King Kong (2005)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Peter Jackson

Writers (WGA):

Fran Walsh (screenplay) &
Philippa Boyens (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

14 December 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Romance

Tagline:

The eighth wonder of the world.

Plot:

In 1933 New York, an overly ambitious movie producer coerces his cast and hired ship crew to travel to mysterious Skull Island, where they encounter Kong, a giant ape who is immediately smitten with leading lady Ann Darrow.

Plot Keywords:

Island | Jungle | Gorilla | 1930s | King Kong

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 20 wins & 41 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 25	2:00 AM	TNT
Sat. July 25	5:00 PM	TNT

Cast

Naomi Watts	...	Ann Darrow
Jack Black	...	Carl Denham
Adrien Brody	...	Jack Driscoll
Thomas Kretschmann	...	Captain Englehorn
Colin Hanks	...	Preston
Andy Serkis	...	Kong / Lumpy
Evan Parke	...	Hayes
Jamie Bell	...	Jimmy
Lobo Chan	...	Choy
John Sumner	...	Herb
Craig Hall	...	Mike
Kyle Chandler	...	Bruce Baxter
Bill Johnson	...	Manny (as William Johnson)
Mark Hadlow	...	Harry
Geraldine Brophy	...	Maude

Also Known As:

King Kong (Germany)
Kong: The Eighth Wonder of the World (International: English title) (teaser title)
Peter Jackson's King Kong (USA) (promotional title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for frightening adventure violence and some disturbing images.

Runtime:

187 min | 201 min (extended edition)

Country:

New Zealand | USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX | SDDS | DTS-ES

Certification:

Ireland:12A | Australia:M | Denmark:11 | Germany:12 | Japan:U | Norway:11 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Singapore:PG | Czech Republic:12 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Sweden:11 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | France:U | Portugal:M/12 | Philippines:PG-13 | South Africa:PG (13V) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Taiwan:PG-12 | Iceland:12 | Mexico:B | Peru:PT | Hong Kong:IIA | Malaysia:U | Brazil:12 | Canada:14A (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | South Africa:PG (13V - DVD Rating) | UK:12 (video rating) | UK:12A (original rating) | Spain:13 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #42322) | Finland:K-11 (2005) (re-rating on appeal) | Finland:K-11 (2006) (extended edition) | Finland:K-15 (2005) (original rating) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) (re-rating on appeal)

Filming Locations:

Beach Road, Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand

Company:

Big Primate Pictures

Trivia:

The insects attacking Jack Driscoll at the canyon bottom are gigantic versions of the Weta, a species native to New Zealand and the namesake of Peter Jackson's production studio.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Near the end of the film, from the ice skating scene, we know the temperature is below freezing. At the Empire State Building, Ann has no body fat and is nearly naked. Her hands should be uselessly cold for climbing metal rungs, since metal conducts temperature well. She should go into hypothermia (cold shock) less than 5 minutes after leaving Kong's hot hand, and die shortly after.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Manny: [practicing sneezes] That's a funny one. Isn't that funnier?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Andy Barker, P.I.: The Big No Sleep (#1.5)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Bye Bye Blackbird

Amazing Effects

Just saw the premiere. Having never seen the original I was in for a treat. The acting was phenomenal. Jack Black played the movie producer - more like a caricature of movie producer. At first - comical. Towards the end - more depth is revealed in his character as he shamelessly exploits Kong. Adrian Brody was also outstanding as the screenwriter that falls in love with Naomi Watts' character Ann Darrow. As for Watts, she showed her versatility as an actress in certainly the biggest action role she's played to date. The effects on the island were AMAZING as were the action sequences...the monsters and creatures that the director created were as terrific as they were terrible. My one nitpick: in some places plausibility of relationship between Ann Darrow and Kong was strained. In general a great flick.