I really liked the '76 version too.
It was a slightly different take on the Kong story that worked well
enough for me, and I think Jessica Lange's heroine definitely 'has
it'! IMO of course.
But yes, what a pity there wasn't more monsters for Kong to fight
(and protect her from).
The pterodactyl scene in the original is one of my favourites!

ps I have to agree with you JN about Ray Harryhausen, he was just
brilliant!



--- In sonsofkong@yahoogroups.com, jinzo_ningen <no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> Hi gang!
>
> I haven't been here in a while, and saw the most recent few posts.
> Good question Sue.
>
> My first exposure to Kong was the '76 remake. My late father took
me
> to see it for my 10th birthday, so it has a very special place in my
> heart. Also, not seeing the original until afterwards, I was not
> immediately biased. I thought it was quite good. As a huge fan of
> Godzilla films for about four or five years prior to seeing Dino's
> "Kong" I had grown to completely accept 'suitmation' as a way of
> portraying giant beasts, and had no problem with Kong being done
that
> way. I actually thought Rick Baker did a fantastic job,
considering.
>
> Around that same time, several TV stations began airing the
original.
> I think I must have seen it five or six times in less than a
month.
> I loved all of the cool monsters and battles. Seeing several Ray
> Harryhausen films on weekend Creature Feature shows (and all of the
> Sinbad films on the big screen!!!) had me primed for stop-motion
> beasties. I just wished the then-new Kong had gotten to fight a few
> dinos like the original did, instead just that one, lame snake.
>
> The recent PJ version is pretty cool, but kinda overblown - and at
> least an hour too long. The DVD hits shelves next Tuesday. I will
be
> picking it up, and with the miricale of the chapter skip button, I
can
> make it run along where it suits me. I want it mainly for the
> Kong/T-Rex battle.
>
> I never fantasized about being King Kong. He got killed way too
easy.
> Now Godzilla on the other hand...
>
> Cheers all!
> -JN
>