Charlize Theron stars as the woman who befriends a colossal but cute gorilla in this entertaining remake of the 1949 family drama. Of course, Joe doesn't remain hidden in the jungle for long with explorer Bill Paxton on his trail, and he's soon pursued by nasty hunters who want to capture him for some rich collector's amusement. It's a fun romp with impressive ape effects and luscious scenery, though young children may be slightly disturbed by scenes that show the cuddly King Kong under attack.

As a child living in Africa, Jill Young saw her mother killed while protecting wild gorillas from poachers led by Andrei Strasser. Now an adult, Jill cares for an orphaned gorilla named Joe -- who, due to a genetic anomaly, is 15 feet tall. When Gregg O'Hara arrives from California and sees the animal, he convinces Jill that Joe would be safest at his wildlife refuge. But Strasser follows them to the U.S., intent on capturing Joe for himself.