The Film 9.1/10In this depression era remake of the beloved creature classic Eccentric filmmaker Carl Denham recruits the out of work vaudevillian performer Ann Darrow to join the production of his latest film, penned by Broadway sensation Jack Driscoll. Unknowing to the cast of the production and the crew of the Venture, the ship transporting them is that Denham plans to film on the mysterious and legendary Skull Island, home to creatures that time forgot, and the titular Kong.
Now that that formality is done with [What reader here would honestly not know what King Kong is about?] Let’s get on with the pros and cons of Jackson’s first post-Lord of the Rings feature. Firstly there’s the issue of length, King Kong weighs in at a whopping 188 min. in length. This makes room for the additional action sequences that Jackson and his boys [and gals] at Weta have added, enhanced, and extended to the story. Certain subplots are also tossed into the mix to flesh out the extraneous red shirts [Mainly the Venture crew]; some work because they stay within their boundaries [Andy Serkis pulling double duty as the ships cook Lumpy and his friendship with Choy] because they don’t have complete scenes and precious running time devoted tot hem, but the relationship between the first mate Mr. Hayes and the ship hand Jimmy falls flat and has no payoff whatsoever.
The film chugs along for the first hour setting up the relationship between Driscoll and Darrow and provides some adequate drama, although it’s hampered by the already mentioned sub-plots and a few creative choices that are better left on the cutting room floor [the dramatic typing of S-K-U-L-L and anytime the scene resembles an A&E crime show dramatization via shaky cam]. The film really picks up speed upon the arrival of the dramatically spelled Island, upon which Ms. Darrow is offered to the native’s god and must be rescued by the ships crew.
Little do they know is that Weta designed the island to be the most ridiculous deathtrap ever conceived and the second act is riddled with relentless action as the crew must survive a barrage of Dinosaurs, monkeys, insects and stuff I can’t even classify. All topped off with a disastrous return to New York and inevitable stand off atop one of its landmarks.
The Look 9/10
Watching the film on a T.V. older than I am, I’m not in that well a position to judge the picture, though with the disc baring no extras and no additional audio tracks, leaving the disc open for the visuals, I’d have to say watching the Venture crew getting thrown up down and all around Skull Island would look damn awesome on a HDTV.
The Sound 8.5/10
Sporting only a 5.1 Dolby Digital mix, DTS fans will be disappointed to know they can’t have Kong’s roar wake up their damn neighbor’s. The mix presented highlights the excellent work done by the technicians who brought 1933 NY and Skull Islands to life, though James Newton Howard delivers a passable, yet fairly repetitive score for the film, one can only wonder how Howard Shore’s original score which was passed on would’ve added to the film.
The Extras 9/10
Introduction by Peter Jackson
Jack-Man introduces you to his monumental undertaking and hopes you don’t choke on your food while viewing the 35 post production entries and additional features
Post Production Diaries [153 min.]
A continuation of the groundbreaking diaries released on Kongisking.net, these diaries cover the Post-Production struggle to get the film released and explores the depths the technicians of Weta have taken to ensure the film lives up to their standards and delivers in every aspect. Departments covered include Editorial, Weta Digital as well as Workshop, the miniatures, Mo-cap, sound, color timing as well as sound mixing.
Skull Island: A Natural History [17 min.]
This featurette details the approach Weta and Jackson took to Skull Island and the evolving of it’s inhabitants [I.E. T-Rex = V-Rex]. Delivered in a faux documentary package, it’s an interesting look at creature design and the numerous creepy crawlies that devour the Ventures shipmates.
Kong’s New York, 1933 [28 min.]
An interesting look at New York during the depression era 1933’s, exploring the rise of Vaudeville culture, the Empire State Building’s creation, and NY’s role as a port of the world as well as various looks at NY culture in that era. It’s a fascinating look at a dark time in America and like Jackson’s other DVD undertakings, showcases not only the how, but why behind the creative process.
Packaging 2/10
The 1-disc artwork gets reduced and framed in a basic black with simply the title and a shiny “2-Disc Special Edition” text, very basic stuff, I would’ve gone with the V-Rex/Kong stare down with Watts in the middle [Which is featured on the rear of the case]
Overall 9/10: A solid presentation of one of the most amazing films of last year with interesting featurettes tossed into the mix, though an inevitable Kong sized edition is highly likely.
