A classier Kong...
10. King Kong (2005)
This $218 million Peter Jackson remake of the classic ape story was certainly worth its five ton weight in box office glory. Set in 1933, the pic stars Naomi Watts as a vaudeville actress Ann Darrow--spiraling alongside the depression--who finds a gig onboard a Singapore-bound tramp steamer, working for wily filmmaker Carl Denham (Jack Black) in the hopes of completing his travelogue/action film. Swerving to avoid icebergs, the crew and Ann soon finds themselves on a prehistoric island where a misunderstood, anti-social Kong rules the day while fending of dinosaurs. Ann is the first 'being' he meets who can mellow him out enough to make him chuckle.
Why He Ruled: Plain and simply, between his wordless expressionist acting and channeling pure Ice Capades bliss in "Central Park's" skating rink with his beloved playmate Ann, actor Andy Serkis' green screen constructed, underrated Kong deserved an Oscar nom.
Monkeymeter: 5 out of 5 stars