“Godzilla vs. Kong” Review
“Godzilla vs. Kong” features the two titular beings fighting each other for supremacy over the planet after each of them have starred in multiple “Monsterverse” films.
“Godzilla vs. Kong” is the perfect definition of a “popcorn film.” It’s filled with action, monsters duking it out and enough awesome imagery to satisfy the most carnage-hungry filmgoer. What’s the plot? Who are the characters? Who cares! It’s a fun, exciting monster movie that emboldens a property that was long associated with men in suits fighting with miniature models.
Set five years after “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” where the titular giant lizard defeated a slew of monsters and saved the world, Godzilla has been targeting technology facilities and the puny humans have no idea what’s going on. So, with no way to defeat Godzilla, the Monarch agency, which specializes in monster monitoring, decides to send in King Kong to fight Godizlla in a series of epic confrontations.
With a title like “Godzilla vs. Kong,” magnificent action is expected and, by God, director Adam Wingard delivered. The action sequences take place in a variety of environments like the city and the ocean and they never get dull. Just when it seems that the filmmakers have run out of ideas, they find a new and creative way to have Godzilla smack Kong around or vice versa.
With a runtime of less than two hours, the film just jumps right to the action with just enough slow moments to pad out the fights. Since this is the fourth film in this new “Monsterverse” and both of these titans are already established characters, all we want is to see them interact.
The effects of these two monsters are fun and filled with a lot of personality. While the suits and stop-motion effects of the classic Godzilla and Kong films will always have a special place in my heart, it’s amazing to see them together with CGI which makes any kind of fight possible.
“Godzilla vs. Kong’s” finale also contains a surprise that I dare not give away but, needless to say, it results in a jaw-dropping piece of action.
(From Left) Julian Dennison, Millie Bobby Brown and Brian Tyree Henry star as human characters trying to find out why Godzilla is attacking human technology bases, uncovering a conspiracy in the process.
“Godzilla vs. Kong” unfortunately doesn’t have very many interesting human characters while previous films in the Monsterverse, like “Godzilla” and “Kong: Skull Island,” did. Most of the human characters (Eliza Gonzalez, Rebecca Hall, Lance Reddick, Kyle Chandler) are very disposable with a few exceptions. Most of the characters that deserved interest were children.
One character, a young deaf girl named Jiwi (Kaylee Hottle), uses sign language to communicate with Kong and their relationship is very interesting. Millie Bobby Brown and Julian Dennison also join the cast as Madison and Josh, two teenagers interested in Godzilla’s activities and enlist the help of a conspiracy theorist (Brian Tyree Henry) to track him, uncovering a vast, well, conspiracy related to Godzilla’s actions.
These characters are all filled with personality and, gratefully, they are the main human characters the film focuses on when Godzilla isn’t flinging King Kong through a building or when Kong isn’t stomping Godzilla’s head into an aircraft carrier.
“Godzilla vs. Kong” is not an especially thought provoking action film but it’s not meant to be. It’s meant to be a jolt of energy with smart action setpieces, a fun feel throughout and enough respect for the audience to make them feel like they aren’t being taken advantage of. In that regard, it excels.
