So as I was doing the research for the King Kong episode I stumbled across this article which
So as I was doing the research for the King Kong episode I stumbled across this article which

I won't link here for, you know, reasons, not the least of which it's like 10 years old.
I won't link here for, you know, reasons, not the least of which it's like 10 years old.

But it was like this pearl-clutching thing in light of the then-newly-released King Kong movie,
But it was like this pearl-clutching thing in light of the then-newly-released King Kong movie,

and it was about Adrian Brody's character and how
and it was about Adrian Brody's character and how

we used to have manly men, urgh!
we used to have manly men, urgh!

But now we have THIS and he's like this effete sensitive intellectual writer,
But now we have THIS and he's like this effete sensitive intellectual writer,

and he's not manly at all. Ugh!
and he's not manly at all. Ugh!

Where did all the real men go?
Where did all the real men go?

And while that's, you know, shitty,
And while that's, you know, shitty,

it did make me start to think about how these movies present masculinity,
it did make me start to think about how these movies present masculinity,

and not the Kong version of masculinity but that of his rivals because it varies a lot.
and not the Kong version of masculinity but that of his rivals because it varies a lot.

So, 1933, 1976, and 2005.
So, 1933, 1976, and 2005.

We have three very different characters who exist in contrast to King Kong as Ann Darrow's real love interest.
We have three very different characters who exist in contrast to King Kong as Ann Darrow's real love interest.

Kong changes really not all that much between these three versions,
Kong changes really not all that much between these three versions,

and Ann doesn't change a whole lot, either. The Anns get more depth as incarnations progressed,
and Ann doesn't change a whole lot, either. The Anns get more depth as incarnations progressed,

become more sympathetic to Kong, and occasionally really turned on by Kong.
become more sympathetic to Kong, and occasionally really turned on by Kong.

But you know she's always an aspiring actress, always a bit of a demure pleaser,
But you know she's always an aspiring actress, always a bit of a demure pleaser,

always...
always...

[montage of screaming Anns]
[montage of screaming Anns]

But the Jacks change a lot.
But the Jacks change a lot.

His personality changes, his job changes,
His personality changes, his job changes,

the reason he's even on the boat in the first place is completely different between each movie.
the reason he's even on the boat in the first place is completely different between each movie.

And that's interesting because A,
And that's interesting because A,

this story does not have a lot of variation between incarnations, and B,
this story does not have a lot of variation between incarnations, and B,

King Kong (the story) is effectively a love triangle,
King Kong (the story) is effectively a love triangle,

meaning that our human love interests, our Jacks, he's um...
meaning that our human love interests, our Jacks, he's um...

he's the Peeta, yeah.
he's the Peeta, yeah.

30-ish years between huge remakes, and this is if we ignore the non-exclusively-American productions
30-ish years between huge remakes, and this is if we ignore the non-exclusively-American productions

which are interesting in their own right,
which are interesting in their own right,

but for the sake of this video I'm focusing only on the variations of the original Jack Driscoll,
but for the sake of this video I'm focusing only on the variations of the original Jack Driscoll,

as we take a look at the civilized masculine that contrasts our beast, this is the Jacks of King Kong.
as we take a look at the civilized masculine that contrasts our beast, this is the Jacks of King Kong.

"Beauty and the beast."
"Beauty and the beast."

So in the 1933 version, our chief players are our aspiring actress/damsel,
So in the 1933 version, our chief players are our aspiring actress/damsel,

the uncivilized beast, what kidnaps her, the Hollywood hotshot, and Jack Driscoll.
the uncivilized beast, what kidnaps her, the Hollywood hotshot, and Jack Driscoll.

He is the first mate and he hates women.
He is the first mate and he hates women.

No, no really, they actually say that.
No, no really, they actually say that.

"Why, Jack, you hate women."
"Why, Jack, you hate women."

He doesn't like them on the ship, see. He thinks they're a nuisance all getting in the way with their lady bits.
He doesn't like them on the ship, see. He thinks they're a nuisance all getting in the way with their lady bits.

"Oh, you're all right, but, but women just can't help being a bother."
"Oh, you're all right, but, but women just can't help being a bother."

But this was all just a front, really.
But this was all just a front, really.

Like all toddlers, Jack was really just protesting too much because he actually kind of liked her.
Like all toddlers, Jack was really just protesting too much because he actually kind of liked her.

"I'm scared for you. I'm scared of you, too. Say...
"I'm scared for you. I'm scared of you, too. Say...

I guess I love you."
I guess I love you."

That is such a tremendous f*cking jump to- actually,
That is such a tremendous f*cking jump to- actually,

actually no, I take that back that might be the realest statement anyone has ever made about love in a movie.
actually no, I take that back that might be the realest statement anyone has ever made about love in a movie.

I take it back.
I take it back.

While Carl Denham drives the plot, and Jack is Ann's love interest,
While Carl Denham drives the plot, and Jack is Ann's love interest,

neither have anything really to do with each other.
neither have anything really to do with each other.

So Jack, having nothing to do with the actual plot,
So Jack, having nothing to do with the actual plot,

his sole function in this movie is to act in contrast to Kong as the-
his sole function in this movie is to act in contrast to Kong as the-

Ann's love interest, the obviously desirable male alternative.
Ann's love interest, the obviously desirable male alternative.

"This is no place for a girl."
"This is no place for a girl."

And while this trope of the character never really went away,
And while this trope of the character never really went away,

we still see this guy today in some forms.
we still see this guy today in some forms.

He is a huge contrast to Brody's Jack, so much so that he needed to be parodized in the remake.
He is a huge contrast to Brody's Jack, so much so that he needed to be parodized in the remake.

"I guess you don't think much of women on ships, do you?"
"I guess you don't think much of women on ships, do you?"

"No, they're a nuisance."
"No, they're a nuisance."

That was the only way to contextualize the way he treated Ann. To look back at the '30s and go,
That was the only way to contextualize the way he treated Ann. To look back at the '30s and go,

'Oh, you. Oh, backwards you.'
'Oh, you. Oh, backwards you.'

Thank God the '70s came along.
Thank God the '70s came along.

Speaking of which,
Speaking of which,

"Jack Prescott, I'm from Princeton, Department of Primate Paleontology-
"Jack Prescott, I'm from Princeton, Department of Primate Paleontology-

'Department of Pri- you lying hippie!"
'Department of Pri- you lying hippie!"

Jeff Bridges plays Jack Prescott,
Jeff Bridges plays Jack Prescott,

winner of the Worst Beard Ever Award, and he's an environmentalist,
winner of the Worst Beard Ever Award, and he's an environmentalist,

and that, you know, is not easy to do well.
and that, you know, is not easy to do well.

I'm not sure it has ever actually been done well in a movie.
I'm not sure it has ever actually been done well in a movie.

He has a much more concrete reason to be here. He stows away because he's a primate paleontologist,
He has a much more concrete reason to be here. He stows away because he's a primate paleontologist,

so in that way he has an actual connection to Kong and the plot that...
so in that way he has an actual connection to Kong and the plot that...

never really goes anywhere, except in the form of him talking down to every f*cking person.
never really goes anywhere, except in the form of him talking down to every f*cking person.

"He's probably telling us we've contaminated their magic."
"He's probably telling us we've contaminated their magic."

Wow, buddy, you're just an expert in everything, huh?
Wow, buddy, you're just an expert in everything, huh?

He doesn't speak the language of the tribe, for instance, but he could just intuit what they say with astonishing
He doesn't speak the language of the tribe, for instance, but he could just intuit what they say with astonishing

accuracy, because he gets it, man.
accuracy, because he gets it, man.

"He wants to make a deal, six of them for Dwan."
"He wants to make a deal, six of them for Dwan."

You know, he's not like 'the Man', he gets it.
You know, he's not like 'the Man', he gets it.

"When we took Kong, we kidnapped their god. A year from now that will be an island full of burnt-out drunks."
"When we took Kong, we kidnapped their god. A year from now that will be an island full of burnt-out drunks."

Wow, fuck you.
Wow, fuck you.

See, the movie frames him like he's this Cassandra, he's the one that's always right, because he gets it, man.
See, the movie frames him like he's this Cassandra, he's the one that's always right, because he gets it, man.

But nobody ever listens to him, even though he is often a font of the worst ideas imaginable,
But nobody ever listens to him, even though he is often a font of the worst ideas imaginable,

and in the rare instance that somebody does listen to him,
and in the rare instance that somebody does listen to him,

"Let him climb to the top of the World Trade Center."
"Let him climb to the top of the World Trade Center."

What.
What.

See, because 70s, this movie has a confused relationship to the brand of feminism that
See, because 70s, this movie has a confused relationship to the brand of feminism that

was big in pop culture at the time, and therefore Dwan has a confused relationship to this chucklef*ck.
was big in pop culture at the time, and therefore Dwan has a confused relationship to this chucklef*ck.

But I think he's meant less to be appealing
But I think he's meant less to be appealing

to Dwan or any woman in the audience, presumably,
to Dwan or any woman in the audience, presumably,

and more to be a reflection on how some righteous dudes saw themselves.
and more to be a reflection on how some righteous dudes saw themselves.

"You took an advance."
"You took an advance."

"Oh, I just donated that in your name to the ASPCA fund for sending Kong home."
"Oh, I just donated that in your name to the ASPCA fund for sending Kong home."

Because they get it, man. They get it.
Because they get it, man. They get it.

"Even an environmental rapist like you, even you..."
"Even an environmental rapist like you, even you..."

[Lindsay laughs] Oh man, you were the very worst.
[Lindsay laughs] Oh man, you were the very worst.

No wonder the 80s were the way they were if you were the act we had to follow.
No wonder the 80s were the way they were if you were the act we had to follow.

Moving on.
Moving on.

"How'd you think this would end, Carl?"
"How'd you think this would end, Carl?"

In a pre-Lord of The Rings version of this movie, Jack was going to be
In a pre-Lord of The Rings version of this movie, Jack was going to be

one of the fighter pilots that shot Kong down. How's that for symbolism.
one of the fighter pilots that shot Kong down. How's that for symbolism.

Instead, Jack Driscoll is a writer instead of a sailor or an environmentalist,
Instead, Jack Driscoll is a writer instead of a sailor or an environmentalist,

and I don't think you can really pin that on the fact that it was 2005 and men have to be sensitive now.
and I don't think you can really pin that on the fact that it was 2005 and men have to be sensitive now.

Jack Driscoll could have been a variety of characters depending on the filmmaker.
Jack Driscoll could have been a variety of characters depending on the filmmaker.

Like, imagine if it had been Michael Bay that remade King Kong, and Jack could have been like this
Like, imagine if it had been Michael Bay that remade King Kong, and Jack could have been like this

insecure, objectifying, possessive, entitled little asshat man-child.
insecure, objectifying, possessive, entitled little asshat man-child.

Or McG could have made this movie,
Or McG could have made this movie,

and he could have been played by any one of these guys that nobody can tell apart.
and he could have been played by any one of these guys that nobody can tell apart.

It could have been anything. And so Peter Jackson being the guy that made it,
It could have been anything. And so Peter Jackson being the guy that made it,

sensitive writer is what we got.
sensitive writer is what we got.

The character of Jack has really been split in two. Adrien Brody plays Jack Driscoll,
The character of Jack has really been split in two. Adrien Brody plays Jack Driscoll,

and then there's an actor, in the movie-within-the-movie that plays a Jack-like character,
and then there's an actor, in the movie-within-the-movie that plays a Jack-like character,

who is basically a pastiche of OG Jack Driscoll.
who is basically a pastiche of OG Jack Driscoll.

"No, they're a nuisance."
"No, they're a nuisance."

Jack Is the movie-within-a-movie's screenwriter. Unlike the previous two films, Ann knows Jack's work,
Jack Is the movie-within-a-movie's screenwriter. Unlike the previous two films, Ann knows Jack's work,

and knows who he is before she meets him.
and knows who he is before she meets him.

And she also admires him greatly beforehand.
And she also admires him greatly beforehand.

"Some guy, Dry-scol."
"Some guy, Dry-scol."

"Driscoll."
"Driscoll."

But that's kind of it.
But that's kind of it.

She admires his work but she doesn't really have that much in common with him as a person.
She admires his work but she doesn't really have that much in common with him as a person.

None of the Anns really have anything in common with any of the Jacks,
None of the Anns really have anything in common with any of the Jacks,

so there's this sort of dichotomy between
so there's this sort of dichotomy between

'what I can offer you' versus 'what Kong can offer you'.
'what I can offer you' versus 'what Kong can offer you'.

In effect, Kong Is indeed the id, he is emotion,
In effect, Kong Is indeed the id, he is emotion,

sometimes in a sexual way. And Jack is intellectual stimulation...
sometimes in a sexual way. And Jack is intellectual stimulation...

some of the time.
some of the time.

That deep connection that '05 Ann develops with Kong is because
That deep connection that '05 Ann develops with Kong is because

they're just both so damn lonely. With which Jack, he... isn't, not really.
they're just both so damn lonely. With which Jack, he... isn't, not really.

Jack already has a love in his life and that's his work.
Jack already has a love in his life and that's his work.

"I'm in love with it."
"I'm in love with it."

He does take inspiration from Ann for his work,
He does take inspiration from Ann for his work,

and she admires his work, but it doesn't really go deeper than that.
and she admires his work, but it doesn't really go deeper than that.

"I'm writing it for you."
"I'm writing it for you."

"Why would you do that?"
"Why would you do that?"

So when Jack rescues her from Kong, she's almost disappointed.
So when Jack rescues her from Kong, she's almost disappointed.

I mean, sure, civilization is nice and all,
I mean, sure, civilization is nice and all,

but the real emotional connection she develops in the film is with Kong, not with Jack.
but the real emotional connection she develops in the film is with Kong, not with Jack.

This is a complete 180 from the original where it's totally one-sided.
This is a complete 180 from the original where it's totally one-sided.

But on the other hand, in that one she's with Jack because hey, why not?
But on the other hand, in that one she's with Jack because hey, why not?

But in the end, do they even end up together?
But in the end, do they even end up together?

You know, we don't really know.
You know, we don't really know.

The Jacks are always playing a sort of contrast to whatever Ann is feeling about Kong,
The Jacks are always playing a sort of contrast to whatever Ann is feeling about Kong,

be that emotion fear, or
be that emotion fear, or

arousal, or friendship.
arousal, or friendship.

Given that the '76 version is by far the shakiest of the three, I'm not sure what Jeff Bridges being a smug
Given that the '76 version is by far the shakiest of the three, I'm not sure what Jeff Bridges being a smug

obnoxious hippie brings to the table as a contrast to Dwan's confused sexytime feelings about Kong.
obnoxious hippie brings to the table as a contrast to Dwan's confused sexytime feelings about Kong.

Maybe it's because this pretentious beardo would cause any vag to calcify into dust,
Maybe it's because this pretentious beardo would cause any vag to calcify into dust,

so course Kong looks like a sexy alternative.
so course Kong looks like a sexy alternative.

"Lady God, preserve me."
"Lady God, preserve me."

Fuuuuuck youuuu!
Fuuuuuck youuuu!

But I don't think any of these movies are trying to present some form of idealized masculinity,
But I don't think any of these movies are trying to present some form of idealized masculinity,

because none of the Jacks really get the girl. OG Jack... kinda does, maybe.
because none of the Jacks really get the girl. OG Jack... kinda does, maybe.

He loves Ann because the movie said so.
He loves Ann because the movie said so.

Jack Prescott isn't with Ann at the end because, I dunno, celebrity or something.
Jack Prescott isn't with Ann at the end because, I dunno, celebrity or something.

And Brody Driscoll Jack, it ends with a platonic hug.
And Brody Driscoll Jack, it ends with a platonic hug.

He cares, sure, but they kind of seem to be over each other
He cares, sure, but they kind of seem to be over each other

before the whole New York rampage even takes place.
before the whole New York rampage even takes place.

Like, they weren't even talking.
Like, they weren't even talking.

So what I take from this is that we aren't changing this character for changing the characters sake,
So what I take from this is that we aren't changing this character for changing the characters sake,

but where the Ann/Kong beauty and the beast dynamic
but where the Ann/Kong beauty and the beast dynamic

is a lot more timeless, the more normalized 'I'm a man and you're a woman' dynamic
is a lot more timeless, the more normalized 'I'm a man and you're a woman' dynamic

has shifted a lot in the last 80 years.
has shifted a lot in the last 80 years.

And so who knows what we will be seeing in remakes of the Hunger Games 30 or 40 years from now.
And so who knows what we will be seeing in remakes of the Hunger Games 30 or 40 years from now.

What will Peeta look like then?
What will Peeta look like then?

Hm.
Hm.