Godzilla Vs. Kong is the title match we have been waiting for, and it delivers in spades.

Score: 4.5/5

Starting in 2014, Legendary Pictures brought back the skyscraper monster movie to modern audiences with Godzilla. Every two to three years since they have given us another one. Godzilla vs. Kong is the most fun of them all. Unlike the last big Versus movie to come out (Batman V. Superman), this movie had the proper table setting of previous films for each title character which what-do-ya-know, lets the Versus movie focus on the whole versus part.

This movie delivers precisely what trailers and the title promise: Godzilla and Kong going toe to toe, and each time they do it’s an explosive, incredible spectacle to watch. The action in this movie is excellent, like a boxing match, but with atomic breath and house-size battle axes. There’s something more fun about watching Kong throw fighter jets and Godzilla than puny humans duking it out. It also does a better job of putting the humans to the side, using them more for what they should be in these movies, giving a bit of context, and offering slight support or resistance to the two massive titans battling it out. They are not the focus of the story, and that’s great.

Now sure, you could nitpick the hell out of the plot but since the movie doesn’t pay as much attention to it, it really doesn’t distract from the action that you came to see. Of the bigger plot side of things, I have to commend the writing and directing for bringing out the strengths of the two monsters. Godzilla, throughout the movie, is what he’s been established as a force of nature. On the other end, Kong is given a more character-related role because that’s what Skull Island has already brought to the screen. Again, having movies before this confrontation greatly aided in allowing this movie to really focus instead of having to explain days’ worth of exposition to make things line up.

All this is to say, I really enjoyed Godzilla vs. Kong. It’s everything I could have hoped for from a movie pitting these two mega monsters at one another. It felt like a Kong: Skull Island sequel with a Godzilla Hurricane thrown in. It’s just plain fun, which is the point, right? If you are a fan of fun, explosive destruction action movies, do yourself a favor and watch this movie now!

Special Note: This is the first movie I have seen in theaters since the pandemic shut things down. I’m vaccinated myself, so this gave me the confidence that with a mask on, I could feel comfortable watching a movie on the big screen again. I’m glad I did. I saw this in the Dolby Cinema format at AMC, and wow, this movie has an entirely different feel in a theater versus at home. The booming sound with every explosion and blow, the massive screen. It’s worth it! So, if you can safely see the movie in a theater, this is THE optimal experience to watch the film. Stay safe!