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  1. #1
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    Saw King Kong Today...

    I gotta let it soak in before I give a full review. It was long when it didn't need to be. Some of the effects were quite cheesy and, well, phony looking. Some of Kong, though, was absolutely breathtaking. I'll tell you more tomorrow, but right now my feeling is...disappointment. Gotta hit the hay for now. 3am comes awfully early!

  2. #2
    Da Dragonball Kid L.J.'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Defshep
    I gotta let it soak in before I give a full review. It was long when it didn't need to be. Some of the effects were quite cheesy and, well, phony looking. Some of Kong, though, was absolutely breathtaking. I'll tell you more tomorrow, but right now my feeling is...disappointment. Gotta hit the hay for now. 3am comes awfully early!
    That doesn't sound good.

  3. #3
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    Alright, after viewing Peter Jackson's King Kong yesterday, I can only put it into two categories - what works, and what doesn't. I'm not a reviewer, and this is just a movie lover (and Peter Jackson fan) giving you an honest opinion.

    What Works:

    NAOMI WATTS- First of all, this is a visually stunning film at times. Jackson's meticulous depiction of Great Depression-era New York is filled with sadness, angst, and hopelessness. Never did I feel like I was seeing a re-creation of 1930s NYC on a studio backlot. You are there. Naomi Watts is particularly convincing as a down on her luck, jobless Vaudeville performer. Her big, blue doe eyes make you wanna wrap your arms around her and say "it's gonna be okay", even though you know it really won't be. I really got into the story with Ann Darrow and her motivation to join Jack Black's Carl Denham on his mysterious cruise to seemingly nowhere. Watts' innocent portrayal of the actress completely sucks you in.
    SKULL ISLAND- When we (finally) get to Kong's island home, it truly is fantastic. One non-stop action sequence after another for what seems like an hour. Giant bugs, a raptor / brontosaurus stampede (which goes on too long, but I'll get to that later), Kong's spectacularly paced battle with three t-rexes, even vampire bats. And, oh yes, the worms! Jackson tries to make sure you know how wonderful and dangerous Skull Island really is, and for the most part, he succeeds. It's also filled with homages to the 1933 original, including one scene where Kong makes sure the last of his tyrannosaur attackers is completely immobilized.
    KONG IN THE BIG APPLE- Most of the effects work very well here. There is a particular sequence with Kong and Darrow playing on a frozen lake together - well, I got a lump in my throat. The climactic battle atop the Empire State Building is awe-inspiring, even beautiful at times.
    THE APE AND ANN- You do feel a connection between the two, more so than either of the two previous incarnations of the story. There's plenty of motivation for Darrow's eventual attachment to Kong, and it's done with a sweetness that doesn't feel manipulated or forced.

    What Doesn't Work:

    JACK BLACK- I love this guy, but I can't decide if there's too much or not enough of him here. He seems...neutered.
    ADRIEN BRODY- It seems like anybody could've been in this role. His character's relationship with Ann never seems to spark any interest. Of course, it's not supposed to. After all, it's about beauty and the beast, right? Even the '76 remake allowed for more chemistry between Driscoll and Darrow.
    THE SUBPLOTS- Alot of time is spent on the ship, where we learn about the crew - maybe too much. We don't need to know a backstory on people who won't make it off Skull Island alive! Not much we learn in this looong sea journey comes in handy later on. Should've been a 20 minute boat ride.
    CG!- Peter Jackson's Weta effects company shows it's still not quite in the league of Lucas' ILM or Cameron's Digital Domain. Where most of it works, some of the seams show in a very bad, B movie way. The first half of the raptor/bronto segment is very well done. When the interaction between the digitally created monsters and live actors intensifies, it just looks like the performers are acting against a green screen. This is what really took me out of the experience. Had the sequence been cut by a couple of minutes, it would have been great. Like much of the movie, though, it just turns into what seems to be a bunch of ideas constantly being added on just to try and up the ante. King Kong himself looks great, but it's not really much of an improvement over the beautifully digitized Mighty Joe Young a few years back. Some scenes between Ann & Kong just don't convince you that they're at the same place together.

    I feel like I just ripped this movie to shreds. I honestly am not trying to. As a matter of fact, I'll see it again just to make sure I'm not misjudging it. Of course, opinions are subjective, and maybe I just expected too much. I would say see it, then share your thoughts. I hope I'm wrong. It's wierd, but i'm just sad now.

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    Just saw on CNN where movie-goers were giving Kong almost unanimous thumbs up. So, there you go, don't take my word for it. I will be happy if it's a success for Jackson, because he is such a gifted filmmaker. I'm just upset that Kong didn't thrill me like I thought it would.

  5. #5
    Class of the clown GMichael's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Defshep
    Just saw on CNN where movie-goers were giving Kong almost unanimous thumbs up. So, there you go, don't take my word for it. I will be happy if it's a success for Jackson, because he is such a gifted filmmaker. I'm just upset that Kong didn't thrill me like I thought it would.
    I have found over the years that, any movie the critics hate, I end up liking. Ditto for the reverse.

    Thanks for the review. Sounds like it's worth seeing even though it may drag in a few places.
    I look forward to this weekend when I'll have a chance to see it.
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    Da Dragonball Kid L.J.'s Avatar
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    I should be seeing it this weekend. Thanks for the heads up Def.

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    I was talking to someone about KK today, and I found myself getting excited about the great parts of the film. I'll try to see it again when I'm not dog-tired and maybe I'll have a fresh perspective. It sucks that everyone is so excited that have seen it, because I kinda feel like the odd man out! I don't want to get caught up in the media frenzy and force myself to think it's deserving of all the acclaim. But, damn, I really want to love this movie! As of now, I think my review stands. When one of you guys gets to see it, please post your thoughts.

  8. #8
    Da Dragonball Kid L.J.'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Defshep
    I was talking to someone about KK today, and I found myself getting excited about the great parts of the film. I'll try to see it again when I'm not dog-tired and maybe I'll have a fresh perspective. It sucks that everyone is so excited that have seen it, because I kinda feel like the odd man out! I don't want to get caught up in the media frenzy and force myself to think it's deserving of all the acclaim. But, damn, I really want to love this movie! As of now, I think my review stands. When one of you guys gets to see it, please post your thoughts.
    Hey Def, I'd have to say your thoughts about the movie was right on. Alot in the beginning was not needed. I caught myself sighing out loud a few times through the first hour of the film. The boat ride to Skull Island was waaaaaay too long. Shoulda been 10 min., if that.

    OK, so now they finally arrive. This is what I've been waiting for. I must say, I enjoyed the entire Skull Island scene. I did notice a few scenes where the CG just didn't look so great. When they first saw the Brontos, it seemed like the actors were standing in front of a giant screen. Same effect during the stampeed. Also when Kong threw the tree down the cavern, as the tree and people were falling, you could easily tell when the CG took over the scene. All in all, I enjoyed the Skull Island part of the film very much.

    I thought the ending scenes were done well. Seems like less time shoulda went towards the beginning of the film and more time shoulda got focused on the end. I didn't care for the whole Kong having a sense of humor stuff. That kinda made him seem fake to me. I wasn't going for spinning on the ice part. Caught myself sighing out loud again. The battle with the planes was quit entertaining and once again I was up in my seat. Some of his facial expressions, during the final scenes, were really convincing and I felt my feeling sorry for the big fella.

    Overall I thought it was OK. The people I went with felt the same way. If I were to buy the DVD, I wouldn't even bother watching the beginning again. It wasn't good for me until they reached Skull Island.

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    I'm glad it wasn't just me.

  10. #10
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    i enjoyed it

    My girlfriend and i went to see it last night, and i'll have to totally agree with the bronto scene, it was disappointing but i didn't let that spoil the movie. I felt the sfx on the most part were rather well done, i'll have to admit there were some edge-of-the-seat moments for me. I will have to disagree with 'kong having a sense of humor' being cheesy, i thought it was valuable to the movie to show that kong was not some monster, but just a big gorilla, you can identify the mannerisms of kong with silverbacks you see at the zoo (my girlfriend felt the same way). Some of the sub plots were unnecessary, but i didn't feel that they were too damaging to the movie. imho i will say the movie was good, i will be adding it to my collection, my girlfriend agrees, afterall it was her second time seeing the movie in 2 days when she went with me. I wouldn't call KK a let down, i preserved that term for the Bourne Supremacy.

    Wayne

  11. #11
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    I saw it last night with the GF. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but my main complaint was that it was too long.

    It was intentionally over the top and cheesy(heck, it's King Kong, what do you expect?!), so I am not going to fault the bronto scene or other goofiness. I think Jackson wanted to make a really fun, classic movie experience, and with the exception of the length (the first 40 mins or so could really be shaved off/condensed) he succeeded. Skull island was great fun. Loved watching Kong battle the T-Rexes.

    I think this fun, not too self-conscious movie experience is what G. Lucas was going for with the new Star Wars movies, but failed. Lucas takes himself and his "legacy" too seriously, but I don't think Jackson did here, and it made for a more fun movie. I guess I'm babbling/out of my element here now...

    Anyways it was a really fun, if long, and cheesy flick.

  12. #12
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    Wow, it seems like Kong did not fare as well as projected at the box office ("only" $50 million over the weekend, and $66 million to date), and the obituaries are already getting written. Kong seems like a very well done piece of filmmaking, but for whatever reason, I never really eagerly anticipated the movie. Not sure if I'm going to see it at the theaters, but it does seem to have decent word of mouth in its favor. And Batman Begins also performed below expectations on its first weekend, but wound up benefiting from very strong word of mouth and ended up taking in over $200 million at the box office.

    http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=1966&p=.htm

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    [QUOTE=Woochifer] I never really eagerly anticipated the movie. Not sure if I'm going to see it at the theaters, but it does seem to have decent word of mouth in its favor. And Batman Begins also performed below expectations on its first weekend, but wound up benefiting from very strong word of mouth and ended up taking in over $200 million at the box office.

    Same with Titanic, you know, the highest grossing film of all-time? I'm still gonna see it again while it's in theaters to give it another chance. I would like to see Kong beat Titanic, as it's a zillion times better than that piece of overblown garbage.

  14. #14
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    Saw it, loved it! Sure it had it's faults, i.e. some wasted character development of people that never make it off Shull Island, and some CG snafoo's, but all-in-all, it was well worth the "trip". Some pretty incredible CG too!

    Tragic love story, and visually awe inspiring. Kong has never looked more breathtaking & spectacular..............

    For all it's shortcomings (very few actually!), this is a movie I will be adding to the "A" list video library!

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    I enjoyed it. A well done movie, kinda took me back to when movies were more events than everyday entertainment. It was a bit long, but I think it felt shorter than it was, which is a good thing. I was most impressed with 2 things, Kong's fur and the well defined movement through the surround, mains, and center speakers. Thumbs up for Kong.
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  16. #16
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    Red face Saw it yesterday.... and "ehh"...

    It was a good film. Not a great film. I loved Kong, but the criticisms of the film written here are all valid. Jack Black is the miscasting of the Decade. The Carl Denham I know was a MAN, Black comes off as more of a shyster, Beltway lawyer than an adventurer. As for the writer, sheesh, their romance had all the heat of 3 day old Cheese Whiz. "Spark", not even a tingle of chemistry. When he was on the screen all I could think of was his huge, crooked schnozola. Man what a snot-locker on that dude. Makes Babs look like Jessica Alba...

    Kong and his lady lover were magnificent and I enjoyed every second they were on the screen together. Their on-ice pas de deux in Cental Park was some of the most joyus celluloid I ever watched. It was great film making. Everyone else in this film we could have done without. I did enjoy all the sly references to the original film. From Jack Blacks cursing of Cooper stealing Fay Wray from him to the Kong Stage show that was lifted right from the original film. Those moments were amazing. All in all I give it a solid B.

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  17. #17
    Silence of the spam Site Moderator Geoffcin's Avatar
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    I dunno man....

    Quote Originally Posted by Worf101
    It was a good film. Not a great film. I loved Kong, but the criticisms of the film written here are all valid. Jack Black is the miscasting of the Decade. The Carl Denham I know was a MAN, Black comes off as more of a shyster, Beltway lawyer than an adventurer. As for the writer, sheesh, their romance had all the heat of 3 day old Cheese Whiz. "Spark", not even a tingle of chemistry. When he was on the screen all I could think of was his huge, crooked schnozola. Man what a snot-locker on that dude. Makes Babs look like Jessica Alba...

    Kong and his lady lover were magnificent and I enjoyed every second they were on the screen together. Their on-ice pas de deux in Cental Park was some of the most joyus celluloid I ever watched. It was great film making. Everyone else in this film we could have done without. I did enjoy all the sly references to the original film. From Jack Blacks cursing of Cooper stealing Fay Wray from him to the Kong Stage show that was lifted right from the original film. Those moments were amazing. All in all I give it a solid B.

    Da "9.5 Wonder of the World" Worfster

    The ice scene left me cringing. I mean the big guy had just trashed a theater, tossed cars and people all over Broadway, and next thing he's doing a Fred Astair on ice imitation?! I got the directors idea about how happy Kong was to see Blondie again, but it was just too much.

    I agree with your opinion of Blacks portrayal of his character, but you gotta lay that one on the director too. That was his call, not Blacks. I don't think Jackson thinks much about American directors!

    Agree with you totally on the bad casting for the writer. Tori Amos might have thought Brody was a good match in her video, but he is just not up to the likes of Watts in the easy-on-the-eyes dept. The should have sprung for DiCaprio.

    You gotta give kudos to Jackson for writing in a strong black character into the role of first mate. Cool, brave and compassionate, when he died the whole audience gasped. Paradoxically though, Jackson's portrayal of the native islanders was much WORSE than the 1933 version. If I was Jackson I would travel with armed escorts around New Zealand now, as the Maori have to be at least a little bit pissed with how south pacific islanders were portrayed.

    Jackson's obsession with creepy critters, and his ever present need to keep people sitting for overly long periods have made this picture a lot LESS than what it could have been. If he would have hired a better casting agent, and a MUCH more demanding editor that would have cut this film to 120, then it might have been Oscar material. As it stands now it's more a quirky directors cut, but still worth seeing.
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  18. #18
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    Kong is King.

    well just to toss my two cents in but i loved Kong. i dont quite agree with everyone's critiques.

    jack black as carl denham - at first, i didnt quite shine up to black as a director, and then i realized he wasn't playing a director. it was at his line about demille and how demille was treated that i finally caught on and enjoyed black as denham, because denham wasnt a director, he was a cutthroat, exploitation-conman. and as that, jack succeeded tremendously as i hate him. i.e. i hated carl denham, which was great since i personally really enjoy jack black, but really seethed at how disgusting this guy was.

    the time before they reach skull island - maybe it was all i had heard about how long they were on the boat, but to me, it didnt seem like it was that long at all, in fact, when they reached the island, i was surprised they got there so quickly. i enjoyed how the dread began to grow and was actually expecting it more, especially after the first mate and cook revealed the story of the monster on skull island. i figured they would let that sink in and show more of the dread on approaching the island. i liked that they took their time getting to skull island. there should be more anticipation in movies. if jaws was made today, am sure there's no way they'd get by on letting over an hour go by before you see the shark. audiences (not anyone in particular, just a generalization) shouldnt have instant gratification. there are things worth waiting for, and seeing kong (and the shark) is one of them (yes i know spielberg also didnt want to show the shark because he didnt like how it looked in the first place, but his original idea was also to hold off for as long as possible without showing the shark at all). i could have actually done with a little less on skull island and more of an anticapatory build up before they reached there. because once they got there, you blinked and the movie was over it was so fast paced.

    the spfx - key being the brontosaurs-esque dinosaur stampede - yeah, it wasnt 100% believable with the interactions between them and the human cast. but, maybe it was just me, i knew before hand it was all fake. so all it had to do was keep the story and characters interesting and i'll forgive "shoddy" (shoddy being a relative term here) special effects. You can have the most realistic sci-fi sequence in the history of computer generated effects (ala the new star wars trilogy) but if i dont care about the story or characters, i could give a ratsa$$ how perfectly according to gravitational forces a spaceship moves. in this case, yeah, i could absolutely tell the actors were running by green/blue screens and their interactions with the dinos was not believable. but the tension of the situation was, and that held me. I would have been far more dissapointed had they "nailed" this sequence technically, but storywise was a clunker. so my suspension of disbelief is pretty much proportional to how good the story/characters are. i'm willing to forgive shoddy effects if the other two captivate me.

    adrien brody as the hero - i personally thought he was great as the hero, and his chemistry with ann darrow fine. i liked how the "hero" of the movie said it himself, heroes in real life dont look like him, they're not as goodlooking, pudgy, and balding (and he might as well have said, and have a giant, unnatractive nose). That's what made brody perfect for the part, he was the hero, he fought for ann while the moviestar 'hero' ran. yeah, he came back for them, nicejob there, but when it came to sticking around or running, he ran.

    personally the tragic nature of the story was perfectly captured and, for me at least, was truly heartbreaking knowing the ending beforehand. seeing kong connect to ann darrow, and find that connection after being alone for who knows how long on skull island, the last of his kind (nice shot of the other ape skeletons when brody was looking for ann). the way they showed him - teeth broken, worn down, scarred, old... was really tragic knowing how alone this bigguy must have been on that island. sharing that sunset with ann and then again the sunrise was really wrenching.

    the scene in central park i thought was incredible. i might just be a hoky guy, but it really was awesome. seeing that connection again, that even in this strange, foreign world of machines and men, all kong needed was to be with ann to be happy and playfull. am sure some could see that as cheesy, personally i thought it was a beautiful sentiment and executed flawlessly.

    the only thing that got to me, not as a bad story element as much as perhaps an unintended visceral response, was ann and driscoll on the empire state bldg at the end... that's WAAAAAY up there and i was really hoping they'd get down sooner or at least not stand so straight up where a little gust of wind could send them plumetting after kong.

    so... overall for me, i loved the movie. and wow is andy serkis one amazing actor. i never once thought that there was a human driving those movements AND sounds, kong was completely a gorilla to me.


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  19. #19
    Class of the clown GMichael's Avatar
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    Nice review Kam.
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