'King Kong' Roars Onto DVD on March 28, 2006 From Universal Studios Home Entertainment

'King Kong' Roars Onto DVD on March 28, 2006 From Universal Studios Home Entertainment

The Spectacular Groundbreaking Action-Packed Adventure Epic of Our Time!

Nominated for Four Academy Awards(R) From Oscar(R)-Winning Director Peter Jackson

Available as a Single Disc and Limited Edition Two-Disc DVD Set Containing Never-Before-Seen Featurettes, Extensive Behind-the-Scenes Footage and Specially-Commissioned Package Artwork

'The jaw-dropping, eye-popping, heart-stopping movie epic we've been waiting for all year.' - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Packed with heart-pounding action, breathtaking visual effects and one of 2005's most acclaimed box-office blockbusters, "King Kong," this year's most highly anticipated DVD, arrives in stores March 28, 2006 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Three-time Academy Award(R) winner Peter Jackson, director of the landmark "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, sets a new standard for unforgettable suspense filled with nail-biting danger, high emotion and amazing creatures beyond imagination including the legendary beast as never before seen.

The DVD, featuring collectable original package artwork specially designed by the Oscar(R)-winning artists at WETA Digital Ltd, the production company behind the film's dazzling visual effects, is available in both the thrilling original theatrical version and a Special Edition two-disc set that gives audiences a whole new "Kong" experience. Featuring a fascinating inside look into the creation of the film's two cinematic worlds -- Skull Island and 1933 New York City -- the Special Edition offers an unparalleled opportunity to share Peter Jackson's creative genius and the cast and crew's passion in bringing the timeless story to the screen. The single disc version is available at $29.98 SRP and the two-disc Special Edition is priced at $30.98 SRP.

"'King Kong' is one of those rare cinematic achievements that reminds us of the truly magical power of movies," says Craig Kornblau, President of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. "From the first frame, Peter Jackson and his team take us on an unforgettable adventure that not only thrills, but also touches us on a deep, emotional level. We are extremely proud to be able to bring this one-of-a-kind film to home entertainment audiences."

"The original 'King Kong' inspired me to become a filmmaker," said director/producer Peter Jackson. "It's a story that had a profound personal impact and shepherding its return to the big screen has been a dream come true. Contributing to the DVD afforded me the opportunity to share this amazing experience with audiences and highlight the incredible achievements of our exceptional cast and crew."

"King Kong" features a stellar cast including Oscar(R) nominee Naomi Watts ("21 Grams"), Jack Black ("School of Rock"), Oscar(R) winner Adrien Brody ("The Pianist"), Colin Hanks ("Orange County"), and Andy Serkis (the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy). Director and producer Jackson co-wrote the update on the classic 1933 film with his longtime collaborators and fellow Oscar(R) winners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. The film has earned over $215 million at the box-office, been honored on countless "Best Movie" lists, and is nominated for four Academy Awards(R), including Best Visual Effects, Best Art Direction, Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing. A must-see and must-have action adventure epic for movie lovers of all ages, "King Kong" marks a quantum leap in thrilling home entertainment.

A timeless tale of love and survival, "King Kong" is the story of a desperate young actress, Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts), and an ambitious and unscrupulous movie producer, Carl Denham (Jack Black), who travel to a mysterious jungle island. There they discover an extraordinary lost world, and encounter Kong, a gigantic, savage gorilla who is unexpectedly smitten with the leading lady. But it is their mutual empathy and affection that eventually lead to the beast's tragic downfall.

"KING KONG" CAPTURES CRITICAL KUDOS

"King Kong"'s dazzling visual effects, exhilarating action and commanding performances enthralled major movie critics across the country. Of the film, Peter Travers of Rolling Stone says, "Here is the jaw-dropping, eye-popping, heart-stopping movie epic we've been waiting for all year." Lou Lumenick of the New York Post states, "Prepare to be blown away" while Devin Gordon of Newsweek exclaims, "Thrilling! Epic!"

"'King Kong' rules over all others. As big, breathlessly exciting and relentlessly thrilling as any epic adventure the screen has seen in many years!" pronounces Pete Hammond of Maxim. Scott Manz of "Access Hollywood" labels "King Kong" "A rip-roaring, rousing, exciting cinematic adventure!" while Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun Times calls the film "Four stars. 'King Kong' is magnificent entertainment" and "One of the year's best films!"

BEHIND THE SCENES OF A BREATHTAKING BLOCKBUSTER

The two-disc "King Kong" Special Edition DVD allows viewers unparalleled access to the world of visionary filmmaker Peter Jackson as he creates this larger-than-life epic adventure for the ages. Thrilling behind-the-scenes features bring this instant classic to viewers in a whole new way with exclusive content that follows the film's stars and crew in action as they bring this timeless tale to the screen.

* Special Introduction by Peter Jackson

* Post Production Diaries -- Director Peter Jackson takes you on an
unforgettable journey with Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody and
the crew of "King Kong" as they reveal virtually every aspect of post
production on this groundbreaking film, nearly three hours of exclusive
behind the scenes footage!

* Skull Island: A Natural History -- Travel to treacherous Skull Island
with Peter Jackson and his crew! From its mysterious origins to its
reclusive inhabitants and jaw-dropping creatures, uncover the
fascinating facts about one of the last uncharted places on earth.

* Kong's New York, 1933 -- 1930s New York comes alive in this fascinating
piece that explores vaudeville, the skyscraper boom, the construction
of the Empire State building and more.

KONG-SIZED PARTNERSHIPS

The DVD release of "King Kong" will be supported by substantial cross-promotional partnerships that rank among the most extensive and wide reaching for a DVD release. Highlights include:

- Papa John's Pizza -- The DVD release will be communicated on
1.4 million pizza boxes, and also via point-of-sale at 2,600+ Papa
John's locations nationwide. Thirteen million pizza box toppers will
contain a $3.00 coupon off the "King Kong" DVD. The campaign will run
March 27th through April 30th and will be supported via national TV
advertising, direct mail and online.

- Glad -- Glad Force Flex "Kong" retail displays will be featured in
thousands of retail locations nationwide beginning April 1st with a
coupon featuring $3.00 savings on the "King Kong" DVD with purchase of
two Glad trash products. The promotion includes national TV, print and
online.

- Hostess -- Beginning March 23rd through April 22nd, over four million
Banana Twinkies and 350,000 Banana Nut Mini Muffin packages will
feature integrated "King Kong" imagery, with point-of-sale in over
30,000 retail locations nationwide. The campaign will be supported by
a national full-page FSI, which will garner over 25MM impressions, as
well as print and online media.

- Orville Redenbacher's(R) Gourmet(R) Microwave Popcorn -- One million
packages of Orville Redenbacher's(R) Gourmet(R) Microwave Popcorn and
2,000 retail displays nationwide will tout a $5.00 mail-in rebate with
the purchase of the "King Kong" DVD. The campaign begins March 15th
through June 30th and will be supported online.

- Kellogg's -- Exposure on over 5 million boxes of Kellogg's cereal
including Kellogg's Raisin Bran, Kellogg's Corn Pops, Kellogg's Apple
Jacks and Kellogg's Froot Loops, beginning March 22nd through May 30th.

- Nestle -- A half page national FSI with an estimated 45MM impressions
will drop on April 2nd. The DVD release will be promoted on over 2,000
point-of-sale retail displays nationwide.

- Toshiba -- Toshiba brings back it's successful "beauty and the beast"
campaign to support the "King Kong" DVD release, which will highlight
the backwards compatibility of Toshiba's HD DVD technology. For more
information regarding backwards compatibility, go to
www.toshibahddvd.com. The program will tout the beauty of an all-new
kind of DVD player, one that won't render your conventional DVDs
obsolete. The promotion will be supported by print, radio, and online
advertising, and will also include point-of-sale and a national
sweepstakes.

- Chase -- Chase is the proud sponsor of the "King Kong" DVD release
event. Chase will also promote the "King Kong" DVD release in its
"Spend & Get" mailers, sent to Universal Entertainment MasterCard(R)
card members in spring 2006.

- Kodak EasyShare Gallery -- Kodak EasyShare Gallery will promote the DVD
release of "King Kong" via a sweepstakes. Consumers are encouraged to
use their digital camera or camera phone to snap a photo of their
"Kong-sized smile" and submit it to win a Kong-sized prize pack. The
program, which goes live March 26th, will be supported by offline and
online media.

Synopsis

Academy Award(R)-winning director Peter Jackson ("The Lord of the Rings Trilogy") brings his sweeping cinematic vision to "King Kong." Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody and Jack Black star in this spectacular film filled with heart-pounding action, terrifying creatures and groundbreaking special effects unlike anything you've seen before! Get ready for breathtaking action in this thrilling epic adventure about a legendary gorilla captured on a treacherous island and brought to civilization, where he faces the ultimate fight for survival. Experience the movie that critics are hailing as a "rousing, exciting cinematic adventure!" (Scott Mantz, "Access Hollywood")

For more information please visit: www.kingkongmovie.com.

CAST & FILMMAKERS
Director: Peter Jackson
Written By: Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson
Based on a Story by: Merian C. Cooper, Edgar Wallace
Produced By: Jan Blenkin, Carolynne Cunningham, Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson
Co-Producer: Philippa Boyens
Director of Photography: Andrew Lesnie, ACS, ASC
Production Designer: Grant Major
Film Editors: Jamie Selkirk, ACE with Jabez Olssen
Costume Designer: Terry Ryan
Music By: James Newton Howard
Cast: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Colin
Hanks, Andy Serkis, Evan Parke, Jamie Bell

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
DVD
Street Date: March 28, 2006
Copyright: 2006 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Price: $29.98 SRP
Selection Number: 26260 (Widescreen); 26261 (Full Frame)
Running Time: 3 Hours 8 Minutes
Layers: Dual
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Anamorphic Widescreen); 1.33:1 (Full Frame)
Rating: PG-13
Technical Info: English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround; English SDH; Spanish
and French Subtitles

SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION DVD
Street Date: March 28, 2006
Copyright: 2006 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Price: $30.98 SRP
Selection Number: 29945
Running Time: 3 Hours 8 Minutes
Layers: Dual
Aspect Ratio: Disc One: 2.35:1 (Anamorphic Widescreen); Disc Two: 1.78:1
(Anamorphic Widescreen)
Rating: PG-13
Technical Info: English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (Disc One); English
Dolby Digital 2.0; English SDH; Spanish and French Subtitles

For artwork or screeners, please log on to our Web site at www.ushepublicity.com or fax your request to Universal Studios Home Entertainment Publicity at (818) 866-0226.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.

CONTACTS

Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Vivian Mayer
Senior Vice President, Publicity
(818) 777-3594

Evan Fong
Executive Director, Publicity
(818) 777-5540

Meghan Gamber
Manager, Print Publicity
(818) 777-0546

www.kingkongmovie.com

Source: Universal Studios Home Entertainment

CONTACT: Vivian Mayer, Senior Vice President, Publicity,
+1-818-777-3594, or Evan Fong, Executive Director, Publicity, +1-818-777-5540,
or Meghan Gamber, Manager, Print Publicity, +1-818-777-0546, all of Universal
Studios Home Entertainment

Web site: http://www.universalstudios.com/

Web site: http://www.kingkongmovie.com/

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