Main Cast: Peter Anthony Elliott, Brian Kerwin, Linda Hamilton, George Yiasumi, John Ashton, Peter Michael Goetz, Frank Maraden
Release Year: 1986
Country: US
Run Time: 105 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Pandering über-producer Dino De Laurentiis followed his unnecessary 1976 remake of King Kong with this even more pointless sequel ten years later. Though the colossal ape Kong took a half-gainer off the World Trade Center for Jessica Lange at the previous film's climax, we are told at the sequel's outset that Kong survived and is being kept alive through artificial means by a secret scientific team (headed by Linda Hamilton in her pre-action-heroine days) dedicated to designing a synthetic replacement heart. When the hilariously huge device is deemed ready for implant, the scientists seek out the only known donor for the requisite blood transfusion: a female Kong, recently captured in Borneo by adventurer Brian Kerwin. Kong's luck turns out to be twofold: not only is the implant a success, the big lug now has a potential mate who's more his type. After Kong rescues his fellow captive, the amorous behemoths eventually thunder off to the mountains to make a great big baby. Director John Guillermin (who helmed the previous film) plays the unbelievably silly premise absolutely straight, including a hilarious heart-transplant scene featuring surgical tools the size of freeway signs, leading viewers to believe that the joke's on them for sitting through this inane exercise. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
Review
King Kong Lives is exactly the kind of 80's trash that could only come out of Dino de Laurentiis circa 1986. It clunks around with stale characters trying to make sense out of a movie that's got little else on its mind besides showing as much of the dreadful monkey suits as possible (in fact, it does score points for that!). The needless sequel of the laughable 1976 remake still could be considered a romance tale, though this time it ends not with tragedy but with a finale that features a little person in a zip-up Baby Kong outfit that's straight out of Land of the Lost. Linda Hamilton would be wise to forget this flop, as should acclaimed sci-fi movie scribe Ronald Shusett, whose name comes up once too many in the credits of this turd. On the plus side, the violence is hilariously gruesome, as when Kong kills a few hunters by literally breaking them in two or biting off their bloody limbs. Obvious cheese appeal is written all over King Kong Lives, which would be better news if it wasn't so daunting to have to sit through. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
Jimmy Ray; Jeff Benninghofen - 1rst Radioman; Marc Clement - Crew Chief; Bonnie Cook - Tech; Lou Criscuolo - Faculty Doctor; David de Vries - Tech; Buck Ford - Guard Sergeant; Michael Forest - Vance; Elizabeth Hayes - Reporter; Winston Hemingway - Staff Sergeant; J. Michael Hunter - Technician; Wallace Merck - Hunter; Hank Mitchell; Leon Rippy - Hunter; Alan Sader - Faculty Doctor; Mike Starr - Cell Guard; Jimmie Ray Weeks - Maj. Peete; Dean Whitworth - Hunter; Duke Ernsberger - Cell Guard; Robin Cahall - Mazlansky; Bernard Addison - Captain; Natt Chritensen - Surgeon; Rod Davis - TV Reporter; Margaret Freeman - Native Woman; Jayne Linday Gray - Reporter; Jim Grimshaw - Sergeant; Gary Kaikaka - Boat Skipper; Don Law - Security Chief; Jack Maloney - 1rst Wrangler; Michael McLendon - Captain; Debbie McLeod - Reporter; Hope Nunnery - Lady in Phone Booth; Tom Parkhill - Radioman; Derek Pearson - Youth; Mac Pirkle - Surgeon; Ted Prichard - Reporter; Shannon Rowell - Female in Crowd; Lydia Smith - Mom; Larry Souder - Faculty Dr.; Herschel Sparber - Hunter; Larry Sprinkle - Journalist; Dandy Stevenson - Mom; Mary Swafford - Girl Friend; Jimmy Wiggins - Boy Friend
Credit
Fred Carter - Art Director, Tony Reading - Art Director, John Wood - Art Director, Clifford Capone - Costume Designer, John Guillermin - Director, Malcolm Cooke - Editor, John Scott - Composer (Music Score), Giannetto De Rossi - Makeup, Peter Murton - Production Designer, Alec Mills - Cinematographer, Dino de Laurentiis - Producer, Martha Schumacher - Producer, Ronald Shusett - Producer, Martha de Laurentiis - Producer, Tantar LeViseur - Set Designer, Hugh Scaife - Set Designer, Barry Nolan - Special Effects, Carlo Rambaldi - Special Effects, Steven Pressfield - Screenwriter, Ronald Shusett - Screenwriter
King Kong Lives is a 1986 film that serves as a sequel to the 1976 version of King Kong. The film was directed by John Guillermin and starred Linda Hamilton. The screenplay was written by Ronald Shusett and Steven Pressfield. The original music score was composed by John Scott. It was marketed and released in Japan, Spain and Italy under the title "King Kong 2" or "King Kong II" in other places.
King Kong, after being shot down from the World Trade Center, is kept alive in a coma for about 10 years at the Atlantic Institute, under the care of surgeon Dr. Amy Franklin (Linda Hamilton). In order to save Kong's life, Dr. Franklin must perform a heart transplant and give Kong a computer-monitored artificial heart. However, he lost so much blood that a transfusion is badly needed. Enter adventurer Hank Mitchell (Brian Kerwin), who captures a giant female gorilla in Borneo (Mitchell theorizes that Borneo and the island from the first movie were once part of the same landmass), bringing her to the Institute so her blood can be used for Kong's operation. The transfusion and the heart transplant are a success, but Kong escapes along with the female, who is dubbed "Lady Kong." Archie Nevitt (John Ashton), an insane army colonel, is called in with his men to hunt down and kill the two apes. Lady Kong is captured alive by Nevitt's troops and imprisoned; Kong falls from a cliff and is presumed dead, but soon returns to try and rescue his mate. But as Franklin and Mitchell soon discover, Kong's artificial heart is beginning to give out. Kong then is successful in saving his mate. After being followed, attacked, and shot by the military, Kong kills the military colonel and dies slowly at a military base. After this event, Lady Kong is back on Skull Island, with their happy, newborn son.
King Kong Lives received almost universally negative reviews. Roger Ebert stated that "The problem with everyone in King Kong Lives is that they're in a boring movie, and they know they're in a boring movie, and they just can't stir themselves to make an effort." [1]
Despite its marketing campaign, King Kong Lives was a box office flop, grossing $4.7 million during its theatrical run.[2] Actor Peter Michael Goetz received a check for post release royalties that came down to 3 cents. He has it stapled to the film poster in his house, having never cashed it.[citation needed]
In more recent years, however, the film has been undergoing a revival of sorts. As the ape is much more present in this film than in any other official series entry, a college drinking game has revolved around his (or her) every appearance. Today the film is considered a cult favorite.[citation needed]
Video games
Two official video games based on the movie were developed and released only in Japan by Konami and titled King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch for the Famicom, and King Kong 2: Yomigaeru Densetsu for the MSX. The Famicom game totally discarded the human aspect of the story and players played as King Kong who has to travel around the globe fighting giant robots and certain military forces in order to save the female Kong. The game was designed as an action adventure game with some science fiction concepts. The MSX version, on the other hand, play from the perspective of Mitchell. This version is an action/adventure game in the vein of the The Legend of Zelda series.
