"King Kong" (2005) - Movie Review

Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts) shares a silent moment after her accidental entertainment she provides to Mr. Kong in the jungle which is so touching and real. Now take the same two characters and place it in the midst of chaotic situation in New York City and they share the same moment in silence skating in the icy part of the town, and it cannot be more fake and horrendous. Director Peter Jackson might have sincerely followed the 1933 classic (which I have not seen) but the credibility of not only the situation crumbles but also the characters as such which were so fitting and gripping in the jungles.

Carl Denham (Jack Black) is adamant and extremely dangerous in his zeal and greed of capturing the film he wants that he lies, steals, cheats and finally even ready to sacrifice a fellow friend’s lives to earn it. Jack Black is unbelievably human and yet villainous in this venture which for major part kept me on toes, one of the best thrilling rides you can see in a block buster movie to say the least. The search of Skull Island with the ship and film crew puts in a jungle dense and dangerous. Every other creature has only one motive, kill the humans for food. The natives understanding the hunger of the big beast, which of course is Mr. Kong and they manage to kidnap the film’s accidental actress Ann from the returning crew who learns pretty fast from the first mishap they encountered with them. The rescue mission eventually leads the members into the hands of the pre-historic creatures.

Peter Jackson known for his visual effects and the creativity of the enormous locations once again presents a fantasy island with such a touch to its existence along with its ghostly values. But the real treat is when Kong rescues Ann from the hands of three Rexes. While it sometimes ticks the logic brain for the Rexes to desperately eat Ann while their lives are hanging over the edge, Jackson never gives the momentum for us to let it through our mind. We are with the mighty creature to tame it, without mercy. It is indeed an achievement to have a PG-13 with terror very real and lets us imagine the pains of those iron hands ripping the jaws of the Rex.

The period in which the film happens in the jungle is phenomenal. And it is not a foolish attempt of the crew to venture into the jungle to hunt for the unknown. Once they get the real treatment of what to expect, they leave and only they are forced to return for rescue. The betrayal seems to be very minimal for a film which is bound to have those and frame the screenplay for the events to happen than the natural procedure. When Ann communicates through her comedy act routine to Kong, there is no uncomfortable feeling of fake emotions putting us in awkwardness. Kong of course is a primate and does have a capability of understanding the signs of the humans and Jackson does not take it for granted. He plays it lull and appropriate for the story.

With everything so close to perfect, the film jumps off the cliff and meets an end to be forgotten. When the ships supplies are thrown out to depart away from the Island, how did they manage to transport the humungous animal to New York City? What exactly does Ann want from this animal? If she wants to help the animal, she would have at least guided it to the nearby jungle or may be even the sea, instead we see her climbing the ladder for zillion times at the top of the Empire State building and we are agonized to say, “Come on, and give up Ann for everyone’s sake”. At least Ann has a connection and I can remotely believe her attempt and helplessness to save the creature (which is not convincing), but what in the hell does her lover Jack Driscoll (Adrien Brody) think of doing by guiding and agitating Kong to some unknown broad way theatre? Let me also give the benefit of doubt to the director that he knew where Ann is staging and showed the map. Shouldn’t he be concerned of this beast hurting her? After all this, the thirty minutes of shooting up in the air pushes the unbelievably entertaining and convincing story into miserable and unnecessarily melodramatic tale.