King Kong

I've never been a fan of science fiction films, especially those from the cheesy annals of science-fiction history. However, this remake of one such cheesy film is spectacular. At first, I went on a whim, and then later I went back with firm intent. This film is great. My favorite character is Kong, the giant silver-back gorilla. Thanks to the genius of Peter Jackson and the expressions of Andy Serkis, Kong is portrayed as a completely compelling and expressive ape. You can literally see the emotions in his eyes, in the set of his jaw, in the position of his eyebrows, all of which come together perfectly to lend him a startlingly realistic air. When Kong laughed, I laughed. When Kong was sad, I cried. Also noteworthy are the performances of Naomi Watts, Jack Black, and Adrien Brody. Ms. Watts charmed me just as she charmed Kong; Mr. Black's character disgusted and angered me just as he should have; and Mr. Brody, my roommate has obliged me to say, rendered a breathtaking and magical performance as is to be expected from his talented and most gorgeous self. I have two words for her [my roommate]: Thomas Kretschmann. Yes, I have a new hottie for my hottie folder. Mr. Kretschmann is a mix between the dashing Liam Neeson and the soulful David [Daisy] Wenham, and his voice - don't even get me started! Overall, I loved the movie. It may be three hours long, but I didn't even look at my watch until two hours into the film. The film is a bit slow starting, but once the action starts, it doesn't let up except for a few breathers spaced evenly throughout the film. I have one caveat: if you don't like bugs - you should invent some really good reason to disappear twice for extended periods of time during the film. Seriously, I don't have a big problem with bugs, but I squirmed and cringed in my chair and covered my eyes during these scenes. Other than that, I laughed, I cried, I cringed, and I even screamed once [What can I say? I just don't like T-rexes!] Go see it!