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KING KONG (2005) Starring Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, Jack Black, Kyle Chandler, Colin Hanks.

Directed by Peter Jackson.

Running Time: 3 hours and 8 Minutes.

Rating: PG

Renegade film crew on location on a lost island encounters ferocious beasts including a giant gorilla who bonds with the productions' budding starlet creating unexpected complications for everyone.

Having seen both the 1933 original and the 1976 remake I really didn't think much could be done to entertain me with another version especially one that runs over three hours (the original was only 1 hour and 43 minutes, the 1976 version was 2 hours 14 minutes) but was I ever wrong. This is the type of movie that is so beautiful to look at frame-by-frame and it is so much fun to watch in almost every respect that it reminds me of why I love movies.

It is so truthful to the original that some scenes look like they are simply colourized shots taken from it. Peter Jackson does something different with it by lengthening it, adding more backstory and character development.

I have generally liked most of Naomi Watts performances but never more than here. Her take on the character originated by Fay Wray as a Depression-era Vaudevillian is thoroughly appealing. Critics are suckers for actors when they add something to their characterizations that look like they were difficult to learn for the role. I guess I am doing that in giving praise to Watts for her Vaudevillian routine.

Jack Black is at his manic best as an obsessive producer/director willing to go to any lengths to finish his production. Adrien Brody proves capable of playing the straightforward role of classic romantic male lead to Watts. But Andy Serkis in the role of Kong gives such a touching understated characterization he easily outshines both of them. I never thought an actor playing a big ape could find ways to provide such subtlety.

You can see a lot of the special effects at work, especially the extensive use of blue screen and the camera work is a highlight in itself almost distracting from the story but after awhile you get caught up in the story and it doesn't matter. The result is a dreamlike experience that takes you to a different time and place which few movies even try to do anymore.

I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that it really is overly long. Jackson uses some of the extra time for very interesting character development but he does get tied down shooting too much of the story on the island particularly with the dinosaurs.

Learn more about this author, Jason Daniel Baker.
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