'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

'Godzilla: King of the Monsters' Review

Synopsis: The crypto-zoological agency Monarch faces off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super species rise, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity's very existence hanging in the balance.

Runtime: 131 minutes

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for sequences of monster action, violence, and destruction, and for some language)

Who should see it? Godzilla fans.

Serving as the gargantuan sequel to 2014's Godzilla, Godzilla: King of the Monsters is directed by Michael Dougherty and features a screenplay co-written by Dougherty and Zach Shields with an additional story credit for Max Borenstein. Aside from furthering the exploits of our favorite gigantic lizard, King of the Monsters is tasked with setting the stage for next year's epic kaiju showdown between Kong and Godzilla. And the filmmakers sure do want audiences to know that Warner Bros. and Legendary's MonsterVerse is headed in that direction, as there are plenty of references to the fabled Skull Island and its towering primate. Occasionally, the nods happen too frequently, but the cinematic universe craze isn't slowing down anytime soon. On that note, stick through the credits for hints concerning this franchise's future. 

Most audience members flocking to the theater are seeing Godzilla: King of the Monsters due to the promise of grand kaiju action, and they'll be delighted to witness plenty of monstrous mayhem. Unlike the 2014 Godzilla, the titular titan is front-and-center more-often-than-not. The spectacle doesn't always match the grandeur and majesty of the trailer presentation, but Dougherty delivers some satisfying kaiju brawls full of striking imagery. Though these fights aren't without flaws. Sometimes, it's challenging to follow the action due to the weather, fluorescent lighting effects, shaky-cam, and quick cuts. It'd be a stretch to call the action incomprehensible, and these attributes didn't detract from my enjoyment, but I feel they're worth noting nevertheless. One detail which compensated for this was the varied color scheme for each monster and their abilities which assisted in differentiating the creatures from one another.  

As glimpsed in the trailers, there are some magnificent effects-heavy wide shots which I'd gleefully frame and display in my home. King of the Monsters touts impeccable creature design for its wide array of mythic monsters, and these beasts are wonderfully realized through breathtaking visual effects and Lawrence Sher's stunning cinematography. Lending additional gravitas to the grand spectacle, Bear McCreary's score contains many percussive, choral-heavy arrangements, and I'd be remiss to neglect the sound design which enabled the kaiju to roar their way onscreen.

Of course, there's more to this movie than monsters... The human component and narrative are severely lacking in comparison to the kaiju confrontations, but honestly, what else would you expect? I've seen King of the Monsters heavily scrutinized for that whereas I'd consider the characterization in this sequel to be an improvement over Godzilla (2014). The central splintered family dynamic presented here is far more compelling than what unfolded five years ago, largely thanks to the performances which I'll touch on momentarily. I was invested in the fate of the core family as well as Dr. Ishiro Serizawa, which already outweighs merely caring about Bryan Cranston in the first film.

Kyle Chandler's Mark Russell is the most prominent character in this super-sized sequel and Chandler does a fine job with the material given. Amongst the ensemble, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Ziyi Zhang, Aisha Hinds fill the stock scientists and military personnel while Bradley Whitford and Thomas Middleditch provide a decent dose of comedic relief.

Depicting the two carry-over characters from Godzilla (2014), Ken Watanabe and Sally Hawkins are utilized in vastly differing capacities. Watanabe is granted a poignant scene and continues to invoke a sense of gravitas for the franchise while Hawkins is sadly wasted with minimized contributions (she mostly delivers expositional dialogue). 

Separated from the rest of the cast for plot-related reasons, Millie Bobby Brown, Vera Farmiga, and Charles Dance each are sufficient series additions. It was nice to finally see Millie Bobby Brown transition to the big screen after her breakout turn as Eleven in Stranger Things, and her feature acting-debut offered a role befitting of her talent. Despite sharing the screen with so many seasoned actors, Brown holds her ground and manages to be a stand-out when all is said-and-done. Meanwhile, Vera Farmiga leaves a favorable impression in spite of her character's complex motivations, whereas Charles Dance's malevolent presence felt underutilized in the grand scheme of things. 

Godzilla: King of the Monsters is an unabashedly stupid popcorn flick that will surely rule the box office this weekend, but awe-inspiring kaiju confrontations compensate for its narrative shortcomings. Long live the king!

Film Assessment: B B-