Sneak preview gives King Kong a roar of approval

Naomi Watts in a scene from 'King Kong'.

American magazine Newsweek has given Peter Jackson's King Kong a roar of approval after a sneak preview of the director's $292 million epic.

In an otherwise dismal year for the North American box office, hopes are high King Kong will be a major hit.

Newsweek reporter Devin Gordon, who was flown from the United States to New Zealand by Jackson to see the nearly-finished product, said the director had honoured his favourite film in the best possible way -- by recapturing its heart-pounding, escapist glee.

He also said it was a "surprisingly tender, even heartbreaking film".

There were a few nerve-racking scenes, including one in which a Venture crew member had his head eaten by a 2.4m slug, Gordon said.

He also thought a scene on a frozen pond in New York's Central Park tilted "toward the corny".

"It must have made Jackson impatient, too. He ends it abruptly with a giddy blast of artillery fire."

Otherwise Gordon was impressed with the three-hour film. The 1933 original was just 100 minutes.

"Some critics will complain that the film's length is an act of Oscar-drunk hubris, but while Kong may be indulgent, it's not pretentious. And it's certainly never dull."

Gordon said the relationship between Kong and Ann Darrow, played by Naomi Watts, was "poignantly drawn" and Watts "is the soul of the film".

Andy Serkis, who was the model for the computer-generated Gollum in The Lord of the Rings, did the same for the computer-generated Kong.

"Once again, he puts a big, thumping heart inside a digital body."

Jackson, Weta Digital chief Richard Taylor and his crew, and most major cast members head for New York this week for the world premiere on December 5.

The world's media will see special advance screenings of King Kong this weekend in New York, where Jackson and the main cast and crew will also be interviewed.

After other premieres, including Berlin and London, Jackson will return to Wellington for the New Zealand premiere on December 14.

- NZPA