A FILM about a giant monkey, what could be better!

King Kong (2005) is a slickly made, fast-paced remake that deals with such universal themes as the forbidden love between a woman and a giant ape.

Recently released on DVD, King Kong is Lord of Rings director Peter Jackson's first project since the now legendary trilogy and the scale and effects are just as impressive.

The action takes place in 1933 in New York where an overly ambitious movie producer Carl Denham, played by Jack Black, is desperately seeking a leading lady for a new film to be shot on the ominously named Skull Island.

The voyage is incredibly tense as strange rumours about the sinister island start to circulate among the crew, most of who were tricked or coerced onto the boat by Denham.

Predictably there is more to the island than meets the eye.

The creepy tribesmen pale next to the huge dinosaurs and of course the formidable figure of Kong himself.

The film project quickly becomes a rescue mission but even as the crew are battling for their lives, a plan is forming in Denham's mind about a new show with a huge star.

But how will he get the eighth wonder of the world back to New York? All the characters are superbly played particularly Kong, whose facial expression are provided by actor Andy Serkis, of Gollum fame.

The only drawback to this movie is that most of audience already know the film's much-parodied ending.

RATING: * * * * Simon carr