Big Huge Doug
Joined Mar 2002
Welcome to the new profile
Our updates are still in development. While the previous version of the profile is no longer accessible, we're actively working on improvements, and some of the missing features will be returning soon! Stay tuned for their return. In the meantime, the Ratings Analysis is still available on our iOS and Android apps, found on the profile page. To view your Rating Distribution(s) by Year and Genre, please refer to our new Help guide.
Badges3
To learn how to earn badges, go to the badges help page.
Reviews11
Big Huge Doug's rating
While I thought many aspects of the movie were OK, I was a little disturbed by the large amount of blood and death portrayed throughout the movie. It's fairly unusual as far as I can remember to see a main character suffer so graphically in a G rated film. I won't warn people away from it, but I wouldn't recommend it for younger children or those who are sensitive or scare easily. The songs are generally good, but if you're used to the Pixar trend of no singing, you may find it a little jarring. Alan Rickman does a lovely voice-over, but it was so soft at times I had a bit of a hard time hearing it. Other voices ranged from decent to non-offensive -- there were no other real standouts, although the little girl doing Stella was awfully cute. Overall I only give this a six because compared to many other fine children's animated tales, it really has very little to put it above any of the others.
I don't think this movie is perfect, but in many ways it comes very close. On the down side, I do think it was too long. There were many scenes I could imagine being shorter by 30 or so seconds without losing any effectiveness, and one or two scenes I could have done without. That would have brought the running time down by about 10 minutes. There were a few lines, a few plot issues, and a few bits of acting that were below stellar. Finally, there were a few technical goofs in the CGI--obvious green-screens, or poorly done physics.
That said, the rest of the movie--the other 2 1/2 hours that don't contain any of the nits I am picking above--are a masterwork. For starters, every moment of Kong is pitch perfect. The CGI is masterful and the movement is sublime. Kong's eyes express more than some of the other actors! And to say again, although there were other moments of below-grade animation, every bit that has to do with Kong was absolutely believable and incredible.
And Jackson is without a doubt a masterful director. The score was magnificent, the cinematography was beautiful, the performances were all good and in sync with one another. All in all, a fine example of the craft of movie-making.
I don't give the movie a perfect 10, and not even a 9--I would have liked a tighter plot and a little more pulse-pounding for that. But I do give it an 8.5 and still feel that that is high praise. A movie absolutely worth seeing by practically any kind of moviegoer, and an absolute must for aficionados of special effects.
That said, the rest of the movie--the other 2 1/2 hours that don't contain any of the nits I am picking above--are a masterwork. For starters, every moment of Kong is pitch perfect. The CGI is masterful and the movement is sublime. Kong's eyes express more than some of the other actors! And to say again, although there were other moments of below-grade animation, every bit that has to do with Kong was absolutely believable and incredible.
And Jackson is without a doubt a masterful director. The score was magnificent, the cinematography was beautiful, the performances were all good and in sync with one another. All in all, a fine example of the craft of movie-making.
I don't give the movie a perfect 10, and not even a 9--I would have liked a tighter plot and a little more pulse-pounding for that. But I do give it an 8.5 and still feel that that is high praise. A movie absolutely worth seeing by practically any kind of moviegoer, and an absolute must for aficionados of special effects.