It's been more than 8 decades and yet the fantasy for the King Kong refuses to diminish. The Gigantic creature means no monkey business, Kong is gritty, bloody and gracefully thumping. In any monster or to be even more straight - a King Kong movie, the human touch has been of prime importance, after an initial struggle between the human and beast, it becomes an emotional affair. With a stunning visual extravaganza, a stellar cast and enough money to go for the kill, Kong wins on the beast’s perspective but lets you down on the human touch.
The Vietnam War has ended, the world is on the verge of the satellite age, and the Americans need to get to the world's last uncharted territory, Skull Island, before the Russians. A crazy scientist/mercenary (John Goodman) has his eyes on that prize, as well as the mysteries below the island's bedrock. But how will he get there? They form a team as is with the case of any adventure movie, a rogue Military captain (Samuel L Jackson), a tracker (Tom Hiddleston), Photographer (Brie Larson) and even many more military ops. With limited knowledge of what holds behind the island the hunting team start dropping bombs or so called science experiments to know the island better, only to confront the King sized Kong who rules the island and it’s a blood bath as soon as they enter the horizon.
The initial "Copter - Kong" spectacle has been covered wonderfully, the VFX and sound setting is not very loud as one would have expected but springs you enough surprises. The adventurers also meet up with killer birds, enormous insects, creepy-crawlers that trick the lost scavengers as trees, and enormous dinosaur like skeletal creatures that resides beneath the earth, a typical villain for our story. All of these are rendered impeccably; all easily steal thunder from this accomplished cast who have won accolades acting wise. Yes, Kong is quite impressive in physique, and his roar is appropriately intimidating. He’s not the kind of monkey who goes about eating bananas and bash you up. But he’s far from the only threat on this island, which he shares with insects, six-story spiders and a nasty breed of frightening two-legged, long-tailed lizard monsters who are the actual threat and as per an abandoned soldier (John C. Reilly in a fun turn) who has come to know them refers to as "skull crawlers". Kong actually safeguards the local tribe from the lizard monsters, and probably the world itself, but thanks to the science bomb expedition they awaken the monster which leads to a blood bath between Kong and Lizard monster.
Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts captures the awe and amazement of the original, but has made enough changes to stand out from previous movies including the recent King Kong in 2005. The X factor with King Kong over the years as we know it has been its soft corner to the Leading Lady, here there isn’t much but to retain its original essence Jordon takes a moment to show the scene when we would think Kong is about to crush Tom and Brie, instead she just walks up to the beast and lays a hand on Kong’s wooly skin. Maybe establishing the fact that "I am gonna watch your back, make sure you do too".
If you are a Monster movie fan, make sure you grab the right seats with lots of popcorn and those 3D glasses, Kong sure will not disappoint you. It has the credibility of a ravishing creature movie, just misses the part of a human touch, maybe not utilized better I would say.
Verdict: Kong makes you go bananas.
Comments