King Kong

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Universal Pictures is delighted to announce the eagerly awaited release of Academy Award® winning director Peter Jackson's epic masterpiece, King Kong, which can be captured to own and rent on 2 disc special edition DVD and 2 disc UMD from 10th April 2006.

The original King Kong was New Zealand born director, Peter Jackson's inspiration to take up a career in film and in 2005 he fulfilled a childhood dream of remaking the iconic 1933 classic. With today's sophisticated film making techniques at his discretion, he brought King Kong roaring in to the 21st century with heart-pounding action, terrifying creatures and groundbreaking special effects unlike anything ever seen before.

In his first film since the multiple-award winning Lord of the Rings trilogy, Jackson opens in 1930's New York during the 'Great Depression'. The story begins with failing film maker Carl Denham (Jack Black - School of Rock). Set for financial ruin and under threat of being shut down by his financiers, his luck takes a dramatic downturn when his new adventure-themed picture suddenly lacks a leading lady.

He happens upon Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts - 21 Grams, Academy Award® nominee), a struggling and unemployed vaudeville actress. When she is faced with starvation or a sordid career in burlesque, her desperation leads her to theft. It is at this point that actress meets director and their journey to Skull Island begins.

At first Ann is hesitant, as Denham tries to convince her to join the cast of his planned film, set on this mysterious uncharted island. It is only when she discovers that the highly regarded and socially established Jack Driscoll (Adrian Brody - The Pianist, Academy Award® winner) is writing the screenplay, does she agree to be the new leading lady.

As cast and crew set off for the unknown on the SS Venture, no one can foresee what lies ahead. As they arrive at the island, under the cover of thick fog, it soon becomes apparent that this is no ordinary remote island. They discover fearsome and grotesque tribe's people, who attack the filming group and take Ann. As the team recoup, they secretly observe a bizarre sacrificial ceremony in which Ann is given up to an unknown beast living on the island.

What unfolds is one of the most famous and tragic on-screen relationships in film history. As Beauty and the Beast form a unique and loving bond, captured stunningly in Jackson's 2005 version, a tragic chain of events follows. Ann Darrow and Kong share touching and beautiful moments together, expertly crafted by Jackson. It is only now with today's technological advances in film, we see Kong's emotion and confusion, brilliantly mastered by Jackson's WETA digital.

The film finale, set in 1933's New York skyline, is both breath taking and heart breaking. We see Kong's desperate struggle for survival when torn from his own environment and rampages through the streets in search of his loved one. There will not be a dry eye in living rooms, throughout the UK as the film reaches it's emotionally charged, tragic end.

Peter Jackson has not failed to deliver to DVD fans once again, with a two-disc King Kong DVD containing a massive list of impressive extras including a personal introduction to the film from Peter Jackson along with 45 production diaries following the film's creation post production. Make sure King Kong climbs to the top of your DVD list in 2006.