Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
LAist Watches: King Kong
()
What should we tell you about Kong? That the hour and fifteen minutes after Jack, Ann, Denham and the rest arrive at Skull Island are not for the weak hearted? That the film is shot beautifully? That there are moments when the lighting is so stark, the simple movie effects so classic, that you wish it was in black and white? That the strongest performances are by Kyle Chandler as the incredibly cartoonish Bruce Baxter and Andy Serkis as the completely animated Kong? All true.
That the three hours is maybe a little too long especially when, outside of the spectacular middle of the film, the human stories are never very satisfying? Also true.
We committed pretty easily to Naomi Watts's Ann Darrow from the jump. Her sad depression era character with an empty stomach but eyes full of hope and humor was compelling and true even while bringing vaudeville to Skull Island but the rest? Not so much. Jack Black's Dennem is never quite villainous or devious enough coming off more as an affable con man than the singularly-determined Captain Ahab he should be. Adrien Brody's Jack is believable but not exactly compelling. The rest of the sailors on that ship? Well, we are presented with several questions about them that, unless we had our eyes closed or were jumping out of our seats at the time, seem to never get answered.
Support for LAist comes from
But all that is meaningless. This flick is about spectacle and popcorn and marvelling over movie magic and a shared scare. We watched it at the NBC/Universal Holiday party in the Gibson Ampitheatre with a good 3,000 employees, friends and family of the movie studio, many of whom have spent at least the last year inundated with Kong. And everyone there seemed completely enamored with the experience.
If you can live, breathe and eat a project for a year and still enjoy it as it was intended, well, that's a pretty strong recommendation for the film.
Our Take: Skull Island, Skull Island, SKULL ISLAND! Even with a couple special effects missteps that took us out of the action for a moment, we couldn't help but be totally caught up in the action. Even with our own personal problems with the story (which doesn't update or alter any of the 1933 version's questionable stereotypes) and our difficulty with movies that are almost entirely computer-generated, we really enjoyed the experience. It ain't the greatest movie of all time but it was pretty darn good.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist