I enjoy movies, but am usually behind the times. I rarely go to first-run movies. I either wait for them to make it to the ‘dollar’ theater, or watch them at home. I usually stock up on newer movies on my DVR when the Dish Network runs a “free HBO weekend’.
But I am gonna start blogging some movie reviews for those of you that are behind the times like me. Here is my first attempt:
I grew up as a huge monster movie junkie. My dad was a big monster movie fan (he also loved the Pink Panther series), and he got his three sons hooked on those flicks. I watched the old 1933 King Kong every Thanksgiving weekend, and loved the 1976 Jeff Bridges/Jessica Lange version (My uncle took me to that at age 6. It was scary, but not as bad as that creepy Willie Wonka movie). I also loved all of the Godzilla movies. They usually were on Channel 43 on Saturday afternoons with ‘Super Host’. I also devoured all of the old-school old Universal Pictures Frankenstein/Dracula/Wolfman movies.
As an adult, I have been consistently let down by the attempts to revive my old monster heroes. The 1998 Godzilla movie starring Matthew Broderick was beyond AWFUL. The 2005 King Kong, starring Jack Black, meant well. It had the vibe of the 1933 original. But at over three hours long, it was just too bloated. The monster fight scenes ran way too long.
Various shark movies failed to live up to the quality of JAWS. Open Water, The Shallows. Deep Blue Sea. My monster movie hunger was never met.
The 2014 Godzilla movie was a step in the right direction. I would give it a solid B.
Then I just watched Kong: Skull Island. The movie is set in 1973, and does a great job of bringing the old-school monster movie vibe. All of the cast members, from the headliners to the bit parts, nail their roles. The humor is great, and everyone plays it with just the right amount of ‘over-the-top’ campiness. Kong is BIG and well portrayed. John C. Reilly steals the movie. At just under 2 hours, this movie doesn’t make the mistake of running too long (all too common with today’s flicks).
MAC SNACK GRADE: B+/A-
Actually, that was my initial grade. Then I watched the post-credits scene that foreshadowed a ‘Monster Verse’ of sequels starring the monsters of my childhood…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl39iEh3OJc
After seeing into the Monster Movie future, I might need to up my grade to an A+++++!!!