It was beauty, killed the Beast

I just watched King Kong again after way too long time. I'm so glad that I did, because it still holds perfectly. That's an understatement. It's one of the best films ever made, if not the best. Incredible visuals, unbelievable effects and a timeless and simple story. Those are the stuff that legends are made.

I rejected it a long time, because I remembered it was racist and sexist (last time I saw it, I was woke enough to know that everything is racist and sexist). I think that's the reason why way too many millenials, sadly, reject the movie. And sure, it does some racist and sexist elements, but only in the 30's style. If you're offended by 30's Hollywood film, then you really don't have enough problems! I'm going to point, why the film isn't as racist and sexist as you remember and why the story isn't least bit of these, but first things first

King Kong is one of the biggest modern myths. It's a story about two world clashing: The Modern, tamed world and the ancient Wild one.

The Modern world is New York, where one of films giant monster live: Carl Denham is one of the biggest, most influential film makers of his time. He's decided to make The Best Film Ever Made. That's why he organized a trip to the ancient, forgotten Skull Island. But not before finding the perfect actress for the film: Ann Darrow, played by Fay Wray.

She is of course welcome sight among the harsh sailors of USS Venture. Well, everyone, except John Driscoll, the ultra masculine head of Denham's crew. This is the first point the former woke me found "problematic". Sure, he hates women, but as he said to Ann: "You aint women". We're not meant to admire his attitude. We're meant to witness, how Ann slowly tames him, forshadowing, what she does to the other gorilla in the movie later.

Skull Island is a place of mystery. It's sealed by a huge ancient wall, guarded by indigenous people. This is where the former woke me lost his sleep. The racist movie has black tribesmen! Oh no! Relax. The movie isn't over yet (though I'm still not sure if the chief of the tribe is wearing a black face or not).

The tribe is guarding the wall, because the other side is filled with prehistoric animals. The biggest and meanest of these is of course Kong. The giant gorilla that the natives worship as their God, sacrificing girls as brides to him.

Come out, Kong! 

Naturally Ann makes the perfect bride, so she's snatched for the ritual to summon Kong. He sees her as perfect bride too and takes her to his home, the jungle.

Kong's life can be seen however you like. To me, it's a tragedy. His every day is a constant struggle between life and death. Skull Island is swarming with dinosaurs, giant bats, giant snakes and lizards. Every living thing is out for each others. So is Kong. He's the King of the island, because he has to. Otherwise he would be T-Rex's snack.

For some reason, Kong has become keen on Ann. It's unclear why, but there are theories. Maybe he sees her as a sex object (the extended version has a scene where he tries to strip her). Or maybe he sees her as a cute pet or even his cub and wants to protect her. Or maybe he's just lonely and wants company, like Peter Jackson's 2005 remake portrayed. Either way, Ann is as safe with him, at least as safe as she can be in Skull Island. 

She doesn't know this. Neither does Denham or Driscoll. They have to save her. But Denham can't leave it at that. 

The way Kong is the King of Wild, unforgiving jungle, Carl Denham is the King of his own jungle, movie making. If he wasn’t, he would be figuratively eaten by his competition. Instead he's about to be swallowed by a much worse enemy: his own ambition.

Naturally Denham wants the King of Skull Island alive, so he can show it to everyone. Bad idea, that everyone will suffer.

This is where we get to why the movie is actually not racist.

As Denham's action drive Kong to panic, he attacks the Village, trembling people, tearing huts. Women and children scream. The cutest little girl is about to leave under his paws.

Tribals before Kong attacks...

...And after. See any difference?

The tribe we saw earlier as cruel and vicious savages, has turned humans in mere seconds. Under crisis, we're all the same.

To anyone else, this could be a warning of what's to come if you take this animal to civilization. But Carl Denham is not anyone. Of course he has to make some profit too, after the devastating journey, that has already killed half of his crew.

So comes the grand opening of King Kong, The Eight Wonder of The World. And for one of the first times, we're about to witness, what happens when man tries to tame nature. It blows out of hands.

Kong gets to streets of New York, causing all kinds of havok and destroying everything on his way. Though we don't know why, he wants Ann, desperately. And he doesn't stop before getting her. When he finally does, he doesn't know where to go in this strange and hostile new world. The tallest building of the city, the Empire State Building has to do for now

Here the military can take him down by planes. But not before Kong gives his final bitter fight. When the giant body falls and draws his last breath on the streets below, Denham is the first to realize what really brought him down: "It wasn’t the airplanes. It was beauty, killed the beast"

Beauty of the story

King Kong is not only one of the best films ever made. It's one of the biggest myths ever told. And it shows a true female strength.

Ann Darrow is a unique heroine. She's not bad-ass, like Sarah Connor. She's not fearless adventurer like Lara Croft or a protective supermom like Ellen Ripley.

Ann is a normal girl, who stumbled on an adventure, because she happened to be on the wrong place at the wrong time. But just by being herself, she tamed a wildman like John Driscoll and brought down the wild animal, Kong.

Males in the story, from John Driscoll to Kong himself, are at their very best, when protecting the female. The female has the challenging task of taming the world.

To me, that makes her a true heroine. One of the first ever to be filmed.