It’s really hard to stack up to the original “Mighty Joe Young” which itself was kind of a simpler take on the giant ape tale. While the original remains untouched, it’s really hard not to enjoy the 1998 remake by Disney and director Ron Underwood. While it can occasionally be silly, it’s still a strong new take on the original film with a great cast, great direction and still very good special effects. This new version from director Ron Underwood strays from the original which was kind of a “King Kong” riff, and transforms it more in to a tale of a woman who watches over a humongous ape named Joe. The writers aim to tackle themes about poaching and wildlife preservation within the fun adventure tale, and most times it allows for an engaging tale of friendship and love.
Tag Archives: Thriller
Son of Kong (1933)
If “King Kong” was the main feature, than “Son of Kong” is the less than stellar epilogue. After King Kong died in the middle of Manhattan, Carl Denham is suffering a large amount of scrutiny and possible jail time for what he brought on to New York. He now hides out in an apartment away from the press, all of whom are anxious to interview him and roast him about the part he played. “Son of Kong” is not the most action packed film. At barely seventy minutes in length, it’s mostly an adventure comedy about Carl Denham trying to save his reputation, and falling in love with a lonely female performer who follows him to Kong Island.
Don’t Kill It (2016)
A demon has taken over the town of Chickory Creek, Mississippi. As things escalate quickly an FBI agent and a demon hunter arrive in town and are forced to cooperate to save the locals. As the demon jumps from body to body, they must find a way to stop this demon and not become one with it at the same time.
Night of the Virgin (2016) [FrightFest Glasgow 2017]
On New Year’s Eve, a young man goes to a party hell-bent on losing his virginity. There he meets an older woman who takes him home and tells him all about a goddess she learned about in Nepal. Quickly things take a turn for the weird, the weirder, and the WTF.
Lavender (2017)
Jane loses her memory in an accident and her therapist suggests she should go to her childhood home to try and reconnect the dots. As she goes back to find herself, she discovers much more. Her past and its ghosts are not all what one would want to remember.
Detour (2016) [FrightFest Glasgow 2017]
As his mother lays in a coma, possibly brain dead following a car accident for which he holds his stepfather responsible, Harper drunkenly meets and subsequently hires a shady man to take care of things and avenge his mother. As he questions his decision the film goes into two paths at once, creating a layered story that must be followed until the end to be fully understood.
The Werewolf Reborn! (1998)
It’s another episode of “Filmonsters!” and while I appreciate the inherent idea behind Full Moon composing hour long movies with broadly written monsters that vaguely resembled Universal’s staples, this second movie isn’t good. In fact it’s almost the exact same movie as “Frankenstein Reborn!” To evoke emotions in the vein of RL Stine’s “Goosebumps” the producers make a young girl the star of their story. I think if it took off, every “Filmonsters!” would have had young teenagers who realize something about themselves or their families while fighting monsters. I wonder if there would have been a “Gillman Reborn!” with a young girl realizing she’s from a family of ancient lizard people or something.