Jackson's gorilla 'true to life'

Peter Jackson

NEW YORK - Taking a gorilla to a media preview of King Kong was not possible, so I took the next best thing - a primate expert.

Director of the Bronx Zoo Dan Wharton gave Peter Jackson's epic three-hour movie a big thumbs-up.

"Jackson has pulled off the impossible," he said.

"I'm surprised it was so good. It was an excellent portrayal of a gorilla."

Mr Wharton has been director of the United States' largest metropolitan zoo for 11 years.

An animal biologist, he oversees the Wildlife Conservation Society's world-leading programme for the protection of all four gorilla subspecies.

Mr Wharton said the eyes were gorilla-like, the facial expressions and the way the animated gorilla moved were within range.

Actor Andy Serkis played Kong. He also played Gollum in Jackson's trilogy.

A fan of the 1933 movie which he has seen many times, Mr Wharton said Jackson's film was true to the original and provided many new surprises.

While gorillas were actually gentle creatures, he said any gorilla would behave aggressively with the dangers that Kong faced on Skull Island and in New York.

Jackson's Kong was an aged gorilla known as a silverback.

Mr Wharton said an aged gorilla would not normally be as physically active.

"But given all the aggressors he was dealing with, I guess a gorilla would act that way."

He also liked the way Jackson gave a tender side to his screen monster.

"He gave Kong a depth of character I was pleased to see. Gorillas are complex creatures, and Jackson understood this well."

Mr Wharton said he would recommend his mammal experts at the zoo see the movie.

"In fact, I'll recommend it to the whole family."

As a New Yorker, Mr Wharton said his fellow citizens would be delighted with Jackson's digitally recreated New York of the 1930s.

"It was fascinating. New Yorkers will be delighted. Times Square was incredible.

"It is a new story that stands alone in its own right."

- NZPA