Movie Review # 423: Godzilla Vs. Kong (2021)

Ladies & gentlemen, today, we are going to be reviewing a film, from Warner Bros., that has surprisingly seemed to draw movie theater crowds back to the big screen slowly, but surely. Will more people decide to go see movies at the movie theaters from here on out? I guess we’ll see in the next few weeks. Anyway, let’s face what may be one of the biggest battles in movie history in the new action film, Godzilla Vs. Kong.

Plot: Set five years after the events of Godzilla: King Of The Monsters, Godzilla begins to wreak havoc on both the seas, and land. Dr. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall), and her daughter, Jia (Kaylee Hottle), who is deaf, but can use sign language to communicate, bring King Kong out from Skull Island to see if they can stop Godzilla for good. Meanwhile, Madison Russell (Millie Bobby Brown), and her friend Josh (Julian Dennison), with the help of doctor, and conspiracy theorist Bernie Hayes (Brian Tyree Henry) leave to go, and search for Godzilla in an attempt to see why he’s gone mad, and see if they can stop Godzilla, and King Kong from killing each other once and for all.

Okay, wow, this film is most definitely a vast improvement from 2019’s Godzilla: King Of The Monsters in nearly every aspect that one can think of. I’m not sure if that was because a lot of people felt like the 2019 predecessor crammed a little too much in that film, and the studio listened to the audience reception, or some other reason like that. Well, whatever reason it was, it seemed to work for the most part. First off, the world building with the underground world is very creative. I won’t go into details about why it’s there in the first place. What I will say, however, is that if that underground world doesn’t become part of either Universal Studios, or even part of say a potential Warner Bros. theme park type of attraction in the future (which could be difficult to be made in these trying times that we’re in, but you never know), people who miss out on this film will probably not realize what they’re missing out on as far as this aspect of the film goes. The underground world is fascinating, and, as far as what we do get to see of it, could be admired by those people who also liked the world of jungle paradises, and beautiful trees that were inhabited by blue colored people in 2009’s Avatar. Next, there are characters. Oh my gosh did the filmmakers do a much better job in this area than in Godzilla: King Of The Monsters. This time, there aren’t too many characters, or even too many too monsters. In fact, the movie does a mostly great job of focusing on the characters that it needs to focus on, and develop them to the best of their abilities. Not only that, but this time around, aside from likely the villains of this film, you really seem to care for each, and every single one of them. If that doesn’t help as a benefactor in making a good film, then what a surprise that is! I mean even Jia, who is deaf, and mute, and has to use sign language as a result, has a great amount of depth, and heart to her character. That says something! Oh, and there’s the musical score that’s conducted by Tom Holkenborg. I’m not sure what else he’s performed in, but he has sole gold mixtures with the music in this film. Basically, it’s almost like Holkenborg has this mix of the 1980s, combined with music from an anime show, or film, and then mixes those with music of today. I suppose that may sound a little hard to explain. Still, trust me when I say that you’ll understand if you haven’t see this film, but plan to very soon. Finally, there seems to be a message that could probably be allegorical to real life as well. It’s practically one about about how we need to be careful not to quickly judge others by their actions. I mean instead of trying to understand why people are feeling what they’re feeling, or doing some things they shouldn’t be doing, we might instead just write them off. For example, maybe a person might get angry enough to punch someone that they might not normally punch, or break a glass cup when they may not do so otherwise, or something along those lines. All to say this movie does a good job of tackling the idea about how we shouldn’t be quick to judge others by their negative actions, especially when we don’t know how, or why they’re feeling the way that they do on the inside. So applause on that with this film, Warner Bros.

However, there are one, or two points where rush film could have been a little better. First off, there’s the ending. Oh, people will like the ending without a doubt. However, there were certain aspects about the ending that could have been tweaked, and rewritten to make it a little better. Second, there are the villains. They’re not exactly badly written ones. Even so, they could have probably been fleshed out a little more than they seemed to be in the end.

And that’s my review for Godzilla Vs. Kong. Now that movies like this one have seemed to bring more hope to the theater box office, will more people be interested in going to movie theaters again? Well, let’s hope so. Regardless, if you had mixed feelings about Godzilla films like Godzilla: King Of The Monsters, then fear not! This movie blows all the worried expectations out of the water, and has some really good heart to it’s story. The action, most of the characters, and most of the underground world are all really memorable. I would say that if you haven’t seen this film yet, but still want, definitely make it a point to do so, especially if you’re a big time action fan. I can guarantee that you won’t be disappointed by this film, at least not overall. This film is most definitely big screen worthy.

Final Grade: A-