The Petrox Oil Corporation has found what they believe to be a vast untapped oil reserve on a small isolated island. Oil executive Fred Wilson (Charles Grodin) is determined to find the precious oil deposit. Wilson however will have three small problems in his quest for the oil. One, Jack Prescott (Jeff Bridges) is a stowaway on the ship and some type of conservationist/reporter/photographer/sociologist they never really narrow it down. Prescott is out to expose the Petrox Oil Corporation. Second is Dawn (Jessica Lang) a beautiful blonde bombshell who is rescues at sea after the boat she was on sank. Third and foremost is a one hundred foot gorilla by the name of Kong.

Kong is a deity-like creature worshipped by the natives of the island. Once the oil is found to be useless Wilson decides to bring Kong back to the states as the new image of the Petrox Oil Corporation. Before Wilson gets the chance to capture Kong, the island natives kidnap Dawn and give her to the "King" of the island. After a harrowing rescue by Wilson, Prescott and other members of the crew, Dawn is saved and the great ape is captured and on his way to New York.

Once in New York Kong breaks free and goes on a rampage through the streets of New York, looking for the lovely Dawn whom he has fallen in love with. The heart wrenching climax comes at the end atop of the former World Trade Center Towers.

This movie holds a special place for me, it was the first movie that me and my father ever went to. It would also be the last. At three years old, King Kong literally scared the shit out of me and onto my father. Ha ha, I wish I could remember that.

This is one of those films you either love or hate, I loved it. Kong is just a man in a suit and at times you can see his teeth behind the ape costume, but the movie looks good. Lange is great as the maiden in distress and in the end you can really feel her sadness and fear as the choppers open fire. This movie also makes you mad at humans and how we treat others among us. Kong should have been left alone and although he is the monster in the movie, it’s he, not the human characters that you feel the tragedy of.

8 out of 10