The following Blu-rays and DVDs are being released on Tuesday, July 18, unless otherwise noted: Kong: Skull Island (Blu-ray + DVD + digital HD) Details: 2017, Warner Home Video Rated: PG-13, intense sci-fi violence and action, language The lowdown: A re-imagining of the iconic King Kong, this time tying in to Warner’s new creature feature franchises, which, will next have the big ape battle Godzilla. But, back to “Kong: Skull Island.” King Kong has undergone several iterations since he was introduced to the world in 1933 as “The Eighth Wonder of the World.” Even after all these years, that stop-action pioneering, black-and-white feature continues to grip the imagination in a way that none of its various remakes has been able to reproduce. “Kong: Skull Island,” however, is a CGI extravaganza that is a feast to the eye and a prime example of how technology has improved special effects since the original film. But technology comes with a cost. While “Kong: Skull Island” is visual eye candy, its sophistication and excellence negate the fairy tale-magical quality that endeared the original to generations of filmgoers. In this version, the creatures are far more interesting than the humans. The movie, set in 1973, involves a disparate group of people uniting for an expedition to an uncharted island in the south Pacific, where, as John Goodman’s Bill Randa says, “Myth and science meet.” “Kong: Skull Island” is a film that you simply enjoy for 118 minutes of men vs. monsters’ action. You marvel at the effects that offer wonderment, but no heart.
New to View: July 18
New to View: July 18
New to View: July 18
The following Blu-rays and DVDs are being released on Tuesday, July 18, unless otherwise noted: Kong: Skull Island (Blu-ray + DVD + digital HD) Details: 2017, Warner Home Video Rated: PG-13, intense sci-fi violence and action, language The lowdown: A re-imagining of the iconic King Kong, this time tying in to Warner’s new creature feature franchises, which, will next have the big ape battle Godzilla. But, back to “Kong: Skull Island.” King Kong has undergone several iterations since he was introduced to the world in 1933 as “The Eighth Wonder of the World.” Even after all these years, that stop-action pioneering, black-and-white feature continues to grip the imagination in a way that none of its various remakes has been able to reproduce. “Kong: Skull Island,” however, is a CGI extravaganza that is a feast to the eye and a prime example of how technology has improved special effects since the original film. But technology comes with a cost. While “Kong: Skull Island” is visual eye candy, its sophistication and excellence negate the fairy tale-magical quality that endeared the original to generations of filmgoers. In this version, the creatures are far more interesting than the humans. The movie, set in 1973, involves a disparate group of people uniting for an expedition to an uncharted island in the south Pacific, where, as John Goodman’s Bill Randa says, “Myth and science meet.” “Kong: Skull Island” is a film that you simply enjoy for 118 minutes of men vs. monsters’ action. You marvel at the effects that offer wonderment, but no heart.