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MOVIES THE SON OF KONG
Quick
Rating: *** Trying to recapture the excitement (and revenue) of King Kong, RKO pictures released "The Son of Kong" in the same year as it's predecessor. It had a lot to live up to, and as a result, flopped at the box office. But, taken on its own, Son of Kong is an enjoyable little adventure film. Carl Denham (Armstrong reprising his role) is living with guilt over all the damage Kong caused and over the big ape's death. He can't avoid the lawsuits and newspeople, so when the skipper suggests they sail out to sea, he jumps on board. The pair start a shipping business, but it doesn't do well. During a stop in Dakang, they take in a show (complete with music making monkeys) where Denham falls for a singing dame. The next day, they bump into Helstrom, the guy who gave Denham the map to Kong's island in the first place! He fabricates a story of hidden treasure to get the two to take him along out of Dakang. So off they go, including Helstrom and the girl, to Skull island. There, they meet a little Kong (12 feet tall), who after they save him from quicksand, he saves them from all sorts of danger. The movie is a little too cutsy after what we had in King Kong, but it's still enjoyable. We have Willis O'Brien's special effects again, with little Kong, and a bunch of other monsters. And the acting and story are surprisingly good, if not simple. Not as bad as I thought it'd be. Quality:
4.0 Visuals: 7.5 Intensity: 5.0 reviewed 2005
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