← Back to Reviews
in
Kong Skull Island (2017)
My expectations of this film were fairly low and I only really booked to see it through lack of options. It was the only film at the cinema that I hadn't seen.
My expectations were so low due to the track record of this type of film. I was facsinated with King Kong, Godzilla etc as a kid but that fascination has not been maintained in later life due to the over complication of the films or the lack of direction.
Secondly, the reception for the film was mixed but many of the critics and reviewers that I respect gave it a hammering.
That said, I try to keep an open mind so I gave it a go...
Plot
The film is about a group of people with various roles, reasons and agendas going to an island that they believe to be undiscovered and uninhabited.
When they arrive at they island they discover more than they bargained for. Peoples official agendas and their personal agendas begin to conflict with each other and those of the other members of the group, whilst facing the various challenges that the island presents.
Kong presents himself and carnage pretty much ensues for the duration of the film with a full on battle for food chain supremacy occurring throughout.
One of Kong's calmer moments
What I liked about it
Firstly, I liked that the film is what it should be. A film about giant monsters getting all tetchy. The focus was not on layered dialogue and depth of backstories, it was about a giant ape smashing stuff up. It was much more than that in truth but that was the starting point.
The film was a tad cliched but I honestly think that it worked in it's favour. Like with Jurassic park and other such films, it is somebodies stupidity or selfishness that triggers the giant 'kick off' and chaos.
There was just enough depth given to the main characters to know who is worth rooting for but not so much that the screen time is taken up by character development rather than huge monsters going all postal.
In my opinion 'Skull island' was well thought out and really well presented. The various different forms of life displayed fit in well and were not just add ons.
The casting for the film was decent too, for what was required. Jackson and Reilly were prominent as I expected but I thought all of the cast did well. 'Shea Whigham' probably displayed the best acting in the film in my opinion, but the I didn't think that anyone particularly let the cast down. There were a lot of fine actors in this film, but I assume none would feel that it was their most challenging role to date.
Kong himself is magnificent and really well done. I also feel that the film keeps in touch with the sentiments of the other films in terms of Kong and his character.
The fight scenes were done well in my opinion. Wide shots and not too much of this jerky close up nonsense.
The group looking for a giant skull
What I didn't like
The major thing that annoyed me was some of the music. Not the music per se but the way it was used. Helicopters flying against a backdrop of a sunset, soldiers looking moody and then some rock music blaring out. It could have been lifted straight from 'Apocalypse now' with the rock music rather than 'Ride of the Valkyries'. IT was bad enough once but it happens about 3 times.
Apart from that I think that I enjoyed the film for what it was. It wasn't a moving piece of cinema that challenges me with it's emotionally charged dialogue and makes me want to be a better person, but it's not meant to be. It was a decent start to the latest portrayal of Kong. It also leads the way well into the future films in the 'MonsterVerse'
film series.
Who stole my sandwich?
Kong Skull Island (2017)
My expectations of this film were fairly low and I only really booked to see it through lack of options. It was the only film at the cinema that I hadn't seen.
My expectations were so low due to the track record of this type of film. I was facsinated with King Kong, Godzilla etc as a kid but that fascination has not been maintained in later life due to the over complication of the films or the lack of direction.
Secondly, the reception for the film was mixed but many of the critics and reviewers that I respect gave it a hammering.
That said, I try to keep an open mind so I gave it a go...
Plot
The film is about a group of people with various roles, reasons and agendas going to an island that they believe to be undiscovered and uninhabited.
When they arrive at they island they discover more than they bargained for. Peoples official agendas and their personal agendas begin to conflict with each other and those of the other members of the group, whilst facing the various challenges that the island presents.
Kong presents himself and carnage pretty much ensues for the duration of the film with a full on battle for food chain supremacy occurring throughout.
What I liked about it
Firstly, I liked that the film is what it should be. A film about giant monsters getting all tetchy. The focus was not on layered dialogue and depth of backstories, it was about a giant ape smashing stuff up. It was much more than that in truth but that was the starting point.
The film was a tad cliched but I honestly think that it worked in it's favour. Like with Jurassic park and other such films, it is somebodies stupidity or selfishness that triggers the giant 'kick off' and chaos.
There was just enough depth given to the main characters to know who is worth rooting for but not so much that the screen time is taken up by character development rather than huge monsters going all postal.
In my opinion 'Skull island' was well thought out and really well presented. The various different forms of life displayed fit in well and were not just add ons.
The casting for the film was decent too, for what was required. Jackson and Reilly were prominent as I expected but I thought all of the cast did well. 'Shea Whigham' probably displayed the best acting in the film in my opinion, but the I didn't think that anyone particularly let the cast down. There were a lot of fine actors in this film, but I assume none would feel that it was their most challenging role to date.
Kong himself is magnificent and really well done. I also feel that the film keeps in touch with the sentiments of the other films in terms of Kong and his character.
The fight scenes were done well in my opinion. Wide shots and not too much of this jerky close up nonsense.
The group looking for a giant skull
What I didn't like
The major thing that annoyed me was some of the music. Not the music per se but the way it was used. Helicopters flying against a backdrop of a sunset, soldiers looking moody and then some rock music blaring out. It could have been lifted straight from 'Apocalypse now' with the rock music rather than 'Ride of the Valkyries'. IT was bad enough once but it happens about 3 times.
Apart from that I think that I enjoyed the film for what it was. It wasn't a moving piece of cinema that challenges me with it's emotionally charged dialogue and makes me want to be a better person, but it's not meant to be. It was a decent start to the latest portrayal of Kong. It also leads the way well into the future films in the 'MonsterVerse'
film series.
Who stole my sandwich?
Rating