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'King Kong' piles on one cliffhanger after another

Every so often, a movie comes along that everyone simply has to see, no matter what their taste or disposition. Peter Jackson's glorious "King Kong" is one of these.

As "Kong's" roar subsided and the credits scrolled up the big screen, four words scrolled across my mind's eye:

Must see again immediately.

Universal Pictures 'King Kong' A+ The verdict: Will remind you of why you love the movies. 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 [an error occurred while processing this directive]

I thought this even though the movie is occasionally excessive, but even the greatest films are rarely perfect.

Coming off the tremendous success of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, director Jackson pursued his longtime dream of remaking the original 1933 "King Kong," which inspired his career choice. Even those who've never seen the movie know the drill: Girl meets big ape. Ape literally and figuratively falls for girl.

The first "Kong" took about 100 minutes to tell that story. Jackson's version nearly doubles the length. The first hour introduces a team of filmmakers and their journey to Kong's home, Skull Island. The second details many, many adventures on the island, and the third shows Kong's rampage through New York City.

Jackson's palpable glee at telling this story is a double-edged sword. While the first section sets up some important plot points that pay off beautifully later, the director's reluctance to hold back overstuffs the movie a little.

Jack Black's performance as greedy director Carl Denham, who wants to capture Kong, doesn't always work; the actor is too likable for a portrayal of a man who at times is, quite frankly, an immoral pig. Adrien Brody is fine, if a tad bland as the heroic love interest.

Yet once the movie brings us face to face with Kong, any and all misgivings are whisked away faster than the ape swoops up starlet Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts).

The visual effects play no small part in the movie's triumph. Never mind the merely extraordinary work of "War of the Worlds" or "Revenge of the Sith." The astonishing creation of Kong in particular is a milestone in digital animation, making the dinosaurs in "Jurassic Park" or the liquid metal of "Terminator 2" look like so much digital doodling.

A chase on Skull Island involving several stampeding dinosaurs is almost unbearably suspenseful, and that's just one of several nail-biting moments as Jackson piles on one cliffhanger after another. His visual command is nothing less than masterful.

The luminous Watts does a wonderful job providing the movie's emotional center. When Ann, a vaudevillian, charms Kong with her acrobatic act, their relationship becomes moving, and even lyrical.

Here's an example of how well this movie works. In New York, Kong and Ann share a lovely moment when Kong discovers the frozen ponds of Central Park and "skates," after a fashion, with Ann.

It looks as silly as it sounds, but Watts, Kong model Andy Serkis (who was Gollum in the "Rings" movies) and the animators sell the moment so convincingly, it's marvelous.

More than any film I have seen this year, "King Kong" reminded me of why I love the movies. This one carried me to a place from which I did not want to leave — and to which I am anxious to return.