Ìý Although the theatrical cut of Peter Jackson's King Kong was hailed as "spectacular," the Deluxe Extended Edition manages to pack in even more breathtaking action. 13 added minutes include Denham's party (Jack Black, Adrien Brody and co.) attempting to cross a swamp, in which lurks a bloodthirsty 'Piranhadon'. Have a monster-sized portion of popcorn at the ready...
King Sized
Naturally this 3-disc DVD comes with a generous serving of extras and in his intro, Jackson assures they're not just a rehash of previously seen Production Diaries. The centrepiece is Recreating The Eighth Wonder Of The World, a sweeping epic of a documentary that traces the project from a glint in Jackson's prepubescent eye to its full realisation. It's packed with interviews and behind-the-scenes footage and conveys a wonderfully fun atmosphere on the set.
Not surprisingly much of the documentary is focussed on the intricate design process and CG jiggery-pokery but there's also great footage of Andy Serkis (the human face of Kong) flouting studio rules and venturing to Rwanda to hang out with gorillas. Scenes of Jackson dressed in a motion capture suit and indulging in a pillow fight are priceless, but apparently crucial to perfecting the 'insect attack' scene. "I got so exhausted," says Peter Jackson, "I was almost throwing up." Just to give a hint at the scale of the production, he explains it took 18 months to craft the CGI version of the Empire State building as opposed to 14 months for the real one.
While all that was going on, the cast got busy making their own 'silent era' short film as part of Jackson's birthday surprise. That's featured on disc two.
Kong Cuts
Many of the 16 deleted scenes (each introduced by Jackson) are presented in unfinished format, which again echoes the importance of CGI. The action includes more of Kong fighting off the US Army in New York and lighter moments such as Serkis (playing Lumpy) snogging a cabbage! Jackson insists that was Andy's idea and in an engaging commentary for the film with writing partner (and wife) Philippa Boyens reveals the actor also had a few strong ideas about the Kong character. Most notably he was "adamant" that Kong should be a vegetarian rather than the bloodthirsty beast he was originally conceived as.
Actors overtaken by ego forms the subject of The Missing Production Diary, a light-hearted featurette about the dangers of 'monitor playback'. Black, Brody, Serkis and Colin Hanks confess to letting vanity get the better of them; running to the playback monitor at every opportunity to pour over their last take. "I told myself I only did it when the other guys would do it," says Brody, "But then I found myself watching the monitor when I was alone..." The takes that didn't make it are featured in a bumper 20 minute blooper reel where Black has the dubious honour of spouting the most imaginatively fluffed lines in movie history eg "human cognivation", "fruity choo" and "Hebrew national beef" (!?).
A Night In Vaudeville puts the spotlight on the bit players who helped create the early scenes in New York's theatre land (We have to give kudos to the guy who plays guitar while looking up at his own butt – classy). Elsewhere, Jackson doffs his cap to the 1933 version of King Kong and highlights references to it in his own movie. It's all complemented by two drafts of the script (viewable on a PC), a bevy of design galleries and CG animated storyboards of key sequences like the Kong vs. T-Rex scrap. Altogether this Deluxe Edition of King Kong is big, brash and slightly bananas. What's not to love?
EXTRA FEATURES
