Originally Posted by My review
It is a little tricky to know exactly where to kick off with this film, so I shall begin with a confession. I have never seen the original, or any other version of King Kong. Some of you will doubtless consider this a significant crime, whilst others will shrug and wander along. At any rate, I feel it is an important point to make; I have not got the prior offerings to compare this to.
Having said as much, I was in truth blown away by King Kong in the 21st century (Hey, there's an idea to pitch to an anime studio... MECHA-KONG!). I shall mention the obvious things you already know first. The special effects are magnificent. The various dinosaurs are amazing, and likely will elicit the same reaction as Jurassic Park did when form you when you first saw that, as it did me. The creepy-crawly bugs and insects are among the most disgusting things I have ever seen, and they are excellently realized. And then there is Kong himself - truly, defiant to the lion, the King of the jungle. He is massive, mighty, and awe-inspiring. Serkis proves himself to be adaptable to this role as well, as the amazing emotion conveyed through Kong's eyes belie an unreasonable amount of time engaged in studying gorillas. He moves with deliberation, and with a strange grace that somehow perfectly befits a thirty foot tall, many-tonned primate.
Kong has his human co-actors, of course, and foremost in my mind is Naomi Watts as Ann Darrow. From a somewhat unprofessional, but irresistable, perspective she is one of the most outright beautiful people to have ever graced the silver screen. Further, she carries her role excellently, fully believable in the way Carl sees her, and fully believable in her rejections of his offer. And so, we come to Carl Denham. He is utterly despicable, free from morals, and apparently without a shred of loyalty in his body. He is also absolutely delightful, and his expression of determination is one which will stay with, and perhaps lightly amuse, you long after the film has ended. There is also a lovely performance from Adrian Brody, as the playwright Jack Driscoll, and Kong's rival for Ann's heart. Furthermore, most of the lesser character roles were filled by able people, and Captain Englehorn was an especially likable chap to my mind.
There was a sub-plot which appeared to lead to nowhere, that of the relationship between Hayes and Jimmy, and whilst the dialogue is well-constructed and very well delivered, it just doesn't seem to have much of a point. Possibly because once the matter reaches a real point of change, the characters take a back seat to the action of capturing Kong and relocating him.
Again, Serkis shines. Kong moves through despondence and depression, through to distant hope, and then massive, terrible rage as that hope is torn away from him, effortlessly and with what must be an illegal amount of pathos. This sets Kong on his rampage around depression-hit New York, which boasts an amazing skyling and an excellent version of a classic movie ending. Ann's determination and begging is almost too much to bear, and Kong's loyalty to the last has the same effect. And then, he dies, and slides off the roof to the city streets far, far below. The expression of that ape in his death is one which will stay with me for a long, long time.
Heartily, heartily recommended. But bring a cushion, it clocks in at a little over three hours, and with trailers and such included that could add quite a bit. Not that there's a second which isn't a gripping and rip-roaring adventure of the kind young boys would sell their sisters to go on. And I.
