I finally did it. I broke down and decided to watch Peter Jackson's King Kong. Now I know this might not be all that interesting for some people, as many of you are probably not the science-fiction geek that I am.
My first thought when this movie first came out, was "just another bad remake". Since the original King Kong of 1933's RKO Picture, there have been three remakes including Peter Jackson's version. Both of them were a disgrace to the name King Kong. Much like the US's version of Godzilla, which destroyed all that Toho Studios had built with the character. A few years back there was a remake of Mighty Joe Young also a classic movie of a giant ape in 1949. The circa 2000 remake of this movie was nothing short of horrible. At least from a standpoint of the development of characters and the comparison to the original, which is what I grew up with.
The problem with new technology and movies, is that the makers of movies sometime forget that that there needs to be a plot, that there needs to be character development. There needs to be a reason to watch the movie. A monster can be created easily with the technology that we have now. But the character of the monster, it's personality, or the creature in question has to be development of the mind. It takes creativity and originality to put a mind behind the creature. What makers sometimes forget to consider is that no matter how spectacular the scenes (as in Kong fighting three Tyrannosaurs instead of one, as in the original Kong) is that when the action is over, there has to be something to keep you watching the movie.
Peter Jackson accomplished this. After all Kong is a story of a giant ape striken by the beauty of a woman, Ann Darrow played by Fay Wray in the original, and Namoi Watts in Jackson's version. The metaphor for what the power of a woman holds in her countance. Kong was not a monster, simply an animal. An animal that was misunderstood and feared.
The movie had nothing but action after action while they were on Skull Island. Although the extended version is almost three and half hours, it is well worth the time to watch it. Granted it was almost an hour and half into the movie before they ever reached the island. But what fun is it to watch a movie that doesn't take time to develop characters. Jack Black is no Robert Armstrong, but still managed to pull of the actor's portrayal of Jack Denham's character.
As the movie neared the end, as Kong rescues Ann from mankind, once freeded from his captivity in New York, we find that the relationship is no longer misunderstood. Ann understands that Kong means her no harm and begins to understand that he is an individual and not a monster.
There are scenes that offer the character and compassion of Kong. From "skating" with Ann on a lake in Central Park. Falling in the snow as he slides on the ice trying to stand up. Laughing and grunting along with Ann at her laughing. To moving her safely out of the way as Kong takes on eight war planes. To sitting and watching the sunrise with her in his hands on top of the Empire State Building. Yet those eight war planes seemed bent on destroying something that they feared and did not understand, or want to understand.
Man has a way of destroying everything in it's path. Makes me sometimes think that, if it is your belief, it is a good thing God removed dinosaurs from the Earth before man came upon it. I believe that God knew that man was not infaliable, even though he created them perfectly.
As the credits began to roll, this ole warlock, had a bit of tears in this eyes at seeing what no one wanted to find out, a gentle creature, that was just misunderstood and persecuted. A creature taken from it's home and subjected to something that it never should have been subjected to.
All this for the love of a woman. For something that he could never have, but would never give up persuing.
Yes it is true . . .
"No it wasn't the airplanes. It was beauty that killed the beast."
May U Live 2 See The Dawn
