King Kong Receives Glowing Review from NY Times
A.O. Scott of The New York Times offers up a glowing review of King Kong in today’s paper, calling the “gargantuan” film “mightily entertaining.”
Scott goes on to say that, “The sheer audacious novelty of the first King Kong is not something that can be replicated, but in throwing every available imaginative and technological resource into the effort, Mr. Jackson comes pretty close.”
The New York Post has put King Kong on its cover for the second time in two weeks. Inside the paper is a two-page spread that features both a four-star review of Peter Jackson’s film and a fun look back at the Post’s less-than-glowing original review of the 1933 King Kong.
Post critic Lou Lumenick says of the new King Kong:
King Kong is the most pulse-pounding and heart-stirring romantic adventure since Titanic. Peter Jackson’s stupendous, supersized remake not only pays loving tribute to the 1933 classic, it elaborates on the “Beauty and the Beast” story in smart, awe-inspiring ways that will have audiences repeatedly bursting into applause — and reaching for their handkerchiefs as the big ape heads for his date with destiny on the Empire State Building
This augurs well for Kong at the box office as the film’s ability to draw in the female audience will determine whether or not King Kong can approach the all-but-impossible half billion dollar mark at the domestic box office.
Another notable comment by Lumenick, “Most great movies are lucky to have a handful of moments to remember; King Kong has at least two dozen.”
King Kong Opening Day Box Office
Just about three days away from opening day and overwhelmingly (53%) of our visitors think King Kong will do more than $50 million on opening day. That’ll be a challenge given that Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith holds the all-time opening day record at just over $50 million.
My prediction is that Kong brings in around $46 million.
King Kong for PSP - coming soon
King Kong, the video game, will soon be available for the Sony PSP. According to gameinfowire.com, we should expect to see it later this month.
You can find more screenshots here
Anybody planning to pick it up ? feel free to post your review in the comments.
King Kong Dominates NYTimes Blog
King Kong has been dominating the entries in a fun, new New York Times blog about the movie awards season called The Carpetbagger (written by David Carr).
Carr, who attended a screening of Kong, is putting his money on the 800 lb gorilla to take home the best picture Oscar. In a recent post he refers to Kong as a “hardware magnet,” and says, “The formula is simple – the industry is in disrepair, box office is flat, and Kong could serve as a tent-pole of recovery. ”
A couple of Carr’s other worthy entries on King Kong:
The Big Mo’ for the Big Monkey?
Konged
Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly has offered up a gushing review of King Kong. She says, “King Kong sets the new standard for honoring a mass-market classic while remaking it with nuanced contemporary self-awareness. ”
Kutt on KONG Premiere (I was there)
“Jackson’s King Kong will probably be recognized as one of the greatest movies of all time,” says contributor Malibu Kutt, who offered KingKongthemovie.com this first-hand account of yesterday’s premiere in New York:
Life IS about timing, but it’s also about who you know. I often laugh as to how psychotically karmic and charmed my life is and that I continue to experience very cool events and happenings….Latest to my list would be the invite I received to the King Kong premiere from my very dear friend “MS” a media planner/buyer who does a lot of work with Universal…So instead of heading off to MSG to watch the Rangers or join the boys for Monday Night Therapy - I was off to Skull Island.
Sitting in traffic while on my way to the Times Square area for the World Premiere of Peter Jackson’s King Kong, I found myself peering out the cab window and towards the illuminated tops of the Gotham City and thought this is exactly where this film should debut. Approaching the theatres on West 42nd at 5PM was surreal - between the swaying “premiere” spot lights cascading along the facades along the brick and mortor canyon and the hustle and bustling of throngs of people scurrying their way along 42nd street towards the Port Authority at rush hour- I kept expecting to see King King charging at me or a directors yelling, “cut!”
The red carpet was world record in proportion — as big as the oversized Ape himself. The white tented, enclosed carpet went from the Northeast corner of 8th Avenue half way down the elongated avenue block towards Broadway stopping at the Loews theatre. For a premiere this big - one theatre wasn’t enough - so the AMC across the street was also called into service.
Upon entering the jungle, guests were asked to show their tickets a cornucopia of times - I counted nine different check points along the odyssey to my seat. Once on the appropriate floor, we were met by what seemed to be Homeland Security with metal detectors and comprehensive searches for any form of recording equipment. There was a short line to grab bags of popcorn, a selection of water and soda and of course your choice of a King Kong commemorative cup - it made 7-Elevens “Big Gulp” look like a shot glass.
With my refreshments in hand I made it into my assigned theatre and grabbed a golden seat. Dead center! Luxurious stadium seating with over sized armrests to accommodate both tenants and cup holders to handle any size beverage..ahhhh. But each seat had two surprises; a white bag filled with either a delightfully tasty black forest ham and brie sandwich or a turkey wrap, a refreshing fruit cup and a trilogy of deliciously soft and tasty cookies. The black bag contained a King Kong action figure, kewl! Almost every seat in my row had a different one - good stuff.
Before I knew it, without looking at my watch once - three hours had passed from the opening chyron to the rolling of credits. My friend and I had a difficult time putting what we just experienced into words…Jackson’s King Kong will probably be recognized as one of the greatest movies of all time. I kid you not and I am a very tough critic. I was exhausted after the movie - emotionally and physically. It’s a cross between Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Predator and Harry Met Sally AMPED up several notches. It’s truly a marvel version of an all-time classic. Get your tickets NOW, but keep in mind, the PG-13 rating is very misleading. This deserves a NC-17 or R rating (not for sex, get your head out of the gutter). It’s way too brutally savage, gory and violent for kids.
- Malibu Kutt
Kong Causes Lohan to Bail on Regis & Kelley?
The web is buzzing about Lindsay Lohan’s last-minute bail on Live With Regis & Kelly this morning. Lohan supposedly canceled her appearance on the show due to a bout with food poisoning. Speculation, however, is that Lohan had too much fun at the New York premier of King Kong last night (seen in above picture).
Naomi Watts on Cover of Vanity Fair
Naomi Watts will appear in the January issue of Vanity Fair, on New York and L.A. newsstands December 7, and appearing nationally December 13.
In the cover story, she talks about the men in her life, hanging on in Hollywood, and playing King Kong’s girl.
Referring to the opening of Peter Jackson’s King Kong, Watts says, “All this stuff”—the global rollout, the raised expectations, the impossibility of privacy—”is still unknown to me. I’m less familiar with it, and it’s kind of frightening.”
Google Earth: King Kong on Empire State Building
For those of you who use the Google Earth satellite imaging program ( you can download a free version ), a user who goes by the name of ‘pmaxfield2 ‘, has created a placemark with King Kong on the Empire State Building.
pretty cool !