NEW YORK (AP) -- The box-office performance of Peter Jackson's "King Kong" wasn't as chest-thumping as many expected. But to be fair, $217 million isn't terrible, nor was the $520 million worldwide take. Moreover, the film was well received by critics, nominated for four Oscars and won three: visual effects, sound and sound editing. Those three aspects of filmmaking are represented on the new two-disc special edition DVD coming out Tuesday (a single disc version also is available). The features include post-production diaries that bookend the previously released production diaries of "Kong." They are an unusual inside look on the minutiae that goes into even the biggest of movies. [More]

Set in the 1930s, this is the story of a young and beautiful actress Ann Darrow from the world of vaudeville who finds herself lost in depression-era New York and her luck changes when she meets an over-ambitious filmmaker Carl Denham who brings her on an exploratory expedition to a remote island where she finds compassion and the true meaning of humanity with an ape Kong. The beauty and the beast finally meet their fate back in the city of New York where the filmmaker takes and displays the ape in quest of his fame by commercial exploitation which ultimately leads to catastrophe for everyone including a playwright Jack Driscoll who falls in love with Ann and plays an unlikely hero by trying to save her from Kong and her destiny. [Order on Amazon]

Sherry writes: Andy Serkis has just donated a painting he has done, to WAVE for their Art WAVE charity event. Serkis’ piece can be viewed at artwavni.com. Pre-auction bidding is available on the website. [More]

Malcolm writes: There's an interview with Peter Jackson over at Dark Horizons (darkhorizons.com) in which he discusses the King Kong DVD, a possible future edition to be released later this year, and plans for an LOTR box set on an HD format. [More]

To celebrate the release of Peter Jackson’s King Kong on DVD, KongisKing.net is collecting images of you taken with your King Kong DVD! Please send your photos to kongdvdphoto@kongisking.net.

Universal Pictures UK, part of stateside giant NBC Universal, is to launch a groundbreaking download-to-own (DTO) service with UK DVD rental firm Love Film, starting with Peter Jackson's King Kong. The DTO service, launching in association with AOL, will debut on April 10 with a choice of 30+ films available to web downloaders on the same day that the film is released on DVD, a move that the US studio claims could revolutionise the film industry. For Ł20, UK movie fans will be able to download and keep two digital copies of the movie: one to watch on their computers and one for a portable device. They will also be sent a copy of the movie on DVD through the post. [More]

Film addicts will be able to download movies to own for the first time next month, starting with King Kong. The new service will allow fans to watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters on their laptops, home computers or hand-held devices while on the move. It is hoped it will revolutionise the home movie market the same way video rental did 20 years ago. The new download-to-own service is being offered by Universal Pictures and online DVD rental firm LoveFilm. [More]

Not one to rest on his laurels, Peter Jackson followed up the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy by taking on the cinematic classic, "King Kong." Remaining true to the original story, Jackson faithfully recreated New York in the 1930s and delivered one of 2005's most entertaining and visually impressive films. Terrific performances, simply amazing effects, and a touching story - "King Kong" has it all. And to top it off, the Collector's Edition DVD is loaded with behind-the-scenes extras. [More]

Pre-Order on Amazon.com
King Kong (2005) 2-Disc Special Edition
King Kong (2005) 1-Disc Widescreen Edition
King Kong (2005) 1-Disc Fullscreen Edition

Pete writes: This is a pub in London renamed in 1975 after Edgar Wallace, original writer of the '33 "Kong", who supposedly used to drink here. Although the pub is fairly spartan, there are some interesting pictures of Wallace lining the walls, and pieces of text here and there recounting his life. Would have been a great place for Pete to have held a press conference! And, a nice little Mecca for Kong fans to stop and have a pint. [More]

Masood writes: For the folks at Canada there will be a special presentation of King Kong this Sunday at 1:30pm on the Discovery Channel. I got the following premise from the site: New footage and behind-the-scenes effect shots from the 2005 Peter Jackson film. [More]

From MSN: Have you seen every “Lord of the Rings” episode ten times? Were you in line at midnight to go see “King KongR21;? What would you do to win a phone call from Academy Award winning director, Peter Jackson? To celebrate the release of the King Kong DVD, one lucky fan will win a 15 minute phone call with Peter Jackson! [More]

Peter Jackson, taking a vacation? Hard to imagine, but the director — who bounced from one F/X-heavy project (The Lord of the Rings trilogy) to another (King Kong) — recently spent some time tooling down the West Coast with his family. Still, it's no surprise the workhorse is already gearing up for two new projects: First, he'll co-write and direct an adaptation of Alice Sebold's best-selling novel The Lovely Bones, about a murdered girl who watches over her family from heaven; then he'll exec-produce Halo, a film version of the addictive Xbox game. We called Jackson in New Zealand to chat about those films, plus the King Kong DVD (due March 28). [More]

NEW YORK - The box-office performance of Peter Jackson's "King Kong" wasn't as chest-thumping as many expected. But to be fair, $217 million isn't terrible, nor was the $520 million worldwide take. It was well received by critics, nominated for four Oscars and won three: visual effects, sound and sound editing. Those three aspects of filmmaking are represented on the new two-disc special edition DVD coming out Tuesday (a single disc version also is available). The features include post-production diaries that bookend the previously released production diaries of "Kong." They are an unusual inside look on the minutiae that goes into even the biggest of movies. [More]

He just might, when you look at all the amazing additional release material offered on both the single- and double-disk versions, coming out on next week. I was away on a set visit in Canada, so I was unable to go and show props, but Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Fangoria had a big bash, saluting the cinematic icon with a one-night only theatrical screening of the bonus feature Skull Island, which is on the two disc Special Edition DVD (March 28). [More]

In the King Kong Battle game, users play the role of King Kong in an earth-shaking, no-holds-barred brawl with another monstrous denizen of Skull Island - the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Play the game brought to you by the release of Peter Jackson’s King Kong on DVD March 28th. [More]

Andy Serkis helped to create two of filmdom's most celebrated characters, but most people probably wouldn't recognize him. That's because the veteran actor's breakthrough performances -- as Gollum in "Lord of the Rings" and the big, misunderstood ape in the 2005 "King Kong" remake -- were created using digital technology. Although computer animators relied on Serkis' performance for the emotional center and movements of both characters, he doesn't get any face time (aside from a small, secondary role in "Kong"). Serkis is fine with that. [More]

Peter Jackson's blockbuster King Kong is to become the first movie available to download over the internet in the UK on the same day as it is released on DVD, a move that the Hollywood studios claim could revolutionise the film industry. Universal Pictures yesterday said that the film would spearhead its move into the so-called "download to own" market, in partnership with a DVD rental site called LoveFilm and the US internet giant AOL. For Ł19.99, film fans will be able to download two digital copies of the movie: one to watch on their laptop or desktop computer and one that can be transferred to a compatible portable device. They will also be sent a copy of the movie on DVD through the post. [More]

TORONTO (CP) - The new King Kong, the final Star Wars instalment and the latest Batman movie are among the nominees for the fourth annual Spacey Awards. The awards are presented by CHUM Television's Space: The Imagination Station specialty channel and the winners will be announced during a prime-time special May 27. Peter Jackson's update of King Kong was nominated in such categories as best sci-fi/fantasy movie and best non-human performer. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith also earned nods for best movie, best non-human (both R2-D2 and Yoda), best movie villain (both Darth Vader and Chancellor Palpatine) and best movie hero (Obi-Wan Kenobi). [More]

LONDON Hollywood studios, seeking a way to foil piracy and looking toward life beyond the DVD, are turning Europe into a proving ground for new methods of digital movie distribution. Within several weeks, new services from Universal Pictures and Warner Brothers will offer Internet movie downloads at the same time that major blockbusters enter retail stores in DVD form, the first time studios will make "virtual" movies available so quickly. Universal Pictures International detailed plans Thursday for a "download to own" service in Britain in partnership with LoveFilm, an online video rental company. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, meanwhile, Warner Brothers plans a download service in partnership with a subsidiary of the German media company Bertelsmann. [More]

We admire Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep as legends-in-waiting, committing performances to film that might be referenced by future generations alongside Marlon Brando and Katharine Hepburn. We praise the lengthy careers of Steve Martin and Bill Murray, wondering if their work will live on like the Marx Brothers or Peter Sellers. However, the most significant contemporary cinematic figure of our time might be launching a career even more monumental, but we're too busy eating popcorn and enjoying the ride to fully appreciate it. It's OK, says Andy Serkis, because until recently, he was equally unaware. [More]

I will be heading to New Zealand next month for a 10-day vacation in and around Wellington. Ubisoft, makers of “Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie” headed a contest a while back where the winners receive an all-expense paid trip to Wellington to visit the WETA studios, and I’ll be escorting them!

My journey begins on April 6th and I arrive on the 8th (the 7th will magically disappear from my calendar thanks to the wonder of crossing a ton of time zones), I have a few things already planned, my wife and I want to take some city and LOTR location tours, and we plan on seeing some friends I have made over the years while working on Lord of the Rings, King Kong and Narnia websites. Of course I also want to do some lounging about in the pre-fall goodness that is Wellywood. I will be shooting some video to be featured on the site, so keep an eye out for those!

I plan on having a ton of photos and goodies to show you from my trip, and if you know of any cool places to visit in the area, drop me a line!

Tonight (and tomorrow) Sci Fi Channel is airing one of the special feature docos from the pending King Kong DVD that is basically a video version of the World of Kong book. The show is filled with interviews with the Weta team, as if Skull Island was real, but also full of quotes from the book and info taken directly out of the text. Take a look! [More]

Order 'The World of Kong : A Natural History of Skull Island' on Amazon.com today!

The folks from Fangoria.com write: Coinciding with the March 28, 2006, DVD release of "King Kong", Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Fangoria Entertainment, saluted the cinematic icon with a one-night only theatrical screening of the bonus feature "Skull Island," featured on the two disc Special Edition DVD. Also premiering was "The Sci-Fi Boys" documentary. The evening also included a panel of sci-fi legends including make-up artist Rick Baker, Editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland Magazine, Forest J Ackerman, monster movie illustrator Basil Gogos and make up effects Steve Johnson. Paul Davids, director, writer and producer of "The Sci-Fi Boys," moderated the panel. [More]