‘Godzilla vs Kong’ Gets It Right – No Spoiler Review
The largest on-screen monster fight of the year has arrived – and it’s a ton of fun!
This is the first hybrid release Warner Bros. have done that I’ve been excited to see. I’ve been so-so on the recent run of Godzilla movies, but I found Kong: Skull Island to be a lot of goofy fun. I walked into this expecting a bit of both from director Adam Wingard and the returning cast. Movies like this walk a wire that’s easy to fall off – create something too serious and it’s a slog but create something too campy, and it’s a joke.
What I got was a balancing act with big monsters, big action, and an unexpectedly big universe.
It Takes You for a Ride – Not a Lecture
The movie comes in at a little over two hours, and it goes by fast. It’s well-paced and goes from one beat to the next without messing around. There are no excess, time-eating scenes filled with explanations and pontificating or slo-mo. The story gives what you need to know when you need to know it and added background information doesn’t get in the way of the ride. It’s a great popcorn movie you can enjoy without feeling tired at the end.
It’s Properly Lit and Full of Color
I am so tired of desaturation and watching movies like they’re behind a veil of fog (I’m looking at you, anything Zack Snyder has made). Godzilla vs. Kong has a lot of colors – from the lush greens of Skull Island and the electric blue of Godzilla’s energy to the blazing neon of Hong Kong. This movie is not afraid of color or daylight and takes full advantage to make scenes better. It makes the monster action more exciting because you can actually see what they’re doing. I am all for it.
The Monsters are Amazing
Kong and Godzilla both get the visual space they need to exist. Director Adam Wingard gives them both big, wide shots to show just how large the two titans are. He also goes for wide shots in fights instead of a bunch of tight punch/kick/bite cuts that really lets you really see the two duke it out – Kong’s full-body punches are fantastic.
They also both have real characters. Kong retains his full breadth of emotions and facial expressions from Skull Island; he’s as sympathetic as he is powerful. Godzilla, the no-nonsense king, exists to put things back in order. You don’t want to be on the other end of one of his disapproving grimaces.
The Sound is Awesome
Godzilla and Kong both sound badass. That’s all I have to say about that.
It’s Not Afraid to Be a Little Bit Campy
Godzilla vs Kong knows and believes in what it is – a fantastical and campy action movie. It’s got great actors doing stupid and impossible things that defy all natural laws, but it’s a movie about an electricity-conducting dinosaur and a giant ape destroying cities while beating each other up. Everything fits into the universe that they inhabit, and everyone takes it seriously enough that it’s not an outright joke (this is not 1998’s Godzilla). You just have to give up logic and go with it. If you can do that, it’s a really fun movie.
Watching Godzilla vs Kong is a great way to spend two hours of your weekend. It’s got a little bit of everything – fantasy, sci-fi, action, drama, and comedy. If you’re looking for a movie to watch with your older kiddos (note: it is PG-13), this is a great pick. I bet you’ll end up watching it at least twice.
Godzilla vs Kong is available in theaters and on HBOMax until April 30th.
