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I finally went to the movies and saw Peter Jackson’s King Kong. I must say, I was touched. King Kong, King of the jungle; misunderstood, in love, and put down by machine gun bullets. Love hurts.
What man hasn’t felt so deeply for a woman that, despite all his strength, he is brought low? There are few things in life, other than a woman, that will cause a man to do great things. And you can take the beast out of the jungle, but you can’t take the jungle out of the beast.
While I actually find the idea that a beautiful blonde could fall in love with a giant gorilla (and vice-versa) kind of absurd, I didn’t mind because it was fantasy. One of the things I believe that defines good fantasy is not its alienation from reality (escapism), but its connection to it. Good fantasy personifies something in human nature that’s present in the real world, and makes you see it in a brand new way. In that way, it’s similar to a philosophical allegory, except that philosophical allegories are usually boring, and I doubt anyone would pay $10.75 admission to see Plato’s Cave on the silver screen.
As fantasy, Kong was brilliant. The movie has everything: action, adventure, romance, and a 900 lb. gorilla who sits pretty much wherever he wants to. 2/3rds of the movie takes place on Skull Island and features dinosaurs, giant bugs, savage natives, human sacrifice, sailors with tommy guns, and of course Kong. The action here is intense, but it didn’t feel drawn out at all. This part of the movie is also filled with discovery. It feels like your right there with the characters, exploring the remains of an ancient jungle civilization that has fallen into savagery and decay.
The second part of the movie takes place back in civilization, and features a breathtaking view of 1920’s New York. Digital effects are awesome. I’ve been reading some short stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald and this is his New York. If I get the movie on DVD, I’m going to have to watch it in black and white to see if it looks resembles movies from the period.
It was a very modernistic move, done with 21st century action and digital effects. In addition to the 1920’s setting, King Kong explored period themes of society and nature, and classic themes of love and loss.
Actually, I felt the movie was way too long. However, the story is so intreaguing, and the action so non-stop, that I have no idea where in the world where Peter Jackson should cut things out. I hear he actually cut out a whole 45 minutes that will doubtless re-appear in the DVD version.