First start off with a memory.
Old shiny VHS tape box set collectors edition, there was a button you could push to hear King Kong roar.
Anyways that VHS box set with the red button you could push has made a mark on my memory.
It belongs to Dennis. For whatever reason never sat down and watched the whole movie till last night.
Ok what can I say about King Kong that hasn’t been said already, looking at a 87 year old movie.
Even though its only my first time seeing it last night I know the story.
If someone were to say the original ape movie it would probably be a allusion to this film.
Watching this in 2020 was an entertaining experience.
The setting from the beginning is dark. Its grainy and black and white but there is depth.
Carl Denham makes movies. He’s never had a female star. That’s how the movie starts in search of a star.
So the instances of New York in 1933 were pretty fascinating. The lights and advertisements. Again its slightly darker than one would expect.
I’m not from NY but I found it peculiar to see. Along with the hairstyles and fashion of the time.
So Carl finds his star, it humorous to watch him try to convince her to come along for some unknown journey to unknown destination for unknown amount of time.
I wouldn’t be writing this if she didn’t end up agreeing.
On the boat aswell as through out the movies theres some discussions about women’s roles in society. One the one hand, she stands up for herself among the sailors shes around.
On the other hand she seems the object of desire for man and beast. Fay Wray the Canadian born actress that plays Ann Darrow, shes very beautiful, and she goes under heavy duress.
Her wardrobe gets torn to shreds and its like you can almost see her nipples through the dress often.
Theres alot of screaming and men coming to her rescue, and she screams great.
Its a recognizable re-occurring sound in the film.
The cast and crew arrive on skull island and action and hilarity ensues.
From start to finish I love this movie and when they get on skull island is where you get to see Kong the first time and he doesn’t disappoint.
There’s a stop motion clay animated Kong, and a close up Kong face. By no means am I mocking the setup, Its amazing, but its also hilarious and awesome.
Id like to say something about the movie effects and trick in the film are really amazing. For example when they blur out and use a clay type animation Kong body in the border of the frame and also Ann and Kong hand in a center of frame practical effect. That would be the equivalent of some special effects, film used a mix of both.
The painted frames to extend the scene beyond reality are outstanding. They make the island seem larger than life. Definitely making the island more menacing.
There’s some big doors that separate the islands usual residents and Kong, honestly look a lot like Jurassic Park gates.
Kong isnt the only monster or dinosaur on the island, and they battle it out all seemingly for Ann. They really indulge alot of these scenes which is great.
Other times when Kong crushes someone its only show it for a brief half-second. One of my favorites scenes was the tribesman getting chewed on by the Kong face close up its great.
Kong causes alot of casualties but eventually Carl Denham captures him.
Last part of the movie seems to end too quickly. Carl Denham has a plan to get rich of showing Kong the self proclaimed eighth wonder of the world to the upper class New York.
Flash photos from the press make Kong lose it and he escapes and has a rampage on the city.
One of my favorite scenes in the when Kong is climbing the building and he looks through the window and sees Ann!
He looks so betrayed when he sees Ann with a human man. Kong just reaches in plucks her out of the window no problem.
What can I say, if this was real in my city right that would be an emergency. Since its a movie kinda want Kong to smash more, and sympathize with the giant gorilla.
Movie is better than most things ive seen this year.
Love that Kong face closeup probably has a life of its own, how many collective nightmares has it caused.
