March 7, 2017: Kong: Skull Island, Monster of a Movie!

A Brief History

On March 7, 2017, we at History and Headlines along with members of John Carroll University’s Paranormal Research Group were privileged to preview the major motion picture Kong: Skull Island.  Based on the monster from the 1933 film, King Kong and another re-imagining of the story on the lines of the 1976 and 2005 remakes, this one has a refreshing new twist to the story, let alone superior filming and special effects.  The movie works!  We had high expectations and were not disappointed!

Digging Deeper

The casting is superb, the acting is good, and the CGI special effects are the best I have seen yet.  The island scenery is beautiful and the soundtrack is right up our alley (yours too, if you like late 1960’s early 1970’s type music, including Jefferson Airplane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Hollies, David Bowie, The Chambers Brothers, Black Sabbath and others).  Set in 1973 the story takes a whole new sequence of events, giving the movie a refreshing difference so as not to rehash the same old lines.  Right from the start of the film, you know it is different.

Although there is a little bit of campiness, the movie is mostly serious and not a comedy, with graphic scenes of human and monster demise.  The film also contains allusions to Apocalypse Now, Heart of Darkness, and the Godzilla movie franchise, complete with reference to nuclear bomb testing.  Other influences on the film include The Conversation and Platoon.  It seems the screenwriters and/or director made a point to portray the women in the film as strong or stronger emotionally as the men, without the swooning and screaming we have come to expect.

Character development is not profound, which in our opinion is just right!  We wanted to see eye candy and action, get scared, and see graphic, gut wrenching monster fighting, which is exactly what we got.  This flick is a high quality horror/science fiction movie, not a coming of age or romcom tear jerker.  Once the action starts, it can be relentless, with just time to catch your breath between action scenes.

Made by Warner Brothers, there is speculation that a sequel may pair up Godzilla and Kong in the same film, an exciting proposition.  Be sure to stay for the post credit scene to get a clue about what happens after the film and what could happen in the future.  (Sorry, no spoilers from us!)  Our verdict, as if you have not guessed, is a must see film for fans of giant apes!

Question for students (and subscribers) to ponder: Have you seen this movie?

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Historical Evidence

For more information, please see…

Edwards, Gareth, dir.  Godzilla (3D) [Blu-ray].  WarnerBrothers, 2014.  Blu-ray.