"It Was a Childhood Dream": Peter Jackson Is Proudest of One Movie (It's Not Lord of the Rings)

After the resounding success of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jackson could have rested on his laurels. However, having reached the pinnacle of Hollywood, the director decided to fulfill his cherished childhood dream of making King Kong.

Although this movie did not replicate the Oscar-winning success of his previous work, Jackson admits that it represents the pinnacle of his career.

Peter Jackson Revealed That He Is "the Proudest" of 'King Kong'

During an interview with the DGA, Peter Jackson admitted that he just couldn't refuse the offer to film King Kong:

“It was a childhood dream on one level, and I also felt that I had something to offer to the legend of Kong. A lot of young people out there were never, ever going to watch the black and white version.”

Furthermore, the director has stated that the final half hour of his King Kong, in which dramatic events unfold in New York City, is “probably the piece of filmmaking of which I'm the proudest.”

Peter Jackson Fell in Love With the 'King Kong' Story When He Was a Child

Jackson's passion for the giant gorilla was not fleeting. It began in his early childhood in New Zealand when he saw a black-and-white movie from 1933.

The film made such a lasting impression on him that he sculpted a dinosaur out of clay and tried to film it with his parents' movie camera.

That was when his dream of creating special effects was born, eventually leading him to a career in big-time cinema.

The Road to Making 'King Kong' Wasn't Fast And Easy

Jackson first had the idea to make his own King Kong back in 1996, but studios considered the project too risky. The director then adapted The Lord of the Rings, which brought him worldwide fame and an Oscar.

This triumph opened doors for him. Final negotiations for King Kong took place during the awards ceremony, and Universal Studios received the script the next day.

Peter Jackson's 'King Kong' Is a Movie About Loneliness

Unlike previous versions, Jackson portrayed Kong as a tragic figure doomed to loneliness. He is the last of his kind – a living god on an island filled with death.

His connection with Ann Darrow played by Naomi Watts is based not on pity but on the mutual understanding of two lonely beings.

The movie explores how meeting someone who understands you can be redemptive, even if it leads to death. Kong dies, but he dies free – and, most importantly, not alone.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'King Kong'?

• Peter Jackson's King Kong has 84% from critics and 50% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.2/10.