Just my opinion.
We have a split decision. My left thumb up; my right thumb down. I really loved how the "connection" between Ann and Kong developed. In the original movie, Ann was terrified of Kong all the way to the end. In this one, a genuine affection between the two grows. I liked that.
I liked Kong too. A very realistic, believable primate; scarred, and just a bit ugly without being repulsive.
I thought the actress who played Ann was excellent. Kong wasn't the only one who connected with her.
I felt both Jack Black and Adrian Brody were miscast. Both did an adequate job of acting, but I didn't find them believable in their roles. Perhaps that has to do with the two actors who played their parts in the original. Black wasn't "huckster" enough, and Brody wasn't masculine enough.
I felt many of the jungle scenes were a tad over the top. I mean, Kong didn't fight just one T-REX. NO! He had to fight three. Giant worms, cockroaches, bats, yada yada yada. I loved the kid shooting the giant wasps(?) off Brody with a Thompson submachine gun while Brody was jumping and thrashing around. Having fired one of those things, I can tell you they are difficult to fire accurately. They rise as you fire. Realistically, Brody would've been swiss cheese. Those things were Just a bit overdone for my taste.
The sets and effects were terrific. Sound was excellent but not spectacular. It was neither too little nor too much. Overall, an enjoyable but flawed effort.
Again, that's just how I felt. YMMV!
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Jack
"People generally quarrel because they cannot argue." - G. K. Chesterton