"King Kong"

Genre: Drama

Director: Peter Jackson

Producers: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Jan Blenkin

Cast: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Colin Hanks

Synopsis: A group of explorers and documentarians (led by Black) in the 1930s travel to mysterious Skull Island near Sumatra to investigate legends of a giant gorilla named Kong. Kong is captured using a beautiful woman (Watts) as bait. Soon after, the 25-foot ape is shipped back to New York to be a sideshow attraction. Ultimately, Kong gets out of his cage and things get out of hand.

Story source: Based on the original story idea by Merian C. Cooper and Edgar Wallace for the classic 1933 film.

Studio: Universal Pictures

Factoid: The original object of King Kong's affections in the 1933 film version, Fay Wray, was set to appear in Jackson's version, but died before filming began. In a kind of tribute, the director wanted Wray to deliver the iconic last line: "Oh no, it wasn't the airplanes. It was beauty killed the beast."

Release date: Dec. 14, 2005

Running time: N/A

MPAA rating: N/A