Step right up, ladies and gentlemen! The legendary battle between two of the world’s most recognizable titans has finally hit the big screen with the release of Godzilla vs. Kong to theaters and HBO Max this past week. It’s been eight years since the iconic walking nuclear powerplant re-entered the fray with Legendary’s 2014 Godzilla reboot, setting up for the production studio’s establishment of the Monsterverse. And after the release of Kong: Skull Island in 2017, it was only a matter of time before these two powerhouses would eventually come to blows.
Set five years after the epic battle between Godzilla and King Ghidorah seen in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, the film sees our favorite giant lizard suddenly setting his sights on Kong. Kept under close watch by Monarch, Kong is to be used as a guide in finding a hidden power source within Hollow Earth – the suspected home of the titans – by research company, Apex Cybernetics. However, after Godzilla’s seemingly unprovoked attack on one of their facilities, it becomes apparent that things might be a little shady on their end. And with Kong unwittingly at their disposal, he’s a surefire target for the other titan’s wrath.
What immediately stands out about this movie is its amazing graphics and details. Every monster featured is rendered in such high-quality CGI that you’d almost forget that these mythical beings don’t actually exist. Even the landscaping surrounding them is so realistic that every crumbled skyscraper, flipped over navy ship, or destroyed city block seamlessly meshes with the frantic and terrified inhabitants trying to escape the area. You really get the sense that people’s lives are in danger. This is especially strong during the grandiose fight scenes between Godzilla and Kong.
The plot, on the other hand, isn’t the film’s strongest point. Loosely connected to the storyline started back in Godzilla: King of the Monsters by the way of returning characters and event callbacks, the movie tosses in a few new characters without diving into their stories much. In fact, it could be said that the film’s human characters act more as driving forces for situations between the monsters to take place rather than central focuses. It does, however, lead to one major surprise near the final few minutes of the film that fans of the Godzilla franchise will be pleased to see: the debut of Mechagodzilla.
It is worth noting that, unlike previous entries in the Monsterverse franchise, Godzilla vs. Kong does not feature a post-credits scene, leaving the future of these monsters up in the air. Though director Adam Wingard has shown interest in future projects, it will be up to the general public response to determine where things go from here.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
