There are several reasons why "King Kong" shouldn't work. It's a remake of an iconic film, one indelibly etched in the popular culture. The director just came off a franchise that had been so massively successful artistically and financially, nearly anything else would pale by comparison. The plot, with its giant animals, fearful natives, and damsels in distress, could easily feel dated. It clocks in at a posterior-numbing three hours. Yet "King Kong" works, against the odds and beyond expectations.
It is fitting that Peter Jackson has kept the Depression-era setting of the original film, as the story is ultimately set in motion by desperation and by hopeless dreams. Carl Denham (Jack Black) is a filmmaker who waxes poetic about bringing a sense of wonder to people (and making a lot of money on the way), but his latest project is about to be scrapped for stock footage. In a last-ditch effort to salvage his film, he quickly recruits out-of-work actress Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts) and playwright Jack Driscol (Adrien Brody) and hustles them aboard a tramp steamer bound for Skull Island. Denham hopes to shoot on-location in the last untamed wild on earth--realizing too late that this means dealing with things like violent natives, dinosaurs, and an enormous silverback gorilla that takes a shine to Ann.
If nothing else, Jackson has proved he can be trusted with this sort of high-risk venture. As in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, he creates a new vision of a well-loved story that, while it won't melt the hearts of purists, will at least appeal to everyone else. He does so by delivering a film that covers a broad dramatic spectrum, delivering epic action sequences and then surprising us with moments of tenderness and intimacy. How many directors, after all, would pause in Kong's rampage through the streets of New York to allow him to discover the joys of a frozen pond? It seems like an odd choice, yet Jackson makes it work, providing a gentle grace note that makes the final climactic downbeat resonate even more.
The special effects team works overtime on this film, creating ancient ruins, dinosaur stampedes, and an arsenal of creepy-crawlies that make Frodo's battle with Shelob look like "Charlotte's Web." And the human cast is quite good, with Watts standing out as the vulnerable, tender-hearted Ann. But the real star of "King Kong" is, of course, the title character. The CGI Kong is based on the performance of Andy Serkis, who did similar duty for "Lord of the Rings'" Gollum. Though Serkis is completely covered by special effects, his performance is evident in Kong's expressive body language. He makes us believe there is a brain and a soul in the character--and that, more than anything, is the reason why "King Kong" is one of the best films of the year.
It is fitting that Peter Jackson has kept the Depression-era setting of the original film, as the story is ultimately set in motion by desperation and by hopeless dreams. Carl Denham (Jack Black) is a filmmaker who waxes poetic about bringing a sense of wonder to people (and making a lot of money on the way), but his latest project is about to be scrapped for stock footage. In a last-ditch effort to salvage his film, he quickly recruits out-of-work actress Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts) and playwright Jack Driscol (Adrien Brody) and hustles them aboard a tramp steamer bound for Skull Island. Denham hopes to shoot on-location in the last untamed wild on earth--realizing too late that this means dealing with things like violent natives, dinosaurs, and an enormous silverback gorilla that takes a shine to Ann.
If nothing else, Jackson has proved he can be trusted with this sort of high-risk venture. As in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, he creates a new vision of a well-loved story that, while it won't melt the hearts of purists, will at least appeal to everyone else. He does so by delivering a film that covers a broad dramatic spectrum, delivering epic action sequences and then surprising us with moments of tenderness and intimacy. How many directors, after all, would pause in Kong's rampage through the streets of New York to allow him to discover the joys of a frozen pond? It seems like an odd choice, yet Jackson makes it work, providing a gentle grace note that makes the final climactic downbeat resonate even more.
The special effects team works overtime on this film, creating ancient ruins, dinosaur stampedes, and an arsenal of creepy-crawlies that make Frodo's battle with Shelob look like "Charlotte's Web." And the human cast is quite good, with Watts standing out as the vulnerable, tender-hearted Ann. But the real star of "King Kong" is, of course, the title character. The CGI Kong is based on the performance of Andy Serkis, who did similar duty for "Lord of the Rings'" Gollum. Though Serkis is completely covered by special effects, his performance is evident in Kong's expressive body language. He makes us believe there is a brain and a soul in the character--and that, more than anything, is the reason why "King Kong" is one of the best films of the year.