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Godzilla vs. Kong: Hail to the Monster Kings
4 years ago
After King Kong and Godzilla first clashed in 1962's King Kong vs Godzilla, they go head to head again for the title of Alpha Titan in one of the best-non comic-based crossovers in generations.
Now I won't spoil anything but I will promise the real winners are us fans for getting such a movie remade for the first time in 59 years. One fun fact I feel the need to mention is that one of the key script writers is Terry Rossio, who wrote the script for the Jan De Bont version of the '98 Tristar picture which is referenced in this picture if you've ever read it or the fan made comic based off it.
Kong for example is older than last seen in Kong Skull Island and still has just as much heart given to his character as before; here he has a friend in a young Iwi girl named Jia and their connection is what could be called the heart of the movie as it has a good deal of focus if not the focus outside of his conflicts with the Big G. Fitting enough, this is the first Kaiju flick Kong's been in where he doesn't look an ounce ridiculous and his fighting style reminds me of Kratos from God of War in some scenes.
Godzilla is the muscle of the bunch while his arc involves him suddenly attacking mankind and Madison Russell and Monarch working around the clock to figure out what's bugging him all of a sudden. While Kong's fighting reminds me of Kratos, the Big G's style is what can best be called a combination of how every Godzilla did battle in the past and wild animals at their most hostile.
As for music, Junkie XL gets the job done as his main Godzilla theme both references Akira Ifukube's classic theme while juxtaposes Bear McCreary's pulse-pounding version as ominous and foreboding akin to the King's haunting themes in the 1954 original. Kong's theme on the other hand is more tribal and peaceful akin to spa music in certain notes.
While the only returning characters are the Russell family from KOTM but only Madison takes center stage in looking into Godzilla's latest rampages alongside friend Josh played by Julian Dennison and odd but funny conspiracy podcaster Bernie played by Brian Tyree Henry while her dad Mark doesn't have as key a role as he was previously.
Jia is portrayed by actress Kaylee Hottle whose real-life deafness comes into play via her communications with Kong in some fascinating sign language display and her guardian/mother figure Dr Illene Andrews works with Monarch agent Nathan Lind to explore the hollow earth talked about in the previous two entries with Kong taking center stage. In fact, one could call Kong the center monster while Godzilla only appears when his character needs to which is a rare balance for crossover films.
Other characters that appear are Demián Bichir APEX CEO Walter Simmons and Shun Oguri as scientist Ren Serizawa; son of Dr. Serizawa but that connection isn't mentioned at all in the movie nor is anything said about his father's sacrifice. While their characters aren't deeply written, they make their mark in the film in a certain project they're working on having deadly consequences and a familiar angle you'll recognize right off the bat.
But this movie delivers what it promises in the title in having an all-out battle to the finish between Godzilla and Kong not seen in decades with my guarantee that the ending is essentially the best way to end any kind of crossover action movie. My advice is to see it on HBO Max if you have it like I do or catch in the movies if you're careful (personally I'm waiting to get vaccinated and then venture out to the movies to see it again on the big screen for the thrill)
Now I won't spoil anything but I will promise the real winners are us fans for getting such a movie remade for the first time in 59 years. One fun fact I feel the need to mention is that one of the key script writers is Terry Rossio, who wrote the script for the Jan De Bont version of the '98 Tristar picture which is referenced in this picture if you've ever read it or the fan made comic based off it.
Kong for example is older than last seen in Kong Skull Island and still has just as much heart given to his character as before; here he has a friend in a young Iwi girl named Jia and their connection is what could be called the heart of the movie as it has a good deal of focus if not the focus outside of his conflicts with the Big G. Fitting enough, this is the first Kaiju flick Kong's been in where he doesn't look an ounce ridiculous and his fighting style reminds me of Kratos from God of War in some scenes.
Godzilla is the muscle of the bunch while his arc involves him suddenly attacking mankind and Madison Russell and Monarch working around the clock to figure out what's bugging him all of a sudden. While Kong's fighting reminds me of Kratos, the Big G's style is what can best be called a combination of how every Godzilla did battle in the past and wild animals at their most hostile.
As for music, Junkie XL gets the job done as his main Godzilla theme both references Akira Ifukube's classic theme while juxtaposes Bear McCreary's pulse-pounding version as ominous and foreboding akin to the King's haunting themes in the 1954 original. Kong's theme on the other hand is more tribal and peaceful akin to spa music in certain notes.
While the only returning characters are the Russell family from KOTM but only Madison takes center stage in looking into Godzilla's latest rampages alongside friend Josh played by Julian Dennison and odd but funny conspiracy podcaster Bernie played by Brian Tyree Henry while her dad Mark doesn't have as key a role as he was previously.
Jia is portrayed by actress Kaylee Hottle whose real-life deafness comes into play via her communications with Kong in some fascinating sign language display and her guardian/mother figure Dr Illene Andrews works with Monarch agent Nathan Lind to explore the hollow earth talked about in the previous two entries with Kong taking center stage. In fact, one could call Kong the center monster while Godzilla only appears when his character needs to which is a rare balance for crossover films.
Other characters that appear are Demián Bichir APEX CEO Walter Simmons and Shun Oguri as scientist Ren Serizawa; son of Dr. Serizawa but that connection isn't mentioned at all in the movie nor is anything said about his father's sacrifice. While their characters aren't deeply written, they make their mark in the film in a certain project they're working on having deadly consequences and a familiar angle you'll recognize right off the bat.
But this movie delivers what it promises in the title in having an all-out battle to the finish between Godzilla and Kong not seen in decades with my guarantee that the ending is essentially the best way to end any kind of crossover action movie. My advice is to see it on HBO Max if you have it like I do or catch in the movies if you're careful (personally I'm waiting to get vaccinated and then venture out to the movies to see it again on the big screen for the thrill)
Also, fun fact in case you didn't know this. Jia isn't "portrayed" as deaf. She REALLY IS deaf.