Shocking, as
it may seem, Kong: Skull Island has a lot riding on it. It has been almost 11
years since we've seen King Kong on the big screen. There are a lot of
expectations for this film considering that it's following both Peter Jackson's solid but WAY too long take on the legendary cinematic monster and Gareth
Edwards middling and divisive take on rival legendary cinematic monster
Godzilla. It serves not only as a
reintroduction to Kong but to a broader monster based cinematic universe. If
Kong doesn’t work, the whole thing crumbles down like a building in Kong’s way.
Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures hope that this movie revives Kong in a
way that resonates with audiences and critics alike. I'm happy to report that
for the most part, it does.
Written and
directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, Kong: Skull Island is what would happen if
King Kong and Apocalypse Now had a baby that ended up in a multiplex. Set
during the tail end of the Vietnam War, a team of explorers and soldiers
travel to the titular mythic uncharted island in the Pacific in search for
answers to what exactly is happening there. Being that this is a monster movie,
our heroes soon discover that they are crossing into the domain of monsters,
including the mythic King Kong, who are not too happy to have people rolling up
into their turf.
Unlike recent
monster blockbusters like Jurassic World and Godzilla, Kong has a distinct
sense of style and purpose. From it’s rocking Vietnam era rock and roll
soundtrack to its breathtaking monster effects, you can tell that this is a
film that came from a place of love. For the most
part, it doesn’t feel like the corporate mandated and focus tested safe
blockbusters that have been dominating the multiplex for the last decade. It
has a soul and a real sense of purpose.
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| All these humans keep messing with my island. I just wanted a nap.....but no. |
Vogt-Roberts
and cinematographer Larry Fong frame the sequences in a way that
is not only appropriate to the story but visually interesting as well. The
colors are vivid and breathtaking, especially in the scenes when Kong takes
on monsters. The cinematography and
editing work together to make action packed scenarios that will thrill and
delight audiences.
The film’s
biggest weakness, much like the aforementioned Godzilla, is that the characters
are not as strong or interesting as they could be. While it's not as bad as that
movie, I just wish that the film had human characters that were as engaging as
the action or Kong himself. In a film filled with talented actors like Samuel
L. Jackson, John Goodman, Tom Hiddleston, and Brie Larson, the only characters that
have an interesting story arc with real pay offs are Kong and John C Reilly’s
stranded fighter pilot character. Reilly manages to steal the show with a
performance that provides the film with both humor and heart.
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| I'm just here to steal the show. |
These
characters aren’t as terrible or boring as the ones in Godzilla but they lack
in the 'likeability' or interest factor that makes them as memorable or likable
as the characters in something like Jurassic Park. I wish that the rest of the
film’s characters got the same treatment and respect as the action sequences
and cinematography did. I don’t want high art or deep characterization in my
awesome monster movie but a little more sprinkled in would have made Kong that much more affecting. The film feels
like it's on fast forward in this regard, perhaps a deliberate choice given
the reaction to the slower paced Godzilla. It’s a shame as with a little bit
more characterization, this film could be truly great as opposed to the good it
is now.
As it is,
Kong: Skull Island is a solid and engaging blockbuster that is filled to the
brim with jaw dropping action and gorgeous cinematography and special effects.
It is not high art but it is a fun monster movie that offers a good time to be
had at the movies. Sometimes that’s all you can ask for.
Score
-Liam S. O'Connor