Godzilla vs Kong - A modern take on an old titan war

I'm a sucker for monster movies, from the golden age to the modern, vampires to kaiju, they're my jam. Godzilla vs Kong should fit undoubtedly in the sweet spot. It's not the first time the two titans have clashed and it would've even been the third if Toho didn't scrap the plans for a remake back in the early nineties due to licensing issues. I will not compare this new reimagining of the classic 1962 movie, now directed by Adam Wingard (You're Next, The Guest), but I will give my best impressions of what to expect without ruining surprises.

Right off the bat, the movie starts rubbing wrong with me. There's no need to say that you have to suspend your disbelief when watching a movie about giant monsters slamming each other into skyscrapers, but the grit, severity and even that sliver of "realism" you got from the 2014 Godzilla (directed by Gareth Edwards) or the 2017 Kong: Skull Island (directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts), yeah, those are gone out the window. Instead, granted, Wingard chose to go back to the zany roots of the old Toho Shōwa era classics, such as King Kong vs. Godzilla, although that movie was a bit more subtle with the antics compared to its contemporaries. It's a bit of a confusion with the 1962 movie, I won't get into it, but the movie is far from rising up to its reputation, but it's still one of Toho's most popular and profitable features... to date!

Godzilla vs Kong should have rather kept the original name since Kong is the main protagonist, he's given 80% of the screentime and he's the one who we follow for the most part, aside from the humans he's accompanied by. Godzilla, however, is a supporting character in his own movie and is being given a flimsy reason to go berserk, one that can be easily explained later in the movie without taking too much from his redeemability. Like all of the confusing plot points in the movie, you need to shut your brain off, remember what you're watching and repeat to yourself that the story only serves to take us to awesome places and get on to the giant monster fights. On that aspect it does not disappoint. These two big boys tear up cities and shrug off so many buildings it would make Man of Steel blush. The fights are amazing and the CGI is beautiful, not ultrarealistic, but serviceably beautiful. There's also a surprise classic "monster" making a big appearance.

The monsters aren't the only focus of the movie. Instead of just running around doing errands around their feet or running for their lives, the human protagonists are in direct contact with them, well, at least with Kong, and yes, it's a bit eyerolling. One character in particular is useless for the most part, starts a subplot and only pays off at the very end, but they needed to have her in the movie for some reason. One other character is so important to the plot that the way they are dragged from scene to scene will leave you scratching your head. A couple or three of the human characters are so villainous I can't believe they weren't given a mustache to twirl. Godzilla and Kong are given too much personality this time around and that's probably the toughest gripe I have with it, but... they try to explain some of it somewhat. Very reminiscent of the crazy time-traveling aliens from the old movies, Godzilla vs Kong also draws from conspiracy theories and myths. Again, the zaniness, conveniences and contrivances only serve to further the main course and it does not falter. It's a good flick for the whole family to gather around the TV with a big popcorn bowl and have a blast.