KING KONG!

[Darth Groovy]

So now it's just two weeks away to Peter Jackson's King Kong remake. Despite what I feel about remakes, i'm pretty excited about this one, AND I checked out a copy of Peter Jackson's King Kong for my XBOX, i'm about to fire it up in just a little bit.

Anybody played this yet?

Feel free to discuss the game AND the movie, and ALL things related to KONG here!

[Mike Windu]

Donkey Kong!

:p


Can't wait for the movie, have yet to play the game. Game doesn't look too interesting to me, but it got good scores, so I dunno.

[Darth Groovy]

Well after playing the game, it makes me want to see the movie all that much more. It's easy to pick up on, looks absolutely freaking gorgeous. You basically play right along side all the key players, and have free roam to explore skull island. Lots of nasty creatures and tense moments.

so far, I got up to the point where Kong makes kidnaps Naomi Watts, talk about one HELL of an entrance!

Everyone should at least rent this game and play it just once!

[Rogue Nine]

Naomi Watts is a good replacement for Faye Wray. :o

[MarcusLeCoy]

I played the demo, not sure if I should pick it up though.

[Lynk Former]

Donkey Kong!

:p
Apparantly Donkey Kong was the son of King Kong and next in line to the throne, but became an orphan when his father died. Soon afterwards he was adopted by Nintendo who at the time was experimenting with transforming living creatures into videogame characters... oh wait, I-I've said too much...

[Bob Lion54]

They had the game at Walmart on the 360. I played it for a few minutes, but the right analogue stick was broken so it kinda sucked. From the little bit I saw, the game looks awsome. I was in the jungle and was immediately struck by the graphics.

The movie looks great. Jack Black even looks good in it. I will definitly see this movie.

[Jeff]

I rented the game and was pretty impressed by it. I very much want to see the movie. It's been on my list of need-to-see upcoming movies for a while now.

[Katarn07]

Game doesn't interest me. Movie? I'm pumped for that too, but not as much as I am for Narnia. Jack Black looks brilliant in it, changing Jack Driscoll from action hero to a screenwriter makes it all the more heroic, Naomi Watts is one of the hottest women in Hollywood that I know of, and everything else in it looks great!

It still baffles me though why Jackson is remaking his favorite movie. Would anyone here wanna remake SW (the original trilogy at least)? I know I wouldn't.

[Commander Obi-Wan]

I played the demo of the game. I found fun to play, but I am more hyped about the movie. The movie looks awesome.

[Kjølen]

Donkey Kong!

Now that would be a movie worth seeing.

[BongoBob]

Who would they cast as mario though :(

[Rogue15]

yeah i played the demo it kicked ass.

[El Sitherino]

Who would they cast as mario though :(
Ron Jeremy.

[Darth Groovy]

Ron Jeremy.

Oh your a naughty boy Sitheh! :naughty:

That would be too perfect though...:eek:

[Nalukai]

DONKEY KONG!!!! YAY

http://www.jimflorentine.com/art/special_ed.jpg

[toms]

I gotta say i've got no excitement about this whatsoever.

Jackson is certainly talented, and if its true that the cut is about 3 hours then he must have added a fair bit to the story... cos at the moment (from all the trailers) it looks almost like a shot for shot remake of the original(s). And to be fair the originals hardly had enough plot to make up 3 hours (go to island, lose girl, chase girl, get monkey, end)

The trailers don't look that special. the dinosaurs don't look much improved over jurassic park, and kong himself doesn't look like anything special.

I'm sure that when it actually comes down to it it will be great, but so far they haven't really shown anything to imply that it will be.
(right now i'm more hyped about narnia, although even that looks nothing that special)

[Lightsaberboy]

did anyone read today's penny arcade?
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2005/12/05

man i cracked up so much when i read it.

[Katarn07]

(right now i'm more hyped about narnia, although even that looks nothing that special)

Blasphemy! :p Nah, I read your thoughts and understand, but it can't rip off LotR too much. There's only one battle sequence in the whole thing as epic as anything we've seen in Jackson's other films.

And I personally think the dinos in JP1 look better than all this stuff in Kong. I'm still excited to see it though. There haven't been too many great movies lately, new to DVD or theaters. These both look to be great compared to the other stuff coming out lately.

[MTV2]

oh wait, I-I've said too much...
if u did, u would have deleted the post...


im excited for this one, especially because peter directed it and hes an awsome director that did lord of the rings...


i played the demo of the game on 360, and i have to say, the graphics are intense, but where is the HUD? how do u know how much ammo is left or ur health? or does that add to the reality?

[Lynk Former]

if u did, u would have deleted the post...
duh

people call it a joke ;)

[MTV2]

duh

people call it a joke ;)
i know :)

[Black Knight of Keno]

I've been playing the demo in a local store... Meh. It's not that fun. I'd rather restart the 360 and play COD2 than Kong...

And just so you know, MTV, Jackson incisted himself that they don't 'ruin' the game with a HUD. I'm actually glad there's not a HUD around. It gives that 'Free feeling'... At least for me... >.>

And just so you know:
THE BIG APE DIES IN THE END! OMGLOLWHEE!

[MTV2]

I've been playing the demo in a local store... Meh. It's not that fun. I'd rather restart the 360 and play COD2 than Kong...

And just so you know, MTV, Jackson incisted himself that they don't 'ruin' the game with a HUD. I'm actually glad there's not a HUD around. It gives that 'Free feeling'... At least for me... >.>

And just so you know:
THE BIG APE DIES IN THE END! OMGLOLWHEE!
i agree w/ the HUD, i like how it gives it more feeling and more view. cuz how u gunna know ur Heatlth or how much ammo u have?

[Darth Groovy]

What tripped me out was the first part where you finally get to play as Kong. I was just sort of sitting there thinking I was watching a cut scene. After Kong didn't move for a few minutes I finally started hitting buttons on my controller, and bam....i'm Kong. Yes, the graphics are just THAT good. Kudos to the developers for that little surprise. :eek:

[toms]

From what i understand the character will tell you or show you when you are running low on ammo, and the screen will do visual effects to tell you when you are running low on health... then you need to hide and rest up for a while.

Its not a new idea, but it seems they have got it right as a lot of reviewers like it and I reckon a lot of FPSs might follow suit. That said, its supposed to be a really enjoyable, very well made, nice looking but fairly simple and short ride... kind of like a movie i guess.. ;)

[jokemaster]

It still baffles me though why Jackson is remaking his favorite movie. Would anyone here wanna remake SW (the original trilogy at least)? I know I wouldn't.
Because few people actually watch the original. I mean, it's a movie everyone knows about, everyone knows the basic plot......but few have actually seen it.

[Renegade Angel]

I haven't played it yet, but I just watched the original King kong in school last week for some Language Arts project. The remake sounds pretty cool.

[Crow_Nest]

Yep played the PC demo, loved it! Aside from the dull textures, the weather and lighting effects were pretty spectacular. Im still thinking if i should get it though, cause the Kong mission got tedious after a while.

[RoxStar]

Yep played the PC demo, loved it! Aside from the dull textures, the weather and lighting effects were pretty spectacular. Im still thinking if i should get it though, cause the Kong mission got tedious after a while.

Did you get the standard version or the "HOLY **** THERES A HUGE ****ING APE COMING AT ME!!" version?



haha.

Just saw the movie. quite scary.

[Black Knight of Keno]

Because few people actually watch the original. I mean, it's a movie everyone knows about, everyone knows the basic plot......but few have actually seen it.

Heh... They actually show the original here every second year, but it's either coming on midnight or in the late morning, so nobody's really home to see it. It's a loss how much people diss the old Kong around here

[IG-64]

The movie was great, but too tiring to see more than once in theaters. You know, Peter Jackson and his long, tiring movies. :p

[CapNColostomy]

The movie was great, but too tiring to see more than once in theaters. You know, Peter Jackson and his long, tiring movies. :p

I'm with you on that. Decent movie. Ass too sore for a second viewing anytime soon.

[toms]

Hmmm. Interesting movie.

Its a bit odd really, its really well done, but seems to be lacking a bit of something.

Its really long, but doesn't feel like it when you are watching it. But when you look back on it you think "not a lot actually happened, how did they make it that long?".

Kong himself is, on the whole, really well done. Maybe it's the "uncanny valley effect" but the only time i really noticed the kong sfx was when they didn't work. When they were working you kind of forgot he was an sfx. (Which i guess is the point, but it kind of reduced the wow factor! Ironic).

A lot of the other sfx are surprisingly poor. The dinosaur chase looks terrible... especially the people. Either they are really badly matted in, or they are cgi versions that don't animate quite right. Also they seemed to have a lot of trouble inserting Naomi Watts correctly.. possibly because of her hair.

The kong vs t-rex fight is insane, but good fun.

Naomi watts is excellent. The others were ok, but i got a bit fed up of jack black by the end. You were probably supposed to, but they did seem to overdo it a bit with his character. Infact a lot of the characters were very stereotypical and some of the scenes were very cheesy.. only saved by the actors.

Overall, I enjoyed it while watching it, but it didn't blow me away. And i have no real desire to see it again. 7.5/10
PS/ its ood to think that in they managed to condense the whole 3 hour movie down to a 3 minute trailer, and still cover all the main points ;)

[El Sitherino]

Infact a lot of the characters were very stereotypical and some of the scenes were very cheesy
So I take it you never saw the original.

Anyway, by the way it sounds, they changed nothing but rather updated the effects (and the island people to avoid racial suits).

[MTV2]

ok, so i rented the game, but it got really boring after the Hayes mission.
though the graphics are so good.

[Mike Windu]

If you are going to see the movie- sleep through the first 30 minutes. Some amazing cinematography of New York, but otherwise bland and worthless. Jackson tries to establish too much background with minor characters that ,unlike LotR, really don't matter too much.

Naomi Watts is super awesome, but it may just be that I like that sort of style from the 1920's era..

[Prime]

How can a movie with a giant monkey not be the best thing ever?

[Commander Obi-Wan]

I recetly saw "Peter Jackson's King Kong." I liked it. One of the best movies of the year. Easily one of my favourite movies I have seen in my 15 year lifetime. Definitely worth seeing.

[Mike Windu]

How can a movie with a giant monkey not be the best thing ever?

Cause it takes forever before we finally see him. :(

[ET Warrior]

Cause it takes forever before we finally see him. :(
I believe the proper response is waaaaah.

[Mike Windu]

I wouldn't mind if the expository scenes before the island were actually interesting.

Problem is, they aren't. :p

[ET Warrior]

I was interested. I thought the beginning was very well done and enjoyable.

[Mike Windu]

Eh, I dunno. Like I said before, the cinematography was great, I like the whole 1920s era cutshots of the show and stuff, but the background on minor characters who didn't really matter at all kinda made it dull for me. Maybe a bit of editting to make it go faster...

And the boat scene was rather Titanic-esque, I lost interest in them until they got on the island. Then things picked up again. (reaaaaaaally freaky native people O_O)

Not trying to start an argument or anything though. :)

edit- Serenity's not in theaters anymore so I can't go see it gorram it. :p

[Lady Jedi]

Dammit, Mike, quit trying to start an argument! :p

Aaaanyway, this movie rocked so much. I liked the whole thing; the setup, the island scenes, everything. I mean this is Peter Jackson behind this thing. Did you expect it to not be in depth? Sure there were plenty of scenes that could have been shortened the bug attack scene, and the empire state building scene, but I really enjoyed it too much to care. The natives were especially creepy. Yikes! That really added a great sense for the island, I thought. And the emotion that they manage to convey through Kong is astounding. It's giant Ape for goodness sakes! I shouldn't feel for him so much. :xp: Great movie, and anyone who says otherwise is insane. Insane, I say! :D

[Mike Windu]

Whaatttt? I'm not. >_>

And wtf those were the best scenes in the movie. :p

[Lynk Former]

Dammit, Mike, quit trying to start an argument! :p
*tries not to laugh*

[txa1265]

Great movie, and anyone who says otherwise is insane. Insane, I say! :DYet another totally unnecessary - and inferior to the original - remake. And by good people ... first Wonka and now Kong. ... but it was certainly better than planet of the apes ...

Mike

[Lynk Former]

Movies like this aren't really "remakes" more like a different interpretation.

[txa1265]

Movies like this aren't really "remakes" more like a different interpretation.

Movie marketing departments 'for the win'

;)

Mike

[CapNColostomy]

inferior to the original - remake.

I realize of course you're just stating your opinion, so there's no right or wrong answer, and you certainly don't have to justify your opinion, I'm just curious. Inferior in what way?

[Lynk Former]

@ txa1265: But it is, I mean just look at all those different versions of various shakespeare works. The original will always be "better" but that's not gonna stop people from trying to do another take on something. So XP to you.

[txa1265]

Inferior in what way?

I guess 'adds nothing' and 'totally unnecessary' are more important descriptors. For me, the basic 'litmus test' for a remake is that it needs to justify its' existance, to 'add value' to be worth anything.

So while this film isn't like the one I saw in theaters as a kid - the 1976 version - in that it isn't a bad movie. It is actually a great spectacle, by an auteur of grand spectacle. But it adds nothing other than a re-do with new effects. It loses itself in those effects, and feels unfocused and self-indulgent at times. By allowing himself so much extra time he wallows in his own greatness rather than the greatness of the source material, and comes off with a decent popcorn flick that only serves to remind us that 'they don't make 'em like they used to'.

Mike

[txa1265]

@ txa1265: But it is, I mean just look at all those different versions of various shakespeare works. The original will always be "better" but that's not gonna stop people from trying to do another take on something. So XP to you.

How many XP do I get ... I just got 100XP for killing a Swampgas Drone in Gothic II Gold?

Anyway, comparing Shakespeare and Kong is not really valid - one is prose for the stage, the other is a completed visual work. Shakespeares stagings have always been open to interpretation, and work well in their flexibility to original ideas - that's why they are hailed as some of the greatest works of the ages. Kong is a classic horror flick with a pretty basic story line and fairly thin characters with grans spectacle at its' base - it is not a great work with richness and depth at its' core. Therefore remaking it - which is what was done - is going to be at best a prettier carbon copy, with perhaps better or worse characterizations.

So these are nice toss-aways (I'm sure that by next year the *real* Wonka will still be selling steadily and 'Charlie' will be long since forgotten), but reflect a lack of vision, creativity and risk taking by movie studios, and the fact that audiences continue to reward such behavior and not innovative or original thinking (Firefly/Serenity thread?) only further emboldens studios to churn out this unnecessary stuff ... and good or bad, this is wholly unnecessary.

Mike

[Lynk Former]

Firstly... don't double post :p

I can see where you're coming from, there was a rumour a long time ago that a live-action version of Akira was going to be made and back then I thought "what's the point of making a movie out of A MOVIE?" but these days I think if you think you can create a different interpretation of something, go ahead and try, if the people don't like it, then that's that. If they do then woohoo.

Hollywood and the videogame industry are at this point where everything is being rehashed, but there are still those few who strive to create original things. This is just a phase in the entertainment culture and soon they'll all move onto better things which everybody will critisise anywayz lol.

[txa1265]

Firstly... don't double post :p
Couldn't help it - your reply came while I was already replying, so I didn't see it.

but these days I think if you think you can create a different interpretation of something, go ahead and try, if the people don't like it, then that's that. If they do then woohoo.
Of course you are right, but when the industry becomes consumed with these 'safe bets' to the degree that the overwhelming majority of production and marketing money goes there, and the ability of small shops to actually get something independant and creative produced and recognized shrinks ...

Look at games - the biggies for the year will be things like Madden Ad Nauseum and Quake IV, while gems like Psychonauts and Freedom Force vs. The Third Reich languish on shelves ... so that next year fewer small shop games will be made, and shelf space will be more directed to making sure there is room for NBA '07 for PC/PS2/XBOx/XBox360/PS3/Revolution/GameCube/GBA/NDS & PSP.

Mike

[Pie™]

I'm glad hollywood can keep making "popcorn-flicks", so I can choose between them and the sometimes very slim independent movies. :) And if I'm totally uninterested in seeing one of these brainless big productions, I can always save my money or go see an independent production instead.
I'm going to see the Kong remake this evening, but I think I'll first rewatch the original, just to refresh my memory of that. :)

And Mike, instead of bitching about popular culture, why not find some kind of movies that appeal to you and stick to them? :p

[toms]

I actualy think (unlike a lot of recent remakes) King Kong was a valid target for a remake. The original is SO OLD that there are whole generations who will just NEVER watch it.. so redoing it modern style does open it up to a whole new audience. Its when they start remaking films from 5 or 10 years ago that I get annoyed.

It could have done with some better editing to shorten it a bit, and it was a bit self indulgent, but on the whole it was a very good attempt.

Everyone says that Kong is really expressive and you get really attached to him... but i didn't really feel that. MY memories of the original are very hazy, but i remember the kong in that being more expressive and emotionally engaging. Maybe that is nostalgia though.
He was fine, but I can't say i was particularly sad when he died. I still think gollum was a better "complete" character... though of course he did have the advantage of being able to talk.

Its one of the few remakes that isn't far worse than the original, so that in itself is a big acheivement. :)

I'm not sure KK is much of a safe bet though... it's cost an absolute fortune, and i can't see it making that much profit. the length will put some people off, the hype hasn't been huge around it, at over 3 hours they can't get that many showings in.
I went on the "bargain tuesday" which is usually sold out for every movie and expected it to be sold out due to the fact there weren't many showings... but the cinema was only about 1/2 full. Goblet of Fire, Narnia and LOTR were always sold out.

[txa1265]

And Mike, instead of bitching about popular culture, why not find some kind of movies that appeal to you and stick to them? :pBecause the dumbing down of the world culture has people professing this stuff as art ...

[El Sitherino]

Since when was Kong not a popcorn flick?

Damn that Peter Jackson and his remakes, first Lord of the Rings, then Kong.

[txa1265]

Damn that Peter Jackson and his remakes, first Lord of the Rings, then Kong.
I would say that the two are distinctly different - LotR falls into the 'shakespearean reinterpretation' category, whereas Kong is a retread. And the talk about Kong as high art comes from the assertion of many that the LotR is among the all time great cinema.

Mike

[El Sitherino]

I dunno, I just don't see a problem with him updating Kong. It could have been worse, it could have been Michael Bay, and we'd have a half-mecha Kong.

[Mike Windu]

GODZILLA 2000 V MECHA KONG!

[jokemaster]

I thought it was a good popcorn flick, and a decent target for a remake, because, like toms said, the original is so old. I mean, it's one thing to make a remake of say, willy wonka, which came out less than thirty years ago, and remaking King Kong which came out over 70 years ago (let's ignore the 76 remake).

I agree, it isn't art, but it IS a good movie. And I also agree that I'm ed that things like Serenity don't make it big, while retreads do, but that's why I'm giving people the DVD this christmas. So those people'll get hooked to the movie/tv show, then I'll explain it was cancelled, then they'll tell other people, and I'll start a small chain.

[Pie™]

Well, I just saw it, and I must say that I had an enjoyable time. Didn't have the same feeling to it as the original, but it was good in its own way. Movie tickets here are going through the roof, but I must say that this was actually worth the 13-14$. All in all it was a good experience, even though there were some things that let me down (what was up with that Disney-like ice-"dance"?).

[Hermie]

^What he said, cept I haven't seen the original.

[Exlan Xendar]

what was up with that Disney-like ice-"dance"?.

You remember when Ann was preforming her act for Kong back on Skull Island? Well thats his way of imitating her falling down.

[CapNColostomy]

You remember when Ann was preforming her act for Kong back on Skull Island? Well thats his way of imitating her falling down.

He's talking about the scene in the park at the end, where there wasn't anything like what you're talking about.

[Mike Windu]

I liked that part actually... >_>

And Disney rocks. :p

[CapNColostomy]

I liked that part actually... >_>

And Disney rocks. :p

Agreed. The music really made that scene for me. Kinda sad. [/gay comments]

[Lynk Former]

So by the sounds of it, King Kong and others can only be "remade" once we get the cool holographic technology happening like in Star Trek.

[Exlan Xendar]

He's talking about the scene in the park at the end, where there wasn't anything like what you're talking about.

I know what part he's talking about. The part on the ice where Kong starts sliding all over the place with Ann in his hand and she starts laughing. It's really just to show how much they care for one another really.

[Pie™]

I still think that the scene was unecessary and vomit inducing. I think most thinking people would have gotten the point by that scene anyways.