My initial reaction to the original King Kong was that it was extremely outdated and boring. When you get used to watching the modern movies we have available to us now, old black and whites can seem not as exciting. But once I connected the time period with the movie, I realized what a milestone this movie was for the era. The filming process was much more complex then all of the other movies of the time. Cooper and Schoedsack pioneered the process of stop motion film with the puppets they designed.
Another way in which they were advanced was the style of filming. They didn't use only one process, but multiple, and then combined them. This allowed for the best possible special effects. I thought it was really cool how in order to create the forest, they first painted mats to put in the background. This saved them a lot of time, effort, and materials since they didn't have to create the whole forest. They also came up with the idea of using the glass to make the forest appear fuller. I was impressed that the directors were able to come up with this technology. King Kong was also one of the first movies to use the technique of "green screen." This made filming much easier because the actors didn't have to be at the actual set, they could perform in front of a blank screen, and later the image would be projected on.
Overall, I thought the actors did a good job. They seemed real; it didn't seem overly dramatic or fake. Emotion was conveyed very well. Considering that Kong was simply a puppet, I think his emotion was dealt with in a good way. You were able to sympathize with the creature, and he definitely had an effect on the viewers. The viewers feel a loss as you watch him fall off the building to his doom. I didn't really like how they ended the movie. It seemed too abrupt, and left a lot of unanswered questions. I felt the movie should have been brought to a close in a different way.
Another way in which they were advanced was the style of filming. They didn't use only one process, but multiple, and then combined them. This allowed for the best possible special effects. I thought it was really cool how in order to create the forest, they first painted mats to put in the background. This saved them a lot of time, effort, and materials since they didn't have to create the whole forest. They also came up with the idea of using the glass to make the forest appear fuller. I was impressed that the directors were able to come up with this technology. King Kong was also one of the first movies to use the technique of "green screen." This made filming much easier because the actors didn't have to be at the actual set, they could perform in front of a blank screen, and later the image would be projected on.
Overall, I thought the actors did a good job. They seemed real; it didn't seem overly dramatic or fake. Emotion was conveyed very well. Considering that Kong was simply a puppet, I think his emotion was dealt with in a good way. You were able to sympathize with the creature, and he definitely had an effect on the viewers. The viewers feel a loss as you watch him fall off the building to his doom. I didn't really like how they ended the movie. It seemed too abrupt, and left a lot of unanswered questions. I felt the movie should have been brought to a close in a different way.
I thought Ann seemed a little fake and her screams were getting more and more annoying with each shrill. I agree with your statements that Kong's emotion was very well portrayed though, especially for the 30's and that this movie was the one of the first to use the "green screen" effect and that technique is used a lot today. :]
ReplyDeleteI agree, the movie was hard to get into because of the dialoge and time period, but it was definately easier when we just accepted that it's rather old. I also thought it was great to see the technological advances.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the movie was great for the time. However, I did not feel a loss when King Kong fell off the building. Although I know that was the intention and some people may have, I personally did not. I for some reason did not become attached to the character as I do in the modern day version of the film.
ReplyDeleteMy comment is more towards Emily--Why do you think you don't connect as well to the "old" Kong? Though I agree with Megan that there is a certain emotional connection and a loss that is felt when Kong is shot and falls off the Empire State Building. This same scene in the 2005 Peter Jackson version taps into more emotion and creates a stronger reaction.
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