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'King Kong' reaches top of film thrills

Peter Jackson loves the original 1933 "King Kong." It shows in every way in his own "King Kong," a big, bold, gigantor of an action movie that's part head-knocking smackdown, part intimate beauty and the beast and thoroughly entertaining a lot of the time.

At three hours and seven minutes, the new "Kong" is way longer than it needs to be. It also pushes its lady and the ape relationship over the edge of "An Affair to Remember" treacly. Despite its thin story, the special effects are out-of-this-world terrific. And you can take this to the bank: The Skull Island sequences, with their raging dinosaurs, icky-goo bugs and seemingly endless chase scenes, equal the best amusement ride you've ever been on.

Universal Pictures 'King Kong' B+ The verdict: At times glorious and ultra-thrilling, at times almost icky sweet. A super-fun movie, but the thin story can't match "Lord of the Rings." Director: Peter Jackson Starring: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Andy Serkis, Thomas Kretschmann Run time: 187 minutes Release date: Dec. 14, 2005 Rating: PG-13 for frightening adventure violence and some disturbing images. See showtimes On the set See finished frames and the work in progress in this "King Kong" slideshow. On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime Rate 'King Kong'   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

If all that sounds like a "Titanic"-style movie, give Jackson and his crew credit for knowing how to manipulate a film to appeal to as many moviegoers as possible.

This "Kong" is Jackson's playground, and if he goes a bit overboard here and there, well, he deserves to. The man made "Lord of the Rings," one of the greatest trilogies in film history, and, last we saw him, was cradling a record-tying 11 Oscars for his series' last and best installment, "The Return of the King."

What studio wouldn't write him a blank check? Universal did and for it, they've gotten a bona fide talker and an eye-popping thriller. "Kong" is probably slightly less of an overall fulfilling movie than one might hope for, but in a long year of mostly tepid offerings, it's still a welcome sight.

The film is rated PG-13 for frightening adventure violence and some disturbing images (one of the ship's crew landing on Skull Island suffers a rather slow and gruesome creatures-get-him death). But while intense, the carnage is nearly bloodless and similar to the violence and scariness in films such as "Jurassic Park."

Thanks to the longtime popularity of the original film, "Kong's" story line is already familiar.

In Depression-era New York, adventurous filmmaker Carl Denham (Jack Black) lures starving waif Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts in the role originated by Fay Wray) to join him in a moviemaking voyage to the uncharted Skull Island. Once there, golden-haired Ann is kidnapped by natives and put up as an offering to the mighty, 25-foot-tall Kong.

After more than a few hairy encounters with dinos, Kong is eventually captured and put on display in New York, where he escapes, wreaks havoc and heads to the tippy-top of the Empire State Building (at the time the world's tallest building).

With "Kong," Black's screen career, which soared with "The School of Rock" and fell with the lame comedy "Envy," is back. He plays Denham with just the right amount of egotistical swagger mixed with a wry twist of buffoonery.

Watts makes for a more interesting Ann than we've previously seen. Wray's job in 1933 was to scream and do little else. But Watts gets to build a relationship with Kong. There may not be a better moment between the two than when Watts is caught on Skull Island between a roaring T. rex and the big ape. Eventually, she slowly moves toward Kong — for protection.

Jackson's CG Kong, with movements done by actor Andy Serkis, is nothing short of miraculous. He leaps off the screen as a living, breathing, emoting character.

So why isn't "Kong" perfect?

For one thing, Oscar winner Adrien Brody is overwhelmed. He plays Jack Driscoll, a playwright and Ann's love interest (this same character was a member of the ship's crew in the original film), and his heroism is overshadowed by all the special effects.

The movie also oversells Ann and Kong's emotional tie. There is a jolly, playful winter scene between them in Manhattan's Central Park that borders on the ridiculous.

But there's every reason for a moviegoer to go see "King Kong." From the moment the ship's crew spots land and the sea tosses their vessel among jagged rocks, this is a movie that knows how to suck in an audience.

Jackson pays respectful homage to the original film and at the same time makes the story his own.

Ultimately, this may be no "Return of the King," but it's still a royal "Kong."