With “King Kong,” Peter Jackson has created a monster that is destined to shatter all sorts of box office records … and rightfully so. This remake of the 1933 classic is one of those extremely rare works of art powerful enough to change the way people view a medium. Not only is “Kong” the most complete cinematic experience of the year, in this observer’s opinion it is one of the best movies ever produced. Jackson dedicated two years of his life and spent upwards of $200 million of Universal’s money making “Kong,” and the effort has yielded three hours of intoxicating entertainment unlike anything seen before. It’s a spine-tingling adventure, heart-melting romance and devastating tragedy all edited into one beguiling package. There simply isn’t a single element of filmmaking — from the groundbreaking production design to James Newton Howard’s score — that fails to impress, and it is the attention to detail and supreme commitment to craft that sets this picture apart. In short, wow!
In adapting the script, Jackson and long-time collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens have “adrenalized” many of the elements from the original picture. Set in the exquisitely recreated Great Depression era, “Kong” features estimable talent Naomi Watts as Ann Darrow, the out-of-employ vaudeville actress whose lucky break turns out to be anything but when she’s cast by shady film producer Carl Denham (Jack Black) in a purported travel picture being shot in Singapore. Instead, Denham’s crew — which includes writer Jack Driscoll (Adrien Brody) and B-movie star Bruce Baxter (Kyle Chandler) — venture to the aptly-named Skull Island where they encounter murderous aborigines, rampaging dinosaurs and the titular beast — all 25 roaring feet of him. Just as they did with the Gollum character in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, Jackson and his special effects wizards have rendered a computer-generated Kong that seems as real as any flesh and blood actor (Andy Serkis “plays” Kong, using motion-capture technology). The chemistry between Watts and the artificial ape is the stuff of legendary Hollywood pairings. I’m not merely recommending you run out and see “King Kong” this weekend … you should see it twice. (RATED PG-13. RUNNING TIME: 187 MINUTES)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 16, 2005. Read the original PDF.