GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE
Starring: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, and Fala Chen
Director: Adam Wingard
CALEB
I mean this as both a compliment and a critique, but Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is the cinematic equivalent of a little kid smashing action figures together. It’s two hours of fan-service with bright colors and big monsters performing wrestling moves on each-other. If that sounds appealing, then you’re probably a kaiju shill like me…and if you are a kaiju shill like me, then you’ll probably love this. As far as the cinematography, writing, and action goes, this is a noticeable downgrade from Godzilla vs. Kong, but it’s still an entertaining addition to the MonsterVerse.
AMARÚ
While Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is very silly, it’s a fun time. Director Adam Wingard knows the MonsterVerse’s strengths, and he delivers action-packed Kaiju battles featuring the most interesting Titan of them all, Kong (who is 100% an old black man). The humans are there, with Bryan Tyree Henry being ridiculous in not the best ways, Dan Stevens being ridiculous in all the best ways, and Rebecca Hall and Kaylee Hottle’s relationship providing a small bit of emotion. But again, Kong is the reason to watch these films, and if he comes back to ride again with Godzilla, I’ll be back too.
ADRIANO
I'm just so unbelievably tired of movies like Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Films that suck the life out of what made the IP so beloved and iconic in exchange for an MCU-style slopfest and exposition machine. Now, you might be saying, "it's not that serious, I just want to see Godzilla and King Kong team up and fight." You don't get that for a full 90 minutes, and whatever kaiju stuff happens is too cartoonish and toothless to be entertaining. I want this style of blockbuster to go away so badly.
QUENTIN
Finally, they get it! Godzilla x Kong is exactly what I’ve been asking for with the MonsterVerse entries, in that it’s mostly a movie about giant monster fights with a small human story instead of the other way around. That said, is it good? Absolutely fucking not. It’s dumb as hell, but it’s fun as hell too. It doesn’t matter that none of it makes a lick of sense becau…wait, is Godzilla sleeping like a cat in the Roman Colosseum? Sold. As big turn-your-brain-off franchises go, this one has surpassed and supplanted the Fast franchise as the best one going. Give me more.
