The Monsterverse first established in 2014’s Godzilla has since expanded to include four movies, including Godzilla vs. Kong, which sees the titular characters locked in an epic clash that brings the separate characters and various plot threads together. The film — which is directed by Adam Wingard from a screenplay by Eric Pearson and Max Borenstein — is ambitious when it comes to its fight sequences and there’s a lot to love in that respect, with Godzilla vs. Kong the next obvious step in the Monsterverse. The film explores a lot more of the Titans’ lore, laying the foundation for their big battle while expanding upon their world and nature. While the human characters are there for exposition and could’ve used additional development, Godzilla vs. Kong is engaging and visually stunning.
A few years after Godzilla saved humanity, the creature has returned, attacking cities unprovoked. He senses King Kong, who has been enjoying life on Skull Island. That is, until he realizes he’s holed up in captivity inside a Hunger Games-style arena that reflects the ecosystem of his home. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall) and Jia (Kaylee Hottle) are working overtime to protect Kong from the threat that is Godzilla. However, everything changes when they’re approached by Nathan Lind (Alexander Skarsgård), who is tasked by Apex Cybernetics CEO Walter Simmons (Demián Bichir) to take Kong from Skull Island to Hollow Earth in a bid to obtain its power source and defeat Godzilla. Of course, as is usually the case, there is always an ulterior motive, one that is being investigated by conspiracy-theorizing Apex employee Bernie Hayes (Brian Tyree Henry) and Madison Russell (Millie Bobby Brown), Monarch scientist Emma Russell’s daughter.
When it comes to the monster lore and the fight sequences, Godzilla vs. Kong truly delivers. Godzilla's appearances are incredibly threatening and work to ramp up the perceived ancient tension between him and King Kong. The battle scenes are fantastic, with Godzilla and King Kong truly giving it all they’ve got when defending themselves against the other. There is, of course, plenty of destruction, with Godzilla vs. Kong taking the time to focus mainly on the creatures during their fight. They scratch, claw, throw punches, and use their immense size to their advantages. When they're in the thick of their duel, it's rather terrifying to watch. The pair could obliterate each other at any moment and it's easy to get lost in rooting for one or the other simply because it's so intense. The audience will watch with bated breath as the two Titans go head-to-head. The battles are set up to look a lot like a wrestling match, only the location where the pair duke it out leads to a whole lot more damage than an isolated ring.
Godzilla vs. Kong gives far more screen time to King Kong, however, showcasing his story as being the more sympathetic of the two and bringing his arc full circle. Godzilla gets the short end of the stick by comparison, his presence limited to a handful of appearances that are quick to reveal him as the aggressor. The monster is spectacular when he does show up, but it’s Kong who has the fully developed arc. It makes sense considering Godzilla has already gotten two feature films, though it may disappoint Godzilla enthusiasts hoping to get more of him. What’s more, Godzilla vs. Kong delves further into the lore of Hollow Earth, which is intriguing as well as visually striking. Why exactly the two Titans have to fight each other connects back to their home, though the film isn’t so keen to dig any deeper than it needs to set up the fight. That won’t satisfy everyone who wants more information about their ancient rivalry, but it’s enough to appease within the confines of the movie’s plot.
While giving the two Titans more screen time and fight sequences would have probably drained the CGI budget, most of the buildup to their battles stems from underwhelming dialogue and exposition from the human characters. The most interesting aspect, however, involves Jia and her budding friendship with King Kong, who trusts her more than anyone else. Their relationship is endearing and lovely, providing the audience with a thoughtful connection between her and one of the creatures at the center of the movie. The human stories surrounding the main event are all connected, though there is a general lack of depth in their plight and emotions. There is a lot of exposition and the actors deliver it to the best of their abilities, but it does take away from a lot of their emotional reactions to what’s happening. In this vein, Godzilla vs. Kong doesn’t offer much time for them on a personal level; they’re more vehicles driving the plot forward than anything else and, save for a few of them like Jia, it’s hard to get invested in any of their individual stories or characters.
That said, Godzilla vs. Kong sets up the primary conflict as being a very human one, with the Titans’ involvement a mixture of instinct and influence. Corporate control and greed is a menace and the film mines this argument for all its worth. It poses the question of who the real monsters are in this instance and it’s a theme the film touches upon to various degrees of success. However, Godzilla vs. Kong doesn't always handle it with the deftness or time the subject requires, leaving it half-baked for the most part. Despite this, Bichir gives a performance so full of gusto it will have audiences believing every ounce of his conviction. The storyline isn’t a complete throwaway, but it could have used some fine-tuning considering it takes up a lot of Godzilla vs. Kong’s runtime. However, the movie still manages to entertain on many levels, offering enticing clashes between Godzilla and Kong that work on a massive scale, as well as intriguing monster lore that aids in exploring a bit more of the titular characters’ background.
Godzilla vs. Kong hits theaters March 31, 2021 and will be available to stream on HBO Max the same day. The film is 113 minutes long and is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of creature violence/destruction and brief language.
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