Posted on 12/17/2005 6:04:50 PM PST by Merciful_Friend
Mick Hartley makes fun of some comments by The Times' art critic relating to the new KING KONG film. Actually, the comments induce hilarity without his need to do much other than reproduce them. Read his post here.
The drift of that critic's remarks couldn't help but put me in mind of my own pet theory about KING KONG.
Firstly, I would never consider going to see this remake. Why would I deliberately go and spend money to see a film that I know is going to leave me emotionally devastated and weeping inconsolably? I can stand to see any number of human beings get killed or tortured on-screen—but great, big, lovable and misunderstood Kong? My memories of seeing the original and even the 1970s remake are bad enough. I've been getting teary-eyed just seeing the commercials for the new one on TV. It's unbearable. We all know how it ends. It must surely be one of the very few "blockbusters" of history with an irredeemably heartbreaking finish. I mean, just no relief at all.
Anyhow, people have been speculating recently in some quarters about the film's "racist" undertones. On that, I have nothing to say. My theory, instead, is that the secret design of KING KONG is to turn impressionable children into communists; or at least into fervent America-hating dupes.
Think about it: the great, big, lovable and misunderstood Kong is captured, humiliated, and dragged by force back to the United States of America, just so some people can make money off of him. This is an indictment of American-style capitalism at a visceral level. Next, after he escapes, the American governmental authorities riddle him with bullets and send him plummeting to Fifth Avenue (or 34th St.?); the great, big, lovable and misunderstood Kong is murdered in a shoot-first-ask-questions-never manner by the vicious U.S. military.
Effective? Hey, I was a liberal into my mid-twenties. And if that doesn't convince you, consult the Times' art critic. She's about ready to take up arms against Uncle Sam based on the killing of the computer-generated Kong, and she's an adult.
Which brings me to another reason I wouldn't go see the KING KONG remake. What if it changed me back??
Every Star Wars movie, every Lord of the Rings movie, every Matrix movie....they all opened in the middle of the week.
These remakes are NEVER as good as the originals. These people in Hollywood today can't even come close...Godzilla flopped too. And look what they did with such wonderful T.V. shows like The Flintstones, Bewitched, and The Honeymooners. Classic movies and television should be off limits to these boneheads.
This movie is great and surpasses LOTR, imho.
I missed most of the ocean-going sequence and the clash between the expedition and villagers; can't comment.
Kudos to Kong for excellent hand-eye coordination and for keeping his balance.
Funnily enough, Medeved gave 'Brokeback Mountain' a very positive review.
Brody had a thankless part but Watts was excellent. Certainly better then Fay Wray in the original who did nothing but scream.
"Oh no! It wasn't beauty that killed the beast - it was the airplanes !"
Jefferson Airplane From "After Bathing at Baxters" 1967
A good critic puts art above politics.
BoxOfficeMojo has the numbers in for Kong. So far it's pulled $66mil domestically BUT $80mil internationally.
Another movie being watched on FreeRepublic is Narnia, and that has made $112mil domestically (it's the second week of release) but only $41mil internationally.
So it looks like Kong will end up making more money due to the international market primarily. Both will make their money back at the very least due to intense DVD sales (I will for sure buy Narnia as I love the books, and am pretty sure I will get Kong just to have at least).
I heard him! :)
They weren't 3 hours long.
"European Communists insist that when Kong smashes the gates of the native village he symbolises Karl Marx."
Not only is the movie a remake so is the liberal over analyzing stupidity about it.
Jefferson Airplane From "After Bathing at Baxters" 1967
Sheesh! The album is "Bless its pointed little head" and the quote is:
"Well, the airplanes done it!"
"Oh, no. It wasn't the airplanes. 'Twas Beauty killed the Beast!"
Agree to disagree. I thought the movie sucked, and that's my right. You can see it as many times as you feel like, and that's your right.
Which remakes are you looking forward to in '06?
The new King Kong may turn out to be a 4 star film but I would rather it would not have been remade.
I could go on and on about remakes that should never have been made.
You're right, (and I actuall knew that before I posted)
but:
1. I've always liked my version of the quote better
2. I didn't think anyone else still alive would remember My apologies....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.