Toho Studios made two attempts at making a film featuring King Kong. This was the first. The genesis of King Kong Vs. Godzilla was simplicity itself: Willis O’Brien (animator for the original King Kong) wanted to make another movie featuring his beloved giant ape and this time, Kong would battle a Frankenstein-type monster. He tookContinue reading “A Clash of Kings: King Kong Vs. Godzilla (1962)”
Tag Archives: Willis O'Brien
A disappointing second act?: Son of Kong (1933)
In the Depression-era United States, Merian C. Cooper’s 1933 cinematic epic King Kong was so popular that RKO higher-ups demanded a sequel be made right away. Unfortunately for the production team, “right away” meant “about as long as it takes a baby to gestate.” We’re doing a bit of an ensemble piece, here, as Mike,Continue reading “A disappointing second act?: Son of Kong (1933)”
The “Citizen Kane” of monster movies: King Kong (1933)
In the grand old year of 2020, it seems that there isn’t much left to say about King Kong that hasn’t already been said. The “Citizen Kane” of monster movies has a timeless quality to it—the film is a certifiable masterpiece, no doubt about it. Like Metropolis (1927), Jaws (1975), and Jurassic Park (1993), KongContinue reading “The “Citizen Kane” of monster movies: King Kong (1933)”
Kongtoberfest is upon us!
Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement to make: 2020 blows. This is an indisputable fact. The year 2020 has been a disaster. Several, in fact. And there’s still plenty of 2020 left. I’m not telling you something you don’t already know. Something you also probably know is that when the chips are down, alcoholContinue reading “Kongtoberfest is upon us!”
The Black Scorpion (1957)
As the second review of this Throwback Thursday AmeriKaiju triple feature, I’ve decided to revisit a Journal Entry featuring special effects by Willis O’Brien, the man who gave life to King Kong in 1933 and taught Harryhausen his stop-motion craft. How did this one fair when I first posted about it, and has my opinionContinue reading “The Black Scorpion (1957)”
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