The Kaiju/Monsterverse Thread (Kong & Godzilla)

[Silver Nemesis]

[The Joker]

That was gorgeous.

I have to say, the astute use of "over the rainbow" to highlight the visuals, and the sheer sense of awe rather than just using the oh-so-familiar "bwams" or some deployed classic rock song really works with these trailers.

[Silver Nemesis]

[The Joker]

Mama said knock you out - Final Look

This movie looks like it's going to be a blast! The use of the song made me think all the way back to the Godzilla MTV Lifetime Achievement Award video back in 1996.

[The Joker]

Day 1 "must see" for me!

[thecolorsblend]

Originally, my perspective on this movie was basically total apathy. It didn't interest me enough to want to buy a movie ticket.

But since it's coming to HBO Max at no additional charge, yeah, sure. Why not? I'll give it a shot. I haven't seen any of these newfangled Godzilla or Kong movies but this one seems interesting. I'll give it a day in court.

[The Joker]

Godzilla vs Kong is fundamentally the Monsterverse "payoff" movie that's been building up since 2017 with "Kong Skull Island". Sure, one could count the 2014 "Godzilla" Legendary reboot that originally kicked off the Monsterverse, but from what I'm gathering, much of the plot threads that are being carried over into GvK, is more or less stemming from 2017's "Kong Skull Island", and 2019's "Godzilla King of the Monsters" than the introductory 2014 film.

I have no idea if "Kong Skull Island", and "Godzilla King of the Monsters" is currently available on HBO Max (I know digital platforms love playing this game where movies are available, then not, then back available again), but if you're wanting to give GVK 'a day in court', you may as well check those out so you are at least brushed up on what the hell is going on during this payoff finale.

It's not quite the huge undertaking of having to watch a library of MCU films just in order to actually enjoy/understand Infinity War/Endgame (otherwise it's just a bunch of CGI fights with characters you would care less about). However, I couldn't imagine someone who had no interest in "Batman Begins", and "The Dark Knight", suddenly deciding to watch "The Dark Knight Rises" and getting any kind of level of enjoyment that a person who even nonchalantly watched the previous two, would get. At the very least, there would be some form of familiarity there.

Course, everyone has their own deal. C'est la vie.

[The Dark Knight]

Before seeing this trailer I barely knew about the movie or had any real interest. But I'll check it out now. There has to be a story of some kind to justify the confrontation. But I don't know how nuanced or philosophical you can go with such a concept. A movie with two oversized goliaths demands lots of crazy action, otherwise what's the point?

The 2014 Godzilla solo film was a letdown from that perspective. I found it mind numbingly boring and contemplated walking out half way through. But this trailer? It looks like a fun time. Godzilla has the automatic advantage, and if we're being honest, he'd win. But as a character, I'm all about Kong. I prefer him as a one-shot tragic hero, but this film at least allows him to strut his stuff beyond the confines of that tale.

I'm wondering how they're going to resolve the conflict. Do they kill one of them off? I find that unlikely. Reaching a draw of some kind and uniting to fight a common foe would be a safe option. 

[The Joker]

Right now, I'm thinking the safe option is more probable. As *SPOILERS* -- MechaGodzilla is supposedly going to make his Monsterverse debut in this.

Going purely off the trailer, it definitely comes across as GvK being a 'heroes journey' for Kong, and he's definitely the protagonist for sure. Just as he basically was back in the 1962 original (where Godzilla was just a out and out villain and not going haywire for mysterious reasons suggested by the GvK trailer). Godzilla King of the Monsters (2019) made the point that Godzilla was now considered the alpha among his kaiju peers (they're called titans in this universe), with Kong noticeably absent. Actually, Kong didn't even respond to King Ghidorah's call when Ghidorah was considered the alpha either. Which kinda goes along with the trailer, with the line of, "Kong bows to no one."

I imagine GvK will mirror Rocky IV to some extent. Where one appears to have all the advantages (Godzilla/Drago), the other will show a determination, sheer will, and heart that is second to none and clearly is more than enough to make for a formidable opponent (Kong/Rocky).

Godzilla 2014 is an acquired taste for sure. I liked it, but at the time, I was pretty starved for new Godzilla content, as the franchise was dormant for a good 10 years prior to Legendary's 2014 film. Gareth Edwards' JAWS approach was an unique way to go about Godzilla, where you don't really get a lot of him until the last part of the movie, but it is what it is. I think the trailers were misleading due to the heavy focus on Bryan Cranston's character, and I think a lot of people thought this was going to be Walter White vs Godzilla. Which, obviously, it wasn't. It's not a film I revisit anymore, mainly due to just how dark the night scenes are on the blu. As I don't recall having any problems watching this in the theater, but trying to watch it at home is just unbearable. As you can barely tell whats going on it's so dark during the night scenes at the end. Course I can turn up the lightness/contrast on the tv, but you shouldn't be forced to do that just to watch a damn movie.

I almost want to consider Godzilla 2014 a one off, mainly due to the overall presentation of the Monsterverse being much more consistent in it's tone/style with the films that followed it. If I were to recommend a more recent Godzilla one off film, it would be Shin Godzilla over Godzilla 2014 for sure.

[thecolorsblend]

Godzilla vs Kong is fundamentally the Monsterverse "payoff" movie that's been building up since 2017 with "Kong Skull Island". Sure, one could count the 2014 "Godzilla" Legendary reboot that originally kicked off the Monsterverse, but from what I'm gathering, much of the plot threads that are being carried over into GvK, is more or less stemming from 2017's "Kong Skull Island", and 2019's "Godzilla King of the Monsters" than the introductory 2014 film.

I have no idea if "Kong Skull Island", and "Godzilla King of the Monsters" is currently available on HBO Max (I know digital platforms love playing this game where movies are available, then not, then back available again), but if you're wanting to give GVK 'a day in court', you may as well check those out so you are at least brushed up on what the hell is going on during this payoff finale.

It's not quite the huge undertaking of having to watch a library of MCU films just in order to actually enjoy/understand Infinity War/Endgame (otherwise it's just a bunch of CGI fights with characters you would care less about). However, I couldn't imagine someone who had no interest in "Batman Begins", and "The Dark Knight", suddenly deciding to watch "The Dark Knight Rises" and getting any kind of level of enjoyment that a person who even nonchalantly watched the previous two, would get. At the very least, there would be some form of familiarity there.

Course, everyone has their own deal. C'est la vie.

Challenge accepted. Besides, there's plenty of time before GVK comes out anyway.

Tonight? Kong: Skull Island. Because Godzilla 2014 isn't on HBO Max. Or, if it is, I couldn't find it. So, Kong: Skull Island it is.

Honestly, pretty enjoyable little movie. I know basically jacknothing about Kong. Ditto Godzilla, for that matter. I think there was a window of opportunity for my fandom to go in a monster kind of direction. But after B89 came out, that was it, show's over, it's comic book and superheroes from here on in. Still, I do remember the interest I had in monster movies when I was a kid and that same sense of mystery and thrills was going on with Kong: Skull Island.

I think the real secret weapon of Kong: Skull Island is Sam Jackson. The movie obviously needs a baddie and Jackson's character is perfect for that. The warrior who can't contemplate peacetime, he was always planning on going out in a blaze of... something. Can't say glory. But definitely something. I think it was fine for him to die as a villain than live a lost, mixed up soldier. From the jump, he was always on a suicide run. Kong only put him out of everybody's misery.

Considering Godzilla 2014's seeming absence from HBO Max, all that's rly left now is Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Figure I can tackle that one tomorrow night.