★★1/2
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is exactly what you expect it to be: big, dumb, and loud monster fights. For some people, this might work — if you love some of that rock 'em sock ‘em “Transformers”-like large-scale action, you’ll get what you came for…eventually. Otherwise, this was a gigantic waste of time; a silly, pointless, illogical, and soulless film that is missing everything that makes these iconic characters special. It was like watching a kid play with their Godzilla and Kong toys, there’s no substance to it. I loved Gareth Edwards’ 2014 Godzilla film, with its excellent visual style and sense of scale and tone. But this is no longer that (no disrespect meant to director Adam Wingard) — it’s visually incoherent and lacks any sense of scale or weight. It’s almost like it’s become a cartoon of what it once was. And honestly, I think Godzilla Minus One broke the Monsterverse for me (because that film was so damn good). I’m more interested in deeper stories that use these creatures in more intelligent ways. Godzilla x Kong is mostly fine but it's cinematic junk food and the epitome of empty calories. The novelty has worn off and the sense of gigantic scale is lost with too much time in hollow earth. Plus I’m just really not into the “big monkey punches big lizard” fights anymore. Some will love this, but it’s just not for me. If you liked the first Godzilla vs Kong, then you’ll for sure like this! A little too dumb and mindless with nothing else really going for it. Heck, Godzilla and Kong only appear intermittently in the first 90 minutes, which is bogged down with boring human exposition before our titans even share the screen. When they do it’s one of the most ridiculous, anti-climactic, generic team-ups imaginable. Nonetheless, it’s hard not to be entertained watching giant monsters fight, and at least they do this well. As Rotten Tomatoes summarizes: “Come to Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire for the sheer monster-mashing spectacle — and stay for that too, because the movie doesn't have much else to offer.”
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