I have never really understood why people like King Kong. Maybe this is because until now the only film I have seen with him was the 2005 version with Jack Black. People find giant gorilla, catch it, bring it to a big city where it gets loose, climbs a skyscraper, and eventually gets shot down. While cool to see, it really doesn't do much more than that.
This film has changed my mind.
While the film hits all the classic notes of a King Kong film, such as the man seeking validation, the strong military seeing the gorilla as a threat, and a woman falling to their would-be doom if Kong didn't save her, it does away with all the cliche of these moments.
Set during the Vietnam War, a government organization that focuses on hunting monsters is in danger of being shut down. If they come back without information, they will be shut down. The team will piggy-back on a LANSAT geological survey, and be escorted by a military group returning home from the war. This team will help on the mission to explore a newly-discovered island that, from the satellite images looks like a skull.
The mission starts off well, until a palm tree shishkabobbs a helicopter. From here, the story of the group's adventures on Skull Island begin.
As the film opened this weekend, I will avoid a play-by-play analysis of the story. In addition, the journey, in my opinion, is best observed, rather then read.
The cinematography of this picture is truly breathtaking. It follows the story in an epic way, and at times, it feels stylistically similar to that of Apocalypse Now, which is set in the same time period. While the trailers show some of the angles used, they are more of a sample than a genuine taste of the cinematography. This is a testament to the thought and technique brought to the project.
The CGI in this picture is incredible, as every creature feels real. I won't go into immense detail on the designs of any creature except Kong, as he alone is a testament to the CGI. Early on in the film, there is a moment where Kong slams two halves of a helicopter and they explode. While they erupt around Kong, he shares an intense stare-down with Preston Packard, a US Lieutenant Colonel, played by Samuel L Jackson. The way they rendered Kong in this moment, with the lights from the flames illuminating his face from all sides, it really makes Kong look like a ferocious monster, which is critical in how Packard views Kong for the film. In addition, the scenes where Kong bleeds or fights always look genuine.
One of the amazing thing in the film is how much they emphasize the baggage each character brings with them to Skull Island. Packard, who just lost many men in a war that was ultimately abandoned, sees the death of his men upon arrival as a direct attack, and thus seeks the retribution for both the men he lost on the island and those lost in the war. He feels that if he can achieve victory here, none of his men will have died in vain. Bill Randa, the head of Monarch, played by John Goodman, is seeking the proof he needs as the last survivor of a battleship that was shredded by a creature like Kong, and as the head of an agency facing closure.
And in this lies the theme of the film: the human will can cause many to fall for no reason. Packard's quest to avenge his men costs him almost all of his troops and, ultimately himself. His actions, paired with Randa creating the mission to begin with, cost these men's lives, as well as Randa and Packard's.
Visually, this film is truly worth the cost of admission if you like these types of films. I also advise staying through the credits, as the list is truly incredible in regards to how many people worked on this picture. And, who knows, there might be a special treat for those of who who do stay.
This film has redefined this genre of films, and has this writer proclaiming "Long live the King."
Let me know what you thought of Kong; Skull Island in the comments below.
Click here to buy the film.
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