You should find "Son of Kong" (rushed out just a year or two later)which picks up with Denham on the run from all the insurance lawsuits from the New York debacle. Not nearly as good as the original, of course, but still fun.
twb | 08.29.03 - 2:55 am | #

Never goes out of style. And the original poster is still one of the best.
Kathy Shaidle | Homepage | 08.29.03 - 8:54 am | #

Mark,

How can you say such a thing. This movie is a terrible example for our young people. Not only are the arrogant American white guys exploiting third world natives, they steal their god with the intent of making...money! If the movie makers had only considered the dignity of the natives, perhaps they would have named it something less provocative - like "cranio-facial island". They could have funneled half the film's profits into a UN education program for the natives, and encouraged Japanese investment.

And don't even get me started on the Morlocks!

DIGNITY FOR THE DOWNTRODDEN MORLOCKS, INHABITANTS OF CRANIO-FACIAL ISLAND, GODZILLA, AND MICHAEL JACKSON! THEY ARE NOT MONSTERS, THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS!
Mark Windsor | 08.29.03 - 8:57 am | #

You know, surely, that a new KING KING is going to be Peter Jackson's next project. He says he will be sticking close to the original story with modern special effects.
Sandra Miesel | 08.29.03 - 11:20 am | #

We'll see. I strongly suspect it will not be able to capture the wonder. It will be too fettered with concerns about racism, environmentalism, capitalist exploitation and all the other bullshit that is of no concern to a young boy who just wants a good yarn about adventure and wonder.
Mark Shea | Homepage | 08.29.03 - 11:44 am | #

"My children take me back to a time I should never lose if I want to stay human."

Probably the most profound statement I've read all year.
Mark S. | 08.29.03 - 12:36 pm | #

Mr. Shea wrote: "It will be too fettered with concerns about racism, environmentalism, capitalist exploitation and all the other bullshit that is of no concern to a young boy who just wants a good yarn about adventure and wonder."

I don't know.

If Spielberg or Cameron were doing this, I'd say you're 100% right. With Jackson, I'm not so sure. He's a HUGE fan of the original. It's his all-time favorite movie for exactly the same reasons you listed. And he didn't bow to the PC crowd in making Lord of the Rings.

The jury is still out on this one.
Mark S. | 08.29.03 - 12:38 pm | #

My wife and I just watched King Kong a couple of weeks ago.
We kept shaking our heads over that poor woman who's just lying there asleep in her bed in a New York skyscraper when Kong grabs her and pulls her out the window, realizes she's not the one he's looking for, and drops her to her death. What a way to die.
Andrew | 08.29.03 - 3:27 pm | #

did you know that there are scenes that were cutt out from the original movie after audiences found them too disturbing. particulary when the men fall of the log they were then eaten by large crabs and spiders. a few stills of the scenes survive but no movie prints
tomas | 08.29.03 - 4:59 pm | #

Hey, all.

All you readers (you too, Mark) need to pray for the script and the scriptwriter of Jackson's KONG. My information is that Jackson has actually bought the rights and plans to do it relatively soon, and get this - I have inside information from a close friend that a devout Catholic with an inside track is attempting to get his (fantastic, full of the original's heart and wonder) ideas re: KONG into Jackson's face. Pray that he's successful, and that God blesses the whole project! "Alien messiah" stories like this can have a great pre-evangelization effect on people - even ones older than 8.

Peace, Kathie L.
Kathie Lundquist | 08.29.03 - 9:28 pm | #

Your blog sure is a lightning rod for diverse and strongly held opinions, isn't it Mark?

Regarding that last line of your posting, kids are wonderful for keeping us adults grounded in our humanity. Right on the money!
Chris | 08.29.03 - 11:17 pm | #