Extended edition of Peter Jackson's "King Kong"

[MadonnasManOne]

Some news has come in, which excites me, alot! Being the huge fan of Peter Jackson's King Kong, I have been waiting for information on the extended cut of the film being released on DVD! Well, according to Animated News, it is to be announced at Comic-Con 2006!

http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00005223.html

"Universal Home Video: King Kong Deluxe Extended DVD: a sneak peek from the upcoming King Kong Extended DVD will be introduced by a message from director Peter Jackson."

Plus, there is other news about Narnia, Brother Bear 2, Superman, etc.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I can't wait for this release, and am excited to hear all of the details!

[Lucylover1986]

I don't think I can bear it being too much longer! It's a good movie though.

[Disneykid]

I've purposely been holding off of the current DVD because I knew this one was coming. This is going to be one nice holiday season with the extended editions of King Kong and The Chronicles of Narnia, the Donner cut of Superman II, and the DVD debuts of Superman Returns and Pirates of the Caribbean. Now where are our Harry Potter extended editions, WB?

[GhostHost]

wasn't it already long enough?

[Luke]

This isn't meant to be a crack, but a serious remark. Why not release an Abbreviated Edition alongside the Extended Edition? Well, I know many people liked the film, I'm willing to bet more people would prefer it to be shorter than longer. And if an Extended Edition can turn a profit, then so can one that isn't desperately in need of some editing.

[Lazario]

Oh, GOD, no!

The first version was bad enough!

[MadonnasManOne]

This isn't meant to be a crack, but a serious remark. Why not release an Abbreviated Edition alongside the Extended Edition? Well, I know many people liked the film, I'm willing to bet more people would prefer it to be shorter than longer. And if an Extended Edition can turn a profit, then so can one that isn't desperately in need of some editing.

While I'm sure there are those that would prefer a shorter version of the film, I highly doubt Peter Jackson would want to shorten the film. In fact, the cut that he wanted for the film is said to be some 45 minutes longer. Since making this film was a labor of love for him, he has said it was difficult to lose some of the scenes that he ended up cutting, because the studio insisted on a shorter running time than he had originally intended.

[MadonnasManOne]

Oh, GOD, no!

The first version was bad enough!

Your opinion, Lazario. Just because you don't like it, doesn't mean there aren't many people that appreciate the film.

[Lazario]

They were all brainwashed!

[Spongebob Squarepants]

I've purposely been holding off of the current DVD because I knew this one was coming. This is going to be one nice holiday season with the extended editions of King Kong and The Chronicles of Narnia, the Donner cut of Superman II, and the DVD debuts of Superman Returns and Pirates of the Caribbean. Now where are our Harry Potter extended editions, WB?

There's going to be an extended edition of Chronicles of Narnia?

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

There's going to be an extended edition of Chronicles of Narnia?

Yeah, and check out this wonderful site (chances are you never heard of it), that has information of the Narnia DVD and more: http://www.ultimatedisney.com/index.htm



Lazario- While, as you probably know, I hated Kong, you're going kinda extreme with you're dislike of KK as I wouldn't call anyone dumb for liking it, they liked it for whatever reasons and it doesn't mean they're "wrong" or "brainwashed" for liking it.

Though I have to agree with you, it was waaay too long and ends up to a point where there is absolutely no story, and much like Netty thinks about Pirates, I thought it repeated itself and there is absolutely NO need to see it again, because by seeing once, you already saw it twice. And the special effects were also unimpressive because, dinosaurs in Jurassic Park looked 10 times more realistic(and considering that movie was 12 years older, it makes Kong's effects look completely pathetic in comparison) and the critics' constant unworthy gushing and the Oscar fo Visual Effects just confused me as I didn't think it deserved it. I aslo had a problem with...

I think I'll stop now, because by now I think everyone knows I hate King Kong just as much Netty hates Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl for example.

[2099net]

Well, I don't hate PotC (that's Pirates of the Caribbean, not Passion of the Christ ). I just wish it was shorter or used it's extended running time to actually tell a story rather than have an extended "Benny Hill" runaround for the bulk of it. PotC could be a good film, it has a lot going for it, it just needs to be shorter.

King Kong on the other hand. Well, King Kong is more complex. Personally, unlike most people, I love the extended opening. Yes, it seems madness to have an hour of the runtime to be dedicated to the lead-in and journey to Skull Island. But this time is crammed full of character moments, I don't consider it time wasted.

But I do consider most of the action on Skull Island to be wasted time. Being as Jackson was going for the emotional reality he needed to make you care for a 80 foot ape, the Skull Island escapades stand out like a nun in a nightclub. They just don't belong.

Sure, have a Kong/Dinosaur battle, but don't make it over 20 minutes and full of anatomic improbabilities. Sure, have a giant bug or two, but don't have fifty or more of them.

I'm torn about the news of an extended edition. It's not a surprise, the lack of a commentary on the initial release was a guarentee of another release. If it adds more character momentsm such as those at the start of the film, then I am actually all for it. If however, its just more Skull Island adventures, then count me out.

[dvdjunkie]

2099net wrote:

PotC could be a good film, it has a lot going for it, it just needs to be shorter.

You must really love "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest", it is almost two hours and 40 minutes long.

I can't imagine anyone not liking "Curse of the Black Pearl" because it is 'too long'. I didn't think there was anything useless in that movie and it could have been longer.

Too each his own, this just seems to be so wrong, but that's just my opinion.

As far as "King Kong" goes, I think that most people missed what Jackson was trying to do with his movie. I, for one, loved "Kong" and am looking forward to his original uncut four-hour version. I think that his 'tribute' to the original "KK" was fascinating and I found it to be the perfect set up for what followed. While I will agree the amount of 'large' bugs was a little overboard, I thought the movie moved at a very good pace, and maybe the editing out of that 40-plus minutes is what makes the last hour so jumpy. I can't wait for the extended edition - bring it on!!!

Count me in on extended version of "Harry Potter" - c'mon Warner Bros. where are they? How much longer do we have to wait?

[Lazario]

Lazario- While, as you probably know, I hated Kong, you're going kinda extreme with you're dislike of KK as I wouldn't call anyone dumb for liking it, they liked it for whatever reasons and it doesn't mean they're "wrong" or "brainwashed" for liking it.

Oh, I didn't mean that, not really. It's just that people liked this movie so much, and it was just so bad - that it's only logical to insist they are insane or have been brainwashed. I'm joking there too. But this movie really is one of the worst movies of 2005. People just wanted it to be good before they went to see it (just like the X-Men movies and Crash), so they convinced themselves before seeing it that it had to be great. But in addition to it being too long and a bad, hackneyed, sorry remake (just re-made for MONEY purposes - the most dispicable kind of reason!) - it was called King Kong, about the ape. But what did we see onscreen? A COMPUTERized image that wasn't 1% out of 100% convincing. Which proves beyond any shadow of doubt that people who like these movies haven't seen anything better. The movie should have been called King Computer or Computer-Kong. I mean- it's a drama, about a girl and an ape - but she's acting with an obvious fake computer ape... Woah, nobody else sees this insanity but me? At least when they used to do people in costumes or mechanical animals, they had the decency to make it look like a cuddly animal or a frightening ape. They created a great illusion, or at least a believable. The same cannot be said about this b.s. CGI garbage. It's the same as pretending a video game were Gone with the Wind (sorry I keep using this film as a reference point greatest drama ever made, I never even enjoyed watching it myself). And at least in a Disney movie, the innovation of the integration between live-action people and animation looked like a cartoon, and cartoons / animation were able to have real stories and wonderful things like that. Video games are for playing with, interactivity, like robots. They are not meant to reflect realism (just try to, and part of that entertainment is knowing you're not supposed to pretend it's realistic, just be marveled at how much detail went into it). So this movie, a drama / romance between a girl and an ape... It's the same as watching Naomi Watts fall inlove with or being carried on top of a tower by Rosie the Jetsons' housemaid, or Robbie the Robot from Lost in Space (is that the one?). I'm sorry - but this movie was terrible. It didn't change the way anyone thought of CGI and the story was just not good enough to make us forget about the horrible effect.

[MadonnasManOne]

Lazario, you are so wrong about this movie. You are also way off base with your comments.

First, the film was not bad, in the least. It developed the characters very well, and it really set-up the story, rather than just tossing the viewer into it, with little background. While I will admit that the CGI was not 100% convincing, it is nowhere near as horrible as you claim. Also, King Kong, himself, was quite good.

Also, just because people enjoyed this film, doesn't mean that we haven't seen better. You can't assume (which you do), that anyone liking this film must not have good judgement. Perhaps people just sat back, took the film in, and enjoyed it for what it is. People aren't stupid, you know. We realize that a great deal of this film is generated in a computer, and aren't bothered by that. The story, the acting, and the directing of the film, combined with the special effects, made King Kong a very enjoyable movie. A great popcorn flick, to be sure.

[Isidour]

can we please just talk about the wacky idea of this movie and its extended edition and avoid doing this thread another "Member vs Member thread" please?

[memnv]

I for one look forward to seeing the extended version of this great movie, I think it it was done much better than the 1976 version where they changed alot of the story. I think King Kong looked great and was very realistic looking. And the battle with the T-Rex's was great.

I would also like to see extended Harry Potters and Narnia movies

[Isidour]

I would also like to see extended Harry Potters and Narnia movies

Now that would be realy awesome, and it would be an opportunity to add some cutted scenes from the book n_n

[Disneykid]

I would also like to see extended Harry Potters and Narnia movies

The second half of your wish will come true this Christmas. The first half will also come true, though no one knows when.

[creid]

This isn't meant to be a crack, but a serious remark. Why not release an Abbreviated Edition alongside the Extended Edition?

Luke, there is an Abbreviated and it is quite excellent. It starred Fay Wray and Bruce Cabot and it is terrific if you don't mind a black and white. The dvd has been out since November last year.