Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)

Directed by: Adam Wingard | 113 minutes | action, science fiction | Actors: Alexander Skarsgård, Milly Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Shun Oguri, Eiza González, Julian Dennison, Lance Reddick, Kyle Chandler, Demián Bichir, Kaylee Hottle, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Ronny Chieng, John Pirruccello, Chris Chalk

Godzilla vs. Kong’ is the fourth film and the intended crown jewel in the so-called MonsterVerse series. The film pits two of the strongest and most popular giant animals in cinema history: the immense, extremely strong and super-powered primal reptile Godzilla and the intelligent and fierce giant gorilla (King) Kong. An epic confrontation that the lover of the better monster film, partly due to the forced closure of the cinemas in corona time, had to wait a long time. Godzilla and Kong went head to head in 1962, but the rivals were still played by people in cheap rubber suits.

In ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ is a lot more spoiled for the eye and an army of computer artists has spared no effort to bring the gargantuan protagonists to life in an impressive way. The film opens with Kong waking up from his afternoon nap, scratching his ass extensively and taking a leisurely walk through the jungle. However, he lives in a simulated version of his original home, as Skull Island has been devastated by a mega storm. He is monitored 24 hours a day by a team of scientists and has developed a close relationship with the deaf girl Jia. She communicates with Kong through sign language.

Godzilla, who has been portrayed as a protector of humanity in the previous films, has gone astray for apparently inexplicable reasons (in reality, however, he has the right to be furious) and in subtle ways makes a facility of research organization Apex Cybernetics razed to the ground. Walter Simmons, the president of this company, wants to stop Godzilla and set himself up as the protector of humanity. But he needs Kong for that. The great gorilla is the only one who can show people the way to the ‘hollow earth’, a world in the interior of the planet where the Titans (giant creatures) originally come from. There is said to be an ancient power source that can stop Godzilla. The problem: Saving Kong from an attack from Godzilla, as the giant sea dragon doesn’t like to share his confirmed alpha male status in the monster realm with an oversized ape in ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’.

You can watch ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ is a wonderful and action-packed extravaganza. Director Adam Wingard knows what the majority of his intended viewership wants: two legendary movie monsters who fight hard. No expense has been spared in portraying the confrontations between Godzilla and Kong. At sea, the illustrious pair make short shrift of a naval fleet and the super-beings face off on a massive aircraft carrier, which of course succumbs to the strength and weight of the two giants. Later in the film, they do it all over again and Godzilla and Kong knock skyscrapers to the ground as if the tall buildings were made of papier-mâché.

The visual effects are to die for, especially if you have the pleasure of seeing this film on a big screen. What is also striking is that the title creatures have a bit more expression than in the previous MonsterVerse films. Especially Kong, who gets the most attention and screen time of the two, is a creature in this film that shows clear feelings, an emotional anchor in a sometimes crazy spectacle. Affection, sadness and anger are no stranger to the giant primate. The expressive repertoire of our scaly and spiky supreme monster is somewhat more limited, but the triumphant grin that Godzilla shows when he gives his opponent a good beating is reminiscent of the look of Dirty Harry who shoots a vile criminal to the afterlife with his Magnum.

Although the fans of both Godzilla and Kong get their money’s worth and both super creatures deal and take striking blows, the makers do have the guts to ultimately designate a clear winner. In addition, in the last part of the film, an old acquaintance from the rich Godzilla franchise appears, an enormously powerful antagonist that Godzilla and Kong can only overcome with combined forces.

The not overly intelligent and sometimes rattling story is mainly a vehicle for and prelude to the action scenes. The theory of the hollow earth, which earlier films already played with, is further elaborated here. Don’t expect a geologically, biologically or physically responsible consideration, but a plot that is mainly made to stage the next confrontation between the two giants. Many storylines are funny nonsense and mainly intended to legitimize even more eye-pleasing image sorcery. Fortunately, ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ at such a fast pace that it is almost impossible to get distracted by the sometimes implausible details and plot twists. The alternate realm that is the hollow earth looks enchantingly beautiful. Plus, it shows us yet another outrageous array of new, beautifully crafted fantasy creatures.

As in “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” and to a lesser extent “Godzilla” and “Kong: Skull Island,” the human concerns in “Godzilla vs. Kong’ subservient to the monster violence. For example, the storyline in which Madison Russell (who we still know from ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’) goes in search of the dark intentions of Apex Cybernetics with a friend and a conspiracy theorist with no sense of humor adds little to the film. The relationship between Jia and Kong, on the other hand, is a nice and engaging resting point in a loud action bonanza. Not as moving and profound as the bond between Ann Darrow and Kong in Peter Jackson’s ‘King Kong’, but still worth checking out.

Godzilla vs. Kong’ is a film that the critics worldwide certainly do not agree on. Some of them smirkingly describe the print as a ‘child randomly smashing monster figures against each other’, while other reviewers call it a ‘voluptuous spectacle and a heartwarming drama about animals and their human friends’. There are arguments for both categorizations, but the second comes closer to the truth. High-flown storytelling is ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ isn’t, but as an escapist popcorn movie, this visual treat more than lives up to expectations. And let that be the essence of a good monster movie. Leave the world behind for a moment and immerse yourself in a fantasy universe that houses creatures that capture our imagination and defy every existing law of nature.