Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)

Now In Theaters Nationwide.

“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” in a nutshell:
Kong: Man, I just got my ass kicked. Help a Titan out?
Godzilla: Say less, bruv. We on this bitch.
Mothra: Allow it.

The best thing to remember about “The New Empire” going in to it is that Adam Wingard’s movie is for the monsters this time. There’s a lot less stuff about bureaucracy, and shady governments, and Armageddon. Now that we’ve hit on all those notes, Wingard gives us what can plainly be described as a fun, classic Saturday matinee. It’s a tribute to the classic monster mashes from Godzilla’s heyday where King Kong is the hero who calls upon a few of his friends, one of whom being Godzilla, to take down a new potential threat to mankind. A challenger to the throne, if you will.

So much of it works as I was hooked on the journey we’re taken on with King Kong.

Since the events of Godzilla vs. Kong,” Godzilla’s activity is closely monitored by Monarch and Dr. Ilene Andrews. Dr. Andrews also keeps a close eye on Kong through stations established around Hollow Earth access points. Sadly, Kong is lonely as he anxiously searches for others like him he can share his experiences with. Meanwhile, Dr. Andrews’ adoptive daughter Jia, the sole survivor of the decimated Iwi tribe from Skull Island, struggles to find her place in school and society at large, exacerbated by strange new visions that seem directly tied to Hollow Earth. Dr. Andrews enlists a small group of explorers to help her navigate Jia’s new plight, discovering a brand new threat that makes itself known and is dead set on reaching Earth realm to challenge Godzilla.

Now that we’ve sen them bust heads, they’re now basically respecting each other’s spaces and working within their own realms. Godzilla stops random giant monsters on Earth, while Kong is ruler of his own jungle. Director Wingard makes a movie that may very well have been on syndicated television in the eighties and nineties. It’s a movie that revels in implementing the monsters that Legendary has to use, while also telling a story that’s simple but very effective. Kong and Godzilla are played a lot less as heroes, and more just as animals that are doing what they’re supposed to do, which is survive.

Kong is not a good guy, so much as an animal that is confronted with a devious mastermind of a fellow ape known as Skar King. Skar King is a mysterious foe whose own motivation is plainly to dominate and rule, and it’s no doubt that he has his eyes fixated on going up to Earth soon enough. Kong unwittingly becomes the intruder who stops what could be another prophesized Armageddon (Damn, how many have there been so far?) but thankfully also has Godzilla in his corner.

Their mutual respect allows for Kong to really retaliate when Skar King doles out a surefire defeat, resulting in Kong not only losing dominance, but his hand in the process. For fans hoping to see a lot of carnage from Godzilla, this is more Kong’s movie than anything else as he’s given a clear arc, conflict, a villain that is a reflection of what he’s capable of, and even his own sidekick. Godzilla does have his moments establishing dominance and coming to aide in the monster throwdown, but if you’re expecting a surplus of Godzilla, you’re better off with “Godzilla Minus One.” Hey, it won an Oscar!

“The New Empire” knows exactly what it is and has a great time with the material. It’s not as dark or dire as previous Legendary Godzilla/Kong movies, dials back the human sub-plot wisely pitting a lot of the focus on Jia (Kaylie Hottle is charming), whose spiritual connection to the Titans makes her a likable heroine. I had a blast with “The New Empire” and I’m eager to see what is coming down the pipeline for this universe.