Seventy years have passed since Godzilla debuted on screen, and the monster’s popularity is higher than ever. Godzilla Minus One was rightfully awarded an Oscar in March for its amazing visual effects, and the television spin-off Monarch: Legacy of Monsters demonstrated that interesting human characters could coexist with all the titanic action. Beginning with Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla in 2014, the MonsterVerse has progressively gotten less serious and more humorous with each new release. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, directed by Adam Wingard, is the continuation of this trend. It provides an enjoyable dose of monster mayhem at its finest, despite the fact that we have to wait much too long for the title pair to surge into combat together.
The path that led to that point was not entirely straightforward. Dr. Ilene Andrews played by Rebecca Hall is once again tasked with leading the exposition, with help from podcaster Bernie Hayes, who is back for Brian Tyree Henry, and Dan Stevens, who plays Trapper, a giant Doctor Dolittle-like character who is new to the franchise. Hayes and Trapper are both lighthearted but entertaining, with Stevens’ carefree attitude fitting in particularly well with a world in which fatalities from war aren’t regarded too seriously. Even though she could have used a bit more time on screen, Hall gives her portrayal of a mother who is desperate to raise her adopted daughter Jia (Kaylee Hottle) well, every ounce of substance she can.
Vibrant, creative, and enjoyable for all.
Regarding the title pair, Wingard, along with screenwriters Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett, and Jeremy Slater, are far more enthralled by the enormous ape than the large lizard. Similar to Jia, Kong is lonely and yearns for companionship and a sense of belonging. His journey eventually brings him face-to-face with odd allies like the lesser ape Suko and adversaries like Skar King, who is introduced rather late in the game as the main antagonist.
Weta’s increasingly amazing visual effects work is seen in the power struggle between Kong and Skar King, which is masterfully represented and expressed without the need for words. In the meantime, Godzilla’s sporadic appearance changes very little (although we find out he likes to slumber in Rome’s Colosseum in between acrobatic encounters).
To be honest, The New Empire’s entire marketing campaign is based on a primary event that comes far too slowly. However, when Godzilla and Kong do team up at last, it’s colorful, imaginative, and entertaining to watch as atomic breath is let go and tremendous blows land. It’s difficult to watch it without grinning. The wait is almost worth it.