Review of King Kong (1933) by Chris E — 31 Dec 2010

A movie needs several things to be successful: a good story, good cast.

And crew and of course a good director. In some cases, to really make a.

Story come to life, you need one other thing: special effects. What is.

A special effect, though? How is it defined? It's really anything.

That's used to make something or even someone come to life in a story.

For example, making things such as twister in The Wizard of Oz (1939).

Or making landscapes feel wide in Gone With the Wind (1939) are special.

Effects. However, one film that really defined special effects, by not.

Only making different elements come to life, but also it's main.

Character, is King Kong.

King Kong tells the story of movie maker, Carl Denham (Robert.

Armstrong), who's getting ready to film his next motion picture on a.

Distant island. Meanwhile, he's in need of an actress for his film.

While looking for an actress, he saves a young, but poor woman, Ann.

Darrow (Fay Wray) from being hurt by a fruit vendor for stealing a.

Piece of fruit. Feeling sorry for her, Carl takes her to a local diner.

And gets her something to eat. They talk for a little bit, until Carl.

Comes to the realization that this woman could be his actress. She.

Agrees to do so, excitingly.

The next day, Carl, Anne and a ship of crew members and movie makers.

Are off to the distant island to make the movie. However, nobody, but.

Denham knows that they're actually going to Skull Island, an island.

That's rumored to be extremely dangerous, because of the legend of.

Kong. Meanwhile, Ann meets a young ship man, John Driscoll (Bruce.

Cabot), who can't stand women and doesn't like that she's aboard the.

Ship. He shows this strongly towards her.

They soon arrive at the island, where they see natives dancing in.

Celebration for a woman native marrying Kong, who's not seen at the.

Moment. The movie crew and shipmates are caught sneaking into the.

Ceremony filming it for the movie. The natives question them and want.

To kill them, because the celebration was spoiled by them seeing it.

Luckily, they escape unharmed, for now.

Back on the ship, that night, both John and Ann start to talk some.

More, until they realize that they love each other, going against his.

Attitude towards women. They kiss, passionately. John is called by the.

Ship captain. While he's gone, Ann is taken away by the natives onto a.

Small boat and is brought back to the island. The shipmates notice.

She's missing and go back to the island to save her.

On the island, a new celebration is taking place, only this time, Ann.

Is put in the position of marrying Kong now. Kong is called by the.

Natives to come over to the giant doors, where he's blocked from the.

Outside world, to take Ann. Kong, who appears to be a giant ape, slowly.

Approaches her, as she screams in fear, and takes her away. The men run.

Into the deep jungles where Kong lives, to save Ann. One the way, they.

Run into other creatures, including dinosaurs. Now, it's up to them to.

Save Ann.

King Kong is the kind of film that has a little bit of everything: a.

Good story, good cast, good direction and of course special effects.

The special effects are certainly the star of the movie. King Kong.

Himself was the star of movie and was nothing more than a special.

Effect! He was done using stop motion animation. Willis O'Brien was in.

Charge of effects on this film, but had the most involvement with the.

Stop motion effects. He animated not only Kong, but the dinosaurs as.

Well. There's also a number of matte paintings and rear projection.

Effects used. So much thought and creativity went into these effects to.

Make them work, being that it was 1933. O'Brien and his crew did an.

Excellent job pulling off these effects and made them work so well.

Many argue that the effects look dated, but you have to understand that.

This was a time before computers and CGI. These were primitive times.

For filmmaking. The 2005 remake showed what the film would've been like.

If it was made in modern times and not back then and the results just.

Aren't the same to me. CGI could be a great tool, but making Kong a CGI.

Character just doesn't seem like the right move. O'Brien really made.

Kong come to life and you felt for him. He was a character and not just.

A 13 inch puppet. The effects are timeless. It's the first film to.

Really use effects to this extend and because of this, that we're able.

To have further advanced effects that we have today.

Aside from the great effects, everything else is great as well. I.

Really like the story. Many who haven't seen the picture think of it as.

A monster movie, but it isn't. It's a movie with a monster who's being.

Tormented by humans and learns how the outside world is like a jungle.

It's also a romance between beauty and the beast. The acting is also.

Pretty good. Some of the performances are a little wooden, but good. It.

Was the acting style at the time though, so I can't really call it bad.

Acting. Some argue that Fay Wray was nothing more than a screaming.

Queen in this. I have to disagree though, because she's supposed to be.

Screaming in fear. She's in the hands of a giant ape, after all. I.

Think that Robert Armstrong stole the show, though. I love his.

Performance as Carl Denham. I love his mannerisms and his tenacity to.

Get the movie made. The music and sound effects are also very good. I.

Like how each sound and piece of music compliments what's happening on.

Screen.

Rating: **** out of ****.