Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Several empires emerge in the 38th Godzilla instalment, mirroring others in this year’s glut of fantasy blockbusters.
It has been reported that Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is the cheapest entry in Warner Bros’ MonsterVerse franchise to date. Not that you’d think it. Thematically bridging the gap between Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and next month’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, it certainly punches above its weight. While Kong seems to increase in bulk by the movie, there’s also a whole menagerie of outsize creatures keeping the special effects boys and girls busy. There’s now a horrendous monster called Shimo that has the power to turn its enemies into ice (cf. Ghostbusters V), as well as a realm of subterranean apes. Even the human characters are larger-than-life, with the welcome addition of Dan Stevens as an Ace Ventura type who specialises in the dental treatment of very large patients, and Brian Tyree Henry as a madcap conspiracy podcaster from Miami.
The carbon footprint wielded by anthropological linguist Dr Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall) and her entourage may be worrisome, but it is nothing compared to the world’s tourist landmarks trampled by Godzilla, who has now taken up residency in the Colisseum in Rome. After its battering in recent films like Fast X and Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, it’s a wonder much of the Italian capital is left. But with auxiliary units shooting in Queensland, Brazil, Spain, Hawaii, Iceland, Gibraltar and Morocco, there is much more to demolish – even before new realms are revealed in Hollow Earth, where Kong has been hanging out. Now certain energy readings – or distress signals – have been picked up by Dr Andrews’ various laboratories, as they have by her adopted daughter Jia (Kaylee Hottle), who has a special rapport with Kong.
In spite of the movie’s more modest budget of $135-150 million, the special effects seem even more special this time around, with Kong in particular given more expression. Knitting together the miracles of Jurassic Park and Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the film throws everything at the screen, while allowing some space for its human contingent as well. The deaf actress Kaylee Hottle provides a strong human presence as the adopted daughter of Dr Andrews, the last member of her tribe, the Iwi, who seems to possess paranormal powers. And the stage actress Rebecca Hall, now securing top-billing, can’t help but bring an intelligence and empathy to her role.
All these attributes make the new film – the 38th Godzilla entry to date – a more engaging and palatable experience than the brain-numbing Godzilla vs. Kong, also directed by Adam Wingard. Even so, it’s hard to go long without tripping over a cliché: the stock declaration of “let’s do this!”, the Michael Bay strut towards the camera, the Spielberg zoom, and so on. But as a top-level rollercoaster ride, the movie delivers plenty of bang for your buck. It’s all impossibly ludicrous and illogical, feeding off the crumbs of Spielberg and Jules Verne, but it unquestionably packs the wow factor.
JAMES CAMERON-WILSON
Cast: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, Fala Chen, Rachel House, Ron Smyck, Chantelle Jamieson.
Dir Adam Wingard, Pro Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Brian Rogers, Mary Parent, Alex Garcia and Eric McLeod, Screenplay Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett and Jeremy Slater, Ph Ben Seresin, Pro Des Tom Hammock, Ed Josh Schaeffer, Music Tom Holkenborg and Antonio Di Iorio, Costumes Emily Seresin, Sound Erik Aadahl, Darren Maynard and Ethan Van der Ryn.
Legendary Pictures-Warner Bros.
114 mins. USA. 2024. UK and US Rel: 29 March 2024. Cert. 12A.
