Well, I did go into the movie theater with scepticism. I'd heard about the relentless chase scenes, gimmicky computer-animated thrills galore, the lack of any deep character development etc. But as the last three Christmases have been spent watching the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy I thought it only right that I would continue our Chrissy ritual of seeing the latest Peter Jackson blockbuster creation. I was not disappointed, but enthralled by the blend of genres and ways in which moments of horror and suspense could melt into high farce and comic rituals such as King Kong learning to skate on an ice rink in Central Park. While for many of my Korean friends the movie was simply a chance to entertain for three hours, I came away feeling profoundly sad at the anthrophocentric view humans have of life on this planet - explore the flora and fauna, appropriate and domesticate it so it can be used for the benefit of improving our own human civilization. That which cannot be controlled must by destroyed.
The last scenes of the movie were incredibly painful for me to watch, and I tried to subdue my sobs with elbow digs to my ribs administered by my friend Gichol along side me - he'll never take me to the movies again I fear! I couldn't believe that the audience cackled with laughter as soldiers in the movie posed in front of King Kong's corpse...had the whole message of the movie been oblivious to them? Anyway, I really want to recommend this movie to everyone, not just for the sheer spectacle and entertainment value, but for encouraging us to have a rethink about our own civilization and its perverse values.