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King Kong: Don't Mess With the Monkey

Posted by michael on from the 800,000-pound-gorilla dept.

Noodles22 writes "King Kong: Don't Mess With the Monkey began as an audition piece for Eden Phillips. After adapting some scenes from Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh's 1996 King Kong screenplay, the natural appeal of the Kong story attracted more and more enthusiastic volunteers who generously gave of their time to make Kong a rich, funny short film. We are honoured to dedicate it to Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Wingnut films, and all those involved in the Lord of the Rings films, and upcoming King Kong remake."

8 of 192 comments (clear)

  1. In other news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    King Kong was one of Hitler's favourite movies. The other one was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

    1. Re:In other news by Timmeh · · Score: 5, Interesting

      A quick googling also turns up Metropolis as Hitler's fav (knew that one), but also Gone with the Wind and The Lives of a Bengal Lancer (both news to me.) I wonder, not too much, what his favorite film really was...

  2. Peter Jackson is officially jumping the shark by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The guy really should have taken a break after the massive effort that was LOTR filming and cutting. There are so many great ideas for movies that haven't been made and we have to go back to King Kong? I hope this doesn't ruin the reputation he's acquired.

  3. Anti-climax for fans of PJ by adept256 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This is going to be a big dissappointment for fans of LOTR expecting more of the same from Peter Jackson.

    The LOTR trilogy contains a beautifully realised fantasy world and an epic story with way more material than you need for a movie. King Kong is a just a fifty year old screenplay.

    Why not come up with a new idea instead of remaking a fifty-year old idea? They want the name recognition and the fanbase. I wonder, if you asked five years ago, who's name would be more recognizable, Gandalf or King-Kong?

    I think the big difference is that LOTR is a 900 page epic and King-Kong is a 70 minute screenplay, and it's going to show in the characters and dialog. Not to deride Peter's directing talent, but without the genius of Tolkein's story-telling I don't think his genius with directing is going to make the 100-foot monkey movie fly.

    I read somewhere (sorry no link) that as animated characters become more realistic, they reach a stage where they are so realistic that it's disturbing and (paradoxically) seems more unrealistic. The gollum character got around this because he was supposed to be disturbing... or something... anyone find the link for that? Anyhow, how would they achieve the same effect with king-kong?

    Don't forget what a flop the remake of Godzilla was.

    --

    I ran a benchmark on my quantum computer, now I can't find it anywhere!
    1. Re:Anti-climax for fans of PJ by robson · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Fakezilla was a flop simply because it WASN'T Godzilla. They took TOO many liberties with their Godzilla design. I won't even get into how easy they made it to kill Godzilla or the whole breeding thing they came up with.

      Of course Toho, the creator and only true maker of Godzilla films, has made some big mistakes as well(Godzilla 2000 for instance, one of if not the most boring of the Godzilla films)

      I've always suspected it would've been recieved better if it'd been billed as the movie it was actually a remake of -- The Beast from 20000 Fathoms.

      (Although it still wouldn't have lived up to their remake of War of the Worlds ;)

  4. Apparently they didn't consult with a lawyer... by telstar · · Score: 4, Interesting
    "Music used within this film was utilized as a gesture of respect and admiration for the artists and labels involved.
    No financial gain whatsoever can be attained from this film and/or any copyrighted materials that appear within it.

    We hope this film will help further promote the works of the artists and labels featured here. Any objection to the usage
    of copyrighted materials within this film will be met with immediate compliance and complete removal of the offending material without question."
    • So they've basically admitted that they never asked for permission to use any of the music in the film ... and they explain that it's okay ... because it was used out of respect, and they won't make any money on the project anyway. (I could've told them that after watching it) But they promise to remove the music if anyone complains. Nice to know they'll close the barn doors after the horses have already left...
  5. Why King Kong, Peter? by HarveyBirdman · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I say give Jackson the money to do Zelazny's Amber series.

    --
    --- Ban humanity.
  6. Some comments.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Our expeditionary team is also supported by two jovial Sumatran natives, Motumbo and Mentawei, who are all too familiar the feared Cult of Kong.

    Hmmmm. Sumatra is in Indonesia. They choose the wrong name: Motumbo doesnt sound like Sumatran name, more like African. Mentawei sound like Borneo (another part of Indonesia) name. Also native Sumatran people doesnt look like India at all.

    And if they really on Sumatra during 1933. Hopefully they prepared to meet the Sumatran Tiger. They still exist until now, and they are *a lot* in 1933. Not to mention the bears. And the guns, Indonesia was on war at that time, guerillas everywhere.

    (note: I havent watch the movie, so my comments can be wrong).