There’s an eight hundred pound gorilla in the room.

Last night’s The Simpsons was, and I can’t believe I’m actually writing this, weak. After years and years and years and years they’ve finally turned out an actual stinker that I can’t believe even made it past the table read. I feel cheated.

What’s more astounding than the shoddy episode though is the fact that it aired uninterrupted at the same time our President was giving a live prime time address from the Oval Office. Have we actually hit upon a point where a live speech gets pre-empted by a Network’s hopes of higher ratings? Is the American public so apathetic by this point that such a thing is even considered a valid procedure? I for one was shocked, stunned and speechless.¹

Something else that left me shocked, stunned and speechless was the Peter Jackson remake of King Kong. Much ink was already been spilled over this film in regards to its near perfection so I entered the theater burdened by a healthy blend of optimistic cynicism. Usually such a thundering critical agreement on a film either means opinions have been half formed in the glare of the initial wonder brought on by a CGI extravaganza like King Kong or it means that the film is the real deal. In this case, the film is definitely the real deal.

As a singular cinematic achievement I think this outweighs anything (and I do mean anything) Jackson has done before. It is certainly one of the most, if not the most heartfelt and engaging popcorn movie I have ever seen. It is true that you do not notice the passage of three plus hours as you watch the film and it is true that the effects are eye-popping to say the least and it is true that all of the actors are expertly used (with the possible exception of Adrian Brody but this slight is more a testament to a certain gorilla virtually stealing the leading man status meant for Brody’s character) and it is true that this is without a doubt the best movie produced by Big Studio Hollywood in the past few years.

I read that the box office for the past weekend was much less than they had predicted for King Kong but it is with that knowledge that I would like to offer a prediction of my own. This will end up being a film that utilized a huge marketing blitz that will actually benefit more from word of mouth. I also think it could possibly outstrip Titanic – and finally begin to knock that s(t)inker from the pop cult record books – since the movie appeals to boys bang ‘em up sensibilities and girls’ sentimental proclivities.²

Do not wait for the DVD/VHS/PSP/whatever of this movie, King Kong was meant to be experienced on a thirty foot movie screen with THX sound, a big tub of popcorn and a big ol’ soda…just don’t forget to hit the bathroom first because you won’t want to miss a second.


¹Keep in mind I didn’t exactly switch the channel away from my Fox Prime Time programs to view the speech, so I’m not above reproach in the criticism I’m leveling. However I read so much that I already knew what Dubya was going to say so I didn’t really miss anything. My comments are meant to be directed towards the general public audience for whom such speeches are actually a primary means of obtaining and digesting White House policy.

²Photogal literally cried through the last third of the film. I almost did too. Seriously.