Kong: Skull Island | March 10, 2017 | Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, John Goodman | Crosses 500M WW

[TimmyRiggins]

Superior to Godzilla (which was solid but suffered from its human characters). Fucking awesome Kaiju paradise, characters are surprisingly solid for a monster piece, Brie, Tom & John C. Reilly (who as expected, is great) are the main characters so to speak, Brie & Tom do a very good job with what they have, L. Jackson, Goodman solid as always, Hawkins cool, Whigham cool. There's a limit though to what you can do character wise in a film like this, you don't come for the characters, you come for Kong, that's it, and considering that, Vogt-Roberts, cast & screenwriters did a good job. Surprised Kebbell didn't have more to do, disappointing that Tian Jing had nothing to do. 

 

Kong is obviously the centerpiece, and this is flat out some of the best VFX out there ever, he's astounding, especially in the quiet moments, the fur rendering is next level as well, the eyes, and let's not forget about the other creatures, just top notch work by ILM, MPC, etc, etc. 

 

Also loved Kong's personality here.

 

The action fully delivers, the scenery of Vietnam is genius, Vogt-Roberts is the one who pitched the Apocalypse Now vibe, shooting there, and I'm glad he got the job, this stands out visually, and the whole Nam feel, the 70s, soundtrack, score (this is one of the good ones by Jackman), Larry Fong's superb cinematography, the whole feel of the film. Add that sweet epilogue, that orgasmic end credits scene, and you get a totally awesome film.

 

I love Logan to bits, it's obviously deeper, emotional, but I'll give Kong the edge, it's just too much awesome. 

Edited March 16, 2017 by TimmyRiggins

[Bishop54]

Ok, who is the one telling lies about me on Toho Kingdom? Never have I called Kong a flop nor am I "spewing crap" about the movie either. I haven't even seen it lol. 

[Lucas]

Finally saw it, and I've already forgotten pretty much everything about it.

 

But here's what I do remember. One of my main pet-peeves in movies is things like camera movements/camera angles and other things being completely motivated by nothing - especially when it's a dialogue scene. In this movie characters are talking in a circle and the camera will for no reason move slowly in one direction because the filmmakers are not inventive enough to stage a scene like this in a clever and interesting way. Instead they just have the camera slowly move in different directions to make the shots seem more dynamic than they actually are. Same thing goes with unnecessary cuts because the filmmakers have no fucking clue how to actually pace a scene so they try to cut around it to keep the momentum going. Long live the directors who are actually talented enough with their craft to know what to do with scenes like this because sadly Jordan Vogt-Roberts is not one of them.

 

And speaking of cuts, fuck me this editing. I don't remember being this off put by editing in a blockbuster (that I've seen) since Rogue One and this one tops it. It's messy. It either just kind of happens (again motivated by nothing) and the shots they cut to either confuse the audience or just annoy them because it could've easily been composited into one single good-looking shot instead of two bad ones. 

 

Everyone knows how bad the characters are and I really don't have anything else to add on that front. I don't remember any of their names and I don't care to find out. It's not like I even need to know since this movie is set in the 70's and the Kong vs Godzilla movie is most likely going to take place after Godzilla 2014 so I doubt any of them are returning for that.

 

It really felt like Rogue One to me... weak editing, weak characters with no development of any kind, music being very forgettable, I have no clue what the hell the themes the movie was tackling or what they were trying to say with this movie, the first act is a mess, the second is just shenanigans and the third is the most memorable part of the movie and then it just kind of ends... but damn some visuals look really good. I don't particularly care to ever watch it again because I doubt I'd get anything out of it and I'd probably just be bored.

 

Before this movie I re-watched three King Kong movies, 1933, 1976 and of course Peter Jackson's 2005 and I plan to re-watch the other ones like The Son of Kong, King Kong Escapes, King Kong vs Godzilla, King Kong Lives etc. so I can truly know where this new one ranks, but out of the three main ones... it's the weakest. Damn shame because I love King Kong. I love the story, I love the characters, I love the scope, and I love how it combines horror, action, adventure, romance, fantasy almost seamlessly... It could be made into a pitch perfect movie but in my opinion that movie has yet to be made.

 

And now I don't even remember what movie I just watched...

[Bishop54]

2 hours ago, Lucas said:

Finally saw it, and I've already forgotten pretty much everything about it.

 

 

 

 

 

But here's what I do remember. One of my main pet-peeves in movies is things like camera movements/camera angles and other things being completely motivated by nothing - especially when it's a dialogue scene. In this movie characters are talking in a circle and the camera will for no reason move slowly in one direction because the filmmakers are not inventive enough to stage a scene like this in a clever and interesting way. Instead they just have the camera slowly move in different directions to make the shots seem more dynamic than they actually are. Same thing goes with unnecessary cuts because the filmmakers have no fucking clue how to actually pace a scene so they try to cut around it to keep the momentum going. Long live the directors who are actually talented enough with their craft to know what to do with scenes like this because sadly Jordan Vogt-Roberts is not one of them.

 

 

 

 

 

And speaking of cuts, fuck me this editing. I don't remember being this off put by editing in a blockbuster (that I've seen) since Rogue One and this one tops it. It's messy. It either just kind of happens (again motivated by nothing) and the shots they cut to either confuse the audience or just annoy them because it could've easily been composited into one single good-looking shot instead of two bad ones. 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone knows how bad the characters are and I really don't have anything else to add on that front. I don't remember any of their names and I don't care to find out. It's not like I even need to know since this movie is set in the 70's and the Kong vs Godzilla movie is most likely going to take place after Godzilla 2014 so I doubt any of them are returning for that.

 

 

 

 

 

It really felt like Rogue One to me... weak editing, weak characters with no development of any kind, music being very forgettable, I have no clue what the hell the themes the movie was tackling or what they were trying to say with this movie, the first act is a mess, the second is just shenanigans and the third is the most memorable part of the movie and then it just kind of ends... but damn some visuals look really good. I don't particularly care to ever watch it again because I doubt I'd get anything out of it and I'd probably just be bored.

 

 

 

 

 

Before this movie I re-watched three King Kong movies, 1933, 1976 and of course Peter Jackson's 2005 and I plan to re-watch the other ones like The Son of Kong, King Kong Escapes, King Kong vs Godzilla, King Kong Lives etc. so I can truly know where this new one ranks, but out of the three main ones... it's the weakest. Damn shame because I love King Kong. I love the story, I love the characters, I love the scope, and I love how it combines horror, action, adventure, romance, fantasy almost seamlessly... It could be made into a pitch perfect movie but in my opinion that movie has yet to be made.

 

 

 

 

 

And now I don't even remember what movie I just watched...

 

 

So Godzilla 2014 was better?

[cax16]

2 minutes ago, Bishop54 said:

So Godzilla 2014 was better?

If you like boring movies where nothing happens ever then yes. 

[Bishop54]

22 minutes ago, cax16 said:

If you like boring movies where nothing happens ever then yes. 

Hmmm, thought I was directing that at Lucas. 

[cax16]

4 minutes ago, Bishop54 said:

Hmmm, thought I was directing that at Lucas. 

you asked a question and I gave my opinion, that's all. 

[Lucas]

36 minutes ago, Bishop54 said:

So Godzilla 2014 was better?

I'll have to say it was. Obviously every single person and their grandmothers know it's very flawed and share a lot of the same problems with Rogue One (not really surprising) and now Kong: Skull Island. The main difference between the two is Godzilla has a better grasp of setting the tension and building up to its climax and not blowing its wad too soon - with the downfall being what they decide to focus on in the build up is not interesting in the slightest. Actually to boil it all down; Godzilla has a fantastic score - Kong: Skull Island does not. Godzilla has at least Bryan Cranston's character for some of it - Kong: Skull Island doesn't even have that. Godzilla isn't that terribly edited - Kong: Skull Island is. Godzilla always looks great visually - Kong: Skull Island has some of the worst green screening I've seen in a while at times.

 

As a whole, Godzilla is just a more memorable film despite it's major, major flaws. There's actually things you can talk about with that movie while this one will just disappear and be mostly forgotten if it weren't connected to this universe.

[DMan7]

44 minutes ago, Lucas said:

I'll have to say it was. Obviously every single person and their grandmothers know it's very flawed and share a lot of the same problems with Rogue One (not really surprising) and now Kong: Skull Island. The main difference between the two is Godzilla has a better grasp of setting the tension and building up to its climax and not blowing its wad too soon - with the downfall being what they decide to focus on in the build up is not interesting in the slightest. Actually to boil it all down; Godzilla has a fantastic score - Kong: Skull Island does not. Godzilla has at least Bryan Cranston's character for some of it - Kong: Skull Island doesn't even have that. Godzilla isn't that terribly edited - Kong: Skull Island is. Godzilla always looks great visually - Kong: Skull Island has some of the worst green screening I've seen in a while at times.

 

As a whole, Godzilla is just a more memorable film despite it's major, major flaws. There's actually things you can talk about with that movie while this one will just disappear and be mostly forgotten if it weren't connected to this universe.

 

Hmmm, but the sound of this I could've sworn Kong has a 10% on RT, nothing positive at all for Kong aye?

[kowhite]

Kong beats the shit out of things, and other monsters eat fucking things.

 

Thats my review.  Good fun.  Better than Godzilla, which I like, but which really was the most expensive cocktease ever put in theaters.

[Lucas]

Just re-watched The Son of Kong, I had completely forgotten how much I enjoyed it. This is a strong sequel to the original film despite the severe downgrade in stop motion for the new Kong and the constant reminder of how rushed it must have been considering it came out literally the same year as the first. I really like Carl Denham in this as Robert Armstrong completely steals the show. What they do with his character is perfect for a sequel to King Kong and it really props the movie up. I'm saying all of this because Kong: Skull Island is worse than this one too and again, even in this rushed sequel - the characters are still strong and makes it work.

[Kalel009Shel]

On 3/16/2017 at 10:52 PM, DMan7 said:

 

Hmmm, but the sound of this I could've sworn Kong has a 10% on RT, nothing positive at all for Kong aye?

I think he's a big King Kong fan and is going to come down on skull island a lil harsh. No way Kong is as bad as his review. I do think Godzilla is going to be a more memorable film. And wow at Disney messing with my beauty and the beast and controversy and nostalgia making it super perform. What the hell man. B and b with a 63-75 m OD?????

 

Shout outs to my cool movie brothers captain jack, kayom, kajukurt , Ethan, tele. Glad yu alll liked the king as he's never been seen before.

Edited March 18, 2017 by Kalel009Shel
Add in

[Kalel009Shel]

Does anyone see this reaching 475-530+m ww? Figure these are gd nums for a sequel

Edited March 18, 2017 by Kalel009Shel

[Lucas]

7 minutes ago, Kalel009Shel said:

I think he's a big King Kong fan and is going to come down on skull island a lil harsh. No way Kong is as bad as his review. I do think Godzilla is going to be a more memorable film. And wow at Disney messing with my beauty and the beast and controversy and nostalgia making it super perform. What the hell man. B and b with a 63-75 m OD?????

 

Shout outs to my cool movie brothers captain jack, kayom, kajukurt , Ethan, tele. Glad yu alll liked the king as he's never been seen before.

I am indeed a big King Kong fan (although the only King Kong movie I think is great is the original while the others are deeply flawed). I can hardly say my review of this movie was harsh because I'm a King Kong fan though. My problems with the movie are with the filmmaking, not the way they treat the legacy of King Kong. It's not a terrible movie, but it's hard to believe that we still get movies with no characters in them. It's not that hard to at least have a basic arc for your leads but Kong: Skull Island doesn't even try. The movie just feels like a non-event and a lot of it won't be remembered.

 

But maybe in 2033 I'll get that ultimate King Kong movie that gets everything right.

[75Live]

I just got home from seeing this and it was pretty good.  Something did seem missing, but still a fun time.  I liked Godzilla more, but this was still good enough as well.

 

I loved the credits scene and especially the post credits scene  

[Gumby]

1 hour ago, 75live said:

I just got home from seeing this and it was pretty good.  Something did seem missing, but still a fun time.  I liked Godzilla more, but this was still good enough as well.

 

I loved the credits scene and especially the post credits scene  

 

I was surprised how many people in the theater knew who was being shown in the post credits scene.  I'm really glad I didn't know what it was going to be.  Really nice surprise!

[75Live]

3 hours ago, Gumby said:

 

I was surprised how many people in the theater knew who was being shown in the post credits scene.  I'm really glad I didn't know what it was going to be.  Really nice surprise!

 

Yeah sadly I somewhat knew but not entirely what it was.  However, what gave it away to me was when they showed certain characters were owned by a company and they weren't shown on the movie. So I knew then what was coming 

Edited March 19, 2017 by 75live

[Bishop54]

How can this be worse than Godzilla? Do they at least show more of Kong than they did of Godzilla?

[Cookson]

2 minutes ago, Bishop54 said:

How can this be worse than Godzilla? Do they at least show more of Kong than they did of Godzilla?

 

Kong was shown a lot more. That does not one movie better than the other though. You really just need to watch for yourself man and stop using other opinions as fact.

 

No word from TK btw.

[DMan7]

I thought this movie was simply awful.