Drink to PBS Storied's 'King Kong: A Complete History' on Pumpkin Day

For this week's Sunday entertainment feature during spooky season, I'm returning to an agenda item from 'Godzilla Minus One' wins two Critics Choice Super Awards plus an entertainment retrospective.

Dr. Z is in the middle of a series about Kong and has a review of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire up, which I'm saving until she finishes her series. I'm an environmentalist. I don't just recycle, I conserve my resources!

Dr. Z finished her series more than a year ago, so it's well past time to follow through. Watch King Kong: A Complete History, Part 1 | Monstrum.

In this episode, we explore the legacy of the monumental 1933 film, King Kong, its groundbreaking special effects, and the complex racial and colonial undertones that continue to shape our understanding of this timeless classic.

Be sure and check back with us for our next episode, which will explore Kong in modern times!

Storied uploaded that in April 2024. It took the channel until that June to upload King Kong: A Complete History, Part 2 | Monstrum.

Since his 1933 movie debut, King Kong’s impact on our culture has been persistent. For nearly a century, Kong’s story has changed to reflect, and sometimes comment on, our society’s issues with racism, sexism, and fear of the unknown. Let’s talk about how well this iconic monster’s evolution keeps up with our changing times.

Dr. Z's comment about Peter Jackson's island inhabitants being the most violent in the franchise brings back my impression of them when I watched his King Kong in the theater 20 years ago; they reminded me of his orcs from The Lord of the Rings movies. Less than human, indeed!

I close PBS Storied's part of the post with Monster Expert reviews Godzilla x Kong.

Here's my hot take on the new monster extravaganza: Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

Another @pbsstoried short from your friends at Monstrum!

Based on that review, it's no surprise that Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice beat Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire for Best Fantasy Film at the Saturn Awards.

Now, the relevant drink from Secret of the Booze, King Kong Cocktail.

RECIPE:

1 banana
6 oz. dark rum
2 oz. banana liqueur
Ice

Blend ingredients and garnish with a banana.

That was appropriately silly.

If none of the above is spooky season enough for my readers, I'm sharing ATIONAL PUMPKIN DAY | October 26th - National Day Calendar. That's seasonal enough.

October 26th is National Pumpkin Day! Marlo Anderson tells us all about this national day.

I'm a biologist, and I can confirm that pumpkins are fruits, just like tomatoes. Both pumpkins, along with all other gourds and squashes, including cucumbers and melons, and tomatoes are berries. We just eat them like vegetables. So concludes the science lesson for today.

Stay tuned for more Halloween posts through the end of the month plus a bonus Day of the Dead entry. Trick or treat!