Movie Breakdown: Godzilla Vs Kong
Pre-Screening Stance:
Godzilla vs. Kong looks like it’s going to be a blast. Then again, I thought that about the previous three films in Legendary’s Monsterverse, and the outcome of each one was pretty mixed. Perhaps director Adam Wingard (You’re Next, The Guest) will be the first to fully knock one out of the park.
Post-Screening Ramble:
Good news! Fourth time’s the charm for the Monsterverse, as Godzilla vs. Kong is a total hit. Here’s the setup – a robotics company called Apex has been working on a way to defend against Godzilla, who has started directly attacking human establishments (or cities, if you prefer). Their plan won’t work without a certain special item though, and it’s one they can’t locate without the help of Kong, who is currently being held in a Truman Show-like dome. Kong gets released, Godzilla finds out, fighting ensues.
As you’ve hopefully already assumed, your brain is not needed for Godzilla vs. Kong. The humans in it rarely do or say anything that’s particularly logical, which isn’t at all a new thing in the Monsterverse, but at least in this their involvement has – finally, rightfully – been limited to just simply shoving the film towards the next big fight. There is so much less babbling than in the previous movies and the humor is a lot more dialed. So, when a human is talking, they’re either directly cluing you into what’s about to happen and/or giving you a reason to chuckle, and boy is this film all the better for it. After all, Godzilla vs. Kong should just be about … Godzilla vs. Kong, and it is! Props to director Adam Wingard for realizing that what people want is pure spectacle and then even more props to him for actually over-delivering on it. He not only makes sure every fight is as entertaining as can be (especially the final one) but the technical side of things – the CG, the framing of the shots, etc. – is all top notch, too. Furthermore, this film never drags, which is another thing that can’t be said about the other entries in the series.
Godzilla vs. Kong is the first great blockbuster of 2021. If you can see it in a theater, you should. Although, catching it on HBO Max in 4K will also make for a worthwhile experience. The movie opens this Wednesday, March 31.
One Last Thought:
Legendary’s deal with Toho supposedly expired last year, but I’m hoping it gets renewed and that someone opts to do an Avengers-type entry in the Monsterverse. I’d love to see a big team of titans take on some world-ending force.
