Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
'SON' ARRIVES.........9 MONTHS LATER!, 1 Jun 2008
Though in no way can this compete in any way with the dynamic chills and melodramatic thrills of it's illustrious predecessor, this just-over-an-hour-long quickie works well enough, if simply classed within it's own terms: ie a non-fat, efficient comic-strip diversion of a movie.
Some fantasy fans deride this film, [KONG junior is a white albino, and a 'mere' 12 feet tall]which is often played for laughs, and many of the original KONG cast members [excluding WRAY] are present and correct, and unlike most sequels, this actually feels like a legitimate continuation of the original saga-----with the overall atmosphere and technique wholly consistent with 'KING KONG'.
The lesser budget shows, however,and NOBLE JOHNSON'S witchdoctor appearence is brief and unimpressive compared to the splendid spectacle of the original. Armstrong's role is expanded, however, with good use put to hard-boiled, cynical wisecracks, especially in the first half, which is esentially build-up.
The film really shifts into gear around mid-point, and from here on, excellent dimensional special effects come to the fore, with mini-KONG battling a bear and a sea-serpent-like beast. There isn't a great deal of WILLIS O'BRIEN'S trademark characteristics on show here, and reportedly he wasn't too enamored with the overall concept, and rarely discussed this movie at all in later years [tragically, around this time, his wife experienced severe mental problems, and shot dead WILLIS' two young sons, before failing to shoot herself]; and the bulk of the actual animation [which works fine]was apparantly undertaken by BUZ GIBSON and others.
There features an early example of a climatic volcano eruption, which is skilfully handled.T here is a very tragic ending.
Helen Mack looks nothing like FAY WRAY, but retains a sprightly, smouldering charm, even if she appears too young for the middle-aged DENHAM'S love interest.
All in all, a vital, compeling fantasy, somewhat scaled down from the magnificent original, but excellent viewing for monster movie fans, and of the KONG saga in particular. Y ou won't be disappointed, as long as you are not looking for a re-run of 'KING KONG.'
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