'GODZILLA X KONG'
OVERCOMPLICATES, UNDERPERFORMS
I’m going to be honest – I’ve never been a huge fan of creature features. That’s not to say I don’t respect them, just that my science-fiction obsessions lie more on the “Star Wars” and “Doctor Who” side of the spectrum.
In fact, the first and last one I ever watched was the original 1954 “Godzilla.”
Until now, that is.
“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” is the fifth film in the MonsterVerse franchise, a direct sequel to 2021’s “Godzilla vs Kong” and the 38th starring Kong and the fifth starring Godzilla by an American film studio.
I had one simple question in the middle of the movie: What am I watching?
What is ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ about?
Normally I have an easy time answering the question of, “What is this movie about,” but “Kong x Godzilla” is truly a unique piece of cinema – think if WWE met the Discovery Channel.
There are more monsters screaming at each other without subtitles or much context than there is actual dialogue. Or plot.
To the best of my ability, here’s a vague overview of “Godzilla x Kong”:
Kong is living life in Hollow Earth, coping with being the last of his kind and trying to adjust to a new way of life. Similarly, Jia (Kaylee Hottle) is doing the same on “regular” Earth under the care of Dr. Illene Andrews, played once again by Rebecca Hall.
We have a new member of the Kong team, apparent monster vet Trapper (Dan Stevens) who adds nothing other than a few quips and a pretty face to this installment.
Meanwhile, Godzilla is snoozing in Italy and is awakened by something, and
Jia is having visions of a strange force in Hollow Earth.
So, Godzilla is on the move and powering up, Kong is having an existential crisis, a new threat is rising and team Kong is headed back to Hollow Earth to investigate with Jia and Bernie
(Brian Tyree Henry) in tow.
This is where they went right: they had more Bernie in this film than in previous installments, and he was the only reprieve from the otherwise dull, confusing plot.
Look, I’m a fan of fun, dumb movies that allow you to turn off your brain and have a good time. However, when I’m checking the time and only 20 minutes have passed, something is wrong.
A lot of that comes down to the issue that every single scene is explained like a high school book report. It’s been said over and over again that you want to show, not tell, every chance you get.
Adam Wingard knows how to direct, that isn’t the problem here
Director Adam Wingard knows how to make a movie, as seen with 2014’s “The Guest,” and the visuals are well done in this film, the CGI looks nice, the shots and angles are good. What’s lost here is the plot.
I know what you’re thinking, “This is a movie about monsters fighting each other, what more plot do you want?”
I don’t necessarily need a good plot when the visuals are good, the one-liners are punchy and the action is fun and in abundance.
However, “Godzilla x Kong” forces a weird, convoluted plotline in your face and it’s hard to ignore. Ancient, missing civilizations, governmental control, a monkey revolution, many different titans with their own lore ignored or glossed over and Godzilla having the ability to steal other titan’s power.
It’s a lot. And unnecessary.
Meredith G. White is the entertainment reporter for The Arizona Republic | azcentral.com. You can find her on Facebook as Meredith G. White, on Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, as @meredithgwhite, and email her at meredith.white@arizonarepublic.com.