Synopsis

From IMDb:

The epic next chapter in the cinematic Monsterverse pits two of the greatest icons in motion picture history against one another - the fearsome Godzilla and the mighty Kong - with humanity caught in the balance.

Review

I think expectations are a good thing to have. You have some people that would prefer to not know anything about anything before they experience it, which I completely understand. And then, you have people that would like to know what they’re getting into. I fall into the second group. I’m not talking about WandaVision-like expectations where the entire fandom placed their own fan theories and ideas onto the show, thus ultimately hurting their experience did the show. I mean understanding and expecting what is promised from a film or tv show. So, when you think about a movie like Godzilla vs. Kong, it is important to note that what was promised was action and battles between and featuring Godzilla and King Kong. In that respect, this movie delivered. Immensely. 

In Godzilla vs. Kong, you have Godzilla, Kong, and a bunch of other human characters doing God knows what. I honestly don’t know if i would be able to tell you about most of the human characters. They were forgettable and mostly were only there to advance the plot and put Godzilla and Kong where they needed to be to fight each other. Ironically, the most memorable plot line for me was the seeming throwaway one with Brian Tyree Henry, Julian Dennison, and Millie Bobby Brown. You could tell as soon as they got together that “yep, this is the one where they’re pumping the jokes through and they really serve no purpose.” Brian Tyree Henry was quite hilarious (he knew what movie he was in and he just went for it... full crazy) and honestly, Millie Bobby Brown’s character was just a carry-over from Godzilla: King of the Monsters. And I didn’t even like that one (read my review here), but the dynamic between these three characters were the most enjoyable for me after Kong and Godzilla. The other plot-functionary storylines were not memorable for me. I really didn’t understand what was going on until about halfway through the film (when they make the journey to the center), but again that’s not what was promised. I could gripe all day about the plotting issues and thin character development (the female villain character could’ve been spotted as a villain right away, there was no finesse), but in actuality, we all know that’s not what we watch this movie for. 

We watch it for the fights. So let’s get to it. 

The fight scenes were the best parts of this film, BY MILES, and I think it was really important that they nail these after they were botched in Godzilla: King of the Monsters. That film had similar problems to this one, but that film didn’t have enough past those issues for me to enjoy it. In this film, the fight scenes make watching the entire film worth it. They are so entertaining and they’re beautiful. This film borrowed a page from Kong: Skull Island and really had a strong use of color that made scenes pop well. The first Godzilla (2014), I thought, was kind of dull, same with the second one, but Skull Island and this film (which must be made clear that this is a sequel to Kong: Skull Island, not the third Godzilla movie, which is why you see more of a focus on Kong, but anyways) really made the effort to be visually appealing. The visual effects are great. Honestly, they are the best they’ve every been. The design and world-building of Hollow Earth is gorgeous and the fight scenes look like they were choreographed so well. The audience I saw this film with really enjoyed it as well. People were clapping at the end of certain scenes, which as you know if you’ve ever been to a black theater, people don’t do, but I think people just haven’t been to a theater in so long that it was kind of cathartic, in a way. 

There is a winner. It might not seem like it but there is a winner and it might be unexpected, but I think that both teams Godzilla and Kong will be satisfied with this film. I really enjoyed my time watching it. Most of you have probably already watched it at home, but I would suggest, and only if you feel safe enough, to see this in a theater. The theatrical experience, especially with this film, just can’t be recreated the same way at home. Again only if you fell safe enough to to go because we are still in a personal pan pizza, but I think it’ll be worth the trip.