Following Kong: Skull Island in 2017 and Godzilla: King of the Monsters in 2019, this latest edition in Legendary’s MonsterVerse pits the two biggest box office titans against each other while the fate of the world hangs in the balance. The final battlefield this time takes place in Hong Kong and the city comes off very second best. The level of destruction is impressive.

The filmmakers have relied on the spectacle of the fight scenes to carry the movie as the story makes little sense and the human cast members are unable to contribute much as they are given little to do. The production team also hides a lot of the details in murky conditions with low lighting and air filled with debris. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if this was a cost-cutting or stylistic choice as scaling back on some of the CGI detail must certainly have saved some money.

Ultimately what you are left with is fifteen rounds plus of two famous monsters kicking the crap out of each other while the puny humans do their best to stay relevant. There is even a technological ringer thrown in the mix at the eleventh hour to help bring home a message of why can’t we just all just get along. See it for the carnage but expect little else.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/WarnerBrosAU

Kong and his protectors undertake a perilous journey to find his true home, and with them is Jia, a young orphaned girl with whom he has formed a unique and powerful bond.

But they unexpectedly find themselves in the path of an enraged Godzilla, cutting a swath of destruction across the globe. The epic clash between the two titans—instigated by unseen forces—is only the beginning of the mystery that lies deep within the core of the Earth.

Godzilla vs. Kong will be released in Australian cinemas March 25!
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU

Then add all the other he’s and she’s from the monster kingdom (including but not limited to Mothra, Rodan, and Ghidorah) and you have one hell of a party on your hands. It brings to mind the kind of murky party that plays in your head after you did your best to over-consume and still be in a state of consciousness.

The story as it is revolves around big G coming back around to save the puny earthlings from themselves as well as handling all the unwanted party guest. Scores of gate crashers that have lied dormant underground for eons and none of them wake up happy. You thought it was difficult to get started on Monday morning? Try that after being asleep for thousands of years.

The actual film defies belief on how many wonky moments you can actually endure and still consider it watchable. It absolutely luxuriates on walking that oh so fine line from start to finish.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/roadshow

The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species—thought to be mere myths—rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.

GODZILLA II: KING OF THE MONSTERS is directed by Michael Dougherty and stars Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Thomas Middleditch, Charles Dance, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Aisha Hinds and Zhang Ziyi.

GODZILLA II: KING OF THE MONSTERS releases in Australian cinemas on May 30, 2019.
www.facebook.com/roadshow

“We’re thrilled to be back on the Gold Coast with our next Monsterverse adventure,” said producer and Legendary’s EVP of Creative Affairs Alex Garcia. “We had a wonderful experience here on ‘Kong: Skull Island,’ and the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland has been a terrific resource in helping us leverage the region’s stunning landscapes, exceptional facilities and fantastic crews to achieve the scope we need for this epic next chapter in the saga.”

“Godzilla vs. Kong” is the first major motion picture to be shot in Australia following the Federal Government’s announcement of its AUD$140 million Location Incentive program, designed to lure international productions down under. Throughout the film’s 26-week shoot on the Gold Coast, the production is expected to inject substantial revenues into the state economy, creating an estimated 300 jobs and boosting small business across the region.

“Godzilla vs. Kong” is being directed by Adam Wingard (“The Guest,” “You’re Next”). The film stars Alexander Skarsgård (“Big Little Lies,” The Little Drummer Girl”), Millie Bobby Brown (“Stranger Things”), Rebecca Hall (“Christine,” “Professor Marston and the Wonder Women”), Brian Tyree Henry (“Atlanta,” “Widows”), Shun Oguri (“Gintama”), Eiza González (“Baby Driver”), Jessica Henwick (“Iron Fist”), Julian Dennison (“Deadpool 2”), with Kyle Chandler (“The Wolf of Wall Street,” “Manchester by the Sea”) and Demián Bichir (“The Nun,” “The Hateful Eight”).

In a time when monsters walk the Earth, humanity’s fight for its future sets Godzilla and Kong on a collision course that will see the two most powerful forces of nature on the planet collide in a spectacular battle for the ages. As Monarch embarks on a perilous mission into uncharted terrain and unearths clues to the Titans’ origins, a human conspiracy threatens to wipe the creatures, both good and bad, from the face of the earth forever.

Wingard directs from a script written by Terry Rossio (“Pirates of the Caribbean”). The film is being produced by Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, Eric McLeod, Brian Rogers, Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni, with Kenji Okuhira and Yoshimitsu Banno serving as executive producers. Jay Ashenfelter, Jen Conroy and Tamara Kent are co-producers.

Behind the scenes, Wingard’s creative team includes director of photography Ben Seresin (“World War Z,” “Unstoppable”), production designers Owen Patterson (“Godzilla,” “The Matrix” Trilogy and “Captain America: Civil War”) and Tom Hammock (“The Guest,” “Blindspotting”), editor Josh Schaeffer (“Molly’s Game,” “Kong: Skull Island”), costume designer Ann Foley (“Altered Carbon”), and VFX supervisor John “DJ” DesJardin (“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” “Watchmen”).

Filming is taking place in Hawaii and Australia. A presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Entertainment, “Godzilla vs. Kong” is currently scheduled for release on May 21, 2020 in Australia and New Zealand. The film will be distributed in 3D and 2D and in select IMAX theatres by Warner Bros. Pictures, except in Japan, where it will be distributed by Toho Co., Ltd. The film will be distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Roadshow Films.

www.facebook.com/roadshow

When these ancient super-species—thought to be mere myths—rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.

Godzilla II: King of Monsters is directed by Michael Dougherty and stars Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Thomas Middleditch, Charles Dance, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Aisha Hinds and Zhang Ziyi.

Godzilla II: King of Monsters releases in Australian cinemas on May 30th, 2019.
www.facebook.com/GodzillaMovie

Following the global success of 2014’s “Godzilla” and 2017’s “Kong: Skull Island,” and in the lead-up to the 2019 release of the highly anticipated “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” comes the next chapter in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Entertainment’s cinematic Monsterverse: “Godzilla vs. Kong.” Beginning production today, the epic action adventure will pit two of the greatest icons in motion picture history against one another – the fearsome Godzilla and the mighty Kong – with humanity caught in the balance.

“Godzilla vs. Kong” is being directed by Adam Wingard (“The Guest,” “You’re Next”). The film stars Alexander Skarsgård (“Big Little Lies,” The Little Drummer Girl”), Millie Bobby Brown (“Stranger Things”), Rebecca Hall (“Christine,” “Professor Marston and the Wonder Women”), Brian Tyree Henry (“Atlanta,” “Widows”), Shun Oguri (“Gintama”), Eiza González (“Baby Driver”), Jessica Henwick (“Iron Fist”), Julian Dennison (“Deadpool 2”), with Kyle Chandler (“The Wolf of Wall Street,” “Manchester by the Sea”) and Demián Bichir (“The Nun,” “The Hateful Eight”).

In a time when monsters walk the Earth, humanity’s fight for its future sets Godzilla and Kong on a collision course that will see the two most powerful forces of nature on the planet collide in a spectacular battle for the ages. As Monarch embarks on a perilous mission into uncharted terrain and unearths clues to the Titans’ origins, a human conspiracy threatens to wipe the creatures, both good and bad, from the face of the earth forever.

Wingard directs from a script written by Terry Rossio (“Pirates of the Caribbean”). The film is being produced by Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, Eric McLeod, and Brian Rogers, with Kenji Okuhira, Yoshimitsu Banno, Jon Jashni and Thomas Tull serving as executive producers. Jay Ashenfelter, Jen Conroy and Tamara Kent are co-producers.

Behind the scenes, Wingard’s creative team includes director of photography Ben Seresin (“World War Z,” “Unstoppable”), production designers Owen Patterson (“Godzilla,” “The Matrix” Trilogy and “Captain America: Civil War”) and Tom Hammock (“The Guest,” “Blindspotting”), editor Josh Schaeffer (“Molly’s Game,” “Kong: Skull Island”), costume designer Ann Foley (“Altered Carbon”), and VFX supervisor John “DJ” DesJardin (“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” “Watchmen”).

Filming is taking place in Hawaii and Australia. A presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Entertainment, “Godzilla vs. Kong” is currently scheduled for release on May 21, 2020 in Australia and New Zealand. The film will be distributed in 3D and 2D and in select IMAX theatres by Warner Bros. Pictures, except in Japan, where it will be distributed by Toho Co., Ltd. The film will be distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Roadshow Films.

www.roadshow.com.au