King Kong (2005)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2005
	Director: Peter Jackson (Bad Taste, The Lord of the Rings 1-3)
	Actors: Naomi Watts (Mulholland Drive), Jack Black (Tropic Thunder), Adrien Brody (The Pianist), Andy Serkis (The Adventures of Tintin), Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot)
	Country: USA, NZ, D
	Genre: Adventure
	Conditions of visioning: 12.03.2013, Blu-ray, Home cinema
Synopsis: In the 1930's, an ambitious movie director (Black) hires a young actress (Watts) and escapes from the American depression in the search for Skull Island.
Review: Peter Jackson's modern version of the 1933 classic, forgetting about the cheap 1978 version. The storyline is very close to the one that was already a success 80 years ago, in particular the whole second act on the island, meeting dinosaurs, giant insects... After seeing this movie in 2005 I watched the original and found it very good (straight forward story, great special effects for the time), then I watched The most Dangerous Game (Les chasses du Comte Zaroff in french) shot in 1932 by the same crew and on the same sets as King Kong, and it was also pretty good. Another recommended video: The lost spider pit sequence, a recreation by Peter Jackson of a scene of the original King Kong movie that was shot but from which the film was lost. This scene is back in the screenplay of the 2005 version. Now about this movie itself. It is visualy impressive, and came right at a time when digital special effects were mature enough to create a believable giant gorilla. The story is still as strong as in the original movie, and I like a lot the restless chase during the second third of the movie: as soon as Ann is kidnapped, it is a race against time and many ferocious creatures to get her back. The third part of the movie, sensational as it takes place in Manhattan but also the most touching, is not neglected. Actors are also good, in particular Jack Black in the best role I have seen him in, playing very well the director ready to do anything to succeed. I was impressed by how good, funny and subtle he can be when properly directed.
Rating: 8 /10