This is a really cool movie! It's not deep or complex, but it's visually great and a lot of fun.

A strange movie. It is kind of all over the place with its themes and influences but it has a distinct enough personality and some solid setpieces.

This is a straight adventure story with giant monsters, and the way it's shot and the hammy dialogue are mostly B-movie and comic book derived (check out those Dutch angles and blistering colors and 10 times too big sun, moon, aurora...).

But there's also a clunky Vietnam metaphor that's a straight-up over the top "homage" to Apocalypse Now, et al. The song choices even more so. It makes sense in theory (VietKong anyone?) but I don't think it ever really works and it's just an excuse to make Sam Jackson a bad guy to counterpoint Kong's "human" side.

Characters are fine for the most part. They serve their cardboard purposes and that's what's expected. Hiddleston and Larson in particular feel vastly underdeveloped. Everything they say and do fall instantly from memory and their disappearance from the movie all together wouldn't have changed it that much.

But what we want are monsters and we get them. Most of them are wonders to behold (the water buffalo, spider legs, and octo tentacles yum) except the generic Skullcrawers (the scene where Reilly names them is embarrassing - I don't think Larson or Hiddleston had any idea what to do the dialogue is so ferociously dumb. Reilly almost saves it however).

This Kong feels like a very different movie than the new Godzilla. This is very much an entertaining B-movie with strong comic book influences worn loud and proud. It will be interesting to see how these two worlds collide. If any franchises deserve an extended universe, it's these! That's what they're all about.

Especially in the beginning before the enter the island were Kong lives this is a pure ode to Apocalyose Now (1979). The score used, the shots from the helicopters and the way the cinematography was done will remind a lot of people towards the old flicks about the Vietnam war.

It's once on the island that the action really begins and it starts immediately with an apocalypse (no pun intended). The effects are stunning and it's from that point that this flick turns into a fight against the creatures on one point and another bunch of guys are trying to survive. From there on the mix between the titles said in my summary starts.

But don't get me wrong. It's not a remake of King Kong (all issues). It stands on it's own and of we go in a flick full of great effects. Not a flick to watch with youngsters because when fighting against the creatures it's full of creepy suspense.

Better than expected

Gore 2/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 5/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 0/5