King Kong (2005 movie) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids King Kong |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Peter Jackson |
| Produced by |
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| Screenplay by |
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| Starring | |
| Music by | James Newton Howard |
| Cinematography | Andrew Lesnie |
| Editing by | Jamie Selkirk |
| Studio | WingNut Films |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
| Release date(s) | December 5, 2005 (New York City) December 13, 2005 (New Zealand) December 14, 2005 (United States) |
| Running time | 187 minutes |
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| Language | English |
| Budget | $207 million |
| Money made | $550.5 million |
King Kong is a big adventure movie from 2005. It's about a giant monster, King Kong. Peter Jackson, who also directed The Lord of the Rings movies, wrote, produced, and directed this film.
This movie is a remake of the original King Kong film from 1933. It stars Naomi Watts, Jack Black, and Adrien Brody. The amazing giant gorilla, Kong, is played by Andy Serkis using a special technique called motion capture. This means Andy's movements were recorded and used to create Kong's actions on screen.
The story takes place in 1933. It follows a filmmaker who convinces his actors and ship crew to travel to a mysterious place called Skull Island. On this island, they find Kong, a huge legendary gorilla. They capture him and bring him to New York City.
Filming for King Kong happened in New Zealand from September 2004 to March 2005. The movie cost a lot of money to make, about $207 million. It was released on December 14, 2005, in many places, including the United States.
Even though it didn't make as much money as expected at first, King Kong earned over $550 million worldwide. This made it one of the highest-grossing films of 2005. It also sold over $100 million in DVDs.
Critics really liked the movie. They praised its amazing special effects and the actors' performances. Many thought it was a great remake of the 1933 original. Some people felt the movie was a bit long, lasting over three hours. King Kong won three Academy Awards (also known as the Oscars): for Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects.
This film is special because it's the only live-action King Kong movie distributed by Universal Pictures. It was also the first remake to feature the same characters as the original. After this film, there wasn't another live-action King Kong movie until Kong: Skull Island in 2017.
Besides Kong, Skull Island is home to many dinosaurs and other large animals. The movie's designers imagined what these creatures might look like after millions of years of living on an isolated island.
Story of the Film
The movie starts in 1933 during the Great Depression in New York City. Ann Darrow is a stage actress who is struggling to find work. A filmmaker named Carl Denham hires her to star in his new movie. Ann is excited to learn that her favorite writer, Jack Driscoll, is writing the script.
The film crew travels on a ship called the SS Venture. Carl tells everyone they are sailing to Singapore. But secretly, he plans to go to the mysterious Skull Island to film his movie there. The ship's captain, Englehorn, and his crew are worried about the journey. During the trip, Ann and Jack fall in love.
As they sail south, the Venture gets a radio message. It says there's a warrant for Carl's arrest because he ignored his studio's orders to stop filming. The ship gets lost in a thick fog and crashes onto the rocky shore of Skull Island.
Carl and his crew explore the island. They are suddenly attacked by native people. Ann screams as she is captured, and a very loud roar is heard from beyond a huge wall. The tribe's leader keeps saying the word "Kong" while looking at Ann. Captain Englehorn saves the film crew, but a native sneaks onto the ship and kidnaps Ann. The natives then offer Ann as a sacrifice to Kong, a giant gorilla who is about 25 feet (7.6 meters) tall.
Jack notices Ann is gone, and the crew goes back to the island. But it's too late; Kong has already taken Ann into the jungle. Carl sees Kong and becomes even more determined to capture him on film.
At first, Ann is scared of Kong. But she starts to win him over by juggling and dancing. She soon realizes that Kong is very smart and has deep feelings.
Captain Englehorn organizes a rescue team, led by his first mate Hayes and Jack. The film crew also joins them. The team gets caught in the middle of a fight between large dinosaurs called Venatosaurus and a herd of Brontosaurus. Several people are killed in the stampede. After this, one of the actors, Baxter, leaves the group to go back to the ship.
The rest of the rescue team continues through the jungle. Kong attacks them and throws them into a deep ravine.
Kong returns to Ann and saves her from three huge dinosaurs called Vastatosaurus rex. He then takes her to his home in the mountains. Meanwhile, the remaining rescue team members are attacked by giant insects in the ravine. Baxter and Englehorn return and save them.
As Jack keeps looking for Ann, Carl decides he wants to capture Kong. Jack finds Kong's home, accidentally waking him up. This causes a swarm of flying creatures called Terapusmordax to attack. While Kong fights them, Ann and Jack escape. They reach the big wall, with Kong chasing them. Ann is very upset about what Carl plans to do. Kong breaks through the gate to get Ann back, killing several sailors. But Carl knocks Kong out using a special gas called chloroform.
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In New York City, Carl presents "Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World" on Broadway. Baxter is there, and Kong is held captive in chains. Ann refused to be part of the show, so another actress plays her. Kong gets angry when the cameras flash and when he realizes the girl on stage is not Ann.
Kong breaks free from his strong chains. He wrecks the theater and chases Jack, also looking for Ann. Kong knocks Jack out, then finds Ann again. Ann is able to calm him down. Kong and Ann share a quiet moment on a frozen pond in Central Park. But then the U.S. Army attacks.
Kong climbs with Ann to the top of the Empire State Building. There, he fights off six Navy planes. The planes shoot Kong, and he is badly wounded. Kong looks at Ann one last time before he dies and falls from the building. Ann is reunited with Jack. People, police, and soldiers gather around Kong's body. Carl walks through the crowd, looks at Kong, and says, "It wasn't the airplanes. It was Beauty killed the Beast."
Theme Park Attractions
The Universal Orlando Resort has a fun ride called "Skull Island: Reign of Kong". This attraction is based on Peter Jackson's King Kong movie. There is also a part of the Universal Studios backlot tour, created in 2010, that features a King Kong attraction. Another ride based on the movie is called "King Kong: 360 3-D".
Images for kids
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Model used in the production of the 2005 adaption of the King Kong series.
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Andy Serkis in his Kong bodysuit
See also
In Spanish: King Kong (película de 2005) para niños
