Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire— 1/3 To(h)ony, 1/3 Koko, 1/3 Planet of the Hollow Earth Apes

This latest entry in the Monsterverse franchise follows up the explosive showdown of Godzilla vs. Kong with an all-new cinematic adventure, pitting the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence — and our own. The epic new film will delve further into the histories of these Titans, their origins, and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.

REVIEW:

In Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire the humans exist to set up the next big monster fight. The only actual Godzilla movie with recognizable human characters was the Toho reboot from last year, Godzilla Minus One, an A level entry in a mostly B level series. If you are an extra in a Godzilla film you will be toe jam- in a Kong one, thrown around or torn limb from limb. Rubble dirt or talking filler are the only human functions.

In GxK there’s only human filler. Apparently after the CGI and middtsar salaries and behind the line costs are deducted there was no toe jam budget. This audience wants Godzilla and Kong to go at it, and go at it they do with abandon. GxK is really three movies in one: a decent Kong story, an interesting sub level parody of the Planet of the Apes series, and serviceable cameos from Godzilla. There’s whispers of Marvel in the action and Kong’s infinity gauntlet arm brace.

The main humans are Dr. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall) adoptive mother to a tween Jia (Kaylee Hottle) and an Iwa tribe member who can communicate with Kong through sign language and telepathy. There’s an outback veterinarian (Dan Stevens) whose speciality is Monster Monarchs. Also Joining them is a Monarch podcaster and blogger, Bernie Hayes (Brian Tyree Henry). Stevens and Henry provide the comic relief, while Stevens and Hall do the scientific exposition and tech, with Hottle there to be cultural and religious liaison to the Hollow Earth natives. Hollow earth is the underground part of Earth that Kong lives in as the protector of that realm. Godzilla is a surface creature who exists to wrestle back back any stray monsters that escape and threaten to toe jam humanity.

Godzilla has been raiding Nuclear reactors throughout Europe in preparation for some big anticipated monster showdown. In Hollow Earth, Kong is busy fighting off a red ape usurper to his authority. There is a lot of Monsterverse mythology to develop and explain for future sequels. It’s all familiar stuff for the fans who have sat through and absorbed all 38 Godzilla iterations and 13 Kong variations. The fighting, lumbering, stomping, crushing are all pretty entertaining and always the highlight of their respective films. The finale battle is delightfully long and a standout.

There’s a lot of guts being thrown around, but it all stays within the PG-13 definition of family entertainment. One day, after man has destroyed himself cinematically speaking, there might be a sequel with no pesky human to spoil the monster fun. Monster Apocalypse I would be first in line to see.