Sci-Fi/Fantasy Films

» Sarah B. Hood - Hail King Kong the First!

When the new Kong turned up in theatres, I thought I'd go to see it, so I dug out my VHS copy of the very first King Kong and watched it. Boy, is it ever good! Allowing for the technology of the time, the first Kong was breathtaking and very stirring to the imagination. It also did everything that's good in Jurassic Park, but first. Oh yeah, I never did end up seeing the new version...

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» auntydle - unfair treatment of 1976 Kong

I don't really understand the hostility towards the 1976 version of King Kong. The special effects were naturally better than the 1939 version. The plot was basically the same. The only change made was to the set-up of the main story. The reason for them being on an unexplored island, traveling on an oil tanker with the convenient cargo space, with only one woman on the whole ship were all made more logical in the oft-disparaged film. It even made a small statement about how the white culture subjugates and ultimately destroys other cultures.

-- posted by auntydle

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» Puppetmaster - Hail King Kong the First!

In response to Hail King Kong the First! posted by SarahBHood:
Amen! The original had skills AND heart. Well put SarahBHood! And while we are at it what other remakes were inferior to the original? (the mind reels!)

-- posted by Puppetmaster

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» Puppetmaster - unfair treatment of 1976 Kong

In response to unfair treatment of 1976 Kong posted by auntydle:
O.K. I have to agree that the 1976 version had a lot going for it, it still pales in comparison to the original, but it really wasn't that bad. I have some of the same issues with the 1976 version that I have with the 2005 version, but all in all it rates second out of the three.

-- posted by Puppetmaster

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» EvilChihuahua - unfair treatment of 1976 Kong

In response to unfair treatment of 1976 Kong posted by Puppetmaster:

I've seen the 1939 version and the 1976 version, and will soon see the new one, but so far the original was the best. I think I'll enjoy the new one more (because of it's director, who is yet to make a bad film).

What stood out with the first 2 versions is that in the 1939 version, Kong was seen as a type of villian, stealing the girl who is always trying to get away from him, while in the 1976 version, humans were seen as the villians, treating Kong, a poor, innocent animal, unfairly, while the 2 lead stars were trying to help him. Kind of like how Godzilla went from villian to hero to villian to hero again. The new one takes this direction (I played the video game which follows the same basic story as the film).

I've noticed all 3 versions have the same basic scenes such as Kong breaking the jaw of the large monster (the T-rex in the original, the giant snake in the 1976 version and the V-rex in the new one) and Kong shaking the bridge (I hear that scene makes it into the new one) plus Anna Darrows "sacrifice" to Kong, and Kong climbing the Empire State Building (or the World Trade Centre in the 1976 version).

Oh well, the new one will be out on DVD in a few day here, so I gotta check it out.

-- posted by EvilChihuahua

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» Puppetmaster - unfair treatment of 1976 Kong

In response to unfair treatment of 1976 Kong posted by TheJesusFreak:
Oh yeah, there are a few similarities in all three films (naturally). Be sure to spot the other nods to the original in the 2005 version, they are pretty funny, but I won't spoil it for you. In the super extended version of the original. released last year as a companion piece to the new film Peter Jackson re-created the lost insect scene, I am looking forward to seeing that. And I agree that Mr. Jackson hasn't made a bad film yet (Heavenly Creatures remains a personal favorite), but Kong 2K5 comes close.

-- posted by Puppetmaster

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» EvilChihuahua - unfair treatment of 1976 Kong

In response to unfair treatment of 1976 Kong posted by Puppetmaster:

And I agree that Mr. Jackson hasn't made a bad film yet

Ever seen "Bad Taste" and "Brain Dead" (sometimes known as "Dead/Alive")? I haven't, but I hear they are awesome, over the top gore-fests. Hard to believe that the director would one day win an Oscar or 2.

I wouldn't mind seeing his up-coming films, "The Lovely Bones" and "Halo".

-- posted by EvilChihuahua

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» EvilChihuahua - Hail King Kong the First!

In response to Hail King Kong the First! posted by Puppetmaster:

And while we are at it what other remakes were inferior to the original?

The Ring: Not as scary as the Japanese version, and fails to capture the dark feel that made the original creepy.

The Italian Job: Poor American remake of the classic English film, which lacked the thrills and laughs of the original.

They're just 2 at the moment, but I'll find some more. Notice how many of them are American remakes of classic films from over seas? Proves Hollywood is out of ideas.

-- posted by EvilChihuahua

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» EvilChihuahua - unfair treatment of 1976 Kong

In response to unfair treatment of 1976 Kong posted by Puppetmaster:

I finally saw the new Kong. I loved it. I don't know about anyone else, but I thought it was better than the first two versions.:)

-- posted by EvilChihuahua

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» lokeydaniel - Hail King Kong the First!

In response to Hail King Kong the First! posted by TheJesusFreak:

The American Ring is enormously more disturbing and dreadfull than its source material. Ringu occurs in an explicable universe where E.S.P. and curses drive the supernatural element. In the Ring all bets are off and the viewer is left with nothing social, cultural, spiritual, or technological to cling to reality with in the face of the certainty of your own demise.
Italian Job... didnt bother watching it. sure hope they kept that magnificent ending.
If there is ever proof that screenplays and actors and studios are dough and the director is the baker, check out the remakes of Hitchcock's Psycho and Peckinpah's The Getaway.
Scene by scene. Dialog by dialog lifted but if you rented a theatre and ran both films simultaniously attatched transparent computer mouse tracking balls to the eyeballs of the audience (oh! like you've never done that!!} why the audience would be watching the originals. I know this is sposed to be horror topics but Ali Mcgraw married mumbles the movie producer and thats pretty scary.

-- posted by lokeydaniel

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