History TearJerker / KingKong2005

* In the early New York scenes, it's abundantly clear that virtually ''all'' the human characters are broke or nearly so, and desperate for work (or in Anne's case, just a good meal) at the height of the Great Depression. Even if the expedition had never happened, few of them were likely to have fared well in the hard years to come.

* Carl's "MyGodWhatHaveIDone" after Kong broke free and is now loose in New York.

* Let's face it—''the entire ending'' is heartbreaking. Kong's dead, and since he's the LastOfHisKind, his whole species is now extinct. Several civilians and many of the soldiers who tried to bring him down and protect the city got killed. Carl Denham's career is over for sure, he is likely a pariah for his actions, and he'll never be able to donate the proceeds of his film to the families of the Venture's deceased crew members if he ever was going to do in the first place. Of the Venture's crew that survived, most of their friends (and in Jimmy's case, his father figure) are dead. And [[AllThereInTheManual according to ''A Natural History Of Skull Island'', Skull Island itself sank into the sea in an earthquake]], so every exotic species and the natives on the island became extinct. One of the only bright spots to come out of the ordeal is Ann and Jack's relationship, and there's a feeling that their story will make it in history. Many of the same points could apply to the original, but the '05 version's story is more "developed," making it even sadder. The bittersweet part about this is that at least New York is saved from destruction.

* In its description of Kong's species, the coffee-table book ''A Natural History Of Skull Island'' includes a heartbreaking illustration of an orphaned baby Kong, small enough to have barely been weaned, uncomprehendingly clutching his dead mother's fur.

* Let's face it—''the entire ending'' is heartbreaking. Kong's dead, and since he's the LastOfHisKind, his whole species is now extinct. Several civilians and many of the soldiers who tried to bring him down and protect the city got killed. Carl Denham's career is over for sure, he is likely a pariah for his actions, and he'll never be able to donate the proceeds of his film to the families of the Venture's deceased crew members if he ever was going to do in the first place. Of the Venture's crew that survived, most of their friends (and in Jimmy's case, his father figure) are dead. And according to ''A Natural History Of Skull Island'', Skull Island itself sank into the sea in an earthquake, so every exotic species and the natives on the island became extinct. One of the only bright spots to come out of the ordeal is Ann and Jack's relationship, and there's a feeling that their story will make it in history. Many of the same points could apply to the original, but the '05 version's story is more "developed," making it even sadder. The bittersweet part about this is that at least New York is saved from destruction.

* The general development of Kong and Ann's bond. They started as the hostile captor and frightened captive, but Ann saves herself by making Kong interested in her by performing for him. Then she stands up to him for pushing her around too much, forcing Kong to reconsider their dynamic. Now knowing he feels something for Ann, Kong risks his life to protect her from the V-Rexes; Kong saving her makes Ann decide to trust him to keep her safe. Then watching the sunset together at his lair deepens their connection. After being alone for most of his life, Kong has basically [[FamilyOfChoice adopted Ann as family]] and will, of course, go to great lengths to protect her.

* The impressively-understated way Kong drops his gaze for a few seconds to look at Ann as she backs away from the ''V-Rex'' to stand beneath his protective bulk speaks volumes to anyone who's watched natural gorilla body language. They're ''very'' subtle in their gestures of affinity, and the filmmakers captured the demeanor of an adult male accepting a child's dependent trust ''just'' right.
** Note that it's only ''then'' that Kong performs the classic chest-pounding display of a silverback male protecting his own; for the first time in his life, he feels like he has a family group to defend.

* Atop The Empire State Building, Kong signs "Beautiful" to Ann about the sunrise, revealing that he understood her when she called the Skull Island sunset beautiful by using the same gesture she showed him.

* After Kong saves Ann from falling off the Empire State Building, Kong gives her a look of sad resignation, as though he feels he might not survive. After taking down half of the planes sent to kill him, he doubles over, tired and weak as he spots Ann on the guardrail below him. Kong gives Ann another sad look—he now knows for sure that his end is near, and she knows it too. Before he turns and spots the last of the planes making another run, Kong's expression changes to one of quiet resolve—his life no longer matters, only protecting Ann. Then Kong summons the last of his considerable will and defiantly beats his chest one last time in the face of his killers.

* How is it that the person you sympathize with most in this movie is Jack Black's ruthless film director? Everything Carl does from the moment someone tells us that his character "destroys everything he loves" has such a heartbreaking gravitas as we realize that he does care about things (including Kong himself). Yet he never changes his course of action to save the things he loves.
* The impressively-understated way Kong drops his gaze for a few seconds to glance at Ann as she backs away from the ''V.rex'' to stand beneath his protective bulk speaks volumes to anyone who's watched natural gorilla body language. They're ''very'' subtle in their gestures of affinity, and the filmmakers captured the demeanor of an adult male accepting a juvenile's dependent trust ''just'' right.

* Seventeen people died to rescue Ann, yet she only cares about Kong. Some of the TooCoolToLive characters [[spoiler:like Lumpy and Hayes]] died, and she is oblivious.

* Ann and Kong's reunion is a wordless scene that always tugs the heartstrings. As Ann walks toward him from the fog, Kong seems to have difficulty believing whether or not it's her. They slowly step toward one another and stare at each other longingly the whole time. A teary Ann walks to Kong and touches his arm before looking into his eyes again like she's asking for forgiveness. Then Kong picks Ann up gently and brings her close to his face, after which she strokes it while smiling, and Kong almost seems to smile at her touch.

** The following scene of Ann and Kong in Central Park because it shows that they're far more than their archetypes of damsel in distress and monster. The tearjerker factor here derives from the fact that we know how the film will end—as if the remake would change it—and know that there is no hope for a happy ending for them.
* The general development of Kong and Ann's bond. They started as the hostile captor and frightened captive, but Ann saves herself by making Kong interested in her by performing for him. Then she stands up to him for pushing her around too much, forcing Kong to reconsider their dynamic. Now knowing he feels something for Ann, Kong risks his life to protect her from the V.rexes; Kong saving her makes Ann decides to trust him to keep her safe. Then watching the sunset together at his lair deepens their connection. After being alone for most of his life, Kong has practically [[FamilyOfChoice adopted Ann as family]] and will, of course, go to great lengths to protect her.
* Atop The Empire State Building, Kong signs "Beautiful" to Ann about the sunrise, showing her that he understood her when she called the Skull Island sunset beautiful by using the same gesture she showed him.
* After the biplanes show up, Kong sets Ann down and roars at them defiantly. Then he protectively pushes Ann back against the wall before facing his latest opponents.
* After Kong saves Ann from falling off the Empire State Building, Kong gives her a look of sad resignation, as though he feels he might not survive. After taking down half of the planes sent to kill him, [[spoiler:Kong doubles over, tired and weak as he spots Ann on the guardrail below him. Kong gives Ann another sad look—he now knows for sure that his end is near, and she knows it too. Before he turns and spots the last of the planes making another run, Kong's expression changes to one of quiet determination. Then Kong summons the last of his considerable will and defiantly beats his chest one last time in the face of his killers.]]
* Ann at the top of The Empire State Building, vainly waving away the planes and pleading for them ''not'' to kill the creature that had gone from her captor to her savior, then escaped his captivity in a desperate attempt to get back to her.
* Kong's death in this version might be the most heartbreaking of them all. [[spoiler:Bullet-riddled and barely hanging on to the side of The Empire State Building, he gives a mournful glance at a weeping Ann. Instead of looking away as she did when Kong got captured, Ann decides to be strong and keeps eye contact with him. Then finally, Kong's pupils dilate, and he falls.]]

* Let's face it—''the entire ending'' is heartbreaking. Kong's dead, and since he's the LastOfHisKind, his whole species is now extinct. Several civilians and many of the soldiers who tried to bring him down and protect the city got killed. Carl Denham's career is over for sure, he is likely a pariah for his actions, and he'll never be able to donate the proceeds of his film to the families of the Venture's deceased crew members if he ever was going to do in the first place. Of the Venture's crew that survived, most of their friends ([[spoiler:and in Jimmy's case, his father figure]]) are dead. And according to ''A Natural History Of Skull Island'', Skull Island itself sank into the sea in an earthquake, so every exotic species and the natives on the island became extinct. One of the only bright spots to come out of the ordeal is Ann and Jack's relationship, and there's a feeling that their story will make it in history. Many of the same points could apply to the original, but the '05 version's story is more "developed," making it even sadder. The bittersweet part about this is that at least New York is saved from destruction.

* The scene of Ann and Kong in Central Park because it showed that they were far more than their archetypes of damsel in distress and monster. The tearjerker factor here derives from the fact that we know how the film will end (like the remake would change it) and know that there is no hope for a happy ending for them.

** To be fair, it's possible that Jack hadn't yet told her about the people that died trying to save her. And it's not like her ''not'' caring if Kong is hurt or captured would bring them back: she may feel that seventeen deaths are already too many, so making it eighteen won't help.

** Just because she's yelling at Kong to "Go back!" and protest the attempt to capture him doesn't mean she ''only'' cares about Kong's welfare. Ann knows how ferociously Kong can fight, so her wanting the ape to leave in peace and for the humans to let him do so is just as much for the ''crew's'' safety as Kong's.
** The deaths themselves are heartbreaking, from Mike and Herb's to the ends of Hayes, Choi, and Lumpy. One death in the deleted Piranhadon scene, however, is just cruel. After losing three men (two of whom got impaled and one was ''swallowed whole''), the rest of the survivors get to safety. It includes one last man who manages to reach the rest of them, only for the Piranhadon to suddenly burst out of the water and grab the poor man before presumably eating or devouring him underwater. The fact that he was screaming while he was ''so close to safety'' only for it to get snatched in seconds makes it even worse. ''And the survivors could only watch helplessly''.

* The troubled look Kong gives as he watches Jack and Ann escape. Ann would have wanted to leave the island eventually, but the look Kong makes and how desperate he is to have her stay serve to remind you of how lonely he would be again without Ann.
** Then, the scene after that when Kong tries to get her back by frantically chasing her and Jack down. Once he does find her, the rest of Denham's crew holds Kong down with ropes and sleeping gas. The scene then ends with Kong tiredly reaching his hand out to Ann, who cries and looks away from him before he collapses to sleep.
*** The fact that the men in the boat are actively restraining Ann as she protests their capture of Kong only makes it worse; to Kong, it sure looks like they're trying to hurt her. Yet, the strength that's never before failed him is draining away from the chloroform, and he's powerless to help his only friend.
* Atop The Empire State Building, Kong signs "Beautiful" to Ann about the sunrise, showing her that he understood her when she called the Skull Island sunset beautiful by using the same gesture she showed him.
* After Kong saves Ann from falling off the Empire State Building, Kong gives her a look of sad resignation, as though he feels he might not survive. After taking down half of the planes sent to kill him, [[spoiler:Kong doubles over, tired and weak as he spots Ann on the guardrail below him. Kong gives Ann another sad look—he now knows for sure that his end is near, and she knows it too. Before he turns and spots the last of the planes making another run, Kong's expression changes to one of quiet determination. Then Kong summons the last of his considerable will and defiantly beats his chest one last time in the face of his killers.]]

* After taking down half of the planes sent to kill him, [[spoiler:Kong doubles over, tired and weak as he spots Ann on the guardrail below him. He gives her a look of sad resignation on his face—he knows his end is near, and Ann knows it too. Before he turns and spots the last of the planes making another run, Kong's expression changes to one of quiet determination. Then Kong summons the last of his considerable will and defiantly beats his chest one last time in the face of his killers.]]

* Since becoming the LastOfHisKind, Kong had to live a harsh and lonely existence with countless [[EverythingIsTryingToKillYou hostile creatures fighting him for dominance]]. With no more family, Kong also had no means for meaningful interaction with other animals on his mental level. He also had to endure the routine of the natives offering him a sacrifice, with which Kong would quickly become bored, making him kill them all and dump their bodies at his killing ground. All of this may have [[GoMadFromTheIsolation made Kong somewhat feral]], but it all changes when Ann comes along; she changes his routine by fighting back and entertaining Kong with her vaudeville skills, which may explain why he grows so attached to her.
** Kong becoming aggressive due to lacking other sentient beings to socialize with has truth in RealLife. Like humans, gorillas are naturally social animals, so one regressing to their primal instincts and becoming violent from intense isolation isn't unusual.
* The script and Creator/PeterJackson and Philippa Boyen's audio commentary give some stinging insight into the expression on Kong's face after the boulder falls on his back after his temper tantrum. They explain that Kong now realizes something about him has changed. He feels something he hasn't felt often in his lonely life: an emotional connection to another creature. Kong nearly crushes Ann for refusing to perform for him anymore but can't bring himself to do it. [[BreakTheHaughty A dangerous power shift has occurred, and Kong feels humiliated]]; he knows Ann has disarmed him and reduced his power, threatening his alpha-male status. The scared and uneasy look on Kong's face is him processing the realization.

* Let's face it—''the entire ending'' is heartbreaking. Kong's dead, and since he's the last of his kind, his whole species is now extinct. Several civilians and many of the soldiers who tried to bring him down and protect the city got killed. Carl Denham's career is over for sure, he is likely a pariah for his actions, and he'll never be able to donate the proceeds of his film to the families of the Venture's deceased crew members if he ever was going to do in the first place. Of the Venture's crew that survived, most of their friends ([[spoiler:and in Jimmy's case, his father figure]]) are dead. And according to ''A Natural History Of Skull Island'', Skull Island itself sank into the sea in an earthquake, so every exotic species and the natives on the island became extinct. One of the only bright spots to come out of the ordeal is Ann and Jack's relationship, and there's a feeling that their story will make it in history. Many of the same points could apply to the original, but the '05 version's story is more "developed," making it even sadder. The bittersweet part about this is that at least New York is saved from destruction.

* The coffee-table book ''A Natural History Of Skull Island'', in its description of Kong's species, includes a heartbreaking illustration of an orphaned baby Kong, small enough to have barely been weaned, uncomprehendingly clutching the fur of his dead mother.

* How is it that in this whole movie the person you sympathize most with is Jack Black's ruthless film director? Virtually everything he did from the moment someone tells us that his character "destroys everything he loves" was given such a heartbreaking gravitas as we realize that he really does care about things (including Kong himself) and yet he never changes his course of action to save the things he loves.
* The scene of Ann and Kong in Central Park, because it showed that they were far more than their archetypes of damsel in distress and monster. The tearjerker factor here derives from the fact that we know how the film will end (like the remake would change it), and know that there is no hope for a happy ending for them.
* Seventeen people died to rescue Ann, yet she only cares about Kong. Some of the TooCoolToLive characters [[spoiler:like Lumpy and Hayes]] died and she is oblivious.

** Besides, who said she didn't care about them? She had gotten to know practically every member of the crew during the trip to Skull Island. Even if nobody outright told her who died and how many, she would have noticed the disappearance of a few familiar faces on the trip back, and it likely would have affected her deeply. It should be no small wonder that she had pretty much completely become a BrokenBird by the time the New York segment takes place, even before having to witness Kong's rampage and subsequent death.
** Just because she's yelling at Kong to "Go back!" and protest the attempt to capture him doesn't mean she ''only'' cares about Kong's welfare. She's seen how ferociously Kong can fight, so her wanting the ape to leave in peace and the humans to let him do so is just as much for the ''crew's'' safety as Kong's.
** The deaths themselves are heartbreaking from Mike and Herb's to especially the deaths of Hayes, Choi and Lumpy. One death in the deleted Piranhadon scene however is just cruel. After losing three men (two of whom were impaled and one was ''swallowed whole'') the rest of the survivors get to safety including one last man who manages to reach the rest of them, only for the Piranhadon to suddenly burst out of the water and grab the poor man before presumably eating or devouring him underwater. The fact that he was screaming while he was ''so close to safety'' only for it to snatched in seconds makes it even worse. ''And the survivors could only watch helplessly''.
* Ann at the top of the Empire State Building, vainly waving away the planes and pleading for them ''not'' to kill the creature that had gone from her captor to her savior, then escaped his own captivity in a desperate attempt to get back to her.
* The distraught look Kong gives as he watches Jack and Ann escape by falling into the river below from the cliff Kong is standing on. Granted, Ann would have to leave the island sometime, but it is the look Kong makes and how desperate he is to have her stay that reminds you of how lonely he would be without Ann again.
** Then the scene after that when he tries to get her back by frantically chasing her and Jack down. Once he does find her, the rest of Jack's crew hold Kong down with ropes and sleeping gas. The scene then ends with Kong tiredly reaching his hand out to Ann before collapsing to sleep.
*** The fact that the men in the boat are actively restraining Ann as she protests their capture of Kong only makes it worse: to the ape, it surely looks like they're trying to hurt her, yet the strength that's never before failed him is draining away from the chloroform and he's powerless to help his only friend.
* The impressively-understated way Kong drops his gaze for a couple of seconds to glance at Ann, when she backs away from the ''V.rex'' to stand beneath his protective bulk, speaks heartbreaking volumes to anyone who's watched real gorilla body language. They're ''very'' subtle in their gestures of affinity, and the filmmakers captured the demeanor of an adult male accepting a youngster's dependent trust ''just'' right.
** Note that it's only ''then'' that Kong actually performs the classic chest-pounding display of a silverback male protecting his own. For the first time in his life, he feels like he has a family group to protect.
* After managing to take down half of the planes sent to kill him, [[spoiler:Kong doubles over, tired and weak as he spots Ann on the guardrail just below him. A look of sad resignation on his face... Before he turns and spots the last of the planes making another run and his expression changes to that of quiet determination, Kong summons the last of his considerable will and defiantly beats his chest one last time in the face of his killers.]]
* Kong's death in this version just might be the most heartbreaking of them all; [[spoiler:bullet-riddled and barely hanging on to the side of the Empire State Building, he gives a mournful glance at a weeping Ann, then finally, his pupils dilate, and he falls.]]
** At the end of it all, as soldiers and civilians swarm around Kong's body on the street, we're treated to a sad moment of disrespect by two reporters as they climb on top of his body to get a picture before they're pulled away by some soldiers. Around this time, another man comments on Kong's actions and all but realizes that he was no mere ape, in an era when there was so much misinformation about man and animal alike.

* Lets face it: ''the entire ending'' is heartbreaking. Kong's dead, and since he's the LastOfHisKind, his whole species is now extinct. Several civilians and many of the soldiers who tried to bring him down and protect the city were killed. Carl Denham's career is ruined for sure, is likely a pariah for his actions, and he'll never be able to donate the proceeds of his film to the families of the Venture's deceased crew members, if he ever was going to do in the first place. Of the Venture's crew that survived, most of their friends ([[spoiler: and in Jimmy's case, his father figure]]) are dead. And according to ''A Natural History Of Skull Island'' Skull Island itself sank into the sea in an earthquake, so every exotic species and the natives on the island wound up extinct. One of the only really bright spots to come out of the whole deal is Ann and Jack's relationship, and there's a feeling that their story will make it in history. Granted, a lot of the same points could also apply to the original, but the fact that the story of the '05 version is more "developed" just makes it even sadder. The bittersweet part to this is that at least New York is saved from destruction.

* Carl finding the camera destroyed. He went though all this insanity just get his movie. And now he can't even have it, especially since that was the only thing he could have used to try to make up for all the deaths he caused in the pursuit of it, including of some of his close friends.
* The fact that Skull Island sinks into the sea thirteen years after its discovery; even if Kong had survived, he would have ''drowned'' as the island sank eventually anyway.

* Seventeen people died to rescue Ann, yet she only cares about Kong. All the TooCoolToLive characters [[spoiler:like Lumpy and Hayes]] died and she doesn't even care.

* Lets face it: ''the entire ending'' is heartbreaking. Kong's dead, and since he's the LastOfHisKind, his whole species is now extinct. Several civilians and many of the soldiers who tried to bring him down and protect the city were killed. Carl Denham's career is ruined for sure, is likely a pariah for his actions, and he'll never be able to donate the proceeds of his film to the families of the Venture's deceased crew members, if he ever was going to do in the first place. Of the Venture's crew that survived, most of their friends ([[spoiler: and in Jimmy's case, his father figure]]) are dead. And according to ''A Natural History Of Skull Island'' Skull Island itself sank into the sea in an earthquake, so every exotic species and the natives on the island wound up extinct. One of the only really bright spots to come out of the whole deal is Ann and Jack's relationship, and there's a feeling that they may pass their story to further generations of the Driscoll-Darrow family. Granted, a lot of the same points could also apply to the original, but the fact that the story of the '05 version is more "developed" just makes it even sadder. The bittersweet part to this is that at least New York is saved from destruction.

* Jimmy's reaction to [[spoiler:Hayes']] death. As is, Lumpy's reaction to Choy's.

* Lets face it: ''the entire ending'' is heartbreaking. Kong's dead, and since he's the LastOfHisKind, his whole species is now extinct. Several civilians and many of the soldiers who tried to bring him down and protect the city were killed. Carl Denham's career is ruined for sure, is likely a pariah for his actions, and he'll never be able to donate the proceeds of his film to the families of the Venture's deceased crew members, if he ever was going to do in the first place. Of the Venture's crew that survived, most of their friends ([[spoiler: and in Jimmy's case, his father figure]]) are dead. And according to ''A Natural History Of Skull Island'' Skull Island itself sank into the sea in an earthquake, so every exotic species and the natives on the island wound up extinct. One of the only really bright spots to come out of the whole deal is Ann and Jack's relationship, and there's a feeling that it won't last. Granted, a lot of the same points could also apply to the original, but the fact that the story of the '05 version is more "developed" just makes it even sadder. The bittersweet part to this is that at least New York is saved from destruction.

* One for the video game. Anne doesn't race up the Empire State Building to save Kong. Instead, she meets him in the street and, when he holds out his hand for her, she ''willingly steps in to his palm,'' showing her trust in him and his protection of her.

* Carl finding the camera destoried. He went though all this insanity just get his movie. And now he can't even have it.

* Carl finding the camera destoried. Now he doesn't even have his movie.