Don't agree about Watanabe, it was established at the start he knew of Godzilla and had been researching him. When they find the egg sack at the start in the collapsed cave which leads to Cranston's wife dying. His assistant asks Watanabe "is it him?" "No, this is something much older."
So in the prologue its established he knows a fair bit on Godzilla. To be fair I had forgotten this part before re-watching it recently.
I agree about Goodman's character though, he was one of the few in Kong i was invested in and wanted to know more about. He was also one of few i was sad to see [BLACKOUT]get killed[/BLACKOUT] as i felt they could have done more with him.
That's fair, maybe it's just my impression. I'll have to re-watch again. I just remember him starting out more professional, trying to figure out things via data. Then he's suddenly suggesting they just let Godzilla fight the battle for them, claiming he's a natural balance. Then walks out on top of the ship, possibly risking his life just to get a glimpse. I guess I'd rather they have better explained why he was so trusting of Godzilla.
Actually I'm thinking of just marathoning some Godzilla movies I haven't seen in awhile later anyways. I haven't watched GMK, the Mecha Godzilla movies, or Final Wars for awhile. I could just toss the 2014 movie on too.
Had they not killed Goodman's character it would've been nice to potentially get another film with him. Or maybe even have a reference to something new he was working towards/discovered.
That's fair, maybe it's just my impression. I'll have to re-watch again. I just remember him starting out more professional, trying to figure out things via data. Then he's suddenly suggesting they just let Godzilla fight the battle for them, claiming he's a natural balance. Then walks out on top of the ship, possibly risking his life just to get a glimpse. I guess I'd rather they have better explained why he was so trusting of Godzilla.
Actually I'm thinking of just marathoning some Godzilla movies I haven't seen in awhile later anyways. I haven't watched GMK, the Mecha Godzilla movies, or Final Wars for awhile. I could just toss the 2014 movie on too.
Well they knew Godzilla was the cause for the nuclear testing decades earlier as well. And it seemed they know he only surfaces when there's a threat to him being the Alpha Predator also. So there was plenty of knowledge about him and the reasons he comes out when he does. Also no history of him attacking humans I guess. That's what I got from it anyway.
I must say the 2014 movie had grown in me hugely, I genuinely didn't like it in the cinema. But something made me buy the BD and I have really come to appreciate the movie upon rewatch since it came out.
I disagree. Jackson played it pretty straight forward & I thought he made a fantastic antagonist in this. A soldier coming home from one lost war who, in his mind, sees an opportunity for he and his soldiers to reassert their dominance by taking up another.
Hiddleston could've done more, but I liked what he had to work with. Jason Mitchell's character was pretty hilarious and as I've said before it was refreshing to see that unlike Elizabeth Olsen, Brie Larson had a lot more to do other than waiting around phones and then running around looking totally confused.
I disagree. Jackson played it pretty straight forward & I thought he made a fantastic antagonist in this. A soldier coming home from one lost war who, in his mind, sees an opportunity for he and his soldiers to reassert their dominance by taking up another.
Hiddleston could've done more, but I liked what he had to work with. Jason Mitchell's character was pretty hilarious and as I've said before it was refreshing to see that unlike Elizabeth Olsen, Brie Larson had a lot more to do other than waiting around phones and then running around looking totally confused.
Jackson: His descent into madness was completely forced and not earned. Shameful homage to Colonel Walter Kurtz.
Mitchell: Annoying character who would not stop talking and washed with lame stereotypical behavior. Surprised he wasn't fragged for his mouth. LOL
Larson: Basically there just to take photos, look hot, and deliver one specific line about war. She certainly wasn't there to develop a real tangible connection to Kong like her predecessors.
Hiddleston: Again, didn't really do anything. He's supposed to be this amazing tracker, but when were his talents put to use? The film sets him up like a major player, but his sole contribution was to turn his gun on Jackson's character in defense of Kong.
I felt it was definitely earned and done the best it could be without dragging the movie on unnecessarily. It's established from the get-go he's unhappy with the way Vietnam went, so it's not as if his descent into madness just suddenly happens. All the pieces are there.
As for Mitchell, he was comic relief. I wouldn't classify him as annoying nor did he excessively talk. I also wouldn't classify him as stereotypical. Leslie Jones in Ghostbusters was stereotypical, not Jason Mitchell in SI.
Larson: Basically there just to take photos, look hot, and deliver one specific line about war. She certainly wasn't there to develop a real tangible connection to Kong like her predecessors.
Hiddleston: Again, didn't really do anything. He's supposed to be this amazing tracker, but when were his talents put to use? The film sets him up like a major player, but his sole contribution was to turn his gun on Jackson's character in defense of Kong.
Larson's character absolutely develops a palpable connection with Kong. That was the point of the scene where they both go to save the giant water buffalo and Kong sees that she isn't like the others. Same as when he encounters her and Hiddleston's character. The moment of calm was to reflect that Kong understood not all of them shared the same narrative.
And considering Hiddleston's character is the one leading the group and telling them where to go in addition to him saving the Slivko character samurai-style.
I felt it was definitely earned and done the best it could be without dragging the movie on unnecessarily. It's established from the get-go he's unhappy with the way Vietnam went, so it's not as if his descent into madness just suddenly happens. All the pieces are there.
As for Mitchell, he was comic relief. I wouldn't classify him as annoying nor did he excessively talk. I also wouldn't classify him as stereotypical. Leslie Jones in Ghostbusters was stereotypical, not Jason Mitchell in SI.
There is no way that could be considered "the best they could do". He stares at his medals for a second and then there's some quick verbal discussion about his feeling of the war, then Toby Kebbell's character goes missing (with whom he had little to no relations with) - next thing you know he wants to take on a 150ft bipedal ape on his own.
It's one thing to be unhappy you're going home - but standing there frowning at a prehistoric sized ape with your fists clenched and wanting to pick a fight? C'mon. Mitchell, while not as bad as that chick in GB, was definitely toeing the lines of stereotyping.
Larson's character absolutely develops a palpable connection with Kong. That was the point of the scene where they both go to save the giant water buffalo and Kong sees that she isn't like the others. Same as when he encounters her and Hiddleston's character. The moment of calm was to reflect that Kong understood not all of them shared the same narrative.
And considering Hiddleston's character is the one leading the group and telling them where to go in addition to him saving the Slivko character samurai-style.
Palpable connection with Kong? Based on 2mins of staring at him up close? There's no true moment of endearment like we've seen in the past - again it's the cardboard cutout version of the story. It was done so the film could cram in more moments of EFX rather than tell a legit, heartfelt story.
Everyone knew where to go to get to safety. We never once saw his tracking abilities in the process or jungle prowess (remember it's Reilly's character with the boat the inevitably saves them) - but yes amazing contribution was when he slices a flying rat in half in slow motion - WOW what an amazing cinematic moment.
That's all I'm going to say on the matter. Some people are willing to sacrifice character development to get a CGI spectacle rushed into a monster-verse. I'm just not among them. None of these characters mattered to me - didn't care if they lived or died, with the exception of John C. Reilly.
Palpable connection with Kong? Based on 2mins of staring at him up close? There's no true moment of endearment like we've seen in the past - again it's the cardboard cutout version of the story. It was done so the film could cram in more moments of EFX rather than tell a legit, heartfelt story.
Considering the entire aesthetic here was different why would they bother setting up the same thing we've seen before? It was meant to be different, that was the point; that this is not the Kong of old that chases around big breasted blondes. Yes, there was a palpable connection because both understood that the other had a respect for life. They didn't have to romantically gaze at each other for twenty minutes on end to sell that bit.
Everyone knew where to go to get to safety. We never once saw his tracking abilities in the process or jungle prowess (remember it's Reilly's character with the boat the inevitably saves them) - but yes amazing contribution was when he slices a flying rat in half in slow motion - WOW what an amazing cinematic moment.
I guess we're just ignoring all of the different times Conrad was asked by various members of the group "where are we? where are we going?" And the fact that save for Reilly's character & SLJ's, he was the only one who knew where the hell he was going.
That's all I'm going to say on the matter. Some people are willing to sacrifice character development to get a CGI spectacle rushed into a monster-verse. I'm just not among them. None of these characters mattered to me - didn't care if they lived or died, with the exception of John C. Reilly.
I'm not really sure what you were expecting. This is a giant monster movie, not a drama, thriller, etc. The characters, even if lacking, were an improvement over what Godzilla offered and were serviceable enoug. But I guess some people were expecting another three hour movie that overdoes it on the human drama despite it being a monster movie.
As someone who loved Jackson's Kong i did miss how developed the relationship between Ann and Kong was.
Weaver and Kong only had a couple of moments to bond in the movie so i never felt the connection that they did in the 2005 version. There seemed to be no emotional under current in this one. I know it's a different take, but i felt Weaver and Kong needed more of a connection to give the movie a bit more feeling.
They weren't supposed to have that kind of connection. Giving them a connection similar to the '05 film means making it more romantic, and that's not what this version is. Delving deeper and going that route would've completely gone against the new set-up.
I don't mind that they didn't go as deep on the relationship between Kong and the female lead. At least Weaver was an interesting character. I love Naomi Watts, but her Ann character was pretty dull. Same with Brody's Arthur-Miller-turned-Indiana-Jones character. And the rest of the humans were just awful in Jackson's Kong. Those scenes where that one guy keeps mentoring Jamie Bell were painful to watch.
Whoa, just realized Kyle Chandler was in Jackson's Kong. I had completely forgotten about that. Hopefully his Godzilla character will be more memorable.
^ Yep, he sure was. He was the biggest *****e in the movie but I agree, hopefully he's given more to work with in Godzilla. Though, to his credit, I've always found the character amusing. Always manages to elicit a few laughs from me whenever I sit down to watch the '05 version.
And yeah, people keep saying Jackson's film had infinitely better characters but not really. None of them ever stood out to me, not even Brody and he's always been a favorite of mine. Watts just seemed to be in the way more than anything, and plays completely into the damsel in distress role.
Can't believe people are essentially saying they would've rather had Larson be a damsel in distress. Blah
Completely disagree about the characters in '05 Kong, I was invested in many of them a lot more than here. Watts especially was superb in the role, I would say she was the damsel totally, men wouldn't stand any chance against V-Rexes, never mind Ann, and her relationship with Kong gave a strong foundation to the movie.
I didn't want Weaver to be exactly like Ann Darrow, I just think the connection between her and Kong could have stronger, a few more scenes of them together would have done this. Also, she needed to be saved a few times herself during the movie.
True, she did, but she didn't come off as helpless as Darrow did. I still think adding more scenes would've messed with the pace. I truly think what we were given was enough. One of the things I was happiest about was that this didn't drag on. Something I hope continues moving forward with the MonsterVerse.
True, she did, but she didn't come off as helpless as Darrow did. I still think adding more scenes would've messed with the pace. I truly think what we were given was enough. One of the things I was happiest about was that this didn't drag on. Something I hope continues moving forward with the MonsterVerse.
Darrow was as helpless as anyone else in the movie was. Countless men were put in danger and killed, Ann just got in situations beyond her control. On an island of constant danger. Don't see how that's any more a damsel than any other role. Kong caring for her was much more genuine in the '05 movie as well.
Adding an extra couple of moments between Weaver and Kong wouldn't have added lots of screen time either, so I don't think the pacing would be effected, and the movie would have benefitted from it in my eyes.
Darrow was as helpless as anyone else in the movie was. Countless men were put in danger and killed, Ann just got in situations beyond her control. On an island of constant danger. Don't see how that's any more a damsel than any other role. Kong caring for her was much more genuine in the '05 movie as well.
Adding an extra couple of moments between Weaver and Kong wouldn't have added lots of screen time either, so I don't think the pacing would be effected, and the movie would have benefitted from it in my eyes.
Once again, that is true, pretty much everyone was helpless, but a lot of the cast did get moments where they were able to turn the tide. I always wanted Ann to have a scene like that, but she didn't ever get the opportunity. It was more genuine in the '05 film, primarily because Kong was totally infatuated with her whereas here, Kong just respected Weaver and wasn't in love.
Once again, that is true, pretty much everyone was helpless, but a lot of the cast did get moments where they were able to turn the tide. I always wanted Ann to have a scene like that, but she didn't ever get the opportunity. It was more genuine in the '05 film, primarily because Kong was totally infatuated with her whereas here, Kong just respected Weaver and wasn't in love.
I meant WW, of course it's not going to touch Godzilla domestically. A lot of it depends on how it performs in China/Japan this weekend, but $500M very likely and that should atleast help it breakeven.
It seemed touch and go there for a minute, but I really think this has a chance of surpassing both Godzilla & the '05 KK in terms of its WW gross, which definitely bodes well for the MonsterVerse.
It seemed touch and go there for a minute, but I really think this has a chance of surpassing both Godzilla & the '05 KK in terms of its WW gross, which definitely bodes well for the MonsterVerse.
Which is always encouraging because Kong certainly deserves one. Whether it's set in the past or present, I don't care, I'll just be happy to have a Kong sequel at some point.
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