Which is your favorite Kong movie? 33', 76' or 05'?

[o.supreme]

What? No love for King Kong Lives??

Anyway, I agree with most people here. the 1933 original is my favorite, but the 2005 PJ version is a very well done remake I enjoy as well.

[kpa]

All the people who claim the '05 remake brought all sorts of definition to Kong/Ann are silly. Because it really didn't, and what it did was already there in the '76 remake.

I completely disagree. In the 1976 version, Dwan definitely develops sympathy/affection for Kong, which is a big change from the 1933 version where Ann wanted absolutely nothing to do with Kong.

But the 2005 version defines the relationship between the two characters very differently. In the Jackson film, the main characters never interrupt Kong's "wedding ceremony"-- a key scene in both the 33 and 76 versions-- and that throws out the love/stalker theme which is central to the previous versions. Instead of the "Bride of Kong" story, the 05 film creates a familial bond between Kong and Ann; early on it is established that Ann has lost everyone she has ever cared about, and later in the film we see that Kong has lost his family as well. After Ann stands up to Kong on Skull Island he lets her go (something that never happens in previous versions), during and after the V-Rex battle she chooses to stay with Kong (and his facial expressions show he understands that), and during his NYC rampage she seeks him out (rather than run away like in 1933 and 1976). And at the end, Ann considers following Kong to her death until Driscoll literally calls her back from the edge.

One of the many reasons I like the 2005 KING KONG so much is that it captures the heart of the original version but subtly twists the elements so the end result feels the same but is actually quite different. The movie is uneven and has its fair share of warts but its a lot more clever than some people give it credit for.

I voted it #2, with the 1933 version at the top spot. The 1976 version is a mess with a number of good/interesting scenes that keep it from being a total loss.

[Destroyer]

I really need to see the original 33 film.

I saw the 2005 film back in the theater. I'm sorry, but I found it incredibly dull and boring. One whole hour went by without any sign of Kong. It just dragged on too much, and the characters weren't really that good in my opinion. The only scene I really liked was the fight between Kong and the V-Rex.

[Legionmaster]

I completely disagree. In the 1976 version, Dwan definitely develops sympathy/affection for Kong, which is a big change from the 1933 version where Ann wanted absolutely nothing to do with Kong.

But the 2005 version defines the relationship between the two characters very differently. In the Jackson film, the main characters never interrupt Kong's "wedding ceremony"-- a key scene in both the 33 and 76 versions-- and that throws out the love/stalker theme which is central to the previous versions. Instead of the "Bride of Kong" story, the 05 film creates a familial bond between Kong and Ann; early on it is established that Ann has lost everyone she has ever cared about, and later in the film we see that Kong has lost his family as well. After Ann stands up to Kong on Skull Island he lets her go (something that never happens in previous versions), during and after the V-Rex battle she chooses to stay with Kong (and his facial expressions show he understands that), and during his NYC rampage she seeks him out (rather than run away like in 1933 and 1976). And at the end, Ann considers following Kong to her death until Driscoll literally calls her back from the edge.

Rather, I'll amend my vague-ish statement to say that the '05 remake expands upon what the '76 remake started. I'm ok with that, just not with the claim that the '05 remake started it.

Long live the '76 hippie bullshit version! Shaggy "biologists" will save the day!

[GodzillaDude]

All the people who claim the '05 remake brought all sorts of definition to Kong/Ann are silly. Because it really didn't, and what it did was already there in the '76 remake.

Plus, the '05 remake is a good 45 minutes too long (or rather, 45 minutes too poorly paced).

The '33 original isn't that exciting. It's retrospectively pretty generic and the only real part I react in a strong positive fashion to is the humorous fact that the brontosaurus chomps down on more humans than anyone else.

The '76 remake? All sorts of unintential funniness. It's so bad, and so good. I really enjoy how terrible it is.

Yeah it did bring more to the relationship between Kong and Ann. Something that wasn't that emphasized that much at all in the original. In Jackson's film it actually showed them bonding and makes you more so understand why Ann would care about him and vice versa. That relationship aspect was hardly there at all in the original.

Had you bothered to finish bolding my sentence, you'd see that I was talking about the '76 remake, not the '33 original.

Even still my points still can be used when comparing the 75' and 05' versions. The 76' version may started it but Peter Jackson's expanded on it much more for sure.

[HayesAJones]

What? No love for King Kong Lives??

I actually liked that one.

[Ethan]

"There's a girl out there who might running for her life from some gigantic turned on ape!"
Regardless '33 and King Kong vs. Godzilla are my favorites.

[Hellspawn28]

The original film since it's really a masterpiece and a film like no other at the time. Sure there was The Lost World in 1925 but King Kong is the movie that really set up the giant monster genre for another 20 years.

[Kaiju-King42]

I'm a fan of both the original and Peter Jacksons. I haven't seen the 76 one in ages, and I barely remember anything from KK Lives.

[Dr. Nishiyama]

King Kong '76 all the way. It was the first Kong movie I saw as well as the first movie I remember having a big impact on me. I was four or five and was wowed by it. Jessica Lange was also my first crush and whenever she was onscreen she made me feel funny down there. My favorite scene in the film is when Dwan's trying to calm Kong down in the oil tanker.

Never understood the hate this film gets. The acting is solid (Jessica Lange won a golden globe, and yes, her character was SUPPOSED to be like that), John Barry's music is incredible, the scope is epic, the animatronics for the Kong masks were groundbreaking at the time, Jeff Bridges plays a great moralistic hero, Charles Grodin is a great villain, and Rick Baker's Kong suit is awesome. Yes the dinosaurs are missed, but they weren't in the original Kong "idea" conceived by Merian C Cooper, who wanted the big guy to fight a giant komodo dragon (Willis O'Brien brought in the dinosaur theme since he had all those dino puppets leftover from his unmade Creation film) ALso, Kong's first appearance is treated as an event and wasn't a letdown for me like the '05 version, like how he kinda jumps out of the bushes at that's it. (to be fair with Jackson's version, I did love the scene with Kong sliding around on the ice bank having a moment with Ann)

Also, Kong '76 was neither a box office or critical disaster. It was quite the opposite.

Is Kong '33 the better film? OF COURSE! I love that film! But as a favorite, it goes to Kong '76.

I think Jackson's film is hit and miss. It's overlong (not a bad thing, but all the scenes that go on don't add to the story, and that Jimmy kid with the backstory was absolutely pointless, seeing how he disappears after the island sequence. Also didn't like the Playstation special effects. They'd look better if it were mixed with other kinds of FX like what they did with Jurassic Park). Also hated how Jackson one ups the original by having Kong fight 3 T-rexes (while holding Ann) instead one and instead of one brontosaurus, it's a flipping' stampede. Also thought the choices for the prehistoric beasties could've been better. While it comes off that I hate Jackson's film, I do like it, but it could've so much better if Jackson took a year off after Return of the King then came back to it all rested.

Lastly, those who dislike the campy tone of the '76 Kong ought to know that Jackson's first draft of his version really wasn't any better! (this would've came out in '97 or '98 but was scrapped once GINO and the Mighty Joe Young remake were in production)

[Hellspawn28]

70's Kong remake was as bad people most make it out to be from what I can remember since I haven't seen it since 1999. I remember the sequel being rather awful and had some plot dealing with a female Kong.

[GodzillaDude]

King Kong '76 all the way. It was the first Kong movie I saw as well as the first movie I remember having a big impact on me. I was four or five and was wowed by it. Jessica Lange was also my first crush and whenever she was onscreen she made me feel funny down there. My favorite scene in the film is when Dwan's trying to calm Kong down in the oil tanker.

Never understood the hate this film gets. The acting is solid (Jessica Lange won a golden globe, and yes, her character was SUPPOSED to be like that), John Barry's music is incredible, the scope is epic, the animatronics for the Kong masks were groundbreaking at the time, Jeff Bridges plays a great moralistic hero, Charles Grodin is a great villain, and Rick Baker's Kong suit is awesome. Yes the dinosaurs are missed, but they weren't in the original Kong "idea" conceived by Merian C Cooper, who wanted the big guy to fight a giant komodo dragon (Willis O'Brien brought in the dinosaur theme since he had all those dino puppets leftover from his unmade Creation film) ALso, Kong's first appearance is treated as an event and wasn't a letdown for me like the '05 version, like how he kinda jumps out of the bushes at that's it. (to be fair with Jackson's version, I did love the scene with Kong sliding around on the ice bank having a moment with Ann)

Also, Kong '76 was neither a box office or critical disaster. It was quite the opposite.

Is Kong '33 the better film? OF COURSE! I love that film! But as a favorite, it goes to Kong '76.

I think Jackson's film is hit and miss. It's overlong (not a bad thing, but all the scenes that go on don't add to the story, and that Jimmy kid with the backstory was absolutely pointless, seeing how he disappears after the island sequence. Also didn't like the Playstation special effects. They'd look better if it were mixed with other kinds of FX like what they did with Jurassic Park). Also hated how Jackson one ups the original by having Kong fight 3 T-rexes (while holding Ann) instead one and instead of one brontosaurus, it's a flipping' stampede. Also thought the choices for the prehistoric beasties could've been better. While it comes off that I hate Jackson's film, I do like it, but it could've so much better if Jackson took a year off after Return of the King then came back to it all rested.

Lastly, those who dislike the campy tone of the '76 Kong ought to know that Jackson's first draft of his version really wasn't any better! (this would've came out in '97 or '98 but was scrapped once GINO and the Mighty Joe Young remake were in production)

I haven't seen the 76' version in years nor I have I seen KKL (King Kong Lives) in years. But this makes me want to rewatch the 76 version.

[Gawdziller]

The other two aren't even fit to wipe the original's ass.

The 70's film is just bland as shit and has very little entertainment value. I actually prefer watching King Kong Lives over it. At least that one's good for a laugh.

Jackson's film is a bloated, overlong cartoon. It was like being hit in the head with a sledgehammer with every single scene, as if he wants to scream his love for the story in our face for three hours instead of actually telling one of his own.

[edgaguirus]

My favorite is the original. It's a decent adventure story, and the motion effects for Kong and the dinosaurs are good. A few of the characters are memorable, like Denham. He's over ambitious and a risk taker, but he's not the sleazy and greedy man we got in the 05 version.

I also like the 05 film. It adds some individual touches, and Kong looks great. The subtle nods to the original were amusing. I didn't like the majority of the characters, though. Most were dishonest, greedy, and without redeeming value. The fight with the V Rexs was a great sequence, and this film did make you care more about Kong. I suppose it was so his obvious demise woulf be that much more tragic.

[JVM]

I can see why people dislike the 2005 version but sometimes I think the pacing problem is a little overstated compared to other flaws in the film.

[Goji]

KING KONG ('33) is the best Kong film ever made, and always will be. No. skreeonk. Contest.

[Gawdziller]

Does that include the Mighty Kong?

[Goji]

Also didn't like the Playstation special effects.

The 70's film is just bland as shit and has very little entertainment value. I actually prefer watching King Kong Lives over it. At least that one's good for a laugh.

Yeah, same here. At least it's funny as hell.

[Viva la revolucion!]

PeterJackosn's Kong is sooooooooooo badass.

[King Caesar]

Kong '05 was the best in my opinion. The mood was perfect, and the effects were superb. Kong '33 was revolutionary and had some great scenes, but '05 appeals to my personal preferences more. The modernized '76 Kong was not anywhere near as good as the other two, which was unfortunate. It had a lot of potential, but it fell short.