After a 3-year hiatus in the MonsterVerse franchise, Godzilla and Kong have made a triumphant return in this blockbuster film that kicks off Hollywood’s summer movie season. Continuing the storyline from the previous installment, where the two titans faced off against Mechagodzilla, the film centers around Kong’s journey to explore the Hollow Earth after being guided back home by Monarch.
This film also marks a new chapter directed by Adam Wingard, further expanding the MonsterVerse universe while introducing new realms and powerful titan characters.
Kong Takes the Spotlight, Featuring a Human Character Who Is “Not” Overwhelmed
The focus of this installment is on the character of Kong. After being separated from his close companion Jia (played by Kaylee Hottle), he struggles with feelings of loneliness and hardship as he attempts to adapt to his new life in the Hollow Earth. During this time, Kong begins to uncover traces of his own kind. However, they are the ferocious Skar King’s species, a titan known for its immense size and deadly long claws.
Meanwhile, Godzilla awakens and begins to sense a disturbance that causes chaos on the surface world. The King of the Monsters starts searching for the vast energy sources hidden by humanity to prepare for an imminent battle. Jia and her guardian, Dr. Ilene Andrews (played by Rebecca Hall), suspect the cause of this disturbance may originate from a mysterious signal coming from the Hollow Earth. Together, they form a special team to venture down to investigate.
Here, the team discovers signals sent from the Iwi people, residing on the land of the ancient titans. They are warned that Godzilla’s impending return could be a harbinger of trouble, especially with the Skar King lurking in the shadows, aided by Shimo – a colossal titan resembling a monstrous alligator with explosive energy blasts.
The team dedicated considerable effort to develop Kong’s journey in this film. While Godzilla mainly appears as a lurking force, Kong’s exploration of his kind’s remnants adds a layer of tension to the narrative. The search for understanding leads to the revelation of the Skar King’s fierce species and the threat they pose to the world.
One of the major challenges for director Adam Wingard was to bring together Godzilla and Kong to collaborate against the Skar King – Shimo. Despite the complexity and the stakes, the film’s structure is relatively cohesive and engaging. The relationship between the two titans evolves organically, illustrating their need to work together against a common enemy.
The human characters in Godzilla x Kong: New Empire do not create a sense of distraction in the story of the titans compared to the previous installment.
As the team has already noted, Godzilla x Kong: New Empire focuses on the titans rather than the human characters. However, Dr. Ilene Andrews’ team contributes significantly to the development of the storyline more effectively than just human narratives in the previous film. Notably, the character Jia plays a crucial role in this plot twist. The introduction of the character Trapper (played by Dan Stevens) also brings a fresh perspective to the film’s narrative.
It can be said that the main attraction of Godzilla x Kong: New Empire still revolves around the titans. However, the human characters in this installment do not create a sense of distraction and confusion for the audience as in previous entries.
Visually Striking – Action Sequences reminiscent of WWE
It is easy to see that all the details in Godzilla x Kong: New Empire serve to create a grand spectacle for the climactic showdown. This undoubtedly serves to appeal to fans of the MonsterVerse brand. Initially, the director intended to include many character arcs into the main narrative. However, as the film progresses, it focuses mainly on action sequences, leading to a rapid pacing.
The battle scenes between the titans take up a significant portion of the film. The confrontations between the titans in this segment are both thrilling and grander. Audiences can expect to witness Godzilla and Kong engaging in impactful battles, destroying various locations, from the Hollow Earth to major cities on the surface.
The intense battle scenes in Godzilla x Kong: New Empire are dynamic and grand.
Moreover, the action scenes in this film unfold at a faster pace than those in earlier installments, showcasing the titans from unique perspectives. As a result, viewers can experience Kong and Godzilla engaging in impactful battles reminiscent of Hollywood action stars, rather than the slow-motion sequences seen in previous films. Notably, the clashes between Kong and the Skar King evoke comparisons to intense wrestling matches.
In the film, Godzilla and Kong each have their own distinct foes. The main antagonist Skar King initially presents a striking appearance, embodying a fierce titan. However, as the film progresses, the character’s weaknesses become apparent against Kong’s overwhelming strength, leading to an imbalance in the narrative. In contrast, Shimo is a titan of incredible strength but lacks a clear point of view for the protagonists to exploit effectively.
The decision to introduce both Skar King and Shimo into the film rather late also hinders the development of their character arcs. Following their impactful introduction, these titans quickly become embroiled in the climactic battle without much time for the audience to fully appreciate their powers.
Rating: 3/5
Overall, Godzilla x Kong: New Empire remains a blockbuster filled with entertainment, featuring captivating battle scenes between the titans. This installment boasts grander visuals, with vastly improved special effects and a greater focus on the titans compared to its predecessor.
However, Godzilla x Kong: New Empire does not evoke the same sense of awe that MonsterVerse has previously delivered, as it primarily centers on the action while sidelining character development.
