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The Blu-ray edition of King Kong may not offer any new special features -- its content was previously included with Warner's 2005 Collector's Edition DVD -- but it's tough to complain when everything on tap is so extensive and absorbing. What lies in wait for filmfans? An excellent seven-part documentary (one that clocks in at nearly three hours), a filmmakers audio commentary, an hour-long Merian C. Cooper biography and other goodies. The only downside is that the disc's documentaries are presented in standard definition. Otherwise, Kong's five-hour supplemental package is the highpoint of an already impressive BD release. Audio Commentary: While it doesn't actually begin until the film's Overture is completed, animation icon Ray Harryhausen, effects master Ken Ralston, actress Fay Wray and producer Merian C. Cooper headline this piecemeal track comprised of Harryhausen and Ralston commentary and archive interviews with Wray and Cooper. Even though they weren't involved in the production of King Kong (Harryhausen was only thirteen when it hit theaters and Ralston wasn't born until 1954), the two men are infectious hosts, delivering a grounded yet passionate dissection of the film and its groundbreaking special effects. Meanwhile, the interview segments with Wray and Cooper help fill in some of the track's gaps and provide a more hands-on perspective of the production. All in all, it's an easy one to recommend. Cinefiles and students of film history should make a beeline for the disc's commentary. RKO Production 601: The Making of Kong, The Eighth Wonder of the World (SD, 159 minutes): A candid, comprehensive, refreshingly thoughtful seven-part documentary that touches on everything from King Kong's development to its impact on cinema at large, including its then-revolutionary special effects, the film's grand scale, its Depression-era allure, casting and performances, central themes and much, much more. Worth the price of admission alone, it digs into "The Origins of King Kong," "Willis O'Brien and Creation," "Cameras Roll on Kong, The Eighth Wonder," "A Milestone in Visual Effects," "Passion, Sound and Fury," "The Mystery of the Lost Spider Pit Sequence," and "King Kong's Legacy." Set aside some quality time for this one. You won't regret it. The Lost Spider Pit Sequence (HD, 6 minutes): Dinosaurs, Kong, rolling logs, several surprisingly gruesome deaths, plus a variety of giant crabs, lizards and spiders... Peter Jackson and crew pay loving tribute to Kong. Creation Test Footage with Commentary by Ray Harryhausen (HD, 5 minutes): Animation test footage created by Willis O'Brien in which the visual effects pioneer pairs animated dinosaurs with live actors and other real-world elements. I'm King Kong! The Exploits of Merian C. Cooper (SD, 57 minutes): Cooper was far more than a filmmaker and producer, as revealed at length in this fascinating biography narrated by Alec Baldwin. As James D'Arc puts it, "Merian C. Cooper was unbelievable, if it weren't all true." Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2 minutes) |
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