Directed by: Adam Wingard
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
Written by Nick McCann
71/100
“Godzilla vs Kong” was the rematch that had been a long time coming. Legendary Pictures saw their shot and took it, reintroducing these colossal icons with a cinematic universe that’s as successful as it is mostly stable. A follow up would have to be even bigger than that. With Adam Wingard still on board, those heights would be achieved in the most goofy way this series knows how to do.
More so than probably the rest of Monsterverse, “The New Empire” channels its energy directly from Godzilla’s Showa era. Inspiration like that does wind up with a film that is vibrant, far out and always on the move. It has bright spots in the storytelling as it develops more of the Hollow Earth setting and calls back to the other movies. That also means it’s a far cry from the dominantly serious directions that gave the prior entries some sense of punch when it had to. Wingard goes all in for a sugar rush of monster mash that is undoubtedly brainless but infectiously exciting.
Kong and Godzilla are more center stage than before. Kong is much more active as we watch him search for his place in his Hollow Earth domain. Godzilla, on the other hand, sometimes feels like he’s in a holding pattern until the finale, albeit still contributing to the end of the story. Regardless, it’s nice watching these characters build to an inevitable team-up. The visual effects deserve praise once again, never skimping on detail or designs. Wall to wall, it’s a pretty-looking movie. Its best aesthetics are to be found in the Hollow Earth scenes.
When monsters get to rumbling, it comes fast and often! With that kind of fun though, there are caveats. The action is much faster than before, which, combined with more traditional camera shots, reduces how much weight is behind these towering creatures. An upside to this is how free the movie is to unload with crazy set pieces. Seeing new and familiar monsters rip it up is satisfying, headed up by the menacing and unexpectedly charismatic Skar King. Sound design is also doing it right, landing with lots of rumble and crumble. However, Tom Holkenberg’s score does leave something to be desired, even with a throwback synth style.
Character-wise, this has to be the most concise roster so far. Although still not richly deep, the cast hits the material with high energy and enough identity to keep it lively. Rebecca Hall and Kaylee Hottle return with their charming mother-daughter dynamic, as does Brian Tyree-Henry with more hit-and-miss humor. Dan Stevens is by far the stand out! Essentially a kaiju Steve Irwin, his gusto and vibe is undeniable from the moment he enters the story. A character I would hope makes a return just to be present.
Part of me misses the serious side of this series. If it were up to me, I would restrain the hyperactivity of it all in favor of adding weight back into these creatures and the havoc they raise, which would be more consistent with the lineage going on. But the hype here is undeniable! “The New Empire” has plenty to like about it despite not being my favorite of the bunch. It’s a fine time not to think.
“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” Trailer
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