King Kong (HD-DVD)

Customer Reviews:

OUSTANDING - but long as heck.......2007-09-13

This is really two movies in one if you ask me, there is the original King Kong in New York but then there was the addition of were he came from in the beginning.

This movie was probably the longest I've watched in many years but well worth the time invested. They managed to keep you on the edge in many parts while relaxing a little in others. My family actually stayed awake through the whole thing, this is a first in a long time as well. For a new version of a classic it really did the original justice and then some. It could have been easily split into 2 parts but was well worth leaving it as one as well.

Even though it's long I'm sure I'll be glad to watch this a few more times, though I'll have to make sure that I only do so on days that I know I will have the 3+ hour to sit around and do nothing. I think this a good bi-yearly video.

VIDEO QUALITY was just remarkably outstanding throughout the entire film! I don't think there was one scene that was not simply outstanding as far as quality goes.

Visually stunning HD DVD with a so-so plot........2007-08-14

This HD DVD is arguably the king of HD DVD demo material right now. The colors are sharp and vibrant, and the film is crystal clear. The audio is just as good. The only reason I took a star off is because the actual movie script is decent at best. Adrian Brody does a pretty good job, but overall the movie's plot is average. Luckily, I bought this movie for the stunning visual experience, so I'm not disappointed.

Excellent Showcase for HD-DVD.......2007-07-06

This is, by far, the best picture quality I have ever seen in HD. I have a half-dozen HD-DVDs and this one is clearly the best looking. Now I know why Microsoft packed this title in with the Xbox360 add-on drive. If you want to see what your HDTV can really do, check out this movie on HD-DVD. All I could say throughout watching this was "wow!". Every shot is ultra-sharp, no compression artifacts at all. Great colors, especially on the sky shots. Basically some of the most amazing footage I've ever seen.

I've never seen the movie before (not even the original) and I totally loved it. The whole production is top-notch. I didn't find it to be long at all. Jackson took as long as was necessary to tell the story properly. In fact, more movies should be 3 hours long. Despite what other people are saying about the CG effects, it is really only even barely noticeable on the stampede scene. Most people don't even realize how much special effects are used in the movie. Do you think King Kong is a man in a suit? Do you think Peter Jackson traveled back in time to film on location in new york city? Pretty much the whole movie is using some 3d graphics and green screen work. And it looks absolutely fabulous in HD.

Bottomline, this is an excellent showcase for HD-DVD. It is worth picking up just to see how good an HD-DVD can be on your HDTV. Highly recommended.

Higher Definition on Low Quality.......2007-06-01

The WETA folks must have took the year off when they were working on King Kong because this movie looks horrible in HD. The compositing errors and weak green screen work are only highlighted by the HD DVD's quality.

The Bigger they are. . . . The harder they . . . well, you know!.......2007-04-22

This movie is good.... The people on the island were more interesting than anything. King Kong did look cool and a little sense of sadness with his face expression and everything. I bought the HD DVD because they said this movie was amazing on it! Well, I must say that this HD DVD rocks! The clarity and clearness of the picture. Uhm, wow! The color of the pictures so alive! Uhm, wow! Even lol Jack Black look pretty good on HD. Uhm, another wow is the Actors. If you love the movie KING KONG, but the HD, you won't be disappointed. Can we be honest for a moment? I dont even care for the movie, but HD is AWESOME when it comes to the Big Black Kong of this movie! BUY IT! Atleast just for the HD! I give HIGH props for the picture of the Definition of this movie!

Average customer rating:

King Kong sized absurdity
She Never Gets Whiplash
Pretty exciting movie
Do away with the ice pond and it's 5 stars
One of the biggest disappointments of the decade.

King Kong (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Adrien Brody , Kyle Chandler , Thomas Kretschmann , Naomi Watts , and Jack Black
Director: Peter Jackson
Manufacturer: Universal
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005JO20
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Amazon.com

Movies don't come any bigger than Peter Jackson's King Kong, a three-hour remake of the 1933 classic that marries breathtaking visual prowess with a surprising emotional depth. Expanding on the original story of the blonde beauty and the beast who falls for her, Jackson creates a movie spectacle that matches his Lord of the Rings films and even at times evokes their fantasy world while celebrating the glory of '30s Hollywood. Naomi Watts stars as Ann Darrow, a vaudeville actress down on her luck in Depression-era New York until manic filmmaker Carl Denham (a game but miscast Jack Black) entices her with a lead role. Dazzled by the genius of screenwriter Jack Driscoll (Adrien Brody), Ann boards the tramp steamer S.S. Venture, which she--and most of the wary crew--believes is headed for Singapore. Denham, however, is in search of the mythic Skull Island, hoping to capture its wonders on film and make a fortune. What he didn't count on were some scary natives who find that the comely Darrow looks like prime sacrifice material for a mysterious giant creature....

There's no point in rehashing the entire plot, as every movie aficionado is more than familiar with the trajectory of King Kong; the challenge facing Jackson, his screenwriters, and the phenomenal visual-effects team was to breathe new life into an old, familiar story. To that degree, they achieve what could be best called a qualified success. Though they've assembled a crackerjack supporting cast, including Thomas Kretschmann as the Venture's hard-bitten captain and young Jamie Bell as a plucky crewman, the first third of the movie is rather labored, with too much minute detail given over to sumptuous re-creations of '30s New York and the unexciting initial leg of the Venture's sea voyage. However, once the film finds its way to Skull Island (which bears more than a passing resemblance to LOTR's Mordor), Kong turns into a dazzling movie triumph, by turns terrifying and awe-inspiring. The choreography and execution of the action set pieces--including one involving Kong and a trio of Tyrannosaurus Rexes, as well as another that could be charitably described as a bug-phobic's nightmare--is nothing short of landmark filmmaking, and a certain Mr. Spielberg should watch his back, as Kong trumps most anything that has come before it.

Despite the visual challenges of King Kong, the movie's most difficult hurdle is the budding romance between Ann and her simian soulmate. Happily, this is where Jackson unqualifiedly triumphs, as this unorthodox love story is tenderly and humorously drawn, by turns sympathetic and wondrous. Watts, whose accessibility balances out her almost otherworldly loveliness, works wonders with mere glances, and Andy Serkis, who digitally embodies Kong here much as he did Gollum in the LOTR films, breathes vibrant life into the giant star of the film without ever overplaying any emotions. The final, tragic act of the film, set mostly atop the Empire State Building, is where Kong earns its place in movie history as a work that celebrates both the technical and emotional heights that film can reach. --Mark Englehart

Description

Academy Award-winning director Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) brings his sweeping cinematic vision to King Kong. Naomi Watts, Jack Black and Adrien Brody star in this spectacular film filled with heart-pounding action, terrifying creatures and groundbreaking special effects unlike anything you've seen before! Get ready for breathtaking action in this thrilling epic adventure about a legendary gorilla captured on a treacherous island and brought to civilization, where he faces the ultimate fight for survival. Experience the movie that critics are hailing as a "rousing, exciting cinematic adventure!" (Scott Mantz, Access Hollywood)

Customer Reviews:

King Kong sized absurdity.......2007-08-27

It's strange, but looking at the reviews this movie seems to be a love/hate movie. I can't imagine what makes it so polarizing. I found it cringe-worthy.

My biggest gripes: nearly every action scene is cartoonish. A stampeding horde of brontosauruses not only can't outrun humans... it runs with them, over top them, without stepping on anyone. For several minutes. The same problem happens with the rest of the crazy dinosaur/island creatures... they don't seem to adhere to any principle of physics and motion, but gnash and crash and fall down all over the place while magically avoiding the main characters.

Another problem is the love story. Why would a woman care about a freaking monkey? One that has eaten human sacrifices for decades, and that destroys everything whenever he feels like cutting lose. She doesn't recognize that part of him, just that he's a big sweet monkey who has love in his heart too. Awwww. Not only that she doesn't just seem to like him as a friend. She seems to want to marry him. A 30 foot tall, man eating monkey. Of course, that's the original story, but they failed to help explain it any better.

One more gripe: Jack Black. Great guy, very funny. He screws up this movie because it's not a comedy. Sorry Jack but you don't belong in a dramatic action movie where everyone's waiting for you to crack jokes. He doesn't crack any, by the way, but there's the problem. He's not one of those guys who acts well outside his comedy, and as an important personality in this film it's almost embarrassing to watch him have no dramatic presence.

The one good thing is the visuals (for the most part, sometimes the CG feels disconnected from the actors), there's a lot of beauty shoved into some scenes.

She Never Gets Whiplash.......2007-08-26

Even after suspending disbelief to get into this movie's world, you have to keep on going. How she keeps from breaking her neck, or even getting whiplash, is amazing. Why can't Kong get around the wall with all of his amazing abilities? What do the natives do for a living -- that is, when they aren't offering people who drop by to Kong? Farm? Do embroidery? (And the scenes with them doing a sort of drugged dance was really worth a chuckle.) All that said, it's entertaining. And most of the unbelievable (in the movie's own world) stuff is in a way fun to see. So I gave it 3 stars. It's worth about $6 to see. (I'm very glad Peter Jackson was more careful with the Lord of the Rings movies.)

Pretty exciting movie.......2007-08-23

I have seen the original and thought it was good but to me it seemed ancient and not 'classic'. Perhaps I am too young to see it that way. But at least I have seen the movie, on more than 1 occassion. Anyway, I love Peter Jackson and I loved this film. Yes, it was a tad overlong but I dont mind long movies as long as they keep my interest. The effects and acting were wonderful and amazing. Peter Jackson and his Weta team are genuises in that department. In this, I actually felt sypathy when King died, as opposed to the original where I felt nothing. Naomi Watts is quickly becoming my favorite actress. She can truly do anything. Kong Himself was by far some of the best effects in film history. There is no way anybody can complain about that. I saw it in the theaters and it was an awesome experience. That is probably the best way to see this, on a very big screen.

Do away with the ice pond and it's 5 stars.......2007-08-22

This film delivers what it is suppose to deliver: FUN. This isn't serious drama, this is cartoon type fun. Jack Black was terrific as Carl Denham, Adrien Brody was okay as the hero and Naomi Watts was great as Ann, the beauty loved by the beast. That said, the star of this film is the giant ape and a wonderful job they did bring the beast to life. I did not care for the scene on the frozen pond in New York. That really was dull and contrived, but the rest of the movie moved along well and it did not seem three hours long. The supporting actors were also very good, including the cameraman, the captain and of course the male movie star. Was it better than the original? Well, I loved the original and I was prepared to be disapointed by a remake. I was not however. If only all remakes could live up to this standard.

One of the biggest disappointments of the decade........2007-08-21

It certainly seemed like a recipe for a winner to have modern CGI special effects in support of a remake of the classic story and an obviously talented and capable director at the helm. What was produced was a movie that actually increased my appreciation of the 1976 version. When it starts out in New York it is really slow, slow, without anything really required, most of it could have been cut out. Then on the island it gets ridiculous, as they get involved with stampeding dinosaurs tumbling down the cliff, and swinging Tyrannosaurs; everything that should have been so much better than the SFX-scarce 76 version was orchestrated so poorly and with so little inspiration, that you start wondering how much longer it can go on. Finally they return to more silliness back in New York, with the ape himself sliding on the ice with the girl. Apart from the problem of making Kong merely a scaled-up silverback gorilla, who shows all the subtlety and charm of a...gorilla, you can't wait for pilots to get on with it and kill the poor thing so the movie will end. Long, long, and nothing of note. Who could have believed that this would be such a lousy film. Perhaps to be loved only by great Kong fans who want to believe this is a treasure. A great testament to the all the problems with Hollywood films today.

King Kong - Extended Cut (Three-Disc Deluxe Edition)

Average customer rating:

King Kong sized absurdity
She Never Gets Whiplash
Pretty exciting movie
Do away with the ice pond and it's 5 stars
One of the biggest disappointments of the decade.

King Kong - Extended Cut (Three-Disc Deluxe Edition)
Starring: Peter Jackson
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The extended version of Peter Jackson's King Kong adds 13 minutes to the running time--fortunately those 13 minutes include two dynamic action scenes and no material has been added to the movie's belabored set-up, which tries to give depth to these quintessentially b-movie characters with a clumsy patchwork of melodrama and in-jokes. But once movie-maker Carl Denham (Jack Black, School of Rock) and his crew finally arrive at Skull Island, the movie kicks into gear with spectacular action, technical wizardry, and genuine feeling. Though Kong seems crafted to dazzle the eye on the giant screen, the overlong structure improves when you can take an intermission at will. At home, each scene can be approached on its own terms, be it the insanely choreographed battle between Kong and three T. Rexes or the subtle and multi-layered interplay between Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts, Mulholland Drive) and Kong (played, through motion-capture technology, by Andy Serkis, who previously played the similarly animated Gollum in Jackson's Lord of the Rings). The addition of a rampaging ceratops and an underwater race with what the movie's crew dubbed a "piranhadon" not only add more eye candy, but provide some valuable moments of character development. But in the end, that's frosting on the cake; when the movie's weaknesses and strengths are weighed, the emotional power of the fantastical relationship between a woman and a giant ape is a real cinematic achievement. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

King Kong sized absurdity.......2007-08-27

She Never Gets Whiplash.......2007-08-26

Pretty exciting movie.......2007-08-23

Do away with the ice pond and it's 5 stars.......2007-08-22

One of the biggest disappointments of the decade........2007-08-21

Average customer rating:

JOOOOOOE
Love is blind
Mighty Joe Young
Not anything to go ape over.
EXCELLENT REMAKE BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL

Mighty Joe Young
Starring: Bill Paxton , Charlize Theron , Rade Serbedzija , Regina King , and Peter Firth
Director: Ron Underwood
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
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ASIN: 6305320950
Release Date: 1999-03-23

Amazon.com

Charlize Theron is the latest stunning blonde to be hanging around some big ape in a Hollywood movie, this one a remake of the 1949 semi-classic with echoes of the superior King Kong. Theron plays the daugher of an American researcher killed by poachers in Africa. The baby gorilla left in her care grows up to become a hugely tall and broad specimen named Joe, living in the mountains as a mostly unseen legend among people who live there. Along comes an eco-minded emissary (Bill Paxton) from a California sanctuary, who talks the jungle girl into providing safe haven for Joe at the L.A. facility. The transition is not without discomfort, but everything is aggravated via a conspiracy of poachers to get Joe into their own greedy hands. Director Ron Underwood (City Slickers) uses a combination of special-effects techniques to give Joe life and personality, and he succeeds quite effectively. The requisite giant-ape-goes-amok scenes are all in place--a couple of them pretty intense--as is a conclusion that finds the simian hero performing a stunning feat of escalation. Underwood attempts to give a little modern spin to some classic Hollywood conventions regarding wild hearts lost in civilization, and the results are pretty agreeable family fare. --Tom Keogh

Description

In the classic tradition of heroic Disney adventures comes the extraordinary MIGHTY JOE YOUNG -- a thrilling story full of excitement, friendship, courage, and heart. The legendary Joe, a playful, smart fifteen-foot-tall gorilla, and his lifelong best friend Jill Young (Charlize Theron) have grown up together in the remote mountains of Central Africa. When Joe's peaceful existence is shattered by poachers, Jill and zoologist Gregg O'Hara (Bill Paxton) rescue their innocent friend and move him to the safety of an animal conservancy in California. But Joe's safety is short-lived. No longer a myth, his notoriety makes him a target for an enemy from his past -- a ruthless hunter who will do anything to capture the Mighty Joe. From the moment you meet him to his incredible display of courage, Mighty Joe Young will fill your eyes with wonder and your heart with magic.

Customer Reviews:

JOOOOOOE.......2007-08-31

I loved this move, an still amazed how they made it seem Joe was really there. If only......................

Love is blind.......2007-07-23

I was amazingly touched by this warm and and tender Love story, and how love has no boundaries. This is one of my all time favorite movies. I could watch it over and over again. This remake is extremely beautifully filmed and Charlize Theron is amazing.

Mighty Joe Young.......2007-05-09

this is an absolute good movie, some thrills and chills but nothing beats the heartwarming connection between the girl and the gorilla.

Not anything to go ape over........2007-05-07

Believe it or not the only reason I bought Mighty Joe Young
was to see a cameo scene with Ray Harryhaussen in it and Terry
Moore, who played husband and wife. Who are they? Well Miss Moore
was the original lead in the 1949 Mighty Joe Young B&W version and
Ray Harryhaussen was the assistant to Willis O'Brien in the special
effects department....and went on to do his own astounding FX in 7th Voyage of Sinbad and Earth vs The Flying Saucers and many many more.
Now as far as the new version of MJY...it seemed to stick to the
original quite well...even to the scene where Joe saves the child.
Definitely Disneyfied, but nothing surprising as far as plot. I admit
the special effects did impress me, especially when was in the
streets confronting humanity. This would probably be a great addition
for youngsters who believe in a bond between humans and monkeys.

EXCELLENT REMAKE BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL.......2007-03-25

I am a huge Harryhausen fan and an old monster movie lover! So it is hard for me to say that they did a great job on this remake! The effects are incredible and Charlize Theron in perfectly cast(and she's HOT!) The DVD transfer is very good and there are some interesting extras. One of the best remakes ever!

Average customer rating:

King Kong vs Godzilla/King Kong Escapes......
Nice films, but just AWFUL DVDs!
There Really is a Mechi-Kong!
Awesome twin pack!
The Two Mightiest Monsters Of All Time!

King Kong Vs Godzilla/King Kong Escapes
Starring: Ichirô Arishima , Yu Fujiki , Mie Hama , Akihiko Hirata , and Haruya Kato
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
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ASIN: B000BISBDE
Release Date: 2005-11-29

Description

It's King Kong to the rescue when a giant robot threatens to destroy Tokyo in the gripping King Kong Escapes! The action begins when the conniving Dr. Who builds a robot Kong in order to retrieve a highly radioactive element for his mysterious benefactor, Madame X. When the robot proves less than reliable, the devious duo scheme to kidnap the real Kong from his remote island home of Mondo. But interfering with their plans are the heroic trio of U.S. Cmdr. Carl Nelson, Lt. Jiro Nomura, and Kong's current crush, Lt. Susan Miller. It's up to them to outwit the greedy ape-nappers in this sci-fi adventure that takes Kong to unprecedented heights of excitement.

The two mightiest monsters of all time battle in the thrilling adventure classic, King Kong vs. Godzilla. When an underhanded pharmaceutical company goes to a remote tropical island to steal King Kong for advertising purposes, they get more than they bargained for when the gigantic ape attacks an unsuspecting village and an enormous octopus. Meanwhile, far below the sea, a submarine crew unleashes reptilian terror when they melt a block of ice and release the ferocious Godzilla from his icy lair. When both destructive monsters descend on Tokyo, it's a fight that holds the future of mankind in the balance in this knock-out film that was the first theatrical release to bring its larger-than-life contenders to the big screen in glorious color.

Customer Reviews:

King Kong vs Godzilla/King Kong Escapes.............2007-07-07

I recall seeing both these movies way back when I first started watching Godzilla movies. Both are among my favorites to watch every now and then. I mean, who wouldn't want to see an American icon like King Kong go up against the 'King of Monsters'? or see Kong go up against a Mecha-version of himself? I'll admit, by today's standards, both of the movies are kinda cheesy and the plots are 'out there' but they are still fun to watch. Makes me wish that Toho could/would make more up-to-date versions of these two movies. From what I've read online, Toho did try that back in '91 -especially with King Kong vs Godzilla- but Turner Entertainment(owners of the original film) asked for too much money for King Kong's use in the film to which Toho declined & instead made Godzilla vs King Ghidorah as part of the Heisei series. With the recent success of Peter Jackson's King Kong, I think it would benefit both parties quite well. Not only making Godzilla fans happy but generating interest in the original Kong film as well as the rest of movies in the franchise. At any rate; we can hope that one day, in the near future, both companies can come to some agreement so our favorite giant monsters from opposite ends of the globe can battle it out once again.

Both of these movies were directed by Ishiro Honda with visual effects either done by or directed by Eiji Tsuburaya.

King Kong vs Godzilla was made in 1962 and tells the story about Mr. Tako who is head over a pharmaceuticals company. Frustrated with the tv shows his company is sponsoring, he tries to come up with something to boost the ratings. He soon finds out about a giant monster that was discovered on Faro Island. Believing it would give him the publicity he needs, he sends two men to find and bring the monster back. Meantime, an American submarine gets caught in an iceberg. The same iceberg that Godzilla was trapped in the movie, Godzilla Raids Again. Godzilla eventually breaks out and head toward a nearby Japanese Artic base to which he obliterates. On Faro Island, Kong is captured by Tako's men and brought back to Japan. Kong breaks free and meets up with Godzilla & the rest is history. You know what happens, lol, just by looking at the title. Guess who comes out the winner. It sold 11.2 million tickets during it's inital theatrical run in Japan and holds the title of having the highest attendance records ever on any Godzilla movie to date.

King Kong Escapes was made in 1967(hehe.. the year I was born). A mean genius named Dr. Who creates a Mecha-Kong in order to dig for a highly radioactive element dubbed "Element X". When Mecha-Kong fails, he decides to kidnap the real Kong and hypnotize him to dig for it. Kong soon snaps out of it and heads off for Tokyo. Kong and Mecha-Kong end up fighting on Tokyo Tower with the city hanging in the balance. This is also the first film to feature Gorosaurus(who played a part in Destroy All Monsters and made a cameo in Godzilla's Revenge) who is a fan favorite from Toho Films.

While there is no special features to speak of nor no extras, any respectful Godzilla or King Kong fan owes it to themselves to add these films to their collection just to have them. The way things stand right now, we might never see any more films featuring Kong & Godzilla duking it out or Kong battling a mecha version of himself. That, in itself, makes these two films worth collecting. My only gripe is that you're unable to see it in its' original Japanese dialogue with subtitles. I would've loved to have seen it that way.

Nice films, but just AWFUL DVDs!.......2007-06-16

These discs are terrible, although the tranfers may not be that bad, threre are no extras at all. No feturetts, no deleted Scenes, no Original Japaneses versions, not even Theatrical trailers. Unlike Sony who provide some features for there Godzilla titles, or Warner Brothers for there King Kong titles. Universal usauly provides wonderful extras for there DVDs and HD-DVDs. This is wrong!

There Really is a Mechi-Kong!.......2007-03-21

When I was a kid and saw King Kong Escapes, I was mesmerized by the Mechi-Kong robot. What a great idea! He looks so cool! It had been so many years since I saw the film, I thought I had dreamt the movie. Imagine my suprise with this two-pack release! It is a pristine wide screen presentation. The film is as fun as I remembered it. Not to be taken too seriously, it is a rubber monster movie with cool ideas and plenty of monsters clashing, all within the trademark cheapo effects of the time. Utterly charming.
The Toho version of Kong (his rubber suit, that is) is truly awful, but this only adds to the fun of the film. As this is a Japanese movie overdubbed in English, we also have the voice talents of Paul Frees ("Winter Warlock" from the Rankin / Bass production of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer") providing the voice of the villian. What more could you ask for? How about the bonus of getting Godzilla vs. King Kong? You got it! What a bargain!

Awesome twin pack!.......2007-03-21

Truly a killer twin pack King Kong movies. Get it for the "King Kong vs Godzilla" alone, a very awesome movie that hardly gets air play and great for any movie monster collection...highly recommended!!

The Two Mightiest Monsters Of All Time!.......2007-03-16

KING KONG VS. GODZILLA (1962)

PLOT: Mr. Tako, head of Pacific Pharmaceuticals, is frustrated with the television shows his company is sponsoring and wants something to boost his ratings. Tako is informed by a special type of berry that only grows on a small Pacific island called Faro Island. The natives there process the berries into a juice that they use as a medicine. They also use the juice as an offering to their giant god named "Kong". Tako sees potential in the berries and decides to set up an expedition to Faro Island. When Tako's men arrive at Faro Island, the natives there claim that "Kong" is real being. Meanwhile, an American submarine named Seahawk gets caught in an iceberg. Something goes wrong and the submarine blows up. An American helicopter hovering above watch as the iceberg breaks open and Godzilla crawls out. Godzilla heads toward a nearby army base. The base is no match for the mighty power of Godzilla. Back at Faro, a giant octopus attacks the village and the natives quickly throw spears at it. Unfortunately, the spears are no match for the giant creature. Suddenly, Kong shows up and beats up the giant octopus, sending it crawling back into the sea. Kong drinks some of the giant containers of berry juice and falls asleep. Tako's men then inform him of Kong. Tako makes plans to take Kong back to Tokyo, as a publicity stunt for Pacific Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Tako arrives on the ship transporting Kong, but unfortunately, the monster then wakes up and breaks free from the raft. Kong finally reaches Tokyo and meets up with Godzilla in a valley. This is a match between the mightiest monsters of all time. Who will win?

COMMENTS: This film marked the first time that two famous monsters from separate film franchises were teamed up since Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man (1943). This film acted as both a sequel to Son Of Kong (1933) as well as Godzilla Raids Again (1955). The film marked the first time either monster was seen in color and also the first time Kong was created using suitmation rather than a stop-motion model. For Godzilla, King Of The Monsters (1954), Toho Studios had originally planned on making Godzilla as a stop-motion model, but the process proved to be too extensive for the tight budget. For that film, and every other one to follow, it became traditional to create Toho's monsters through suitmation. The film was directed by Ishiro Hondo, who directed most of the classic Godzilla films. He purposely made the film campy and comical in order to entertain (and not frighten) children. The film itself is not exactly an Oscar-worthy film, but it featured two very popular monsters in a death match and several people went to see it. In Japan, it became the highest grossing Godzilla film to date. Many King Kong fans hate the comical appearance of Kong in the film. For the American film poster, they used a cropped photo of Kong from the original film rather than the way he looked in this film. Kong was made to look comical so the audiences would root for him over Godzilla. Many fans have noticed that King Kong is much larger in this film than he was in the original King Kong film. The film states that the reason for this was because the narcotic berries that Kong ate also contained growth hormones, which would explain him growing to the equal enormous size of Godzilla. At one point during the fight sequence, Kong shoves a tree down Godzilla's throat. This was a tribute to the original King Kong film, in which Kong shoved a tree down a Tyrannosaurus Rex's throat. Several rumours exist between the Japanese and American versions of the film. It is claimed that the film is called King Kong vs. Godzilla in the U.S. and Godzilla vs. King Kong in Japan. This is untrue; the film has the same title in both countries. Also, it is also claimed that Kong won the fight in the American version and that Godzilla won the fight in the Japanese version. This is also untrue; King Kong won in both films. Some fans also argue that King Kong swims away at the end because he is frightened of Godzilla, who didn't resurface from the ocean because he lives underwater anyay. Just the same, Toho Studios announced that King Kong was always meant to be the victor. At the time, King Kong was more popular in Japan, even though Godzilla was a Japanese creation. The film sparked sequels from the point of view of both monsters. Godzilla made his return in Mothra vs. Godzilla (a.k.a. Godzilla vs. The Thing) (1964); King Kong made his return in King Kong Escapes (1967). This DVD presents the film in the original widescreen theatrical ratio. There are no special features.

KING KONG ESCAPES (1967)

PLOT: The film begins with a UN submarine searching for oil. The ship is under the command of Commander Carl Nelson (Rhodes Reason). Susan Watson (Linda Miller) finds Nelson in his quarters with Lt. Hiro Nomura (Akira Takarada). The two are studying photographs of gorillas and they inform her of the legend of King Kong, who supposedly inhabits the nearby Mondo Island. Meanwhile at the North Pole, strange things are going on at a secret base. The base is run by the evil genius Dr. Who (Eisei Amamoto). Dr. Who is being employed by the mysterious Madame X (Mia Hama). Madame X has hired Dr. Who to dig up a mineral called Element X, which makes uranium look like gravel. In order to do the job, Dr. Who and his men have built a giant robot version of King Kong, called Mechani-Kong, to dig up the Element X. Unfortunately, the radiation from the deposit short out the robot's circuits. Mechani-Kong must be redesigned so that this doesn't happen again. Back in the sub, an underwater rockslide damages the rudder. The sub docks at Mondo Island for repairs. Nelson takes the opportunity to explore the island with Nomura and Susan. A native on the island tells them to leave, for they are trespassing on the territory of King Kong. Nelson and Nomura go after the native to ask him more questions, leaving Susan behind at their hovercraft. Suddenly, a large dinosaur called Gorosaurus comes out of the jungle. Susan screams in terror and the mighty King Kong comes to her rescue. Kong fights with the Gorosaurus and eventually kills it by breaking its jaw. Nelson and the others make it back to the submarine. Kong, who has has become smitten with Susan, follows. A large sea serpant attacks the sub, but Kong quicky attacks and kills it. Later on, the three UN explorers hold a press conference to discuss the events involving King Kong. Madame X attends the conference disguised as a reporter. She then sends her information back to Dr. Who, who decides to capture the real King Kong for digging up Element X. Is Dr. Who brilliant enough to capture the mighty King Kong?

COMMENTS: This film was produced by both Toho Studios and Rankin/Bass Productions. Rankin & Bass were famous at the time for producing Christmas TV specials such as Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964), Frosty The Snowman (1969), and Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town (1970). The film acted as a sequel to King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) while at the same time being a spin-off of the Rankin/Bass animated series The King Kong Show. Ishiro Honda once again returned as director. The character of Mechani-Kong was first used in the animated King Kong show. It later served as the inspiration for Mecha-Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Mecha-Godzilla (1974). The Gorosaurus dinosaur also returned in other Toho Godzilla films, including Destroy All Monsters (1969). The scene in where Kong kills the Gorosaurus by breaking its jaw is actually a tribute to the original King Kong (1933), in which Kong kills a Tyrannosaurus Rex the same way. The fight scene between Kong and the sea serpent is also a tribute to a similar scene in the original King Kong. There is also much confusion about the character of Dr. Who, who bears the same name as a TV series and titular character on British television. Despite the fact that both characters have the same name, they are not related. This film isn't exactly the best King Kong film, but it is entertaining for children and it serves as a nice follow-up to King Kong vs. Godzilla. Plus, Mechani-Kong is a really cool character. This DVD presents the film in the original widescreen theatrical ratio. There are no special features.

Average customer rating:

The original is truly the best
Not wuite what I expected, but still very good.
One of the Most Influential Films of All Time
Jackson does it better
The Most Awesome Thriller Of All Time!

King Kong (1933) (Single-Disc Edition)
Starring: Robert Armstrong , Roscoe Ates , Reginald Barlow , Lynton Brent , and Bruce Cabot
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000EHQTZO
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Amazon.com

"Now you see it. You're amazed. You can't believe it. Your eyes open wider. It's horrible, but you can't look away. There's no chance for you. No escape. You're helpless, helpless. There's just one chance, if you can scream. Throw your arms across your eyes and scream, scream for your life!" And scream Fay Wray does most famously in this monster classic, one of the greatest adventure films of all time, which even in an era of computer-generated wizardry remains a marvel of stop-motion animation. Robert Armstrong stars as famed adventurer Carl Denham, who is leading a "crazy voyage" to a mysterious, uncharted island to photograph "something monstrous ... neither beast nor man." Also aboard is waif Ann Darrow (Fay Wray) and Bruce Cabot as big lug John Driscoll, the ship's first mate. King Kong's first half-hour is steady going, with engagingly corny dialogue ("Some big, hard-boiled egg gets a look at a pretty face and bang, he cracks up and goes sappy") and ominous portent that sets the stage for the horror to come. Once our heroes reach Skull Island, the movie comes to roaring, chest-thumping, T. rex-slamming, snake-throttling, pterodactyl-tearing, native-stomping life. King Kong was ranked by the American Film Institute as among the 50 best films of the 20th century. Kong making his last stand atop the Empire State Building is one of the movies' most indelible and iconic images. --Donald Liebenson

DVD features
Not surprisingly, the eighth wonder of the world's DVD treatment is nothing short of spectacular. The newly restored, digitally mastered print of the 1933 version of King Kong is sharp, well balanced, and given that this film is seventy years old, has very few scratches or blemishes. The restoration is nothing short of amazing. What may frustrate some is the audio. Though crystal clear, it is still in 2.0 Mono. The soundtrack on Kong is such an integral part of the film you really wished they could have pulled it out to at least 2.0 Surround; but this is a minor criticism. The bulk of the commentary track is by visual effects veterans Ray Harryhausen and Ken Ralston joyfully discussing the special effects of the film and discussing why King Kong is such a favorite and important film to the community of visual effects artists. Spliced between their commentaries are colorful and humorous anecdotes from director from Merian C. Cooper and Fay Wray. The two documentaries on disc two run over three and half hours long. I Am Kong! The Exploits of Merian C. Cooper is an engaging documentary on the renegade, Hemingway-like director. It is fascinating to learn that Cooper was every bit the adventurer that the fictional director Carl Denham in King Kong was in the film. RKO Production 601: The Making of Kong, Eighth Wonder of the World is a two and a half hour documentary broken into 7 parts: "The Origins of King Kong," "Willis O'Brien and Creation," "Cameras Roll on Kong," "The Eighth Wonder," "A Milestone in Visual Effects," "Passion, Sound and Fury," "The Mystery of the Lost Spider Pit Sequence," and "King Kong's Legacy." Also included is complete footage of the legendary "The Lost Spider Pit Sequence." Presenting the segments are various film historians and filmmakers including Rudy Behlmer, Cooper biographer Mark Cotta Vaz, the Chiodo Brothers (of Team America: World Police special effects fame), and directors John Landis and Peter Jackson. Here you will learn everything you would ever want to know about the making and importance of King Kong, including that the producer/director team of Cooper and Schoedsack played the pilots who shoot Kong off the Empire State Building. The highly anticipated, long-awaited release of King Kong will meet most viewers' expectations, and exceed everyone's else. --Rob Bracco

Description

Seeking a backer for his movie, Merian C. Cooper approached a top Hollywood mogul. "You know what a 50-foot gorilla would see in a five-foot girl?" the mogul asked. "His breakfast!" The studio chief wasn't buying but the public was. King Kong saved RKO from bankruptcy and became an all-time classic, ranking 43rd on the American Film Institute's list of Top-100 American Movies. King Kong teems with memorable moments: a moviemaking expedition on a fantastic isle filled with dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures; the giant simian's lovestruck obsession with the film shoot's blonde starlet (scream queen Fay Wray); Kong's capture; his Manhattan rampage; and the fateful finale atop the Empire State Building, where Kong cradles his palm-sized beloved and swats at machine-gunning airplanes. "It was beauty killed the beast." But in these and other great scenes, Kong lives forever.

Customer Reviews:

The original is truly the best.......2007-09-01

No matter how many times I see this film, it still surprises me. this is a classic that has stood the test of time and is still better than the remakes for sheer excitement with few special effects.

Not wuite what I expected, but still very good........2007-08-10

King Kong (Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, 1933)

When I was a kid, I obsessed over monster movies. (Well, didn't we all?) I was eight when the 1976 remake of King Kong came out, and I saw it innumerable times on the Saturday afternoon creature feature over the years. But somehow, despite seeing clips from it thousands of times and having seen enough stills of it in monster-movies books and magazines when I was just a little squid, I somehow managed to never see the original version entire. I remedied that error last week. King Kong is one of those movies that constantly makes thousand-best lists (of all those I've compiled, only Jonathan Rosenbaum's leaves it off), but while I was watching it, I had to wonder: did it make the lists because of what it was in 1933, or because it holds up well today? Ideally, a truly classic film should be a mix of both (Murnau's Nosferatu: Eine Symphonie des Grauens is a perfect example; at the time, it was revolutionary, with Murnau inventing new ways to film tracking shots and the like, while it still packs a creepy punch almost a century later just because it's a damned good movie); while there's no doubt that King Kong was revolutionary for its time, and did a great deal to advance the wonderful world of movie special effects, it was made at a time when silent film was still a credible option, and the expressionism inherent in silent film hadn't quite cleared off yet. And when I look at it like that, I realize just how modern it was, for its time; so many of the players in this movie give perfectly creditable performances. But the one who seems like a holdover from the silent film days where her acting is concerned is incapable of being ignored-- the movie's star, Fay Wray. Now, I grant you, she's supposed to be playing someone who's acting in a silent film, so had she kept the overacting for when she was in front of Robert Armstrong's cameras, well, that would have been all well and good. But even while everyone around her is acting in a more modern fashion, Wray is all about the overacting. It tends to get annoying.

That said, the movie is exceptionally well-made (especially given Cooper and Schoedsack's previous collaboration, the somewhat anemic The Most Dangerous Game, made on a basement budget using the sets and actors, for the most part, the two were using for King Kong); the script is well-plotted and well-paced, much of the acting is at or above par for the time (Wray has already been noted; Victor Wong, who portrays Charlie the cook, plays his role well, but is so hopelessly stereotyped we never get to see what he's really made of), and of course the special effects were marvelous for the time. It is certainly still a watchable movie, and an enjoyable one. And maybe that's enough. ****

One of the Most Influential Films of All Time.......2007-07-12

For anyone who knows anything in regard to what cinema is supposed to be all about, the 1933 "King Kong" still ranks among the greatest films ever made. A film's greatness is ultimately measured, not by how many Oscars it may have garnered in its day, but rather by the influence it left on audiences and filmmakers for generations to come. Certainly Merian C. Cooper's fantastic fable of the gigantic, lovestruck gorilla has that going for it and much more. It has an audacity that wouldn't work in another movie yet is so appropriate here because of the primal nature of the story. "King Kong" is among the handful of films that happened to have all the aesthetic and narrative elements gel to form a seamless 100 minutes of pure, unabashed entertainment. In the 70 plus years since the film's release, Kong himself, Fay Wray, and the Empire State Building have gone on to dwell forever in our collective pop-culture consciousness. In fact, the character King Kong is so famous that many today have the misconception he existed in fiction even before the film that introduced him was made! One essential point they botched in both the '76 and '05 versions is that, in Cooper's own concept of the story, Kong is totally misunderstood by all - including Ann Darrow. Rather than wanting to be friends with Kong (as in the remakes), she only wants to escape his clutches the first chance she gets and, in true fairy tale fashion, be rescued by her handsome hero. Some recent critics have mistakenly cited this as a flaw. They don't seem to get it. It's precisely because of Ann Darrow's rejection of Kong that the final epitath, "It was Beauty Killed the Beast" is totally appropriate in the original film. After all let's not forget that "King Kong" is, at its core, a story about unrequited love. It wasn't conceived to be the traditional "Beauty and the Beast" treatment where Beauty comes to accept and understand her Beast. Instead, in this take on the timeless tale, Kong remains to the end a lonely, tragic victim as Cooper had intended. It is we the audience, not the characters in the film, who come to sympathize with Kong, and therein lies the film's magic. There is a brief but crucial moment snuck in where Kong plucks a tiny white flower, sniffs it, and is about to present it to Ann but is interrupted from doing so by an eel-like dinosaur. Blink and you'll miss it, but freeze frame the DVD and it's there. It makes one wonder: what would Ann Darrow's reaction have been if Kong was allowed to complete this tender gesture toward her? It's much more enigmatic to leave this question unanswered as Cooper did in his film, and this is part of what contributes to "Kong"'s mythical status. The "Beauty Killed the Beast" line is pointless and uninspired in Peter Jackson's overlong and overdone remake since in that film Ann Darrow does come to like Kong. She's not used as bait to lure Kong to his doom as in the original. Because of this, Jackson's film succumbs to sentimentalizing the big ape so that he emerges more like "Mighty Joe Young". Cooper's "Kong" touches something primal in us, and at the same time it addresses certain social themes in its own unique, proverbial way. Like their film's alter-ego Carl Denham, Cooper and his co-director Ernest B. Schoedsack were both adventurers in real life who knew first hand what it was like to go on expeditions to remote, exotic parts of the world. They brought their experiences to "King Kong" so that the film, although a fantasy, still manages to convey a certain reality of plot that is apparent to the viewer. From its fictional, opening "Old Arabian Proverb" to its famous, final line, the film comes full circle and is firmly grounded as a documentary/fairy tale. Summing up, "King Kong" stands as eloquent testimony to the dedication and craftsmanship of all who were involved in its making. Now with DVD, this wonderful movie can be enjoyed by audiences right on into the 21st century.

Jackson does it better.......2007-06-06

I've watched this film 3 times in the past 7 months & I don't care what a lot of people or a few blind critics say: this is NOT on any level better than Peter Jackson's `05 version. Don't get me wrong, this version is good & deserves credit for moving film into a new age but Jackson's remake makes this one look old. Carl Denham is the only character who even APPROACHES a real 3-dimensional person status. Wray's Ann is likeable enough, but seriouisly, is she anymore than a brainless piece of eyecandy found in any horror movie? She certainly doesn't posses the depth (and more importantly the heartache) that Watts' Ann has. This movie lacked everything it needed to rise above the level of an unscary horror movie (fleshed-out characters, a relationship between Ann & Kong & an epic feel in both scope & soundtrack.) Sorry movie fans, but no matter what you think, Cooper may have had the epic idea but Jackson made it an epic reality.

The Most Awesome Thriller Of All Time!.......2007-03-22

PLOT: The film begins in New York City in 1933, during the bottom of the Great Depression. Filmmaker Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong) has charted a freighter boat called Venture to take him to a filming location somewhere in the Indian Ocean. Denham is most well-known for making adventure films in exotic locations. He is keeping many of the details about the trip very secret. His backing studio announces that they refuse to get him a leading lady for his film without more details about the film itself, so Denham goes out to find a girl on his own. On the streets, Denham finds a poor, starving girl (Fay Wray) caught trying to steal an apple. The girl is very beautiful and Denham just knows that she is right for the part. He buys the girl a meal and introduces himself to her. Her name is Ann Darrow and she happens to have some acting experience. He offers her the film role and the chance of a lifetime. Ann is apprehensive at first, but finally agrees to it. Denham and his film crew finally set sail on the Venture. For weeks they sail towards Indonesia; Denham promises to tell Captain Englehorn (Frank Reicher) their true destination once they get close enough. The first mate, Jack Driscoll (Bruce Cabot), is a real tough guy who feels that the ship is no place for women, but he soon finds himself falling in love with Ann. Denham finally tells Englehorn that they are sailing towards a place called Skull Island. It is only charted on a map which was sold to him by a Norwegian captain in Singapore; the location of the island was given to the captain by a native who was swept out to sea. Denham tells eveyone that there is a wall on the island that is so large and so old that the natives there don't even remember who built it. Apparently it was built to keep something out from the other side; legend says that it is a monstrous creatures simply known as "Kong". The ship eventually enters through a thick fog which hides the island on the other side. The film crew comes to shore on the island's penninsula, which is the only place on the island not surrounded by rock. They begin to spy on some natives who are having some sort of ritual. Many of the men are dancing around dressed as gorillas and yelling, "Kong! Kong!" The natives are also adorning a young girl with flowers and jewelry. The native chief spots the film crew, so they decide to show themselves. Engelhorn is able to understand the native language and acts as an interpreter for both groups. When asked what they are doing, the chief explains that they are offering a wife to their god Kong. Suddenly the chief gets a look at Ann, whom he thinks is a much better choice for Kong's bride than their own native bride. He offers the film crew six native girls in exchange for Ann, but they refuse. The chief becomes angry and tells them to leave. Later that night on the Venture, Jack and Ann openly express their love for one another. Jack is called to the bridge and Ann is left alone. Suddenly, Ann is kidnapped by a group of natives that canoed to the Venture. The crew later find a native bracelet on the deck and realize that Ann was kidnapped. Back on the island, the natives open up the gate at the wall and leave Ann on the other side. They hit a large gong to summon the mighty Kong. Kong finally emerges from out of the jungle and reveals himself to be a giant gorilla. He grabs ahold of Ann and proceeds back into the jungle. The film crew then get to the wall and take control of it from the natives. A small group of them decide to go off into the jungle and rescue Ann. What they don't realize is that they are about to enter a world filled with prehistoric beasts which were thought to be extinct long ago.

COMMENTS: King Kong has to be one of the greatest films of all time. It's astounding special effects must have blown the 1933 audiences away. Despite the fact that it was made during the Great Depression, it still attracted a huge audience. Unlike other horror films at the time, it was not based on a novel; it was a pure invention of hollywood. It was the first hit film to feature a life-like animated central character in any form, thanks to stop-motion master Willis O'Brien. Kong was created through the use of two stop-motion puppets (an 18" and a 24"), a life-size mechanical bust for Kong's close-ups, and a life-size mechanical arm for close-ups of Kong holding Ann in the palm of his hand. The combination proved to be extremely effective. O'Brien had previously used his stop-motion techniques to create the dinosaurs in The Lost World (1925). Next, he was hired to create the dinosaurs for the film Creation (1931), but the film was never finished. Many of the dinosaurs from the production were later used for King Kong. Many of the scenes in this one film alone are considered to be some of the most memorable in cinematic history, especially the scene of Kong atop the Empire State Building as airplanes are shooting at him. King Kong ultimately spawned several sequels, spin-offs, remakes, and rip-offs. Since the film was such a huge hit, RKO Pictures quickly filmed and released a sequel, Son of Kong, that same year. The premise of that film was that Carl Denham returns to Skull Island and discovers that Kong had an albino son. In 1949, a spin-off called Mighty Joe Young was released. This film told the story of a young girl named Jill Young who adopts a baby gorilla whom she names Joe. Joe later grows to a very large size (not as large as Kong, but larger than an average gorilla.) Joe is later brought to the U.S. to be the star of a Hollywood nightclub act. Joe was also created via stop-motion by Willis O'Brien. The film was later remade by Walt Disney Pictures in 1998. In 1962, the Japanese-based Toho Studios, who had created the giant radioactive monster Godzilla, obtained the rights to make a King Kong film. They decided to place Kong against their own creation Godzilla in the classic monster movie showdown King Kong vs. Godzilla. The film served as both a sequel to Son of Kong and Godzilla Raids Again (1955). This was the first movie where both of the monsters were seen in color. Rather than using stop-motion animation, Kong was brought to life using the popular Japanese form of suitmation known as "kaiju". Many Kong fans noticed that Kong is much larger in this film than in the original 1933 film. This was because Godzilla was actually much larger than the 1933 King Kong. Toho Studios decided to scale Kong up to Godzilla's size to make the fight more fair. The film's explanation for this was that Kong ate berries which contained growth hormones. Kong next appeared in the Toho produced King Kong Escapes (1967), which pitted Kong against Mechani-Kong (a robot version of himself). In 1976, Italian film mogul Dino De Laurentiis decided to produce a big budget remake of King Kong. Kong was brought to life through suitmation. The detailed suit was created by special make-up effects master Rick Baker (who also actually played Kong). The film had several major changes from the original film. It received mixed reviews from fans and critics alike, but depite all that it was commericially successful. The De Laurentiis remake was followed by a sequel, King Kong Lives, in 1986. The film was a commercial flop and is regarded by fans as the "worst King Kong movie of all time." King Kong was remade again in 2005 by New Zealand director Peter Jackson, who also directed the highly succussful Lord Of The Rings (2001 - 2003). Jackson stated that the original film was what inspired him to be a film director. This time, Kong was created through a highly evolved CGI process in which sensors are placed all over an actor's body to create the movements. The actor picked to portray Kong through this process was Andy Serkis, who also portrayed the CGI-created character Gollum in the Lord Of The Rings films. The film was extremely faithful to the original and it became a mega-hit. This DVD presents the film in its original full screen ratio. The footage and audio have been completely digitally remastered. The 2-disc set also contains "I'm Kong: The Exploits of Merian C. Cooper" -- 2005 documentary, Merian C. Cooper Movies trailer gallery, RKO Production 601: The Making of Kong, Eighth Wonder of the World - 7 Part Documentary, Creation test footage with commentary by Ray Harryhausen, and commentary by Ray Harryhausen and Ken Ralston, with interpolated interview excerpts of Merian C. Cooper and Fay Wray.

Average customer rating:

Purple Heart.
Different WWII film that speaks to the war today
Purple Heart
"WE WILL BLACKEN YOUR SKIES AND BURN YOUR CITIES TO THE GROUND AND WIPE YOUR DIRTY LITTLE EMPIRE OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH"
A must see

Purple Heart
Starring: Dana Andrews , Richard Conte , Farley Granger , Kevin O'Shea (III) , and Don 'Red' Barry
Director: Lewis Milestone
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MGBLJ6
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Amazon.com

One of Hollywood's most striking films of World War II has very little war in it, yet it whips up a fearsome power. A U.S. bomber that took part in the Doolittle raid on Tokyo crash-lands in Japanese-occupied China afterward. Captured, the officers and crew are hauled before a Japanese court and tried for war crimes. The trial is illegal and stacked against the Americans from the outset. But that doesn't stop it from developing into a fierce duel of nerves and icy politesse, especially between the U.S. commander (Dana Andrews) and the Japanese general (Richard Loo), who is the chief architect of the strategy to break the Americans and learn how the raid was carried out.

The story for The Purple Heart was written by none other than 20th Century-Fox studio chief Darryl F. Zanuck, resurrecting one of his pseudonyms--Melville Crossman--from the days when he used to crank out gangster pictures and Rin Tin Tin movies for Warner Bros. Did it have any corollary in fact? Home front audiences in 1944 were ready to believe the worst, and what The Purple Heart asked them to believe was both terrible and inspiring. The film was directed, pungently, by Lewis Milestone, a two-time Oscar winner and Hollywood's most honored chronicler of the horrors of war (e.g., All Quiet on the Western Front); cinematographer Arthur Miller, Fox's master of black and white, worked wonders with the claustrophobic interiors. The solid cast also includes Richard Conte, Sam Levene, and Farley Granger. --Richard T. Jameson

Description

World War II American fighter pilots are shot down over China and tortured. Dana Andrews, Richard Conte and Farley Granger struggle against tyranny.

Customer Reviews:

Purple Heart........2007-09-11

I was a little disapointed with this film unfortunately, as I was always a fan of Dana Andrews in my younger days.
However this is one that I had never seen. I know there are many of his films, and I shall keep on trying to send for the ones that I do like.
Sincerely Blanche Knowles.

Different WWII film that speaks to the war today.......2007-06-27

In my quest to see all of the great old films of WWII made in the 1940's, I bought this one and I'm glad I did!
It's very different from the "typical" battle-action films; this one is set mainly in Japan where American Army Air Corps pilots are put on trial for "war crimes."
In the course of their imprisonment, they are tortured to confess to crimes they didn't commit.
They have no real lawyers.
The Geneva Convention is never mentioned.
They go bravely and proudly to their deaths by execution.
All of it highlights not only the humane treatment we give enemy combatants now at Guantanamo Bay but also the fanatical aim of world domination of today's Islamofacist enemy in Iraq and Afghanistan is exactly like that of the Shinto/Bushido Japanese that we vanquished in WWII.
This movie is really a must see that acurately portrays the enemy in wartime as truly evil with none of the moral equivalence that we get from Hollywood and the Media these days.

Purple Heart.......2007-06-08

Fantastic movie, have enjoyed it for many years on my copy on a VCR tape that I made off of TV, and now I have a great DVD version of it. The best part of the movie is that it is in the Full Screen format and not as how most come. I wish that your organization could get more movies in the Full Screen format, and not as most company's use the Wide Screen or that stupid letter boxed. Keep up the good work!!

"WE WILL BLACKEN YOUR SKIES AND BURN YOUR CITIES TO THE GROUND AND WIPE YOUR DIRTY LITTLE EMPIRE OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH".......2007-04-04

This is an inspiring movie to ALL Americans at this stage of the war vs Japan...in reality, three [3] of the captured USAAF crew were beheaded, others tortured unmercifuly...3 survived at war's end...with the release of, "The Purple Heart" at Christmas time [1944] well after the Gen Doolittle raid in April 1942, it hit home and in our hearts to the heroics of our courageous United States Army Air Force and Naval Forces in harm's way...this movie depicts Japan for all of her quick grabs in the Pacific War; yet, Japan was wide open and vunerable to air attack...it helped lift our morale to perservere, sacrifice and no more surrenders, ultimately paving the way for Japan's unconditional surrender forevermore in Aug/1945...it was NOT a propaganda movie; conversely, a cornerstone film for total victory over Japan who was our most formidable and cunning enemy we ever faced on the sea and on the land...Dana Andrews stirring lecture to that Japanese judge rang true as the "USAAF will blackened your skies, day and nite we'll come to burn your cities to the ground and wipe your dirty little Empire off the face of the earth"...that was a TRUISM and justly so...sadly, today's liberal Americans can't relate or comprehend to just what a UNITED effort it took to bring the Japanese Militarists to extinction in Aug/1945...the Japanese got what they readily deserved with A-Bomb interest...this movie was a harbinger of what was to come to the home-islands of Japan...WW2 was a great American lesson to America's enemies...I loved this wartime 1944 film about wartime April/1942....SSGT CHRIS SARNO-USMC FMF

A must see.......2007-02-21

This is one of the all-time classic propaganda pieces of the war. Here we have the "typical" American unit made up of boys from Texas, Brooklyn, and Iowa, led by a steely officer (Dana Andrews)in a tribute to democracy. For my money, however, the scenery-chewing performance of Richard Loo as the Tojo-look-alike Japanese officer (complete with an appliance in his mouth to make his teeth look bigger...just like all of the print propaganda characatures of Japanese soldiers) steals the show. Loo's line "How many people will the white man sacrifice?" has become a cult classic with my colleagues and I and will likely remain so for some years. You've truly got to see this to believe it.

King Boxer (aka 'Five Fingers Of Death')

Average customer rating:

The influences this movie has... just call it the blueprint!
MASTER OF THE IRON FIST !!
A classic finally gets its due

King Boxer (aka 'Five Fingers Of Death')
Starring: Lo Lieh , and Tien Feng
Director: Cheng Chang Ho
Manufacturer: Weinstein Company
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MM0LE6
Release Date: 2007-06-19

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Better known in the United States as Five Fingers of Death, this spectacular mix of martial arts action and Western-style melodrama from the legendary Shaw Brothers Studios helped to light the fuse for the kung fu movie explosion in the early '70s. Indonesian actor Lo Lieh is the young acolyte caught up in a struggle between rival martial arts schools; after one villainous outfit murders several of Lieh's classmates with the help of hired killers, he trains to develop the invincible "Iron Palm" technique and defeat the opposing school. Korean director Chang-hwa Jeong delivers stunning (and very violent) action set pieces (set to a dizzying array of American library music cues, most notably Quincy Jones' theme to Ironside) but also manages to create a compelling and dramatic sub-story about loyalty and honor. The result is a martial arts film that can be enjoyed by viewers who aren't fanatical about the genre and diehard kung fu heads alike. The widescreen DVD (which surpasses all previous VHS and DVD versions of the film) includes an interesting commentary track by Quentin Tarantino (who aided Dragon Dynasty in assembling its Shaw Brothers library) and critics Elvis Mitchell and David Chute, who discuss King Boxer's appeal and thematic similarities to Hollywood product; Chute is also featured with critic Andy Klein in one of three short supplements about the film's production and history, with director Jeong and martial arts choreographer Liu Chia-Liang taking center stage for the others. - Paul Gaita

Description

(Action) A young martial arts students quest to win a tournament despite numerous acts of sabotage by his rivals.

Customer Reviews:

The influences this movie has... just call it the blueprint!.......2007-09-05

Seeing this for the first time you may knock it for being fairly paint by numbers (train/tragedy/train harder/revenge/redemption)... problem is that this is one of the original paintings that the formula is based off! This is classic kung-fu action in the finest sense of the word. Lo Lieh as our heroic lead is great and shows flashes of Bruce Lee type charisma (but not nearly his furious fighting) and will have you rooting for him through every uphill battle he's in. Lots of cool characters and action scenes, including the 3 Japanese masters brought in to derail our hero (and bust his hands up real good!). The movie just oozes style and grittiness that in this new age of martial arts film we may never see again (Kill Bill excluded)... so sit back and enjoy it like the fine wine it is!

MASTER OF THE IRON FIST !!.......2007-07-03

Kudo's to the Weinstein Company for releasing this Kung Fu classic on DVD.The audio and video restoration that went into this DVD release is absolutely incredible and Martial Arts fans won't be disappointed."King Boxer" is presented in it's Widescreen format and enhanced for 16x9 television's.The films colors are incredibly sharp and vibrant and the mono sound is clear and crisp.The video transfer of "King Boxer" is the absolute best version I have ever seen and fans of the Kung Fu genre will be amazed by the quality of this release.Sound options include original Mandarin and English dubbed version and choice of subtitles.The special features are an added bonus,specially the Trailer Gallery.This movie has it all,non-stop action,fierce fighting and plenty of blood.Watch the magnificent Lo Lieh as he masters the Iron Fist technique and exacts his revenge."King Boxer" is five star entertainment at it's very best!!

A classic finally gets its due.......2007-06-19

King Boxer (aka Five Fingers of Death) came out in 1973 and is a classic example of a Shaw Brothers kung fu film - a genre they helped pioneer and perfect with this movie being one of the finest efforts from this time period. It also has the distinction of being the first kung fu film to be released in the United States, just ahead of Bruce Lee's equally influential Enter the Dragon. In the 1980s, it inspired filmmaker John Carpenter to make Big Trouble in Little China and more recently was a huge influence on Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill movies.

The filmmakers maintain just the right level of pacing with very short lulls between action sequences. Let's face it - we're not watching King Boxer for its thoughtful characterization. That is not to say that this film is not well made or doesn't take itself seriously because it does, but it is hardly Shakespeare either. Director Cheng Chang Ho employs sudden zoom in and outs and even the occasional freeze frame during many of the film's dynamic fight scenes. This is a beautifully shot movie with expert use of the 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio with superb compositions of every frame. The use of shadows for dramatic effect in one scene, and a brief fight that takes place at sunset that looks like something right out of 1950s Technicolor era, is part of the reason why this film is so revered among kung fu film fans.

King Boxer features betrayal, torture, revenge and even some heroic style redemption thrown in for good measure - all heightened to melodramatic levels making for a very entertaining ride. Our hero has to deal with a devastating injury and his own self-doubts before he can face the bad guys and use the Iron Palm technique to save the day. You soon find yourself rooting for Chi-Hao to win the competition and the cute woman he loves as well. Even though our hero triumphs at the end, it is a terrible cost with friends, family and his mentor dead or horribly maimed all because of a petty rivalry between two martial arts schools.

There is an audio commentary by filmmaker Quentin Tarantino and film critics Elvis Mitchell and David Chute. Love or hate Tarantino, the guy knows his film history, displaying an impressive encyclopedic knowledge of kung fu cinema. For example, he not only talks about how it was the first kung fu film released in America but then rattles off 5-6 other films that came after. This is a very entertaining, information-packed track by three guys who are fans of the film and display a genuine love for the genre. Highly recommended.

"Interview with Chang-Hwa Jeong." He talks about how he got involved with the film. Initially, he found the script to be "common" and studied Chinese history and literature in order to make improvements. He talks about some of the techniques he used to make the action sequences so exciting and visceral.

"Interview with action director Lau Kar Wing." Kar Wing was the kung fu director on the movie and speaks about how he approached the many fight scenes, including the challenge of matching the actor with their stunt double seamlessly.

"Interview with film critic/scholars David Chute and Andy Klein." Chute gives the film a historical context in terms of American cinema including its shocking level of violence at the time. They point out that the soundtrack was a pastiche of music ripped off of other film and that this would often hamper its distribution because of rights issues.

Also included are two trailers and alternate opening sequence that features very crude opening credits.

Finally, there is a "Stills Gallery" with poster and promotional photographs.

Average customer rating:

Great movie and and good dvd for the price
Stick with import
Energetic and expensive Chan vehicle
much better than the first
Has a james bond feel

Operation Condor
Starring: Wayne Archer , Bryan Baker , Brandon Charles , Carol 'Do Do' Cheng , and Eva Cobo
Manufacturer: Dimension
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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