King Kong

Okay, listen up everyone. KING KONG is one of the best movies of the year. Got it? Not only is it one of the best films of this year, but as far as the movie going experience is concerned, it is one of the best all around films ever!!! I'm not saying rank that up there with Citizen Kane or 2001: A Space Odyssey as far as best art cinema. I'm saying this: you know how back in the day when movies were relatively new, gaining their own ground as an art? Well of course you don't really remember that, or you'd be dead right now...online...on my blog...reading...as a dead person. Anyway! Well, back then it was all new, fresh, starry eyed wonder. A time when we think of the Classic Cinema: Adventure, romance, danger, beauty, characters, tragedy and triumph!!! Back in the days of, well... the original '33 King Kong. A time when cinema was still deciding on what it would be. Back when actors were still basically acting for the stage, so most of their performances were a little too over the top. But they loved it, because they lived in an age when cynicism and irony did not yet seep into the celluloid. (While I respect and understand (and practice) irony, I think it has corrupted peoples ability to see film as pure)
Anyway, I just got done seeing King Kong (2005) for the third time. That is 10 1/2 hours of watching King Kong. But you know what? I'm still stoked about that movie! I remember walking out of the theater the first time I saw it (on opening night), and just thinking, "So this is what it felt like to walk out of King Kong ('33), or Gone With the Wind, Jaws, or Raiders of the Lost Ark!!!" I felt so alive for the sake of cinema that I almost wanted to exclaim, "Wow! Howabout them moving pictures!" You may be thinking, "Lee, you are smoking a doobie right now aren't ya?" Well...no, I am not.
And doing the credits and title sequences old-school that was beautiful. Damn, I wish I was alive back in the day sometimes. There are very rare times (nowadays) that you can leave a theatre thinking that you have just seen something that you have never seen before. The last time was Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring. And the time before that God only knows. Jurassic Park probably.

But ya know? It's not just the special FX, although Kong as a character/effect (i combine the two because they are a beautiful marriage that cannot be split up in this film). We should all bow at the feet of the WETA effects team and the irreplacable Andy Serkis, for giving us something that will haunt our dreams it's so hardbreaking and beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But it's not just the FX, it's the heart. My God, it's the heart that is in this film and this character.

I was also afraid when I left the theater tonight (it will be my last theater viewing of Kong), because I'm sincerely afraid that I won't feel that way coming out of a theater again for a long time. Like I said before, I'm not saying this is the best film ever...i'm talking about pure experience as a movie. I was depressed after Lord of the Rings ended. My year for three years was hinged on December 18th (or whenever LOTR was released). Not January 1st. After I saw a LOTR movie, my new year had already begun. Then after 2003, I had to start counting years on Jan. 1st again. It sucked. I was depressed. King Kong filled that void for me this year.

I anticipate good, nay, even great cinema this upcoming year. I will be challenged, awed, moved, and inpressed by brilliant directors and actors and FX this year...but part of me will always miss seeing (on the big screen) that flawed and beautiful giant ape beating his chest on top of the empire state building with anne waving at the planes to stop. And his world-weary, but noble eyes as he looks at Ann will always be seared into my mind.

I said all that so all you millions of readers (mom) wil go see this movie and support it!

Godbless!