"Kong: Skull Island" would be the fifth "King Kong" film since the first was released in 1933. It was a man in a gorilla suit in most cases, but the gigantic ape turned out to be a no-nonsense character. He seemed to be a metaphor of the prevailing political and economic issues during the time of showing. Many moviegoers would be surprised by it, as Hollywood (or Toho Picture) didn't think of collaborating with an auteur. King Kong wanted to share a story.
Let's look at it one by one:
King Kong (1933) by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack. Many viewers saw a racist undertone in the script by Ernest B. Schoedsack and Ruth Rose, as the very dark gorilla seemed to connect with a very blond Fay Wray. It won't be a big deal nowadays, even if pop culture seemed to take a step back due to the political correctness. Radio Pictures, which produced and distributed this monster adventure film, might have intended it. There was a good chance that the producers could get away with it (and they did get away with the deed). Furthermore, the unlikely connection between King Kong and the penniless Ann Darrow would be a remote fantasy for viewers wanting to forget the Great Depression. So there.
King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) by IshirÅ Honda. Shinichi Sekizawa's screenplay was far from a silly motion picture, as Kong was captured for an ad while the warm sun melted the iceberg where Godzilla was frozen for several decades. Honda was thinking of global warming, but he didn't foresee his movie as a prophecy of events decades after the film's release. Could Kong be the hairy counterpart of Captain Planet? Honda won't be around (to answer this million-dollar question), but your guess would be good as anyone else.
King Kong (1976) by John Guillermin. An oil company executive replaced the adventurous filmmaker in this version of this monster film, prompting the audience to suspect the scarcity of natural resources and the energy crisis in America. Alas, King Kong wasn't good enough to divert the viewing public from the problems arising from the crisis.
King Kong (2005) by Peter Jackson. The director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy was a huge fan of 1933 original, so he may be forgiven for going overboard in this version. (A darkened gorilla and a very blond Naomi Watts have an uneasy relationship, as skating on the frozen pond would show.) Jackson's version would be the most ape-like version of the classic, with King Kong walking on his hands and feet. It might not have made a lasting impact on Middle Earth, but the gorilla was a league of his own.
Kong: Skull Island (2017) by Jordan Vogt-Roberts. This latest King Kong picture was set after the Vietnam War, as the poster (and trailer) revealed men in uniform about to face their worst nightmare. Would it be better than the previous editions? Better watch it (and make your conclusion).
