0
0
My fans and followers here on the site know me well enough to know that I am a Kaiju fan (or Titans as they are known in this franchise) through and through. Ever since I was around 5 watching Godzilla and king Kong on my local affiliate station WUAB 43 on Saturday afternoons, nothing was better…well…except when I discovered action movies that is. Make no mistake, Godzilla and Kong will always be my sentimental favorites and even at the age of 51, I still get chills when I see a trailer for a new film with one of them in it or both of them which is even better for the 5-year-old fanboy always living inside of me. There’s just something that was so special about trudging through all the human actors for the first two/thirds of a Godzilla flick to finally engage in the ultimate Kaiju battle when the King of Monsters finally entered the screen and said “hey! hold my beer!”
Godzilla Minus One, which was released last December, is such a triumph in the filmography of Godzilla that sadly all other releases will be compared to in the future. It should have been nominated for best foreign movie and it should have won but I’ll take the special effects Oscar it took home as Godzilla is actually an Academy Award winner. Let’s face it, Godzilla can now go to future Oscar shows where Will Smith cannot. Did you think you’d see that day coming? Like I said, however, with the release of GM1, all other entries will be compared to it and unfortunately will falter because of it.
This weekend sees the release of Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures fifth MonsterVerse film Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and the franchise was basically on life support when Godzilla King of the Monsters did lukewarm business and was maligned by critics and fans alike. Then, Legendary struck gold and decided to team the King up with the other King and when it was a hit being released about a year into the pandemic, the MonsterVerse was back in full effect. The fourth movie was a smashing good time and both iconic monsters rocked it in their battle sequences and eventually teaming up to take on the terror of Mecha-Godzilla. Fans, like me, ate up this Godzilla/Kong team up and it worked on so many levels.
Godzilla x Kong again is released just a short time after the victory that was GM1 and like I stated, it will be dumped on because of that movie. I’m here to do my job and educate you by saying that this is a totally different Kaiju, sorry Titan, event. I’m a true fan so I’ll always use the Kaiju term more than Titans. Where GM1 was a tragic and destructive drama, Godzilla x Kong is a full-on Kaiju smashing summer popcorn crunching good time from start to finish. Kaiju fans will get their fill, and more, in monster battle action and carnage and if you can accept Godzilla taking a little bit of a back seat to Kong once again, this is the Tango & Cash of Kaiju movies with two reluctant heroes forced to work together even though they can’t stand to be in the same room with one another. The trailers do make it look like a full-on brother to brother united team up but unfortunately the two only share about a third of the film’s screentime. This may be my only nitpick of the movie besides some forced human characters and interactions but that’s par for the course.
Let’s get the humans out of the way and say that returning Godzilla vs Kong cast member Kaylee Hottle who plays the mute heroine Gia is the most sympathetic one in the lot. The plot of the film involves a distress call from a very uncharted part of Hollow Earth that only she and Godzilla can hear. Unfortunately, Kong is up on the surface dealing with some oral surgery from new cast addition Dan Stevens (who played in director Adam Wingard’s awesome genre mash up The Guest) who is sort of a Kaiju veterinarian named Trapper with an action hero tinge to him. When the rest discover the signal, Gia and Trapper join Rebecca Hall’s Dr. Illene (who just happens to have history with Trapper) and Bernie, played once again by Brian Tyree Henry who is again the movie’s comic relief, down to Hollow earth to see just what’s up.
Once in Hollow Earth, the discovery is made of The Scar King, who is one killer ape who rules over other apes with an iron fist. Turns out, Kong isn’t the only one left, but The Scar King is no good and his comrade Shimo, a Kaiju that resembles Godzilla a little, is even worse. Think of these two as the Bizarro world versions of Godzilla and Kong and you’ll see the big picture. The Scar King wants it all and this sets the stage for the climatic and thoroughly entertaining smashup that covers the finale where our two bad ass heroes must put aside their differences yet again to be the protectors of the earth that they were meant to be.
I am happy to report that the human element, that I usually just tolerate to get to the kaiju action, is limited and while all humans do a good job, this is clearly Kong’s show as he is the main protagonist, and I must say that he’s in fighting shape this time around. It certainly looks like he’s been working out and he’s even sporting a very manly goatee with a rousing six pack on his belly. If anything, Stevens’ trapper is probably the other coolest character as the actor knows exactly what kind of movie he’s in and he’s even compared to Ace Ventura if that movie character was an action hero. Stevens is great and it just makes me want to see him and Wingard finally make The Guest 2. Like I said though, this is Kong’s world and we’re just living in it.
Godzilla enthusiasts will most likely attack this entry as the king is sidelined throughout a good deal of the picture. I was fine with it because as we all know, Godzilla’s strength is lying in wait for most of the films he’s in and then he shows up making a rousing entrance to clean house, kick ass and take those names. I’m here to say that Wingard uses him just enough and it’s better because of it. I was enjoying some of the comic relief with Godzilla like the joke of where and how he takes a nap. This endears him more to the audience and makes him more than just a stomping force of power. This version of Godzilla is not a bad guy but that doesn’t mean he’s not grumpy. After all, what’s wrecking a few buildings here and there when you’re saving the world for the countless time.
Kong gets a sweet little subplot which involves a little baby ape and it’s these scenes that the kids will gravitate towards. It’s a fitting “Son of Kong” subtext that gives the movie heart, humor and their relationship is gentle and enduring.
When Kong and Godzilla do run into each other again, they tussle of course because even though they will eventually have to work together, they don’t have to like each other and again, Godzilla is Mr. Grumpy Pants. This meeting of icons is spot on for fans and there’s even some humor thrown into the mix which is a pleasant surprise.
Wingard films Godzilla x Kong like he did in the last entry and that’s because the director uses the if it’s not broke don’t fix it approach. This fifth film is a vibrant and neon lit spectacle that is a joy to behold and if you get the chance to view it in IMAX as I did, it’s worth every penny. The colors and visual effects blend fully giving the movie an immersive experience for the audience and even though there’s some dodgy video game style spots to the CGI, it doesn’t detract and it more than makes up for it with the shits that now you away.
The music is a treat as well with Antonio Di Iorio and Junkie XL creating a very memorable and Kaiju worthy style 80’s electronic score that hits all the right notes especially during the many snack downs showcased here. It’s like Wingard winks at the audience and says this is like the 70’s and 80’s Godzilla films I know so here’s a score befitting it. There’s even a nifty song list included for the vibe of the movie featuring a host of classic rock tunes.
Now having gotten all this out of the way, let’s talk about the real reason why we all came to see this movie on opening weekend. While GM1 is a tragic affair, Godzilla x Kong is a buckle up and hunker down action film epic that rocks the theater with enough monster-on-monster energy that will have everyone smiling from ear to ear. This is why you can’t compare the two because while they are both Kaiju affairs, that’s where the similarities end. This is just plain and simple in your face city wrecking theatrics that give the viewers what they cave for.
The finale is a tag team event for the ages with Kong and Godzilla taking on The Scar King and Shimo to crowd pleasing and thunderous applauding results. I won’t spoil anything, but we also get a surprise cameo from another iconic Kaiju that made me rather excited. Both our heroes get more than their chance to shine, and this is what Godzilla has been waiting to do for the first two/thirds of the movie. Seeing our beloved icons stand side by side to take on the earth threatening enemies will make your inner 5-year-old scream in delight. Can I just say, the scene where Godzilla erupts from the ground and starts running along the side of Kong is a spine-tingling sequence that made goosebumps shoot up and down my body. This heroic and powerful moment is arguably the best of the franchise! It’s just simply a crowd pleaser especially for the diehard fans who have loved these characters from their youth.
Overall: I stress again…GM1 and Godzilla x Kong are two totally and separate Kaiju experiences and there’s enough room for both styles. Yes, we can have the tragic and beautifully solemn stylings of TOHO’s effort, but we can also have the no holds barred, full throttle action experience of the latter. People will still compare, and I can’t stop that, but I can say how much fun this movie is, and I hope we get a least one more to make this a Godzilla/Kong trilogy.
The human characters serve their purpose with Gia leading the way as the one you’ll care for the most but it’s refreshing to see Dan Stevens having so much fun as Trapper. You can just tell that he loves this stuff, and it shows on screen.
At the end of the day, it’s Kong and Godzilla who we are here to see and with that Wingard gives it to us and then some. Kong is the more sympathetic protagonist with Godzilla bringing up the rear like a storm. The two are like Tango & Cash and it is unfortunate that they didn’t share more screen time but that was pretty much my only complaint with the film.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a crowd pleasing, popcorn chomping Kaiju assault on the senses, and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s only the end of March but these two icons have ushered in summer a little early this year like they did with their last outing. It’s a Kaiju-on-Kaiju battle spectacle as big as the monsters that are on the screen. I’m middle aged now but I’m a kid at heart and will always be and here I wanted to turn around and walk right back in and watch it again. It’s a bright, vibrant array of fun, goofiness and power packed thrills. Get the biggest bucket of popcorn there is and hold on tight. This picture is why we go to the movies in the summer.
Do yourself a favor and see it on the biggest screen you can. You’re welcome…
VERDICT: 4 Out of 5 Stars
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a full-on Kaiju roaring action spectacle that is epic in every way!
