on KONG:
SKULL ISLAND (2017, 118 minutes, PG-13)
The
Quick of It -
The future will
be found in apex predator movies.
GODZILLA (2014) and SHIN GODZILLA (the recent Japanese film) was just
the taste, PACIFIC RIM a side-dish, and SKULL ISLAND adds to the start of a
future buffet.
As a whole,
and a total spoiler trap for you, you get what you saw in the trailer. This film was pure action, filled with the
wonder of exploring a lost island. This should
be enough reason for you to see the movie in large format, nothing more. Yes, there were plot holes and some stereotyped
roles going on, but you will be fine.
The cast was
great… from the outside… Tom Hiddleston (who everyone but me swoons over), Brie
Larson, Samuel L. Jackson (because why not?), John C. Reilly (who doesn’t disappoint),
John Goodman (my TV Dad), and Shea Williams.
But, there wasn’t much meat on the script for character development, so
everyone was expendable in my eyes. They
carried their weight and kept you engaged, so I guess a win.
Kong,
played by Toby Kebbell (who was also in the movie as a helicopter pilot and a protégé
of Andy Serkis) was the true star. He
was the only thing that made this project work, which was to be expected since
his name is in the title. The digital design
held true, the touching moments were reserved for him, and no weird
love-interest with the leading lady. I
always found it odd that a giant ape would fall for some bite-size bimbo… too
far… eh.
The island
was also the unspoken hero. The
cinematography captured enough uniqueness and natural awe to pull you into this
new world. Larry Fong, known for BATMAN
V SUPERMAN, SUPER 8, 300, and the coming THE PREDATOR, may actually get some
recognition from his peers. Director
Jordan Vogt-Roberts may also succeed in expanding his filmography after
this. We shall see.
When you
sit in your seat, know that action is to come and you will not be
disappointed. There is enough variety
and decent pacing that you will not grow bored or realize that this is a two
hour movie. I do have a beef with how
they wrote and acted out the after-credits clip… but I’ll save that for another
time.
Grade: B
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