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Just saw King Kong this afternoon.
A solid remake all around. Jackson doubled the length of the film from the original 90 minutes to 180, but the best thing I can say for it is it doesn't feel like a three hour film. I walked into the theatre wondering how he could possibly stretch the plot into three hours and I walked out wondering the same thing; as in, it didn't feel like three hours had passed, because the film was quite engrossing.
It was predictably action intensive, but the Hollywood Hobbit put the extra time to good use by developing the characters a good deal more than they were in the original, causing the end result to resonate quite a bit more on an emotional level.
Having said that, there were a few moments that provoked a raised eyebrow on my part...
Spoiler: For one, there was the fight with the three Tyrannosaurus Rex's on Skull Island, where we saw what I can only describe as 'Kung Fu Kong'. Seriously, I didn't think gorillas could pull off a shoulder throw so effectively. Also, the slow-motion/blur effects seemed a bit overused - at points I think it would have been wiser on Pete's part to simply trust the skill of his actors to convey the necessary emotion. This was also a quibble I had with Lord of the Rings, in that he used CG effects where none were really necessary; most notably in Bag End, where a CG shadow filled the room behind Gandalf. I should think Sir Ian McKellan could pull off the necessary presence without the special effects; after all, he was knighted for a reason.
So all in all, a few minor quibbles with an otherwise great film. I was pleasantly surprised by Jack Black's performance; I was a bit ambivalent about him in a semi-serious role, but he managed to pull it off quite effectively. Early in the film, I actually thought he might steal the whole show, but I ended up being wrong on that count; Kong definitely commanded the attention for the greater part of the picture. At no time did I lose my suspension of disbelief; the acting and CG work were both good enough to actually convince me that the characters really were interacting with a 30 ft gorilla. I can think of no higher praise.
I give it a 9/10.
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I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said
- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame
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