Review of King Kong (2012) by Suzi G — 08 Apr 2014

This is a spectacular modern epic with an emotional core to match it's beguiling and often incredibly fearsome special effects. Jackson gives full weight to the characters, the story, and the iconic legend of Kong himself.

There is a pure love for cinema and movie magic within every single frame of this movie. Only Peter Jackson could have made it because only he could have envisioned something as grandiose as this. Naomi Watts is so perfectly cast in the lead role it hurts.

Visually speaking, the movie combines modern CGI with classic artistry including matte backgrounds and miniatures to create a 1930's New York and a jungle that feel wholly original to this movie. It's an astonishing work of art, given depth by performances that take the material seriously and a director who understands the mythology of the story and had the audacity to explore its themes deliberately and patiently through a 3 hour movie.

It's a bold and risky event movie made at a time when audiences seem to only have time for heartless, assembly-line shit like Transformers.