'Godzilla vs. Kong' Review

Synopsis: Kong and his protectors undertake a perilous journey to find his true home, and with them is Jia, a young orphaned girl with whom he has formed a unique and powerful bond. But they unexpectedly find themselves in the path of an enraged Godzilla, cutting a swath of destruction across the globe. The epic clash between the two titans -instigated by unseen forces- is only the beginning of the mystery that lies deep within the Earth's core.

Runtime: 113 minutes

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of creature violence/destruction and brief language)

Who should see it? Fans of Godzilla and King Kong.

After seven years, Warner Bros. and Legendary's MonsterVerse culminated in the greatly anticipated, super-sized showdown between King Kong and Godzilla. However, this isn't the first time these creatures have come face-to-face, as they previously duked it out in the 1962 King Kong vs. Godzilla. Regardless, the appeal of this updated confrontation is clear. It's purely a matter of witnessing this silly spectacle on the largest screen possible. Audiences expect a giant monkey and gargantuan gecko to fight one another with zero regard for their surroundings- however, with modern special effects this time around. Directed by Adam Wingard with a story and screenplay from Terry Rossio, Michael Dougherty, Zach Shields, Eric Pearson, and Max Borenstein, Godzilla vs. Kong delivers on that very promise.

Like prior MonsterVerse installments, Godzilla vs. Kong is especially disinterested in its human characters. There are also stupid contrivances that happen purely to move the plot along and ensure the titans fight one another. These observations aren't huge revelations, as it's become the norm for this franchise and is to be expected at this point. However, sheer spectacle compensates for the absurdity. This blockbuster extravaganza is best enjoyed on the largest screen you currently feel comfortable seeing it, with your brain turned off and a tub of popcorn in your lap. For all its shortcomings concerning story and character, the action and effects in Godzilla vs. Kong will keep your eyes occupied. Wingard knows precisely the kind of movie he's making, and entertainment value is rightfully his highest priority.     

One noticeable improvement from King of the Monsters is the clarity in kaiju fight sequences. The environmental effects enhance the atmosphere rather than obscure the action. And on that note, the two titular combatants look incredible thanks to the many talented visual effects artists' phenomenal work. This movie wouldn't be possible without them. And I'd be remiss to ignore the sound department and composer Thomas Holkenborg for their essential contributions. This movie is downright ridiculous, but the soundscape lends a sense of gravitas to the smackdown.

As I attested to earlier, meaningful human characterization is severely lacking here. An ensemble of A-listers imbues a series of stock characters with as much life and personality as they can, but the script offers very little substance. Kaylee Hottle and Rebecca Hall share a sweet maternal bond while Brian Tyree Henry and Julian Dennison flex their comedic chops. Strangely, Godzilla vs. Kong downplays recurring characters from King of the Monsters in favor of introducing many fresh faces. Millie Bobby Brown's Madison Russell has a subplot but feels tangential to the central conflict, with that thread existing to introduce a surprise third combatant. Her father, Mark Russell, portrayed by Kyle Chandler, has been promoted to director of Monarch, the government agency monitoring these monsters. However, the promotion comes with the caveat of reduced screen time and personality. Though I like these actors, Alexander Skarsgärd and Eiza González seemed the most inconsequential among the cast. And it was a pleasant surprise to see Demián Bichir play a mustache-twirling corporate executive, considering I like his role in The Hateful Eight.

That said, humans aren't the main attraction. Godzilla and King Kong are headlining this crossover blockbuster brawl, and audiences want to see these behemoths fight each other. The movie delivers on that front, and the spectacle is well worth the price of admission (or HBO Max subscription). For those curious, the filmmakers sympathize much more with Kong over his reptilian counterpart, practically begging viewers to root for the underdog. Godzilla's diehard fans probably won't be swayed, but there are convincing arguments that advocate for Kong as humanity's champion.  

At the end of the day, Godzilla vs. Kong is exactly what you expect. The plot dictates that a giant monkey and lizard should fight one another to accumulate ticket sales and HBO Max subscriptions. It's incredibly entertaining but equally as stupid. However, fun blockbusters are in short supply right now, so who am I to complain? Let them fight!

Film Assessment: B

'Hunt for the Wilderpeople' Review

In Hunt for the Wilderpeople young foster child Ricky Baker and foster parent Uncle Hec get caught up in a manhunt after a huge misunderstanding getting lost in the New Zealand wilderness. Hunt for the Wilderpeople is written and directed by Taika Waititi and is an adaptation of the book Wild Pork and Watercress authored by Barry Crump.

Waititi proves he's a gifted director worthy of taking on the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok as he shepherds this bonkers concept, meshing a Wes Anderson-inspired peculiar style and tone with what is essentially the barebone concept of Up without managing to rip off either. This film feels totally fresh and unlike most of Hollywood's offerings today and that's probably why I took such a liking to it (It probably would have slipped in my Top 10 Movies of 2016 list or at least the Honarable Mentions if I had seen it last year). 

Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a buddy movie that pairs an optimistic child with a grumpy old man, something that could have gone wrong in so many ways. However, Waititi and his two leads strike the right balance so that the kid isn't unbearably talkative or obnoxious and the old man isn't so bitter enough to become unlikable. Waititi cleverly nods his head to blockbusters such as Lord of the Rings and The Terminator while crafting some eccentric characters in his stylized world. Taika Waititi's screenplay is quirky and hilarious with dialogue that had me laughing hysterically and a heartfelt story about family at its core. The lush New Zealand landscape is beautifully captured by cinematographer Lachlan Milne, everything's well cut together by editors Tom Eagles, Yana Gorskaya, and Luke Haigh, and the score from Lukasz Patel Buda, Samuel Scott, and Conrad Wedde is simultaneously outlandish and adventurous. 

Julian Dennison brings a delightful aura to Ricky Baker, starstruck at the idea of being a gangster and quipping some fantastic one liners, that's excellently juxtaposed by Sam Neill's weary and bitter Uncle Hec, who matches the kid quip for quip. Dennison and Neill make quite the pair of runaways, with a kooky dynamic not to be found in any of last year's other releases. Julian Dennison is yet another fantastic child actor from 2016, they seem to be sprouting out just about everywhere, and while this isn't his debut it's certainly a breakout performance that could garner him some more work.

Neill, of Jurassic Park fame, could have easily fallen into the caricature of the rugged man but injects Hec with more humanism than one would expect and delivers one of the more memorable performances of his career. Other performances worth noting include Rima Te Wiata's sweet Aunt Bella, Rachel House's tough social worker, and Rhys Darby's Psycho Sam. Oh, and I can't forget Waititi's hysterical cameo where he delivers a eulogy as the local priest.

In summary, Hunt for the Wilderpeople features unconventional direction and a charming pair of lead characters that make it a delightfully zany nonsensical film that we rarely see these days, not as weird as say Swiss Army Man, but definitely not mainstream either. It's currently available to stream on Hulu and the home media market in general so I advise you check it out sometime!

Film Assessment: A