After The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, Peter Jackson Directed One Of The Best Remakes Of All Time

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Peter Jackson became famous directing The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and then used that success to remake King Kong, a classic monster movie he loved. Before that, he was known for making low-budget, over-the-top horror comedies like Bad Taste and Braindead. He’d also directed the critically acclaimed drama Heavenly Creatures.

After successfully adapting a beloved book series into an equally acclaimed film trilogy, Peter Jackson quickly became one of Hollywood’s most respected directors. The massive success of Return of the King, both financially and critically – it earned over a billion dollars and won Best Picture – gave him the creative freedom to pursue any project he desired, and he chose to revisit a film from his childhood.

Peter Jackson’s King Kong Is One Of The Most Worthwhile Remakes Ever Made

After completing his ambitious Lord of the Rings trilogy in 2005, Peter Jackson turned to another iconic story. He decided to remake “King Kong,” a film that originally defined the monster movie genre over 70 years prior, and hadn’t been successfully updated in almost 30 years.

Generally, remakes aren’t necessary. If a movie is good enough to be remade, the original is usually already a classic that doesn’t need improving. However, some remakes actually succeed. For example, John Carpenter’s The Thing is significantly more frightening than the original, and Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead remake is much faster-paced and energetic.

Peter Jackson’s remake of King Kong is a remarkably successful update to the original film. While the 1933 version was groundbreaking for its special effects, technology had advanced significantly by the time Jackson made his version, allowing for a visual overhaul. He also took the opportunity to transform the relatively short, original film into a much larger, three-hour action-packed adventure.

Jackson Used Cutting-Edge Technology (& Andy Serkis) To Capture Kong’s Humanity

Peter Jackson became highly skilled in visual effects after directing the three Lord of the Rings films. His company, Weta Digital, had previously created creatures like Gollum and Shelob for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and they next tackled the challenge of bringing a different kind of world to life: Depression-era New York and the dangerous creatures of Skull Island, culminating in the creation of a massive ape.

Peter Jackson worked with Andy Serkis again, the same actor who delivered an award-winning performance capture for the entirely computer-generated character Gollum, to create Kong. Despite being a legendary movie monster, Kong is a deeply sad character, and Jackson and Serkis captured that emotional complexity perfectly.

While the original film used impressive stop-motion animation to show Kong’s sadness and tragic story, it doesn’t compare to the emotional impact of Andy Serkis’ performance. Serkis used motion capture to give Kong genuine depth and vulnerability, transforming him from a frightening monster into a sympathetic character, even a lovestruck one.

King Kong Is A VFX Spectacle, But It Never Loses Sight Of The Core Emotions Of The Story

Jackson could have easily made King Kong a movie filled with nothing but special effects, given his groundbreaking visuals. However, he’s a skilled director who prioritized the story’s emotional heart over simply showing off the effects.

The movie features spectacular action sequences, like Kong fighting a T. rex and the crew battling giant insects. But it also includes calmer, more intimate scenes that focus on the characters. For example, during the chaotic climax in New York, director Peter Jackson pauses the action for a touching scene of Kong and Ann Darrow ice-skating together in Central Park.

Despite being a classic monster movie, King Kong is also a love story. Kong deeply cares for Ann, and although their relationship can’t work, Ann recognizes Kong’s gentle nature and protective side. Everyone else, however, only sees a terrifying monster.

The action in King Kong – the monster fights and insect attacks – is just extra. What truly makes the story so good and memorable is the emotional connection: Kong’s affection for Ann, and Ann’s struggle to help others understand the ape as she does. Peter Jackson’s version captures this perfectly, especially because of Naomi Watts’ powerful performance as Ann.

The Original King Kong Still Has Plenty Of Charm

Even though it was made almost a century ago, the original King Kong remains surprisingly enjoyable. It’s less polished and grand than the newer version by Peter Jackson, but it’s still considered one of the best monster movies of all time.

Fay Wray is wonderfully captivating in her role, and the stop-motion animation still looks surprisingly good today. While it’s not as realistic or refined as the CGI from Peter Jackson’s 2005 film, it effectively enhances the story – and, unusually for effects of that era, it remains believable. Ultimately, King Kong is a classic story about the conflict between the natural world and human society, and its themes resonate no matter when it’s told – in 1933, 1976, or 2005.

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2026-02-03 01:32