Godzilla x Kong Hollywood Movie Review: Almost ten years have passed since, in May 2014, Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla inaugurated the so-called MonsterVerse, an operation by Legendary Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros., aimed at bringing the famous creatures of the Japanese company Toho back to the screen (with approval of the latter) and have them interact with a certain gorilla from American cinema, integrated into the franchise starting from the second episode, Kong: Skull Island.

The two icons clashed in 2021 in Godzilla vs. Kong, one of the few Warner films to gross that year (marked by the somewhat crazy decision to release all of the studio’s feature films in theaters and at the same time streaming on HBO Max). An outcome that encouraged all parties to once again entrust the direction to Adam Wingard, who was back on track with the film we talked about in our review of Godzilla and Kong – The New Empire.

Godzilla and Kong – The New Empire, the story doesn’t hold up as it should

We are talking about an unspecified period after the events of Godzilla vs. Kong. The two titans now live separately: Kong in the Hollow Earth, Godzilla on the surface to “defend” the Earth. Kong is constantly looking for similar ones and, being the last of his kind, he is destined for eternal solitude. A basic plot that is based on the sole condition of being visually interesting. The role of the protagonists is reduced only to a saving of computer graphics and a perpetual “explanation”. Some anomalies and earthquakes in the Hollow Earth make us fear the worst and a chasm opens near Kong’s lair. Meanwhile, an outpost has been razed to the ground by what appears to be another giant ape.

The development of the story is slow, catalyzed through a journey that has nothing adventurous about it. The writing of the characters is flat, zany, and purely superficial. The Titans become more and more humanized, leading to a condition of loss of cinematic suspension. What are we seeing? Anthropomorphic beasts with their reason that take turns in topics that are now boring? Or simply big, heavy “Japanese robots” doing what they were created for, that is, destroying? In some scenes we go infinitely first, leaving the whole story to tell itself without any particular extremes of literary greatness. In still others we return to the beginning: superhuman screams, destroyed buildings, and general chaos. That we find ourselves faced with a franchise that has already been squeezed enough and that is already in the position of having to cling with all its strength to a now decayed and unrepeatable past? We think the answer is understandable…

Godzilla suplexing Kong is the best part of the movie

Paradoxically the most extreme scenes, bordering on cinematic trash, are the most interesting parts. There’s no need to anthropomorphize beasts just to have a story, fans just need to watch them scream at each other as they try to kill each other. Enough. The rest is superfluous and infinitely forced. Adam Wingard’s direction is banal in normal scenes with real human beings. A photograph (Ben Seresin) that borders more on that of an advertisement without intrigue and praise, with almost disturbing visual effects which, combined with computer graphics that are not always accurate, especially in the most exciting scenes, always leave a certain bitterness. As already mentioned, the writing is not worth the cost of the ticket, as are the performances which continue to seem caricatured for the entire duration of the film. Characters such as those of the actors Rebecca Hall and Dan Steven follow, without mincing words, typical masks of action/science fiction cinema, seeking out positions similar to those of the most famous and cinematic masterpiece, Jurassic Park.

A portrait of a super-technological world which however applies technology only when necessary and never with rigor of cause and logic. In short, Godzilla and Kong – The New Empire is a great and mostly boring, petulant, didactic explanation of what we are seeing with duration and continuous elongation that no one needs.

Read Also: Oppenheimer Movie Review

Godzilla and Kong – The New Empire: evaluation and conclusion

Much of the charm of the Titans has been lost. Or perhaps we have gone too far with the narrative, with the “easy” film where the only difficulty is the computer graphics. Does the public need these products today? Most likely not. We are increasingly addicted to amazement and without innovation, the entire schedule of this type of film is destined to collapse in on itself. Godzilla and Kong – The New Empire will certainly not be a flop and, with particular certainty, we can say that it will not be the last in the series. Those most fond of the two kaiju will always go to see and follow every step of the franchise, with good hope that sooner or later some improvement will arrive. A second viewing is not foreseen. Released in cinemas on March 28, 2024, produced by Legendary Entertainment and Warner Bros.