PETER Jackson’s “King Kong” arrives on DVD today. Here’s a breakdown of the surprisingly huge number of “Kong” films now available.
* KING KONG (1933) [****] (Four stars) (Warner, $29.98)
The rundown: The mother of all giant monster movies, far scarier than any of the other versions. Willis O’Brien’s stop-motion animation for Kong is still impressive.
Stars: Fay Wray and Robert Armstrong
The extras: A 2 1/2-hour, Peter Jackson-produced making-of documentary, and an hourlong profile of co-director Merian C. Cooper on the special edition; nothing on a new single-disc edition also out today ($14.95).
Sequel: The quickly produced “Son of Kong” (1933; Warner, $19.98), aimed at younger audiences.
* MIGHTY JOE YOUNG (1949) [***] (Three stars) (Warner, $19.98)
The rundown: From the creators of “Kong,” a far more entertaining reworking of “Son of Kong” in all but name, also using stop-motion animation.
Stars: Terry Moore and Robert Armstrong
Extras: Commentary by star Terry Moore and special effects expert Ray Harryhausen, who also appears in a making-of documentary.
Remake: A computer-animated Joe captivates Charlize Theron. (1998; Buena Vista, $14.99)
* KING KONG VS. GODZILLA (1963) [**] (Two stars) (Universal, $19.98 for both this and the sequel)
The rundown: Kong (played by actors in ape suits) made his first comeback in this campy Japanese-made, kiddie-matinee flick, joining Godzilla in demolishing Tokyo.
Stars: Michael Keith and James Yagi
Extras: None
Sequel: The worst of the Kong movies, the Japanese-made “King Kong Escapes” (1967), in which the big guy battles a mechanical Kong.
* KING KONG (1976) [***] (Three stars) (Paramount, $12.99)
The rundown: Unfairly maligned, this campy remake is no classic but it does boast a solid cast and production values – plus a climax at the World Trade Center that lends unintended poignancy. Kong is mostly Rick Baker in an ape suit, with a few scenes of a giant mechanical Kong.
Stars: Jessica Lange (debut) and Jeff Bridges
Extras: Zip
Sequel: The abysmal “King Kong Lives” (1986; Fox, $9.98) with Linda Hamilton as a surgeon who revives a comatose Kong by performing open-heart surgery. She then fixes him up with a giant lady gorilla; they have a baby Kong.
* THE MIGHTY KONG (1998) [*] (One star) (Warner, $19.98, VHS only)
The rundown: Sappy, direct-to-video, traditionally animated musical aimed at kids, including a happy ending.
Stars: Dudley Moore (as Carl Denham and Kong) and Jodie Benson
Extras: Nada
Unrelated animated Kong musical: “Kong: King of Atlantis” (2005; Warner, $19.98), a direct-to-video feature in which the big guy is cloned.
* KING KONG (2005) [****] (Four stars) (Universal, $30.98)
The rundown: Faithful $210 million remake loaded with eye candy, including a detailed re-creation of 1933
Manhattan and some of the most dazzling action sequences ever filmed. A very expressive Kong is computer-animated, based on a performance by Andy Serkis.
Stars: Naomi Watts and Jack Black
Extras: Documentaries on Depression-era N.Y.C. and Skull Island, plus extensive post-production diaries.
Sequel: In “King Kong: Peter Jackson’s Production Diaries” (Universal, $39.98), Jackson announces he’ll make “Son of Kong: From the Eagle’s Nest,” set in Nazi Germany. But it’s only an April Fool’s joke – we hope.
