Peter HACKson

Say what you want about George Lucas, at least he still has an imagination Peter Jackson will never have. Lucas also takes risks, some of which may even fail (and certainly do, as the present has shown us). But that's why they're called risks.

While Jackson is content at adapting novels or already made movies, Lucas takes things from the imagination, whether it be his own or from the many creative talents he surrounds himself with, and creates, while Jackson borrows.

Lucas created a huge galaxy full of many interesting people, creatures, places, stories, and conflicts. Jackson took a series of novels with a built-in audience and threw a bunch of CGI and overhead sweeping shots at it. There was very little in the way of actual creativity involved. And what exactly did Jackson contribute? The LOTR films are rather drab, lifeless costume fantasies that reek of lack of inspiration. They are NOTHING next to the Star Wars films.

Once again, Jackson is playing it safe with King Kong. Everything is already there; just add a ton of CGI and some 'safe' actors and there's your movie. Just like LOTR, there is already a built-in audience. The LOTR fanboys will clamor to whatever their master hands out. The older crowd who may have been fans of the previous Kongs will go to see this newer version. And of course, Joe Sixpack, who loves a big movie, will be attracted by the largeness of the event and join the other crowds waiting in line.

And of course, the praise will be needlessly heaped on his name once again. Maybe Kong will be a competent movie. Maybe people will love it. But it won't be because of Jackson; like LOTR, it'll be because Jackson simply followed the 'blueprints' that were already laid out and because of the miles of CGI that he threw at it to make it more lifelike.

What is Jackson going to take on next? A very popular video game franchise with a built in fanbase? Oh wait...