as star of the movie. Driscoll (Cabot) is the first mate on the boat which conveys the cinema party to the island. The savage natives capture Ann and offer her as a golden-haired sacrifice to the great King Kong. He lifts her between two fingers, waves her to and fro, never really harms her, but causes the poor gal to shriek with terror. Don't know how she manages to be as brave as she is. We'd have passed out from dread of the horrible monster! With the aid of gas bombs, the ship's crew dazes Kong, chains him and takes him back to New York to be exhibited. Disaster! King Kong breaks loose! Kong grabs the beauteous Ann and reaches the top of the Empire State Building. You don't for one minute have the feeling that there's anything real about "King Kong," but you're constantly entertained. When you leave Radio City, you know you've had a mighty good time! Photographically, by the way, "King Kong" is super-excellent!

[Vic Sage]

I can't go till Sunday night.

BWAAAAAH!
(sniff, sniff)

i love the scene in the DeLaurentiis remake where Kong pulls down Lange's dress.

I'm sorry.
It's just the way i am.

[Zvon]

I watched the DeLaurentis '76 remake last night (saw the reedited and remastered '33 original afew weeks ago).

But that remake DeLaurentis did was God awful....horrendous..hurlworthy.
He really screwed the pootch with his version.

Sure, Jessica looked yummy.

It was kool to see the World Trade Center again. Kong climbing that is now kind of nostolgic now that its gone.
But when it came out I hated that change.

[Elster88]

A good flick. I'm smitten with Naomi Watts.

[Benjamin Grimm]

That's how I feel about Fay Wray.

I read recently that Fay was going to do a cameo at the end of the new version; she was going to deliver the famous closing line. "It wasn't the planes that killed him. Twas beauty killed the beast."

She died, though, before she could shoot the scene. That would have been very cool.

[Willets Point]

" He lifts her between two fingers, waves her to and fro, never really harms her, but causes the poor gal to shriek with terror."

And shriek, and shriek, and continue shrieking without ceasing for the entire film. Wray had some good lungs to shriek so much.

[Willets Point]

By the way, is the character name Ann Darrow somehow a tribute to Clarence Darrow of "Monkey Trial" fame or is just coincedence?

[Benjamin Grimm]

I've always wondered that myself.

I don't know the answer.

[Willets Point]

[Elster88]

Does the guy on the right have a Pac-Man shirt on?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Saw it. Loved it. Voted seven bananas. (I have a few quibbles which keep me from going for that last banana.)

[MFS62]

Yancy, I've heard there is a "spider" scene.
How long is it?
I want to know how long I'll have to keep my eyes covered.
I hate spiders.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

There were a LOT of giant icky bugs, but I don't recall any spiders. I was too grossed out by the giant leeches.

[Elster88]

Seven bananas.