King Kong

UK Release Date. 15 December 2005
Certification. 12A

Running Time. 3 hours 7 mins

Director. Peter Jackson
Cast. Jamie Bell, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Kyle Chandler, Colin Hanks, Thomas Kretschmann, Andy Serkis, Naomi Watts.

Rating. 68%

Review.

The main gripe I have with Peter Jackson's King Kong is the three-hour run time. The film feels laboured, ponderous and, at times, overindulgent.

Set in the 1930s, in the depths of The Great Depression, Peter Jackson spends the opening third of the film in the backstories of three of the principal characters - Carl Denham (Jack Black), Jack Driscoll (Adrien Brody) and Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts). This screen time in New York undoubtedly establishes the characters, and in particular, creates empathy with Ann Darrow, but it does mean that the main characters do not embark on the perilous journey to Skull Island until well over an hour into the adventure.

At the time of production, the CGI effects were cutting edge and the treatment of Kong is flawless. At times, it is easy to forget that Kong is a CGI creation, such is the range of expression conveyed by Andy Serkis. Fresh from his portrayal of Gollum in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the actor appeared perilously close to becoming pigeonholed as a performance motion capture, animation and voice over artist. Thank heavens for the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Ulysses Klaue!

The undeniable highlight of King Kong is Naomi Watts. She is perfectly cast and encapsulates Darrow's spirit of innocence, fragility and compassion. Despite, I suspect, acting in front of a green screen for the majority of the film, it is Naomi Watts that truly succeeds in bringing Kong to life. Her relationship with Kong develops from initial fear and repulsion to believable concern and affection. When Naomi Watts looks into the gorilla's eyes, she sees something beautiful.

The director obviously held the original 1933 King Kong in high regard, and with a remake of such an iconic piece of cinema history it is difficult not to make comparisons, but I believe Peter Jackson's offering does little to elevate the original story.