As with THE LORD OF THE RINGS, Peter Jackson has double-dipped with KING KONG, providing 13 additional minutes of new footage, including 230 new VFX shots from the Oscar-winning Weta Digital, and nearly 40 minutes of deleted scenes. The KING KONG DELUXE EXTENDED EDITION three-disc set (Universal Home Ent., $34.98) was produced by the award-winning Michael Pellerin and was released Nov. 14, 2006.
The bonus features include special introductions by Jackson, a host of fascinating mini-featurettes, concept art galleries, outtakes and gag reels, trailers and commentary by Jackson for the first time.
In addition, the multi-disc DVD is also available in a Limited Edition DVD gift set ($79.98) that includes specially designed collectable packaging. A beautifully crafted King Kong figurine, created exclusively for the package by artists at Weta Workshop and Weta Digital, accompanies the gift set.
Highlights include:
DISC 1* KING KONG Part 1* Deleted Scenes - 16 Deleted ScenesFeature Commentary with Jackson and co-writer/producer Philippa Boyens
DISC 2* KING KONG Part 2* The Eighth Blunder Of The World* The Present* A Night In Vaudeville* King Kong Homage* Weta Collectibles* TrailersFeature Commentary with Jackson and Boyens
DISC 3* The KING KONG Archives* Introduction by Jackson* The Origins of KING KONG* Pre-Production Part 1: The Return Of Kong* Pre-Production Part 2: Countdown To Filming* The Venture Journey* Return To Skull Island* New York, New Zealand* Bringing KONG To Life Part 1: Design And Research* Bringing KONG To Life Part 2: Performance And Animation* The 1996 KING KONG Video Gallery* The Venture Video Gallery* Skull Island Video Gallery* New York Video Gallery* Kong Video Gallery* Arrival At Skull Island Pre-Viz Animatic* Bronto Stampede Pre-Viz Animatic* T-Rex Fight Pre-Viz Animatic* Kong's Capture Pre-Viz Animatic* Empire State Building Battle Pre-Viz Animatic* Ann Disarms Kong Motion-Capture/Animation Comparison* Kong's Capture Motion-Capture/Animation Comparison* Kong In New York Motion-Capture/Animation Comparison
Universal Studios Home Ent. is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Ent., NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
