Phil Roberts 
The King has regained his throne after defeating his rivals in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
The King has returned. After a sensational weekend at the box office, GODZILLA x KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE is a monster smash. After his less-than-stellar previous attempt, Adam Wingard finally delivers an excellent Kong movie with glorious cinematography, visual splendor, and monster mayhem. Although Kong’s time in the MonsterVerse has had its ups and downs, it hasn’t been entirely negative.
KONG: SKULL ISLAND was a decent movie, but it didn’t quite capture the charm of the original KING KONG films. Similarly, GODZILLA vs KONG felt it existed solely to elevate Godzilla’s status. As a result, my expectations for the sequel were low. However, the prospect of the two Titans teaming up instead of fighting for dominance gave me hope for an enjoyable movie. Fortunately, Adam Wingard rectified his previous mistakes and brought Kong to the forefront of the story. As a result, we get a fantastic return to form that firmly establishes Kong’s dominance over the wider MonsterVerse.
THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD
The film’s opening moments immediately immersed cinephiles into a genuine Kong adventure. The thrilling opening sequence showcased the eighth wonder of the world being pursued by a pack of Kaiju wolves, culminating in an epic showdown. However, in typical Kong fashion, the mighty ape triumphantly pounded his chest and obliterated the log bridge, denying the wolves any opportunity to gain the upper hand.
The scene was reminiscent of the classic Kong movies, making fans of the mighty ape feel at home. The abundance of lore and iconography established the film as a traditional Kong flick rather than another platform for Godzilla to steal the spotlight. Despite Godzilla’s significant contribution to the film, it continued to follow the formula and catapulted KONG back to the forefront of the story. A story on two fronts followed with Kong in the driving seat.
HOLLOW EARTH
Godzilla rampages across the surface and absorbs as much nuclear material as possible. Meanwhile, Kong explores the Hollow Earth. While Godzilla continues to fuel up for the showdown, Kong confronts the Skar King and faces the threat head-on. During the process, he also forms alliances with the subjugated apes and opens their eyes to a life beyond their enslavement, underscoring Kong’s compassion. Kong is often portrayed as a wild primate driven by his desire to mate or his hunger for food. It’s pretty refreshing to see him exhibit a gentler side of his character while still maintaining his ferocity against anyone who dares to challenge him.
The key to defeating Godzilla is his ferocity. However, when Kong emerges from the Hollow Earth seeking his help for an upcoming battle, the giant lizard is not in a sympathetic mood. At this point in the story, Godzilla has defeated several Titans and absorbed a significant amount of radioactive energy, which has made him more powerful than ever. Therefore, his defeat at the hands of Kong is even more impactful.
TITANS COLLIDE
After an intense battle, Kong emerges as the victor and stands triumphantly over Godzilla. Still, the King of the Monsters benefits from a dust cloud that rises from the sands of Cairo, allowing him to gain the upper hand again. The fight is ultimately ended by Mothra, who convinces the two to work together. However, the statement had already been made – Godzilla had been defeated, and Kong had proven himself to be his equal.
After enlisting Mothra as their mediator, Godzilla and Kong confront the Skar King and his enslaved pet, Shimo. Following a colossal battle, Kong, aided by Shimo, defeats the Skar King and emerges victoriously. However, it is notable that Godzilla plays a minor role in the movie, which is highlighted during the film’s concluding moments. This is a testament to Kong’s dominance, overshadowing Godzilla’s presence in the movie.
KING KONG
The movie’s final scenes depict Kong’s triumphant return to the Hollow Earth, where he frees the captive apes from their confinement. With his new friend Shimo, Kong emerges as the conqueror of the Skar King and is crowned as KING KONG, thus restoring his place in the Monsterverse legacy. I want to commend Adam Wingard for bringing this film to life. After the previous movie, I had doubts about this universe’s future.
In previous films, Kong was forced to fight in unfavorable terrains, detrimental to his chances of winning. Fighting in the ocean was particularly dangerous for a primate, and Kong dislocating his shoulder during round two was a clear example of that. However, when the playing field was level, Kong proved to be a worthy winner, and the future of the MonsterVerse now looks more exciting as a result.
LEGACY
In the MonsterVerse sandbox, there are now two strong contenders who are capable of defeating each other. To keep the peace, these two must maintain their fragile alliance, which is a challenge in its own right. However, this alliance creates some exciting prospects for the universe’s future.
However, the landscape has drastically changed, with Godzilla dominating the surface and Kong ruling the Hollow Earth. I pity any Titans who oppose them in this newly established realm of monsters. Both champions are ready to protect their territory, but in this universe, KONG REIGNS SUPREME.
GODZILLA x KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE is playing in cinemas everywhere now. (Read our full review here.) Did you enjoy the latest MonsterVerse adventure? Please share your thoughts in the comments and subscribe to our homepage for our team’s latest updates and reviews.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
