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King Kong (2005)
- PG-13
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2005
Common Sense Media says
Boisterous, spectacular remake of 1933 classic.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the movie includes numerous violent scenes that may be frightening for younger viewers and some action pushing the PG-13 edge. Specifically, humans are attacked on the island by giant bugs, bats, and dinosaurs in sustained, pounding action scenes. Kong shifts from scary (chest-pounding and roaring) to sympathetic; he's attacked brutally by men in tanks and planes, shooting guns. Characters drink and smoke cigarettes; Ann wears a slip through most of her adventures on the island. Most troubling is the depiction of the black island natives, who appear as nightmarish, surreal images, chanting and shaking when they sacrifice Ann to Kong. The showbiz version of this scene (recreated in New York) uses blackface performers.
What's the story?
Barely surviving the Depression in NYC, Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts) loses her vaudeville job just when film producer Carl Denham (Jack Black) is seeking a leading lady for his new film project, to be shot on "unknown" Skull Island. Denham and crew set out on a ship; also onboard is earnest playwright Jack Driscoll (Adrien Brody), who starts a romantic relationship with Ann. On Skull Island, they encounter violent natives and a land that time forgot filled with dinosaurs and other enormous beasts. The natives kidnap Ann and present her as sacrifice to the giant ape Kong, who falls for the diminutive beauty. Kong's weakness for Ann results in his being trapped by showman Darrow, who brings him to New York City to appear in a sideshow the likes of which have never been seen.
Is it any good?
In KING KONG, the relationship between Ann and the giant ape is everything. The men around her adore her and even indulge in heroics to save her, but none is so compelling a personality as the gigantic gorilla who comes to love her. Like the 1933 original film, Jackson's adaptation examines the excesses and vagaries of show business. What sets Jackson's movie apart from its predecessor is its characterization of Ann as courageous and her insight when she is grateful for Kong's protection. In this version, it's not "beauty that kills the beast," but greed, meanness, and fear that destroy his admirable "nature" and emblematic manhood.
While the movie demonizes the black natives who throw back their heads and chant during their ritual to sacrifice Ann to Kong, it also offers a complication in the ship's courageous, sensible, and black first mate, Hayes (Evan Parke). It's telling that Hayes does not see the reenactment of the tribal ritual as Denham's stage show, populated by performers in overtly offensive blackface. If this scene illustrates the movie's awareness of the problem (the crude translation of blackness by a white "producer"), it's not quite a resolution. Neither is the relationship between Ann and Kong, though she tries mightily to do right.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the relationship between Ann and Kong. How does their mutual affection extend beyond person and pet, to something more complicated? How does Denham's exploitation of Kong parallel his exploitation of people? How do the military attacks make Kong increasingly sympathetic (even an underdog, out of place in the city), as he tries to protect Ann and then she tries to protect him? How do the blackface performers serve as commentary on mainstream fear of the "unknown"?
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AGE
Perfect For 9 And 10 Year Olds
Love It And My Kid Loved It
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AGE
Good Fun but Dosen't Beat the Original!
This remake of the 1933 classic is a fun filled action packed film, but it is certainly not as great as the original. But this remake is the best of the 3 remakes, and is still a film that is entertaining and enjoyable. But be advised that the film is very intense, and will certainly frighten children.
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AGE
Although this movie is utterly fantastic, the violence is extremely intense and constant. Also almost every scene on Skull island is sure to scare the pants off anyone 10 or under. Not to mention Carl gets drunk several times and is greedy self-centered and disregards the law. The Army uses guns to stop Kong and in NYC at the beginning a man suggests Ann work at a strip club.
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AGE
A good moveie
It is good how ann and kong be come good friends.There is a part where there is gint bugs and the bugs eat people i chapter forward.I think the action is grat but for young kids it mit be bad.kong and ann like i said are good friends but when kong gets killd it mit be disturbing for young kids/but in the move there is a good message of friendship.
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AGE
Fine remake
Some elements to this remake of one of my favorite films of all time is weird, like the fact Ann falls for King Kong and they're both in love with each other, where as in the original only Kong is in love with her. Other than that and an uneeded 30+ minutes, this epic does the original proud. The effects are top notch, and the acting, especially Black, is superb
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Kid, 12 years old
June 27, 2010
AGE
Not for the faint of heart.
It was a little disturbing at one point, but otherwise it's a good movie. :D
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AGE
The only Kong remake done right!
Yeah, pretty much like the title says.
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AGE
scary
o my god where do i start the movie is way too long, and kind of stupid, its really viloget and scary i get scared easy but still i didnt thnik it was supposed to be a horror movie, besides for the vilogence, theirs some sexaul innudeo not too bad, and some language nothing a pg 13 doesnt have, and some drinking and smoking.
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AGE
It was good.....
I liked it.But it was too long,in my opinion.But it is Peter Jackson!
It is violent,and LOTS of "Jesus-Christ"'s.The natives were disturbing,and the dino-fight was kinda gross.My favorite character besides Anne,King Kong,and Jack,was Jimmy the cabin boy.I was so surprised he didn't die!The CGI was cool,and overall it was very well done!(and it's like Jack Black's only serious role!!):)
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| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Director: | Peter Jackson |
| Cast: | Adrien Brody, Jack Black, Naomi Watts |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 187 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 14, 2005 |
| DVD release date: | March 28, 2006 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | frightening adventure violence and some disturbing images. |
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