Review - 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire'

The super-monsters Godzilla and Kong team up for the first time to confront a far more powerful enemy deep within the Earth in this new action blockbuster.

*This article contains spoilers for the movie.

Trailer 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire'

Trailer for "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" - showing in Vietnamese cinemas from March 29th. Video : CGV

The new Godzilla: King Kong film is set several years after the battle between the two legendary monsters in Godzilla vs. Kong (2021). At this time, Kong returns to his home planet, Hollow Earth, discovers the whereabouts of his kind, and resumes a peaceful relationship with humanity. Meanwhile, Godzilla protects the surface world from attacks by several Titans (super-monsters).

The danger gradually emerges when Dr. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall) of Monarch—an organization specializing in Titan research—detects increasingly strong tremors in the Earth's core. Upon descending underground, she and her colleagues discover traces of an ancient civilization. At the same time, an evil force rises, led by Skar King, a Titan resembling Kong. Skar King also has a minion, Shimo, a colossal beast capable of freezing entire cities with his breath. Godzilla and Kong are forced to set aside their differences to prevent the world from entering a second ice age.

Kong and Godzilla team up to defeat their enemy in the new film. Photo: Warner Bros.

Director Adam Wingard leverages his strengths in special effects and setting to captivate audiences. The Titan battles are interspersed throughout the film's acts, while also increasing in scale and ferocity. The film's narrative primarily revolves around Kong, a monster with emotions and a strong connection to humanity.

The danger posed by the villain is subtly hinted at through various details from the beginning of the film, such as the giant handprint on the cliff. Not only does Skar King possess superior strength, but he also has a cunning and wicked mind, controlling Kong's kind to enslave them and wielding a whip made from the spines of their enemies. In the latter half of the film, the appearance of a super-monster creates drama and contributes to a change in the plot.

Skar King - the film's main villain. Photo: Warner Bros.

The Hollow Earth setting is explored more extensively and broadly than in the previous film. The underground world appears on the big screen as an ancient planet teeming with bizarre creatures. In contrast to the pristine forests where Kong lives, Skar King's empire is depicted as a hellish landscape with erupting volcanoes and scattered animal bones. The Iwi – a primitive tribe capable of communicating with the Titans – live in colorful quartz formations. On the surface, the director chooses famous landmarks, such as the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as battlegrounds for the Titans.

Despite impressive special effects, the script is not groundbreaking, with predictable plot developments . The story of Kong's origins is explored relatively well. At the beginning of the film, Kong is introduced sitting alone on a rock, lost in his own kingdom. Later, the character gains a valuable assistant – a baby ape – on his journey to fight evil, following the "unlikely duo" motif.

Jia (Kaylee Hottle) acts as a bridge between Kong and the human faction. Photo: Warner Bros.

Similar to Godzilla vs. Kong , the film features numerous scenes between Kong and humans to enhance the connection between the two characters. Jia (Kaylee Hottle), a young girl from the Iwi tribe, plays a crucial role in the group's investigation into the origins of Kong and the Titans. Continuing her role in the new installment, Kaylee Hottle has more screen time portraying the turbulent emotions of a teenage girl. Confused by the question "Who am I?", Jia finds solace in Ilene Andrews, her foster mother from the previous film. However, their relationship remains somewhat ambiguous, primarily added to enhance the film's humanistic message.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film received low scores from critics, with 55% "fresh tomatoes" based on over 160 expert reviews. Empire magazine described the film's climax as "a mess," and the human characters as superficial. Despite this, the film satisfied many viewers, receiving a 92% positive rating from audiences.

Mai Nhat

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