Watching the 1976 version of King Kong...

[anti_shrub]

For those who don't know, just like how the 1933 original movie featured the just completed Empire State Building, the 1976 version featured the just completed World Trade Center.

I don't know what it was but for some reason despite having seen the WTC in movies after 9/11, seeing the towers here was like a punch in the gut. It hit me in the scenes where Kong is walking around at the base of the towers and you see the lattice style framework that was at he bottom of the towers. The bent remains of that framework is so burnt into my brain now seeing them intact and undamaged was jarring to my system.

If that wasn't enough, during the obligatory "Kong swats away the aircraft attacking him" scene, one of the helicopters he hits flies into the other tower looking eerily like the famous footage of the second plane hitting.

Anyone else have that happen to them? You think you're used to seeing the WTC standing again only to have an unexpected reaction?

[arcane1]

1. wow, what a flashback...

I was a 9-year-old kid when that movie came out, and was ALL into it.. (I still remember being thrilled as Jessica Lange had her clothing torn :P )

as a movie, though, it doesn't compare to the original KK

[anti_shrub]

2. Have to agree

but then again the original Kong really isn't all that great either. I mean it was state of the art in 1933 but it really doesn't hold up well past the "wow its amazing they could do that back then" factor.

[arcane1]

3. exactly...

though I have to say, after reading your post, I'd be interested in seeing the remake again, if only for the WTC factor

[Ladyhawk]

4. I wonder what Peter Jackson will do with it?

There is no WTC now. Back to the Empire State Building?

Is Peter Jackson still planning to do a re-re-make?

[arcane1]

6. that is a damned good question!

who knows?

[mitchum]

5. A great way to appreciate the original is on a large screen

check out your library's screening schedule. It seems to come up quite often.
For me, its now primitive look only adds to a dreamlike state.

[Shredr]

7. I was working on the Spiderman tease campaign in 2001

Where the basic idea was a huge spiderweb between the two towers. I wasn't directly responsible, but on the team, and we had to scrap that whole idea. It was similar to the punch in the gut you describe.

On a happier note, doesn't Jeff Bridges have great hair in that movie! It was kind of a dumb remake, from what I remember, but I thought he had such a nice head of long hair, it made me grow my own out in high school, when I saw it on TV.