Godzilla vs. Kong has received a largely positive response from audiences as well as critics, with the fights and their use of color a particular standout. The movie incorporates aspects of all three previous "MonsterVerse" movies, but is most directly a follow-up to 2019's Godzilla: King of the Monsters. However, Godzilla vs. Kong most clearly breaks from its predecessor in incorporating a greater sense of color and contrast into its fight scenes, resulting in more dynamic and engaging action.

King of the Monsters features a mouth-watering line-up of monster battles. But the film often got in its own way by hewing almost exclusively to the blue-orange color scheme that is often used in contemporary Hollywood films. The final battle in Mexico City, with Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah and Rodan meeting in a titanic battle royale, is more enjoyable, but the orange coloring overwhelms what could have been a distinctive setting. Some scenes, such as the first-act confrontation between Godzilla and Ghidorah in Antarctica, set the greenish-blue monsters against a dark blue backdrop, with frequent cuts to a dim submarine, making the action hard to visibly decipher. Without a strong contrast between foreground and background, the visual impact of the monsters is lost.

Related: Godzilla: Why Kong Didn't Respond To Ghidorah's Call In King Of The Monsters

From its first scenes, Godzilla vs. Kong seems clear on presenting a fuller visual palette. The movie opens with Kong in a bright, idyllic jungle that is eventually revealed to be a disguised research station. From there, the action takes the monsters and the human characters through a variety of environments both mundane and fantastic. The Hollow Earth, where Kong complements the rich reds and browns of the underground world, is one example of this. These settings evoke a full, fantastical world instead of a series of dark corridors and are especially notable when the monsters clash.

Godzilla fighting Kong in Hong Kong at night

This difference is best seen in Godzilla vs. Kong's climactic fight scene in Hong Kong. The skyscrapers around them glow a rainbow of colors, adding a neon backdrop to the monster slugfest. The final confrontation between the two title titans and Mechagodzilla takes place in daylight, against a clear blue sky. The bright backdrop provides a contrast to the darkly-colored monsters and makes the action cathartic and easier to follow.

Godzilla vs. Kong also makes room for plenty of memorable spots of bright color, such as the blue rune on Kong's ancestral axe or the glowing red of Mechagodzilla's eyes and laser beam. These small but memorable items help to make the film seem pulpier and as bigger-than-life as its stars. While King of the Monsters often felt like it was taking itself too seriously, Godzilla vs. Kong acknowledges its status as spectacle, using color to be the best spectacle it can be, while not becoming overly jokey.

The use of a broader range of colors helps to make Godzilla vs. Kong's fight scenes more enjoyable and easier to follow visually. While it's difficult to pinpoint who is responsible for the visuals in a modern blockbuster, credit should go to director Adam Wingard and director of photography Ben Seresin, both new to the franchise, for improving on earlier installments. Some issues from past movies still remain, such as the Godzilla franchise's notoriously wooden human characters, but the visual upgrade in the new film suggests a series that is able to improve and become more compelling.

Next: How Godzilla Vs Kong Sets Up Godzilla 3