GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE movie poster | ©2024 Warner Bros.

Rating: PG-13
Stars: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle
Writers: Terry Rossio and Simon Barrett and Jeremy Slater, story by Terry Rossio & Adam Wingard & Simon Barrett
Director: Adam Wingard
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: March 29, 2024

Although both of the main characters have their origins in film rather than printed matter, GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE feels more like an old-school mainstream comic book than most movie releases from Marvel or DC. The good guys are very good, the bad guys are very bad, warnings on computer systems frequently have double exclamation points, and, should an unfamiliar language need translation, one of the characters can always exhibit previously unmentioned telepathic abilities regarding fellow humans.

GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE is the latest in the series of interlinked movies that began with 2014’s GODZILLA and continues through 2017’s KONG: SKULL ISLAND, 2019’s GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS, and 2021’s GODZILLA VS. KONG, as well as the 2023-2024 Apple TV+ miniseries MONARCH: LEGACY OF MONSTERS.

Summarizing the details would take forever, so here are the basics. Godzilla has turned out to be one of a number of giant creatures, called Titans, inhabiting the Earth. While he doesn’t interact with humans and has no respect for real estate, Godzilla will sometimes defend humanity against more hostile Titans.

As a giant gorilla, Kong is fonder of people, especially young deaf Jia (Kaylee Hottle). Like Kong, Jia hails from Skull Island; she is the last known survivor of the Iwi tribe. In GODZILLA VS. KONG, Kong and Jia bonded via sign language.

At the end of GODZILLA VS. KONG, the big lizard and the big ape teamed up to take down Mecha Godzilla. Godzilla then went back to the ocean depths, while Kong took off to explore the underground/alternate dimension/someplace-not-here of Hollow Earth to search for more of his kind.

This is where we’re all at when GODZILLA X KONG begins. Kong is continuing to look for other giant gorillas. Jia’s adoptive mother, Dr. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall), is one of the head scientists at Monarch, the organization that’s been studying the various Titan creatures since the 1950s. When there seems to be trouble in Hollow Earth, Ilene, Jia, eccentric but brilliant podcaster Bernie Hayes (Brian Tyree Henry, also back from GODZILLA VS. KONG), and mega-veterinarian Trapper (Dan Stevens, new to the franchise) all go there to find out what’s wrong, at the same time that something seems to be bothering Godzilla topside.

Although Godzilla is first in the title, this is really Kong’s show. He gets to emote, reflect, grow as an individual, and even go on a hairy hero’s journey. (It’s a real shame the motion-capture performer is not prominently credited.) Godzilla is there mainly to serve as punctuation whenever pacing dictates that city sections have gone unstomped for too long, and of course for the climactic battle.

Director Adam Wingard, back for a second go-round after VS., devised the story with Terry Rossio & Simon Barrett; Rossio is credited with the screenplay along with Barrett and Jeremy Slater. They all keep things moving at a good speed, although Wingard and the VFX team have proportional problems with one new character, whose size in relation to his surroundings is frankly confusing.

We do wonder why the previously water-dwelling Godzilla is showing a taste for napping in the hot sun here, which is not addressed. It might be less of an issue of the movie were less sincerely geeky, but here it seems like something that would worry the Monarch scientists, and appears to be more for visual value than story coherence.

We see lots of different monsters, which are enjoyable. It must be said that the primary villain here is a bit underwhelming, especially after the formidable King Ghidora in GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS and the gloriously absurd Mecha-Godzilla in GODZILLA VS. KONG. Still, GODZILLA X KONG proceeds pretty much as it feels like it should.

We also get a lot of joy from the actors, who are all energetic and ready to set up and/or deliver punchlines with verve. It’s especially pleasing to see young Hottle, who is deaf and indigenous, hold center screen with such poise.

GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE has a sincere commitment to its tone, which is being huge and playful without winking directly at us. It’s straight-faced dumb fun.

Related: Movie Review: ASPHALT CITY
Related: Movie Review: IN THE LAND OF SAINTS & SINNERS
Related: Movie Review: LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL
Related: Movie Review: CABRINI
Related: Movie Review: SLEEPING DOGS
Related: Movie Review: GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE
Related: Movie Review: THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAGICAL NEGROS
Related: Movie Review: KUNG FU PANDA 4
Related: Movie Review: IMAGINARY
Related: Movie Review: NIGHT SHIFT
Related: Movie Review: T-BLOCKERS
Related: Movie Review: DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS
Related: Movie Review: CELLPHONE
Related: Movie Review: NO WAY UP
Related: Movie Review: LISA FRANKENSTEIN
Related: Movie Review: OUT OF DARKNESS
Related: Movie Review: ARGYLLE
Related: Movie Review: DEPARTING SENIORS
Related: Movie Review:MILLER’S GIRL
Related: Movie Review: CULT KILLER
Related: Movie Review: THANKSGIVING
Related: Movie Review: HELLHOUNDS
Related: Movie Review: SUNRISE
Related: Movie Review: MEAN GIRLS
Related: Movie Review: NIGHT SWIM
Related: Movie Review: MAESTRO

Follow us on Twitter at ASSIGNMENT X
Like us on Facebook at ASSIGNMENT X

Article Source: Assignment X
Article: Movie Review: GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE

Related Posts: