The king of the jungle King Kong is back, and is better than ever!
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Unlike most of the King Kong remakes, director Jordan Vogt-Roberts’ big screen take on the king of the jungle is one hell of a ride, packed with action and suspense in an all-out monster adventure.
Kong never leaves the Skull Island, the undiscovered area that lurks within mankind, and for that, it gives Kong: Skull Island a new perspective - an uncharted playground for Vogt-Roberts and his team to play about, creating a whole new world of newfound monsters and species that lives on the mysterious island.
Secret op Bill Randa (John Goodman), together with his assistant Houston Brooks (Corey Hawkins) and San (Tian Jing) head out to the island to find out the unanswered questions on what the island might bring. Together with former officer Captain Conrad (Tom Hiddleston), photojournalist Mason Weaver (Brie Larson) and Lt. Col. Preston Packard (Samuel L. Jackson) with his team of soldiers.
Helicopters came crashing and were scattered around the ginormous island as soon as they reached the island, in a standoff with Kong. The survivors congregate at their soonest but soon realised there are more creatures hiding in the hermetical forest - lizard-like creatures, oversized octopuses and giant ants that desire more than just blood.
With the help of long-lost veteran Hank Marlow (John C. Reilly), they soon realised that Kong isn’t the enemy they should be fighting.
Think of Kong: Skull Island as more of a Jurassic World monster movie, than another remake from its predecessors. Apart from the beautiful scenery which was shot on locations in Vietnam, Australia and Hawaii over a period of six months, the visual effects looked seemingly flawless. Shooting on locations definitely paid off for the magnificent nature sits as a perfect habitat for a giant creature like Kong. Perhaps the grandest of it all, the silhouette of the giant gorilla in front of the bright scorching sun sums up the hysteria of what the island holds.
In case you’re wondering, there are little moments of the pivotal human-to-ape interaction, and as with the other Kong films, Weaver is the bridge of that communication. Sure, the Oscar-winning actress doesn't just play the damsel-in-distress role, but her character as a war photographer didn't quite cut it for me. Personally, I felt like the film was still dominated by the men in it. Worse, Chinese actress Jing Tian was mainly in charge of screaming and running.
Ultimately, Kong: Skull Island is a crowd-pleasing monster movie that delivers the action, thrills and violence, not forgetting the softer moments from the giant monster itself. Throw in a few prehistoric beasts and a group of human to-be victims, this is one King Kong movie that is going to stomp the box office race.
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