Rent King Kong Lives (1986)

Underrated simian craziness. - King Kong Lives review by NP

I applaud the sentiments behind this film, giving King Kong another stab at happiness after the gruelling drubbing he received at the end of 1979’s underrated Dino De Laurentiis produced remake of the 1933 original.

There’s a lot that’s good about this, but moments that are bad, too, which makes viewing it both frustrating and rewarding by turns. The idea that Kong survived is, of course, appealing, but seeing the serious masked faces of various medical people operating the cranes and assorted machinery necessary to bring him back to life is impossible to take seriously – but then, I’m not entirely sure we’re supposed to.

Lady Kong, a burgundy-furred secondary primate stumbled upon by hapless hero Hank (Brian Kerwin) not only saves Kong’s life, but steals his heart (in a manner of speaking), and their sometimes awkward, sometimes appealing courtship is mirrored by that of Hank and surgeon Amy Franklin (Linda Hamilton). There’s too much ape frivolity, but a whole load of human stupidity to balance it out. Apart from the heroes, most of the non-simians we meet are either knuckle-headed military, cigar-chewing morons or inbred hicks determined to humiliate the supposedly noble beast and his mate.

The effects are often ropey, looking back. And yet the expressions on the animated ape-masks are often subtle and very effective. Equally Peter Elliott and George Antoni, the two actors sweltering inside the costumes, move and twitch in a sufficiently ape-like manner. All music is swamped by overbearing 80’s strings courtesy of often heavy handed Joe Scott.

Does The King and his mate get a happy ending this time? Fifty/fifty, really and their eventual fate is nicely handled.

‘King Kong Lives’ died a death at the box office and was obliterated by negative reviews. Although it now has a kind of cult appeal, it is not quite the hidden gem people claim it to be. Neither is it as bad as opposing views would have us believe. It’s perfectly acceptable to enjoy this, and you’re even allowed to have a tear in your eye toward the end.