King Kong
I saw King Kong this evening with matrushkaka at a special screening. I freely admit that I can't be objective about the film that set the standard for how visual effects and film would define each other and inspired three generations of VFX artists. Asking me to say what's good and bad about King Kong is like asking the Pope what's good and bad about the Bible. So I'll just mention a few things:
- Things are pretty extreme on Skull Island.
- I've never had my face cramp up halfway through a movie like that because I've never held the "eyes wide open in awestruck amazement" expression for so long before.
- Peter adapted the 1933 original as closely as he should have, but no closer. The elements that date the film If you want to get the most out of this movie, rent the original and watch it carefully the day before seeing this film. Everything from the design of the opening title cards to the closing score and dialog has been lifted directly. Stills from the original were obviously used as design reference Even the akward or hokey story elements that date the original have also been cleverly adapted in ingenious ways that you're almost certainly not going to catch without back-to-back viewing.
- Peter wanted to nominated Gollum for "best supporting actor" but the Academy said that only real human actors get to be nominated. I'm convinced that he's going to keep making movies where the CG actor upstages almost everyone in every movie that year until the Academy caves.
- Bring a handkerchief. No, really.