King Kong

Just got back from the cinema and my mouth is still open... AMAZING! This year is getting better and better. Hell! This month even! First a great start with harry potter then elizabethtown which I loved and now the ultimate fantasy adventure of all time. It was scary, it was funny, it was just so overwhelming that I can't stop thinking about it...

pluses:
- king kong (great job - artistically, physically (sarkins), digitally... )
- performances (in LOTR there was good acting but here it was truly high level with all parts not only the leading ones)
- CG (they showed me things I didn't believe where possible...)
- music and sound (as usual great)
- the balance between action scenes and "dramatic" scenes (I don't know how it is called in english)

minuses:
- still too shocked to be looking for them... :)

To sum up this short review I have to say that the movie was special because of one main reason: you could feel the director excitement and the fact that he really, truly believed in this story which is a thing you cannot achieve with money... I really like Peter Jackson for his enthusiasm he is putting in every scene of his movies... Anyway GO SEE IT!
 
I'm really upset. Our local theater has the midnight showing tonight for free if you provide a student ID. So I went there a couple hours ago and got my ticket beforehand.

Walking out to my car just now, I reached into my pocket and... I lost the ticket!

Oh well. Maybe it wasn't a good idea in the first place, seeing as I have a final tomorrow morning at 7:30. :cheesy:
 
vroom said:
Oh well. Maybe it wasn't a good idea in the first place, seeing as I have a final tomorrow morning at 7:30. :cheesy:
Click to expand...
I've got a final in the morning too! 9:40, and the movie gets out around 3:30... I'm sure that'll go well.
 
I just got home from the midnight showing... I'll be thinking about this movie for quite a while. It was really awesome -- the script was tight, Naomi Watts's performance was moving, it had a lot of emotional resonance. Some of the CGI was, well, some of it was perhaps more ambitious than they could pull off, but overall the film worked so well that I could overlook it. And while I love Jack Black, I kept thinking his part would have been tailor-made from Phillip Seymour Hoffman. But, I was really swept away. Kong was incredible, so lifelike. Anyway, random thoughts -- it is 4:15 in the a.m. so please overlook that this is less than perfectly organized... It was really great.
 
Speachless... but I'll try to put together some thoughts


This is everything I love about cinema, everything you go to the movies for... Adventure of a lifetime, unexplored world, breathtaking imagery, things you would never wish to see outside your worst nightmares, love and loss... It will have you on the edge of your seat, it wil make you laugh... it will make you cry
 
IT WAS STELLAR. I've never been with an audience that had THAT big of a reaction to everything.

I will assemble my thoughts and give a more cohesive review later tonight.
 
well, I don't know what to say really except that this movie was awesome. Not a big fan of those hobbit movies or peter jackson's drawn out endings, but this movie was quite amazing. my only regret is seeing the midnight screening (which started an hour late because of projection problems) after waking up at 6am. I had trouble staying awake during the first 90 minutes and thought for sure I was going to bite the big one. I'm glad I stayed up.

*sorta spoilers*

This was my one gripe with the film, is that you didn't need 90 minutes to set up this film. 90 minutes before you see King Kong. No matter what anybody tells you about character development, it's wrong. The two prinicples are Naomi Watts and Kong, and you could've set her up in 30 minutes EASY. The reason it works (or doesn't bother you, I should say) is because you know Kong's coming sooner or later, so you don't care. It could've been 180 minutes and you would've sat through it cause you always knew the good stuff was coming.

Once he comes, the movie just takes off, and like others have said, you see some things you've never seen before. And you're amazed. I mean the triple T-Rex fight is easily one of the top 5 things I've ever seen on film. I only don't put it at 1 because I have to respect the 80 years of film that came before it. A year from now I might say it's the best.

Jack Black was a little questionable at times. When he's being funny, he's funny. But he doesn't have much range as a dramatic actor, AT ALL. You'll know what I mean when you see him use the same expression for about 15 different scnearios. I'm actually surprised that PJ kept going to him. You didn't really need him. The dynamics/chemistry between Watts and Kong was so good, just stay on that storyline. And Adrian Brody -- poor Adrian Brody. The love affair is between the girl and the gorilla. Where does he fit into all of this? Again, you don't care, cuz guess what? Kong is now throwing 1930s T-Fords through buildings.

But I digress. It was a really good movie, best "event" movie in maybe 30 years (sorry, Star Wars still wins out for me). Go see it people!
 
c.g._eads said:
*sorta spoilers*

This was my one gripe with the film, is that you didn't need 90 minutes to set up this film. 90 minutes before you see King Kong. No matter what anybody tells you about character development, it's wrong. The two prinicples are Naomi Watts and Kong, and you could've set her up in 30 minutes EASY. The reason it works (or doesn't bother you, I should say) is because you know Kong's coming sooner or later, so you don't care. It could've been 180 minutes and you would've sat through it cause you always knew the good stuff was coming.

Once he comes, the movie just takes off, and like others have said, you see some things you've never seen before. And you're amazed. I mean the triple T-Rex fight is easily one of the top 5 things I've ever seen on film. I only don't put it at 1 because I have to respect the 80 years of film that came before it. A year from now I might say it's the best.
Click to expand...

i agree that people would wait to see Kong. I just got back from the movie and waiting for Kong to show up was exciting lol. I just waited and waited and when he finally showed it was well worth the wait. Overall I love the movie. Best of the year so far IMHO. I'm a huge Jack Black fan but I agree that he was wrong in the role... still not totally sold on Brody either... but again overall the movie was AWESOME!

ps. saw the MI3, Poseidon, and Miami Vice trailers on the big screen... that was cool too. i was looking forward to seeing the X3 trailer too but it never came... :( oh well the movie made up for that LOL
 
I just got back from seeing Kong (I took the day off from work to see it).

Let me start by saying I am a huge Kong fan and have been for many years. I am also a huge Peter Jackson fan.

I loved the movie, but for me it definitely wasn't perfect. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

Kong was simply amazing. He was alive.

But much like LOTR, while many of the effects were spellbinding, others simply looked rushed out the door to me and that was a little disappointing.

As for the story, I don't want to give away any plot points but there were a few moments that fell flat.

Still, it was an amazing movie, and the biggest spectacle I have seen in a long time.

Chris

p.s. John, I hope your son likes it. I have a 7 year old daughter and no way could I take her to see it. It would have scared the !@#$ out of her. :)
 
Just saw the Matinee of King Kong.

Just saw the Matinee of King Kong.

And I know I'm gonna catch a lot of s@%t for committing such blasphemy but I wasn't too impressed.

First, let me break it down into two areas, the movie and my movie experience.

First, the movie. - Why can't PJ make a movie under 3 hours?:laugh: 3:05! Come on Peter! Leave a little on the floor! There is no reason why this story couldn't have been told in 2:15-2:30.
The greenscreen work was amazing but there were a couple scenes that looked very much like video. When they first reach the island and get off the boat. The sky is totally blown out. Then the scene where they first see the skulls and the camera does this shaky zoom into them looked very out of place.
Warning for parents - small kids will be horrified by the violence when Kong is fighting the dinosaurs. Even I cringed a bit and I realize it's all fake.
The only scenes that really looked fake to me were the wide shots when Kong is running with Ann in his hands. The way he's whipping her around you just have to think "ok - she just snapped her neck there....and there....and there.......and there" but then he sits her down and everything is fine, makeup is PERFECT. It seems like the more Kong throws her around, the better she looks.
Don't get me wrong though, the movie is going to be a blockbuster. I'm not sure it will out sell Titantic though. (p.s. - I wasn't a big fan of that one either.)

Second - my personal movie experience. -
I Hate going to movies. Why? Because when I watch a movie I like to really be able to focus on the movie and not the idiots sitting around me. I went to the feature today with my wife and best friend. Never go to a movie with a friend that is just getting over the flu. He was coughing and hacking up a lung through the whole thing. (Movie experience already spoiled.)
And why does the old lady sitting behind me have to ask her friend, "Is he going to fall off the building?" IDIOTS!
And parents, when your kids start talking, SHUT THEM UP!
And when your kids start crying, TAKE THEM TO THE F*&^ING LOBBY!
 
Id prolly jus go to see the movie to make out wit some chick for 3:05...that extra 5 minutes could mean the world!!! you have nooo idea man!! haha
But im glad to hear that it was a decent movie.

For the experience part....thats why people watch bootlegs...they get to watch the movie in the theater..and with out all those problems...sticky floors and wet seats...nothing beats watchin at home.

I might go see that movie this friday or saturday nite wit a few friends...and im gonna watch out for the neck snapper parts! haha! :laugh:
 
You confirmed my suspicions about King Kong - I doubt I'll see it. However, I'd like to piggy back on your venting about the horrible experience of actually going to the movies.

I always promise myself I will never go to the movies on weekends, period. I broke it this weekend to see Syriana, but it was a 9:30 pm showing on a cold and snowy Sunday night here in Chicago. To my surprise, the theater was VERY busy. Not packed, but very busy. I should have just turned around and gotten my money back when I saw how crowded the theater was. People talking, shuffling popcorn, etc., etc. It's a f*&king complicated political drama, people. Can you not sit still and shut up for two hours! You could just feel the attention spans waning during parts of the movie. And like Sirius, I also had an old lady behind me who was asking questions of her chaperone throughout the whole film and only stopped talking to spend some time kicking the hell out of my chair. So, again, I make a pact with myself never to go the movies on the weekend - never. Preferably only on a weekday matinee but that's not always possible with work and theater schedules.
 
I'd say chicago is notorious for annoying filmgoers... I dont think I have ever seen a movie here that atleast one person wasnt actually TALKING on their cell phone for most of the movie..
 
it was amazing.....

Cmessineo...i know what you mean when you say some of the effects seemed rushed. Just a few of the stampede shots...but otherwise amazing.

the spider pit scene was probably the most disgusting and scary thing i've ever seen. Those f-ing worms....eeeegads..

PJ is a genious great filmmaker....and as far as acting..i thought Jack Black did very well....contrary to what some critics thought.

Really awesome overall....
 
Yeah going to movies SUCKS... I always want to go and the experience is ALWAYS ruined! If Hollywood wants to know why the box offices are off maybe they should look in the f*cking movie houses! It's just like Hardee's restaurants... you can advertise ALL you want but if every one I go into is dirty and I get bad service from a jerk with a poor attitude I don't care what the commercial says.

Movies suck at the theater. For the first time in my life I actually left my seat to get a manager to remove the people and their children in front of us. Their kids were just laughing and entertaining themselves as if they were in the back of a station wagon on a long trip. The idiot parents just sat there as if they couldn't hear it. I got a manager who stood with me a few steps up from them and waited... NOTHING... total silence... the manager said there was nothing she could do and LEFT. As soon as she left the kids started up again... and the parents AGAIN just sat there. I actually went and got the same manager again and she said that she would have to give me and my girlfriend free tickets for another day! Do you believe that sh*t?

ATTENTION THEATER OWNERS AND MOVIE PRODUCTION COMPANIES!

If the only way I can help your box office numbers is by putting up with some idiot parents and their stupid kids then you are f*cked... I'm not going to do it. I see about 3 or 4 movies a year at the theater... I just can't stand it.

Has anybody reached the point that they'd actually punch a parent in the back of the head as their kid ebbs out of control? Hmm... nobody? Maybe I'll be the first.
 
To use a Cooperism
"God damn great movie":thumbsup:

3 hours worked for me, great pace. I thought Jack Black was perfect casting. There were a couple of plot elements that were forced/not believable. Blew the doors of any of the Indiana Jones movies. It was rushed, the final approvals were 30 minutes before PJ left NZ for the press junket. The (post) production diaries are on www.kongisking.net they are a real education on the whole process.

When Black is trying to talk Watts into taking the acting job at the beginning, as he is standing trying to stop here leaving. There is a lot of noise around him which was not true for the rest of the film. The whole movie was put together with Avid and printed on an ArriLaser.
 
My mom did well.. when i was about 8 during ghost busters I got a big gulp and had to go pee 3 times during the movie.. I was too dumb to realize standing up and making people move to let me out pissed them off. After pee time #3 an hour in my mom made me wait OUTSIDE the car in the parking lot till the movie was over. Learned my lesson.

She'd probally get arrested for that now adays.

I dont know if I can make it through 3 hours in a theater anymore though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top