In Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, some aspects may be forgettable while others are thrilling, but it’s digestible. Perhaps that’s all it needs to be: a good time at the movies (with Brian Tyree Henry and Dan Stevens).

Personally speaking, my introduction to the infamous characters of Godzilla and Kong were from a scene in Lilo and Stitch and Peter Jackson’s 2005 film, King Kong respectively. Like many, I am usually tuned in to any adaptation that features those horrifying and enticing creatures. Warner Bros’ “Monsterverse” has built a passable yet satisfying collection of films featuring a slew of talented character actors trying their hardest to make relatively basic characters on paper as exciting as their monstrous costars. 

What works for this film is it does not shy away from giving the audience what they want: monsters fighting one another. The action sequences are exciting almost to a perfectly “campy-ness” level, utilizing quick camera movements, a synth-filled score, and zooming in on the titan’s very emotive facial expressions. Speaking of the latter, the visual effects, particularly those on the baby Suko, were quite impressive. A particular fight sequence I was looking forward to seeing in context was the one shown in the trailers where Kong and Godzilla are fighting near the Pyramids of Giza (Happy Arab American Heritage Month by the way!) was a delight to see on the big screen.

As much as we try to avoid it, there are undoubtedly going to be comparisons to the wonderful Godzilla Minus One that just came out in 2023. With Godzilla X Kong, unlike the technical aspects, the storytelling is a bit choppy, often going back and forth between Godzilla, Kong, and the humans to a point where this 115 runtime starts to drag in a handful of places. The human characters are, okay, and the actors do the best they can with the material they were given to make them memorable, particularly Brian Tyree Henry and Dan Stevens. However, it’s very telling when I hear the person in the row behind me whisper, “When is this scene over?” on multiple occasions. 

Despite these issues, this film does seem to bring out a sense of nostalgia eerily specific to walking out of a movie theater located within your local mall on a Spring/Summer afternoon. Some aspects may be forgettable while others are thrilling, but it’s digestible. Perhaps that’s all it needs to be: a good time at the movies.  

Grade: B-

Oscars Prospects:
Likely: None
Should be Considered: None

Where to Watch: In Theaters (with friends!)

Sarah Abraham 
she/her @sarsaraaaaah
Lives in Orlando with her mom & dog. Clarinetist that loves movies, EDM, yoga, hot girl walks, and tzatziki.
Favorite Actor(s): Omar Sharif, Danielle Deadwyler, Hiam Abbass, and Daniel Day-Lewis
Sign: stereotypical Taurus