Why Godzilla vs. Kong’s Reviews Are So Positive (Despite One Major Problem)
ScreenRant reports critics are largely praising Godzilla vs. Kong with the general attitude being the movie is a crowd-pleaser packed with high level action. But critics have pointed out the film’s human characters had room for improvement.
The movie has an 80% approval rate on Rotten Tomatoes and whilst it doesn’t offer a lot of depth, it is definitely a fun movie-watching experience. It does take a while to get there, with reviews indicating that the climactic battle is worth it.
“It might be the best studio film so far this year. If it isn’t, it’s for sure the most fun.
ScreenRant noted the film is meant to be taken at the surface level, calling it the ‘epitome of a popcorn flick’. Putting that aside, critics took issue with deeper elements of the story – the human plot.
The film is all about the titular monsters, but its packed with a great cast. And many critics are saying the human side of the story is underdeveloped, causing the whole movie to suffer.
What Godzilla vs. Kong lacks in narrative logic, it makes up in visual fun, even imagination.
Once the movie hits cinemas and HBO Max, its Rotten Tomatoes score will likely fluctuate. Film critics still predict the audience is going to like what it sees.
Godzilla vs. Kong is a titan match not worth the spectator fee
The AU Review gives the film a measly 2 out of 5 stars.
Overly stuffed sci-fi actioner brandishing a script of sorts from a duo of screenwriters who were clearly having an off day
The review says the film compiles nonsensical material making it feel disconnected from even a narrative involving the ape and lizard.
The final scene (the ultimate showdown) is a glorious sequence of ‘neon-drenched lunacy’ which takes place above the cityscape. The film sets up a series of battling storylines in an attempt to elevate whatever temperament it feels like it should be above.
The review says the film is packed with respectable talent, all leaning into their character’s stereotypical personalities with little regard for the material they are working with. The review notes, Millie Bobby Brown, is one of the film’s few actors that actually injects subtlety into her delivery.
The 2014 Godzilla film found a balance between its characters and its action and Kong:Skull Island adopted a more bombastic temperament whilst maintaining a script that, though outlandish, still felt more grounded than usual.
Godzilla vs. Kong decides to go balls-to-the-wall on derangement only further highlights the film’s inability to edit itself.
The film is a B-movie (at best). The final monster battle sequence is glorious in its stupidity. But the film is a big-screen spectacle if you want to devote your time to the most brainless exercises. If you enjoyed King of the Monsters then this battle should suffice. If not, and you want your mindless action to have a little more ironic intelligence, this is one fight not worth the fee.
A lizard and a monkey achieve what Christopher Nolan couldn’t
A bold statement from reviewer Rohan Naahar, who writes Godzilla vs. Hong Kong is too cartoonish to make you care about the collateral damage. Had it been more self-serious the wanton destruction in its third act would have been unforgivable.
Most other cinematic universes have stumbled but the MonsterVerse continues to charge ahead – until now, the franchise had been a classic case of diminishing returns.
The film is leaner than the others – clocking in well under two hours. It isn’t dominated by wall-to-wall action and is propelled with a single-minded goal – to get to the final showdown. The humans are pawns in this film that are simply there to move the plot along until they’re swept off-board. The most heartfelt moment in the movie involves two characters that can’t speak.
The first film was rather sombre, and the films since have gotten goofier – an indication of how far the pendulum has swung away from the Nolanism of the early 2010s, toward the Marvel-friendly tone that dominated the latter half of the decade.
The film is utterly ridiculous. But when it needs to be it can be entertaining. To arrive at those 20mins of mayhem you will have to put up with unnecessary world-building and a clearly disinterested Alexander Skarsgard playing a scientist. Early data suggests people are willing to put up with this; doing what Christopher Nolan’s Tenet couldn’t – audiences are lining up to watch this slugfest on the big screen.
Godzilla vs Kong is the sort of film that’ll likely be forgotten even before it concludes its international roll-out, but in the age of ‘snackable content’, it’s a worthwhile excuse to rack up your daily Screen Time. Unless, of course, you’re determined to watch this movie, about the hubris of man, in a cinema, convinced that you’re too strong to fall prey to the whims of nature.
Internet Reacts To ‘Godzilla Vs. Kong’ With Memes As Electric As The Battle Itself
Brobible says seven months ago, while the world was still at the height of the pandemic, Warner Bros. — likely largely influenced by Christopher Nolan — decided to release Tenet in cinemas. Unfortunately for both studios and movie cinemas, not enough people decided to, or were allowed to, head to the cinema to see Tenet, denying Nolan of his dream of saving the movie theatre business.
Instead, as fate would have it, it appears Godzilla vs. Kong, a.k.a. the fourth film in Warner Bros’ “MonsterVerse”, is the movie that’s going to claim the mantle of movie-saving-king, as it already set an overseas box-office record during the pandemic ($121 million opening weekend) and will screen in more than 3,000 North American locations, which is more than any other pandemic-era release.
All that said, while Godzilla vs. Kong seems to mark the *beginning* of the return of cinemas, the fact remains that Warner Bros. is still releasing most of their 2021 slate on HBO Max that same day, which leaves Twitter as the internet’s living room, where everyone can get together and talk about, but mostly joke about, what they’ve just seen: two hours of Thicc Lizards vs. Big Monke.
DEEP DIVE
Godzilla vs Kong is ‘brutally beautiful’ as star Demian Bichir shares his excitement ahead of film’s release- Sky News
Godzilla vs. Kong: A scientist decides who would really win – Science Focus
Godzilla vs Kong, review: exactly the loud, trashy mayhem we’ve been missing this year – The Telegraph
Stranger Things’ Millie Bobby Brown “likes to bark” during takes, says Godzilla co-star – Digital Spy
Millie Bobby Brown and Julian Dennison on ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ and the Status of an ‘Enola Holmes’ Sequel – Collinder
Why Godzilla vs. Kong Has A Lethal Weapon 2 Reference And Almost Had A Lot More – CinemaBlend
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