Movie #344 - King Kong

King Kong
2005 - Rated PG-13 - 3 hr 7 min
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Colin Hanks, Andy Serkis, Jamie Bell

I remember when this came out, how big a deal it was. Peter Jackson does Kong... and it's bigger, better, and hairier than the original!  So there are some things about it that make it a unique experience.  Jack Black for one, who seems to play Peter Jackson in this movie.  And the giant bugs for another.  Scary, creepy giant bugs.

I'm not really sure what's up with the bugs, actually.

I also can't quite figure out why this movie needs to be more than three hours long.  It almost feels like they're trying to force an epic from this story.  While Naomi Watts does a great Fay Wray impression and creates an even stronger tie to the unlucky ape, I feel like much of this update was unecessary.

Movie #290 - I (Heart) Huckabee's

I (Heart) Huckabee's
2004 - Rated R - 1 hr 47 min
Director: David O. Russell
Starring: Jude Law, Jason Scwartzman, Naomi Watts, Mark Wahlberg, Dustin Hoffman, Lily Tomlin

What's the meaning of life? Why are we here? Are thing within the universe connected or arranged out of pure chaos? Does it matter what we do?

And can we achieve pure being by hitting ourselves in the face with a big red ball?

These are the questions that the characters of I Heart Huckabee's strive to answer.  The movie itself brings us web of characters who seem to be connected but may also be strewn hither and thither as a result of said chaos.  Can they really impact one another? Does it even matter if they do?

Yes, the movie's not great.  There are some funny bits here and there, plus the overall theme is one we can all relate to.  And Huckabee's style of business is a huge metaphor for the whys and hows explored in the movie.  It seems like a Hollywood attempt at philosophical thinking, if you choose to watch it that way.  Or you can just watch it as a weird movie filled with random actors who behave oddly.  I pick B.