Open Thread Saturday

A classic, King Kong underscores how much technology has changed the movie industry. It's easy to forget we don't usually have the ability to look back at really old films with the unjaundiced eye of seeing them when they were "state of the art" cinema. In looking at the various versions over the years, many people were incredibly disappointed with the most recent edition. Yes, it was too long, but there was a lot to like about it as well. I have never, ever seen Naomi Watts mail in a performance plus it was my first introduction to Kyle Chandler who has since perfected the role of Coach Eric Taylor, one of the greatest characters in television.

Whatever happened to Fay Wray?

Speaking of transvestites from outer space dancing the time warp again, perhaps David Letterman should enter the GATE of Jim Carrey's New Tolle religion becoming with One in the Peace of Oprah.

Just got back from Universal Florida. Love that place. Couple of things though:

1) ET ride: Replace it with something. Anything. Kinda creepy, really.

2) MIB Alien Attack never gets old. I kept hitting my own car to twirl it around. Not sure the people in my car appreciated that.

3) Still love the Terminator show.

4) They need an option to pay 1 fee for all-you-can drink Icees.

5) I like the old Universal side better than Islands of adventure. Really, Islands only has Hulk, Spider Man, and Dueling Dragons as the must-do rides.

6) However, I do really like the atmosphere in Jurassic Park section

Cooper and Schoedsack were an awesome team. Check out their version of "The Most Dangerous Game." Their silent documentaries "Grass" and "Chang" were landmark works of ethnography. They met in France during World War I when Schoedsack was a US Army Signal Corps cameraman and Cooper a bomber pilot.

Cooper was a real life Indiana Jones. He was also no Hollywood leftard. During World War II he served as Claire Chanault's chief of staff in the China Air Task Force, leading several combat missions. He later served under MacArthur in the Southwest Pacific. After the war he formed Argosy Pictures with John Ford in order to use film to promote American values.

Cooper's biography by Mark Cotta Vaz "Living Dangerously" is excellent. Check it out, if you haven't already.

Transformers 2 was supposed to be in 3D but I assume the budget became an issue. And it probably wouldn't have increased the box office too much.

King Kong's demise can be a metaphor for the coming ruin and final nail in the coffin of the 60's ethos. I mistakenly thought in '92, with the election of the Clinton's, that we were in the death throes of the 60's. I was wrong. Obama IS the ultimate warmed over puke from the 60's: selfish, victim orientated, group thinker, self-absorbed, affirmative actioned, unqualified, out of touch, guilt trip rider, liar, communist, lazy, elitist, bully, social novice, know-it-all.
I cannot wait for the fall from the Empire State Building. While Kong Kong may be touch your heartstrings, the 60's must be put to rest.

Hear, hear!

Bam Bam, as he likes to point out, missed the 60's but boy are you right when you point out he is their student. William Ayers, anyone. Obama is right out of the "days of rage" handbook. No wonder Chris Matthews, Steven Stills, and all the 60's era guys were getting tingling feelings in their trousers during his kumbaya hope and change speeches. The reality is this is all about pay-back and "up against the wall." Makes me want to puke, it does

Stephen Stills? What a hoser. I wonder if he's still married to that bisexual woman who broke up a marriage of a friend of mine when she went after the wife?

Thanks for your kind words, I'll have to find a copy of that DVD of "The Most Dangerous Game."

According to Vaz, Cooper rediscovered Willis O'Brien puttering around the RKO back lot. Cooper put him to work on Kong, and the rest is history.

I love the art on this King Kong poster. I'd like to find out who the artist was. I've done a little primary searching but haven't turned up anything. I found this and several other King Kong posters at a much larger size here:
http://www.impawards.com/1933/king_kong_ver7.html
Clink on the large image there to get an even larger one.

In the movie "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" there are several "Easter eggs" to borrow a software term (for whatever purposefully sneaked in things in movies are called). One is when Sky Captain is flying through the city engaging the giant metal robots, waaaay off in the distance you can see the silhouette on King Kong climbing the Empire State Building. Another scene shows newspapers from around the world. The one from Japan has a front page photo with a shadow that looks suspiciously like Godzilla.

Actually it was 1933.

Now this is my idea of a night on the Town. Plenty of Action, a Major City at your feet a Knock-out Blond in hand just screaming over you and Everyone thinks your and calls you a King.The only Adjustment would be I'd shave a lot closer and you can keep the Planes. Otherwise it's all Good.

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