King Kong

Stars : Jack Black, Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, Jamie Bell, Thomas Kretschmann, Colin Hanks, Andy Serkis (Kong)

Directed By: Peter Jackson
Released by: Universal/ United International Pictures/ Wingnut Films

Everything about this movie is, and will be, big. The story is epic, the name is synonymous with the immense, the extraordinary, the titled gorilla is very big. The publicity has been huge, the build up impressive, and the final box office takings? Enourmous, without doubt. King Kong is a personal triumph for Peter Jackson. He has created a representation of the classic cinematic fable that will stand the test of time and be admired years from now. If you let yourself go, and just believe in this movie, and indeed in cinema, you will love it, it's filmmaking at its very best. From the opening titles Jackson takes his audience into a world where everything is enourmous and impressive. From the skyskrapers of a 1930's New York to the ancient wall on Skull Island, the settings and structures Jackson has created will take your breath away. The cinematography of Andrew Lesnie deserves another Academy Award, to add to his honours for Lord of the Rings. Some inspired casting, amazing CGI, and a classic script, complete the experience.

Jackson has filled the movie with deep symbolism and comments on society, and Kong almost certainly demands a second viewing to appreciate all it has to offer. In the Lord of the Rings, Jackson showed what his Tolkein inspired imagination could produce. In Kong, he has been given more of a free reign. From the chillingly macabre inhabitants of Skull Island, to opening shots of a Depression ravaged New York, he is showing the full extent of what he is capable of creating. No matter what setting or time, the world of King Kong as a film is enchanting. He has used CGI with amazing attention to detail, and created cretures as frightening as they are mesmerising. It feels like this is the way movies should be made, the movie reminds you as you're watching it why you go to the movies. The 2005 version keeps the charm of the original, and maybe even a little of the cheekyness of the Jessica Lange-Charles Grodin production in the 1970's. The film looks as though it has been crafted, developed with care, it is breathtaking movie making. The locations are stunning, and to borrow the words of Naomi Watts, "It's beautiful".

Naomi Watts was an interesting choice as Ann Darrow, the role made famous by the late Fay Wray. She shines in a role which is both physically and emotionally demanding. Her natural beauty and poise are complemented by haunted stares and compelling facial expressions of awe and disbelief, the audience rides the emotional rollercoaster with Ms. Darrow. There is an impressive ability of Watts to make what is in theory abusurd, utterly believable, a caring friendship between a woman and a giant gorilla. Her scenes with Kong are touching and emotional, and in their few moments of hapiness together, watching the stunning sunset from Kong's clifftop domain, and in the snow and ice of Central Park, a sense of just how comfortable and content each of them is in the other's company shines through. Though perhaps knowing deep down their hapiness cannot last, they nonetheless revel in the time they have together. Watts's caring nature and charming ways are juxtaposed brilliantly with the career driven embodiment of ruthlessness that is Carl Denham. Where Darrow is gentle and naiive, Denham is streetwise and brutal. A career best performance from Jack Black brings Denham to life. Black looks the part, and his greedy stare is both mesmerising and disquieting. Although he won't get it, he deserves at least a nomination from the Academy, for what is an inspired performance. It is perhaps only Adrien Brody that lets the casting selections down. He doesn't quite have the charisma to pull off the character of Jack Driscoll. Whilst he does bring a certain brooding mystery, he seems to fall a little short of being the Driscoll one might expect, he doesn't have the kind of screen persona to make you believe he could sweep Naomi Watts off her feet. Nonetheless, he doesn't detract from what is a really talented cast. The only other character worthy of real mention is Captain Englehorn, as the devious and ruthless leader of the ship that leads the filmmakers into hell.

It is a very long film, and some of the scenes between Ann and Kong do feel a little drawn out, but overall the movie couldnt show us any less than it does. The story must be told in its entirety, and it is a masterpiece in every way. With an almost post modern self awareness, Jamie Bell as ships mate Jimmy is reading Conrad's classic novel Heart of Darkness. It can also be seen that Jackson himself is perhaps acknowledging the kind of company he now keeps in history, as one of the masters of his craft. It is all too easy to be dismissive of the emotion of this film, and pass it off as cheesy, but as I said before, this movie works only if you believe in it. To be cynical is to ruin the experience, the film can only really be appreciated if you just let it take you to these places, and experience it all with a childlike wonder, much like what was required for Jurassic Park. There are endless similarities between the two, but Jackson also has the trump card of Kong, who, thanks to the mastery of Andy Serkis, evokes a sympathy that is at times really quite moving. Although subconciously aware of his ultimate fate, the audience and the beast alike appreciate the time they have together, and it is wonderful to experience. Through a beast, Jackson has created true beauty.




out of ten

Reviewed by Nick Bailey

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