Wanna get your mind off ugly local and national politics, the high cost of Oahu’s rail, soaring medical care costs and potholes? If so, take in “Kong: Skull Island” to escape. The big ape swats Vietnam-era military copters away like flies as he protects his hidden island, and also battles other gigantic jungle creatures. The strong cast includes Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John C. Reilly and John Goodman. I was pleasantly surprised that I liked the $185 million picture much more than I expected. If you go, be sure to stay until the extremely long list of credits is over because there is more feature footage to come.

“Kong” topped box-office receipts with $61 million last weekend. Some $70.5 million was spent on the $185 million picture during 42 days of filming on Oahu at Waikane Valley, Kualoa Ranch and Chinatown. More than 400 people were employed by the production here during 2015 and ’16, according to state officials. “Kong” was also filmed in Australia and Vietnam.

The Hawaii European Cinema Film Festival runs Friday through March 26 at Consolidated Ward theaters (tickets are free via Yapsody.com). The red-carpet Awards Gala is March 31 at the Moana Surfrider. Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan and his wife, Keely Shaye Brosnan, Kauai residents, will receive the Vanguard Award; actress Nancy Kwan will be honored with the Dr. Lawrence Tsue Lifetime Achievement Award, with Grace Park of “Hawaii Five-0” as her presenter; actor Ludi Lin (the new “Power Rangers” movie) will get the Rising Star trophy; and talent manager and producer Shep Gordon is recipient of the new Maverick Award. Gordon, who has a home on Maui, is being recognized for his “unorthodox, unconventional and nonconformist eye for talent and an innate understanding of what people find entertaining and delicious,” according to the festival.

His presenter will be Yvonne Elliman, who in the early 1970s was one of Hawaii’s biggest stars. The Roosevelt High talent was discovered singing in London by Andrew Lloyd Webber. He had her record the part of Mary Magdalene for a rock opera he had developed with Tim Rice. The “Jesus Christ Superstar” album’s success led to a concert tour, a Broadway show and a motion picture — all with Yvonne playing Magdalene and singing the monster hit “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.” Years later she had a big disco hit, “If I Can’t Have You.” Gala tickets are $150; visit hawaiieuropeancinema.org/awards-gala.

European Cinema president is Patrick Gey, G.M. of Versace Hawaii, and veep is Chris Lee, a film industry exec who helped found the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawaii. Board members include film festival founder Princess Dialta Alliata di Montereale, and Wanda Watumull, hospitality director.

I like the Hawaiian Telcom commercials on TV and was about to try to make contact with the woman starring in them to find out more about her and give her a plug. Before I could, I received a message from a friend, Gerry Fairbank, who was hoping I would write something about her daughter, who, believe it or not, is starring in the Hawaiian Telcom commercials. She is Jennifer Fairbank Chillingworth, Punahou ’97, who is married to Sam Chillingworth, Punahou ’96. Sam’s dad is another friend, Puna Chillingworth, president of Oahu Country Club. Jennifer won the Miss Hawaii USA title in 2005 and was Miss Hawaii’s first runner–up in 2004. She and Sam run a business producing the organic deodorant TLDYEU — pronounced “told you” — which they developed themselves.

The Priory Chamber Strings Orchestra, Hawaii’s only all-girl orchestra, will perform on Disneyland’s Fantasyland Theater stage on Saturday in the Anaheim Heritage Festival. Vocalist is senior cellist Krista Chang, who won the 2016 Brown Bags to Stardom high school grand championship. She will sing “I See the Light” from Disney’s “Tangled”.

Hawaii lost one of its important citizens and legal minds when retired Judge James Burns, 79, died March 10. Condolences to his wife, former TV anchor and personality Emme Tomimbang and other family members. Condolences also go to the families of Charles Holt, 93, of the Maili Holts, who died March 1; engineer and pianist Calvin K.K. Chun, 83, who died Feb. 16 in Las Vegas, his home for the past 26 years; and Eula May “Skippy” Sweet, 87, a former flight hostess for Hawaiian Airlines, and a member of the Koa‘e Kea HAL hostesses organization, who flew on DC-3s. She had a pilot’s license and an airplane.

Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets during World War II, writes of people, places and things. Contact him via email at bwood@staradvertiser.com.