History Film / KingKong2005

** In the original film the authorities are told to focus on taking down Kong without risking Ann's safety. Here, none of the soldiers firing on Kong show any concern for her even when Kong is visibly carrying her, and even when the planes can see her shielding Kong on the Empire State Building they continue firing on them anyway.

* AdaptationalVillainy: The villagers on Skull Island, while they did abduct Ann Darrow for their sacrifice to Kong, were otherwise just native islanders who were interrupted during their ceremony and yelled at them to leave their island. This film turns them into psychotic savages far more sadistic than any of the island's wildlife who brutally murder some of Carl Denham's film crew with no hesitation.

* MistakenIdentity: Ann mistakes Denham's assistant as Jack, stating how he looks a lot different from the photos of him and begins disparaging the personality of the real Jack, whom she doesn't nothing until much too late is standing behind her.

** Most of the random crewmembers of the Venture seem to have been given names, even if they are never used in the movie.

* BittersweetEnding: Just like the [[Film/KingKong1933 original]], New York is saved from Kong's rampage, but he's just as much a victim, having been kidnapped from his home against his will. Plus, Ann has to bear the guilt that she's partially responsible for this. This version makes it even more tragic to the point that it's practically a [[DownerEnding Downer]] though, as it emphasizes that Kong is a lonely, frightened animal more than a monster, and Ann is truly distraught by his death. It's hinted that Ann and Jack will at least be given a shot at happiness together, though.

* CombatPragmatist: Kong to some degree, if his fight with the three ''Vastasaurus rex'' are any indication. He's strong enough to throw and toss them around, crushes the skull of one with a large slab of rock, and bites down on another pretty hard.

* {{Deathworld}}: Well, this ''is'' Skull Island we are talking about and you will most likely shit several layers of pants in the process. If we thought the animals shown in the film was nasty, the extended universe of The World of Kong book ''really'' hammers in the point by calling Skull Island a ''"menagerie of horrors"''. Chances of anyone surviving this island without proper military support is near zero.

** Bruce Baxter plays a character similar to the 1933 Driscoll in Denham's film as a MythologyGag and he's named after Bruce Cabot who played Driscoll in Film/KingKong1933

* [[EverythingTryingtoKillYou Everything Trying to Kill You]]: From giant terror birds, to an assortment of extremely large, hungry and angry dinosaurs, to small animals filled with infectious disease and poison, to extremely hostile native, and arthropods so big and viscous it gives the Carboniferous a run for its money. Skull Island is not for the brave of heart.

* FeatheredFiend: In the World of Kong book and a deleted scene, Skull Island's plains is dominated by South American Terror Birds. ''Brutornis'' for example, is ''3.5 meters tall''. In the grass plains, both ''Brutornis'' and ''Zeropteryx'' are apex predators in their biomes.

* IsleOfGiantHorrors: A more realistic take on the trope. But Skull Island is dominated by giant megafaunas of various types and viciousness.

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Pulled by Bruce Baxter, Captain Englehorn, and several ''Venture'' crewmembers. None of them intended to encounter Skull Island in the first place and everyone with common sense quickly realizes that it's a literal deathtrap, as many of Englehorn's crew learn within hours of leaving the ship. The captain himself is clearly peeved about having to pull one BigDamnHeroes moment after another to save Denham and his entourage. It's little wonder that neither Englehorn nor his crew were in the final act.

* TRexpy: The fictional theropod ''Vastatosaurus rex'' is designed to resemble an evolved tyrannosaurid with notable similarities to ''Tyrannosaurus'' itself. There are some obvious differences: instead of a prominent overbite, the ''V. rex'' has overlapping teeth like a crocodile, as well as hardened body armor and three fingers on its hands. They're also much larger due to island gigantism, with almost twice the body mass of a ''Tyrannosaurus'' (16 tons vs 9).

* BittersweetEnding: Just like the [[Film/KingKong1933 original]], New York is saved from Kong's rampage, but he's just as much a victim, having been kidnapped from his home against his will. Plus, Ann has to bear the guilt that she's partially responsible for this. This version makes it even more tragic, as it emphasizes that Kong is a lonely, frightened animal more than a monster, and Ann is truly distraught by his death. It's hinted that Ann and Jack will at least be given a shot at happiness together, though.

* BehemothBattle: King Kong against three V-Rexes to protect Ann.

** Ann is cornered on a tree log and about to be eaten by a V-Rex...and then they hear a mighty roar and Kong comes swinging in from above to save her.