King Kong

Peter Jackson's 2005 film follows a film crew travelling to an uncharted island in the thirties. A giant ape lives there. They bring him to New York. The film gives a long first section and builds the island in detail; the narrative centres an animal turned into spectacle and ties its close to the well-known scene. Andy Serkis played Kong through motion capture. Naomi Watts and Adrien Brody appear. It runs very long, and its depiction of the island's people was criticised. Who it's for: those who like large-scale adventure. Who it's not for: viewers looking for something short; the film runs beyond three hours.