I’m sure we’ve all had movies we have really wanted to be good but secretly feared would disappoint. I can name several and most of them probably fell in line with my fears more so than my hopes. “Kong: Skull Island” is a movie I’ve wanted to love since seeing the first trailer. But there were several reasons why it could have failed and I was never quite able to shake my skepticism.
Sometimes I love being wrong. “Kong” is an absolute delight and a rousing throwback to the creature features that permeated the 1950s. King Kong has had several big screen features, not as many as fellow movie monster icon Godzilla, but enough to earn him a pretty legendary status.
This film version steers clear of the traditional King Kong story. There is no damsel in distress, ventures to New York City, or the Empire State Building. This time we stay put on Skull Island, a beautiful uncharted South Pacific island by air but underneath its lush canopy is the home of the wildest assortment of creatures. The island is shielded by an ever-present storm wall but by 1973 satellite innovations led to its discovery. The most interested party is a shadowy government outfit called Monarch.
John Goodman plays Bill Randa, Monarch’s senior official who convinces his government contact to fund an expedition to map out Skull Island. He requests a escort from the battered and bruised US military who in 1973 was in the process of leaving Vietnam. Their escort is led by Colonel Packard (Samuel L. Jackson). Randa also hires a British SAS tracker named Conrad who knows the mission stinks but needs the money. They are joined by Brie Larson’s tough and feisty anti-war photojournalist Mason Weaver.
Let’s go ahead and state the obvious – the mission doesn’t go very well. The film wastes no time introducing the characters to their Kong – more of a towering monster than a big gorilla. The team’s surprise introduction and initial clash with Kong may be the film’s best sequence. It’s an intense, violent collision filled with chaos and carnage that leaves the team’s survivors grounded and separated. There they must navigate a treacherous landscape filled with a host of dangerous digital creations. Oh, and there is John C. Reilly, a true scene-stealer playing a World War 2 pilot who has been stranded on the island for 30 years. He’s a hoot.
Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts has only one other feature film credit to his name and it’s a far cry from “Kong: Skull Island”. What he manages here is pretty incredible – a swift on its feet thrill ride with plenty of action and just enough wit. Most importantly it doesn’t get bogged down in its pretty looks. It’s one thing to look really good. We’ve come to expect it in this age of digital effects. Vogt-Roberts and company goes beyond that by finding clever ways for the visuals to make the action more cinematic and to emphasize the smallness of man compared to their giant beastly threats (There almost seems to be a crafty Vietnam War metaphor is hidden in there somewhere).
Vogt-Roberts has stated he pulled inspiration from a wild assortment of areas including “Apocalypse Now”, “Platoon”, the films of Hayao Miyazaki, and of course the original “King Kong” film from 1933. Several hands went into the script including Max Borenstein who penned the first draft. Dan Gilroy (“Nightcrawler”) did some important touch-up work and Derek Connelly who came in for some final rewrites. Their story smartly passes on getting too deep in backstory and relationship building. There’s some of it but for a story about a group of strangers thrust into a horrible situation it is held to just enough.
Another smart move is putting together a fabulous cast. Hiddleston, Larson, Jackson, Reilly and Goodman are all great fits with their characters. But just as fun are other characters played by quality supporting actors. Tobey Kebbell, Corey Hawkins, Shea Whigham, John Ortiz and Thomas Mann all contribute plenty and each have their moments.
It may be tempting to dismiss “Kong: Skull Island” as typical CGI-heavy blockbuster mush. In fact it may be easy to do so because “Kong” doesn’t shy away from what it is. But this is no Transformers-like brain cell killer. It’s a well made, fast-paced monster movie with far more craft behind its presentation and storytelling than you would expect. I love the Vietnam War era setting, the jamming classic rock soundtrack and the old school creature feature nostalgia. It all clicks in a way I wish all big budget movies did. Oh, and be sure to stay until after the credits.
VERDICT – 4.5 STARS
keithandthemovies.com 
So true! Fantastic rip-roaring monster movie!
Wasn’t it though! Man I had a blast with it. Did you feel it channeling those old classic monster flicks?
Absolutely! In my review I referenced it as Jurassic-Park-Hell-In-the-Pacific-Lost-World-Predator-Apocalypse-Now-Godzilla or Apocalypse:Kong for short!
I’m glad it wasn’t as serious or ponderous as the recent Godzilla reboot. Just great fun.
Great title! You nail it!
Wow! I was apprehensive about this one; it’s been done many times. I’m glad to hear you gave it such high praise. I’ll be renting it down the road. Nice review, Keith.
Loved it. Not as serious nor constricted by the original story. Fun and exciting especially on the big screen.
It has done really well at the cinema so glad it deserves its success.
Has it? That’s great to hear. I haven’t heard any numbers. I know my viewing was pretty packed and it was an early morning showing.
Awesome review! I wanted to share more but I have a No Spoilers rule. There are so many amazing things to talk about though
YES! Love hearing from others who share the enthusiasm. I’m really wanting to see it again forward leaves the big screen.
Best part… no damsel
Larson is definitely no damsel. But I especially like how they weren’t obvious in avoiding it. She simply fit in and held her own. She’s great.
Right? I really look forward to seeing her as Captain Marvel
Me too. She has been good in everything I have seen her in. The ability to handle smaller films like “Short Term 12” and big budget jobs like “Kong” is impressive.
I saw this today too and enjoyed it. It was better than I expected it to be, because I didn’t think I’d care about any of the characters, but I did. My only complaint was Hiddleston, I felt he was miscast. John C. Reilly is a treasure though, I loved him here. Great review!
Thanks. Glad you liked it too. I really liked Hiddleston. I’ve heard some say they thought he was too much of a tough guy character. But I thought he was a pretty good fit.
I enjoyed this film fine, but I was disappointed overall. I love Godzilla, Kong, and the like to death, but a lot of this felt like a mess, tonally, and in the writing. Maybe repeat viewings will allow this to grow on me. I’m glad you enjoyed it as much as you did! I can’t wait for Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
That’s interesting. Aside from a couple of smaller characters I thought the writing was pretty crisp and focused. I thought it had just enough wit and wisely didn’t get too overblown (as some seem prone to do). I also loved the recent Godzilla movie which took a much different approach than this one. Anxious to see how these two collide.
That’s some really high praise that has me excited for the film.
Oh it’s a blast. There is such a fun, old school vibe throughout this thing. But the modern effects are incredible!
I like when a movie harks back to something old school. It adds so much more to the overall fun.
I agree. And this one wastes no time getting to it. Once Kong is revealed it’s a pretty non-stop adventure from there.
Sometimes good old adventure is the required tonic.
Another Kong story.. The King is home, all bow down.
Watch Kong: Skull Island online
I’ve been putting this off because it seems so lame to me. Plus I feel like I’ve seen the entire movie in the trailers. But this review has gotten me reinvested again. Hopefully sometime next week I’ll get a chance to see it. Tried last Friday, and it was sold out! Came back the next day — sold out again. I was surprised. I thought that was Logan that was making serious money. . .
Hey man, I had the same hesitations despite my weird affection for King Kong. But it is so much fun. It’s nothing deep or revolutionary, but it looks amazing and the pacing is great. It embraces its roots but it isn’t restricted by the traditional story. It does it’s on thing and does it very well.
Good to hear. Plus I’m always game for John C Reilly, and you and others mark him as a high point so more power to it
Oh man, John C is an absolute scene stealer. He is such an interesting actor. He’s liable to turn up in anything. Loved him here.
Great post! I have just created a movie journal if you would like to see my own opinions about the newest movies at the cinema, I have commented on Kong and actually don’t share the same opinions, but it is great to see different perspectives on the same movie! Feel free to comment with a movie you would like me to watch! (and follow 🙂 )
I’ll do that. Thanks for reading.
Glad you enjoyed it! I also thought it was fun and good entertainment
I really really did. It felt like such a throwback movie but with some good modern touches.
. Oh man, John C is an absolute scene stealer.
Indeed! I’ve rewatched it since this review and he still kills it. Great character and performance.
A fine film.
For sure. So much fun.