Director: Adam Wingard

Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Brian Tyree Henry, Kaylee Hottle, Alexander Skarsgård, Rebecca Hall, Eiza González, Kyle Chandler, Demián Bichir, & Shun Oguri

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Well, if anything, this film definitely delivers its title. There were so many moments that I would’ve loved to see in IMAX which is a testament to that real movie experience this film provides. 

Now, I did go back to watch the 2019 Godzilla: King of Monsters film because one thing this film does lack is a solid story due to pacing, and I really wanted to see if other films that were part of this series were as “cheesy” and “choppy” plot wise, and…nope. Godzilla: King of Monsters was really good, in my opinion. I mean, plot, pacing, cinematography…it was really good. Meanwhile, #GodzillaVsKong… yeah, that plot and starting pace was not as strong. 

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Below are my grades for key components in #GodzillaVsKong that I find to be key in any story/film—Theme, Plot, Pacing, and Character Arc/Development. 

Additionally, I have added an entertainment factor scale to help you determine whether or not the film is something you’d be interested in taking time out of your weekend, evening, or day to watch. The scale range consists of: Worth the Watch, Interesting Enough (if looking for something new to start), & Don’t Rush.

I have also added a few non-spoiling thoughts, wonderings, and comments as I watched the film to help give some rationale for my grades and entertainment scale.

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Theme: B

Plot: C

Pacing: A-

Character Arc/Development: C

General Entertainment Factor: Worth the Watch

Film Enthusiast Entertainment Factor: Interesting Enough

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Takeaways:

1. To start, as mentioned in the introduction to this review, the highlights of this film are all the moments that focus on Godzilla vs Kong. Every fight scene was just amazing to watch. 🙌🏾🙌🏾

2. I am not sure if that “corporation” is something new in this film franchise, but I wasn’t a fan of its existence. Something about it felt so sudden, so random…so forced for the sake of adding tension to the plot. 👎🏾

3. I really liked Bernie’s character, and wished there was more focus on him to start the film as the eyes to providing some true background to “the corporation.” 🤔

4. To be honest, I was on the fence with Kong and Jia’s relationship…not because it was odd, but because I feel like we always find some way in film to make that human-primate connection… 🤷🏾‍♂️

5. Speaking of Jia, I appreciated her character! 👍🏾

6. And while on this “Godzilla vs Kong” train, Kong’s story was the strongest of this film. There was more cohesion with Kong’s storyline than with Godzilla’s. 👍🏾

7. Also, to piggyback off point #6, I feel like the film was trying to drive this theme of “home,” but I wouldn’t say it was executed as strongly as it could’ve been. Kong’s character definitely follows this theme, but I wouldn’t say I was totally sold on him “wanting to be home” vs simply “wanting to be free.” Meanwhile, one could argue that Godzilla’s storyline focused on the possibility of being removed/replaced from this world he has come to call “home,” and his response to that. However, I think Godzilla’s storyline starts to shift the theme towards a focus on natural habitat/instinct which also can be seen as “home-adjacent,” and supports the “vs” aspect of the film better…  🤔

8. Also, Chile… Kong’s “home” was ghetto… I prefer the containment facility… 👀🤷🏾‍♂️🤣

9. The good thing about the pacing is how quickly the film got us to Kong and Godzilla crossing paths because that exposition that focused primarily on Godzilla… … #Trash. 🥴

10. You know, watching this film was the first time that I really had to stop and remind myself that this is a sci-fi/high fantasy film. I was beginning to be annoyed with a few of, what I took to be, random ass science/technology aspects…(I think I got so caught up in just the culture of Godzilla and Kong that I forget that this actually is part of the fantastical genre).😅

11. It’s a little hard to think about character arc with 2 characters whose stories are pretty much controlled through other people, but when focusing on 1. The Godzilla vs Kong set up, and 2. Kong’s story, the arc is actually decent because the film seems to put these entities in a situation that shakes up the idea of who they are supposed to be “by nature.” Again, Kong’s storyline allows for a very clear development to take place. Godzilla’s storyline, on the other hand, isn’t as apparent until you get to the last act of fight scenes.  👍🏾

12. I’m not sure how I feel about Madison’s character compared to her character in the 2019 Godzilla story… the progression of her arc just…something felt too different, and almost like a detoured pivot from who she was in 2019…🥴

13. THANK YOU, Kong…for that “HEAV” crush… 🤣🙌🏾🙌🏾

14. Didn’t they say they were evacuating the city? Why were people STILL dining in that skyscraper? Running down the stairs? On the streets? 🤨🤨

15. Also, how was Dr. Lind able to make that distance on a limp? He should’ve died. 🤦🏾‍♂️

16. OOOOOOOO yes for “that battle!” That was such a good turn of events. 👏🏾👏🏾

17. Josh was annoying… I don’t know how I feel about his character even being in the film. 🤦🏾‍♂️

18. Also, the sudden response and demeanor towards Godzilla after the “corporation event…” They really tried to stretch back to the early sentiments people had at the beginning of the 2019 film… but that was clearly changed by the end of that film…so it felt forced for the sake of tension. 🤦🏾‍♂️👎🏾

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Overall, #GodzillaVsKong is enjoyable after the first 30-45 minutes…maybe hour—the exposition is long while also being a little rushed and not fully flushed out for me. Once you get through all of that, the story and pace picks up, starts to come together, and moves quite well for the purpose of action and the title. Additionally, the fight cinematography is SO blockbuster Hollywood, which is super fun/exciting to see. 

The issue is Godzilla’s storyline, which also involved the villain’s existence. It’s like they didn’t quite know how to give him purpose for this collab, and quickly threw together some left over ideas from King of Monsters…and a little bit of Power Rangers…