Kong: Skull Island

Cast: John Goodman, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L.Jackson, Brie Larson, John C. Reilly and Corey Hawkins.

Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts

Release Date: 2017

Running Time: 1hr 51 minutes

Genre: Action/Fantasy

Rating: 12

Format: Sky Cinema

Synopsis:

A brave team of scientists explore an uncharted island in the pacific, venturing into the domain of the mighty Kong, and must fight to escape a primal Eden.

In 2014, Warner Brothers announced the creation of the Monsterverse. A fictional universe that would be centered around monster films featuring King Kong and Godzilla. This is the second film in a series of instalments to enter the Monsterverse. This is a reboot, it is not connected to any previous films centered around the character of Kong. Set in 1973 a team of scientists and Vietnam war soldiers embark on a journey to Skull Island, an uncharted island in the Pacific, where they soon encounter hair raising creatures. Ancient species that were on Earth long before humans are standing strong to take over once again.

The concept of the storyline is very similar to that of Michael Crichton's "Jurassic Park", there is an uninhabited island full of ancient creatures. How was it that they came to be there? Why are they all so dominant? The storyline is not only interesting but thought provoking too. A real story of discovery. Are these ancient creatures really out to hurt them or are they simply trying to protect them from evil that lives on the island? The characters unfortunately are not so well executed. John Goodman, Samuel L.Jackson, John C.Reilly and Tom Hiddleston are the only four actors to portray their characters fantastically. The other characters unfortunately hold little to no significance to the storyline. One character in particular is seen on screen continuously, but to our disappointment doesn't speak a word. What is he doing there?

Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts has certainly taken some inspiration from  Francis Ford Coppola's hit war film "Apocalypse now", although the idea works very well with the storyline, in adding music to intense fighting scenes  it also leaves no room for originality. There is however a tremendous amount of humour that works terrifically to defuse the tension amid the chaos on the island. Reilly delivers particularly good comic timing, Reilly plays a a soldier who has been on the island since 1944, with no understanding that a man has stepped foot on the moon or as to why there is a cold war with Russia. It becomes apparent that the humans invading the island are the real enemies.

The special effects and CGI are very impressive, each creature has been very well thought out and presented on screen. Blending in some of the creatures to a natural habitat worked excellently, it allowed room for surprises when introducing these creatures to audiences. Primarily shot in Vietnam and Hawaii, both locations work well with the idea that the storyline takes place just after the end of the Vietnam war. Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts explained that he  wanted the film to feel like "Apocalypse now", with monsters. The score really allows this to come to fruition. A good start to the monsterverse, however there is certainly room for improvement.

4/5 stars