The Titans Have Completely Taken Over in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Every so often, we should bask in the glory of worlds created for our entertainment. The latest addition to the American Kaiju movies might not weave the most intricate story in the iconic Monsterverse, but it is an incredible watch. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire was perfectly lacking in words. It was a big risk relying solely on the compelling nature of these Titans to put the story together, but boy, did I love watching it.
Coming off the events of Godzilla vs. Kong, we find ourselves in a world where Godzilla and Kong have marked their territories under a fragile truce. As long as the two Titans stay in their designated spaces, everything will be okay. This arrangement obviously quickly unravels because, within the first 15 minutes, where's Kong? On the surface it looks like he’s breaking the delicate peace and causing a huge panic, but he's really hurt and looking for help. And though the notion of Kong falling ill from an infected tooth, needing a tooth extraction, and a replacement might seem ridiculous, wasn't that the intention? I mean, look who comes to save the day: Dan Stevens as Veterinarian Trapper, who's basically the Titan Doctor Dolittle — he said it, not me. This movie is set up so that everything serious about it lies in the hands of the Titans.
In the movie, humans were clearly side characters. Most of the time, when they were on screen, I was thinking, "But where’s Kong?" The humans were simply there in supporting roles, looking pretty and setting up the real show, which was definitely the Titans. Kong and Godzilla dominated this movie, with Kong taking a slight lead. Godzilla was too busy claiming the Coliseum as his personal resting chamber until he finally awakes to power up for the battle of a lifetime. He’s official radioactive after his recharge at a nuclear power planet. Can I just say the pink spikes were a good look for him? This film arguably features the most epic team-up of 2024, even though it was barely 25 minutes of the film. Yet, those minutes are utterly jaw-dropping.
What’s very clear about this movie is that there was a direction it wanted to take and it fully committed to it. This isn’t the most elaborate film and, while it may feel like a waste of time to many, I could not disagree more. This isn't a movie burdened by complex plots or decoding of a secret agenda. Instead, it's crafted to captivate with its colorful and bright images and monumental showdowns. It invokes laughter at the absolute ridiculousness of Brian Tyree Henry’s Bernie and warm hearts with the excellence of our young Iwi girl Jia played by Kaylee Hottle. It's a rollercoaster of emotions with laughter and edge-of-your-seat thrills during the battle of a lifetime.
The Titans Kong and Godzilla are the heart of this film. Their epic, colorful battle sequences, choreographed with such beauty and precision, steal the show. Kong's journey is particularly impactful. He’s lonely on Hollow Earth, searching for a family, and has nothing to do but build booby traps for his dinner. Suddenly, this powerful Titan is just an ape, looking for a home. His relationship with what can only be described as a red-furred mini Kong reveals a soft side to Kong, until, of course, he finds his enemies. Watching as he completely asserts his dominance is brilliant. The communication between these animals, without any dialogue, is what makes the films so gripping for me. Yes, I love the action, but let's be honest: action is only half the battle. You have to give the audience something to feel, and I found myself running through so many emotions, mostly excitement, but also pure joy at how perfect Kong was in this film.
The build-up to the confrontation with Skar King is masterfully executed, showcasing Weta's visual effects skill in creating gripping, unforgettable moments. That scene was definitely one of pure genius. It was an epic show of King’s heart but also of his stubbornness. He was not backing down until he knew he couldn’t win the fight. And let's be clear Skar King was only winning because of his domesticated weapon Shimu, without him Kong would have taken the win. The eventually leads us to what we have all been wait for: the reunion of Kong and Godzilla. When Kong and Godzilla fight, you almost don't see it coming, but you also know it's now or never since the end of the film is approaching. That's the negative about building up a great battle like this. Can it really live up to all the suspense? Mostly yes, but also no. I loved it, but I wish we would’ve gotten to the point sooner. With the visuals given, I can at least say it hit all the right spots. The gravity defying fight scene closes up the film so gracefully, it's a testament to the film's visual excellence, leaving audiences in awe from start to finish.
The human characters mostly fell short for me. I wasn’t very interested in what was going on in their lives or their feelings, for that matter. Dr. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall) served as our mini-guide into the Monsterverse world, leaving no stone unturned. She also assumed the role of a nurturing mother, allowing her adoptive daughter Jia the freedom to explore her destiny. Though at times it felt forced upon us, their relationship did add a bit of human heart to the film, creating the perfect contrast between being protective and open. Meanwhile, Bernie and Topper served as the intentionally lighthearted characters. Yes, Stevens was cool and stylish in his Hawaiian shirt as Topper, but it was Henry who was so compelling as Bernie. He truly owned that role. I couldn’t imagine the film without him and his camera. But again, these roles weren’t transformative for the film, yet they worked. I guess we couldn’t have a film completely ignoring humans, even though Godzilla and Kong seem oblivious to the mass human casualties they cause simply by walking, let alone when fighting each other and their not-so-better halves.
We are by no means discussing a perfect film here. The dialogue for the human characters wasn’t anything show-stoppin, and the storyline was easy to follow, whether this was your first Monsterverse movie, you're just following up after Godzilla vs. Kong, or you’ve been invested in the saga from the beginning. However, the visuals and the excitement of watching it transforms the experience into something unexpectedly spectacular.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is now in theaters.
