Bill Randa has spent years searching for mineral wealth. Satellite photos show a remote island shaped like a skull where it appears to rain perpetually. It may harbor rich ores. Randa (John Goodwin) heads the exploration team and employs former British Secret Agent James Conrad (Tom Hiddleston) as his right hand man. The U.S. government won’t let well enough alone and assigns a swat team headed by Samuel Jackson as extra protection.
Skull Islandis also the home of the giant ape King Kong. Kong has enough trouble protecting his domain from other prehistoric monsters like a vicious octopus which Kong has for lunch. A giant moose appears but ducks out of Kong’s way. His biggest battle is with an ancient two armed reptilian Skullcrawler.
The feme fatal lovely like Fay Ray or Jessica Lange is now Mason Weaver (Brie Larson) played fully clothed in loose fitting jeans. No sexual innuendos here as she takes an annoying number of photos with her period Argus 35mm film camera.
This is the fourth edition of the Kong franchise. I saw it in 3D, but obviously it was not filmed with the stereo in mind. Nothing came close to “getting into the audience.”
I still like the original version. Kong belongs on top of the Empire State Building fighting off the bi-planes. Overall this current version gets a C plus for nostalgia.
“Kong: Skull Island” is currently showing at the Old Mill Playhouse and the Barnstorm Theater in The Villages.
Jack Petro reviews movies for Villages-News.com