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Peter Jackson remaking King Kong

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the lord-of-the-monkey dept.

sigh71 writes "Stuff.co.nz is running a story on Peter Jacksons next big project, remaking the original King Kong. To be written by the same guys who wrote the scripts for Lord of the Rings. Google for more info."

169 of 222 comments (clear)

  1. Guys? by zzzmarcus · · Score: 1

    I thought it was a couple girls who wrote the script for LOTR... maybe I'm wrong though.

    1. Re:Guys? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Collaborative effort between Peter Jackson (story), Fran Walsh (story, words, lyrics), and Phillipa Boyens (story, words, lyrics). I suspect Mr. Jackson was too busy with other aspects of production to put too many words on paper once filming started.

  2. What about the hobbit? by stanmann · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I thought Peter Jackson had signed on to do the Hobbit next. I know Ian Mckellan will be involved.

    --
    Food not Bombs is a nice platitude but it breaks down when you notice that the Bombees are usually well fed
    1. Re:What about the hobbit? by gabec · · Score: 3, Interesting
      Yeah, this is actually an April Fools news posting.

      Ok, April Fools.

      And anyway, Jackson has said explicitly that he's not going to do The Hobbit, but... Money Talks.

    2. Re:What about the hobbit? by emotionus · · Score: 1, Interesting

      He said New Line hasn't asked him to make it, and they own the rights to it. He never said he wouldn't, although he did say he would like to do other things first

    3. Re:What about the hobbit? by GeckoX · · Score: 1

      1) This is real news, I first saw it posted early yesterday, so no, not April Fools, or maybe 'April Fools, it's not an April Fools!'

      2) PJ has never stated that he would not do the Hobbit. The most he has ever officially stated was that there were no plans at this time to do the Hobbit, but regardless he wasn't going to be doing the hobbit right away after LOTR is done.

      --
      No Comment.
    4. Re:What about the hobbit? by Delirium+Tremens · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Keep in mind that 'yesterday' was today for some of the people living downunder or for any information coming from there that was repeated elsewhere with a one-day offset.

    5. Re:What about the hobbit? by c.derby · · Score: 3, Informative

      Actually:

      "The original plan was to film "The Hobbit" starring Warwick Davis. But when Miramax balked at the $75 million dollar price tag Peter Jackson took it to New Line which gave him nearly $300 million to make the trilogy"

      --
      -- derby
    6. Re:What about the hobbit? by gmuslera · · Score: 1

      It would be nice to integrate the already taken shots of The Hobbit that appear in LOTR, but Ian Holm could be a little old to play a young hobbit for a full movie.

    7. Re:What about the hobbit? by GeckoX · · Score: 1

      Ah, the old "even though he's probably not that dumb, lets suggest that he is, point him wrong, show that we're god and know all, and whore that karma baybee!"

      1) When I read it, there was nowhere in the world that it was already April 1st.

      2) I mentioned that, as it was a solid fact (google it yerself).

      3) I would have mentioned that I had heard rumors to this effect a couple of months ago to back myself up, but that would have been stupid because they are just that, rumors.

      --
      No Comment.
    8. Re:What about the hobbit? by oravecz · · Score: 1

      Jackson was actually in the process of remaking King Kong when he was tapped to do LOTR.

    9. Re:What about the hobbit? by stanmann · · Score: 1

      Also the Fan video was very convincing until I read contradictory evidence. Hobbit trailer By Steve

      --
      Food not Bombs is a nice platitude but it breaks down when you notice that the Bombees are usually well fed
    10. Re:What about the hobbit? by Delirium+Tremens · · Score: 1
      Excuse me, is this a discussion forum or what? If you don't want people to comment on your posts, add a signature that says so. The very nature of a 'forum' invites otherwise.

      And your comments about karma whoring are just plain silly since I posted with the karma bonus disabled and my posting history would have actually shown you that I don't mind trolling once in a while. Or flaming someone for that matter.

      I supposed you got pissed because my previous post got a +1 Interesting. Well, I am sorry but there is nothing I can do about that. I actually tried to keep a low profile without using my karma bonus but I got noticed anyway. Or do you suggest that people who do not have something that is really really really interesting to say should post as AC?

      Well, anyway, if you are not happy about how moderation works here, go after the moderators, not me. And I also suggest that you spend some time in meta-moderation if you are so intent in improving the quality of this forum.

    11. Re:What about the hobbit? by GeckoX · · Score: 1

      Whoa, strike a nerve did I?

      --
      No Comment.
    12. Re:What about the hobbit? by Exedore · · Score: 2, Informative

      Actually, Bilbo wouldn't look too different in 'The Hobbit' since he stopped aging (or aged extremely slowly) when he took possesion of the ring. IIRC he only started aging again once he had given the ring to Frodo and then rather more rapidly once the ring was destroyed.

      --

      I take drugs seriously.

    13. Re:What about the hobbit? by Temsi · · Score: 1

      Actually, this story broke in Variety yesterday, March 31st.

      --
      -- This sig for rent.
    14. Re:What about the hobbit? by gl4ss · · Score: 2, Funny

      ** Well, not to say that isn't partially true, I know that in the brief flashback in FOTR where they show Bilbo discovering the ring in the cave, they actually had his skin pulled back to get the wrinkles out. They said that on the DVD commentary.** so that's what bilbo meant when he said that he felt like his life was stretched...

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    15. Re:What about the hobbit? by carlos_benj · · Score: 2, Funny

      ...and then rather more rapidly once the ring was destroyed.

      Dang! The ring gets destroyed????

      --

      --

      As a matter of fact, I am a lawyer. But I play an actor on TV.

    16. Re:What about the hobbit? by Exedore · · Score: 1

      Dang! The ring gets destroyed????

      Yes. It's destroyed by the Lone Gunmen shortly before they're killed... Ooops, I hope I didn't give too much away here.

      --

      I take drugs seriously.

    17. Re:What about the hobbit? by Scottarius · · Score: 1

      I don't believe this is true. If you watch the special features on the special extended edition, they talk about Peter Jackson wanting to do the Lord of the Rings in two movies, Mirimax said they wanted to do it in one instead. Peter then took the script to New Line, who then decided it should be three movies instead of two. So they then had to re-write their two movie screenplay to a three movie screenplay.

  3. I can't wait! by TopShelf · · Score: 3, Funny

    So I imagine the folks lining up to see this one will be wearing ape suits???

    --
    Stop by my site where I write about ERP systems & more
    1. Re:I can't wait! by ibjhb · · Score: 1

      Yeah, probably will be Slashdotters... ;)

    2. Re:I can't wait! by Honig+the+Apothecary · · Score: 1

      Ape Suits? Why would they where an ape suit. It would get hot over the top of their natural hairy bodies...

    3. Re:I can't wait! by Dr.Enormous · · Score: 1

      As the proud owner of an ape suit, I can assure you be shaved bald and standing outside in 20 below weather, and you'd still be sweating buckets inside...

    4. Re:I can't wait! by daeley · · Score: 1

      I'll show up in the Ape Suit if Fay Wray shows up in her, ah, Fay Wray Suit. ;)

      --
      I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
    5. Re:I can't wait! by Xerithane · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'll show up in the Ape Suit if Fay Wray shows up in her, ah, Fay Wray Suit. ;)

      She was born in 1907. I'm going to have nightmares about that now, thanks.

      --
      Dacels Jewelers can't be trusted.
    6. Re:I can't wait! by daeley · · Score: 1

      Kids these days, can't use their imagination to travel back to 1933. ;)

      --
      I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
  4. And there I thought it was another bad joke... by Bonker · · Score: 5, Informative

    From the Beeb:

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/2905 249.stm

    It's going to be interesting to see Jackson's interperetation of this. On one hand, I feel like King Kong's been done to death. On the other, I *know* there's no such thing as too much Godzilla. Perhaps Jackson will make it so there's no such thing as too much Kong.

    --
    The next Slashdot story will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush and slashdot the links early!
    1. Re:And there I thought it was another bad joke... by prestidigital · · Score: 1

      (I realize this may be moderated off-topic, but...)

      Irony is walking out into your front yard and finding half a styrofoam cup's worth of litter where the only thing identifiable is the phrase "Compliments of 7-11." :^)

    2. Re:And there I thought it was another bad joke... by robbo · · Score: 1

      Who says it's not. Maybe PJ is pulling everyone's chain.

      --
      So long, and thanks for all the Phish
    3. Re:And there I thought it was another bad joke... by ackthpt · · Score: 2, Interesting
      It's going to be interesting to see Jackson's interperetation of this.

      Three words:

      Mighty Joe Young

      Let's hope it's not. However, I like the old RKO version, it's pretty kick-butt for when it was made and, to reveal a bit of my geekiness, I'm really tripped out how they did some of those special effects without little more than creative imagination and engineering. Cool stuff. I'm unsure how even the mighty Peter Jackson can improve on it.

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    4. Re:And there I thought it was another bad joke... by geekoid · · Score: 1

      How funny that the last US Godzilla was really king kong in disguise?

      The whole death thing, arrgghh. you do not kill Godzilla, you drive him off into the ocean and hope next time he comes back, it is to help you. With any luck, He' would squish Godzuki on his way.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    5. Re:And there I thought it was another bad joke... by RowdyReptile · · Score: 1

      "Irony is receiving a spam entitled 'Tired of getting junk mail?' "

      I got a phone call just last night from BellSouth, trying to sell me a service to block telemarketers' calls. I immediately told her of the irony.

      --

      You want a sig? I can get you a sig... Hell, I can get you a sig by 3 o'clock this afternoon... with nail polish.
    6. Re:And there I thought it was another bad joke... by AndroidCat · · Score: 1

      Sure you can kill Godzilla. Godzilla vs Destroyer/a and the original, of course. Honest to god, there's a shrine in Tokyo where he finally fell. (Too busy to find a link.)

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
    7. Re:And there I thought it was another bad joke... by The_K4 · · Score: 1

      Let me guess, you missed the Godzilla w/a Mathew Broderick. After that I KNOW that there is such a thing as too much Godzilla!

    8. Re:And there I thought it was another bad joke... by DavidBrown · · Score: 1

      Sorry, but I beg to differ. There is such as thing as too much Godzilla. The American Godzilla movie was too, too much Godzilla. So much Godzilla in fact, that Godzilla wasn't available to play Godzilla, and they found a stumbling drunken lizard, or perhaps Nick Nolte in a lizard suit, to take on the role.

      And don't get me started about the velociraptors borrowed from Jurassic Park playing Godzilla's children. And where was Gadzooki? Ok, we really didn't need to see Gadzooki, if there's a Godzilla movie, then Godzilla should look like Godzilla, and if there's a Son of Godzilla out here, he should have some passing resemblence to Son of Godzilla, and he should also be able to blow radioactive smoke rings.

      The only thing good about that movie was Jean Reno, because he's French, and even that isn't what it used to be.

      --
      144l. ph34r my 133t l3g4l 5k1lz!
    9. Re:And there I thought it was another bad joke... by Doug-less · · Score: 1

      If it was a joke wouldn't this movie be an 'Ape-ly Tool'?

      --
      "Another day with Parasites!"
    10. Re:And there I thought it was another bad joke... by Melantha_Bacchae · · Score: 1

      AndroidCat wrote:

      > Sure you can kill Godzilla. Godzilla vs Destroyer/a

      Before he died, Godzilla Senior passed the last of Radon's (Rodan's) life force to his son, which healed his son. After Godzilla Senior died, his son absorbed the radiation of his father's death, saving Tokyo, and transforming himself. The last shot of the movie is of an adult Godzilla at the center of the radioactive cloud, roaring his grief to the heavens.

      > and the original, of course.

      At the end of the Japanese version of the 1954 movie "Gojira", Dr. Yamane notes that if we don't quit polluting the world with nukes, another Godzilla would be along shortly. Six months later, the second Godzilla movie came out in Japan, introducing the Godzilla that would reign until the 1970's.

      The original 1954 Godzilla has returned in the last two movies (with Godzilla's 50th birthday due next year, Toho is making every movie a party). In the 2001 "Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidora: Giant Monster All-Out Attack" (set in 2004), the World War II dead (Japanese, American, and Asian) resurrect Godzilla and sick him on a Japan that has had (monster free) peace for fifty years. WWII has been forgotten, and only a few now believe in Godzilla. Japan's ancient guardian deities, Mothra, King Ghidora, and Baragon, killed in battle long ago, now return to help a survivor of Godzilla's 1954 attack to kill Godzilla. At the very end of the movie, the camera zooms in to Godzilla's heart resting on the sea bottom. The fish scatter as it starts beating again.

      In 2002's "Godzilla X MechaGodzilla", MechaGodzilla's (now nicknamed "Kiiryu", meaning "mechanical dragon") computer is made from the DNA of the 1954 Godzilla (right down to where Kiiryu has a flashback, decides he is the 1954 Godzilla, and goes on a rampage in Tokyo until his batteries run down). In the next movie, possibly in 2004, Godzilla and MechaGodzilla/Kiiryu will be joined by Mothra (who thankfully talked Toho into getting some continuity back).

      > Honest to god, there's a shrine in Tokyo where he finally
      > fell.

      That doesn't surprise me. There is usually a shrine to Godzilla at the entrance to department store exhibits of Toho's monster props.

      And that is the difference between Toho's monsters and other monsters or attempts at rendering Godzilla: Godzilla is not only worshipped as a god in his movies, he IS a Shinto deity in a rubber suit, as is Mothra, as is King Ghidora. The god of fire whose birth destroyed his mother; the sun goddess who hides in a cave and to whom the Japanese pray for peace and happiness; the quick-tempered storm god who gives his big sister fits, destroys temples, and yet saves Japan in a rare good mood: do these not sound familiar? They are if you have read Japanese mythology. They are if you have watched Godzilla's movies and paid attention.

      And that is why Godzilla and co. are immortal. As long as humans play with the fire of the atom, Godzilla will be there to burn us. As long as lightning flashes, and chunks of rock fall from the heavens on Chicago, King Ghidora will be destroying things. And as long as the monsters walk the earth, Mothra will be there, to teach us the arts of civilization and peace, and to smack her brothers if they misbehave (which they do a lot, hence all the movies ;).

      BeanieMothra says Godzilla does wish his grandpa (Kong's creator was the mentor of the Beast's creator, and the Beast partly inspired Godzillla) well. However, he wishes the big ape would stay at 40 feet. Anything more is cheating.

      "Compassionate Sun, ah! Sun Goddess, Great Mothra! Great Mothra! Mothra! Oh!"
      Japanese language "Mothra's Song", "Ebirah, Horror of the Deep"

    11. Re:And there I thought it was another bad joke... by Melantha_Bacchae · · Score: 1

      An AC wrote:

      > You must have missed the horrific Hollywood release
      > [imdb.com] somehow...

      That wasn't a god or a dinosaur, and therefore, not Godzilla. Besides, Godzilla was originally created from the American test of the first H-bomb in March 1954, not from any French test (just stating facts, not being a chauvinist).

      Besides, the T-Rex San Diego rampage in "JP:Lost World" had more in common with Godzilla than Tristar's ridiculous attempt. Spielberg is actually a fan of Godzilla, and was saluted in 1991's "Godzilla vs. King Ghidora". Godzilla also personally emulated the T-Rex vs. jeep scene from "Jurassic Park" in "Godzilla 2000 Millennium" (such a scene in Japan is considered paying homage, not a rip off). He respects Spielberg a whole lot more than Emmerich.

      Godzilla actually had to fight against "Jurassic Park" at the box office. To do so, he needed an old friend to come out of retirement (actually she flew off and hid in a cave because she was mad about the very insulting 1969 "Destroy All Monsters"). Who did Godzilla call? Mothra! The 1992 "Godzilla vs. Mothra" restored the G-series to its former glory in the early 1960's, and did it competing with "Jurassic Park". Godzilla might not have made another movie without her help. Her price? The three part "Legend of the Protecting Goddess: Mothra Leo", which also served as Toho's crash course in basic CGI.

      "What, that we are being invaded by little green men from outer space? Let's just keep it as our secret. You can tell your son about it when he's born, Major Spielberg."
      "Godzilla vs. King Ghidora", 1991, US version

  5. The last line in the movie? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    KOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNG!

    1. Re:The last line in the movie? by jcdick1 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Or, for the full-on Star Trek nerd experience:

      Of my friend, I can only say this, that of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most ... (twitchy lip here) ... ape.

      --
      What?
  6. Fool's Day by BohKnower · · Score: 1

    I don't know in what I can believe anymore. But it would be nice.

    1. Re:Fool's Day by Randolpho · · Score: 1

      Nope, it's not an april fools joke.

      --
      "Times have not become more violent. They have just become more televised."
      -Marilyn Manson
  7. king kong....whining??!! by grimani · · Score: 1

    my god.

    now they're also gonna make king kong whine "oh my god i wish this wasn't happening to me" in slow-motion dreamy closeups thirty times a minute?

    1. Re:king kong....whining??!! by br0ck · · Score: 1

      ..as long as they don't show, in full panoramic glory, last week's SNL skit with Tracy Morgan and Selma Hayek giving King Kong's Dong a rubdown.

  8. Can't be any worse than the 1970's one by Guppy06 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In the original, we have a claymation crew blazing new territory with work that convinced a number of people in the audience that King Kong was real.

    In the 70's version, we have a guy in a monkey suit, and a number of "sequels" made with the "Godzilla vs." philosophy.

    At any rate, I think I hope he still sets the movie in the 1930's.

    All we need now is for King Kong to fall into the public domain some time this century...

    1. Re:Can't be any worse than the 1970's one by robsimmon · · Score: 1

      But there's no World Trade Center to climb any more. Maybe it should be set in Malaysia with the Petronas Towers?

    2. Re:Can't be any worse than the 1970's one by The+Troll+Catcher · · Score: 1

      You silly person! He didn't climb the WTC - he climbed the Empire State building!

    3. Re:Can't be any worse than the 1970's one by Unoriginal+Nick · · Score: 1

      In the '70s version, he climbed the WTC.

    4. Re:Can't be any worse than the 1970's one by MongooseCN · · Score: 1

      All we need now is for King Kong to fall into the public domain some time this century...

      Falling into a public park isn't good enough?

      --


      Outdoor digital photography, mostly in New Engl
    5. Re:Can't be any worse than the 1970's one by frostman · · Score: 2, Insightful

      ...but as we know from Godzilla, a guy in a monster suit can be a whole lot more convincing then million-dollar graphics on a two-bit script.

      --

      This Like That - fun with words!

    6. Re:Can't be any worse than the 1970's one by frostman · · Score: 1



      convincing then million-dollar graphics



      OMG, my first spelling error on slashdot!



      oh yeah, 01-APR... hooo, i beter get bakc to work.

      --

      This Like That - fun with words!

  9. Not an "April Fools" joke... by Clay+Mitchell · · Score: 2

    ... however much we wish it was.

    What would be cool would be a giant hobbit taking destroying Manhatten. Can somebody line this up?

  10. King Kong by n08ody · · Score: 1

    I find it interesting the last LOTR movie is called Return of the King and Peter Jackson's next film is King Kong.

    Coincidence?

    I think not.

    1. Re:King Kong by nempo · · Score: 1

      Maybe king kong is doing a guest appearence? ;D

      --
      --- No, english is not my mother tongue.
  11. Damnit! you got me again! by SuperguyA1 · · Score: 1

    FINALLY I say to myself. "I'm not going to let them get me this time! It's all a facade" and then you go and post a real story!

    Slashdot is a cruel mistress...

    --
    "as plurdled gabbleblotchits on a lurgid bee" - Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz. (One man's humorous is another mans flamebait)
  12. King kong by Musashi+Miyamoto · · Score: 1


    Lets hope that the King Kong remake won't be as bad as the Godzilla remake. Of course, after seeing LOTR part 2, my hopes are high.

  13. Troy McClure Singing... by Montgomery+Burns+III · · Score: 1
    "Oh my God, I was wrong, it was earth all along, you have finally made a monkey out of me..."

    With Apologies to Matt Groenig
    --

    'ta
    1. Re:Troy McClure Singing... by rudiger · · Score: 1

      that was planet of the apes, duder.

      you should have referenced something from the episode where homer is king kong.

    2. Re:Troy McClure Singing... by Montgomery+Burns+III · · Score: 1

      That is an excellent point, but I could not think of any tunes that were so memorable, so I stuck to the theme of apes.

      Marge: "His name is Bart."
      Psycho-BabbleGuy: "His name is not important."
      --

      'ta
    3. Re:Troy McClure Singing... by !splut · · Score: 1

      "I hate every ape I see,
      From chimpan-A to chimpanzee!
      No, you'll never make a monkey out of me!"

      --
      The angel in the oatmeal.
  14. APRIL FOOLS by NotTheAntiChrist · · Score: 1, Funny

    APRIL FOOLS

    Oh, wait.. crap.. Truth is stranger than fiction..

    What wasted talent..

  15. HAHA I GET IT!! by digifuzz · · Score: 5, Funny

    APE-RIL FOOLS DAY, RIGHT?

    That's one BIG APE-ril fools day joke!!

    ~ fuzz

    --
    http://www.digifuzz.net
  16. Ha ha, very funny. by generic-man · · Score: 1

    I remember hearing about a similar plan back in the '70s to remake "King Kong." It was a hoax then, and it's a hoax now.

    Honestly, I don't believe how anyone who directed "Meet the Feebles" expects to be taken seriously in Hollywood these days.

    --
    For more information, click here.
    1. Re:Ha ha, very funny. by acroyear · · Score: 1

      Uh, they DID make a new King Kong, in 1976, with Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange.

      --
      "But remember, most lynch mobs aren't this nice." (H.Simpson)
      -- Joe
    2. Re:Ha ha, very funny. by generic-man · · Score: 1

      Actually, that movie doesn't exist. IMDb injects some fake "films" into its database every year on April 1 as an April Fool's prank. In about 12 hours, that "link" will cease to work.

      Besides, one of the stars of the movie is listed as "Charles Grodin." I don't see how a television talk show host managed to worm his way into a "remake" of a so-called "classic."

      --
      For more information, click here.
    3. Re:Ha ha, very funny. by acroyear · · Score: 1

      and that's a lousy attempt at your own April Fool's joke. I know the 1976 movie exists, as it was just on one of the Starz network channels about 2 months ago.

      And as for Talk Show hosts making movies, David Hartman of Good Morning America during the 1970s was in a made for TV remake of Miracle on 34th Street back then.

      So neither of your comments hold up...

      --
      "But remember, most lynch mobs aren't this nice." (H.Simpson)
      -- Joe
    4. Re:Ha ha, very funny. by generic-man · · Score: 1

      I have been watching Starz! (whose exclamation point you carelessly omitted) for the past two months. I have every movie from Starz! archived on my hard drive, saved from my TiVo.

      A simple test:

      [generic-man@fool ~/tivo]$ ls "King Kong"
      bash: No files found.
      [generic-man@fool ~/tivo]$

      King Kong was not shown on Starz!, assuming that it even exists, which it does not.

      --
      For more information, click here.
  17. Hell by dethl · · Score: 1

    truely has frozen over....a real story finally appears on April Fools Day!

    --
    "Some fight for law. Some fight for justice. What will you fight for? One day, you will see."
  18. Hybrid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Do we see Gandalf climbing the empire state building?

  19. does trhis mean by geekoid · · Score: 1

    Elves will be Flying the planes that attack the ape?
    For no real reason

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  20. Not A Joke by Theodore+Logan · · Score: 1

    This story is at least a couple of days old, and has already run in various media.

    You see, not every story is a joke today. Even if there are those who are so accustomed to that being the case that they make fools of themselves instead while racking down on Taco&co for posting stories that are actually (well, partly) true.

    --

    "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance" - Derek Bok

  21. origional by demigod · · Score: 1

    At least it's something original...Oh wait... Nevermind.

    --
    "The last thing I want to do is deal with a bunch of people who want something."
    Major Major
  22. Not Claymation by kvn299 · · Score: 1

    Actually, if I remember correctly, the original model of King Kong was made of rubber, wire and (rabbit?) fur.

    So, it would be stop-motion animation, rather claymation.

    1. Re:Not Claymation by kvn299 · · Score: 1

      Here's information about the original movie & model:

      King Kong FAQS

    2. Re:Not Claymation by Malachi · · Score: 1
      For the lazy.. ;)


      O'brien photographed miniature models of Kong and the dinosaurs exposing one frame of film at a time and repositioning the model between frames so that when played in succession the models appear to move on their own. Sculptor Marcel Delgado constructed the Kong and dinosaur models using metal armatures or skeletons with ball-and-socket joints. He then covered them with rubber muscles and in Kong's case a skin of pruned rabbit fur.


      -M-
      --
      "Life is all about strategy, mathematics and psychological perceptiveness."
  23. Re:RKO Radio Pictures by EnderWiggnz · · Score: 1

    at the science fiction... double feature...

    --
    ... hi bingo ...
  24. ROTKK by The+Other+Nate · · Score: 2, Funny

    ::close up of Hugo Weaving::
    "You must cast this ape, this... one ape of doom, from the Empire State Building."

    I can't wait!

    --
    The Other Nate

  25. April fools? by evanbd · · Score: 1
    OK, am I the only one that thinks this just might be an April Fools joke? I mean, go read the article:
    "He added the lead female role - filled by Fay Wray in 1933 - will need strong vocal chords, as the part required a lot of screaming."
    April Fools? Anyone?
    1. Re:April fools? by DarkSkiesAhead · · Score: 1

      April Fools? Anyone?

      I'd like to believe so too, unfortunately the first reports of this started a couple days ago. For instance check out the dates on the yahoo and NZCity articles.

  26. hmm.. a new king kong movie?? by digifuzz · · Score: 1

    sounds a little hairy to me... ;)

    ~ fuzz

    --
    http://www.digifuzz.net
  27. She's no Fay Wray, but.... by LittleGuy · · Score: 1

    Jessica Lange did alright after her stint on the Monkey Bars.

    So, calling all ingenues. Nipple-flashing optional.

    --
    Mod Karma -1: I sed bad wurds. If I cep my mouf shut, I wud be at riyses.
  28. Lord of the Apes by mattsucks · · Score: 1

    Just think of the crossover possibilities! A 50' ape, running around with an invisibility ring that gives him the power of dominion over all the other apes! A vast monkey army, rising up to rule the world! Giant crap-flinging battle scenes! It'll be a hit for sure.

    (too much coffee, sorry all)

  29. Weeeeell by SlumProfessor · · Score: 1

    The movie beein any good depends on Peter Jackson not casting Liv Taylor for any serius part... well enough wannabe-elf bashing :-)

  30. Jackson's BEST next pic? by billmaly · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I guess I had hoped for more from Jackson after his near total success with LOTR. Maybe I was hoping for him to embark on something new and original, instead of a rehash of what's been done. Still, it appears that the story would be told in the 1930's, rather than modern times like was done w. the 1970's version of KK. That will make for a more interesting picture, and allow the characters to display more wide eyed amazement than modern characters could. I hope Jackson succeeds and blows away the critics yet again, but I was hoping for something fresher.

    1. Re:Jackson's BEST next pic? by Deadric · · Score: 1

      I really wish he would partake on the Asimov's Foundation series. I think he's got the standing right now with big studios that they would be willing to offer the budget he would need to get this done.

      If any series was not to be destroyed by movies, I wish it would be this one. Please someone do it right.

    2. Re:Jackson's BEST next pic? by Guppy06 · · Score: 1

      "That will make for a more interesting picture, and allow the characters to display more wide eyed amazement than modern characters could."

      It would also prevent him from climbing a building with a roof flat and wide enough to keep him from falling off, and there wouldn't be a need for idiot helicopter pilots flying too close to him when they can just hover out of arm's reach. It would also fix problems like trying to explain how uncharted islands happen in the 21st century.

    3. Re:Jackson's BEST next pic? by Titusdot+Groan · · Score: 1
      I would presume that after investing so much of his life and soul in a project, for so many years he's looking for something lite to work on.

      At least a project like this won't get compared to LotR every 5 minutes like any other epic he did would be.

    4. Re:Jackson's BEST next pic? by evilpenguin · · Score: 1

      I think "Foundation" would be a tough sell. It is a "talky" story. It is mostly about ideas and vast social trends. It could be made into a fantastic series of movies, but science fiction hasn't been handled all that well in the movies. The tendency to have space battles, whooshing spaceships, explosions, and scantily-clad women (all of which I enjoy, but none of which really have anything to do with the genre, at least the book genre of science fiction) would ruin one of the richest and most thought-provoking set of books ever written.

      It could be done, but it would be REALLY hard.

    5. Re:Jackson's BEST next pic? by MesnerTrks · · Score: 1

      I would think that if Jackson wanted to try and do this remake(which he has apparently really wanted to do for a long time), this is the best time to do it. He is coming off of a huge success and he has the crew in New Zealand to be able to go straight from Rings to this. Also he had done a lot of work to get it off the ground at Universal before he went to work on the trilogy. So he can get this out of his system and then move on to something more original again. Sounds good to me.

    6. Re:Jackson's BEST next pic? by Johnny5000 · · Score: 1

      "It would also fix problems like trying to explain how uncharted islands happen in the 21st century."

      They could always just update the story accordingly...

      you have to look at the historical perspective.
      100 years ago monsters came from unknown lands.
      50 years ago they came from radioactivity.
      Today they're genetically engineered.

      Look at what they did with Spiderman (not technically a monster I guess, but the radioactive spider was changed to a genetically engineered spider.)

      So they'll probably make King Kong a genetic experiment gone horribly wrong.. that's my theory.

      --
      The libertarian solution to the failures of capitalism is to apply more capitalism til the failures are fixed.
  31. Enough with the remakes already by stratjakt · · Score: 1

    I mean really, how about a creative idea?

    The original was neat and has kitch appeal. The 'remake' will be a goofy sfx showcase about a big monkey.

    This is really a remake of a remake of a remake of the original.

    bah.

    No wonder I havent hooked up my DVD player since I moved 11 months ago.

    --
    I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
  32. Lord of the King Dead Alive Kong? by binaryDigit · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can see the script for the new Kong flick now. King Kong is on a quest to destroy the evil ring, helped by his band of x-rated muppets he must fight hordes of zombie flesh eating gorillas being led by an evil wizard. He is also aided by a mighty priest who "kicks ass for the lord". Kong is startled to find that his evil nemesis is none other than his mother who in the climatic battle transforms into a giant beast far more hideous than even Rosie O'Donnel.

    1. Re:Lord of the King Dead Alive Kong? by christopher240240 · · Score: 1

      Thank god. A true PJ fan. Now, count the times that kong takes a hit to the junk.

  33. This is true by WankersRevenge · · Score: 1

    If you check out this page and look down four entries, you'll see that it is true. It is set to have a 2005 summer release with Universal producing it. He is going to shoot it on location in New Zealand with WETA doing all the f/x.

    On the other hand, this is quite site questionable in authenticity (but true nonetheless) :)

  34. Evil Bit? by jayayeem · · Score: 2, Funny

    Isn't it time to post the 'Evil Bit" story again?

    --
    I metamoderate, therefore I am
  35. Or more accurately... by pheph · · Score: 1

    Google for links to more info

  36. Let's hope by truthsearch · · Score: 1

    Let's hope they don't do the same kind of remake as Godzilla. I agree: keep it in the 1930's, much more respectable and appropriate. They should keep that old-fashioned adventurous feeling to it with graphics to make it look real, not take over the show.

    --
    Developers: We can use your help.
  37. Re:Total waste!!! Been done, shitty story!!! by Oddly_Drac · · Score: 1

    Much as Mr Coward really annoys me, I have to agree that the current rash of 'remakes' is stretching the 'homage' line beyond snapping point, and one reason why I've thus far resisted the urge to check out the damage wrought by Tim Burton in Planet of the Apes. I've resorted to humming loudly with my fingers in my ears and changing the subject when people ask me if I'd watched it.

    I have absolutely no fear that this trend will end soon, but there are some fantastic books not produced by JK Rowling that could possibly glean a good screenplay as long as Hollywood can be forceably beaten about the head and neck with a big book of cliches.

    BTW, if there was point to this, would anyone like to engage in some drift over which books _should_ be considered for screenplay?

    OD

    --
    Oddly Draconis
    Too cynical to live, too stubborn to die.
  38. The scary thing is... by MoeMoe · · Score: 2, Funny

    The scary thing is I'm not sure if this is part of April Fools or not..... Oh hell with it, WHITESPACE PROGRAMMING RULEZ!!

    --
    Business \Busi"ness\, n.;
    A scam in which all people involved perceive as beneficial...
  39. How will NY City actually take this? by gradius3 · · Score: 1

    Just wondering how NY City will actually react to a movie of this nature? In light of the terrorist attacks and the removal of the Twin Towers from Spiderman, amongst every other Hollywood *sensitivity reaction,* how do you think people will react?
    (Yes, I do know that it is a movie and not real, but I'm just one in the masses.)

  40. I *wish* this was an April fools joke! by hoggoth · · Score: 4, Funny

    Do we really need yet another remake of King-Kong? The original King-Kong was very good. The remake was very good. Is there some important angle that Peter can bring to the movie the third time around that the first two missed? Better FX will not make the story better.

    After King-Kong perhaps he'd like to remake Planet Of The Apes. At least in that case the second version sucked so much the third version would have to be an improvement, although it would be hard to imaging a remake that could improve on the original in any area besides special-effects.

    Hey, how about Hollywood declares 2004 "King-Kong remake year" and ONLY releases remakes of King Kong. Twenty or thirty versions of King Kong. I'd like to see Wood Allen's angst-ridden ape, and Tim Burton's darkly oddball monkey. Roman Polanski's version would have the big furball fall for a 13 year old Ann Darrow. Jim Carrey could play King Kong through facial contortions alone without makeup. What a great trend Peter Jackson has started! Viva La-Kong!

    --
    - For the complete works of Shakespeare: cat /dev/random (may take some time)
    1. Re:I *wish* this was an April fools joke! by Guppy06 · · Score: 1

      I read that and can't help but think of Universal executives' eyes turning into dollar signs with accompanying "cha-CHING" sound effects.

    2. Re:I *wish* this was an April fools joke! by ChristTrekker · · Score: 1

      Sadly, the remake will likely feature Kong climbing the Empire State Building again.

      Remember 9/11.

      --

      Constitutionally Correct

    3. Re:I *wish* this was an April fools joke! by SecretAsianMan · · Score: 1
      hoggoth wrote:
      perhaps he'd like to remake Planet Of The Apes. At least in that case the second version sucked so much the third version would have to be an improvement, although it would be hard to imaging a remake that could improve on the original in any area besides special-effects
      ...or Heston's acting, or the blatant sexism

      BTW, I also love the original. It does have it's faults, though.

      --

      Washington, DC: It's like Hollywood for ugly people.

    4. Re:I *wish* this was an April fools joke! by Guppy06 · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Is there some important angle that Peter can bring to the movie the third time around that the first two missed?"

      Yes, they can follow the life of mass transit authority employee Gunther Toody. After his harrowing experience aboard the elevated train that Kong attacked (where he was one of the few survivors), Gunther was scarred for life, unable to stop making monkey noises ("Ooh! Ooh!") every few minutes. He left the MTA and went on to join the NYPD where he considered it safer, on which he stayed until he retired. He was so traumatized by the experience that he never realized his partner in car 54 was a Munster.

    5. Re:I *wish* this was an April fools joke! by Spunk · · Score: 1

      The original King-Kong was very good. The remake was very good.

      Well there you have it. If it follows the pattern, this one will also be very good. ;-)

    6. Re:I *wish* this was an April fools joke! by Tailhook · · Score: 1

      The remake was very good. Is there some important angle that Peter can bring to the movie the third time around that the first two missed?

      Oh, there is no end to what might be revised and corrected. Perhaps rather than slaughter Kong, we could dart him and lift him out of NY to a nature preserve. We could always play games with the skin colors of the various actors. Doubtless we could work in an environmental point. Why not have Kong attack General Motors headquarters in Detroit rather than Empire State in NY?

      For all I know, this and more has already been done. I saw the original King Kong so long ago I can barely remember it. I do remember that it was a big enough deal to constitute a family event. Back in the 70's I guess. If I've seen any subsequent revisions they didn't rate enough with me to bother remembering...

      --
      Maw! Fire up the karma burner!
    7. Re:I *wish* this was an April fools joke! by jdbo · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Some points...
      1. the remake was very good...

        I respectfully very much disagree; I can't recall a good thing about it with the exception of a young Jessica Lange.

      2. Peter Jackson is well known as a huge fan of the original Kong, as well as of Harryhausen's work in particular. The LOTR:FOTR cave troll was in many ways a homage to both Harryhausen and Kong.
      3. For (many) filmmakers, remakes are accepted as a way to pay tribute. The "new production of an existing play" analogy applies if you accept the fact that movie screenplays are (with incredibly rare exceptions) never re-used.
      4. This is Peter Jackson (and Fran Walsh, his unsung partner + wife); it's completely unlikely that they're going to produce a story/personality-free yawner like Godzilla (US 1998).

      Could it suck? Sure. But I can't think of anyone else I'd rather see do it.
    8. Re:I *wish* this was an April fools joke! by pyrrho · · Score: 1

      new directions:

      (1) King Kong wins... New York or city of choice in ruins.

      (2) Where are all the other giant apes? they escape their islands and rescue King Kong

      (3) King Kong is a simian with a brain the size of a small house. Turn out he's smart. He runs linux. Likes Stallman. Runs for senate.

      --

      -pyrrho

    9. Re:I *wish* this was an April fools joke! by Saeger · · Score: 1
      Fuck that.

      The twin towers could easily be added back in with FX, and I'd welcome it!

      I'm not some squemish girl who breaks into tears upon seeing those once great buildings.

      --

      --
      Power to the Peaceful
  41. Well... by mblase · · Score: 1

    There was "Mighty Joe Young" from Disney not too many years ago. Similar enough, both in the original and the Disney remake, to "King Kong" to call it a re-interpretation of that classic.

    A year before that, the kids had "Buddy" with special effects from Jim Henson's Workshop, and ten years before that, "Gorillas in the Mist". If you're counting gorillas in general, you may as well throw in Disney's 1999 "Tarzan" as well.

    King Kong has been done to death; gorillas-as-victim-of-man's-inhumanity is a recurring theme in Hollywood. It'll be interesting to see how people react to a Jackson/Weta take on the original.

  42. wow by rudiger · · Score: 1

    whoa guys, did you just read that article? it's pretty cool.

  43. newbie here! by kengkeng · · Score: 1

    i think i am going to visit this site over and over again... cool content... --- kengkengz blog ---> http://www.kengkeng.com

  44. Jackson to use "evil bit" technology!!!1 by mattbot+5000 · · Score: 1

    Look for a sequel soon soon SOON!

  45. total waste by bobalu · · Score: 1

    What a complete waste of time and energy. Do we need to remake this kind of stuff for every new "generation"? For what, better special effects? Watch the original, in all it's glorious black and white.

    Just my $0.02....

    --
    The revolution will NOT be televised.
  46. Re:wow indeed, and congrats to Peter!!! by buckaroo-b · · Score: 2, Informative

    anyone who is a fan of pj know that this is a lifelong dream of his. one which he very much deserves to have realized, after all the entertainment he has brought to the world.

    BTW, this has been a long time in the works. LOTR origianlly started out as a joint development project between miramax and universal, each would share the costs of developing two films with pj, and relase one under each of their names. the two original projects were king kong & LOTR.
    but when LOTR grew to two films and the costs rose they lost interest. and miramax (kindly) gave permission to take LoTR to another studio. ultimatley new line actually encourgaed peter to extend it to three films, thankfully leading to the historic project that it became.
    the only downside was that as LOTR grew to a 7+ year project King Kong was put of that much longer.

    althought there are a glut of remakes, i have complete confidence that this on ewill e b as special and unique as all of peters projects.

    PS LOTR was co-written by pj himself, phillipa boyens, & fran walsh...

    --

    i have walked down train tracks, walked down train tracks, drunk at 3 a.m. it not magic, it's no great trick, w
  47. Mmm I think I will wait by idfrsr · · Score: 2, Funny

    You know, I think I will wait until this is posted the third time this afternoon to read it, when its more convenient for me...

    --
    "The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away" -Tom Waits
  48. Re:Public Domain? by sam_handelman · · Score: 1
    Hollywood will bribe Congress into extending copyright laws forever. We used to own our culture. Now our culture owns us.


    You forgot "in Soviet Russia."

    I think your cynema cynicism is excyssive.

    At the moment, our democracy has been totally subborned by moneyed interests. People make the argument that televised entertainment somehow alters the human condition so as to make this state of affairs sustainable.

    Nonsense. The pendulum of political power will perturb the other way, sooner or later.

    Also, who is to say that the entire structure of movie distribution will not change?

    In the future, we could have arthouse movies, distributed over the internet about captured gorillas making arthouse movies, distributed over the interenet about captured gorillas (ad infinitum) made in someone's back yard, or in Tajikistan.

    Neither the makers of King Kong nor of Adaptation could sue.

    If present trends in corporate control over government continue, why shouldn't present trends in filesharing?

    Speaking of which - if Peter Jackson wants to use my idea, feel free. If you're going to butcher a cinema classic, you should do it with gusto and spill the dramatic vicera of the original all over your audience. King Kong in space! With Islamic terrorists and Mecha King Kong! King Kong climbs those cool towers in the center of the (fully operational!) death star. Go nuts!
    --
    The good and new comes from no quarter where it is looked for, and is always something different from what is expected.
  49. Peter Jackson and King Kong by seekohler · · Score: 1

    I'm really not surprised to hear this. Jackson is a super geek freak when it comes to the orignal 1933 movie. So much so, he owns the only remaining Kong figure used in the movie that still has its fur intact.

  50. Better writeup by DeadSea · · Score: 1
    I saw this story yesterday on metafilter. Their writeup was much more compelling:
    Foreigners are plotting to revisit an ancient menace upon New York, and indeed the whole country! I would have thought this sort of terror was something that could have been left in the past.
    (As a bonus, today the whole site looks like Google for april fools day. Quite cute.)
  51. Also on the BBC site, this has GOT to be a joke.. by Havokmon · · Score: 1
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2905247.stm

    "The Kenyan prisoners were found by the First Black Watch Battalion".

    That would NEVER fly in the US.

    --
    "I can't give you a brain, so I'll give you a diploma" - The Great Oz (blatently stolen sig)
  52. New King Kong movie - plot synopsis by guacamolefoo · · Score: 1

    Fade In:

    King Kong, a lovable, hairy-footed primate, obtains obtains a magical ring as a result of a riddle game in a cave with Bill Gates, who strongly resembles a wafer-thin, slimy nerd with wisps of greasy hair. Kong puts the ring on his own cock and is transported to a world where apes run Earth.

    Kong is much larger than said apes. Kong is possessed by the ring, and can only say one word. As a result, the native apes call Kong by the name "Gollumver". Eventually, one of the apes takes the ring off of "Gollumver's" cock and discovers that Kong is just really a nice guy and all that stuff about binding thngs in the darkness is just a product of the Ring's magic. The ape (Heston) who took the ring is overcome by its power, however, and he runs off to an underground cave where he comes to dominate a cult that worships a nuclear weapon.

    Kong is released by the apes, whom he discovers are really just mutant clone descendants of Richard Stallman, and he searches for Heston's lair. He comes across a partially buried, tipped-over Statue of Liberty on the beach, and he realizes where he is at last.

    Determined to save what is left of the world, Kong continues on his voyage to the secret lair of Heston. He finds an elf sorceress (Fay) who tells him to look into a magic pool to see if that yields any clues to the whereabouts of Heston. In the pool, he sees the Crack of Doom. Kong knows that he must find the resting place of Anna Nicole Smith in order to rescue the world from the evil of Heston.

    Heston, meanwhile, has tried to set off his nuclear weapon, but since it uses an unpatched (and unpatchable) version of NT 4.0, he is having problems. He contacts Steve, super-villiain, for help in converting his Super Villain (tm) infrastructure to *nix-based systems via a fork-lift upgrade.

    Kong discovers the Crack of Doom, but it is being watched by Howard the Lawyer, who refuses entry to Kong. Kong is led to a secret backdoor to Heston's lair by the long-forgotten Gates, who has information on the backdoors to Heston's NT 4.0 system (which is not yet fully replaced). Gates tells Kong that the password is "Joshua" and is then killed by a large spider named Toby.

    Kong sneaks past the Toby and confronts Heston and Steve the Super Villain. Kong is intimidated by the power of the ring, but one of Steve's Beowulf-clustered atomic supermen picks up Heston and throws him into Anna Nicole's cooter, destroying Heston and the ring.

    The End.

    Fade Out.

    GF.

    --
    Lots of petrified grits
  53. What about The Hobbit? by scrubb · · Score: 1

    Before doing anything else, Jackson needs to finish the job. He needs to make a film a version of The Hobbit. He's got the costumes, the weapons, and even the rubber feet. Bag End has been dismantled, I've heard, but otherwise, he's ready to go. Most importantly, he needs to do it before Ian McKellan and Hugo Weaving age too much (or die). Unfortunately, Ian Holm is too old to play Bilbo.

    Let's face it, if Jackson doesn't do it, somebody else will. A film version of The Hobbit should have the same look and feel--and quality--as the LotR trilogy, and no one can do that but Jackson himself. If he skips this project, Hollywood will just hire someone like Chris Columbus. (Of course, once Jackson's done with The Hobbit, he can start on The Silmarillion!)

  54. Just scratching the surface by jmoriarty · · Score: 4, Interesting

    From what I've read about Jackson, he really appreciates the depth of the Kong story, not just the idea of a giant ape inflicting havoc.

    There are some juicy aspects of great tragedy in Kong that could be cultivated into a very new and powerful story. Consider the foolish pride of the hunters trying to tame nature. Or substitute the wildness of the human spirit for Kong. Or religion. Flesh out the love story and look at how Kong's love, his fatal flaw, is rewarded by the world.

    Like all enduring movies and myths, King Kong has many levels and strong currents. With a little insight and a strong writer there is a gold mine of different facets to Kong that Jackson could pursue.

  55. I was hoping for a new monster. . . by Limburgher · · Score: 1
    What's that coming up out of the sea?

    It looks like a giant lizard!!!

    But it's red!

    It must be MOZILLA!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!

    (Dramatic Music)

    (Whispers)It's only a gecko. . .

    --

    You are not the customer.

  56. King Kong, huh? by Dirtside · · Score: 1

    Eh, it's a good movie, but I liked the prequel better. (Bottom of the page.)

    --
    "Destroy science and religion. Science would re-emerge exactly the same; but not religion." - Penn Jillette, paraphrased
  57. Re:Also on the BBC site, this has GOT to be a joke by SkunkPussy · · Score: 1
    "The Kenyan prisoners were found by the First Black Watch Battalion".

    That would NEVER fly in the US.


    Over sensitivity to issues of racism is AS RACIST as discriminating against people on account of their skin colour.

    --
    SURELY NOT!!!!!
  58. OH COME ON by SkunkPussy · · Score: 1

    I thought that anybody who tried to pull an april fool's joke after midday was the fool themselves.we have 12 solid hours of april fools, guaranteeing that the slashdot crew has at once ensured that they have fooled everyone in the world, and in addition the whole world knows that the slashdot crew are APRIL FOOLS!

    --
    SURELY NOT!!!!!
  59. This will fail miserably by ShieldWolf · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Don't get me wrong, I am a HUGE Jackson fan, but whenever Directors decide to remake a movie that inspired them when they were young (especially if this is THE movie that made them decide to direct) the results are ALWAYS (pun intended) a mistake:

    Always: Steven Spielberg
    Village of the Damned: John Carpenter
    Swept Away: Guy Ritchie
    etc.

    Peter, for God Sakes don't do it.

    --
    just = (My)Opinion.toCents();
    1. Re:This will fail miserably by smoondog · · Score: 1

      or:

      Titanic: James Cameron

      Oh, wait...

      -Sean

    2. Re:This will fail miserably by ShieldWolf · · Score: 1

      And Titanic is a remake of what movie?

      I am talking about when a director sees a movie when they are young, they love it, then they get famous and powerful and try to foist that same feeling they had onto their audience, it fails like clockwork.

      --
      just = (My)Opinion.toCents();
    3. Re:This will fail miserably by mike3411 · · Score: 1

      well, just because it was successful doesn't mean that it didn't suck donkey testicles (which "Titanic" did, imo)

      --
      Mod me down, and I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine!
    4. Re:This will fail miserably by jdedman4 · · Score: 1

      Don't forget the awful drek that was GODZILLA, made after the success of ID4 . . . .

  60. Re:Also on the BBC site, this has GOT to be a joke by Havokmon · · Score: 1
    Over sensitivity to issues of racism is AS RACIST as discriminating against people on account of their skin colour.

    That's exactly the reason it wouldn't fly in the U.S.

    Where have you been?

    --
    "I can't give you a brain, so I'll give you a diploma" - The Great Oz (blatently stolen sig)
  61. Not the only Peter Jackson remake news of the day by gagravarr · · Score: 1
    Some time ago, bbspot did a story on including Jar-Jar in the new LOTR Movie

    In suprise news today, it seems Peter Jackson himself liked the idea, and will be including Jar-Jar in a special feature on the DVD! Wow!

    --
    This post will enter the public domain 70 years after my death, unless Disney buys another extension.
  62. Re:Not an "April Fools" joke... by shepmaster · · Score: 1

    "Giant Hobbit"

    From this sentence I conclude you are not a true geek, cause you don't know what a hobbit is. :)

  63. Obligatory Training Day by nacs · · Score: 1

    "King Kong! Ain't got nothin'! On me!"

    --
    "I filter at +6, and have yet to miss out on an important comment." (#822545)
  64. Why are film remakes placed under such scrutiny? by Multiple+Sanchez · · Score: 1

    Why are film remakes so often considered blasphemous? It's the standard practice on stage: take the greatest stories, and tell them anew, with the voices of new storytellers, and the work of a new generation of actors.

    The greatest stories deserve to be re-told. As human beings and as consumers of tales, we need to revise our conception of film as an eternal document.

  65. Does Jackson "understand" Kong? by GuyMannDude · · Score: 1

    It's going to be interesting to see Jackson's interperetation of this. On one hand, I feel like King Kong's been done to death. On the other, I *know* there's no such thing as too much Godzilla. Perhaps Jackson will make it so there's no such thing as too much Kong.

    It will be interesting but one has to hope that Jackson has the insight to understand what makes King Kong such an icon. What it boils down to is if Jackson is *really* a Kong fan at heart. The Hollywood Godzilla film was a perfect example of what happens when you put non-fans in charge of "remaking" a classic character. Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin were approached numerous times by TriStar about making a Godzilla film. After persistent bugging (and probably driving a dump truck full of money up to their houses), they decided that perhaps they could make a decent Godzilla flick after all. The problem is that they had no idea whatsoever about what makes Godzilla great. They were giving press releases about how their film was going to be "the way Godzilla *should* have been done" -- implying that solely because of their CGI technology that their film would be superior. There's no clearer sign of contempt for the original idea than comments like that. Sure enough, when the film was released, their creation was so radical a change that no one identified it as Godzilla. They simply slapped a well-known brand name onto their creation in the hopes that it would sell.

    I assume Jackson has more intelligence and artistic integrity to completely rework Kong. An upgrade to modern times would be nice. It will all depend on whether Jackson has a good sense for what makes Kong an enduring legend. Some things should change but the core of the character -- and the legend -- should not.

    GMD

    --
    watch this
    1. Re:Does Jackson "understand" Kong? by Tzoq · · Score: 1

      Jackson is, indeed, a huge Kong fan. The star piece in his private collection of movie memorabilia is the last remaining Willis O'Brien Kong model that still has its original rabbit fur. This was the figure that actually fell from the Empire State Building model in the film.

      On top of that, he's a huge Harryhausen fan, with a huge amount of respect for the classic adventure movies of that sort. He could do an excellent job.

      --
      -- Meet the Residents -- http://www.residents.com/
    2. Re:Does Jackson "understand" Kong? by styrotech · · Score: 1

      Jackson had already lined up King Kong in the mid 90's, but the studio pulled the plug (temporarily) when the found out it would be coming out soon after Godzilla and thought there wasn't room for two classic monster movie remakes so close to each other.

      King Kong was the film Jackson has dreamed of making since he was a kid.

  66. Dr. Evil Says: by MisterMook · · Score: 1

    "Now, if we can only get Kong with some friggin' laser beams on his forehead...Would that be too much to ask folks?"

  67. It's (kind of) an old project by sph · · Score: 1

    Peter Jackson was already working on a King Kong remake back in 1996-1997 before The Lord of the Rings trilogy became reality. One story about it is here. The first script draft from 1996 is also available in the net on several sites, for example at TheOneRing.net.

  68. Dead Horse Genre by simetra · · Score: 1

    This is what I would call a Dead Horse Genre.

    Just like Dracula.

    And Frankenstein.

    And Planet Of The Apes.

    And Lord Of The Rings.

    It's been done, adequately.

    More than once.

    Stop it already.

    Stop it Stop it Stop it!!!!

    --

    "Would it kill you to put down the toilet seat?" -- Maya Angelou
    1. Re:Dead Horse Genre by Jesus+IS+the+Devil · · Score: 1

      You forgot to mention the Bible as well.

      --

      eTrade SUCKS
  69. Re:Why are film remakes placed under such scrutiny by Galvatron · · Score: 4, Insightful
    No, it's not standard practice on the stage. If someone had written a new version of Othello 70 years after Shakespeare wrote his version, it would have been criticized too. It is usually not acceptable to remake a play within about 100 years of the original. Occasionally it's considered alright if you're both writing plays based on the same ancient source material (Hercules, for example), and you base it on the original source, not on the other person's play.

    Here's an example of how people react adversely to someone doing the same thing on stage: when Rossini released his version of The Barber of Seville, the opening perfomance was booed so loudly by fans of the original Pizzello opera that no one could hear the singing. This was despite the fact that he wrote a letter to Pizzello, and wrote an insert for the program in which he explained his reasons for remaking the opera, and his great respect for the earlier composer.

    I think there are a few reasons that remakes rub people the wrong way. One of the biggest is probably that you're implicitly saying "I'm better and more talented than the guy who made the original." Another reason is that if it's no good, it will sour others on the original. Someone who had only seen the new Planet of the Apes would probably be uninterested in seeing the original. Finally, it's often unoriginal. While there can be some truly imaginative remakes, often someone can be tempted to simply update the special effects and copy the rest verbatim. It is right, I think, that people are against remakes. It means that unless you've actually a worthwhile take on the original, you shouldn't bother with a remake.

    --
    "The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than that of whether a submarine can swim" -EWD
  70. It's True by Vinnie_333 · · Score: 1

    No, not an April Fool's joke. Peter Jackson's desire to re-make King Kong goes way back. In fact, he had the go ahead in 1997 to make it, even completing a script. When the project was cancelled by Universal, Peter found another project to keep himself busy (hint: it was a trilogy).

    --

    "We shall party like the Greeks of old! You know the ones I mean." - HedonismBot
  71. Re:Not an "April Fools" joke... by PurpleFloyd · · Score: 1
    From this sentence I conclude you are not a true geek, cause you don't know what a hobbit is. :)
    From this sentence I conclue that you have no sense of humor, cause you wouldn't understand a joke if it came up and bit you in the ass. :)
    --

    That's it. I'm no longer part of Team Sanity.
  72. Re:RKO Radio Pictures by XaXXon · · Score: 1

    BAH! It wasn't a troll, fewls. RKO is mentioned frequently in the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and the lines in the above "Troll" are audience participation lines. Sigh...

  73. Fool? by TheGax · · Score: 1

    If so, it was let out early as CHUD (3/31) and AICN (3/30) ran stories about this earlier.

  74. No, that's another remake.. by Misagon · · Score: 1

    Mighty Joe Young from '99 is a remake of another old Gorilla movie, Mighty Joe Young from 1949.

    Btw, I heard about this King Kong remake last week, so I doubt that it would be an April Fools joke.
    ---

    --
    "We mustn't be caught by surprise by our own advancing technology" -- Aldous Huxley
    1. Re:No, that's another remake.. by ackthpt · · Score: 1

      The MJY I was referring to was the rather poor Disney remake. There's been a remake, in the 70's, of King Kong, which was pretty cheesy.

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  75. woohoo... LOTR script writers... by maomoondog · · Score: 1

    Because we needed more recycled, assinine speechifying in our monster movies.

    Oh, also no one's ever tried to make monster movies better by giving them incredible special effects. Maybe he can hire an old favorite like, say, Matthew Broderick to be the woman Kong drags to the top of the State Building.

  76. Jackson? Oh good. by stevarooski · · Score: 1

    I can hardly wait to see where Liv Tyler going to be patched in this time around.

    Oh, and how about rewriting the plot too--why not make Kong a giant hamster instead?

    ugh.

    --

    - - - - - - - -
    Don't worry, being eaten by a crocodile is just like going to sleep in a giant blender.
  77. No, no, no, no, NO by UrGeek · · Score: 1

    Somebody slap Jackson around a bit. No more half baked remakes. Be ORIGINAL! Or at least make a film from a great book like he did with LOTR.

    How about "Childhood's End"? That one has been crying out for a good film treatment since, I don't know, 1953? Or maybe "The City and the Stars"?

    Oh, I loved "Heavenly Creatures", too. Soooo original. But Jackson, do something NEW!!

  78. Re:Not an "April Fools" joke... by SoupIsGoodFood_42 · · Score: 1
    Don't be so sure! Yes, it was front page news here. But any New Zealander should rememeber Forgoten Silver.

    Peter Jackson is the king of pranks. Forgoten Silver was a fake documentry, about some old film that had been found, and contained footage of Pierce's first attempts at flight among other things. Lots of people bought it, and there where many pissed of people ;)

  79. I wanted to see stuff.co.nz slashdotted... by meowsqueak · · Score: 1

    I am a bit pissed about this - I submitted an informative story to Slashdot about this early yesterday NZ time (only hours after it was announced) and my story was rejected on the grounds that it was an April Fools Day joke!

    Sheesh! I'm glad about freedom of speech for once because I can catagorically state that *that* particular Slashdot editor is a complete moron.

    I *knew* this story would break internationally, and if the editor wasn't such a complete retard you would have all found out about it 24 hours earlier...

  80. A quick request to Mr. Jackson by Dolemite_the_Wiz · · Score: 1

    (gets down on knees)

    Mr Jackson?

    Please oh please don't use Charles Grodin in this film.

    For the Love of Mankind, please don't use Charles Grodin!!!!

    Dolemite
    _____________________

    --
    Save the World! Use a Quote!
  81. No "Gorilla of the Misty Mountains" crock... by Cygnus17 · · Score: 1

    ...instead, picture a 50-foot tall Uruk-Hai.

    Summer blockbuster.

    Oh, and do a google "how tall King Kong" & look at the 3rd hit. heh.

  82. Jackson pulls a Lucas. by Vegan+Pagan · · Score: 1

    Actually, this isn't so much an homage to King Kong as it is an homage too the Star Wars prequels. After creating three great movies, he sells out and makes overproduced crap that would flop if not for the momentum he built up with his earlier movies. Like Lucas with Star Wars I-III, Jackson will proclaim that "Everyone likes action and hates good writing, just like me." Despite being critically panned, these remakes and their merchandise will "earn" hundreds of millions. Unfortunately for Peter Jackson, these remakes will not enter the history books as the biggest franchise wreckers of all time because they're unrelated to his original works. Unlike the Star Wars prequels, Jackson's remakes will not "rape our childhoods", they will merely rape his reputation.

  83. Re:Why are film remakes placed under such scrutiny by Saeger · · Score: 1
    You missed a big reason: sequels are low risk, so people sneer at the greedy studios for going for the easy dollar, because they're taking "advantage" of "sheeple behavior."

    --

    --
    Power to the Peaceful
  84. Re:RKO Radio Pictures by Redline · · Score: 1

    I come here every fucking week, but I still don't know what a "Radio Picture" is!!!

    It's a picture of a radio, duh.

  85. Re:Total waste!!! Been done, shitty story!!! by The_dev0 · · Score: 1

    I've always though that "Druss the Legend and The Legend of Deathwalker by David Gemmel would make good movies, mostly because the books read like a sword swinging action movie ala Conan. The Thomas Covenant books by Stephen Donaldson would also be an excellent choice for a series, IMHO.

    --
    Never fight naked, unless you're in prison...
  86. Why King Kong? by SarekOfVulcan · · Score: 1

    I'd rather see him remake The Wizard of Oz. Can you imagine what he could do with the original story?

  87. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 2, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  88. Original Press Release by mamahuhu · · Score: 1

    The original Universal Studios Press Release is here

    There is also an interesting pre-King Kong interview with Jackson on March 04 where there are only hints of King Kong being a possible new project.

  89. Re:Yuk yuk, how "funny" by The+Other+Nate · · Score: 1

    Wow, judging from the amount of venom in that last comment, it must really suck to be you.

    You have my pity (wanted or not).

    --
    The Other Nate

  90. Re:Well... by mink · · Score: 1

    Mighty Joe young as others have mentioned was an older movie recently re-made by the mouse.
    You Left out Congo (I think it counts as an ape movie) and by some extent one could argue both era Planet of the Apes films (the older series of movies/tv show and the re-make) might as well qualify.

    --
    Well I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years doctor, and I'm happy to say I finally won out over it.