Best "King Kong" Film

[Timothy Hunter]

Only going by the films that go by the story of the original 1933 film.

[Cyke]

I believe 1933 is still regarded as *the* classic, but dangit the 2005 bug pit scene is the stuff of nightmare fuel. I was a little disappointed that Kong: Skull Island didn't have a bug pit scene (it had various large bugs, but nothing as icky and claustrophobic as the 2005 scene).

Poor, poor Andy Serkis.

[BeastieRunner]

I believe 1933 is still regarded as *the* classic, but dangit the 2005 bug pit scene is the stuff of nightmare fuel. I was a little disappointed that Kong: Skull Island didn't have a bug pit scene (it had various large bugs, but nothing as icky and claustrophobic as the 2005 scene).

Poor, poor Andy Serkis.

Have you seen the unused stop motion scene of the spider pit from 1933? There a portions of it around and lots of stills from it.




Peter Jackson did a recreation from the storyboards and found footage:


The director took it out because:

"It was a graphic scene following Kong shaking four sailors off the log bridge, causing them to fall into a ravine where they were eaten alive by giant spiders. At the preview screening, audience members screamed, and either left the theater or talked about the grisly sequence throughout the subsequent scenes, disrupting the film. Merian C. Cooper said, "It stopped the picture cold, so the next day back at the studio, I took it out myself."

I voted 2005 even though I really, really love the original. I enjoy 76, too.

[Vakanai]

1933 is clearly the best.
I also have a fondness for the 1976 one.
The 2005 one is just too long, and Kong is reduced to just a gorilla.

[thwhtGuardian]

It's a tough choice, the original is amazing and I love it to death...but the 2005 version by Peter Jackson is truly a beautiful film.

[Kirby101]

1933, I liked 2005, except for the bug scene, just too horrific.
1976 sucked worse than a Hoover.

Why isn't Skull Island included. Might be my second favorite.

[AnakinFlair]

Have you seen the unused stop motion scene of the spider pit from 1933? There a portions of it around and lots of stills from it.




Peter Jackson did a recreation from the storyboards and found footage:


The director took it out because:

"It was a graphic scene following Kong shaking four sailors off the log bridge, causing them to fall into a ravine where they were eaten alive by giant spiders. At the preview screening, audience members screamed, and either left the theater or talked about the grisly sequence throughout the subsequent scenes, disrupting the film. Merian C. Cooper said, "It stopped the picture cold, so the next day back at the studio, I took it out myself."

I voted 2005 even though I really, really love the original. I enjoy 76, too.

I had no idea that footage still existed. I thought it was lost, and all that remained was still photos.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed the 1933 version when I watched it. I loved how expressive Kong's face was.

I know I must have seen Kong 76 on tv at some point, but I have no real clear memory of it.

I liked Kong 2005 well enough when it came out, but watching it now you really feel how indulgent Peter Jackson was. He wanted to fit every single bit of Kong lore into one film, and at times it just dragged on.

[Celgress]

Got to go with OG Kong (1933). It is my favorite movie that features the big guy.

[Vakanai]

Am I the only one who actually likes the 76 film? All I've ever read is people putting this one down...

[Powerboy]

For all of its social faults, I'd say the original. The 1976 version was really bad. The Peter Jackson version took everything that might have been implied in the original and made a long production number out of it. Also, the 1933 version contained special effects that were innovative and incredible in their day. Todd Browning created stop motion animation for the original 1922 "The Lost World" and had it down by "King Kong". That grainy black and white jerky motion has an eeriness that even CGI cannot capture.

Having watched that clip, I wouldn't even describe Kong's movements as "jerky" Considering it was made in 1933, it is incredible, more impressive for its time than the other versions.

[choptop]

I don't really get the dislike for the 1976 one at least it didn't take forever and have jack black suviing a stamped with a tripod etc