If you told me back in 2019 that Legendary’s “Monsterverse” movie series would be one of the last cinematic universes from the 2010s still standing and putting out high-quality content, I wouldn’t believe you. Yet here we are, five years after the release of my favorite Godzilla movie, Godzilla: King of The Monsters. Now we have Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, directed by Adam Wingard—and it’s a certified banger.
The movie continues the story of 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong, although you don’t need to view that movie to understand this one. As the title and marketing suggest, Godzilla and King Kong must team up in this film. Dr. Illene Andrews, played by Rebecca Hall (Tales from the Loop), must go to Hollow Earth with a group to seek out the source of a mysterious signal. Throughout the movie, the audience is taken on a roller coaster ride of kaiju action and spectacle as the iconic movie monsters face one of their greatest foes yet. The movie is somewhat light on substance, but you’ve come to the right place if you want an exciting creature feature.
In terms of visuals, which Alessandro Ongaro (Men in Black: International, The Meg) spearheaded, the movie is absolutely stellar. The monsters are animated wonderfully, and the movie captures their sheer scale and destructive power. Kong and Godzilla are as endearing and awesome as ever, continuing the Monsterverse series’ adept handling of the titular characters. The Hollow Earth setting introduced in the last film looks beautiful as well, portraying an entire ecosystem of kaiju believably. The new kaiju introduced all look great and have unique and interesting designs. And there were quite a few pleasant surprises. The visual spectacle alone is worth the price of admission, and it’s a treat for the eyes of any movie-goer.
In terms of story, the movie is somewhat weak, though still very entertaining. The pacing is lightning-fast where it borders on sensory overload at points, and I wish the movie gave us more time to linger on some of its standout moments. It does an excellent job of building off of the story of the previous movies in the series while explaining what’s going on to new fans. The plot is engaging and provides context to the thrilling monster fight set pieces, and that’s all it needs to do. Either way, don’t go into this film expecting the complex themes and characterization of last year’s Oscar-winning Godzilla Minus One. This was widely considered, by critics and fans, one of the best Godzilla films ever made. But don’t be confused. Godzilla x Kong is more of a popcorn creature feature through and through and a throwback to Godzilla’s sillier era during the 1960s and 70s.
The movie does not disappoint in terms of action. Though it rushes through some minor fights, the major set pieces don’t fail to impress and deliver all the giant monster goodness you’d expect from the Monsterverse. Several shots from this movie look straight out of a heavy metal album cover.
My final score for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is 7.9/10. While it is admittedly light on the substance that made me adore Godzilla: King of The Monsters, its fun factor is so high that I can’t help but love it. It seems many people feel the same, with the film raking in 80 million dollars on opening weekend, proving there is still a demand for kaiju media. There are worse ways to spend an afternoon, and you’ll leave the theater with a greater appreciation for giant monsters beating each other senseless. The sheer entertainment value of this movie is undeniable, and it’s a must-watch for any fan of the Monsterverse series.