Rating: 
Summary: A chump in chimp's clothing
Review: In this pathetic excuse for a movie, Jessica Lange is really pretty, and the stereotypes are really ugly. And I'm not even talking about the depiction of the Melanesian islanders who worship Kong (thought that also qualifies.)It is surprising how little improved the special effects are over the original 1930s version. They are, however, better than the acting.
Rating:
Summary: How Un PC is this??
Review: It's got the lot. Bestiality, Kong gets 'aroused' pulling of Lange's top and Grodin says he raped her!!
Natives are called 'wogs' and are their own black women are so ugly they are overwhelmed when the see 'genuine' beauty in the blond, white delectable Ms Lange, that they have to have her as a gift for Kong. No wonder the name 'King Kong' has been corrupted into another classic 'double entendre!' Wouldn't be made today....without a 'XXX' rating. ;-)
Rating: 
Summary: Fun, Ages Well
Review: Still a fun movie to watch. And a reminder how hot Jessica Lange was. The end is surprisingly touching although for me some of the pathos was also probably due to seeing the WTC in it's glory.
Rating:
Summary: Could have been so good!
Review: In an era when many hollywood blockbusters are criticised for an over-reliance on sophisticated special effects to the detriment of everything else, this poorly remembered remake stands as a cautionary example of what can happen when a basically decent film gets let down by low-tech back up. Producer Dino De Laurentis both cheated and decieved his audiance here; selling the film on the hype of a state of the art full-size hydraulic ape that would re-define the effects landscape. Instead, what we got was the tired old fallback of the man in a monkey suit waddling bow-legged around some highly unconvincing sets. Its such a shame because this film actually has a lot going for it. The screenplay is sprightly, good-humoured and faithful to the original while updating it with some then topical issues like fuel crises, feminism, etc. The makers also have a whale of a time with endless phallic imagery and self-referential quips more common to movies of the 90s than 70s. The characters are far more quirky and idiosynchratic than you normally get in this sort of fare; a hippie academic, a star-struck, dipsy blonde and a buttoned-up corporate shark. Lange has gone on to become one of the most honoured and respected actresses of her generation, yet her career almost died right here. She was actually so good at playing the shallow, D-list airhead that critics and public alike thought it a reflection of her real self and dismissed her out of hand. Yet looking at her performance in hindsight she just oozes skill and star quality. The film hardly puts a foot wrong until Kong appears. The production is smooth, the photography impressive, the locations superb and the story and characters engaging. But a fantasy adventure stands and falls by the suspension of disbelief achieved at the crucial moment. The first act of the 1933 Kong drags interminably until the King himself appears - then it soars. The reverse happens here; Rick Baker turns up in his ape suit, knocking down plastic trees and fighting a big rubber snake and the spell is shattered - in fact it was never even cast. The problem is also compounded by the screenplay's only serious error; making Kong sympathetic and pitiable far too early. The original Kong was always awesome and scary, even when he began to become sympathetic. Here he is just a bit too likeable, to quickly. That the film remains just about watchable after this point is a testament to the performers and the strength of the story, but ultimately this effort has to go down as a missed opportunity to make a quality remake of a legendary film. Lets hope Peter Jackson doesn't make the same mistake next time round. You can't imagine him getting the film visually wrong, but it would be ironic indeed if he fell into the modern malaise of neglecting other key elements like story and character. Indeed, he could do worse than give the first hour of this movie a peek before he puts pen to paper.
Rating:
Summary: kong 76
Review: the only reason people critizise this movie is because it didn't live up to the original. But, I still recomend the flick to any kong fan out there.
Rating:
Summary: THE ORIGINAL KONG'S UGLY COUSIN
Review: Abominable remake of the 1930's classic updated for 70s counter-culture sensibilities. Pales next to the original in every conceivable area--acting, characterization, sets, cinematography, and writing. *Especially* writing, as this has to win the prize for all-time worst dialogue hands down. Even the FX are inferior to the original's, which boasts a far more dynamic and empathetic titular monster and vastly more convincing and exciting action sequences. It's all particularly disappointing considering the talent involved in this picture's creation, produced as it was by Dino de Laurentiis and boasting a cast of Jessica Lange, Charles Grodin, and Jeff Bridges with Rick Baker handling the special effects. But for whatever reason, it just doesn't work. The final product is a trite, brain-numbing and instantly outdated parody of its classic forefather. I'm afraid the best thing about this turkey is how much more it makes you appreciate the original.
Rating: 
Summary: Progress in special effects
Review: I liked this show. I saw it at a theatre in 1977 and was impressed with the real look of Kong and special effects. When they first arrive at Kong's island the location is beautiful, looks like a place that would be great to go on a vacation. The scene where Kong gives Jessica Lange a swim and dries her off looks very real and somewhat erotic. I had never seen the original movie, maybe that would change my opinion of this one but frankly, I like the newer shows with color and the more realistic look of things. If you're looking for great acting performances this movie probably won't be to your liking but to me that element wasn't necessary. The power of Kong and phenomenon of a huge ape that is a god to natives of an isolated island makes the show good. Bringing Kong to New York as an advertisement for big oil turns out being a big mistake as I'm sure the viewer will anticipate. It's like taking a T Rex from Jurassic park to the San Diego zoo. It just won't work.
Rating:
Summary: The Beast On The World Trade Center Towers!
Review: I immediately thought of this film after the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center tragedies. This King Kong film when it premiered in 1976, they had wall posters for sale in Sav-On, which I used to own one as a teenager. The front of the DVD case is the poster picture. It displays the Beast on top of the World Trade Center buildings holding an airplane. Kind of prophetic, isn't it? Well, maybe a bad choice of word, but damn interesting isn't it. Still this 1976 version of King Kong is very impressive. A life-size "Kong" was actually made plus life-size body parts and other times it was Rick Baker (famous special effect make-up artist) in the ape suit for walking and close-up shots, but very effective. A good cast highlights the film: Jeff Bridges, Charles Grodin, John Randolph, Rene Auberjonis, Ed Lauter, Jone Lone, John Agar and Jessica Lange makes her film debut as "Dwan". I recall seeing an interview done with Jessica Lange in a restaurant during the evening she was filming "King Kong". I believe it was a "Saturday Night (Live)" on location tv program. It would be neat if this debut interview of Jessica Lange could be included on another future DVD release of King Kong (1976). There are no extras on this DVD version. Just the trailer.
Rating:
Summary: The most unnecessary remarke in the history of movies
Review: For me the low point in this Dino De Laurentiis 1976 remake of the classic "King Kong" comes before we see the guy in the ape suit. This version follows the original storyline with some modernization elements, most notably the expedition to Skull Island being to search for a new source of petroleum rather than a search for the legendary Kong and then then new World Trade Center instead of the Empire State Building, so nothing here should constitute a spoiler (besides, no one should ever see this version first). When the natives on Skull Island discover they have visitors, the express an interest in the young blonde woman. Played by Jessica Lange, whose start in the movie business was almost permanently derailed by this fiasco, her name is Dwan. She explains this is so it will stand out from all the other wannabee actresses in Tinsel Town. But in the context of this film the name is there so that her young protector, Jack Prescott (Jeff Bridges), can explain to the others than when the native chief wants to trade some of his women for the young girl he is offering "six for Dwan." I still consider this the biggest groaner of a pun in movie history, but it does not justify this remake by any stretch of the imagiantion (of which this film shows little). Besides, this is a movie where Charles Grodin, playing the oil company exec Fred Wilson who organizes the expedition, is not funny, which might be the biggest surprise of all. Lange's performance is not that bad, given the material, which takes the plot and the love triangle from the 1933 classic and then provides shallow characters and tacky dialogue. Bridges comes off the best of the cast simply because there is ample reason to believe he is the only (human) character in the film with a brain in his head and the uncredited Rick Baker certainly provides what is one of the better guy in an ape suit performance up to that point in time. Director John Guillemin's career certainly went downhill after this 1976 film. Before he made films like "The Blue Max," "The Bridge at Remagen," "Shaft in Africa," and "The Towering Inferno." Afterwards it was more like "Sheena" and "King Kong Lives." Finally, watch the final shot of the film for the guy in the crowd who insists of calling attention to himself. It might not be Dino De Laurentiis himself, but surely this is a kindred spirit. This remake of "King Kong" is a joke and the fact that it is better than the gorilla suit King Kong flicks made in Japan is not a serious sort of recommendation.
Rating:
Summary: Total Absolute Junk
Review: This movie sucks! In this movie, Kong looks horrible, the plot is horrible and the sentimentality wears it down! In the old movie, it was OBVIOUS that we were supposed to feel sorry for Kong, but in this one, we actually have ALL the charecters YELLING at the military and crying to let Kong go! I mean, we see Kong's heart EXPLODE on screen! This film is worse than "King Kong Escapes!"
| 
