kong

THE FLICK: Even if one ignores the technological achievements, the astounding box-office numbers, the unfathomable influence on filmmakers then and today, King Kong is still one hell of an entertaining movie. It is the very heart and soul of the modern blockbuster, relentlessly paced, extravagantly produced and expertly executed. And one of the few “genre” films that has earned the respect of normally standoff-ish critics and snobby audience types. Finally, after what seems like an eternity waiting for the film to hit DVD, you get to find out why. There’s no need to rehash plot points, here. Kong has evolved beyond a cinematic creation to a cultural touchstone. But if you haven’t seen it in a while, you forget just how ingeniously producer Merian C. Cooper one-ups the story time after time, conducting the film like an orchestra leading up to a deafening crescendo as Kong tumbles from the top of the Empire State Building. My favorite moments (you can’t talk about a movie like Kong without naming a few) all take place on the great ape’s prehistoric island, populated with a wide array of man-eating dinosaurs. Stop-motion animator Willis O’Brien parades his creations out with a showmanship to match Cooper’s grand vision. There’s an incredibly high body count – sailors are crushed, chomped, stomped, you name it – with very little down time after the film’s opening act. Of course, Kong’s epic battle with the T-Rex is the Kilimanjaro of monster mashes, but it’s the behavioral details that really sell the reality. And they’re also what make Kong a character rather than a just a puppet. By playing up the human traits (Kong’s affection for the beautiful Fay Wray, his endearing mannerisms), O’Brien succeeds in gaining the audience’s sympathy for his creation despite the swath of destruction he leaves behind on the streets of New York. Kong endures because it’s more than a movie about a giant monkey. It’s a tragedy on a 1/8-miniature scale. THE FEATURES: It’s been a long time comin’. And it pleases me to say that Warner’s treatment of King Kong is classy and comprehensive, with several options for your DVD dollar. There’s a basic two-disc set, a two-disc set in a collectible tin with gorgeous reprints of the original Grauman’s Chinese Theater program, marketing materials and a mail-in coupon for a free poster. Or there’s a 4-Disc Collection that adds in Son of Kong and Mighty Joe Young (also available separately). But the extras on the main feature are the same on each version, with a running commentary by stop-motion legend Ray Harryhausen and friends (including audio only interviews with the late Cooper and Fay Wray). Disc-two kicks off with a 1-hour documentary on the life of producer Merian C. Cooper called I’m King Kong. A larger than life figure, Cooper was a fighter pilot in both World Wars and a fearless adventurer who lived his films before putting them on the screen. This is a great featurette that will also premiere on Turner Classic Movies. The big kahuna, though, is the 2 1/2 hour, 7-part documentary RKO Production 601: The Making of Kong, Eighth Wonder of the World. There is simply no aspect of the film that goes unexplored, from the sound design and special effects, to the production’s tenuous beginnings at a studio that was on the cusp of bankruptcy. A big selling point (and unexpected treat) is Peter Jackson’s (director of the upcoming Kong remake) involvement in the reconstruction of the film’s missing “Spider Sequence” where several sailors are attacked by miscellaneous creatures. His crew’s meticulous recreation of the footage with new models and actors is an almost seamless match for the original film – even though it is presented separately. What a great capper to what is without a doubt the best DVD on shelves this year!