Sharing the screen for the first time since 1963, Godzilla vs. Kong is the culmination of Legendary’s plans to create a shared cinematic franchise. Inspired by the huge success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the films within the Monsterverse are centered around Monarch, the secret government agency which debuted in 2014’s Godzilla. After sowing the seeds over the course of four films, Godzilla vs. Kong finally brings two of popular culture’s most enduring icons, slugging it out in an ecosystem of other giant super-species.
Boasting impressive visual effects and enthralling action sequences, Godzilla vs. Kong delivers the kind of kaiju action that will satisfy most fanatics of gigantic reptiles and oversized monkeys. With a keen visual eye, the film celebrates the titular characters as well as their legacy, one that is almost a century old. With its impressive dedication to scale, gorgeously rendered special effects, as well as an appropriately heart thumping score, the latest Monsterverse instalment is a colossal spectacle that deserves to be seen on the big screen.
For a film featuring two leads that do not have any discernible lines of dialogue, Godzilla vs. Kong is surprisingly effective in the characterisation of the two titans. Serving as a sequel to both Skull Island and King of the Monsters, the film masterfully establishes the two leads within its opening minutes. While the film is certainly a monster brawl epic first and foremost, it is also a surprisingly emotional film, with Kong’s connection to scene-stealer Kaylee Hottle’s Jia serving as the emotional drive of the film.
Like previous entries in the film series, the human characters in Godzilla vs. Kong remain dull as dishwater. This time however, the film is hyper aware about its own identity, often shifting its focus back on the narrative and the titans instead of dwelling on the human drama. As a result, the film is greatly paced and delivers exactly what its title promised, two monsters slugging it out.
Removed from the constraints of being anything more meaningful than it is, Godzilla vs. Kong is easily the most enthralling instalment of the Monsterverse film series. By correcting some of the mistakes of its predecessors, the crossover film succeeds in delivering a crowd-pleasing, smash-’em-up monster flick. Who knew that in a movie featuring a lizard battling an ape, the audience would emerge as the real winner?
