Kong: Skull Island

Kong: Skull Island

Starring Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John C. Reilly

Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts

The Story:
In 1973, a team of scientists led by Bill Randa (John Goodman) and Houston Brooks (Corey Hawkins) leads an expedition to an uncharted island known as Skull Island in search of possible unknown life.  They're escorted by the Sky Devils, a helicopter squadron led by Lieutenant Preston Packard (Samuel L. Jackson), and accompanying them is tracker James Conrad (Tom Hiddleston) and photo journalist Mason Weaver (Brie Larson).

When they arrive on the island, they're attacked by a hulking ape-like creature who decimates the Devils and leaves the survivors scattered around the island.  James, Mason and some others come into contact with an indigenous tribe and Hank Marlow (John C. Reilly), who crash landed on the island back in World War II.  He tells the team the story of Kong, how he is seen as a deity who keeps the peace on the island and protects the inhabitants from the evil creatures who live underneath.  Meanwhile, Packard has a vendetta against Kong for killing his men, and sets out to destroy the beast.

The Synopsis:
King Kong has been a staple of American movie monsters since its inception in 1933, with the iconic scene where he takes the blonde victim to the top of the Empire State Building, with the now classic line, "it was beauty killed the beast."  Since then Kong has been featured in eight movies including a few remakes and one extremely long, drawn out 2005 yarn directed by Peter Jackson.  Since then, the giant beast has been dormant until now, when he returns in extraordinary measure with "Kong: Skull Island."

Throughout the decades, Kong has varied in size from really big to slightly above average, but here he towers as high as a mountain, and looks equally as ferocious.  With the thanks of modern technology, Kong is once again a very intimidating, powerful creature who rules over the island with a protective, nurturing spirit that often is confused for violence.  But, as John C. Reilly's character says, "you don't go into someone's house and start dropping bombs, unless you're picking a fight."  

The story is a very simplistic one, with obvious parallels to the classic war movie "Apocalypse Now," from the setting to the music and especially some iconic shots that have been redone here (most notably the scenes of Kong with the rising sun).  An American squadron is sent to an uncharted island in search of new life, and find Kong and a slew of other unearthly creatures who live on the island.  In a classic twist, it turns out that we are the invading army, the bad guys so to speak, who infiltrate a peaceful civilization and turn it upside down.  Kong is not the bad guy here, but he's made out to be due to his protective nature.  It's an interesting concept, and parallels the views many Americans had during the Vietnam War.

There is abundant action to be had here, and some even terrifying scenes specifically involving Kong fighting through a lake of fire at night that makes this feel like a summer blockbuster, and not an early-March movie.  Not only does the survivors have to deal with Kong, but a slew of other creatures including a huge spider, terrifying birds and an army of subterranean lizard-like creatures known as Skullcrawlers.  The use of CGI and live action blends perfectly, especially in Kong's appearance.  He might as well be the missing link, as he exhibits several traits humans do, especially in his facial expressions, done brilliantly by motion-capture artists who also did the current "Planet of the Apes" franchise.

The principal filming takes place in Hawaii, and the setting is a beauty to withhold.  After going through a dangerous storm, they arrive on the other side of paradise, or so it seems.  Beautiful mountains, lush forests and crystal clear waters give a false sense of security for the evils that lie beneath. 

The only small downfall in the film is in the character development.  Samuel L. Jackson's character wants Kong dead at any cost, but is it because he wants vengeance for his dead men or because he has a lust for war?  John Goodman seems to have knowledge about Kong before arriving, but we're never really sure.  Tom Hiddleston's character is a tracker who's along for money, and that's all we really know about him.  Brie Larson is against the war and takes pictures, and is supposed to be the "blonde girl" who Kong falls in love with, but all we know about her is that she hates war and has a fighting spirit.

The saving grace comes from John C. Reilly, who steals the moment in every scene he's in.  He's been stuck on the island for over thirty years, and has a very eccentric nature that's equally endearing and entertaining.  He serves as the historian for the film, telling the story of Kong and his god-like duty to keep the peace on the island, but is also quick to supply his own witty remarks.  I was worried that he would end up like Jack Black's character from Peter Jackson's "King Kong," but thankfully Vogt-Roberts knew how to create a character that's not just funny but also emotional as well, especially in talking about his wife, whom he thinks has already moved on and thought him long dead.

Ultimately, the lack of characterization is a small nitpick in an otherwise astounding tale as huge as the classic ape himself, a film that keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you wonder if there really are such creatures out there on some uncharted island somewhere.

The Summary:
Re-establishing King Kong as a frightening, hulking figure, "Kong: Skull Island" delivers some heart-racing action and beautiful set pieces against the backdrop of one towering behemoth of a monster who's more protector than predator.

The Score: A