GODZILLA vs. KONG , US, 2021, Adventure, fantasy spectacle. Starring Alexander Skarsgard, Rebecca Hall, Millie Bobby Brown, Kaylee Hottle, Demian Bichir, Julian Dennison, Brian Tyree Henry, Lance Reddick, Eiza Gonzalez, Kyle Chandler. Directed by Adam Wingard. 113 minutes. Rated M (Science fiction themes and action violence)
If ever there was to be an action show to be seen on the largest screen, this is a principal contender; and it looks good up there, with its plentiful action sequences and special effects.
Of course, the title tells all. In fact, there are two major battle sequences between the two alpha-creatures, Godzilla (the baddy) and King Kong (the goody). And, as if this would not satisfy most audiences, a dastardly corporation entrepreneur is creating a Robo-Godzilla to control the world.
So, the creatures are the most important focus. Here is King Kong (with memories of all the films from the 1930s on), in retirement, one might say, on Kong Island. There are scientists there who are keeping an eye on him in his environment, keeping him safe. Ilene Andrews (Hall) is one of the scientists, but Kong has formed a powerful bond with a young orphaned girl, Jia (Hottle). Although deaf, Jia is able to communicate with Kong through sign language. Very nice.
In the meantime, Godzilla, looking more gigantic than ever, is smashing everything in sight and within distance of his swinging tale. (Giving new meaning to a smash hit!)
However, Walter Simmons (Bichir) has the most enormous technological development plant you have ever seen. When Godzilla tears into this, he has an alternate plant in Hong Kong (and the tunnel from the US to Hong Kong which two youngsters, who team up with an investigative plant who wants to expose Simmons, Madison (Millie Bobby Brown) and Josh (Dennison – from Hunt for the Wilderpeople – with his New Ziland iccent intact) all travel down.
Simmons employs the help of a scientist, Nathan Lind (Skarsgard), who teams up with Kong’s protectors to transfer him to Antarctica and an underground prehistoric jungle, with deadly pterodactyls, but containing King Kong’s original throne and sceptre. The screenwriters’ imaginations have been working overtime!
If we accept the plot and its, to say the least, improbabilities, and enjoy the portrayal of the two alpha-creatures, especially the fights and effects, there should be no complaint.
Universal
Released 25 March 2021
Peter Malone MSC is an associate Jesuit Media