Godzilla X Kong The New Empire: A Colossal Battle
Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures keep improving with each new entry. This time, we got exactly what we wanted: Godzilla and Kong teaming up to take down a new big bad threatening their lives and those on Earth. They take us on a new adventure, exploring Hollow Earth for the first time in the franchise and giving us multiple reasons to love this franchise again. The success of Godzilla Minus One was all about the graphics. But this movie gave us a reason to love these iconic characters in a new way. Here is why:
The cast was enjoyable. Being a Monsterverse movie, having a human cast helps the plot in a new way—many characters from Godzilla Vs. Kong returns to continue the story that takes place on Skull Island. Kaylee Hottle returns as Jia, the last known survivor of the Iwi tribe on Skull Island. Rebecca Hall returns as Dr. Ilene Andrews, Jia's legal guardian. Dan Stevens plays Trapper, the funny and charismatic titan veterinarian, also has a significant role to play here. Brian Tyree Henry returns as Bernie Hayes, a podcaster who wants to join the ride. And other cast members as well. Overall, the cast was great. It kept you engaged with what was happening and gave you the context of the plot since our Titan friends can't say much.
The cinematography in this film is truly impressive. While it may not reach the same level of visual splendor as Godzilla Minus One, there are several standout moments. The fight scenes are particularly well-captured, showcasing the power and ferocity of the Titans. The Scar King, the film's antagonist, is brought to life with stunning visuals, especially when he controls Shimo, the titan responsible for the Ice Age. These moments are truly epic. Another visually striking moment is the appearance of Mothra, who looks absolutely stunning. The Queen of the Monsters makes a crazy appearance in this movie, claiming she's always the talk of the town. She looked even better here than in King of the Monsters, which has been five years now.
The camera work is always impressive in these movies. Getting wide shot angles with a CGI monster in the frame is challenging, and I am always impressed by it; well done to Ben Seresin, the cinematographer, and Josh Schaeffer, the editor.
Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures had a lot riding on this movie; luckily, it paid off. With a $145 million budget, they were pushing the limits for this one. With this one, they welcomed a new age, so they needed to figure out how the audiences would respond. And they figured it out by having the big two team up. And people loved it. Critics, not so much. Sitting at 54% on the Rotten Tomato Meter, critics didn't care for it too much. But it didn't stop the audience from going to see it. 91% on the audience score, and this movie made people happy. And it paid off, with the box office sitting at $570 Million. Overall, this movie got its money.
The music is crazy. Tom Holkennorg, AKA Junkie XL, and Antonio Di Iorio teamed up to create a new feel to the Monsterverse. And I enjoyed it. Combining the big cinematic orchestra with what turned out to be a cinematic SynthWave, they made a new and epic score. Junkie XL has got a few movies under his belt: Divergent, Mad Max Fury Road, Deadpool, Mortal Engines, Alita Battle Angel, Sonic the Hedgehog, Zack Snyder's Justice League, Godzilla Vs. Kong, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, both Rebel Moons and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. So he has got a wide range of movies here. That's why this score was a flavor from each movie he has done. And to me, that's a significant plus. This is Antonio Di Iorio's first big project, and I applaud him for this score. He did great.
Overall, this movie was a blast. Seeing the big fights, piecing together a significant plot point, and seeing the alliance of these two titans was a dream for the fans. And that is why it made over half of its budget back. This movie is for those who love these two titans. There is plenty of both of them in this film. The future is looking bright for them. And it makes me want more. It's a good thing I do because we will get more in 2027.