Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) | Film Review

You have to feel bad for Godzilla. Not only does he have to follow-up the absolute masterclass of monster cinema that was Godzilla Minus One, but in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, the poor guy can’t even get a few winks in the Colosseum before the world once again demands he and Kong’s assistance to thwart yet another world-ending threat.  But hey, at least this time he gets to radiate with an effervescent Barbie-esque pink hue (you will have to see the film to know exactly why).

For this direct sequel to 2021’s, Godzilla vs. Kong, director Adam Wingard returns to craft a CGI-loaded, ridiculously plotted, excessively edited, monster-smashing sequel revolving around a dangerous foe in Hollow Earth’s Skar King and his aims to toss monkey morality to the wind and do some real damage back on the mainland.

Rebecca Hall and Kaylee Hottle return as Ilene Andrews and her now adopted daughter, Jia. After being rescued from Skull Island, Jia feels isolated from Kong and many of the treasures of her homeland, so when things with Kong go sideways, of course Ilene allows her to tag along. We are better for it though, as their relationship is the dose of heart this film sorely needs as it continues the Monsterverse’s largest sin: forgetting human characters need to make some iota of sense.

Returning from the previous film is Brian Tyree Henry’s Bernie, who gets very little of interest to do here. Thankfully, director Wingard called in his leading man from 2014’s fantastic The Guest, Dan Stevens, to liven things up as the unpredictably hilarious Trapper. Please bring Trapper back, we need more of this insanity if we are to keep taking these plots seriously.

Kong is again the primary focus, and that continues to work due to the expertly utilized facial tics in the King Kong designs. Kong cannot speak, but we understand his every motive and movement, which is a true testament to this effects team. Kong eventually encounters his own version of Jia in Suko, an abandoned and borderline abused baby ape who Kong takes under his wing for a bit of that tough monkey love. For example, winding Suko up and twirling him around as a weapon like the world’s stretchiest baseball bat.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a monster movie, through and through. If you’re interested in an emotional narrative with human characters that connect on a deeper level of empathy, go watch Godzilla Minus One again. Because THIS is a freaking monster movie. It has no time for character development.

Titans versus titans, almost non-stop CGI monster mash complete with Mecha Kong and Barbzilla, a script that is basically a hastily scribed cartoon, and a tinge of Dan Stevens lunacy mostly equals a ridiculously fun time at the theater where you can rest comfortably while leaving your brain secured in the car. Oh, and a sweet 80s-esque score that seems right up director Adam Wingard’s alley. Rawr.

Listen to our full podcast review of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire on this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast: