The legendary King Kong finally makes his return to film this year after last appearing in Peter Jackson's 2005 adaptation, in an imperfect but largely entertaining blockbuster flick.
The most stunning part of this movie is easily the visuals, which was the major draw for most people in the first place. Kong himself, though not the only creature shown in the film, is the star of the show and looks absolutely magnificent--he is bigger and more terrifying than any other version of the character we've seen. When the monster is in action, charging at helpless soldiers and swatting helicopters out of the sky, we actually feel the danger. Skull Island perfectly captures the scale that any good monster movie should have and succeeds in truly making our protagonists feel small and helpless as they navigate the titular island.
In addition, the movie boasts a large, start-studded cast--though there are some notable weak links that bog down the story in parts. Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson are unfortunately the most flat and uninteresting characters in the movie, which wouldn't be so terrible if they weren't the two leads. Any time Skull Island focuses on them, it feels like a waste and draws attention away from the far more enjoyable supporting cast.
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That supporting cast is where the film makes up for its shortcomings in the main character department. Already legendary performers such as Samuel L. Jackson and John Goodman get more chances to shine here, and lesser-known character actors such as Corey Hawkins and Toby Kebbell are also given their moments in the spotlight. But the biggest scene-stealer in this movie is an unexpected one; John C. Reilly, mainly known for his comedic work in movies such as Step Brothers. While he is still somewhat of a comic relief character here, he ultimately emerges as the most likable and interesting character, and by the end one could wonder why he was not the main character over Tom Hiddleston.
On the whole, Kong: Skull Island, was a fun, effective monster movie with fantastic visuals and a mostly great cast of talented actors. I left the theater satisfied and hopeful for the sequels that are undoubtedly on the way. I would award the film 4 stars out of 5.
