In this sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong, King Kong, now living in Hollow Earth, comes across a new threat to the surface world. Meanwhile, something seems to have Godzilla on the move, but what?
This transitions really nicely from the last film by focusing on the Hollow Earth that King Kong has found himself home in. The last couple KK films have focused on the loneliness of finding a place for himself and searching for any remaining members of his kind. His journey is interesting affair as he finally gets to encounter other giant gorillas. He's actually strangely the most appealing character, saying so much without dialogue. He never starts anything in this and just wants to live his life, and you kind of feel for him as has to put up with everyone else just looking for trouble.
Understand that this is the Kong movie featuring Godzilla. The big G really doesn't do much till the grand finale. Though, it's understandable. I've read that Toho has several rules on what cannot be done with Godzilla (which, given how off-brand the 90's American attempt was, it's understandable). They want him to remain a force of nature, which means ixnay on the human-like facial expressions.
I won't speak much about the main villain here (the first original creation since the Mutos in the first Godzilla film) since their appearance is an Oogie Boogie-style slow burn, but they may be one of the best antagonists in the series, having a fun design and having more personality and being cleverer than other giant monsters.
I've heard complaints about the human subplot (a small group traveling to Hollow Earth in order to find out what's bothering Godzilla), but I'm not seeing it. I felt it was interesting enough. This movie builds a lot more upon the relationship of scientist Ilene Andrews (played by Rebecca Hall) and her adopted daughter Jia (Kaylee Hottle), the last of her tribe, and the now older Jia dealing with her identity. Whereas the last film had the novel decision to have two completely separated groups of heroes for each monster's subplot, this one consolidates the group, dropping several characters. Out of team G, they retained one of the more standout members, podcaster and conspiracy theorist Bernie Hayes (Brian Tyree Henry), whose comical elements seem to have increased a little in this. (I will miss the his other members and am surprised that the guy who leads the monster observing organization Monarch doesn't even have a cameo, but I understand that director Adam Wingard (who also the last film, the most recent Blair Witch, and Your're Next) probably didn't want to oversaturate the story now that it was simpler and more time was needed for Kong's story. On the Kong team's side, they're mostly back, but the scientist guy is replaced with another guy, Trapper (Downton Abbey/the live-action Beauty and the Beast's Dan Stevens). I don't see the reason for the change (the last guy wasn't irreplaceable per se, but he did well and had a good rapport with Ilene and Jia). Trapper serves as the "speaks for the natural order" guy, and he does well enough. Thing is the script has both him and Bernie be the odd, funny guys, and it feels like the movie only needed one. Though, there a few moments where the "weird guys but in different ways"interaction energy pays off.
Course, most people are here for the action, and like the last film, this one delivers. Wingard exercises a little more creativity with the fight choreography and the effects look great. Although, I think that the last film was slightly superior when it came to intensity. However, it also feels like Wingard and the writers really didn't care about putting the monsters out of harms way (even less than last time). If you have issue with rooting for the big G and KK when they are also trampling a lot of people, this might not be for you.
The special effects are even better than last time. The entire look of Hollow Earth might be one of the most impressive science fiction/fantasy landscapes of this decade (real 70's/80's fantasies vibes).
Last thing to say is that like the last movie the epilogue wraps up too quickly. Would've liked a little more explanation.
Highly recommended. Very entertaining and the overall story feels tighter and more interesting than last time.
No comments:
Post a Comment