When you have two legendary titans duking it out, like you do in “Godzilla vs. Kong,” the action sequences better go big or go home. While the script doesn’t develop the human characters much, it’s worth the sacrifice, because the Earth-shattering clash between our two favorite monsters does not disappoint.
Mankind is helpless against the titanic destruction. Fighter jets are swatted down like flies. Warships are sunk. Buildings crumble like Legos.
When a company called Apex Cybernetics figures out that the source of the titans’ power is coming from inside the Earth, they embark to find and channel that energy to make a weapon capable of protecting mankind from the titans.
This is where the story focuses more on the science fiction elements. It follows the hollow earth theory that suggests the earth is hollow, and deep below its surface is a whole other world. In this story, the interior of Earth was once the home of all the titans and much more. The hollow earth theory is a real thing from centuries ago, and while it has long been disproven, it makes for entertaining sci-fi.
Apex recruits geologist Dr. Nathan Lind (Alexander Skarsgård) to lead the journey inside the Earth and find the energy source. To do this, they need someone (or something) to lead them to the entrance. They take Kong out of his containment facility to lead them to his “home.”
Once this happens, the title makes it clear what you’re going to get. There is an ancient history between the lines of Godzilla and Kong. There can only be one titan on Earth. They can sense one another, and they’re destined to battle. It’s not long before Godzilla comes looking for Kong.
Adam Wingard’s new blockbuster was made for the big screen. Over the years, we’ve seen Kong and Godzilla individually in separate films battling people and other deadly titans. I went into this new release concerned that the action would feel repetitive or stale. I can only handle so many big punches and tosses through buildings before they lose their allure. It turns out, new battlefield settings, juiced-up weapons and unexpected technology keep the action fresh.
It’s a good thing, because even though big names like Skarsgård and Millie Bobby Brown are in the movie, they’re just transitionary characters to get us from one battle scene to the next. Kyle Chandler is back playing Millie’s dad, but literally has no impact on the story and doesn’t need to be in it at all. The same goes for Julian Dennison, who is supposed to be Millie’s funny sidekick but ultimately doesn’t feel necessary.
There are multiple characters introduced seemingly to play a significant role, only to be proven nonessential and die before they can. The only person the audience might connect with is Jia (Kaylee Hottle), a little girl who can communicate with King Kong. Their relationship is what makes the audience sympathetic to Kong, while keeping the beast agreeable with mankind.
However, in this movie the lack of character development is okay. The humans rightfully take a back seat to the monsters, because nobody watches these movies for the people. Nobody cares if the science doesn’t make sense. It’s all about the eye candy of giant monsters fighting and destroying things for 113 minutes in visually appealing settings like the ocean, Hong Kong, and the fantastical sidetrek to hollow Earth.
“Godzilla vs. Kong” is a welcome getaway that doesn’t ask you to think too much and instead asks you to sit back and mindlessly enjoy the epic battles.
3/5
“Godzilla vs. Kong” is in theaters and streamable on HBO Max.
