Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 12/14/05 Home Video 03/28/06 MPAA Rating Rated PG-13 for frightening adventure violence and some disturbing images Running Time 3 hours 7 minutes Genre Action Director Peter Jackson Writer Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson Cast Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, Jack Black, Andy Serkis, Thomas Kretschmann, Colin Hanks, Kyle Chandler, Jamie Bell, Evan Parke Studio Universal Pictures |
KING KONG
SYNOPSIS
It is 1933, and vaudeville actress Ann Darrow
(Oscar® nominee for 21 Grams, NAOMI WATTS) has
found herself—like so many other New Yorkers
during the Great Depression—without the means to
earn a living. Unwilling to compromise and allow
herself to sink into a career in burlesque, she
considers her limited options while aimlessly
wandering the streets of Manhattan. When her
hunger drives her to unsuccessfully try to steal an
apple from a fruit vendor's stall, she is rescued—
literally— by filmmaker and multiple hyphenate Carl
Denham (JACK BLACK of The School of Rock).
It seems that the entrepreneur-raconteur-
adventurer is no stranger to theft, having that day
lifted the only existing print of his most recent and
unfinished film from under his studio executives'
noses when they threatened to pull his completion
funds. Carl has until the end of the day to get his
crew onboard the Singapore-bound tramp steamer,
the S.S. Venture, in hopes of completing his
travelogue/action film. With that, the showman is
certain he will finally achieve the personal great-
ness he knows awaits him around the corner…and
although the crew believe that corner to be
Singapore, Denham actually hopes to find and
capture on film the mysterious place of legend:
Skull Island.
It is 1933, and vaudeville actress Ann Darrow
(Oscar® nominee for 21 Grams, NAOMI WATTS) has
found herself—like so many other New Yorkers
during the Great Depression—without the means to
earn a living. Unwilling to compromise and allow
herself to sink into a career in burlesque, she
considers her limited options while aimlessly
wandering the streets of Manhattan. When her
hunger drives her to unsuccessfully try to steal an
apple from a fruit vendor's stall, she is rescued—
literally— by filmmaker and multiple hyphenate Carl
Denham (JACK BLACK of The School of Rock).
It seems that the entrepreneur-raconteur-
adventurer is no stranger to theft, having that day
lifted the only existing print of his most recent and
unfinished film from under his studio executives'
noses when they threatened to pull his completion
funds. Carl has until the end of the day to get his
crew onboard the Singapore-bound tramp steamer,
the S.S. Venture, in hopes of completing his
travelogue/action film. With that, the showman is
certain he will finally achieve the personal great-
ness he knows awaits him around the corner…and
although the crew believe that corner to be
Singapore, Denham actually hopes to find and
capture on film the mysterious place of legend:
Skull Island.
Unfortunately for Carl, his headlining actress has pulled out of his project, but his search for a size-four
leading lady (the costumes have all been made) has, fatefully, led him to Ann. The struggling actress is
reluctant to sign on with Denham, until she learns that the up-and-coming, socially relevant playwright
Jack Driscoll (Oscar® winner for The Pianist, ADRIEN BRODY) is penning the screenplay—the fees his
friend Carl pays for potboiling adventure are a welcome supplement to Driscoll's nominal income from
his stage plays.
With his newly discovered star and coerced screenwriter reluctantly onboard, Denham's "moving
picture ship" heads out of New York Harbor…and toward a destiny that none aboard could possibly
foresee.
Joining Watts, Black and Brody is an accomplished ensemble cast from around the globe. German star
THOMAS KRETSCHMANN (U-571) portrays Captain Englehorn, commander of the Venture, who allows
Denham and his ever-increasing bribes to persuade him to endanger the lives of his crew by searching
for Skull Island. COLIN HANKS (Orange County) is Preston, Denham's put-upon assistant and unwitting
moral compass, who attempts to keep his boss in check and the production from spiraling out of control.
Young actor JAMIE BELL (Billy Elliot) plays Jimmy, the youngest crew member, whose experiences
onboard the Venture prove more fantastical than any old salt's seafaring yarn. EVAN PARKE lends his
talents to the role of first mate Hayes, keeping a watchful eye on young Jimmy and serving as
Englehorn's conscience. KYLE CHANDLER takes on the character of Bruce Baxter, a "B"-movie-level
leading man cast opposite Ann Darrow in Denham's adventure movie. ANDY SERKIS (who performed the
role of the CGI character Gollum in The Lord of the Rings trilogy) provides both on-set performance
reference and motion-capture performance for the "Eighth Wonder of the World"…the title character of
King Kong; he also appears onscreen as the eccentric sailor in charge of the Venture's galley, Lumpy the
Cook.
To create the widely diverging worlds of two disparate settings—the urban jungle of 1930s Manhattan
and the primordial environs of Skull Island, home to a lost race and a myriad of formidable, not-extinct
creatures—Peter Jackson gathers an unparalleled team of film artisans, the majority with whom he
enjoys longstanding collaborative relationships. These include: director of photography ANDREW LESNIE,
who received the Academy Award® for his cinematography in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of
the Ring; production designer GRANT MAJOR, Oscar® winner for the third in the trilogy, The Return of the
King; and film editor JAMIE SELKIRK, who likewise collected an Academy Award® for his artistry on the
final installment of Jackson's epic.
Visual effects are again accomplished by New Zealand-based companies Weta Digital Ltd., under the
direction of Oscar® winner JOE LETTERI (The Return of the King), and Weta Workshop Ltd., under the
direction of Oscar® winner RICHARD TAYLOR (The Return of the King). The film is scored by six-time
Academy Award® nominee JAMES NEWTON HOWARD (Batman Begins).
--© Universal Pictures
leading lady (the costumes have all been made) has, fatefully, led him to Ann. The struggling actress is
reluctant to sign on with Denham, until she learns that the up-and-coming, socially relevant playwright
Jack Driscoll (Oscar® winner for The Pianist, ADRIEN BRODY) is penning the screenplay—the fees his
friend Carl pays for potboiling adventure are a welcome supplement to Driscoll's nominal income from
his stage plays.
With his newly discovered star and coerced screenwriter reluctantly onboard, Denham's "moving
picture ship" heads out of New York Harbor…and toward a destiny that none aboard could possibly
foresee.
Joining Watts, Black and Brody is an accomplished ensemble cast from around the globe. German star
THOMAS KRETSCHMANN (U-571) portrays Captain Englehorn, commander of the Venture, who allows
Denham and his ever-increasing bribes to persuade him to endanger the lives of his crew by searching
for Skull Island. COLIN HANKS (Orange County) is Preston, Denham's put-upon assistant and unwitting
moral compass, who attempts to keep his boss in check and the production from spiraling out of control.
Young actor JAMIE BELL (Billy Elliot) plays Jimmy, the youngest crew member, whose experiences
onboard the Venture prove more fantastical than any old salt's seafaring yarn. EVAN PARKE lends his
talents to the role of first mate Hayes, keeping a watchful eye on young Jimmy and serving as
Englehorn's conscience. KYLE CHANDLER takes on the character of Bruce Baxter, a "B"-movie-level
leading man cast opposite Ann Darrow in Denham's adventure movie. ANDY SERKIS (who performed the
role of the CGI character Gollum in The Lord of the Rings trilogy) provides both on-set performance
reference and motion-capture performance for the "Eighth Wonder of the World"…the title character of
King Kong; he also appears onscreen as the eccentric sailor in charge of the Venture's galley, Lumpy the
Cook.
To create the widely diverging worlds of two disparate settings—the urban jungle of 1930s Manhattan
and the primordial environs of Skull Island, home to a lost race and a myriad of formidable, not-extinct
creatures—Peter Jackson gathers an unparalleled team of film artisans, the majority with whom he
enjoys longstanding collaborative relationships. These include: director of photography ANDREW LESNIE,
who received the Academy Award® for his cinematography in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of
the Ring; production designer GRANT MAJOR, Oscar® winner for the third in the trilogy, The Return of the
King; and film editor JAMIE SELKIRK, who likewise collected an Academy Award® for his artistry on the
final installment of Jackson's epic.
Visual effects are again accomplished by New Zealand-based companies Weta Digital Ltd., under the
direction of Oscar® winner JOE LETTERI (The Return of the King), and Weta Workshop Ltd., under the
direction of Oscar® winner RICHARD TAYLOR (The Return of the King). The film is scored by six-time
Academy Award® nominee JAMES NEWTON HOWARD (Batman Begins).
--© Universal Pictures
Brenda and David
Director Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings) has taken on the huge task of remaking King Kong. Jackson
has the talent and technology to pull it all together. Thanks to the advances in computer-generated
images, the animators are able to capture every detailed facial expression of King Kong. Carl Denham
(Jack Black) plays an over-ambitious filmmaker with the hopes of making an adventure movie. He hires
Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts), an out-of-work Vaudeville actress, for his film. Denham, Darrow, playwright
Jack Driscoll (Adrien Brody), and his film crew head toward Skull Island. The natives kidnap Darrow and
take her to the jungle for a sacrificial gift to King Kong. Denham with camera in tow and the crew head
into the jungle to save her. While searching for Darrow, they are attacked by the dinosaurs, gigantic
cockroaches and spiders. Ultimately, they capture King Kong and take him back to New York City.
Denham sees a moneymaking opportunity by putting King Kong on display with disastrous results.
Naomi Watts give is outstanding as Ann Darrow. The special effects are top notch. King Kong is sure to
climb to the top of the box office and stay there for quite a while.
Director Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings) has taken on the huge task of remaking King Kong. Jackson
has the talent and technology to pull it all together. Thanks to the advances in computer-generated
images, the animators are able to capture every detailed facial expression of King Kong. Carl Denham
(Jack Black) plays an over-ambitious filmmaker with the hopes of making an adventure movie. He hires
Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts), an out-of-work Vaudeville actress, for his film. Denham, Darrow, playwright
Jack Driscoll (Adrien Brody), and his film crew head toward Skull Island. The natives kidnap Darrow and
take her to the jungle for a sacrificial gift to King Kong. Denham with camera in tow and the crew head
into the jungle to save her. While searching for Darrow, they are attacked by the dinosaurs, gigantic
cockroaches and spiders. Ultimately, they capture King Kong and take him back to New York City.
Denham sees a moneymaking opportunity by putting King Kong on display with disastrous results.
Naomi Watts give is outstanding as Ann Darrow. The special effects are top notch. King Kong is sure to
climb to the top of the box office and stay there for quite a while.
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
| ST. LOUIS MOVIE REVIEW WEEKLY |
