King Kong (dir. Peter Jackson)

[pistachioofliberty]

That's what I was saying earlier...that they needed to have him say the line, but while the camera panned over...something - anything - but his screen-filling face.

[foxyepicurean]

I've never seen any of the other versions, and never heard THE line in any clips or anything. Therefore, I'm a little mystified by how that could be the big "Frankly, my dear..." equivalent line. I thought it sucked all the weight and tragedy out of the end of the movie. I don't think it was Jack Black's delivery, either. I mean, it wasn't good, obviously. But since the actual line has no nostalgia or cultural relevance to me, it did the opposite of what it was supposed to do. Is there an antonym for "striking a chord"? Because that's what it did for me. I thought the comment (no matter who said it or what filled the screen as the line was delivered) was hammy and heavy-handed. I actually turned to my husband and said, "they ruined the ending with that stupid line." I hope I'm not offending anyone who grew up loving that line, it just rubbed me wrong. It wasn't beauty that killed the beast--fear and inhumane, frivolous greed killed the beast. Saying beauty killed it diminishes the lesson and tacitly sanctions the repulsive behavior of the people who brought Kong back to NYC and put him in the position to wreak havoc, thus necessitatting his extermination.

[pistachioofliberty]

I never loved the line at all, but it sure did fit in with the hammy, heavy-handedness of the first version. Imagine the higher, nasalier voice of a depression-era radio announcer, with some kind of dark orchestral accent.

In fact, they should have had Jon Lovitz reporting in the background. That way it would be the sensationalist media blaming beauty instead of itself, like a Princess Diana thing.

[dirksunboy]

Hmm. Well, I finally saw this. I feel about KK the same way I did all of the LOTR movies---lots of good stuff, but ultimately, not a satisfying experience.

I just didn't see a reason for the movie to be so damn long. Just get the blond chick on the damn island allready. Yes, I understand the fundamentals of screenplay writing, i.e., you want the audience to have a reason for caring about these characters, but I didn't need SO much backstory. About an hour in, my friend whispered to me "I thought this movie had a big monkey in it."

Naomi sold it. She was excellent, and I totally bought her the whole time. Same couldn't be said for Jack Black, who I didn't believe for a minute. Nice seeing "Billy Eliot" all growed up (too bad his older boyfriend got slammed into a wall), and Adrien Brody is such a good example of "Ugly Hot."

Of course in a movie like this, you have to suspend your disbelief A LOT, but in addition to the aforementioned Naomi in a slip dress in winter, the friend I saw it with leaned over to me during one of the scenes where Kong is running with Naomi and whispered "Her back would have been broken by now." True.

Any enjoyment/tears I would have experienced at the end went out the window due to my fear of heights and the implausiblity that Naomi could get all the way up there to the top and not be blown off. And she KEPT FUCKING CLIMBING! Every time she found another ladder I was freaking out.

I too found the whole BOOM! Here we are in New York! thing laughable. But at three hours, I guess we didn't need to see how that got the poor ape back to NYC.

All in all, not an UNenjoyable experience, but a let down nevertheless.

[BinkyBetsy]

But since the actual line has no nostalgia or cultural relevance to me, it did the opposite of what it was supposed to do. Is there an antonym for "striking a chord"? Because that's what it did for me. I thought the comment (no matter who said it or what filled the screen as the line was delivered) was hammy and heavy-handed. I actually turned to my husband and said, "they ruined the ending with that stupid line." I hope I'm not offending anyone who grew up loving that line, it just rubbed me wrong. It wasn't beauty that killed the beast--fear and inhumane, frivolous greed killed the beast. Saying beauty killed it diminishes the lesson and tacitly sanctions the repulsive behavior of the people who brought Kong back to NYC and put him in the position to wreak havoc, thus necessitatting his extermination.

I've seen the original several times, and I didn't like The Line then either; I reacted just as you said above. However, I can accept the hamminess in this context, because the way JB's character has been developed, you just know he spent the whole night coming up with a soundbite, and made sure to deliver it within earshot of reporters, shrewd SOB that he is. (JB was totally channelling Orson Welles in this; I think he even said as much in an interview.) Maybe we weren't supposed to believe him this time around; maybe we were supposed to think, "Yeah, right, @$$hole!"

Denham is a jerk in both versions, but I can accept him in this version because it gives some insight into his jerkishness. For instance, the '33 Denham didn't go on the rescue mission! Whereas Denham '05 does so, not so much for chivalry's sake, but because if something's happening, he's darn well going to be there to film it. (And make a huge profit, and donate the proceeds to the latest casualty's wife and kids. ;D) He's a driven, obsessive guy who fancies himself a visionary, while the '33 Denham was merely a blowhard.

And one last thing. I can accept NW's character not dying of hypothermia on top of the ESB, because it's possible that her adrenaline was so high she might not have registered the cold. But there's no reason why she wouldn't have taken off those four-inch heels! Forget the wind: one patch of moisture and she would have fallen to her death!

[pistachioofliberty]

My friend gave Jackson and his family a tour this week! BTW, they were nice, tipped 90 bucks, and signed a bunch of stuff for the gift shop. He wore shoes.

Whereas Denham '05 does so, not so much for chivalry's sake, but because if something's happening, he's darn well going to be there to film it.

That was my favorite element of the film. That he carried his camera, tripod and [assistant director? cinematograper?] with him into the slipperiest, most deadly terrain. I figure that was a joke by Jackson on himself, whose first job was in a camera store, and according to tour-giving frined above, was seen documenting everything with his cameras.

[Coffeecakes]

I saw it and enjoyed it. It did start out slow at first, but wasn't slow enough to make me walk out.

My only problem was Namoi Watts. Is she capable of closing her mouth?! I understand that the constant screaming from the other actresses was kind of annoying, but Naomi didn't do squat. She just had her face in the same expression throughout the whole ordeal with Kong. I know even I would have been screaming my ass off when the T-Rex was trying to eat me. But what did she do? She just kept that trap open apparently trying to catch some flies. She was good, but she could have been way better IMO. I guess Jackson wanted her to be in complete shock throughout the movie.

As for Kong, dammit they made him so likable! I turned into the sappiest tree in the forest when he was in New York up until he got killed. Why couldn't they just tranquilize him and send him back to the island?! Yes, I feel like crying just typing about the big ape.

Overall, the movie was excellent.

[pistachioofliberty]

Watts' charm eludes me anyway, so I can't say how well she did, but I was hoping for a 4th expression from her by the 3rd hour.

Even if they were not following the original grim ending, I think tranking him would be out of the question because of that hot pursuit/adrenaline thing you get from chasing someone who leaves destruction in his path.

[Deleted]

coffeecakes said:

As for Kong, dammit they made him so likable! I turned into the sappiest tree in the forest when he was in New York up until he got killed. Why couldn't they just tranquilize him and send him back to the island?! Yes, I feel like crying just typing about the big ape.

The King Kong videogame actually has an alternate ending in which you save Kong and take him home.

[Coffeecakes]

Are you serious? Well, then I shall buy it soon dammit!