Movie Review: “Godzilla vs. Kong”

Ladies and gentlemen, you knew there would come a day when those two titans of monstrosity, Godzilla and Kong, would duke it out on the world stage (or in this instance, Hong Kong—Japan has been mercifully spared this time around). 

The result, “Godzilla vs. Kong” (I grant you the title isn’t imaginative, but “King Kong vs. Godzilla” was already taken) is entertaining throughout, with a few exciting battles, some poignant moments, and a few (but not too many) welcome quips.

The storyline is pretty basic: Kong and Godzilla are just minding their own business in their respective habitats, perhaps a tad restless, when something happens to provoke the wrath of Godzilla—and it is aimed squarely at Kong. 

Enter some concerned humans in both camps, including a few of the characters you knew and loved in “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” like Kyle Chandler’s omnipresent bureaucrat and Millie Booby Brown as his daughter. (All right, I’m being facetious here—we may have known them, but loved them…?)  Rebecca Hall and Alexander Skarsgard are also on hand as scientists in the Kong corner. Along with Kaylee Hottle as a young girl whose friendship with Kong humanizes the big fella. Wouldn’t you know it, there is also another titan. This time of industry and technology, and as personified by Damian Bachir, he has a nefarious scheme to show the titans who is really the titan.

However, I don’t want to spoil things by revealing the incredible plot twists that will leave your jaw hanging (I may be a bit hyperbolic here). Suffice to say that the human interludes are briskly staged by director Adam Wingard (script by Eric Person and Max Borenstein), and the battle scenes do not disappoint, including an encounter at sea and the final confrontation in Hong Kong. (And unlike the previous Godzilla film, the audience can make out the combatants!)

Though I saw this on a fairly big screen (but not the big screen), I’m fairly confident that “Godzilla vs. Kong” won’t disappoint, however you decide to watch.