2005
King Kong
187 minutes
Universal Studios
King Kong, Vastatosaurus Rex, Venatosaurus, Wetasaurus, Apatosaurus, other dinosaurs, and giant insects
As the crew tries to fix the ship, Denham, Driscoll, Ann, and the film crew go ashore where they are attacked by a mob of angry natives. Some of the crew are killed, but Denham and the rest of the landing party are saved by Captain Englehorn and the rest of the crew. They return to the boat and make preparations to leave, but a native slips on board and kidnaps Ann. She is soon tied up and placed on the other side of a massive wall that separates the natives from the rest of the island. The ship's crew arm themselves and attempt a rescue mission, but are too late as Denham watches Ann be abducted by a giant ape known as Kong and carried off into the island’s jungle. Driscoll and Denham quickly form a rescue party and head into the jungle to save Ann, but are unaware of the dangers they will have to face. Along the way to rescue Ann, they endure an Apatosaurus stampede and a Venatosaurus attack, which results in the deaths of three crewmembers and Denham’s cameraman. Despite this, the remaining members of the rescue party press on until when crossing a massive log bridge over a ravine, Kong arrives and log into the ravine with the crew. Several crewmembers are killed by the fall and the survivors must face the giant insect creatures found at the bottom. Most of the remaining crew are killed except for Denham, Driscoll, and Jimmy, who are rescued by Captain Englehorn. However, Jack decides to continue on to rescue Ann and Denham decides to capture Kong and bring him back to New York City since his film was destroyed in the fall into the ravine.
Meanwhile, Kong takes Ann to the edge of a cliff where she attempts to make friends with the gigantic ape by dancing and juggling for Kong, which amuses him. However, when she stops, Kong gets angry and leaves, which is when Ann tries to escape, but she is attacked by three of Skull Island’s secondary top predators, the Vastatosaurus Rex. Ann screams in terror and Kong soon shows up and after a lengthy battle, defeats the carnivorous dinosaurs. Then, worn out from the battle, Kong takes Ann up to his cave high atop Skull Island’s largest mountain and falls asleep with her in his hand. With Kong asleep, Jack soon arrives, takes Ann, and the two escape while Kong is busy fending off some giant bats. Now on the run from Kong, Jack and Ann rush back toward the island’s wall and just get inside as Kong catches up and begins hammering the wall, soon breaking through. However, Denham and the rest of the crew of the Venture are waiting and attempt to capture Kong, but the giant ape breaks free of the trap and goes on a rampage, trying to get Ann back. The crew rush to the life boats at the shore of the island with Kong in hot pursuit and just before Kong catches them, Denham smashes a bottle of chloroform across his face, knocking him unconscious. Kong is then carted off to New York City and months go by as he is prepared to be revealed to the world. Denham puts Kong in chrome steal chains and displays him in front of a large audience in a theatre on Broadway. The audience is amazed by Kong, who becomes agitated by the flashbulbs from photos being taken of him and breaks free from his chains, charging out into the crowd and rampages through New York City searching for Ann, chasing Jack in the process and causing him to crash a car.
The giant ape soon finds his girl and carries her to Central Park, where they share a brief moment of happiness by sliding on the ice. However, the happiness is soon shattered when Kong is attacked by the military and retreats back into the city, where he find and begins to climb the Empire State Building with Ann in tow. Nearly to the top of the building, Kong takes a rest and enjoys the sunrise with Ann, but the military soon returns, sending six biplanes equipped with gattling guns after Kong. Kong puts Ann down and climbs the rest of the way to the top of the skyscraper, swatting at the planes as they attack him. Ann, determined to save Kong, climbs to the top of the Empire State Building as well, trying to get the biplanes to stop firing at the gigantic gorilla as Kong manages to destroy three of the planes as they shoot him. However, Kong soon succumbs to his many wounds and plummets from the Empire State Building into the streets below. Jack then arrives at the top of the skyscraper to comfort Ann after Kong falls, while Denham walks up to Kong’s dead body in the streets below as a large crowd gathers. Seeing Kong's body, Denham states that it wasn't the planes that killed Kong, but "It was beauty killed the beast".
