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Re: Kong-King-- dubious doings

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In Reply to: Kong-King------ posted by patrickU on October 27, 2005 at 09:27:19:

I am not expecting much from this re-make. In fact, having seen the trailer almost makes me think I've seen it already. Yes, Kong will get the latest computerized animation and look as good as Spielberg's (though it wasn't REALLY Spielberg's) t-rex and raptors. In fact, the trailer shows a t-rex that might have walked right out of Jurassic Park. And I'm sure Jack Black will bring his usual verve to the role of Carl Denim. And whoever is to replace Fay Wray will surely be quite a peach. But what can be added to this film? In the end, it's going to be an exercise in comparisons between the original and the new. It's going to have to work very hard not to be as pointless as the last remake. I'm afraid it's going to amount to a "colorized version" (in the Turneresque sense) of the original and nothing more. But I suspect it's going to be a companion piece to that most pointless remake in film history "Psycho."

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"I'm afraid it's going to amount to a 'colorized version' (in the Turneresque sense) of the original and nothing more." - Audiophilander 21:02:01 11/01/05 (1)
The difference:
Psycho was intended as a B&W film and will always work best that way due to the noirish atmosphere and desolate, nightmarish location. King Kong, OTOH, almost begged to have color from the outset, but not "colorized" & "updated" version as DeLaurintis travesty. With smooth realistic effects, camera mobility, DTS sound and an almost limitless budget to film his vision, an accomplished Director of Mr. Jackson's caliber should achieve an involving re-envisioning of the original story. In fact, the new version will probably be much longer than the original Kong with additional scenes and story content perhaps only hinted at in the 1933 film.
Peter Jackson seems to have a great deal of respect for the original Kong and having axchieved so much with LoTR I don't believe that his version will take anything away from the reverence accorded the 1933 film. Sharing that reverence for the original I'll purchase the box set of the restored/remastered King Kong, Son of Kong and Mighty Joe Young later this month when the DVD's are released, but I'm also planning to attend Mr. Jackson's film on openning weekend.
AuPh
- Re: "I'm afraid it's going to amount to a 'colorized version' (in the Turneresque sense) of the original and nothing mor - halfnote 21:42:10 11/01/05 (0)
  I hope you're right. And I agree that Peter Jackson is a very capable director. But sometimes more is less, and the new Kong is rumored to be running about 3 hours. We'll see if he manages to capture the poetry of the original, which shines though all of its quaintness and creakiness.
  And you points with regard to Psycho are well taken. It's true that modern cinematic technology has much more to offer a King Kong than a Psycho. Yet I don't see that Psycho had to be a black and white film, even though it was intended to be. North by Northwest didn't suffer too much from being in color.
  But one of the absolute WORST, and most eagerly anticipated, remakes ever made (it was SOOO bad, it qualifies as one of the worst MOVIES ever made, let alone remakes) was another classic monster thriller ...
  GODZILLA. All the cinematic wizardry and sound effects couldn't stop this overstuffed turkey from falling off the bone. Now, I'll grant you that Godzilla had the feeling of a movie that was scripted in an afternoon "brainstorming session" by a couple of Hollywood marketing hot shots who could smell box office. And Jackson's handling of the Ring Trilogy might give one cause for some hope. But something seems to happen when these fragile relics of old taken out of their display cases and passed around, disected, and "improved" upon.
  I wonder if there's something in the time, the ethos of the era, in which movies like Kong were made that just won't translate into our modern vernacular.
  But, like so many of us, I am eagerly awaiting the release of this film. Again, I hope you're right about it, and that Jackson can succeed where almost everyone else seems to fail.

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