Munk's thoughts on KING KONG

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 2:43am

While I tend to avoid giant blockbusters like KING KONG - not only did this one intrigue me from the first trailer, but the across the board rave reviews made this a must see for me - and clearly everyone else.

While KONG is definitely, in formula, a typical "popcorn" crowd-pleasing action, adventure drama (complete with too many special effects and a score about as standard as they come,) it outshines every other film in this genre. Ever, maybe.

I'm not going to review this movie, because everyone either knows or has heard how amazing it truly is. Instead, I would like to share my thoughts on it with you - things I haven't heard before on these boards. Maybe it's just me and I'm crazy, but this movie has moved me to tears - weep-like tears. It moved me in such an extreme way that I have not cried like that at a movie since, maybe, SCHINDLER'S LIST.

I know most of you are probably tired of animal-rights activist Munkustrap178, but I feel that I am completely justified in this instance to offer these thoughts to you.

How absurd is it that, before we know it, we are cheering for this beast? We are on his side, and we suspect that the feeling is mutual. It's completely absurd that we, as an audience, are completely taken in by and quite possibly in love with this computer animated (completely fictional) gorilla.

We see how human Kong is. As curious as children, as intuitive as you or I. He certainly feels pain like you and I, and that's all clear. What I think this film really suceeds at is convincing (subconsciously, maybe) the audience - the human race - that really, all living creatures, human or not, have the same instincts. They have the same needs, they have the same wants, and they have the same primal desire - a seed planted in all of us - something we feel and desire before we can even identify what it is. I'm talking about the need and want to love - to connect with something else in such a way that you are forever moved and changed by this "thing." Whether it's a blonde bombshell or a chimpanzee, that desire is undeniably natural. It's the purest, most innately innocent feeling in the entire world.

I think that we, as a human race, tend to forget that there are other creatures living on this earth. Living perfectly wonderful, blissful lives - in the most natural way possible.

Unfortunately, what has happened to most of the human race, is that we are so far removed from this type of naturalism - this type of un-tainted purity- that the human race has really evolved into a self-important, jaded, greedy group of fools.

Is there any square foot on this entire earth that is not tainted by man and man's delusional fantasties and desires? How unfortunate for these precious creatures - creatures with just as much purpose as you or I - to become play things - merely puppets on a string - for the human race.

How precious and peaceful was that family of cows before they would be condemned to die a completely unnatural, brutal death? And for what? So greedy people can benefit? How pristine was that baby seal - sliding and playing on the ice without a care in the world - before some human gets off a boat, clubbing it to death, causing it to choke on it's own blood? How happy were those zebras - prancing around in their natural habitat and basking in the sun - before humans came along and decided it would be better to ship them thousands of miles away to live in a jail cell for the public's amusement? And, is that really any better than just being murdered? No, it's not - essentially it's the same thing.

Just as our spirit can be wounded and bruised, so can an animal's. So can a terrifying giant gorilla named Kong. So can your dog, and so forth.

There were parts of this film that utterly sickened me - and clearly Jackson did this on purpose. How money hungry is the human race? How insensitive have we allowed ourselves to become? Have we all forgotten that everything on this earth exists for it's own reason? Yes - and what seems to have happened is that due to machines and weapons and our ability to communicate using words - we have enslaved and disrupted the lives of a multitude of creatures. Creatures whose lives were undeniably happier before we ruined their lives.

Did your heart not break for Kong when he collapsed in the water? Did you not shed a tear when Kong falls to his death?

And how about the ending? The man's comments about how it's just a stupid animal and obviously it has no feelings and had no idea what it was doing? It's SO TRUE. That is how people think. THAT is why people think it's okay to wear 47 dead racoons on their back. THAT is why people think it's okay to keep their "pet" dog chained outside all of the time. THAT is why people don't think twice when putting on a a shearling or leather coat, and THAT is why the human race has allowed itself to evolve into what it has.

Next time you eat a hamburger, think of how that cow you're eating was in love with something - just as Kong was in love with her. Next time you go to buy those Ugg boots - think of how you could have prevented the bloody slaughter of the poor sheep.

What's ironic is that, in a way, Kong allowed himself to die - he had no choice. Kong died with more dignity and more peacefully than anything on your plate did. That was on HIS terms - and how compeltely devastating was it to watch him silently fall to his death?

When Kong was holding Watts in Central Park playing in the snow and ice skating with her, I completely and honestly started weeping. That was bliss in it's purest and most natural of forms. As far as Kong knew, he wasn't doing anything wrong. He just wanted to love. As innocent as a newborn baby.

I think you get my drift. I look forward to your responses.

Allow me to just say that this film has effected me in a way that I never thought possible. See it, and be amazed at what you'll learn about yourself.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 3:10am

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 3:34am

I don't have any productive comments on your review(essay?), but congrats on having convinced me once and for all to see this film.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 10:17am

Thanks for your review, Munk. I think that's Jackson's greatest accomplishment with this remake: he gives Kong a soul. The monster in KONG KONG isn't the gorilla, it's mankind and our eternal quest for spectacle and novelty.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 10:20am

And that, to underline my point on the other thread, is why I think this is a better film than Titanic, if we're going to make such comparisons. Cameron's grasp of class politics remains grounded at a level of Upstairs, Downstairs.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 11:15am

Lovely review Munk. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.

[broadway86]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 12:30pm

I am extremely happy that you loved this movie. I cried, as well. It went far and beyond my expectations. As long as it was, there wasn't one frame that I would cut. I was fascinated and thrilled from start to finish.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 1:12pm

Will this change anyones views on animals and how they are enslaved by the human race?

I would cut MAYBE a few minutes on the ship going to the island.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 1:17pm

I love that picture you are using in your av.

[harris007]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 2:41pm

Best review i have read so far, right on the nose.



and i would have cut the *bug pit scene*

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 2:43pm

Why it doesn't inspire others to change their lifestyle is beyond me.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 4:01pm

I love the bug pit scene! It makes me feel all tingly.

I actually wish we got to see more of those spiders.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 4:41pm

Really? The bug pit scene for me was (aside from being sooo gross) was the point where it started to tip over from being exhaustive into exhausting. By the time the evil bats attacked Kong, I had really had my fill of creatures.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 4:44pm

For me, it was the brontosaurus stampede. I didn't particularly like the bats, but they functioned as a plot device to get Ann away from Kong.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 5:54pm

Was I the only ones rooting for the dinosaurs to kill the humans in that scene?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 5:55pm

I want a bronto-burger now.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 7:10pm

I totally agree, Munk. I thought this was the best film of the year. It's an honest to goodness masterpiece. SIDENOTE: Im going to THE FAMILY STONE in 20 minutes...will post my thoughts later! :)

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 3:15am

I don't know if I'd be so quick to deem this the best picture of the year - but it's certainly up there.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 6:17am

That was a beautiful review ! But is it the final one ? Or there's a chance that you'll see the film again and completely change your point of view ? (Sorry, had to say it !!!!) LOL


Updated On: 12/17/05 at 06:17 AM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 11:04am

Read somewhere one cutscene was Watts singing to Kong. I will eventually see it ( 3 D IMAX would be nice ) I will definitely get the DVD when it comes out

It did not do boffo business on its first day. Hopefully the grosses will improve this weekend

Updated On: 12/17/05 at 11:04 AM

[harris007]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 11:24am

well it was a middle of the week release, it will be #1

[Jim Colyer]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 12:08pm

I enjoyed it. A bit long in the middle but worth the price of admission.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 12:19pm

It's the most anticipated movie of the year (probably tied with HARRY POTTER) and I expect it to rake in around 100 million dollars by time the weekend's up.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 12:47pm

Wow!

I really had no interest in seeing this movie whatsoever, but now I don't think I can miss it. I had not yet heard about the soulful portrayal of Kong. I had just anticipated it as being a pretty mindless action flick.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 1:48pm

It's not at all, colleen. I didnt want to see it either but I thought it was brilliant. You really must go. :)