Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

[Monsterzero 1965]

I like this movie better than King Kong vs. Godzilla because of Dr. Who and his minions. If only Toho had made a third Kong movie movie with Mr. Tako and his employees and Dr. Who, that would be a dream come true.

For my Kong Rankings:
King Kong (1933)
King Kong Escapes
King Kong vs. Godzilla or King Kong (2005)
King Kong (1976)
King Kong Lives

Haven't seen Son of Kong yet.

My favorite Kong knockoff is Mighty Peking Man (1977) because it's actually a decent movie; the photography looks pretty darn nice and the special effects and miniatures look decent. It also has Evelyne Kraft going for it.
My least favorite is A*P*E, I wanted to turn it off at the begining with the shark fight and it all goes downhill from there. My verdict: don't waste your money on this movie like I did, watch some other movie instead.

[alienhulk2099]

I liked the sand shark fight.

[ThunderScore]

Some promo art for THE MIGHTY GORGA -

[Goji]

^ LOL, good lord...I'll have to track down A.P.E. and THE MIGHTY GORGA just for shits and giggles. KONGA is another one I haven't seen...but man does it look bad.

[Showa Gyaos]

Not to poop anybody's party, but people seem to have forgotten that the thread is about King Kong Escapes, and not a "favorite to least favorite Kong movie" thread, or whatever.

[edgaguirus]

Back to topic, KKE can be silly, but it's the enjoyable kind of silly.

[Dash 7]

On another note, who agrees with me that Mie Hama is EXTREMELY hot as Madame Piranha?

[Mini-Godzilla]

I'd say that this film has no shortage of hotness.

[DaikaijuSokogeki!]

I've only seen this dubbed, but hearing Paul Frees' voice from Eisei Amamoto's mouth makes it all a-okay. It's a fun movie, nevertheless. The monster fights are fun, the SPFX are decent, and Ifukube's music is pretty memorable. Gorosaurus and Mechani-Kong are great additions to the Toho line-up of kaiju, and Dr. Hu is a fantastic villain. Still, the leads are forgettable and I don't recall Linda Miller's acting being all too good.

I kinda wish Rankin-Bass had commissioned more King Kong films from Toho, though. I think a whole series of these flicks could've rocked. Finally, why the HELL can I not find the Japanese version of this on the net?! *er-hem*

[edgaguirus]

On another note, who agrees with me that Mie Hama is EXTREMELY hot as Madame Piranha?

She was also hot in KK vs G.

[Dash 7]

I

I kinda wish Rankin-Bass had commissioned more King Kong films from Toho, though. I think a whole series of these flicks could've rocked.

Meh, too many Japanese Kong flicks and they'd be pure Jabootu or Stomp Tokyo fodder.

[Sydney Aradi]

What are your thoughts about King Kong Escapes? This film is an adpatation of a saturday morning cartoon show called The King Kong Show which was produced by Rankin/Bass who also were the co-producers of this film. This film is prety fun to watch and it has a great score by Akira Ifukube and the american dubbing for this film is pasable at best and has some nice effect scenes and boasts some good kaiju battles like Kong vs Gorosaurus, Kong taking on a sea serpant and his battle against his mechanical counterpart Mechanikong. While neither the best or worst film Ishiro Honda has done it is pretty enjoyable if you are bored and need something to watch on a rainy saturday morning. (I've only watched the Universal version not the Japanese original so I dunno what changes were made if there were any made)

[kpa]

I used to watch the KING KONG cartoon on TV as a kid so I always liked that there was a movie version, too. KING KONG ESCAPES is a fun movie, and as long as people understand its based on a cartoon and isn't meant to be taken too seriously they should enjoy it.

[Hellspawn28]

KKE was a fun movie. I don't know why Universal never released the movie on VHS?

[Tyler]

This movie goes great back-to-back with Latitide Zero. They have a similar tone, at least to me. I really need to see The King Kong Show. I know they put out two DVDs.

[Dr. Nishiyama]

Love love LOVE this movie!! Very fun and has a great Ifukube score. Also Kong's a mean bastard in this. Also, was anyone disturbed at all with Dr. Who's death and his killing of the native as a little kid??

[gojimantis]

fun movie!
the actress who played susan was rather cute.

[therealmccoy]

I've never seen it, but I really want to. I wish they would release the Japanese version, too. The only way I can get it is if I buy the King Kong vs. G/KK Escapes combo pack, and I have KK vs G already.

[TokyoVigilante]

The best example of one of Honda's skills as a Director; he takes what is basically the script for a cartoon and gives it a uncharacteristic (almost undeserved) sense of dignity. This film probably would've been a goofy mess under the supervision of anyone else but Honda, IMO.

That being said, this film is really charming and almost has that lazy-sunday vibe that Fukuda films are known for. A harmless little film.

[kpa]

The only way I can get it is if I buy the King Kong vs. G/KK Escapes combo pack, and I have KK vs G already.

KKE is also sold by itself...

http://www.amazon.com/King-Kong-Escapes ... 093&sr=8-1