King Kong

I was out with the crew from work tonight to add my few cents to Peter Jackson's coffers for his latest offering, King Kong. This outing of Kong was an amazing adventure film. It had monsters -- big monsters -- just about everything was big, except the people running from them. It had action -- more than just the big monsters chasing people -- there were monster fights. There was also the requisite humour, pulled off by Jackson, even in the scenes where you were at the edge of your seat. The first 30-minutes of the movie moved slowly -- but when it started moving, Jackson didn't give you excuses to blink. It was a heart-thumping 3-hour ride.

Best of all however, it was a love story. King Kong has always been a love story, although it has been reduced many times to a monster flick by those without the storytelling talent. In the versions of King Kong I've seen, I don't think any filmmaker came as close to Jackson's version, in getting Kong to express so much -- to communicate so much, and so well with the audience, without speaking. After you've taken away all the effects, the roller-coaster ride -- you will have left the love story, and Kong saying so much with his eyes, his expressions and his body language. At the end of the movie -- and there is no surprise with the ending of this movie -- you will be moved to tears, even though you knew what was coming. It was a great movie, and will certainly bear repeat viewing.