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KONG
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FEATURE
DVD&BD
him in the film; he’s still
growing into his role as the
alpha,” explains producer
Mary Parent. “And this is
an island teeming with far
more vicious creatures
including the Skullcrawlers,
which killed his ancestors
and made him the last of
his kind. That’s what’s so
exciting about exploring this
piece of mythology. Kong
is such a compelling figure
anyway, but he’s facing the
defining battle of his life in
this film – the fight to claim
his rightful place as King of
Skull Island.”
It’s 1973 when Skull
Island is discovered via a
satellite image, leading a
team – comprising scientist
John Goodman, mercenary/
tracker Tom Hiddleston,
photojournalist Brie Larson,
and battle-hardened soldier
Samuel L. Jackman – to explore this
primordial habitat. Backed by a strong military
contingent, they quickly discover that all the
firepower at their disposal is no match for the
primal force that is Kong.
“I love the idea of taking a handful of
characters that have come out of the Vietnam
War, not believing in anything or quite
knowing where they belong, and thrusting
them into this mystical place,” says Vogt-
Roberts.
Indeed, the 1970s setting was an
important consideration in maintaining
Kong's status as a legendary beast.
“It’s the last time in the world where
myth could still exist and you can have
these unknown things,” explains Vogt-
Roberts. "To [have them]
stare up at Kong and say,
‘that’s a god’ – what does
that do to people?
“Kong is not just a giant
animal in our film. This isn’t
a man versus nature story,”
he continues. “That’s why
our Kong will be the biggest
in Hollywood history. I want
audiences to feel what
it’s like to look up and see
something conscious and
ferocious and 100-feet tall
looking over you.”
Producer Thomas Tull promises
Kong: Skull
Island
will deliver a fresh, new experience
for audiences while remaining true to the
established lore has made Kong a screen
icon for almost a century.
“As fans ourselves, it was incredibly
important to us that we honour the essential
elements of this character that have
connected with so many people around
the world in a big, fun, epic adventure that
delivers the pure entertainment and
spectacle of an action-packed
monster movie.”
Kong represents
all the mystery and
wonder that still
exists in the world.
That's why he will
never stop being
relevant.
KING KONG
(1933)
The original and the best – both the movie and
Kong. Willis O'Brien's incredibly expressive
stop-motion creation remains the most
endearing of all screen Kongs, which makes his
fall from the Empire State all the more tragic.
KING KONG
(1976)
The combined efforts of makeup maestros Rick
Baker and Carlo Rambaldi can't save this Kong
from looking like the mechanical beast and
man-in-a-suit he obviously is. "When monkey
die, everybody cry!" Or not.
KING KONG LIVES
(1986)
Another dodgy Kong costume derails this
risible sequel to the 1976 remake, but that's
the least of this film's problems. "Only a
miracle can save Kong now" and it's not the
heart transplant that brings him back to life.
KING KONG
(2005)
The motion-capture Kong is incredibly lifelike, but
Peter Jackson's remake is bloated and mawkish,
with an interminable trip to Skull Island and too
many tender moments with Naomi Watts. The
double dinosaur fight in the chasm is cool, though.
•
Kong:
Skull Island
is out
on July 19
The
of