Yeh Bandar to Pyar ka Bandar hai

Remaking classics is always a gamble. While the film-makers get an already proven script and can build on that using the latest technology, it's likely that the audience is much more "educated" now. Godzilla dealt with this by moulding the story to match the likings of the contemporary audience. The result - a fast paced entertaining movie. No Oscar material though, entertaining nonetheless. The makers of King Kong has dealt with the classic a bit more sacrosanctly. Times of India has rated it 4.5/5, so naturally my expectations from the movie were really high. The movie couldn't live up to my expectations.

The problem with the film is - its too long in the beginning. Once the hero - Kong the Gorilla - makes his entry, the movie gets paced, rather hurried, but before that there is too much of a buildup. It made the movie a good three hour long affair! They could very well have saved some time.

Some of the scenes are superbly crafted, but for an audience fed up on Jurassic Parks & Godzillas and much better informed about Dinosaurs & all than those from 1933 - the story goes a little overboard at times. The scene involving creepers gets a bit too gross and could've been handled better. Infact, the entire notion of the Skull Island stands on pretty flimsy grounds. But then, its a classic from 1933 and I can imagine how this stuff would've thrilled the moviegoers of that time (just like Jurassic Park thrilled me when I was 12 years old).

The makers must be complimented for superb work done with graphics & sets. They have taken all the pains to recreate the street scene & the Skull Island and of course the mighty ape. All the actors fit perfectly into their roles. Most of the screen time is claimed by Watts, who is looking beautiful as ever (Infact she is looking more-n-more like Nicole Kidman with every movie). The emotive scenes are handled very carefully, specially the way Kong reacts after the fight with Dinosaurs. The end, which is of course tragic, connects well with the viewers.

In the end, I'd say don't miss this movie for you'll miss the surreal world created by Peter Jackson, but don't go expecting a Sci-Fi. Its a fantasy thriller and thrill it will!

My rating - 3/5