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List Price: $12.98 | | Label: Universal
Salesrank: 2503
Released: March 28, 2006 |
| Our Price: $2.39 |
| Used Price: $0.29 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Academy Award-winning director Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) brings his sweeping cinematic vision to King Kong. Naomi Watts, Jack Black and Adrien Brody star in this spectacular film filled with heart-pounding action, terrifying creatures and groundbreaking special effects unlike anything you’ve seen before! Get ready for breathtaking action in this thrilling epic adventure about a legendary gorilla captured on a treacherous island and brought to civilization, where he faces the ultimate fight for survival. Experience the movie that critics are hailing as a "rousing, exciting cinematic adventure!" (Scott Mantz, Access Hollywood)
Description of King Kong (Widescreen Edition):
Movies don't come any bigger than Peter Jackson's King Kong, a three-hour remake of the 1933 classic that marries breathtaking visual prowess with a surprising emotional depth. Expanding on the original story of the blonde beauty and the beast who falls for her, Jackson creates a movie spectacle that matches his Lord of the Rings films and even at times evokes their fantasy world while celebrating the glory of '30s Hollywood. Naomi Watts stars as Ann Darrow, a vaudeville actress down on her luck in Depression-era New York until manic filmmaker Carl Denham (a game but miscast Jack Black) entices her with a lead role. Dazzled by the genius of screenwriter Jack Driscoll (Adrien Brody), Ann boards the tramp steamer S.S. Venture, which she--and most of the wary crew--believes is headed for Singapore. Denham, however, is in search of the mythic Skull Island, hoping to capture its wonders on film and make a fortune. What he didn't count on were some scary natives who find that the comely Darrow looks like prime sacrifice material for a mysterious giant creature....
There's no point in rehashing the entire plot, as every movie aficionado is more than familiar with the trajectory of King Kong; the challenge facing Jackson, his screenwriters, and the phenomenal visual-effects team was to breathe new life into an old, familiar story. To that degree, they achieve what could be best called a qualified success. Though they've assembled a crackerjack supporting cast, including Thomas Kretschmann as the Venture's hard-bitten captain and young Jamie Bell as a plucky crewman, the first third of the movie is rather labored, with too much minute detail given over to sumptuous re-creations of '30s New York and the unexciting initial leg of the Venture's sea voyage. However, once the film finds its way to Skull Island (which bears more than a passing resemblance to LOTR's Mordor), Kong turns into a dazzling movie triumph, by turns terrifying and awe-inspiring. The choreography and execution of the action set pieces--including one involving Kong and a trio of Tyrannosaurus Rexes, as well as another that could be charitably described as a bug-phobic's nightmare--is nothing short of landmark filmmaking, and a certain Mr. Spielberg should watch his back, as Kong trumps most anything that has come before it.
Despite the visual challenges of King Kong, the movie's most difficult hurdle is the budding romance between Ann and her simian soulmate. Happily, this is where Jackson unqualifiedly triumphs, as this unorthodox love story is tenderly and humorously drawn, by turns sympathetic and wondrous. Watts, whose accessibility balances out her almost otherworldly loveliness, works wonders with mere glances, and Andy Serkis, who digitally embodies Kong here much as he did Gollum in the LOTR films, breathes vibrant life into the giant star of the film without ever overplaying any emotions. The final, tragic act of the film, set mostly atop the Empire State Building, is where Kong earns its place in movie history as a work that celebrates both the technical and emotional heights that film can reach. --Mark Englehart
King Kong (Widescreen Edition) Reviews:
Simply dreadful! 
2008-07-20 - Please..... This movie was absolutely dreadful. The ridiculous scenes were enough for me. Do not waste your time renting, buying or otherwise watching this terrible remake!
Crap! 3 hours & 8 minutes? (whistles) that's longer than Titanic 
2008-07-19 - If you like the 1933 King Kong, this is for you. Some people are talking about who long it is and they're not kidding. I swear, this seemed endless. But the action scenes and the heart-stopping action made you think that the time had passed quickly. Now, about King Kong. Well, actually, I liked this better than Cooper's version. I mean PJ is a genuis! He added in all scenes from the old one in this and some new scenes. I mean he had the natives part, the stegosaurus part but replaced it with a Styracosaurus, he added in the brontosaurus stampede, he had the brontosaurus part in the lake but replaced it with a giant fish, he had the log scene over a 1,000 foot cliff! He had the T-rex fight but it was V-rex, a little diffrent. He took out the snake fight and replaced with giant bugs in the ravine. And Kong is taking to New York and you know the rest. So, see this, you won't be dissapointed.
BEST OF THE BEST!
2008-07-15 - ALMOST 1000 REVIEWS SO INSTEAD I WILL GET THE TOTAL INFORMATION OF THE DELUXE EDITION ENJOY!
DISC 1
THE KING KONG ARCHIVES PART 1:
- Introductions by Peter Jackson = Total Minute Time (2:27)
DELETED SCENE:
- Intro, Preston Shows Ann Her Cabin
- Intro, How a Man Dies
- Intro, Jack Has Doubts About Ann
- Intro, Ann Chooses an Outfit
- Intro, Hayes Confronts Englehorn
- Intro, Preston Finds The Map
- Intro, Dancing a Jig
- Intro, The Rest of the Venture Voyage
- Intro, Lumpy and His Cabbage
- Intro, Scream For Your Life, Ann!
- Intro, The Venture Escapes (Original Version)
- Intro, Hayes' Story
- Intro, A Sailor's Bad Luck
- Intro, Original Insect Pit Opening
- Intro, Kong Chases Jack's Cab
- Intro, Kong Versus The Army
TOTAL RUNNING TIME = (46:23)
THE EIGHTH BLUNDER OF THE WORLD:
- Bloopers & Gag Real = Total Minute Time (18:51)
THE MISSING PRODUCTION DIARY:
- Total Minute Time (8:16)
A NIGHT IN VAUDEVILLE
- Total Minute Time (12:06)
KING KONG HOMAGE
- Total Minute Time (9:57)
AUDIO COMMENTARY:
- Director/Writer/Producer Peter Jackson and Writer/Co-Producer Philippa Boyens
LANGUAGE:
- English 5.1
- Français 5.1
- Español 5.1
SUBTITLES:
- English SDH* (Subtitled for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing)
- Español
- Français
WIDESCREEN 2:35:1 (Anamorphic)
- Movie Running Time (1Hrs 20 Mins) TO BE CONTINUED...
- Archives Running Time (1:35:33)
TOTAL RUNNING TIME (2:55:33)
DISC 2
CONTINUE FILM
THE KING KONG ARCHIVES PART 2:
PRE-VISUALIZATION ANIMATICS:
- Arrival at Skull Island (Music On & Off) = Total Minute Time (4:19)
- Bronto Stampede (Music On & Off) = Total Minute Time (6:34)
- T-Rex Fight (Music On & Off) = Total Minute Time (9:52)
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING BATTLE:
- Pre-Viz Only = Total Minute Time (9:28)
- Pre-Viz With Final Film Comparison = Total Minute Time (9:28)
THE PRESENT:
- Total Minute Time (9:26)
TRAILERS:
- Teaser Trailer = Total Minute Time (2:33)
- Theatrical Trailer = Total Minute Time (2:57)
- Cinemedia Trailer (With Director & Cast) = Total Minute Time (2:41)
WETA COLLECTIBLES:
- Kong The 8th Wonder of the World = Total Minute Time (5:17)
- www.wetanz.com
ROM: 1996 & 2005 SCRIPTS:
AUDIO COMMENTARY:
- Director/Writer/Producer Peter Jackson and Writer/Co-Producer Philippa Boyens
LANGUAGE:
- English 5.1
- Français 5.1
- Español 5.1
SUBTITLES:
- English SDH* (Subtitled for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing)
- Español
- Français
WIDESCREEN 2:35:1 (Anamorphic)
- Movie Running Time (2 Hours)
- Archives Running Time (1:02:57)
GRAND TOTAL RUNNING TIME (3:02:57)
DISC 3
THE KING KONG ARCHIVES PART 2:
- Introductions by Peter Jackson = Total Minute Time (2:32)
RECREATING THE EIGHTH WONDER THE MAKING OF KING KONG:
- The Original of "King Kong" = Total Minute Time (16:37)
- Pre-Production Part 1: The Return of Kung = Total Minute Time (42:17)
RE-RUN FROM THE LAST 15 MINUTES FROM PART 1:
- Pre-Production Part 2: Countdown to Filming = Total Minute Time (15:45)
- The Venture Journey = Total Minute Time (22:02)
- Return to Skull Island (Wow! That Looks Real!) = Total Minute Time (33:02)
- New York, New Zealand = Total Minute Time (25:53)
- Bringing Kong to Life Part 1: Design and Research = Total Minute Time (47:50)
RE-RUN FROM THE LAST 26 MINUTES FROM PART 1:
- Bringing Kong to Life Part 2: Performance and Animation = Total Minute Time (26:29)
TOTAL RUNNING TIME = (3:06:33)
CONCEPTUAL DESIGN VIDEO GALLERIES
-The 1996 King Kong = Total Minute Time (9:53)
- The Venture = Total Minute Time (4:06)
- Skull Island = Total Minute Time (15:38)
- New York = Total Minute Time (4:35)
- Kong = Total Minute Time (7:11)
TOTAL RUNNING TIME = (41:20)
LANGUAGE:
- English 2.0
SUBTITLES:
- English SDH* (Subtitled for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing)
- Español
- Français
WIDESCREEN 1:76:1
-TOTAL RUNNING TIME (3:47:53)
ALL 3 DISCS IS MORE THAN 9 HOURS
One of My All-Time Favorites
2008-07-15 - I have to confess that this is one of my all-time favorite movies. Yes, I know the jungle scenes are a little over-the-top and my stoic husband can't even watch the "bug" scene without covering up his eyes but all of its excesses only make me love it more.
This new version soars from the breathtaking imagination of director Peter Jackson. The same strengths Jackson showed in LORD OF THE RINGS are in dazzling display here. Although there are enough amazing CGI special effects to satisfy even the most jaded STAR WARS/STAR TREK geek (including me), he's never willing to sacrifice heart and intimacy for spectacle. While KONG is a sprawling rollercoaster thrill ride of a movie--the original KING KONG meets INDIANA JONES meets JURASSIC PARK--it's Naomi Watts luminous portrayal of Ann Darrow that steals our hearts (and Kong's). An incurable romantic at heart, I actually turned to my husband after the movie and said, "I wish they'd have shown more scenes developing their relationship" before remembering that I was talking about a woman and a giant gorilla.
If you don't mind your guys a trifle bit hairy, you've always found a little Alpha male chest thumping to be endearing, and morning breath isn't an issue, the new Kong just may be the guy for you!
It occurred to me as I watched the movie that this Kong has a lot in common with the heroes of many of my favorite romance novels:
1) He adores Ann and finds her antics endlessly amusing.
2) He's so attentive he can recognize her by her smell alone
3) He rejects every other woman once they meet (hurling them out of his path like rag dolls)
3) He's keenly jealous of every other man in her life (hurling them out of his path like rag dolls)
4) He'd do anything to protect her, including sacrifice his own life.
What's not to love about a big old monkey like that?
(Originally published on the website of author Teresa Medeiros at www.teresamedeiros.com)
King Kong: The Eighth Wonder of the World!!
2008-07-03 - I went to see this movie four times, during its theater run and everytime I was satisfied with what was shown before me. The cast is great, the special effects are the best of any movie I've seen, and it has a great story.
This reincarnation of the 1933 classic is truelly spectacular in many ways. Naomi Watts is the perfect choice for the Ann Darrow character, and Jack Black makes a acceptable Carl Denham. Adrien Brody character I don't care for at all. The true characters of the film are the fifty foot tall gigantic gorilla Kong and Miss Ann Darrow.
I always cheer for the powerful King Kong. From his violent battle with the three V-Rex, to his final tragic battle atop the Empire State Building, to his final moments with Ann atop the gigantic building. I love the character of King Kong and I always will.
This film pays great tribute to the 1933 classic and gives a great, and entertaining show! I recommend this movie to anyone who is looking for a truelly great film with tons of action, drama, and a giant gorilla. The best film of 2005! No question about it! Kong is King!!!
Buy this movie and enjoy it!! It's worth the price and the entertainment!!! :)
