Godzilla vs. Kong Review: Please Don't Make Us Pick

JULIAN DENNISON as Josh Valentine, MILLIE BOBBY BROWN as Madison Russell and BRIAN TYREE HENRY as Bernie Hayes in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure “GODZILLA VS. KONG,” a Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures release.

By: Paradise Thomas & Tatyana Woodall

From the outset, Godzilla vs. Kong sounds like an epic battle between two of the fiercest monsters around — and with a two-hour runtime that just barely satisfies our monster movie cravings, you’d be right in assuming someone isn’t getting out of this one alive.  

Directed by Adam Wingard and host to a cast of familiar faces, when it comes to figuring out who takes home the title of top titan, it’s hard to say. At multiple points during the film, it’s hard not to root for Godzilla and Kong, but with the way Wingard doles out just enough heart-rending twists and turns, the real monsters prove to be their human counterparts. 

During a recent college roundtable press event for the film’s release, Brian Tyree Henry, who plays Bernie Hayes, a technician with a podcasting penchant for conspiracy theories, said one of the things he loved most about the film was the complexity Wingard brought to the history of their rivalry. 

“You actually care about what’s going on, while also caring about the humans,” Henry said. “In most movies like this, it’s just a body count, but I think with this one, they made it where the humans who were championing for both of these teams, you care about them too.”

The film follows the aftermath of the three previous movies in the series Godzilla (2014), Kong: Skull Island and Godzilla: King of Monsters, and with characters like Madison Russell (Millie Bobby Brown) and Mark Russell (Kyle Chandler) helming the ship, there’s no end to the kind of wacky danger they get thrown into. 

During some of the first scenes of the film, the audience finds out that since the events of Skull Island, Kong exists in pseudo-captivity, trapped on the island and enclosed in a VR dome reminiscent of 2015’s Jurassic World. When Kong’s caretaker, Dr. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall) is approached by fellow scientist Nathan Lind (Alex Skarsgård) who wants to use Kong to travel to Hollow Earth, a second world deep within the Earth’s crust, the action begins. 

On the other side of the world, after Godzilla (seemingly unprovoked) attacks Apex, a tech company on the verge of creating the best and brightest in anti-titan tech, Madison Russell and her companion Josh Valentine (Julian Dennison) seek out podcasting prophet Hayes, who's bent on exposing company secrets himself.  

Considering that both of the main characters are CGI, the special effects are phenomenal. The fight scenes feel realistic, and it’s seamless integration into reality enhances the viewing experience for everyone involved.

GODZILLA fights KONG in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure “GODZILLA VS. KONG,” a Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary release.

The first fight scene of the film between Kong and Godzilla is on the water, where Godzilla has the clear advantage. The choreography and long camera shots immerse the audience in the world, and succeeds in bringing this strange and dangerous universe to life. 

Henry also said the film shows audiences sides they never would have considered in a usual battle royal. 

“I think these monsters are misunderstood,” Henry said. “I think that they got the label of being monsters when actually they’re kings, they’re titans. His name is King Kong. It’s not just Kong, it’s King Kong.” 

Later on, Kong’s relationship with Jia (Kaylee Hottle), a child from the original tribe of natives who lived on the island, is revealed. Jia is deaf, and while it doesn’t come as a surprise that she can communicate with Kong, it’s yet another interesting look into the monster mythos. 

Kong also has much more screen-time than Godzilla. The resident reptile is a pillar of destruction, but unlike with Kong, there’s hardly any scenes that dive into the inner workings of his motives. 

By the end, the film definitely delivers on its promise of an action-packed battle between the two titans, but there are some parts that do fall a bit flat. 

There are several plot holes that make the film slightly confusing to follow, as well as a few not-unexpected plot twists involving a robot Godzilla. Several of the human characters also lacked proper background and storyline, like Bernie’s wife - her death is mentioned but never expanded upon, especially with his last connection to her being a driving part in the third act.

Dr. Lind also goes on the mission to Hollow-Earth in a half-baked plan to avenge his brother and score some points with a corrupt corporation, but once he finally reaches it, he completely abandons the mission without any clear explanation.

Regardless of those few inconsistencies, the film is still a must-watch, an action-packed adventure with visuals stunning enough to be enjoyed with family and friends alike.