King Kong Movie Review

Oil company official travels to a remote island to discover it inhabited by a huge gorilla. The transplanted beast suffers unrequited love in classic fashion: monkey meets girl, monkey gets girl and brandishes her while atop the World Trade Center. An updated remake of the 1933 movie classic that also marks the screen debut of Jessica Lange. Jeff Bridges is too self-righteously annoying to make an acceptable hero, but Charles Grodin is fine as the greedy exec. Impressive sets and a believable King Kong (played by make-up wizard Rick Baker in his own creation) romp around New York City in this film. Limited use of a stiff full-scale model of Kong, heavily promoted by the producer – plus comparison with the classic original – did much to damage critical opinion of this remake, but it's really a fine film in its own way, especially in John Guillermin's direction and a superb soundtrack from John Barry. Watch for Joe Piscopo, and quickly for Corbin Bernsen as a reporter.

1976 (PG) 135m/C Jeff Bridges, Charles Grodin, Jessica Lange, Rene Auberjonois, John Randolph, Ed Lauter, Jack O'Halloran, Joe Piscopo, Corbin Bernsen; D: John Guillermin; M: John Barry. Academy Awards ‘76: Best Visual Effects; Nominations: Academy Awards ‘76: Best Cinematography, Best Sound. VHS, Beta, LV, 8mm PAR, HMV