Legendary Pictures takes a fresh approach with their latest movie, following the straightforward clash between Godzilla and Kong in “Godzilla vs. Kong.” Drawing inspiration from the 1962 classic “King Kong vs. Godzilla,” director Adam Wingard and his team craft a more scattered and occasionally whimsical storyline. They intertwine multiple plotlines from different locations, all leading towards an epic showdown involving various creatures.
In “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” anthropologist Ilene Andrews (portrayed by Rebecca Hall) is at the forefront as she cares for her adopted daughter Jia (played by Kaylie Hottle). Ilene delves into unraveling the mystery behind strange energy pulses detected by the Monarch Project’s technology and Jia’s cryptic drawings. Alongside muckraker Bernie Hayes (portrayed by Brian Tyree Henry), they stumble upon a distress signal and a warning of imminent disaster. The film introduces a concealed civilization of Kong-like creatures in Hollow Earth, ruled by a ruthless dictator, setting the stage for a climactic battle for control of the surface world, reminiscent of scenes from “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.”
Despite being a longtime fan of the franchise, the scattered and unfocused nature of “Godzilla x Kong” is disheartening compared to its predecessors. The film struggles to find its momentum, burdened by excessive exposition in its attempts to ensure the audience understands every detail. However, the epic showdowns, particularly the finale, remain impressive and well-executed. Performances, both live-action and motion capture, are commendable, albeit hindered by weak dialogue and rushed storytelling. With more finesse and patience, certain sequences and relationships could have been truly exceptional.
Adding a quirky touch to the cast, Dan Stevens portrays Ilene’s daring ex-boyfriend, known as the first kaiju veterinarian with a penchant for quoting poetry. Despite sharing great chemistry with Brian Tyree Henry, the film fails to fully capitalize on their dynamic. Additionally, the relationship between Kong and a young ape in Hollow Earth, while promising, feels underdeveloped. This echoes the parallel stories of adoptive parenting between Ilene and Jia, offering rich material that the film fails to fully explore.
The CGI creature designs take a more cartoonish turn in this installment, and the introduction of the villain comes too late, depriving the audience of a fully developed conflict with Kong. Unlike the previous movie’s exploration of Kong and Godzilla’s dynamic, there’s a lack of character depth here, with Godzilla feeling like a secondary character. A smarter approach prioritizing the richly depicted apes and their interactions with humans could have potentially enhanced the narrative, sidelining Godzilla’s role.
For fans of the adventurous spirit embodied by the Legendary Pictures monster franchise, there are still moments to enjoy in this film. However, it’s disappointing that these moments are overshadowed, requiring viewers to search for them.
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Plot | “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” offers a fresh approach by weaving multiple plotlines inspired by “King Kong vs. Godzilla,” leading to an epic showdown with various creatures. However, the narrative feels scattered and occasionally whimsical. |
| Characters | Rebecca Hall’s character, anthropologist Ilene Andrews, takes center stage as she cares for her adopted daughter Jia, with the help of muckraker Bernie Hayes. A quirky addition, Dan Stevens plays Ilene’s daring ex-boyfriend, bringing chemistry but lacking full exploration. |
| Relationships | Kong forms a bond with a young ape in Hollow Earth, mirroring Ilene and Jia’s connection. However, both relationships are underdeveloped, missing opportunities for depth and exploration. |
| CGI and Creature Designs | The CGI creature designs appear more cartoonish, detracting from the realism of the film. |
| Villain and Conflict | The introduction of the villain is delayed, resulting in a lack of fully developed conflict with Kong. Kong’s moral code contrasts sharply with the villain’s cruelty, making his eventual triumph feel less satisfying. |
| Focus on Ape Storyline | The film lacks focus on the ape storyline, which could have been its strength. Godzilla feels like a secondary character, overshadowed by the ape characters. |
| Enjoyment of Adventurous Spirit | Fans of the franchise will find moments to enjoy, but the film’s scattered nature may disappoint. |
