Sixty-five years ago today KING KONG had it's World Premiere in New York City. It changed the world of film forever. The score, the effects and the audience response created a fire for more films like it. Sixty-Five years later, it is still my favorite film of all time. A great film. One I see about 5 times a year, a classic. Remake it? Well, when Dino D tried it, the results were... less than remarkable. The reason probably came from the fact that the filmmakers didn't have a clue what worked about the original.
Then around a year and a half ago... well... well Peter Jackson and Universal Studios were all in a fire to make it. What happened? Well, Universal chickened out, they were afraid of how MIGHTY JOE YOUNG and GODZILLA would stomp Kong. So they pulled King Kong from development and went full ahead with THE HULK.
I told y'all quite some time ago THE HULK was dead. Well, today Universal got around to putting a wreath on the coffin. Why did THE HULK die, was it really the budget? Well, my sources in Universal tell me that it had to do with a baaaaaaaaaad script. Good. That's what I call good decision making. I mean, sure they have spent $20 million on pre- production, but thank God they didn't spend the additional $80-$100 million to get it to our screens. So they did the wise thing. Shelve it, let Jonathon crank away at the script till he gets it just so... then make that sucker and see him roar.
However, what about KING KONG? Was killing it a wise idea? NO! I just received the script today. Within seconds of tearing off the animal carcass it was encased in, I began reading it. This was the script by Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh. And guess what? It really is 'from an idea conceived by Edgar Wallace and Merian C. Cooper.'
Let me say again. The 1933 KING KONG is my favorite all time film. In fact it's a whole lot of people's favorite film. And this script kicks ass. This is what great filmmaking is borne from... a great script. One that causes you to read it aloud, while eating your salad. Spewing forth carrots as you spout out the Carl Denham lines or the Jack Driscoll lines or even the Ann Darrow lines. This script is amazing.
'Harry, come on, how can it be?"
Well, everytime I expect it to zig, it would zag. When I expect or anticipate one thing it always throws another. It caused my adrenaline to flow, to flow like a raging river. By the way there is a raging riven in the script. Gone are animatronic giant snakes, and back or the dinosaurs and other interesting varmits.
I celebrated Kong's 65th Birthday by reading a fantastic script based on his life. In the year 2003, I hope to be able to go see King Kong on the big screen again, with this script and Peter Jackson as it's director, kicking ass on screen. This needs to happen, this is the answer to the question... Why remake it? This script, this energy, this imagination and fire and creativity. Set in 1933 this film would blow away all the Indiana Jones films, it leaves Jurassic Park gasping for air. Here there is that breatless pacing, that fire in the character's soul. This is a script SCREAMING to be produced. It's only 5 years till Kong turns 70. Start the ball rolling. Because if Universal wants Peter Jackson to do it, well I'd get him signed now, because after the Miramax LORD OF THE RINGS films... hahahah, good luck signing him.
By the way, personally upon reading the script I saw Kevin Spacey as Carl Denham, Russell Crowe as Jack Driscoll and Kate Winslet as Ann Darrow. They would kick ass. Well that's just one guys, opinion.
If you are in New York tonight, tip a glass towards the top of that Empire State Building. Not for Cary Grant or Tom Hanks, but for the best leading man to be atop her... Kong the eighth wonder of the world!!!
