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Plot Summary
"It was beauty killed the beast." The original and still the best of the great ape series. On a mysterious and dangerous island, a film producer captures a giant ape and brings him back to New York in the hopes of capitalizing on his prize. But the imprisoned ape, known as Kong, has the hots for screen beauty Fay Wray ("The Cob Web," "The Most Dangerous Game") and escapes in pursuit of her. Before his famous and tragic fall from the Empire State Building, he wreaks havoc on the city. A classic beauty and the beast story that features some of the finest stop-motion effects ever filmed. Recently selected as one of the top 50 American films of all time by the prestigious American Film Institute and inducted into the Library of Congress National Film Registry. Co-starring Robert Armstrong ("Mighty Joe Young") and Bruce Cabot ("Angel and the Badman").
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Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
98%- Reviews Counted: 54
- Fresh: 53
- Rotten: 1
- Average Rating: 9.0/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Fresh: Through multiple exposures, processed 'shots' and a variety of angles of camera wizardry the producers set forth an adequate story and furnish enough thrills for any devotee of such tales.
Fresh: Wholly enjoyable.
Fresh: Kong mystifies as well as it horrifies, and may open up a new medium for scaring babies via the screen.
Fresh: The story, like Frankenstein and Dracula, has taken on the significance of a modern folk tale, layered with obvious moralizing and as familiar as personal history.
Customer Reviews
King Kong (1933)
I have loved this movie since I was 9 yrs old. I am now 68 yrs old. Still my favorite. I bet I have seen this movie over 50 times during my lifetime, and still gives me chills when the ape takes Faye Wray from the sacraficial alter and carries her away. I have seen all three of the movies and still feel the first is honest and the best. The last one especially is ridiculous the way Naomi acts with the ape, not real. Faye's terror is so appropriate. This movie will always be a winner with me.
"Oh no, it wasn't the airplanes. It was beauty that killed the beast."- Carl Denham
"We're millionares boys! I'll share it with all of you! Why in a few months his name will be up in lights on Broadway! Kong! The Eighth Wonder of the World!"-Carl Denham, again.
Apple, you are awesome! This is the film that started it all. The film that helped create such classics as the Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, Them!, and Gojira (which I hope Apple will upload...either version will do nicely). I just love it! This is what I think critics should say is the best movie of all time, instead of Citizen Kane. There are alot of people who loved this movie, ranging from big names like Peter Jackson and Ray Harryhausen to internet-goers like Matt Frank (check out his artwork if you're a kaiju fan) and James Rolfe (check out his Monster Madness reviews if you want a good monster/horror recommendation). Thank you Apple for putting this movie out for people to put on their iPods. Thank you. The whole world will pay you to see this.....a semi-Kong quote.
The Eighth Wonder of the World!
This is one of my favorite movies and, in my opinion, one of the greatest movies ever made. Yes the stop-motion animation may seem crude at first but it doesn't take long to get used to it and enjoy the amazing detail of Willis O'Brien's animation.
The movie takes about a half hour to get moving, but it's pretty much pure action from that point on. I'll admit that, like a reviewer has already mentioned, the movie doesn't have a whole lot of depth (although many people have over-analyzed the film in search of hidden meanings that aren't there). But who cares? This movie was meant to be an escape from the great depression by being a highly entertaining action film, and it does its job well.
In addition, the film was revolutionary at the time for the way it pioneered many special visual effect techniques which were used for numerous later films, as well as for its sound design and music (many people consider Kong's soundtrack to be the first modern movie soundtrack).
It might be a good idea to rent the movie if you haven't seen it before as some people can't get over the 1930s acting, dialogue and special effects (which although superb for the time, seem somewhat dated now). But this movie is absolutely a must-have for anyone who is a fan of classic films.
Also, don't let the trailer deter you. The picture and sound of the actual movie has been remastered and it is much easier to watch than the trailer.
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- $14.99
- Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy
- Released: 1933
- © TM & 1933 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.