Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire – Movie Review | Max (3/5)

GODZILLA x KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE is now on Max and the latest Kaiju movie is a true action adventure. I enjoyed it much more than I expected. Read our full Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire review here!

GODZILLA x KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE is now on Max. While I always prefer to watch these monster movies (or Kaiju to be exact) on the big screen, I never got around to watching it in a movie theater.

Still, I feel watching any monster movie in a theater is the best way. However, I must admit that I enjoyed this one on Max as well. The official runtime is 1 hour and 55 minutes, but the last nine minutes or so are credits. Just so you know.

Continue reading our Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire review below. Find it on Max from July 4, 2024.

An epic adventure

When it comes to Kaiju movies, “epic” is always the right word. It’s just so larger than life that the word feels appropriate. Both due to the sheer size of the title character and the world-building associated with them.

In Godzilla x Kong, the cinematic Monsterverse follows up on the epic battle of Godzilla vs. Kong (2021). As this movie opens, Godzilla rules the surface of our planet while Kong is in The Hollow Earth. He’s lonely, but it’s a world that suits him.

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The Japanese Godzilla movie Godzilla Minus One which is on Netflix

I am a sucker for any kind of adventure movie. From the world of Jumanji to The Mummy or Indiana Jones. What can I say, it’s my jam. And so are Kaijus, which resulted in me enjoying this movie much more than I anticipated.

The ancient history of mankind and Kaijus

While the Kaijus are obviously key characters to the story, there are also a lot of human characters that are key to the events unfolding. Based on the trailer, I wasn’t expecting much from the human characters, but they work better than ever.

Rebecca Hall (Resurrection), Brian Tyree Henry (Class of ’09), and Dan Stevens (Abigail) are all wonderful. As it child actor Kaylee Hottle (Godzilla vs. Kong), who plays a key role.

Without giving away too much of the plot, I can say that much of the movie plays out in Hollow Earth. This makes for stunning scenery and even more background on the mythical Kaiju creatures. Including how they became tied to humankind forever.

Watch Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire on Max now!

Adam Wingard is the director of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. I have been a fan of his since You’re Next (2011), which may be why I was sorely disappointed by Blair Witch (2016).

In case you didn’t know, this movie was long titled “The Woods” and billed as a new and brilliant horror movie. Then it was revealed to be a Blair Witch movie, and I was already disappointed. The movie itself didn’t blow me away either.

Now, with both Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) and this one, I feel like Adam Wingard is getting back on track. Well, for me anyway.

The story comes from Terry Rossio, Adam Wingard, and Simon Barrett (V/H/S/94, Azrael), while the actual screenplay was written by Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett, and Jeremy Slater (The Umbrella Academy).

As someone who did not like the trailer, this was a good experience. To me, the trailer made the movie look like a video game or an animated movie. I enjoy those too, but not for a Godzilla or Kong movie.

I was pleasantly surprised now that I watched it and it’s actually so much more. Do check it out on Max now that it’s been added to this streaming platform.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is out on Max from July 4, 2024.

Details

Director: Adam Wingard
Writers: Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett, Jeremy Slater
Cast: Rebecca Hall, Dan Stevens, Brian Tyree Henry, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, Fala Chen