ada
the leading man is my tpye
Skunkyrate
Gripping story with well-crafted characters
Humbersi
The first must-see film of the year.
Cheryl
A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.
Sam Panico
I've always seen the 1976 Dino De Laurentiis produced King Kong as a big budget rip-off of the original instead of a remake. Therefore, that makes South Korea's The Great Counterattack of King Kong an inferior copy of a poor copy. Released in the United States as A*P*E*, Attack of the Giant Horny Gorilla and Hideous Mutant, this is one schlocky piece of business.An American/South Korean co-production, this film was intended for a 3D release, as is quite evident when you see the flaming arrows shot at the camera that the big ape cannily dodges against a blue screen. It was released just before the much buzzed about and aforementioned Kong, complete with a poster that trumpeted that this Kong would fight a great white shark, going blockbuster to blockbuster against Jaws. This battle would be foreshadowed (and was probably ripped off from) a 1976 Famous Monsters of Filmland cover.They even teased this movie as being called The New King Kong, which is — to be incredibly colloquial — a true balls move. It's also legally inadvisable, as RKO sued them into the ground, forcing a name change to Super Ape and finally A*P*E* Attacking Primate MonstEr. Why the acronym? As they were shooting in Korea and M*A*S*H* took place there (and was such a big deal at the time), it just seemed like a funny pun. Yes, a funny pun whose punchline is lost in the mist of time, but a pun nonetheless.In fact, the lawsuit also forced the producers of this film to state that this movie "was not to be confused with King Kong." That's right, please don't confuse this movie about a giant monkey kidnapping an actress and fighting planes with any other film.Starring Joanna Kerns, who you may know as Maggie Seaver — mom to the Growing Pains TV family — as Marilyn Baker, A*P*E* wastes no time getting started. An overdubbed ship crew discusses Kong's attack in Harlem, making it seem that this film is a sequel to either the original or the upcoming remake (legally we must inform you again that this film is not to be confused with King Kong), which makes sense in the former and none at all in the latter. But what do you expect for a film that took two weeks to shoot and had a budget of $23,000?Read more at http://www.thatsnotcurrent.com/monkey-madness-look-back- ape/
Fishman1966
My nephew and I get together every few months for a bad movie night. Boy, this is one. It is nearly too bad to be good. The plot(?) is simple, a 36 foot tall ape escapes from a freighter that was bound for Disneyland. At several points in the movie, by several people, it is pointed out that the ape is 36 feet tall. Not "around 35" or "about 40" but "36". There is no explanation as to where this large ape came from. The "fight scenes" are horrendous (the snake scene involves the ape taking the snake off of a tree and throwing it away, the snake then slitheres away). All of the scenes with the Asians running are virtually silent (without even the usual screaming), and the American scenes are obviously inserted. Truly awful, if you're going to abuse yourself by watching it make sure to do it with a friend who appreciates bad movies.
Rita Manosalva C
A 36-Foot ape (worst monkey custom I have seen) that escapes from a rather small toy ship, beats a shark similar in size, enters South Korea and terrorizes the population. Destroying everything at its path, including cities made of card board and Styrofoam. He kidnaps and falls in love with an American actress filming a movie, destroys helicopters, throws Styrofoam rocks to tanks, and jumps over a cow action figure. This is a love it or hate it type of movie. For collectors of this kind of films or for anyone that wants a good laugh, this is a jewel. This look as if it was done by Ed Woods. I conclude saying them that I recommend this movie so that you are witness that the American cinema can be very funny... without intending it!
Criti-Size
This was intended to be a serious movie which came out at the same time as the big budget remake of KING KONG. I remember as a kid, reading the poster in line at the theater which stated "not to be confused with King Kong", which is hilarious in itself. I ended up walking out (after the dumb guy in the ape suit wrestles the plastic shark in the pool scene) near the beginning and got a refund.If they spent more than $50.00 to make this movie, they were fools.You will be too if you watch this piece of crap.