Godzilla vs. Kong

The massive trailer campaign hinted from the start that there would be something more besides Godzilla and King Kong's bickering, which is why I ignored most of the trailers and relied on the element of surprise. Each of the previous three films was formally distinct, and while I strongly prefer the dark and brooding Edwards's Godzilla, I've found the development of MonsterVerse so far at least interesting and entertaining. Godzilla vs. Kong confirms this trend and delivers yet another different experience, the qualities of which, however, fall short of the enormous expectations as far as I’m concerned. Wingard doesn't give a damn about atmosphere and serves up a popcorn romp where events and geographical locations alternate with disproportionate speed and where none of the dozen characters are given enough room to stand out. The film obviously develops the concept of the King of the Monsters, and humanity, previously helpless and fearfully cowering at the presence of the titans, finally develops into a fundamental agent of events that directly controls the movement and actions of the monsters. It's almost disheartening to see the dominant Kong being dragged around in chains for half the film, with random songs from the last century occasionally playing. Mostly, though, it jumps furiously between several lines, one reminiscent of an infiltration tale from Stranger Things and another of Journey to the Centre of the Earth, with music blaring in to drown out much of the dialogue. The visual effects are certainly great and Wingard surprises with playful camera angles during the fight sequences, so the action itself is easily entertaining and the second half in particular creates some rhythm. Personally, however, I was expecting a darker and more coherent result and I can't help being bitterly disappointed. 60% (03/04/2021)

By this axe I rule! A perfect movie for kids, quoting from old Verne books. The story combines Japanese cartoons from the sixties with the screenplay for Batman v Superman (spoiler: instead of Martha there is a flashy: "I don’t give a shit…"). Both fights are a feast for the eyes. Inventive, dynamic and beautifully filmed. This calls for a movie theater. Whether it is the lights of Hong Kong or paddling in the water, the action looks like a wet dream of all (once child) monster movies fans. Damn the physics and the listless characters. You don’t go to the theater to see a movie like this because of the logic. To the movie theater. Sniff. Whiskey is a savior. I’ll have another... (02/04/2021)

Godzilla vs. Kong is about... whatever. It's just about getting a giant ape and a giant lizard in the same place and letting them smash each other's faces in for twenty minutes. The action is energetic, visually arresting and, thanks to the great cinematography, entertaining. Everything around it, i.e. the universe-building efforts, the old and new characters and the dialogue, is nothing but filler for the time between waiting for the next fight. Both King Kong and Godzilla are better than that. But they're really good at the action this time. (05/04/2021)

I'm almost monstrously satisfied. After the previous film, let alone after the trailer for this one, I didn't expect the atmosphere of Edwards' Godzilla to return (although it's too bad), and I was mainly looking forward to the fun with special effects, which I also got to see. Perhaps the only bad thing is the full-speed-ahead rush from the very beginning, because I could easily wait for a while for the first duel between Godzilla and Kong on ships, or even give it up, and I would like to stay longer in hollow earth. I appreciate that the title monsters have become regular characters, and for example, when Kong triumphantly raises an ancient ax or sits on the throne, you get exactly the feeling you should get. A giant plus is the well-arranged action (the finale in Hong Kong, and that's why I'm glad I waited to see it in the movie theater) supported by Holkenborg's music. (10/06/2021)

Kong II, king of the monsters. I could practically copy my comments from the other Godzilla reviews, with perhaps one positive amendment, that this time there was at least something to see during the fight scenes. However, you still have to spend an incredibly long time watching the inconsequential, clichéd, and absolutely intolerable characters, some of whom are on screen just to stare up at the sky and mindlessly repeating the catchy monster names. Also, I have to say that even though I was in such distress, I was still somehow waiting for the screenwriters to add another act to the storyline we have seen a million times before, which would provide at least one element of surprise. However, it was not to be, so the movie ends, and you go, "Oh, was that it?" I had to shake my head at the obvious references to 2001: A Space Odyssey, the first Star Wars movie, and I am guessing Tron, unless I did not imagine that due to the excess of neon lights. Also, throwing knowing references at the audience does not necessarily make a good movie. The only thing that lifted my spirits is that it all seems like the swan song of the series, and I sincerely hope it is. (02/04/2021)