King Kong (Theaters)

King Kong was definately one of the Top 5 movies of 2005. My only problem with the feature was its length. I thought it could have been told in under three hours. I would estimate that anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes could have been shaved off from the film itself. Jackson however created a movie so damn good, that just about anyone could forgive his excessive impulses to make the movie longer.

The cinematography for Kong is top notch. Kong uses a combination of models, sets, and computer animation to recreate a perfect hidden world. A world filled with creatures thought to exist only in dreams. This film would not have been possible just a few years ago. Its truly amazing to look at the accomplishments of modern day film making.

The characters themselves where well thought out. I most especially appreciated the way that Jackson portrayed Kong. You could not help but feel deep emotion for the creature. You could almost sense Kong’s loneliness and desire to be loved. Jackson took special care in the features of Kong and his body language and eyes really tell Kong’s story.

When the scenes shift to New York you can already sense the pain that Kong must feel. Although we ultimately know what happens in the end, we cross our fingers that the story will have a different ending. Of all films this year, this is definately one of the years most heartfelt tragedies.

If you have not seen King Kong in Theaters yet, its an experience you’re missing out on. This is definately the best film from Jackson since the Lord of the Rings.

Synopsis:

Set in the 1930s, this is the story of a young and beautiful actress Ann Darrow from the world of vaudeville who finds herself lost in depression-era New York and her luck changes when she meets an over-ambitious filmmaker Carl Denham who brings her on an exploratory expedition to a remote island where she finds compassion and the true meaning of humanity with an ape Kong. The beauty and the beast finally meet their fate back in the city of New York where the filmmaker takes and displays the ape in quest of his fame by commercial exploitation which ultimately leads to catastrophe for everyone including a playwright Jack Driscoll who falls in love with Ann and plays an unlikely hero by trying to save her from Kong and her destiny.