Cook review: Latest ‘Godzilla x Kong’ is enormously silly
Even gargantuan franchises can hang on to colossal quality for so long.
The reboot of the solid “Godzilla,” and “Kong” universe within the past decade continues with the CGI overload of “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.”
It’s made even more ridiculous because of the phenomenal “Godzilla Minus One” from a few months back.
‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ (IMDb)
You already know just about what will happen in this movie that’s more like an overly long, family-friendly comic book than an adventure/science fiction film.
The film might have worked better if it had been completely wrought in CGI, because the special effects are much more interesting than the live-action chargers.
The show opens with Kong, who now lives in Hollow Earth, where is suffering from a gigantic toothache as well as loneliness. He continues to roam in search of others of his kind. In the meantime, Godzilla continues his destructive tendencies elsewhere, separated from his nemesis.
In the subterranean realm, Kong meets what appears to be a cross between Gollum and a baby orangutan, which doesn’t turn out to be as friendly and helpless as it first appears.
The little guy leads Kong to a community of apes that are held as slaves by a huge, brutal leader who also enslaves a Godzilla-like monster that breathes not fire, but ice, and that he rides into battle (no, I’m not making this up.)
The scientist who keeps track of Kong (Rebecca Hall) and her daughter (Kaylee Hottle) who communicates with Kong must join a podcaster (Brian Tyree Henry) and a veterinarian who can treat monsters (Dan Stevens) to travel to Kong’s stomping grounds.
You will, of course, see some extended monster battles as the creatures take us all over the globe, even wreaking havoc at the Pyramids of Egypt. You’ll also see some ridiculous sequences that are more silly than entertaining.
After a, well, monstrous box-office weekend, it’s obvious that Kong and Godzilla stories will continue to stomp the competition regardless of the quality of the film. Here’s hoping the next episode will have more a little more to offer when it comes to a script.
1 ½ stars
Rated: PG-13 for coarse language and violence.
Running time: One hour and 55 minutes.
In theaters.
Watch the trailer here.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
