From its opening scenes of New York City in the throes of a Great Depression to its famous final line acknowledging that beauty killed the beast, the 2005 film version of King Kong offers magnificent escapist entertainment. Acting, cinematography, special effects, production design, and background music all contribute to the high quality of this remake. Directed with loving care by Peter Jackson, King Kong is one of the best films of the year. However, I’m convinced this awesome movie must be viewed on the big screen to fully appreciate its impact, so don’t wait for the DVD.  

Although King Kong clocks in at three hours, my husband and I both  thought the time flew by. He never asked me what time it was, and I didn’t look at my watch even once. We were too enthralled by the amazing events happening on screen. I found the beginning section of the movie to be one of the most masterfully directed pieces of filmmaking I’ve ever seen. Everything about it drew me into the story and made me interested in the overzealous filmmaker played by Jack Black and the struggling actress portrayed by Naomi Watts. There’s much more back story for each character here than in the original or in the 1976 remake, and it helps us empathize with them.

Kong doesn’t appear until well into the movie, but when he stomps on screen, it’s worth the wait. Because of new filmmaking technology, the monster shows emotional range and becomes almost human in his interaction with Naomi Watts. When these two look into each other’s eyes, it’s very tender and moving -- a wonderful example of interspecies communication. Whereas Fay Wray’s character was fearful of Kong, Watts plays the woman as someone who wants to help him. When Kong escapes in New York, the two even have fun together on a frozen pond in one of the film’s most beautiful scenes.

The part of King Kong that takes place on mysterious Skull Island presents some of filmdom’s scariest creatures --ferocious dinosaurs, man-eating giant insects and monstrous creepy crawly things. Kong’s fight with a few of these creatures in order to save his new friend comes across as quite thrilling and suspenseful. So does a sequence showing the panicked film crew being chased by thundering dinosaurs.

With so much excitement going on, I’m glad Jackson threw in a bit of welcome humor. For example, Jack Black makes us smile as his unscrupulous character says, “You can trust me. I’m a film producer.” And lovely Naomi Watts evokes laughter with the bag of vaudeville tricks she performs to entertain Kong.

Happily, Peter Jackson uses his own bag of tricks to entertain us in King Kong -- and they’re very impressive indeed.

(Released by Universal Pictures and rated “PG-13” for frightening action, violence and some disturbing images.)