Let the titans battle! Directed by Adam Wingard, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is one hell of a monsterverse slugfest as Kong must recruit a super-charged Godzilla in a battle for more than just Hollow Earth. If that statement means little to you then, rest assured, this movie is not for you. Keep scrolling. I will wait.
Still here? Good. To be clear, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is not going to win any awards this spring - although the CGI is spectacular throughout the running time - and many critics will ding it mercilessly for what it isn’t when it comes to human involvement and its (maybe?) sillier tone, but that doesn’t mean this monster-led popcorn muncher can’t entertain with its ferocious battles, recalling some of the very best moments of the Showa Era, before things got really out of control.
But, really, when we are dealing with Titans, who really cares about tone?! We want AWESOME, FACE-SHREDDING BATTLES! And we get that with Godzilla x Kong.
Let’s just get it out of the way, though. This film is not trying to be the next Godzilla Minus One entry. Some of you will need to hear/read that. This film is, in fact, another entry in the ongoing Monarch series, which debuted with 2014’s “Godzilla,” continued in 2017’s “Kong: Skull Island”, then 2019’s “Godzilla: King of the Monsters”, followed by 2021’s “Godzilla vs. Kong”, and then AppleTV’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters series from 2023. Each project has developed a nice sized following, bringing more fans into the Kaiju fold, but it is here with the battles in Godzilla x Kong which we really get a feel for the power of the Titans.
And Wingard knows exactly what his mission is.
So bring it on already! Oh, don’t worry. This film wastes no time in getting to the good stuff. We get wicked wrestling-matches, awesome moves, and punches we can feel in our groin for days.
Sidelining the cast - which includes returning actors Rebecca Hall and Brian Tyree Henry and Kaylee Hottle as the only human survivor from the civilization on Skull Island, with Dan Stevens (as Kong’s personal tooth extractor!!!) - to basically just articulate the mythological exposition works wonders as audiences get to bypass the messy humans and just deal with the monsters walking about in Hollow Earth.
You see, Kong has moved to Hollow Earth and only comes up to the surface - which is Godzilla’s territory - for health issues. He’s on the hunt for more creatures like him, but he’s looking in all the wrong spots . . . until he comes face to face with one of his own, a baby-sized ape named Suko.
But where is his home? 
Kong dives deeper into Hollow Earth and discovers an enslaved group of his own which are under the control of the Scar King. And he’s pissed. But even Kong knows when he’s outmatched, so back to the surface he goes . . . to get the help he needs from a Godzilla who has been soaking up as much power as possible and then taking naps inside Rome’s ancient colosseum.
Written by Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett and Jeremy Slater, there’s plenty of monster mayhem to go around and, fans of kaiju fun, are in for a serious treat as a fan favorite is introduced thanks to Hottle’s participation in the film. We knew there was something more to her character than the ability to communicate with Kong and, here, we get to see just what she can do and who she can summon. Fans of the universe probably already know what’s in store as the trailers did little to hide it, but, really, it’s about time!
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire probably won’t win over fans iffy on the whole Titan vs Titan scene, but there’s nothing wrong in what’s getting done. Sure, the only humanity comes from the caricature of the Titans, but that’s the territory of the kaiju . . . and fans of the Showa Era are going to dig the spectacular beatdowns within the 115-minute running time.
It’s Godzilla’s 38th movie and Kong’s 13th, but it still feels as fresh as the day the earth first recognized these legendary characters. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is now playing everywhere.
MPAA Rating: PG-13.
Runtime: 115 mins
Director: Adam Wingard
Writer: Terry Rossio; Simon Barrett; Jeremy Slater
Cast: Rebecca Hall; Brian Tyree Henry; Dan Stevens
Genre: Action | Adventure |Sci-fi
Tagline: Bow to your new king.
Memorable Movie Quote: "Just try not to swallow your tongue."
Theatrical Distributor: Warner Bros.
Official Site: https://www.godzillaxkongmovie.com/
Release Date: March 29, 2024
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: Two ancient titans, Godzilla and Kong, clash in an epic battle as humans unravel their intertwined origins and connection to Skull Island's mysteries.
