Oh, gosh, I disagree with you about King Kong! I loved every minute, and have watched it many times now. I see something new to like in it each time, and I almost never re-watch movies that have sad endings. But King Kong was so masterfully well done and well-cast that I watch it anyway. I can't think of any superfluous or wasted moments on film in that movie. Now, The Abyss, another favorite movie I've watched many times, would have been great if they'd left off the last half hour! Plenty of times I just end it at the point where Michael Biehn's character goes into the Abyss. That way I've caught all the good stuff!
Peter Jackson's King Kong, to my mind, was exactly just right all around.