Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

 

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)

Giant Monsters, Solid FX, and Pure Fun

★★★☆☆

Watched 28 Mar 2024 — A film that knows exactly what its audience wants: building-sized titans pummeling each other to the death.

Directed by Adam Wingard, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is an unapologetic spectacle that prioritizes scale over subtext. While it’s easy to dismiss a movie about giant monsters as "silly," the artistic merits here deserve recognition. The film successfully balances a two-hour narrative where the human characters manage to hold our interest between the main events. Most impressively, the special effects team manages to elicit genuine affection and animosity toward these CGI protagonists, proving that even a low-bar "monster mash" requires high-level craftsmanship to succeed.

"What they likely are looking for are glowing comments about great special effects and stimulating action of building size monsters battling each other to the death. Godzilla x Kong The New Empire delivers just that."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Cast & Crew

• Director: [Adam Wingard](https://www.imdb.com)
• Starring: [Rebecca Hall](https://www.imdb.com), Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens
• Supporting: Kaylee Hottle, Fala Chen
• Studio: [Warner Bros. Pictures / Legendary](https://www.warnerbros.com)

The Vision

Wingard’s vision for the "MonsterVerse" continues to lean away from the grounded realism of earlier entries in favor of vibrant, neon-soaked fantasy. He embraces the legacy of the "rubber suit" era while utilizing modern technology to make the action feel kinetic and personal. The focus remains on the personality of the monsters—treating Kong and Godzilla as silent actors with their own arcs. It’s an entertaining effort that aims for "solid special effects" and "affable creatures," ensuring that fans of the franchise leave the theater satisfied.

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

• The Guest Reunion: This film reunites director Adam Wingard with actor Dan Stevens, who starred in Wingard's 2014 cult hit The Guest.
• Evolved Godzilla: The pink "evolved" look for Godzilla was inspired by the monster's ability to store massive amounts of solar energy, a nod to the character's ever-changing biology in Toho history.
• Silent Protagonists: A significant portion of the film features no human dialogue, relying entirely on the visual storytelling and "acting" of the CGI monsters.

✅ Pros

• Top-tier special effects and monster action.
• Human characters that actually manage to stay interesting.
• A fun, entertaining ride from start to finish.

❌ Cons

• Story elements and dialogue are secondary to the action.
• The plot leans heavily into "silly" territory.
• Not for those seeking a "realistic" or deep narrative.

🏆 Final Verdict

A triumphant celebration of giant-scale destruction. If you're here for titans pummeling each other, stop reading and go watch it—you won't be disappointed.

View on Letterboxd