King Kong: 2-Disc Special Edition DVD Set Review

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Title: King Kong: 2-Disc Special Edition

Region: One

Genre: Action Adventure Fantasy

Stars: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Colin Hanks, Jake Bell, and Andy Serkis

Writers: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Peter Jackson

Based On A Story By: Merian C. Cooper and Edgar Wallace

Director: Peter Jackson

Feature length: 188 minutes

Extras: Video Introduction By Peter Jackson, Post Production Diaries, Skull Island: A Natural History, Kong’s New York, 1933, Tie-In Advertisements

Languages: English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and Dolby Surround Sound For Disc Two

Subtitles: English Subtitles For The Deaf And Hard Of Hearing and French and Spanish Language Subtitles

Packaging: Single Size Two-Disc Keep Case

Chapter Stops: 50

Sound: English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and Dolby Surround Sound For Disc Two

Year of Theatrical Release: 2005/DVD Release: 2006

Theatrical Distributor: Universal Pictures

Home Video Distributor: Universal Studios Home Entertainment

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera

Peter Jackson’s remake of “King Kong” was one of the most eagerly anticipated films of the holiday season last year. Jackson had wanted to do his version of the film in part because the original King Kong inspired him to become a filmmaker. At approximately three hours and eight minutes, Jackson’s version of “King Kong” felt too long for some theater attendees, but there is no denying the level of artistic integrity and passion that Jackson and his collaborators have brought to “King Kong” so that it not only remains true to the original film, but in many ways, it “apes” the competition with some of the best CGI dinosaur sequences ever created for the big screen outside of Industrial Light & Magic’s groundbreaking work on the three “Jurassic Park” films. Collectively with the work WETA digital has done for Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord Of The Rings” trilogy, I think WETA’s effects are both equal to and at times has surpassed the work perfected at ILM. It is good to know though at when combined with a number of other effects specialists like the folks at Stan Winston’s Studio, KNB effects, ADI, Sony Pictures Image Works, Pixar, PDI, and others, both filmmakers and viewers can benefit from collaborative efforts that makes everyone shine as can be seen most recently with Andrew Adamson’s big screen adaptation of “The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe.” While competition will certainly occur since after all this is still a business, I foresee greater things for all on both sides of the big screen as storylines become increasingly complex with the only limits appearing to be those of one’s imagination.

Jackson’s “King Kong” has nothing short of an epic cinematic vision with scenes that look almost like paintings come to life. My favorite sequence is the first appearance of the biplanes coming onto screen from right to left as Kong stands upon the top of the Empire State Building. The various hues for the morning skyline are still jaw dropping to me. Another scene that makes one feel awe in a different way is the bug pit where the explorers must fight against giant insects and other vermin for survival. If I were a child seeing that whole sequence for the first time, I think it would give me nightmares because in addition to the bugs, the dark and at times ethereal tone truly makes me feel like I’ve seen a glimpse into one of the circles of hell in Dante’s Inferno. Andy Serkis, the man behind Gollum in “The Lord Of The Rings” trilogy provides the same style of motion capture acting that helps bring Kong to life like never before on the big screen. Serkis also has a role as one of the crew of the Venture, which makes the life-altering journey to Skull Island. I had my doubts and times I don’t think his scenes completely resonate with the rest of the film, but Jack Black is a good Carl Denham and Naomi Watts is stunningly beautiful as Kong’s star-crossed apple of his affection. Thomas Kretschmann (Resident Evil: Apocalypse), Colin Hanks (Orange County), Even Parke, Adrien Brody (The Pianist), and Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot) are turn in solid performances, but unfortunately there are some unresolved storylines and there seems to be little screen chemistry between Adrien Brody and Naomi Watts. Perhaps certain subplots or character arcs will become clearer if an extended version of Peter Jackson’s “King Kong” is ever released on DVD.

The two-disc special edition presents “King Kong” with an excellent anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) aspect ratio presentation that captures the visual artistry without a fault and the picture is matched by a fantastic English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack that more than one person has stated to me rivals if not surpasses many DTS soundtracks on other DVD releases. English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and French and Spanish Language Subtitles are encoded onto both discs as options.

Extra features on disc one include the making of Volkswagen/King Kong commercial followed by the TV spot itself (2:03) and a NYC “Wish You Were Here” advertisement (1:07). Disc two contains a video introduction by Peter Jackson (3:32) where he explains all the many choices one can view the Post Production Diaries (132 minutes in total) that span from April, 2005 through to the film’s premiere in December of 2005, which concludes the journey that begun in September of 2004 at www.kongisking.net and later the limited edition “King Kong: Peter Jackson’s Production Diaries” that was released on DVD around the time of the film’s theatrical release. In addition there is a pseudo documentary that is also part advertisement for the book “The World Of Kong: A Natural History Of Skull Island” published by Pocket Books and this short is entitled appropriately enough “Skull Island: A Natural History” (17:02). Finally an interesting documentary on depression era New York circa 1933 (28:26) concludes the extra value features in this set. All of the materials on disc two are presented in a (1.78:1) aspect ratio enhanced for 16 by 9 televisions with English Dolby Surround Sound. The interactive menus on both discs are easy to navigate and well rendered.

“King Kong: 2-Disc Special Edition” is available now at retailers on and offline courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

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