My Review:

Godzilla Vs Kong

Rating this movies had me wavering between 3 and 4 stars.
After watching this movie; my first impression was to give it 4 stars; but later while writing my review I gave it 3.

Hands down it gets 3 stars simply because it's a good movie. The CGI is great; and the action is good. It's a big budget film that's entertaining. Presentation-wise this movie is excellent.

On the other hand, I couldn't give this movie 5 stars; because it didn't meet all my expectations. I was expecting Godzilla and King Kong; and I got that and more. I expected to see a clash - and I got that. I expected to see a good fight - and I got that too.

What I didn't get; but expected was an epic movie.

When you have two mega stars like Godzilla and King Kong clashing on the big screen during an era when video technology makes anything possible - you kind of expect an epic turn out.

But this movie was nowhere near epic.

Now, let's excuse the fact that the two are big name figures. Let's imagine for a moment that Godzilla and King Kong are new to the culture and that they haven't been around in pop-culture for over 40 years.

Now with that being said, this movie had 3 prior Monster Verse movie releases before its debut; that led up to this battle.

* Godzilla (2014)
* Kong: Skull Island (2017)
* Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)

That factor alone builds an expectation that when these two clash it will be a momentum event.

But what we got with this movie is a movie that can easily be viewed as a stand-alone movie and a fight that is arguably equal to the climatic fights in all of the other movies before it.

Where is the epic - I ask?

Yes, there are references to the other movies that led up to this one; but that's all they were - references.

That isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's good that a movie can be fulfilling even while being in a string of a series. The bad thing about this movie is, once you view it - it becomes apparent that the movies before it weren't even a must see!

I bullshit you not, you could watch this movie without viewing the others first; and it still wouldn't be as less entertaining as much as it should be if you did watched the others first.

Yes, the few references to the other movies will have you questioning what are the characters alluding to if you hadn't seen the other movies before it; but not enough to matter.

You could literally answer all the questions that this movie references to - in a sequel; and you would be completely content.

That's not good when the movies before it alluded to this movie's debut. That builds a certain amount of expectances; that wasn't met after viewing it.

Bottom line is if the first 3 movies before its debut come off as optional - instead of necessary or recommended - how can this movie feel epic?

The first Jurassic Park was epic; because we waited years for dinosaurs to look as realistic as they did when it showed it to us - and the story was good.

Star Wars movies are epic; because the other movies in its series are recommended or necessary to view for a greater enjoyment. Which ones are recommended and necessary depends on which one you want to watch.

The MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) and in particularly the Avenger: End Game is EPIC; because each new installment builds on top of the pervious one.

Godzilla vs. Kong- is not epic!

...but it should have been.

Whew...now that I got that out of my system.

Ok, so why not 4 stars instead of 3?

Well, it's the same reason why this movie isn't consider epic.

At it's core this movie is a fan service - cash grab. The audience wants to see these two famous titans, Godzilla and King Kong duke it out - and Hollywood delivers it.

Where this movie lack is it context and story.

A great story nor a great reason for these two titans to fight was required; because I think deep down inside, we all came with the same expectation for this movie. We came to see a fight; and why the two will fight had never been up for discussion. The topic has always been who would win?

The movie doesn't even give a clear understanding of why Godzilla and King Kong are fighting. And to my amazement by the end of the movie - you won't really even mind that it didn't. And what's even more appalling is the conclusion - makes it irrelevant in the first place.

The movie does provide some form of a story and plot; and its descent enough. But that's were it stops...it's just enough and nothing more.

And that's why I gave it 3 stars!

Yes, it's a good movie that didn't need to have a good story to be good entertainment; but it would have been so much more if it had tried.

I have one lasting thought about this movie that bothers me. The movie leave a sense of more to come; like this was the start of an Epic battle to come and every thing before this movie was a tease.

This is enticing; but who really like a tease?

If you built my excitement towards a certain expectation - (an EPIC battle between Godzilla and King Kong); and then don't deliver; don't expect me to be optimistic about anything else you have to offer in the future.

...I had more to say; but I'm tired of venting.