'Godzilla vs Kong' Review: Exactly the Movie We Need Right Now

Herein lies the first movie that has made me truly miss the theatre-going experience. Godzilla vs Kong is everything you want this movie to be. It's an incredible amount of fun and exactly what audiences are looking for right now.

I'll watch anything on the big screen, really. No movie is too quiet or small for me to think that the true cinematic experience can and will elevate it. But there are some movies that demand a theatre. You need the massive screen, the booming audio, and most importantly, the crowd of people all experiencing a movie together.

I can't think of a movie more deserving of this treatment than Godzilla vs Kong.

I don't think we need a plot summary, do we? It's Godzilla fighting King Kong. C'mon! Story writes itself!

Adam Wingard did the best thing he could have possibly done for this movie: minimize human screen time. Don't get me wrong though, we still get a couple of people-centric story lines giving us a breather from the monster mash. The story of little Jia (Kaylee Hottle), her adoptive mother Dr. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall), and geologist Dr. Nathan Lind (Alexander Skarsgård) is actually pretty great -- it's heartwarming and gives audiences a compass to follow. But, the second plot with Millie Bobby Brown and Brian Tyree Henry a heist-like side adventure that truly doesn't serve the story.

It's easy to dismiss this movie as a popcorn flick, but the craft behind the CGI in this movie really needs to be appreciated. I'll always be an advocate for practical effects when it's possible, but it's hard not to marvel at how great the technology has become. Both Kong and Godzilla are fantastical creatures, but there was never a moment in the movie that I thought they looked fake. The details that the visual effects team are able to realistically create is truly amazing. We're not yet finished with the 2021 award season, but I will be massively surprised and disappointed if Godzilla vs Kong doesn't pick up all the nominations for visual effects in 2022.

Now, this movie isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination. The story itself is shaky and you can bet that the dialogue is not good, but trust me when I say that this is worth your time and money to go and seek out. Godzilla vs Kong is the monster match up we wanted. These two giants of cinema battle it out for multiple rounds on land and sea -- absolutely obliterating Hong Kong in the process.

Recommended for: everyone -- it's fun, go and enjoy.

Godzilla vs Kong is available in theatres where available, and VOD.

While all I could think of each step of the way was how much I would have loved to watch this in a crowded theatre on opening weekend, I am reminded that there are parts of the world that did get to experience Godzilla vs Kong. COVID-19 has changed our worlds in many ways, but looking at the movie industry specifically, there had been a real concern that cinemas might not bounce back when COVID was in our rear mirror. So I was overjoyed when I heard that Godzilla vs Kong pulled in over $120 million last week when it opened in 38 countries. This past weekend it opened at $50 million in North America, and another $71 million overseas. It should be noted that the $50 million is primarily the US as most of Canadian cinemas remain closed, and American audiences had the option of streaming it on HBO Max, too. Just amazing.

I've engaged in many debates with friends over this last year whether or not movie theatres would continue to thrive, or even exist. My argument has always been that since the advent of television, people have waxed lyrical about the end of cinema and yet, they still stand. Personally, I think that people are anxious to go back to the movies right now. As vaccine roll outs continue around the world, we are all looking for a sense of normalcy and engaging in the activities that were off limits for a year. I continue to be firm in my belief that movie theatres aren't going anywhere.

Godzilla vs Kong was probably the most perfect movie we could have asked to welcome people back to theatres. It's loud, it's flashy, and it will get you hyped. So if you're in a territory that has theatres open and you're comfortable going, I would highly recommend this one -- and please be safe if you do go!