History Film / KingKong

** Gorosaurus in ''King Kong Escapes''.

* TheRemake: Most people agree the '76 film was a Remake Decay; the jury is still out on the '05 version.

* [[PeopleInRubberSuits People In Hairy Suits]]: The 1976 film and ''Film/KingKongLives'' are the only two American-made official Kong films to use men in ape suits.

* SparedByTheAdaptation: In the FPS video game based on the film, Hayes has a much larger role as TheLancer. Meanwhile Preston, who survived in the film, has no significant role in the game other than [[DeathByAdaptation getting eaten by the first V-Rex fairly early on.]]
** There's also the unlockable bonus ending in which Kong ''survives'' , due to Jack and Captain Englehardt swooping in to save him in a bi-plane.

* SparedByTheAdaptation: In the FPS video game based on the film, Hayes has a much larger role as TheLancer, and survives the events of the game. Meanwhile Preston, who survived in the film, has no significant role in the game other than [[DeathByAdaptation getting eaten by the first V-Rex fairly early on.]]

* IntercontinuityCrossover with {{Godzilla}}: Kong fought the Monster King in 1962's ''Film/KingKongVsGodzilla''. See that film's page for more of its history, to avoid a FlameWar.

* CreepyCentipedes: Jackson's remake is infamous for various horrorific giant centipedes.

** Many apatosaurs died in the stampade, and yet the raptors were chasing the humans rather than trying to feed on the carcass.

* DownerEnding: Both the '76 and '05 versions, as a result of making Kong even more sympathetic and having Ann/Dwan form a bond with him. The 2005 version in particular gets bleaker and bleaker the more you think about it: Kong's dead, and since he's the LastOfHisKind, his whole species is now extinct. Several civilians and many of the soldiers who tried to bring him down and protect the city were killed. Carl Denham's career is ruined for sure, and he'll never be able to donate the proceeds of his film to the families of the Venture's deceased crew members. And of the Venture's crew that survived, most of their friends (and in Jimmy's case, his father figure) are dead. One of the only really bright spots to come out of the whole deal is Ann and Jack's relationship, and even then there's a feeling that it won't last. Granted, a lot of the same points could also apply to the original, but the fact that the story of the '05 version is more "developed" just makes it even sadder.

** Godzilla in ''Film/KingKongVsGodzilla'', of course (he's kind of a dinosaur).

*** Don't forget the '''RAPTORS!''' Oh, and the ceratopsian Ferrucutus in the extended version, as well as other dinosaurs.

* AdaptationExpansion: Considerable: Peter Jackson's version was 87 minutes longer than the original, or a full 101 minutes longer in its extended cut – basically, ''twice as long''.

* HollywoodEvolution: Evolutionary biology and ecosystems don't work that way. Creatures trapped on an island tend to select for smaller size, not larger[[hottip:*: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_gigantism island gigantism is a thing that only happens on larger islands, not tiny ones like Skull Island]] – and yet if you read the natural history of Skull Island or watch the relevant documentary on the DVD, that's exactly the opposite of how the film makers designed the animals. Also, with that many apex predators in such a tiny area (the vastatosaurs, the raptors, not to mention the various giant arthropods), the island would've been devoid of life in no time as the ecosystem fell apart. It is implied in the film (and explicitly said in the "Natural History" tie-in book) that the island used to be much larger and was sinking into the sea/breaking apart. Still, for animals that large, the break-up would have to have been of a very large land mass and would have had to only been happening for a very short period of time, geologically speaking, which makes it something of a VoodooShark.

* PacingProblems: A common criticism of the 2005 movie, which clocks in at 188 min (201 in the extended version). It takes over an hour before we see the titular ape.
** To be fair, that was probably done on purpose, as Peter Jackson stated that ''King Kong'' was the film that made him want to go into film-making, and wanted as faithful an adaptation as possible. In the 1933 film, which was about 90 minutes long, Kong wasn't first shown until 45 minutes in, about halfway through the movie.

* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: In the original film, the stop-motion Kong models used on Skull Island were scaled to look 18 feet tall, but the one used in New York was made to appear 24 feet tall. The life-size hand, foot, and head props were built with a 40-foot Kong in mind, and RKO's marketing said Kong was 50 feet high. In the first remake, he's ranges from 42 to 55 feet, in ''Film/KingKongLives,'' he's 60 feet, in ''King Kong vs. Godzilla'' he's 148 feet, in ''King Kong Escapes'' he's 66 feet, and in Peter Jackson's remake, he's 25 feet tall, but would probably be closer to 35 if he stood upright like the others instead of walking on his knuckles.

** Godzilla in ''King Kong vs. Godzilla'', of course (he's kind of a dinosaur).

* IntercontinuityCrossover with {{Godzilla}}: Kong fought the Monster King in 1962's ''King Kong vs. Godzilla''. See the Godzilla page for more of its history, to avoid a FlameWar.

* AccidentallyAccurate: Some have questioned the credibility of the fact that Captain Englehorn in KingKong is able to translate the language of the islanders, who have apparently never had Western visitors before. He describes it as similar to the language of the Nias islanders. Nias is a real place in Indonesia, but the language of the film is completely fabricated. Nonetheless, Englehorn's ability to translate is not all that implausible; most of the languages of the Pacific share common enough roots to be mutually intelligible to fluent speakers.

* SuperPersistentPredator: The vastatosaurs. One of them spots Ann and decides to give chase -- despite having just eaten a large reptilian Komodo-dragon thing. And then [[ItGotWorse two more join in.]] Every time they're given a chance to go for Kong instead of Ann, they go for Ann anyway. And then the last one keeps going after Kong kills the other two...

First mate Jack Driscoll, who has developed feelings for Ann, leads the ship's crew on an expedition through the island's interior, where Kong has taken her. Along the way, nearly the entire crew is killed by the prehistoric creatures and other dangers. Meanwhile, Kong defends Ann from attack from a T Rex and shakes the remainder of the crew off a log into a deep crevasse. Jack evades death and continues after Kong, finally reaching the beast's lair in the island's mountain peak. There, while Kong battles a huge pteranodon, Jack and Ann escape and return to the native village. Kong pursues them, intent on retrieving Ann. He crashes through the hundred-foot gate that protects the village, but Denham subdues the monster with gas bombs.

[[{{Sequelitis}} A sequel]], ''King Kong Lives'', followed... [[SequelGap ten years later]].

* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: In the original film, the stop-motion Kong models used on Skull Island were scaled to look 18 feet tall, but the one used in New York was made to appear 24 feet tall. The life-size hand, foot, and head props were built with a 40-foot Kong in mind, and RKO's marketing said Kong was 50 feet high. In the first remake, he's ranges from 42 to 55 feet, in ''King Kong Lives,'' he's 60 feet, in ''King Kong vs. Godzilla'' he's 148 feet, in ''King Kong Escapes'' he's 66 feet, and in Peter Jackson's remake, he's 25 feet tall, but would probably be closer to 35 if he stood upright like the others instead of walking on his knuckles.

* [[PeopleInRubberSuits People In Hairy Suits]]: The 1976 film and ''King Kong Lives'' are the only two American-made official Kong films to use men in ape suits.

* NoEndorHolocaust: In the remake at least, it appears no-one ever bothers to tell Ann Darrow about the twenty or so guys who died horrible, horrible deaths trying to save her. Either that or she's the most callous bitch of all time.
* OneSceneWonder: His scene was cut, [[http://www.metacafe.com/watch/an-zCsBbm247thYnJ/king_kong_2005_chasing_king_kong_down_new_york_streets/ but the sergeant who's about lead an attack on Kong in New York]] is one of the film's most awesome fellows.

* ImprobableAimingSkills: Right after the EverybodysDeadDave scene, the men are attacked by massive, oversized insects. As one man is covered in giant bugs, another fires a Thompson submachine gun ''full-auto'' at him from only a few feet away and manages to hit nothing but bugs.

* OffTheShelfFX: It's painfully obvious that the subway cars that Kong picks up are miniature models.
* [[PeopleInRubberSuits People In Hairy Suits]]: The 1976 film and ''Film/KingKong vs Godzilla'' and the other Toho Kong film.
** It may bear mentioning that this style of creature making was practically invented for {{Godzilla}} because Toho didn't have the time or money to stop motion animate the Big G like Kong was.

* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: In the 1976 version he was 50ft, in the 2005 version he was 25ft, in the original 1933 film he was 21ft in New York and 18ft on Skull Island. In Japan, he was 45m (147ft) when he battled {{Godzilla}}, and 20m (65ft) in ''King Kong Escapes''.

* PublicDomainFeatureFilms: The original 1933 film is a famous staple of the PublicDomain.

** Possibly {{justified|Trope}}. Given the sheer amount of competition for food as a result of the...[[DidNotDoTheResearch bizarre]] ecosystem discussed above, it's [[WildMassGuessing possible]] the eat-everything-in-sight instinct is high on the list of priorities.

PeterJackson's take on ''King Kong'' returns to the story as propounded in 1933: Depression-era filmmaker Carl Denham (JackBlack), dodging debt collectors, hires an out-of-work Ann Darrow (NaomiWatts) and quickly leaves on an expedition to find a certain uncharted island...

PeterJackson's take on ''King Kong'' returns to the story as propounded in 1933: Depression-era filmmaker Carl Denham (JackBlack), dodging debt collectors, hires an out-of-work Ann Darrow (NaomiWatts) and quickly leaves on an expedition to find a certain uncharted island...

Jackson's film diverges from the original by providing more of Denham's and Ann's respective back stories. Further, "Jack Driscoll" is changed from the ship's first mate to a playwright, and a narcissistic Hollywood actor is added for comic relief. The natives are ''much'' more brutal than past portrayals. And, as with the 1976 film, a good deal of attention is paid to the unusual "romance" between the girl and the primate, which is strong enough that Ann would rather stay on the island with him than see him captured; and later she refuses to participate in his exhibition in America. She does, though, show up in time to halt his rampage through the city, and from there... well, [[ItWasHisSled you know how this one ends]].

* CavemenVsAstronautsDebate: The original film is a quite literal depiction of the [[TropeNamer Trope-naming]] [[Series/{{Angel}} argument]]. Merian Cooper was a man fascinated by both the past and the future. He traveled the world studying primitive societies that had not changed for hundreds of years. He was also a bold innovator who made important advances in aviation and motion pictures, and talked in his later life about his wish that he could live long enough to travel in space. In ''KingKong'' this duality becomes a violent conflict between the mighty but savage Kong and the technology of the modern world. Cooper recognized that the modern world would eventually win, but in many ways his sympathies lay with the primitive.

* DadaAd: InUniverse example with Kong's New York premiere. Given that he entered the stadium disguised as a giant Petrox gas pump, one could presume that this whole thing was a stealth ad for Wilson's oil company. Exactly what oil has to do with a 50-foot ape[[hottip:*:other than the fact that, a million years after he dies, Kong will become oil]] remains unclear.

* [[PeopleInRubberSuits People In Hairy Suits]]: The 1976 film and ''KingKong vs Godzilla'' and the other Toho Kong film.

* HollywoodEvolution: Evolutionary biology and ecosystems don't work that way. Creatures trapped on an island tend to select for smaller size, not larger[[hottip:*: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_gigantism island gigantism is a thing that only happens on larger islands, not tiny ones like Skull Island]] – and yet if you read the natural history of Skull Island or watch the relevant documentary on the DVD, that's exactly the opposite of how the film makers designed the animals. Also, with that many apex predators in such a tiny area (the vastatosaurs, the raptors, not to mention the various giant arthropods), the island would've been devoid of life in no time as the ecosystem fell apart. It is implied in the film (and explicitly said in the "Natural History" tie-in book) that the island used to be much larger and was sinking into the sea/breaking apart. Still, for animals that large, the break-up would have to have been of a very large land mass and would have had to only been happening for a very short period of time, geologically speaking, which makes it something of a VoodooShark.

** There's also the unlockable bonus ending in which Kong ''survives'' , due to Jack and Captain Englehardt swooping in to save him in a bi-plane.

* TechnologyMarchesOn - the biplanes are replaced by specialised attack helicopters with [[MoreDakka rotary cannons]].

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