Monstrous Kong, the eighth wonder of the world
King Kong was splendid. Nobody else liked it but I thought it was well made and visually perfect. I almost cried a bit too, towards the end, not that this is any indicator of artistic merit. The men I went to see it with said it wasn’t realistic. Not a valid accusation of a film which has a giant ape as its protagonist. To be fair to Joe, he said he didn’t like the sexual tension between Kong and Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts). I didn’t sense any sexual tension between them, but then again I am a sentimental fool.
And although this is a movie 187 minutes long, I wasn’t bored not even for a second.
What I liked most:
-Dinosaurs trampling on people
-Naomi Watts, so beautiful, elegant, classy
-The skull island
-The portrayal of 1933 New York
-Jamie Bell
-Thomas Kretschmann, the captain of the ship
-Kong, all his movements were so natural, as if he was real
Other news
I bought my favourite Pocket Penguin books. There are 70 in the series and I think I have about 15. My latest additions are:
Street Haunting – Virginia Woolf
The Snobs – Muriel Spark
My Side of the Matter – Truman Capote
Of Pageants and Picnics – Elizabeth David
On Shopping – India Knight
The Dressmaker’s Child – William Trevor
Also, I wanted to inform you that Santa (from North Pole, Canada) sent my son a reply today and he was thrilled. It wasn’t just printed out, there was some handwriting too. Considering Santa’s workload, I think that was a quick reply.
My attention span is getting shorter and shorter. But I just remembered something my son said yesterday: “Attending weddings is not that interesting a pastime. It’s like watching a long, boring film.”
January 4th, 2006 at 8:35 pm
Mr.C wants to go and see this film but I want to see Memoirs of a Geisha. I might be pursuaded now, given your review. I love Virgina Woolf and Truman Capote. Great reading choices. I hope you are able to get the Mitch Albom book.
January 4th, 2006 at 9:37 pm
Well I liked the movie Elf and no one else did.
:0
January 4th, 2006 at 11:09 pm
You sound just like me at the movies…I cry at just about anything. Everyone always laughs at me. Maybe I will give King Kong a chance. I know it will be up for some awards.
A letter from Santa sounds like a really neat thing. Isn’t it great what they have for kids now?
Connie
January 5th, 2006 at 3:37 am
Now that my paper is done (yea!), I am considering seeing movies again…I really like Peter Jackson, not just LoTR but some early stuff too…but 3 hours? I’m impressed that you weren’t bored!
January 5th, 2006 at 4:27 am
I like what your son says about weddings! He should go to an indian wedding though! That’s LONG!!! Moreover I never understand what is being said because unfortunately I don’t understand hindi. So it goes on for hours… the good thing is the pastry that you get at the end!
January 5th, 2006 at 5:18 am
…The men I went to see it with said it wasn’t realistic. Not a valid accusation of a film which has a giant ape as its protagonist…
I think this film is made for men AND women.
Men identify themselfs with the ape, and by liking this giant creature, they feel big.
We identify ourselfs with this beautiful, elegant, classy icon of a woman and forget our weight problems, bad figure, etc (not that I’ve had any such problems ever
January 5th, 2006 at 9:01 am
you were right, it was time to come back… can I borrow your little helper (the CD-burner troll), he can help me sort my stuff out ;o)
I like going to the cinema. the cola. the popcorn. the laughter in the dark. now I want to go, too!
January 5th, 2006 at 9:47 am
That’s a film you wouldn’t get me to see - it’s just not my kind of thing. I have a gift certificate at a bookstore and I’ll be doing some shopping myself soon - I LOVE buying books. I really enjoyed “Don’t you want me?” by India Knight - have you read it? It’s hilarious
Your son is absolutely right about weddings, it’s so boring, I really hate going. But if I had an interesting date…I wouldn’t really mind
January 5th, 2006 at 9:58 am
The one wedding I’ve been to in my life was when I was like 10 or 11. We drove 4 hours to some big church in the middle of Cincinatti, Ohio, just to sit in a pew for what seemed to me to be four more hours. Just kiss already so we can get to the food!! I seemed to remember this being shorter on TV.
January 5th, 2006 at 10:05 am
Haven’t seen it.
January 5th, 2006 at 10:20 am
I almost cried at the end of King Kong too.
Great stuff.
January 5th, 2006 at 10:32 am
I refuse to spend 11:50 on King King..lol I’m glad u enjoyed it.
Daybyday..I loved the movie Elf!
January 5th, 2006 at 12:57 pm
The sexual tension between Kong and Darrow? In today’s world all of us tend to equate love with sex. We all love sex or most of us do. What can create even more tension then sex is the inability to not properly express the love you may have for sometihng or someone.
I think it was love of beauty. The most innate love. Love without lust. Love for purity. Precious love.
the same love you hear in a song or read in a poem. The love you have when you reread and reread a phrase or paragraph in a Steinbeck book.
January 5th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
what was that about attention span? are there many bridges in Greece.
Why doesn’t the phone ring anymore and what happened to my oreo cookies?
Maaaaaaaattlock!!! Help me!
January 5th, 2006 at 3:03 pm
Hey! I liked Elf as well!
Not sure if i’m excited about King Kong. Glad you liked it though.
I’m dying to see “Pride and prejudice.” I’ve read the book several times and have watched just about every movie made out of the book.
January 5th, 2006 at 4:43 pm
Thanks for the review, king kong it is this weekend !!
Try an Indian wedding ! - They take hours and mumble thru it all, Im quite sure the intent is to make the couple fall asleep !
cheers
January 5th, 2006 at 5:53 pm
I noticed the snow pic is gone from your blog title. Has spring set in already for you?
I like your new books.
January 5th, 2006 at 6:47 pm
I completely agree with your son on weddings. Yes, I know it’s a celebration of a union. But there are times I think the bride and groom should be left alone. I know I would hate to have to kiss my bride everytime some clinked silverware to their glasses.
But I always wish a new bride and groom well on their auspicious occasion.
January 5th, 2006 at 7:22 pm
very true…attending wedding is a boring thing…
I have planned to watch King Kong this weekend…
January 6th, 2006 at 12:03 am
Attending weddings IS like a long and boring film, but it’s an epic miniseries with a good deal of family drama if you actually have to be IN them. Also, Peter Jackson is all skinny now.
January 6th, 2006 at 8:49 am
what a clever child!!
January 6th, 2006 at 11:17 am
Cathy
i’m going to see Memoirs of a Geisha too. I am looking forward to it. Go see both!
daybyday
that’s what we get for being so informed, cultured, tasteful and eclectic. oh dear.
Connie
what do you mean “what they have for kids now?” you mean it’s not really santa? oh no!!!!!!
kimananda
you might be bored a little towards the end just before kong dies on Empire State Building. But the rest of the film is packed with action.
glad you are back!
ruby
i’d love to see indian weddings and jewish weddings too. they must be very interesting and sometimes even funny.
vista
oh not such problems, never, god forbid
i didn’t identify with Naomi Watts for obvious reasons. I identified with Jamie Bell who was engrossed in “Heart of Darkness”.
daria
let’s go see Pride and prejudice and then exchange views xx
devil mood
i haven’t read it. i have been reading her columns in the newspaper every sunday for ages. she is really good and her views are always so down to earth. i tend to agree with her a lot (which should make her feel all warm inside) xxx
erikku
oh yes, tv weddings are so much more fun. always, something weird happens and spices things up. the real thing is quite boring. as soon as we have seen the dress, the exciting part is over.
Finn
you’ll start going out now and see it. but you won’t like it, if i know a couple of things about your film taste.
Stephanie
I almost cried when Ann climbed back up. Naomi Watts clearly doesn’t suffer from vertigo.
heidi
wait for the DVD then. I haven’t seen Elf. I’m going to look it up. Many people seem to like it.
pirate
oh yes! and when Kong dies and falls off the Empire State Building , people say that the aeroplanes killed him, but Carl (Jack Black) says that it was Beauty that killed him.
zona boy
attention span: minimal
oreo cookies: endless
anonymous shannon
i love pride and prejudice. my favourite version so far is the BBC mini series with Colin Firth. Colin firth makes me melt. He is the best Darcy ever.
true blue guy
i have only seen indian weddings in bollywood movies. they seem quite colourful and fun. i didn’t know they were that long!
amit
tell me if you liked it
vesper
no, not spring. just a crisp winter morning!
angel
i agree. weddings should either be brief and sweet or if they are to be long, they should at least be elaborate productions.
stephanie
is he skinny really? how did he do that? King Kong diet?
neurotic missy
he is clever but what worries me is that he is sarcastic!
January 6th, 2006 at 1:13 pm
The dress? Bah! I want cake!!
January 6th, 2006 at 5:11 pm
Virginia Woolf! We share the same birthday. Well, there’s about a century between us, but hey.
I do like her writing, though.
January 7th, 2006 at 2:22 am
so you liked king kong?…haven’t found time to watch it,but as i’m an emotional fool as you i guess i would enjoy it too :-)…and yes one more thing i would like to add…Joe is truly very lucky to have you as his mom…you add such spice and excitement into his life…wish i could be a lil baby of yours too