The Name's Kong

For Christmas: King Kong Deluxe Extended Edition & Deluxe Extended Limited Edition

2006-12-18T10:49:00.000-08:00

DVD collectors and fans of Oscar® winning filmmaker Peter Jackson's awe-inspiring masterpiece King Kong will be treated to a whole new thrilling movie experience when King Kong: Deluxe Extended Edition comes to DVD on November 14, 2006 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. This definitive three-disc version of Jackson's groundbreaking action-adventure film includes over 13 additional mind-blowing minutes of King Kong's astounding visual effects and exhilarating action. For the first time anywhere, audiences can view both the extended version of the film and the extensive all-new bonus features documenting the imagination and passion behind its making in one must-own set. In addition, the multi-disc DVD is also available in an extraordinary King Kong: Deluxe Extended Limited Edition DVD gift set that includes specially designed collectable packaging. A beautifully crafted King Kong figurine, created exclusively for the package by the Oscar®-winning artists at Weta Workshop and Weta Digital, the company responsible for the film's creature design, special makeups, miniatures and dazzling visual effects, accompanies the gift set. It's the ultimate set for the ultimate King Kong fan.

King Kong!!!! In 30-second-bunnies Style

2006-12-16T19:53:00.000-08:00

This is a must see for any King Kong fan in the entire world.

This the movie reenacted by bunnies in 30 seconds. It is a flash animation, and well the title is pretty self explanatory so I will not try to get into details as it will be useless. However I will leave the link to this fun piece of animation. And also check the links below the flash panel, because there are other 30 second movies to watch.

Enjoy! King Kong (1933) in 30 seconds, re-enacted by bunnies.

Baby boy for King Kong star Black

2006-07-04T19:40:00.000-07:00

Speaking at the Los Angeles premiere of his new comedy Nacho Libre earlier this week, the 36-year-old said he intended to be "the best daddy on the planet".

"I've got the babe back home safe and sound," he told the Access Hollywood TV programme. "I'm anxious to get back."

Black and Haden, the daughter of jazz musician Charlie Haden, wed in March. The baby's name was not disclosed.

King Kong vs Godzilla Toy

2006-06-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

I've seen many of you are looking for a King Kong vs Godzilla Toy.
Well, trying to provide the info you're looking for regarding our beloved Ape, I've been looking on the net but found no trace of this King Kong vs Godzilla Toy.

So... If anyone has knowledge or even better a picture of this myterious toy, please send it in.
You'l be helping a lot of king kong fans looking for this King Kong vs Godzilla toy. :D

Anyway, I won't leave you empty handed, at least I can post the poster. Cya!

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king kong, ape, toys, godzilla, dolls

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2006-06-12T23:12:00.000-07:00

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King Kong videogames

2006-05-17T13:46:00.000-07:00

The film character was the inspiration for the 1981 video game Donkey Kong and subsequent spin-offs, in which the eponymous ape climbs a huge structure after kidnapping a woman, as in the film. Shigeru Miyamoto intended the name 'Donkey Kong' to mean "stubborn gorilla." MCA/Universal attempted to sue Nintendo for copyright infringement in Universal City Studios, Inc. v. Nintendo Co., Ltd.. However, they lost and ended up paying Nintendo $1.8 million in damages when it was discovered that King Kong was in fact in the public domain and that MCA knew it when they filed the lawsuit.
A King Kong game was produced by Tiger Games for the Atari 2600, sporting a blue casing. The game is somewhat rare.
The Rampage games by Atari/Midway also feature a King Kong spoof, named George, as well as a Godzilla spoof and other monsters.
King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch is a Famicom action/adventure games very loosely based on the 1986 movie King Kong Lives. This game was developed by Konami and it disregarded the human characters and other plot elements of the movie. King Kong was presented in a quest to save his female counterpart from the clutches of gigantic robots.
There is human counterpart game of Ikari no Megaton Punch for the MSX computer named King Kong 2, also by Konami.
King Kong makes a special appearance as a playable character in Konami Wai Wai World (also known as Konami World). Interestingly, King Kong does not appear in his usual giant size but rather as a 10 foot tall gorilla. The story of the game mentions King Kong being shrunk down in size after being captured by an army of robots, which directly relates to the game King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch

Kong fighting a V-Rex in the 2005 video game.
War of the Monsters is a 3D fighting game developed by Incognito Entertainment for Sony PlayStation 2 where the characters are various giant monsters inspired by films. One of the monsters is a giant ape named Congar, an obvious King Kong homage. It also features a Godzilla homage called Togera. A bonus mode will all also unlock a secret character named Metal Congar, an obvious reference to Mechani-Kong.
In Capcom's 1989 arcade classic Strider, a 'giant robot ape' confronts the game's hero, Strider Hiryu as a mini-boss; an obvious reference to both Kong and Mechani-Kong. He appears during the Siberian Wilderness Stage (Level 2).
The ending to the video game Viewtiful Joe shows parodies of famous movie posters. One is a King Kong parody, which includes Hulk Davidson (one of the game's bosses) on top of the Empire State Building.
A game for the Game Boy Advance was released based on Kong: The Animated Series.
Peter Jackson's King Kong is a multi-platform video game based on the 2005 film developed and published by Ubisoft.
There is a King Kong pinball game [5]

King Kong on books

2006-05-12T08:42:00.000-07:00

A novelization of the original film was published in December 1932, as part of the film's advance marketing. The novel was credited to Edgar Wallace and Merian C. Cooper, although it was in fact written by Delos W. Lovelace. Apparently Cooper was the key creative influence. In an interview, comic book author Joe DeVito explains:

"From what I know, Edgar Wallace, a famous writer of the time, died very early in the process. Little if anything of his ever appeared in the final story, but his name was retained for its saleability ... King Kong was Cooper’s creation, a fantasy manifestation of his real life adventures. As many have mentioned before, Cooper was Carl Denham. His actual exploits rival anything Indiana Jones ever did in the movies." [1]

This conclusion about Wallace's contribution agrees with The Making of King Kong, by Orville Goldner and George E. Turner (1975). In a diary entry from 1932, Wallace wrote: "I am doing a super-horror story with Merian Cooper, but the truth is it is much more his story than mine ... I shall get much more credit out of the picture than I deserve if it is a success, but as I shall be blamed by the public if it's a failure, that seems fair" (p. 58). Wallace died of pneumonia complicated by diabetes on February 10, 1932, and Cooper later said, "Actually, Edgar Wallace didn't write any of Kong, not one bloody word... I'd promised him credit and so I gave it to him" (p. 59).

Several differences exist in the novel from the completed film, as it reflects an earlier draft of the script that became the final shooting script. The novelization includes scenes from the screenplay that were cut from the completed movie, or were never shot altogether. These include the spider pit sequence, as well as a Styracosaurus attack, and Kong battling three Triceratops.

The original publisher was Grosset & Dunlap. Paperback editions by Bantam (U.S.) and Corgi (U.K.) came out in the 1960s, and it has since been republished by Penguin and Random House.

In 1933, Mystery Magazine published a King Kong serial under the named of Walter F. Ripperger. This is unrelated to the 1932 novel.

Kong: King of Skull Island, an illustrated novel labeled as an authorized sequel to King Kong (1933), was published in 2004 by DH Press, a subsidiary of Dark Horse Comics. A large-paperback edition was released in 2005. Authorized by the family and estate of Merian C. Cooper, the book was created & illustrated by Joe DeVito, written by Brad Strickland with John Michlig, and includes an introduction by Ray Harryhausen. The novel's story ignores the existence of Son of Kong (1933) and continues the story of Skull Island with Carl Denham and Jack Driscoll in the late 1950's, through the novel's central character, Vincent Denham. (Ann Darrow is not included, but mentioned several times.) The novel also becomes a prequel that reveals the story of the early history of Kong, of Skull Island, and of the natives of the island.

Over the decades, there have been numerous comic book adaptations of the 1933 King Kong by various comic-book publishers, and a current one of the 2005-remake by Dark Horse Comics.

What movies did King Kong stared in???

2006-05-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

King Kong (1933). The original, classic film, is remembered for its pioneering special effects using stop-motion models, animatronics and evocative story. Considered by some to be the greatest motion picture of all time.
Son of Kong (1933). A sequel released the same year, it concerns a return expedition to Skull Island that discovers Kong's son.
King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962). A film produced by Toho Studios in Japan. It brought the titular characters to life (the first time for both characters to be in a film in color) via the process of suitmation. The Toho Kong actually has no relation to the original American monster. In the Toho version he is at least five times the size of the one in King Kong, and he can shoot electricity from his fingers.
King Kong Escapes (1967). Another Toho film in which Kong faces both a mechanical double, dubbed Mechani-Kong, and a giant theropod dinosaur known as Gorosaurus (who would appear in Toho's Destroy All Monsters the following year).
King Kong (1976) A remake by film producer Dino De Laurentiis, released by Paramount Pictures, and director John Guillermin. Jessica Lange and Jeff Bridges starred. The film was generally panned by critics at the time, but its reputation has improved with time, and it was eventually a commercial success. Even at the time of release, however, several prominent and well-respected critics such as Pauline Kael and Roger Ebert applauded the de Laurentiis version. It also won an Oscar for special effects.
King Kong Lives (1986). Released by De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG). Starring Linda Hamilton, a sequel by the same producer and director as the 1976 film which involves Kong surviving his fall from the sky and requiring a coronary operation. It includes a female Kong, who was now pregnant.
Kongfrontation (1990 Attraction) - A ride at Universal Orlando Resort, it opened in 1990 and closed in 2002, replaced by the Revenge of the Mummy attraction. The ride featured a queue which represented a New York City subway station. The ride itself took place in a Roosevelt Island cable car, where you and other civilians made an attempt to escape the wrath of Kong. Guests traveled through the streets of New York, had two encounters with the beast, and arrived safely at their destination.
King Kong (Universal Backlot) continually attacks tram tours of the backlot at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Peter Jackson's King Kong (2005). A Universal Pictures remake of the original by Academy award-winning New Zealand director Peter Jackson, best known for directing the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The most recent incarnation of Kong is also the longest, running three hours and eight minutes. Winner of three Academy Awards for visual effects, sound mixing, and sound editing.

Late in 2005, the BBC and Hollywood trade papers reported that a 3-D stereoscopic version of the 2005 film was being created from the animation files, and live actors digitally enhanced for 3D display. This may be just an elaborate 3D short for Universal Studios Theme Park, or a digital 3D version for general release in 2006.

Weird link 4 today: KING KONG SAVES THE TITANIC

2006-05-05T16:17:00.000-07:00

Yes, this exists in the twisted mind of someone, nope it's not me. Check out the summary, and the link at the end of the post.

¿Can you imagine Grace Kelly, Jacques Cousteau and zoologist Dian Fossey trying to rescue some documents from the sunken Titanic, with the help of King Kong?

In a suitcase in the basement of his house, Philip Davis finds some documents concerning his grandfather, which make mention of an invention which could revolutionize the industrialized world. The plans for its fabrication had been personally taken by his grandfather from England to New York in 1912, aboard the transatlantic liner the Titanic, but the sinking of the great ship caused the irrevocable loss of these extremely valuable papers.

Many years later, in 1972, Philip decides to undertake the unlikely adventure of rescuing those documents, which he thinks are safely hidden in one of the strong boxes of the sunken ship. After unsuccessfully trying to obtain collaboration from

various official points, he becomes friendly with a woman of an inquisitive nature named Dian Fossey, apparently a renouned zoologist expert in mountain gorillas.

They both become enthused about the invention, and she lets him know that the only way to rescue the papers is by bringing the ship to the surface, but that in order to do this, they need the help of a gigantic gorilla that lives hidden away in a remote island of the Bahamas.

Subsequently an expert sea captain named Jaques Cousteau, world renouned for his studies of submarine life, becomes involved in the heroic project. Cousteau has at his disposal the ship Calipso, an old mine dredger duly refurbished as a vessel for the submarine investigation. A computer expert charged with the task of communicating with the great gorilla by means of a sophisticated voice-recognition device, joins the others, followed by a photographer who in turn is a specialist in ship motors.

Before making the trip to the Bahamas, they stop off in the Principality of Monaco, where they obtain the valuable help of Princess Grace Kelly and her husband Rainiero, as both are great friends of Cousteau and Fossey.

The trip by sea to that tiny island is complicated due to the strong marine currents which put the Calipso to the test; but the worst part of the trip is the encounter with a band of ruthless modern pirates who try to kill them and take over the ship. Our friends also have to brave other no less serious trials, such as the attack by the 'flying birds' described by Christopher Columbus on his trip to the Americas, as well as the challenge of facing the Sea of the Sargazos, which proved a mortal trap for the boat.

When they arrive on the island several days later, they are totally amazed by the sight of that gigantic gorilla, which they must then communicate with in order to ask for his help. But this would not be the most serious problem for them to resolve, since taking the Titanic from the sea bottom and finally rescuing the precious documents, would put the courage and strength of our protagonists to the test.

Interested? Click here to go to the Main Website (check out those neat special effects!)

Batman, King Kong, BSG Top Saturns

2006-05-03T12:38:00.000-07:00

Batman Begins and King Kong topped the winners at the 32nd annual Saturn Awards, taking home three statuettes each in ceremonies in Universal City, Calif., on May 2. Among the television nominees, SCI FI Channel's original series Battlestar Galactica dominated the winners, with three awards. The Saturns were given by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films.

The Batman prequel took home awards for best fantasy film, best actor (Christian Bale) and best writing (director Christopher Nola and David S. Goyer).

King Kong won for best actress (Naomi Watts), best director (Peter Jackson) and best special effects (Joe Letteri, Richard Taylor, Christian Rivers, Brian Van't Hul). Star Wars: Episode III, Sin City and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe each got two Saturns.

Galactica took home prizes for best syndicated/cable TV series, best supporting actor on TV (James Callis) and best supporting actress (Katee Sackhoff).

ABC's Lost won two Saturns, for best network television series and best actor (Matthew Fox).

Legendary F/X maven Ray Harryhausen was presented with the George Pal Memorial Award. Director Jon Favreau presented the award.

Shane Black won the Filmmakers Showcase Award.

King Kong, and Others to be Released in 3D

2006-04-30T10:36:00.000-07:00

According to this Reuters report, James Cameron Cameron wants the "movie industry to offer films in digital 3D to counteract declining sales and rampant piracy." Makes sense to me. I've always enjoyed going to the movies, but with gas prices on the rise and all of my other expenses, I just rent the movie later on since it's cheaper. Perhaps, bringing 3D to the movies on a regular basis would give consumers more of a reason to go, since you can't view 3D movies on the Web or on a PMP.

So which movie does Cameron have on his mind to rerelease as 3D? The ever-popular Titanic, of course, my favorite movie of all time. Meanwhile, Peter Jackson is considering a 3D rerelease of King Kong and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. And for those Star Wars obsessed fans, you'll be happy to know that George Lucas plans to rerelease the original Star Wars in 3D.

Keep your fingers crossed movie-goers. 3d is coming!!!

King Kong's perch turns 75 Monday

2006-04-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK — Born in the Great Depression, it has weathered economic hardship, world war, labor strikes, murder, terrorist fears and a plane crash.

The Empire State Building, once the tallest building in the world and again the tallest in New York City, is turning 75 Monday.

A yearlong celebration is planned for the building, consisting mainly of monthly light shows, according to Lydia Ruth, spokeswoman for the corporation that runs the building.

Like London's Crystal Palace and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Empire State Building represented in its time "what we were capable of," says Carol Willis, an architectural historian and founder-director of Lower Manhattan's Skyscraper Museum.

Information

Empire State Building:

www.esbnyc.com

The Skyscraper Museum: www.skyscraper.org/

Construction of the Empire State Building was one of the most remarkable feats of the 20th century. It took 410 days to build by 3,400 workers, many of them desperate for work at the height of the Great Depression. The work force was made up largely of immigrants, along with hundreds of Mohawk Indian ironworkers.

The 1,453-foot, 8-9/16-inch tower opened May 1, 1931, with President Herbert Hoover pressing a button in Washington to turn on its lights. Architect William Lamb, the chief designer, messaged former New York Gov. Alfred E. Smith from a ship at sea: "One day out and I can still see the building."

Timing of the opening was abysmal, coming as the Depression was deepening. It soon earned the nickname Empty State Building.

Built of steel and aluminum and faced with granite and Indiana limestone, it was for about 40 years the world's tallest building until surpassed in 1972 by the World Trade Center. It again became the city's tallest after airliners flown by terrorist hijackers destroyed the 110-story twin towers on Sept. 11, 2001. It now ranks ninth in the world, and second in the United States behind Chicago's Tower.

Facts

THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, the tallest building in New York since Sept. 11, 2001, celebrates its 75th birthday Monday. Some facts to know:

Excavation: Began Jan. 22, 1930.

Construction: Began March 17, 1930.

Design: Architectural firm of Shreve, Lamb and Harmon.

Cornerstone: Original laid by former New York Gov. Alfred E. Smith Sept. 17, 1930.

Framework: Rose at a rate of 4 ½ stories a week.

Construction time: One year and 45 days, including Sundays and holidays (completed ahead of schedule).

Height: The main building rises to 1,250 feet at the 102nd floor. Its total height is 1,453 feet, 8 9/16 inches to the top of the lightning rod.

Key events

May 1, 1931: President Herbert Hoover presses a button in Washington, officially opening the building and turning on its lights.

July 28, 1945: An Army Air Corps B-25 bomber crashes into the building between the 79th and 80th floors. Fourteen people are killed as the plane gouges an 18-by-20 foot hole, and one engine ploughs through the building, emerging on the other side. The structural integrity of the building is unaffected. Repair costs $1 million.

1986: The National Parks Service recognizes the building as a National Historic Landmark.

August 2004: After the death of actress Fay Wray, star of the original 1930s film "King Kong," the building stood in complete darkness for 15 minutes.

In the movies

The building has figured in about 90 movies, including "An Affair to Remember," "Sleepless in Seattle," "Manhattan," "On the Town," "Prisoner of Second Avenue," "Superman II" and of course "King Kong," featuring the giant ape that climbed to the top clutching Fay Wray to escape his captors.

Sources: Reuters and Empire State Building Web site

Its 102 floors are topped by a 200-foot tower designed as a mooring mast for dirigibles. The mast was never used because of dangerous updrafts, but it did serve "King Kong" movies as a perch for swatting fighter planes.

The building's image was hurt by the Sept. 11 attacks, which scared potential tenants who feared it could be the next target. In September 2001, 8 percent of the building's commercial space was empty. Today, that figure is 17 percent compared with 6 percent for the surrounding area, according to data from Colliers ABR real-estate firm.

Building management is fighting back with a massive renovation on the elevators, windows, plumbing and security. More than $75 million has been spent, though the improvement cannot provide tenants with wide-open floor plans because of the structure's bulky columns.

"The Empire State Building is making a concerted effort to reclaim some of its past glory," said David Hoffman, executive managing director of Colliers.

Out-of-towners still flock to its 86th-floor observation deck. Visitors have included Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II, Cuban President Fidel Castro, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and Lassie.

On July 28, 1945 — three weeks before the end of World War II — an Army B-25 bomber lost in morning fog crashed into the north side of the Empire State Building, killing three crew members and 11 people in the building.

The impact shook the building, one of the plane's engines flew out the other side and crashed onto a roof far below, and an elevator operator survived a 1,000-foot plunge. The 14 deaths matched the number of workers killed in construction.

In 1997, a mentally disturbed man killed a Dutch tourist and wounded seven others on the observation deck and then killed himself.

The toll of other suicides is uncertain; a man who climbed the observation-deck fence and jumped to his death in 2004 was variously reported as either the 31st or the 34th. At least two would-be suicides survived when wind gusts blew them back onto the building.

Last week, a daredevil tried to parachute off the building but was stopped by officers.

The building absorbs about 100 lightning strikes a year but does not, as is popularly supposed, sway in the wind. The tower's rigid frame allows it to move less than two inches.

King Kong DVD Specs Announced

2006-03-04T00:52:00.001-08:00

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced that Peter Jackson's King Kong will arrive in stores March 28, 2006.

The DVD, featuring collectable original package artwork specially designed by the Oscar®-winning artists at WETA Digital Ltd, the production company behind the film's dazzling visual effects, is available in both the thrilling original theatrical version and a Special Edition two-disc set that gives audiences a whole new "Kong" experience. Featuring a fascinating inside look into the creation of the film's two cinematic worlds -- Skull Island and 1933 New York City -- the Special Edition offers an unparalleled opportunity to share Peter Jackson's creative genius and the cast and crew's passion in bringing the timeless story to the screen. The single disc version is available at $29.98 SRP and the two-disc Special Edition is priced at $30.98 SRP.

"'King Kong' is one of those rare cinematic achievements that reminds us of the truly magical power of movies," says Craig Kornblau, President of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. "From the first frame, Peter Jackson and his team take us on an unforgettable adventure that not only thrills, but also touches us on a deep, emotional level. We are extremely proud to be able to bring this one-of-a-kind film to home entertainment audiences."

"The original 'King Kong' inspired me to become a filmmaker," said director/producer Peter Jackson. "It's a story that had a profound personal impact and shepherding its return to the big screen has been a dream come true. Contributing to the DVD afforded me the opportunity to share this amazing experience with audiences and highlight the incredible achievements of our exceptional cast and crew."

King Kong features a stellar cast including Oscar® nominee Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Oscar® winner Adrien Brody, Colin Hanks, and Andy Serkis. Director and producer Jackson co-wrote the update on the classic 1933 film with his longtime collaborators and fellow Oscar® winners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. The film has earned over $215 million at the box-office and is nominated for four Academy Awards®, including Best Visual Effects, Best Art Direction, Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing.

A timeless tale of love and survival, King Kong is the story of a desperate young actress, Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts), and an ambitious and unscrupulous movie producer, Carl Denham (Jack Black), who travel to a mysterious jungle island. There they discover an extraordinary lost world, and encounter Kong, a gigantic, savage gorilla who is unexpectedly smitten with the leading lady. But it is their mutual empathy and affection that eventually lead to the beast's tragic downfall.

The two-disc King Kong Special Edition DVD allows viewers unparalleled access to the world of visionary filmmaker Peter Jackson as he creates this larger-than-life epic adventure for the ages. Thrilling behind-the-scenes features bring this instant classic to viewers in a whole new way with exclusive content that follows the film's stars and crew in action as they bring this timeless tale to the screen.

Special Introduction by Peter Jackson

Post Production Diaries -- Director Peter Jackson takes you on an unforgettable journey with Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody and the crew of King Kong as they reveal virtually every aspect of post production on this groundbreaking film, nearly three hours of exclusive behind the scenes footage!

Skull Island: A Natural History -- Travel to treacherous Skull Island with Peter Jackson and his crew! From its mysterious origins to its reclusive inhabitants and jaw-dropping creatures, uncover the fascinating facts about one of the last uncharted places on earth.

Kong's New York, 1933 -- 1930s New York comes alive in this fascinating piece that explores vaudeville, the skyscraper boom, the construction of the Empire State building and more.

King Kong nominated for Empire awards

2006-03-04T00:52:00.000-08:00

Peter Jackson's 'King Kong' remake has been nominated for five prizes at the 2006 Empire magazine film awards.

Although it was virtually ignored by the Golden Globes, the Baftas, and the Oscars, the film has been shortlisted for Best Film, Best Director, Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Best Actor for Andy Serkis and Best Actress for Naomi Watts.

Comedian Bill Bailey will host this month's ceremony, for the only movie awards voted for by the British public.

'Pride and Prejudice', 'Crash' and 'Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit' have four nominations each.

King Kong is competing with 'Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith', 'War Of The Worlds', 'Crash', and 'Sin City' in the Best Film category.

Both 'King Kong' and 'Revenge Of The Sith' are up against 'Serenity', 'The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe' and 'Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire' for the new Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy award.

Jackson is joined in the best director category by Steven Spielberg ('War Of The Worlds'), Christopher Nolan ('Batman Begins'), Joe Wright ('Pride & Prejudice'), Ron Howard ('Cinderella Man') and Nick Park and Steve Box ('The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit').

Empire magazine's editor-in-chief, Colin Kennedy, said the awards are designed to recognise movies of all genres.

"This outstanding and diverse line-up is the only shortlist to celebrate the best movies of 2005, films that were not only widely seen by the ordinary public but cherished and remembered some months later," he said.

"While the Oscars and the Baftas rightfully celebrate the narrow set of prestige movies released during 'awards season', our show is designed to recognise movies of all genres, echoing the way ordinary filmgoers talk about movies."

The ceremony will be held at the Hilton London Metropole on 13 March.

How many siblings did King Kong have?

2006-01-31T08:10:00.000-08:00

Who were King Kong's parents?

No, really. How did that 25-foot gorilla come to be on that island in the first place? Did he begin life as a normal chimp, blowing up to monstrous size as a result of atomic radiation? Is he a genetic freak? The result of a rare glandular problem? Or is there a 25-foot Mr. and Mrs. Kong, and a whole bunch of Kong siblings, clomping through the jungle in search of 10-foot bananas?

Inquiring minds want to know.

At least one of our colleagues did. He pointed out that the lack of biological accounting for Kong is one of the holes in Peter Jackson's $207 million "King Kong" remake.

Actually, there is a hint: At one point, Kong is shown with a number of what look like gorilla skeletons, indicating that he may be the last of his species.

But the real answer, of course, is that a movie in which a 25-foot ape falls in love with a 5-foot burlesque dancer, climbs to the top of the Empire State Building and is shot down by fighter planes is not exactly an exercise in Euclidean logic.

Makes you think, though.

For one thing, it makes you think about all the other movies that have left you with loose threads, unresolved story lines, unanswered questions. In a word: holes.

Here are some of our favorites.

What does The Ring do?

Everyone in "The Lord of the Rings" wants The Ring. Civilizations rise and fall because of it, armies clash, trees pull themselves up by their roots and traipse across Christopher Lee's patio. The Ring, we are told, is the essence of pure power. It will make anybody supreme over all the Earth.

But what does it do?

The one attribute we are shown -- that it makes the wearer invisible -- hardly seems the kind of thing that brings down empires.

Take me to your leader.com?

Aliens in giant spaceships invade Earth, destroying the White House, the Empire State Building and other photogenic national monuments in "Independence Day." Luckily, computer geek Jeff Goldblum is on hand, with his trusty Macintosh laptop, to save the day by creating a computer virus that disables the mother ship. Aliens from another galaxy use Mac? As several real computer geeks pointed out at the time, Mac isn't even compatible with most Earth systems.

"Rosebud": Who hears it?

"Rosebud," the last word on the lips of a dying millionaire, triggers the plot of "Citizen Kane," by common consent the greatest film ever made. For the entire film, everybody is obsessed with this mysterious word and what it might mean. Only problem is, no one heard it. At the beginning of the film, Kane (Orson Welles) says "Rosebud," drops the souvenir glass ball that shatters on the floor, and only then does a nurse come in and cover over the lifeless Kane.

What happened to Miss Gulch?

Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz" runs away from home because Miss Gulch has threatened to kill her dog, Toto. In the land of Oz, with the help of the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion and a very bad Wizard, she learns that "there's no place like home." And so she wakes up, teary and grateful -- but Miss Gulch is still out there. Does she come back the next day, take repossession of Toto and have him gassed? The movie doesn't say. But it seems likely, doesn't it?

What happens to Dracula's wives?

An oldie but goodie. Dracula, played by Bela Lugosi in the 1931 classic, leaves his three wives in his castle in Transylvania in order to prey on the civilized world. He is finally tracked down by the intrepid professor Van Helsing to a cellar in London and staked through the heart just in time to save the heroine from a fate worse than death. But what happened to Dracula's wives? Presumably, they're still back in Transylvania, enjoying the local blood supply.

BRODY'S LITTLE DOG HELPS HIM WITH KING KONG CHARACTER

2006-01-21T06:52:00.000-08:00

Oscar-winner ADRIEN BRODY used the memory of losing his beloved Chihuahua CEELO to inspire him for the desperate chase scenes in new movie KING KONG.

The actor was forced to leave his little pet with friends while he filmed King Kong in New Zealand and he missed him dearly.

That and memories of losing the dog, a gift from his girlfriend, helped him get into character for scenes in which he was looking for his big screen love interest NAOMI WATTS.

He explains, "He was the emotional basis for the scene when I was searching for Naomi's character. She's lost in the jungle and I'm calling for her... That was very real to me.

"I've had scenarios where Ceelo has f**king disappeared on me, run away, what have you. It's the most frightening, frustrating thing because he's so small."

The Real King Kong???? Could it be???

2006-01-13T06:55:00.000-08:00

Peter Jackson's King Kong is set on a mysterious, uncharted island. He might as well have shot it in Kerala.

Or so it would seem, if — and that's literally a big if — claims by a team of amateur anthropologists are proved true.

The team claims to have discovered footprints of a "giant-man" who had a shoe size of 29 inches, lived in a shelter 50 metres high and weighed well over 400 kg.

Going by the footprint size, the creature may have been as tall as 17 feet, which would make it easily the "largest human form to roam the earth".

Read more at King Kong in Kerala?

King Kong Arrives To China

2006-01-13T06:53:00.000-08:00

Director Peter Jackson's 145-million-dollar remake of King Kong is expected to debut in mainland cinemas today. The third version stays true to the original plot while adding in many special effects. Our reporter Shanshan takes a detailed look at the film.

A film director and his crew on a visit to a mysterious island discover the existence of a legendary giant gorilla named Kong. Troubles come when the island natives capture the crew's leading lady as a sacrifice to the monster.

But it is the attention of the beautiful woman that soothes Kong long enough for him to be subdued by the explorers and brought back to New York, where his bleak future involves being put on display for humans' entertainment.

The film boasts an all-star cast including Adrien Brody, Jack Black and Naomi Watts and earns the New-Zealand director a bumper 20-million dollar paycheck. But money isn't the only thing that drew actor Jack Black to the film. The tale of the giant monkey King Kong has a special place in his heart.

"To me it's about what a nine-year-old boy imagines magic could be…"

In a departure from his usual roles, funny man Jack Black plays the over-zealous filmmaker who captures King Kong.

"I remember thinking to myself while I was watching 'Lord of the Rings'…And then I got the call from King Kong…"

Australian star Naomi Watts is lead actress, and did her ample share of screaming as did the heroines in the previous two versions.

"I did a lot of screaming in King Kong. I think I screamed a lot…"

King Kong has already grabbed more than $200 million in North America, and in Hong Kong it's also been the box office ruler for quite some time.

On the mainland, the film debuts in mid January, when many domestic films also rush to capture the Spring Festival film market. But given the attraction of the storyline and dazzling special effects, insiders are still confident the film's box office earnings in China are expected to surpass 100 million yuan.

King Kong Game's Happy Ending

2005-12-28T09:59:00.000-08:00

Besides the novelty of being able to tear up New York City as the titular great ape, the game adaptation of the King Kong movie now has another draw.

Ubisoft has announced that Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie contains an alternate ending to its filmic inspiration, "in which players can save the giant ape from his cinematic death, pilot an airplane, and discover Kong back home on his native Skull Island." Players who finish the game and then earn 250,000 points while replaying it will be able to access the alternate ending. Ubisoft did not say which versions of the multiplatform game had the ending.

Surprisingly, the alternate conclusion was made with director Jackson's express blessing. "I wanted the game to be able to take the audience a bit further than what the film could," said Jackson.

Related posts: King Kong for Xbox

Who was Fay wray?

2005-12-28T06:26:00.000-08:00

As you may know Fay Wray was the actress on the original King Kong film who played Ann Darrow. She passed away last year at age 96, leaving the world as a Hollywood myth. Here's a small biography.

Vina Fay Wray saw the light of the day on September 15, 1907. Born in Alberta, Canada, Wray appeared since her early teens on movie productions as an extra.

Her most important role during the 20s was for the great movie "The Wedding March" (1928) directed by Erich Von Stroheim.

Thanks to her acting, Fay reached movie stardom and became one of the greatest actresses during the 30s. She appeared in movies like "Thunderbolt" and "The Mystery of the Wax Museum". But those roles where just a prelude for the film that helped her become a myth. Yes, that was King Kong (1933), a film by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack.

Form there, she continued working in films until the early 40s, by that time she married screen player Robert Riskin. During the 50s she would continue working but ion television, leaving the big screen.

Fay Wray passed away on August 8, 2004. At age 96.

Jack Black admits monkeying around during King Kong filming

2005-12-28T06:25:00.000-08:00

Taking a cue from his “King Kong” co-star, Jack Black admits he went ape during the filming of the box office blockbuster and “had a bit of a lost weekend.”

The 36-year-old actor, who insists that he’s usually “very responsible on set,” told GQ that during a free weekend he “did some ecstasy and I went on a kind of crazy rampage and I started smoking (again).”

Hairy stuff!

“Me and another member of the cast, who will remain nameless, just running around, dancing around, drinking and ecstasizing, smoking like a chimney. And then it was over,” he reports in next month’s issue.

The “School of Rock” man did say that he’s since quit smoking — again! — and is on a strict diet.

In “King Kong,” Black plays Carl Denham, a filmmaker who traps Kong and brings him to New York.

King Kong Toys for this Holidays

2005-12-23T08:03:00.000-08:00

If you are like me, you probably don't know what to give to your little loved ones as a gift for this Christmas. There are a lot of toys out there, for grown ups and children alike. But since this blog is about King Kong, I'm going to show you some King Kong toys to make this Chritmas a "Kongmas"!!! Ok.. maybe not. From toys based about Classic King Kong, to the recent King Kong movie's toys, to busts, you can find almost anything on the web.

Check out some of the King Kong toys out there!

Classic King Kong, chained - Movie Maniacs
King Kong Deluxe Figure: Roaring Kong
Kong The 8th Wonder Of The World: Electronic Kong Arms
King Kong and Ann Darrow Bronze Bust
Jack & Denham Ravine Struggle

And that's to name a few, you can't imagine the amount of toy merchandise out there. If I just couldd...grab..my..wallet..... Argh!!

King Kong on a Good Cause

2005-12-22T08:11:00.000-08:00

As an alternative to the traditional angel, a toy replica of King Kong was used to put the finishing touch on a Harrogate Christmas tree to launch a new campaign by Cancer Research UK.

Images of Kong – whose latest movie blockbuster hit cinema screens last week – are being used on special fundraising badges now available in selected shops.
The collectable badges, which come in four unique designs, are on sale throughout December – including at Cancer Research UK's own Wishes outlet in Beulah Street, Harrogate – for a suggested donation of £1. The entire proceeds from sales will go directly to helping the charity achieve its goal of curing cancer faster.
To help launch the campaign, the charity also enlisted the help of George Claydon, whose mum Ingrid was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 when he was only two. Since then, Ingrid has helped raise thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK, with George supporting her.
King Kong badges are also available Peacocks, Wilkinsons, Game, Murco and Cineworld cinemas – all supporters of Cancer Research UK.

Roger Ebert's Top 2005 movies - King Kong 8th Position

2005-12-22T08:05:00.000-08:00

Roger Ebert has written his review for the best movies of 2005 at his website rogerebert.com. And King Kong is in 8th place. The only blockbuster surrounded by smaller movies. Here's what Ebert says about King Kong:

A stupendous cliffhanger, a glorious adventure, a shameless celebration of every single resource of the blockbuster, told in a film of visual beauty and surprising emotional impact. Of course, this will be the most popular film of the year, and nothing wrong with that: If movies like "King Kong" didn't delight us with the magic of the cinema, we'd never start going in the first place. Peter Jackson's triumph is not a remake of the 1933 classic so much as a celebration of its greatness and a flowering of its possibilities. Its most particular contribution is in the area of the heart: It transforms the somewhat creepy relationship of the gorilla and the girl into a celebration of empathy, in which a vaudeville acrobat (Naomi Watts) intuitively understands that when Kong roars he isn't threatening her but stating his territorial dominance; she responds with acrobatics that delight him, not least because Kong has been a gorilla few have ever tried to delight. From their relationship flows the emotional center of the film, which spectacular special effects surround and enhance, but could not replace.

The Name’s Kong “King Kong” Review

2005-12-19T06:54:00.000-08:00

I finally got to see King Kong this weekend. I had a lot of work during the week so I missed the premiere L. I went with a friend who kept saying during the movie “wasn’t the ape supposed to be bigger?” …. Back to the subject of the post, here’s my review on King Kong.

King Kong is a long movie, so please don’t go too late as I did. Even so, the movie was so well done that it kept me with attention the whole time. It first starts wit the people’s story, the whole sets and environments depicting the New York of that time are just beautiful and gives us the feeling of the recession the country was going through. Naomi Watts gives us a top performance as a poor actress trying to just make it through the day and dreaming of getting a big part in a Hollywood Movie. We get to know the rest of the cast: Jack Black, as a director, and Adrien Brody as Jack Driscoll, a writer.

Then we get to the action on Skull Island. The special effects are just brilliant, the action scenes involving CG characters are some of the better I’ve ever seen. You totally forget they are computer animated characters and feel the emotion in your stomach as you see this giant creatures come to life. But the best of course is King Kong. Most of the props goes to Andy Serkis, who actually plays 2 roles on the film. Serkis acted live with Naomi Watts, that’s what helped her get the emotions running for her role. King Kong eveals itself as a character with emotions but still keeping this wild animal side. As you all know he “falls in love” with Ann Darrow. But I would not call it love, it is more like a strange friendship born in strange circumstances. We discover King Kong is lonely in an aggressive environment. The perfect animation of his facial features can help us know what King Kong is feeling. He also looks more like a giant gorilla, than in the original version, which of course add a lot more of life likeness.

Finally we get to the final part of the story, when King Kong is carried to the city. This is where the stronger emotions come out in the film. And makes a perfect finale, mixing love and sadness which leave us with a unique feeling.

As I said the movie is long, but you don’t notice it at all, because it doesn’t go to sloooooow parts (yeah just like the one you saw in Episode III) so you will definitely enjoy it, if you haven’t enjoyed it already. Go to see King Kong today!!! ;)

King Kong Diaries DVD is OUT!!

2005-12-13T19:16:00.000-08:00

When director Peter Jackson released his special extended DVD version of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" in 2002 with some five hours of expertly made bonus material, it was a groundbreaking event that set a new standard in the marketing of deluxe DVDs.

Just hours before the release of his blockbuster "King Kong," however, Jackson has done himself one better. With his release Tuesday of "King Kong: Peter Jackson's Production Diaries," he's marketing the DVD bonus material BEFORE his movie comes out in theaters.

The boxed-set, which sells for $39.98, boasts two discs, together running three hours and 46 minutes, introduced by Jackson and chronicling the film's 131-day shoot in 54 segments originally made for the movie's official Internet fan site, kongisking.net.

Jackson says the discs are not "a calculated piece of publicity" but an idea that "grew without a master plan" as he realized that the more informally made Internet spots were capturing the production experience in a unique way that deserved a higher-quality DVD showcase.

The scenes have a much more relaxed, spontaneous cinema verite feel to them than the slick bonus material Jackson produced for his three "Rings" special edition DVDs, and he claims they "accurately and truly reflect the tone of the making of this film."

The "Diaries" package, which comes in a faux-antique traveling case modeled on the one used by expedition leader Carl Denham in the original "Kong," also includes a 52-page, full-color booklet with production notes, drawings and images from the film.

Also included are four specially commissioned, 8-by-10-inch production lithographs that come with a numbered "certificate of authenticity" signed by Jackson. The advertising stresses that the set is a "limited edition," with value as a collectible.

Only time will tell if this concept will become a major new element of movie promotion, but superproducer Jerry Bruckheimer said in Seattle last week he thought it was "brilliant ... what a smart idea. You put out the bonus material first and it promotes the movie."

As he points out, however, it's hardly a new idea. In the pre-wide-release era, movie studios routinely showcased their big releases with special souvenir booklets and "making-of" theatrical featurettes. Jackson is merely updating the "road show" concept to the DVD era.

Of course, with DVD sales more important than a film's theatrical gross, the argument might be made that the early release of so many production secrets may not be such a great idea, because it could lessen the appeal of the eventual special edition DVD package of "King Kong."

And there's a definite downside to viewing what is essentially a four-hour advertisement for a movie one day before seeing it. It's not exactly a complete spoiler, but it certainly cuts down on the surprises and makes the movie itself a wee bit of an anti-climax.

King Kong is coming!!!

2005-12-13T19:02:00.000-08:00

Listen up! New Zealand folks!

A crowd has begun to form along Wellington's Courtney Place in anticipation of the New Zealand premiere of King Kong, Peter Jackson's latest film.

By 11am an estimated 200 fans lined the red carpet outside the Embassy Theatre on a scorching summer's day in the capital.

Buskers, stilt walkers and comedians will start the entertainment on the red carpet at 3.30pm. Kiwi celebrities including Dave Dobbyn, Karl Urban and Marc Ellis will arrive at 5.30pm, when Wellington rock band Odessa will play music to pep up the crowd. Jackson and the stars, except for Jack Black who has commitments in the United States, will start arriving at 6pm.

After speeches, guests will watch the three hour-long King Kong in the Embassy from 7pm, followed by a premiere party at Massey University's Grand Hall.

TODAY'S EVENTS

3pm: Allen St and Blair St closed to most vehicles.

3.30pm: Entertainment begins on red carpet, which will run from Allen St to Embassy Theatre. Includes buskers, stilt walkers and comedians 5pm: Guests begin arriving.

5.30pm: NZ celebrities arrive, including Dave Dobbyn, Karl Urban, Daniel Carter, Trelise Cooper, Marc Ellis, Norm Hewitt and Shihad frontman Jon Toogood.

6pm: King Kong stars arrive - Peter Jackson, Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, Colin Hanks, Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Thomas Kretschmann and Philippa Boyens.

6.45pm: Speeches.

7pm: Invitation-only King Kong screening. Roads will begin opening.

10.30pm: Invitation-only party at the Great Hall, Massey University.

King Kong in the Top ten most expensive films

2005-12-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

That's right people. King Kong ranks as the 6th most expensive film in the history of Hollywood.

The total movie costed $207 million dollars, almost 20 times than the original King Kong movie, back in 1933.

The most expensive ever was Cleopatra, with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, directed by Joseph Mankiewicz in 1963, for $286,4-million (in 2005 money). Second was Titanic-$247 million, third was Waterworld-$229 million, fourth Terminator 3-$216 million, and fifth Spiderman 2- $210 million.

Below King Kong are Wild Wild West-$203,8 million and Speed 2-$198 million dollars.

A Little Bit of the Original King Kong History

2005-12-10T08:18:00.000-08:00

During the years following the Stock Market Crack in 1929, two documentary makers accustomed to the wild and exotic places joined forces to film the Edgar Wallace's story about a giant gorilla living in a lost island in Indonesia.

They choose Fay Wray as the film's leading actress, by that time, Wray was just starting to get noticed as an "scream queen" actress in the 30's Hollywood. This lovely redhead gave life to Ann Darrow, the love victim of the misterious king Kong, a giant gorilla.

This first King Kong, animated frame by frame, with a precise architecture work, was the most spectacular work of specialist William O'Brien, father of this animation system. They needed not only to animate King Kong, but also the animals that lived in the island: triceratops, T-Rex, giant snakes and ancient birds in a dense jungle mixed with live actors. And it worked.

King Kong was a huge success after its premiere, Fay Wray stayed as the mythic image of the innocence in the wild. And the Empire States building could never be looked again the same way.

Jackson talks about King Kong

2005-12-08T07:11:00.000-08:00

Peter Jackson talks about King Kong, his devotion to the project, movie lenght, and how it was his dream project since he was a kid.

I cried when I saw the original King Kong," says Peter Jackson. "I wanted to become a film-maker the moment I saw it.

"Actually, I wanted to become a monster-maker first," Jackson corrects himself, "because I didn't really know what directing was. But I wanted to create that sort of imaginative experience because, for me, that film does what entertainment should. It captivates you. It sweeps you away to another place but it also affects you emotionally. It's the reason I'm in the film business."

"The sense of responsibility has been great because I'm remaking my favourite movie," he says. "I just wanted to try to step in the footsteps of the original. I wanted to do something that was as entertaining today as the original was back in 1933."

Then Peter Jackson talks about the so famous King Kong movie lenght.

"The length of a film is not really a science," he explains. "You budget for a certain length and you make plans for that, but ... I don't know what to say. We shot the script and kept trimming back. I mean, we shot a lot more than what ended up in the movie."

Jackson screened a finished version which ran to 187 minutes. "We said, listen, we don't know whether this length is an issue for you but we want to have your feedback," he recalls. "They liked it and didn't have a concern about the length at all."

King Kong was a good diet!!

2005-12-07T12:05:00.000-08:00

Peter Jackson has lost some pounds!! all that big gorilla action must have something to do with the "Extreme makeover" :P.

Anyway, as "this is London" says ----This must be Thin Kong!

He was almost unrecognisable when he attended the King Kong Premiere in New York.

'At first no one was taking any notice of him. I think a lot of people thought he was a bit part actor,' said an onlooker.

'It was some time before most of the crowd realised they were looking at Peter Jackson.

'He must have lost at least seven or eight stone and he was wearing contact lenses.

'He actually looked quite handsome, whereas previously he had been challenging Michael Moore for least attractive man in Hollywood.'

King Kong Flash Game

2005-12-02T06:07:00.000-08:00

There are few days left for the premiere of King Kong. As you may know it opens in theaters December 14th, so now updates are appearing more frequently.

This post however is not about the movie, but a King Kong game that has been going around the web. What game you say???? KONG KICK ASS!! :D

Do you hate Bush, Paris Hilton, Governator?? don't worry! King Kong is here to make your stress levels come down a little. Have another person you'd like to see smashed by Kong? Then just upload your pic, it's that easy. Enjoy!

King Kong Two Disc Collector's Edition

2005-11-29T19:38:00.000-08:00

“King Kong” features a classic love story: Ape meets girl. Ape loses girl. Ape gets girl back, climbs to the top of the tallest building in the world, and is killed by biplanes. In the end, though, we feel sorry for the big lug.

I think I’m safe in assuming you know the basic story of this one. If you don’t, you will after Peter Jackson’s remake comes out in December. So let’s get into the details of this DVD release.

Warner Bros. sent me the “King Kong” Collector’s Edition tin set, which includes the same two DVDs found in the cardboard-bound Collector’s Edition. While casual fans will be happy with the latter, die-hard Kong-ites will want the former, which also features a reproduction of the program from the premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theater on March 24, 1933, as well as five 4 x 6 reproductions of different classic “King Kong” posters and a coupon for a 27 x 40-inch reproduction of the original movie poster. It’s a really nice set that showcases the love and attention Warner Bros. has been paying to its classic films lately.

Read more about the King Kong Classic DVD.

Buy the King Kong Collector's Edition.

4 Minutes of King Kong

2005-11-29T19:20:00.000-08:00

It seems that NBC showed 4 minutes of the King Kong movie!!

Didn't know that... 4 minutes is a lot! When did they do that, I have no idea, but I'm pretty sure it was not an advertisement, because they don't usually last that long. Anyway, what is done is done, and what you missed, well..you missed it, but thanks to the Internet you can watch the 4 minutes of King Kong Movie.

Well the link is to an italian page, but it shouldn't be hard to find out where the meat is ;)

Few days left for the King Kong movie. And every day it keeps getting more interesting. I really have to hold back from playing the game.

Dave Grohl as Satan in King Kong?

2005-11-29T13:30:00.000-08:00

According to Contactmusic.com, King Kong star Jack Black, wanted Dave Grohl (Nirvana's drummer and Foo Fighters vocalist) to appear on the King Kong movie playing the part of... Satan!! Yes, Satan will appear in the movie... although Black didn't reveal the nature of the part.

"I asked him to be in King Kong. We wanted him to play the devil but he was too busy" says Jack Black. "He doesn't have a major part-but he is a big influence" adds

"I don't believe in the devil but I've always liked him as a character, kind of like Darth Vader. Satan pretty much invented rock"

Thinking about that... it may be true..

More King Kong Movie Information!

2005-11-29T13:27:00.000-08:00

According to advance reports, Peter Jackson's upcoming remake of King Kong will be nearly three hours long and cost over $200 million, which seems like a lot of time and money to squander on a movie about a mad monkey. But done right—the way writer/producer/director Merian C. Cooper and his partner Ernest B. Schoedsack did it in 1933—Kong's well worth it. The image of a giant gorilla swatting at airplanes with one hand while clutching a pretty girl with the other has become so ingrained into the popular culture that even people who've never seen King Kong think they know what the movie's about. They're usually wrong. Yes, a monster runs amok in King Kong, but only at the climax of a multi-faceted, subtly poetic study of vanity.

The long-awaited double-disc King Kong DVD focuses more on the spectacle than the subtext, which is fine, given that the movie itself leans heavy on scenes of Kong kicking ass. Disc two's three-and-a-half-hours worth of documentaries cover the life of showman-adventurer Cooper, as well the groundbreaking effects work that went into bringing Kong to life. The chief draw is a Jackson-supervised reconstruction of a lost sequence where men fall into a giant "spider-pit" and are eaten by creepy-crawlies. It should thrill those who look to King Kong as the precursor to the modern special effects extravaganza, though the featurettes also point out that effects artist Willis O'Brien made Kong into a character, not some hyper-realistic zoo attraction. As for the Cooper hagiography, it's way overdone, especially when the commentators talk about how Cooper and his other partner John Ford liked to make uplifting movies in which "reality doesn't intrude," and then show a clip from Ford's harrowing The Searchers as an example.

The best tidbit in all the DVD set's special features is a mention that Cooper based King Kong's story on an anecdote about an entrepreneur who imported Komodo Dragons for public display, only to find that the change in climate and the grasping hands of tourists did the creatures in. King Kong is in part a cutting piece of self-criticism, with Robert Armstrong starring as a version of Cooper: a fearless entertainment impresario arrogantly convinced that he can bend nature to his will. On the other end of the same spectrum lies Kong, an enormous beast who commands the fear and respect of every living creature on his island, but can't withstand mere civilization.

Betwixt Armstrong and Kong, there's Fay Wray, as an aspiring actress who signs on to Armstrong's theatrical adventure looking to become a star, and ends up becoming the nearly naked love object of a wild animal. (Would real stardom have been much different?) It's a weird love triangle, and a commentary on how arrogance and desire makes animals of us all. It's a portrait that takes a big canvas.

Big Preparations for King Kong Premiere at New Zealand

2005-11-24T10:45:00.000-08:00

That's a big title for a post...

December 14 is the day that King Kong will be released all over the world. And just like the Lord of the Rings premiere, the King Kong premiere on New Zealand is going to be huge.

If you happen to be in New Zealand by that time, the Embassy Theater in Central Wellington is "The place".

According to Stuff.co.nz:

Preparations for a crowd of thousands need to be made, roads will be closed and an enormous red carpet will run along Courtenay Place from Allen St to the theatre. Entertainment will begin at 3.30pm.

Roads in the area will be closed to most vehicles from 11pm on Tuesday December 13. Courtenay Place (from Tory St to Cambridge Tce), Cambridge Tce (from Tennyson St to Wakefield St), Kent Tce (from Wakefield St to Elizabeth St), Allen St and Blair St will be closed.

Limited access will be allowed on to Allen St and Blair St, as well as a single lane on Kent Tce through to Majoribanks St till the Wednesday morning. There will be no parking in the closed-off area till the roads re-open at 4am on the Thursday.

Mayor Kerry Prendergast said: "It's a privilege to host another red carpet event for Peter Jackson. (He) is a hometown hero and we consider this a hometown film because so much filming was done locally."

Stars Adrien Brody and Naomi Watts will attend the premiere.

International King Kong Poster Released

2005-11-17T21:17:00.000-08:00

UIP released the German Poster for Peter Jacksons "King Kong". This poster is the best poster so far, we can see how big the Kong is in comparison to a human. Really big! He looks so mad... They shouldn't have messed with his girl!

Check it out just by clicking on the image!

Can't wait to see the movie. I mean, I could be living it right now by playing my King Kong game but that would spoil the fun wouldn't it?

King Kong for Xbox

2005-11-15T11:21:00.000-08:00

Recently I bought King Kong for Xbox, I didn’t know what to expect since I saw no screenshots of the King Kong Game. It all started with the opening sequence taken from the movie. And then the game directly begins when you are in the boat ready to go to an island. This game from the start is really awesome!

I’ve only played like for about 2 minutes since I have not much time left besides work for now, but the experience was truly engaging. For the first 20 minutes I absolutely recommend the King Kong Game for Xbox.

When you wake up from the boat crash, you see Naomi Watts face talking to you. I really believed that was a pre rendered cut scene, but as you discover, it is the power of the Xbox mastered. What I like about this game also is that you start with no crosshair. Sure, you can turn it on within the menu, but it takes some of the experience I’m sure Peter Jackson wanted us to have.

It all looks very beautiful in this game, and the open surroundings gives us a great sense of a vast island. It is truly like if you were inside the movie. And this is only the King Kong Game on the Xbox, imagine how it would look in the Xbox 360. Can’t Wait!

King Kong to be released also on 3D

2005-11-10T17:55:00.000-08:00

If you see the movie and you really like it, and you really want to be inside it. Guess what? Did you read the title? ... Anyway. King Kong is in production to be released also on 3D.!

Apparently the guys mking the movie are really going to make everything King Kong related really big.

I've got to say that it brings me some fears, because of the hype an all of that. But I just came from seeing the Corpse Bride, and they showed the King Kong trailer. It looked so good on a big screen! Just imagine it with the 3D glasses. By the way, this information comes from Hollywood Reporter that says that 3D post-production house In-Three is currently working on the film.

King Kong Toys

2005-11-07T06:16:00.000-08:00

King Kong has inspired a lot of people in this planet. Since the 30's version, King Kong became part of the popular culture not only through the King Kong movies, but also through other things like games, costumes, books and toys. So, it's no surprise that with this movie a whole new generation of King Kong toys will be out on the market.

So, this time King Kong is not alone, increasing the line-up of King Kong toys, will be other
"friends" like the T-Rex (of course), the Wetasaur, and the Raptor among others. You may be asking yourself: Who is responsible of bringing us these King Kong toys? And I answer: Playmates.

These are action figures, King Kong toys with articulations. You can see them in "King Kong toys on toymania.com", but I should warn you, they reveal some new characters from the movie. So, if you want to be fully surprised when you go to the cinema, you better not see the link. :P.

Anyway, we're sure to see more on this King Kong fever, I'm sure there will be out there not only King Kong toys action figures, but statues, busts, props and everything you can imagine as well.

Full King Kong Trailer

2005-11-04T08:45:00.000-08:00

The full trailer for Peter Jackson’s King Kong has just gone live at the Apple site, and it is something else. You’ll need the latest version of QuickTime/iTunes in order to download it, but it’s definitely worth the effort.

Most of the segment takes place on Skull Island, Kong’s home base, but the final 15 seconds or so skip across to the great ape’s home away from home, the Manhattan Island of the 1930s. It breaks your heart already, and the movie doesn’t come out for another month.

Click Here To Get Full King Kong 2005 Trailer

King Kong 2005 Monster Fight!!

2005-11-04T08:36:00.000-08:00

Hey, you thought King Kong had to fight a T-Rex?? Well guess what: You're WRONG. The King Kong 2005 movie features a fight between the Kong and THREE T-Rex!!! Now we know why this fighting scene lasts so long!!.

The King Kong 2005 fight takes place on the jungle, where leading actress Naomi Watts is chased by this predators and then gets surrounded. She is giving up, but just then, King Kong arrives, and is his job to get Miss Watts safe from thos T-Rex. All these scenes looks so real, as you can see on the King Kong Poster. the expressions, movements... Keep in mind that Kong is played by Andy Serkis, the same actor that played Gollum on "Lord of the Rings"

Some Info on King Kong movie film status

2005-11-03T07:13:00.000-08:00

This info, comes form the man himself: Peter Jackson.

King Kong character appearance has been changed. It's no more like the Kong we saw on the first King Kong trailer. Now it looks older and more battered.
The running time of the movie, which is 3hours aprox. Is due to the focus on the story in special on the relationship between King Kong and Ann, who is played by actress Naomi Watts.
The big fight, between King Kong and the T-Rex is 9 minutes long. And it is going to be spectacular!
Howard Shore was replaced, sad, but he "didn't click" :P

There some more bits of info, you can check them all out at Empire:Movie News.

Ubisoft and King Kong Game Launch

2005-11-03T06:57:00.000-08:00

As you know, EA will no longer be making the King Kong game. The King Kong game now is in charge of the guys at Ubisoft. And Ubisoft has announced that they will host a variety of Launch Events for the Kig Kong Game in Los Angeles and New York City, featuring 11 interactive gaming kiosks in an environment that looks like a Skull-Island!! It's a good reason for any King Kong fan to visit those cities, specially if you are a video game player too!

In case you don't know the game will be released before the movie, on November 22nd. The highlight of the event will be the release of the Xbox 360 verion on a really big screen. That is because the Xbox 360 gives birth to the new generation of gaming consoles. And iti is going to be released that same day.

Ubisoft will be hosting the Kong-sized events in Los Angeles at Universal City Walk, November 12 from 5-10 p.m. and in New York City at Union Square Park November 17 from 5-10 p.m.

King Kong Poster is released!

2005-11-02T06:26:00.000-08:00

The official poster for King Kong has been released. The official one-sheet teaser according to the people at Universal, whose plan is to have four different versions af the poster for the movie.

This poster is pure King Kong attitude. As you can see below it pictures the big bad kong, with an angry expression on his face. Just look at the textures, the eyes, the hair. Doesn't it look real to you? It sure does to me! We'll have to wait for the release of the next three, maybe featuring some action or composition. this is all part of the marketing of the movie. And I love it! You can click the pic to enlarge.

King Kong Trailer: An Inside Look

2005-11-02T06:14:00.000-08:00

Apple has released a new clip / king kong trailer from the new King Kong movie on their site. It is almost 3 minutes long, and what's better, it has interviews and amazing new footage. You see those special effects and you can do nothing but stare and wonder what they can't do with these kind of quality. But as Peter Jackson says:

"The fact that I'm making it now is like a dream come true. Kong is escapism, it's incredible spectacle, it's amazing special effects, but at it's soul it's a story of relationships and love and empathizing for this huge beast."

That's what I like about Peter Jackson, he always give the story the priority and considers it the reason why a movie is good or bad, unlike many "big budget directors" in Hollywood.

You must see this king kong trailer, so if you don't have Quicktime 7, start downloading it, and prepare to watch: King Kong: An Inside Look.

King Kong game goes Gold!

2005-10-31T07:57:00.000-08:00

The King Kong game based on the upcoming movie has gone gold. This King Kong game was at first supposed to be made by Electronic Arts, but Peter Jackson ditched EA. Apparently he didn't like the LOTR games they made, and now the King Kong game is in hand of Ubisoft, known for the great quality of their games. I was checking the screenshots for the King Kong game, and I have to say it looks awesome!!! These new consoles are going to rule! it is also good to see the director is involved in the making of the game. King Kong is such a huge character (not only in size) and it deserves to do well.

Peter Jackson has to pay a BIG fine

2005-10-31T07:39:00.000-08:00

Today I was reading the news and found this: Jackson pays monsters fine for taking King Kong over budget.

I heard about the movie going over 3 hours. But aparently it went over budget too. Can't wait to see the movie. Being a big fan of King Kong a 3 hour movie is like a gift to me. It is good also to know that the big heads at Universal are respecting his work. A director must be given trust and creativity freedom. If not we are doomed to more Alien vs Predator sequels!!!!

Read the news here