King Kong double feature |
Loading ...I saw King Kong last night. The 1933 version. Loved it. Yeah, Kong’s special effects haven’t aged well and I laughed in some parts where I should have been oooo, that’s scary. Particularly the end where Kong was scaling building and looking inside windows. His face wasn’t really menacing, it was comical. The battle scenes where every creature above Skull Island seemed to want a piece of Fay Raye haven’t really aged that well either, but if you take it in 1933 context — some 73 years ago — it is really something. As a child I recall seeing at least part of this movie and thinking Kong was more frightening and large. As a child everything seems larger than life.
Before maybe seeing the new King Kong in the theater, it seemed important to watch the original and the first remake and then … well, maybe, then, maybe take a chance on Jack Black as Carl Denham in the theatrical version.
I didn’t realize Kong had spawned so many sequels and other appearances: Son of Kong also from 1933, Mighty Joe Young (1949), Konga (1961), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962 and this is one battle I’d really like to see), King Kong Escapes (1967), King of Kong Island (1968), King Kong (1976), A*P*E (1976), Queen Kong (1976, kidding, right?), King Kong Lives (1986), The Mighty Kong (1998, animated), Mighty Joe Young (1998). Fred Meyer where we bought the special collector’s edition King Kong ($29.99) and the first remake ($9.99) also had a box set with the original three Kong movies.
Tonight I plan to watch the ‘76 King Kong version with Charles Grodin in it. Caught one review that said it was abysmal. Will give it a chance.
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There were at least 3 Kong vs Godzilla movies, as wel as about a dozen appearances by Kong in other Zilla flicks. I’m not sure they all got over here, but I was a huge Zilla fan in my teen years and had nearly all of them and had a fond recollection of the Kong / Zilla sequences.
Comment by Jeremy Wright — December 21, 2005 @ 1:37 pm PST
I can’t believe this movie has done as well as it has. Everytime they run a commerical for it, I can’t find the remote fast enough. Kong just looks too damn digital and ridiculous–even in a bloody commerical. I couldn’t imagine sitting through the entire movie. Of course, my opinion is worthless for two reasons 1) I won’t even bother to see this movie and 2) most of the time with special effects, I find myself comparing them to the special effects in Star Wars: A New Hope. All too often I mumble under my breath, “Sorry. Not as good as the chess scence in Star Wars”.
Comment by Janine — December 21, 2005 @ 5:01 pm PST
Yeah, the chess scene in Star Wars was pretty cool, Janine. Why can’t we play that game yet? LOL
Comment by TDavid — December 21, 2005 @ 6:10 pm PST
The 1976 version was abysmal. I have to say the new one is an obivous labour of love, personally I would (and have) recommend it to anyone.
Comment by Simon Proctor — December 22, 2005 @ 5:34 am PST