Carl Denham (Black) is a 1933 filmmaker desperate to get his movie made, even if it means stealing the footage and sneaking off with cast and crew to an uncharted island. Once there, they discover an ancient civilisation and a lot of unusually enormous animals, including the massive gorilla Kong (motion-performance by Serkis) who falls for and runs off with actress Ann Darrow (Watts). The ship's crew and the film's writer Jack Driscoll (Brody), who also has a crush on Ann, launch a rescue. Next stop: New York.

Jackson and his cowriters have expanded this story in every conceivable direction, giving even small side characters meaningful back-stories, witty dialog and huge moral dilemmas. While adds texture, it also extends the length. This is a huge gorilla of a movie that reaches out and grabs onto us in every conceivable way, and keeps us utterly gripped through all three thunderous, action-packed hours.

It helps that the cast is full of solid actors like Watts, Brody, Bell and Kretschmann, plus superb scene-stealers like Black and Chandler. We even get to see Serkis on screen in a second role, as the ship's cook. And it also helps that Jackson's Weta provided the astounding effects work, which is simply jaw-dropping, even though most of it looks like effects work. But the action sequences are heart-pounding in every conceivable way--thrilling, freaky, grisly and even emotionally wrenching.

Alas, this excellence doesn't really make the film any more than a monster movie, complete with both illogical (Ann survives Kong's first romp with her through the jungle?) and cornball (ice skating?) scenes. And for all the human drama, Jackson never adds any relevance at all. The 1976 remake wins on that score; it's about corporate greed and the danger of environmental destruction, neither of which are touched on here. This film's strengths are artistic genius and emotional heart. And it's also colossally entertaining.

themes, violence, suspense

4.Dec.05