After the watchable but not particularly worth watching Godzilla 2014, Skull Island and the series stinker King of the Monsters I would normally not even bother with a series fourth, but already had this on 3D-Bluray so felt obligated...and turns out it's the best by a mile!
It does everything better:
A movie of this bombastic subgenre is unlikely to trouble my Top 100, but Godzilla vs Kong feels as good as something like this can get. I've yet to see the recent critically-acclaimed japanese efforts Shin Godzilla & Minus One....the classics are far too dated for me personally. I did enjoy Peter Jackson's King Kong over a decade ago (due a rewatch). From a narrative perspective that's still the best Kong/Godzilla film out there.
But for pure action, Godzilla vs Kong is the King.
It does everything better:
- monster fights are numerous but not too many so you never get fatigued. Also clear, bright, had motive, dramatic and easy to follow.
- human element are the most engaging cast of characters in the series (which isn't saying much, but still).
- plot made sense (relatively-speaking, it is a giant monster movie).
- some fantastic, if scientifically-nonsensical, ideas like the Hollow Earth...visually very nicely realised.
- 3D also the best in the series: great depth.
- did I mention the monster fights were brightly-lit, satisfyingly-crunchy and easy to follow?
A movie of this bombastic subgenre is unlikely to trouble my Top 100, but Godzilla vs Kong feels as good as something like this can get. I've yet to see the recent critically-acclaimed japanese efforts Shin Godzilla & Minus One....the classics are far too dated for me personally. I did enjoy Peter Jackson's King Kong over a decade ago (due a rewatch). From a narrative perspective that's still the best Kong/Godzilla film out there.
But for pure action, Godzilla vs Kong is the King.