Kong: Skull Island
Universal Pictures | Release Date: March 10, 2017
6.7
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 831 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
516
Mixed:
244
Negative:
71
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9
DHChrisApr 1, 2021
One of the high points of the Legendary MonsterVerse, Kong: Skull Island does everything Godzilla 2014 does not. It is a colorful, visually stunning film with a sense of humor, a likable (if not much more developed) human cast, and not theOne of the high points of the Legendary MonsterVerse, Kong: Skull Island does everything Godzilla 2014 does not. It is a colorful, visually stunning film with a sense of humor, a likable (if not much more developed) human cast, and not the slightest shred of fear in being what it is. The monsters are all on full display here, not just shown in broad daylight and allowed to do their thing uninterrupted, but given scenes to themselves that aren't just big battle set-pieces. Kong is given the chance to simply hang out and be a character, fleshing out both his personality and the fantastical world he explores around him. He shares the screen with a whole host of weird and interesting creatures that at times push the movie into borderline horror territory; creature feature fans who left the last Godzilla feeling shorted will have heaps to gush about here. Sam Jackson and John Goodman deliver solid performances, but the real standout isn't either of them, Tom Hiddleston, or Brie Larson- it's John C. Reilly. Movie-goers who might be going into this worried by his goofy antics in the trailers are sure to be surprised: his character is actually the emotional center of the movie, easily the best human character in the MonsterVerse and genuinely funny to boot. Ultimately Kong: Skull Island doesn't try to be anything more than a simple monster-driven action adventure movie, and that's okay: it's one of the best ones ever made.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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8
MaxPayneIsGodMay 30, 2018
An enjoyable monster flick, a new spin on the Kong lore. Excellent effects, cool creatures. Love the blatant Apocalypse Now references! A damn fun movie!
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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8
HTGamerApr 4, 2021
I haven't seen any of the old King Kong movies or Peter Jackson's 2005 King Kong film, but Kong: Skull Island is easily the best movie in the so-called Monsterverse, the cinematic universe shared by King Kong and Godzilla. As is usual forI haven't seen any of the old King Kong movies or Peter Jackson's 2005 King Kong film, but Kong: Skull Island is easily the best movie in the so-called Monsterverse, the cinematic universe shared by King Kong and Godzilla. As is usual for these movies, the human factor is much lesser compared with the kaiju part. But at least in this movie the humans make much more sense than the recent Godzilla films, and there are actually fun moments. Also the kaiju fights are great. Kudos to Jordan Vogt-Roberts for directing this movie.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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8
alejandro970Mar 21, 2021
This version is closer to the 1976 version than the 1933 and 2005 version. As a roller coaster it works quite well and the special effects stand out and are at the service of the plot and not the other way around. This should be seen as aThis version is closer to the 1976 version than the 1933 and 2005 version. As a roller coaster it works quite well and the special effects stand out and are at the service of the plot and not the other way around. This should be seen as a prelude to the clash of titans Godzilla vs. Kong. To see with a large bag of popcorn on hand.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
tbeit2Mar 25, 2017
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Kong was overall a really good movie. The movie was best in its world building that occurred. Seeing the cool creatures, the geography and just the environment in general were a joy to watch and discover. The action scenes themselves were also impressive. They were well directed, exciting, looked fantastic and at times surprising. There is a specific scene where Jackson's group is walking through a forest and they are around bamboo trees. There was a giant spider who's legs look like the trees and it was unbelievably amazing.

The only flaw in the movies are the characters. The actors are good and they are decent blank slates, but they could have used more personality.

Overall, i would say it was a great film. I would definitely recommend it to anybody who is thinking about seeing it. At worst, it should be a decent film with some great moments that everybody should enjoy.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
Warlok9Apr 28, 2021
As a fan of the big monster films since I was a kid in the 70’s, I have to say this movie is EASILY the best King Kong movie ever made. It has a real story, great characters, amazing action, thrilling suspense and the best effects I’ve seenAs a fan of the big monster films since I was a kid in the 70’s, I have to say this movie is EASILY the best King Kong movie ever made. It has a real story, great characters, amazing action, thrilling suspense and the best effects I’ve seen in this genre. I always loved Godzilla more than King Kong, but even after seeing the new Godzilla vs. Kong movie, I have to say Skull Island stands alone at the top still. The new Godzilla movies (including Godzilla vs Kong) spend too much time with dialogue between ultimately meaningless characters. Skull Island has characters that you care about, that you hate, that you can identify with. The story is really cool, set during the Vietnam war with iconic music, weapons and choppers. Imagine a King Kong movie with a backdrop of Black Sabbath, Hollies, and Creedance tunes. It just WORKS.

I had hoped the Godzilla vs Kong movie would utilize this same type of formula, with authentic characters, weapons, fighter planes, and MUSIC from a time period. Instead the makers went with the same formula from the other Godzilla movies which is weird characters who say a whole lot but none of it really matters. If you see one movie from this Monster Series, see Skull Island.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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8
hardcorekiddJun 2, 2018
Scientists, soldiers and adventurers unite to explore a mythical, uncharted island in the Pacific Ocean. Cut off from everything they know, they venture into the domain of the mighty Kong, igniting the ultimate battle between man and nature.Scientists, soldiers and adventurers unite to explore a mythical, uncharted island in the Pacific Ocean. Cut off from everything they know, they venture into the domain of the mighty Kong, igniting the ultimate battle between man and nature. As their mission of discovery soon becomes one of survival, they must fight to escape from a primal world where humanity does not belong. Offering exhilarating eye candy, solid acting, and a fast-paced story, Kong: Skull Island earns its spot in the movie monster's mythos without ever matching up to the classic original. Final Grade is a B+.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
JosueCalderonOct 15, 2018
Estaba buscando una película para pasar un buen rato, sin embargo si estas buscando algo innovador y fresco probablemente no sea lo que buscas
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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8
BerikNov 6, 2018
It aint easy making a monster movie, just take a look at Godzilla. But Kong: Skull Island manages to make the movie interesting both in terms of Kong and the humans. Samuel L. Jackson represents our old friend the US who just wants to killIt aint easy making a monster movie, just take a look at Godzilla. But Kong: Skull Island manages to make the movie interesting both in terms of Kong and the humans. Samuel L. Jackson represents our old friend the US who just wants to kill everything that doesn't like americans or kills them, while Brie Larson runs around in a white tank top and thinks she understands a gorilla the size of the empire state building. And it is all very entertaining nonetheless.

It is an excellent movie, 8/10.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
SerchvazJul 3, 2019
A well done introduction of Kong to Waner's monsterverse. it has a good plot, with some flaws in the human characters, but that doesn't matter, it's a monster movie not a loved one. the human characters are better developed that GodzillaA well done introduction of Kong to Waner's monsterverse. it has a good plot, with some flaws in the human characters, but that doesn't matter, it's a monster movie not a loved one. the human characters are better developed that Godzilla 2014, and also Kong has a good screen time.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
ChrisRyderMar 8, 2019
Kong: Skull Island is not a perfect film, but it is a lot of fun. You will not really remember too many of the characters, but as a fun monster romp, it gets the job done.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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8
NShellhamerApr 5, 2019
The movie does have some flaws such as weak characters that don't have much to do and being way overcast however everyone is very good in it and the movie is very well directed with great cinematography and visuals and fun monster action.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
ProVConReviewsMay 30, 2019
Kong: Skull Island PvC Review (5/30/19)

Pros Playing the prequel to 2014’s Godzilla; Kong: Skull Island takes a brighter and more stylized approach to kaiju action while also giving the human characters actual interest. The movie takes allKong: Skull Island PvC Review (5/30/19)

Pros
Playing the prequel to 2014’s Godzilla; Kong: Skull Island takes a brighter and more stylized approach to kaiju action while also giving the human characters actual interest. The movie takes all that was wrong with the 2014 film and works to improve it, while also expanding a bit on the lore of their created Monsterverse. The pacing keeps me engaged, the beautiful visuals and shots keep me in awe, the vietnam soundtrack proves that you can never go wrong with classic rock, and the monster action is leagues beyond the last film. But what I appreciate the absolute most is the development and lore given to the monsters in the film, especially that of Kong. You actually learn to feel for the monster and his history, so that when the final fight inevitably does hit, it hits hard. The final fight in itself is genuinely amazing, one that I could watch for days due to its style and its cutting to the humans never takes away from it as they are actively involved in the smack down. There is a lot of love and passion bleeding into this film for the B-movie spectacle of some of the classics, but most importantly the director just knows to have actual fun instead of trying to maintain a gritty realism. It rewards the viewer time and time again with a CGI spectacle not worth missing. Of course I am going to dive into cons now, but just know that these cons are small and that this film doesn’t suffer nearly as bad from them as its predecessor.

+ CGI Spectacle
+ Humans are entertaining and don’t take away from the film
+ Monsters are developed and have emotion behind them
+ The style is pure bliss
+ The soundtrack of vietnam is always amazing
+ Expands upon the lore of the Monsterverse especially with it’s after credits scene
+ The action is fantastic with the final fight being just awesome
+ Environment is beautiful
+ Wonderfully shot
+ Rewarding

Cons
Kong: Skull Island does have some genuine problems, all of which never hold it back from being a good time or take away from being B-movie excellence. But first let us get the biggest problem of the whole film out of the way, the impact of death. While the humans in this film are entertaining, a lot of them feel like they are just there for the ride rather than contributing anything and most of these characters are what the movie chooses to be its victims. The deaths are quick and swift with no time to mourn which the film is quite self-aware about, but at the same time there is just no feeling of loss for any of the characters. There are only one or two characters that have a bit of an impact when they go, but the rest is very, “oh well that happened!” But while the impact of the deaths were lackluster, the deaths themselves genuinely are perfectly gruesome. That’s my biggest complaint overall honestly, the impact of the deaths. I do have smaller ones; such as some of the writing just not landing, wish there was even more Kong fights (just a me thing honestly) and just somethings just not making logical sense (ex. The amount of helicopters compared to the single ship). But those all are very small and again never take away from my enjoyment of the film. - Little to no impact from characters being killed off
- Some characters didn’t contribute
- Writing can be a miss at times
- Somethings don’t make sense

Overall
Kong: Skull Island is a B-movie through and through but I genuinely believe that is where these movies shine their absolute best, as it’s this B-movie style that give these movies their charm. They’re creature features, kaiju films, a genre that was once thought dead but thanks to Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. we have a whole universe of them to look forward to. And this universe honestly has me feeling like a child again to when I found that old VHS in my house labeled “King Kong vs. Godzilla” and I looked past all the blatant flaws to find a world that I always wished to be apart of. Kong: Skull Island does the exact same thing for me and I wouldn’t have it any other way.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
pur__0_0__Aug 18, 2021
Honestly I hate King Kong. I can't stand seeing an ugly gorilla killing cool dinosaurs. Initially I had skipped this movie and directly watched Godzilla: King of the Monsters, but seeing how many references of this movie that movie had in theHonestly I hate King Kong. I can't stand seeing an ugly gorilla killing cool dinosaurs. Initially I had skipped this movie and directly watched Godzilla: King of the Monsters, but seeing how many references of this movie that movie had in the post credits and the fact that I needed to watch this to understand Godzilla vs Kong is why I watched this movie in the first place (I still haven't watched Godzilla vs Kong though lmao). This movie, however, wasn't that bad. In fact the CGI is pretty good.
But that doesn't change the fact that an ugly gorilla is killing cool looking Skullcrawlers here, although I was satisfied that he could win only with the human help. Samuel Jackson plays the role of an annoying general who gets his comeuppance (which is the reason why I have given it such a good rating). He was so irritating. When he said he will kill all the Skullcrawlers after he kills Kong I felt like going in the screen and slapping him. Like, just one scene ago your entire squad got thrashed by only one Skullcrawler child and here you're dreaming of taking down every single one of them you zoophobe!?
The movie takes place on an island in the 70's. Although Kong gets very less screen time and there is too much talking and exposition, it wasn't as bad as the Godzilla movies. The human characters were actually interesting. I liked the part where one of them dies when a giant spider steps on him and everyone thinks it's a tree. The professor who explains the entire context of the tribes worshipping Kong was also an interesting story. In the end they all manage to get away from the island and tell the world about what they saw. It was a good ending. If they had done something like saying why they were going to keep it a secret I'd have legit given it a 1 star rating.
The CGI has been done very well. Although it features a number of cool creatures (the Skullcrawlers especially), it does not induce the same frantasy feeling that Godzilla movies do. It only makes it feel like giant creatures fighting in an island. It doesn't feel "legendary", like what you feel when you watch King of the Monsters' trailer. It just looks... Meh.
Kong: Skull Island may not be some very extraordinary movie, but you do have to watch it if you want to watch Godzilla vs Kong. It's a bit annoying but makes it up with the colour palette. I really hope this is the last time I'm seeing the ugly gorilla. Because I am never going to re-watch this.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
WhiteMobsterApr 29, 2021
Esse filme do King Kong tem coisas que o do Godzilla (2014) não tem que é o conflito entre humanos e titã, é briga quase o tempo todo e é isso que a gente quer. Takes daora. Filme muito bom.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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8
Mrman69Jul 27, 2020
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
MrPajamasSep 14, 2021
I really liked King Kong from 2005, so I tried Kong: Skull Island. That one wasn't as good in my opinion, but it was still good. I thought the story was worse, but the setting was great. It was a very nice show with good CGI. What might haveI really liked King Kong from 2005, so I tried Kong: Skull Island. That one wasn't as good in my opinion, but it was still good. I thought the story was worse, but the setting was great. It was a very nice show with good CGI. What might have been a problem for some people in 2005's King Kong was the pacing. It took quite a while before Kong the monkey himself showed up. For me, it was fitting and it got my attention and I was just waiting to see when he would show up. Here we see him just a few minutes into the film, which probably gets a lot of people's attention, but not so much for me because I had nothing to look forward to when the film introduced King Kong in the opening minutes. But the aforementioned CGI was awesome and the action scenes were also gorgeous. I enjoyed the eye candy in the form of action to the fullest and that is also in my opinion the biggest draw of this film. I would watch Kong: Skull Island not for the story but for the action and CGI. It's just a nice spectacle. That's all. For me, it's a good film that I can recommend.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
ForcedLifeApr 2, 2021
Kong: Skull Island is one of those movies you watch when you don't want anything serious. Thankfully, this movie understands what it is, and doesn't try to be anything else, I just wish it tried a bit more in every aspect that wasn't KongKong: Skull Island is one of those movies you watch when you don't want anything serious. Thankfully, this movie understands what it is, and doesn't try to be anything else, I just wish it tried a bit more in every aspect that wasn't Kong himself.

Kong is a blast whenever he is on screen, his massive presence and sheer power are wonderful to watch unfold on screen. Watching the human characters get picked off gradually by the islands prehistoric and fantasy creatures will be sure to put a smile on your face. However, that's where my praise ends.

Although succeeding in what it needs to, the human characters are insanely hollow and have no development or meaning for them to be personalized by the movies given titles such as "Photographer" or "War Veteran". The main hero characters could easily be killed off and at best I will raise an eyebrow or two, other than that, I could not care less about them.

Their on screen enjoyment derives from the island's nature to kill as many of them as it can, and as for Kong, his character is portrayed through the visual storytelling it needs to, just enough to make him likeable and understandable as a Kaiju needs to be.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
UnfinishedbznesApr 18, 2021
Big monke is pog? It sure is pog. Have no fear. Monke is also large. Large is good. Good big monke
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
cdougallAug 19, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Another solid outing in the MonsterVerse, Skull Island lives up to the bar set 3 years earlier by Godzilla and is another exciting and engaging kaiju film. Skull Island does a lot of stuff right that Godzilla also did: it has a story, a human-centric perspective and a good amount of build up to the conflict of the movie. This time, we get to the fighting a lot sooner than we did in Godzilla, but not so soon that the movie feels like it’s entirely based on it, making this an improvement on Godzilla. The script and directing allow for the characters to be interesting and have some nice and funny dialogue, and also for the story of the movie to flow and develop nicely which helps to keep viewers invested in what’s happening. The movie has some twists and turns along the way that spice things up and keep the movie interesting for both the viewers and characters, and does a nice job of tying the opening scene into the plot of the movie without it feeling too disruptive. Skull Island also does a great job of not squandering it’s A-list cast, being actors such as Tom Hiddleston and John Goodman, by giving all the big characters plenty of dialogue and moments to shine a little bit. It also gives it’s lesser known actors the same opportunities, something I appreciated. The big-monster fighting action is great and is just as good as it was in Godzilla, which works immensely to this film’s benefit cause we get a bit more of it than we did in Godzilla. I like how Skull Island gives the humans more of an opportunity to fight and hurt the big monster antagonist of this film, since Godzilla did most of the work in the other movie, and it shows that humans aren’t completely useless against these creatures and they can lend a helping hand. All that said, SI suffers from the same predictability that Godzilla did, and it’s very easy to figure out, for the most part, what’s going to happen. There isn’t too much mystery in this movie and a lot of what goes on follows typical expectations. There’s really only one curveball that the movie throws in, but other than that it all goes according to formula. The other issue I have with this movie is character stupidity. A lot of what goes wrong for the characters in this movie is because of their own actions, so most of what they go through is because of their own doing. To put it in broader terms, they create their own demons and pay the price for that severely. The fates many of the characters suffer is avoidable, unnecessary and founded in decisions based on emotion. Many of them do their best to get out of the situation that they’re in, but are hampered by the actions of other characters. This is an area where this movie falters a bit from Godzilla. Despite these flaws, Skull Island is a great kaiju movie that hits the bar set by Godzilla in many ways and is another solid installment in the MonsterVerse.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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1
ZoethApr 14, 2017
This movie is a complete mess. The characters that "live" are easily identifiable at the beginning. They have no survival skills but get through on luck alone. This is what happens when a huge studio and franchise hires an "indie" director.This movie is a complete mess. The characters that "live" are easily identifiable at the beginning. They have no survival skills but get through on luck alone. This is what happens when a huge studio and franchise hires an "indie" director. They completely used and abused this director and forced him to do what they wanted. It is easy to influence someone with no experience because they never say no to corporate. I feel like I wasted my bandwidth even pirating this movie, poor bastards who actually spent money watching this trash.… Expand
8 of 10 users found this helpful82
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3
GetDaRekM8Mar 11, 2017
To sum this movie up, if you've seen the trailers you've basically seen the movie, the trailers are basically a shorter version of the movie. This movie has no character development at all to the point where they are so bland and boring youTo sum this movie up, if you've seen the trailers you've basically seen the movie, the trailers are basically a shorter version of the movie. This movie has no character development at all to the point where they are so bland and boring you really don't give a crap about them. Nearly four main characters die and you don't give a damn about them. Due to the trailers spoiling pretty much every interesting scene in the movie, you sit there bored out of your mind waiting for anything to happen. The only good thing about this movie are a couple of good action scenes with Kong destroying stuff (These scenes were also spoiled by the trailers).… Expand
11 of 14 users found this helpful113
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1
dunnyoneApr 11, 2017
I simply HAVE to believe that positive user reviews on Metacritic are now mostly paid for. To give this utter tripe a glowing review is doing disservice to your own intellect. This film had no:

- Characters - plot Kong DID have: -GoodI simply HAVE to believe that positive user reviews on Metacritic are now mostly paid for. To give this utter tripe a glowing review is doing disservice to your own intellect. This film had no:

- Characters
- plot

Kong DID have:

-Good looking CG (Kong had sick abs, he clearly does crunches while waiting for people to arrive)
-John C Reilly (he had rare moments of humour)
-forced universal building that is actually WORSE than the crap seen in Batman v Superman: dawn of something something

I hated this film. It was utterly boring, predictable, tame nonsense. Please do not waste your money on it.… Expand
7 of 9 users found this helpful72
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3
DecTheWallsMar 17, 2017
Fails in every aspect. The only thing I didn't laugh at were the jokes. Horribly cliche, horrible writing, horrible direction, some poor acting and fake accents here and there, mostly poor CGI (although Kong's CGI was fine).

I'm baffled asFails in every aspect. The only thing I didn't laugh at were the jokes. Horribly cliche, horrible writing, horrible direction, some poor acting and fake accents here and there, mostly poor CGI (although Kong's CGI was fine).

I'm baffled as to how this movie is being received so well. The only saving grace is that about 10 seconds of the movie had some interesting lighting. That's it.

I don't recommend anyone even think about this movie, let alone pay money to see it.… Expand
7 of 9 users found this helpful72
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5
DjacobUnchainedMar 27, 2017
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Watching King Kong beat stuff up was awesome, Samuel L Jackson, as usual, is very likable and entertaining. The rest of the cast gave good performances, however the script gave no effort in showing who any of the characters were the movie was really boring in a lot of place were Kong was not present as the characters were poorly developed and we had no reason to care for theme. Also a lot of stupid concepts, like a man who lived on skull island whose character was badly introduced.… Expand
3 of 4 users found this helpful31
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5
ethansreviewsMar 29, 2017
This film is very mediocre its entertaining enough but not interesting enough to rewatch. the action was great but the characters were so boring that i cant give it beyond a five.
3 of 4 users found this helpful31
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0
donelsonMar 17, 2017
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This abortion of a movie should never have seen the light of day. With a credits list of OVER 1,300 people, you think someone would have put their hand up and said "Umm... Wait a minute"

This is supposed to be 1974, but apparently no one bothered to check any actual history. Even the props are more modern, with an office full of DEC-VT100 display terminals from 1978 and later. Many other items in this movie are clearly more modern than they should be. Totally lazy for such an expensive project.

I guess if you cast Samuel L. Jackson into anything these days, it must pass his "cartoon silliness test" to be produced. Tarantino can get away with this with great dialog and action. The clowns producing this hairball should hide their faces in public.

You can tell from the very beginning that this is going to be bad. Even if you, as did I, go into it expecting very little. The setup of the movie is long and face-slapping cliché. The actors, whom we know to be quite skilled, are entirely wasted by bad bad bad dialogue and bad direction. The editing is not so good either.

And when we get out onto the ocean (1974 remember), we are insulted by Hollywood physics and meteorology. A huge storm doesn’t even churn up the waves near the ship *facepalm*

Of course, the dorks then fly their non-vintage helicopters into the hellstorm, with super-fake lightning all around, and get through to see the beautiful islands.

Within a few minutes, ALL of them have been knocked down by insisting on flying close enough to Kong to get bashed *facepalm* holy crap.

Things only get more clichéd from there, with the grizzly 28 year survivor (with the 20 year old son at the end), the demented Samuel Jackson staring and almost drooling as he chews the scenery.

Vietnam veterans are insulted by their blind obedience to a ranting idiot. Civilians and military alike enter "the valley of death" in spite of the writers allowing some of the characters to suggest it's a bad idea.

And then it gets really bad. "OMG bad".

And in all of this, you feel incredibly bored. It's dull, and bad, and stupid.

Oh, and the "teaser for the idiots' sequel" comes after the 1,300+ lines of credits, if you are not asleep or barfing in the toilet.

The only thing that could save this movie would be cartoon music and a laugh track. Then it would rate a 4/10.

Astoundingly bad.… Expand
10 of 14 users found this helpful104
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1
suadeshMar 13, 2017
There is no surprise all along the movie. the characters are a cliché. nice special effect, but not enough to make it a good movie. Plot is sometimes inconsistant.
9 of 13 users found this helpful94
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7
eagleeyevikingMar 10, 2017
With extravagant visuals and plenty of action & adventure, Jordan Vogt-Roberts’ popcorn flick, Kong: Skull Island, is a feverishly entertaining addition to Legendary’s new monster-verse, even if there are far too many underdeveloped andWith extravagant visuals and plenty of action & adventure, Jordan Vogt-Roberts’ popcorn flick, Kong: Skull Island, is a feverishly entertaining addition to Legendary’s new monster-verse, even if there are far too many underdeveloped and uninteresting human characters.… Expand
8 of 12 users found this helpful84
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7
BrianMcCriticMar 19, 2017
It's true the characters are not well developed, but Kong is awesome and the film is still a lot of fun. Kong and the islands other monsters kept me intrigued throughout and the human characters were just good enough. B+
6 of 9 users found this helpful63
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3
bennyslenMar 13, 2017
It's funny how the "2005 version" of Kong is better in every single aspect, even in special effects. The only thing that caught a little bit my attention was the weirdness or the direction and production, but it didn't even fit well in theIt's funny how the "2005 version" of Kong is better in every single aspect, even in special effects. The only thing that caught a little bit my attention was the weirdness or the direction and production, but it didn't even fit well in the movie. If you are looking for a movie with action scenes only, it might fit for you.… Expand
6 of 9 users found this helpful63
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2
NamuriMar 17, 2017
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. An uninspired and uninteresting film that could have been much better if the writing have been compelling enough to make me care what was happening. The majority of the deaths might as well have been spray painted on the actors faces as they were introduced, because that's how unsurprising they were. The only character who really managed to catch my interest for his off beat oddness, Cole, ended up souring my investment in his survival due to the idiotic pointlessness of his death. For the others, they are mostly anticlimactic, without any sort of narrative payoff or comeuppance or ANYTHING besides a number to add to the body count. Kong's portrayal was at least interesting, but the racist portrayal of the Natives of the island was not. Tom Hiddleston was quite handsome and British and in short sleeves during the movie, but if you want to see him act that badly I would suggest rewatching him in Thor, because at least that film is good.… Expand
4 of 6 users found this helpful42
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0
GangialfMay 16, 2017
The critical and public success this movie has had is a true indictment of the British-American school system.
This movie does not have a plot, and if the CGI was taken out of it, we would observe a green screen for about 90 minutes.
TheThe critical and public success this movie has had is a true indictment of the British-American school system.
This movie does not have a plot, and if the CGI was taken out of it, we would observe a green screen for about 90 minutes.
The acting is poor and the performances of Goodman and Jackson, both uninspiring, remind us once more that after all it is about money.

I was tempted to give it a 1, but 1 is the mark a poor commercial would deserve. This is worse.

p.s. Quoting great movies of the past (NO SPOILERS) does not improve anything...it just makes you realise how sxxx the film is a lot faster than it would do otherwise.… Expand
4 of 6 users found this helpful42
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5
yosemiteMar 15, 2017
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Movie started off great. Nice pacing, good background music and casting seemed good. The movie weakened after the helicopters went down. Turned "we've seen this before" about 1/2 way into the film. Stolen themes from other movies. Samuel Jackson as Captain Ahab. Brie Larson as the love interest in Mighty Joe Young. Killer animals from Jurassic Park. A moderately entertaining film on a winter's afternoon… Expand
4 of 6 users found this helpful42
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3
CyranoApr 19, 2017
"...Hellicopters flying through a giant hurricane an then only 20 mts off the ground to allow a giant beast to destroy them all.." Brillant. There are clever movies, dumb movies, stupid movies and then comes "Kong"... A continuous "nonsense""...Hellicopters flying through a giant hurricane an then only 20 mts off the ground to allow a giant beast to destroy them all.." Brillant. There are clever movies, dumb movies, stupid movies and then comes "Kong"... A continuous "nonsense" from beginning to the end.… Expand
4 of 6 users found this helpful42
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3
Minh18121999Mar 19, 2018
I don't understand why this movie got positive reviews from critics.Sure,this movie has some good moments,but overall the cgi looks like cgi,the characters are bland as well as the cast,the plot is formulaic and the soundtrack didn't evenI don't understand why this movie got positive reviews from critics.Sure,this movie has some good moments,but overall the cgi looks like cgi,the characters are bland as well as the cast,the plot is formulaic and the soundtrack didn't even match with film.This film is no where near as good as the Peter Jackson version(3/10)… Expand
4 of 6 users found this helpful42
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5
llamayarmybarJul 13, 2017
An embarrassing wet fart of a film. Absolutely boring monster designs, seriously a bipedal lizard? That's all you could come up with? It ends up trying to connect itself to "Pacific Rim" or something with the whole "Hollow Earth" theoryAn embarrassing wet fart of a film. Absolutely boring monster designs, seriously a bipedal lizard? That's all you could come up with? It ends up trying to connect itself to "Pacific Rim" or something with the whole "Hollow Earth" theory they introduce one quarter of the way into the plot. Speaking of which, what is even happening in this movie? Everything goes wrong because of the humans arriving, Kong is never captured, just yelled at by Samuel L. Jackson for the entire breadth of the movie. Other acting talent is totally wasted here including Jon Goodman, who granted is a heck of a lot better than say, Jack Black, but isn't well developed. I found Kong himself to be fairly boring, especially when compared to 2005's Peter Jackson's "Kong" film, he was just on the island as was John C. Reilly as I suppose comedic support in a movie that didn't need it. I suppose I ought to chalk most of the lack-there-of of charm was mostly due to the period, the 70's just doesn't work here, and it paints the military as these stereotypical grunts that are apparently all Vietnam vets too. Everyone in this movie is a veteran too! How about that? How inclusive of Hollywood. The only real highlight here, is some average performances, a bizarre giant spider battle, more-so with a focus on giant spider "legs" and a couple interesting entirely computer animated Kong fighting a lizard-thing battles. I suppose if that's all you wanted, and don't care about any people in this movie, then you can join me in being utterly confused as to why we even spend so much time with once again, totally wooden, boring, poorly developed characters. Its been done a billion times, we see this in every monster movie, why do they keep writing characters like this? At least, the Peter Jackson contribution had a focus, not an amazing one, not a stupendous one, but it at least showed very human performances, especially between the big ape himself and his beautiful self-imposed damsel in distress, Naomi Watts. You can argue that they're both not amazing films, but I could always go back and find something "fun" or engaging in 2005's rendition over this burning dog turd of a film. As it stands, the very original King Kong is still a great film and I'd still watch that before going to see another terrible attempt at a re-boot or a remake or whatever Hollywood wants to call this poor excuse for a film.… Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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5
MattBrady99Dec 12, 2017
"Kong: Skull Island" has it's moments of fun and being epic, but can somehow feel so small. Peter Jackson's "King Kong" was far superior than this and felt more grand in it's scale. The whole experience was kinda hollow.

Besides the"Kong: Skull Island" has it's moments of fun and being epic, but can somehow feel so small. Peter Jackson's "King Kong" was far superior than this and felt more grand in it's scale. The whole experience was kinda hollow.

Besides the characters being really one note; John C. Reilly was the best part of this movie. A real show stealer. I rather see a movie with Reilly's character being stuck on the island with Kong. I mean, nothing against the other actors, as they did the best for what's been written for them. I just couldn't care less when characters bite the dust.

The influences of "Apocalypse Now" and Spielberg movies, mostly "Jurassic Park", is an interesting mix. The director, Jordan Vogt-Roberts has a vision and when you hear him talk in interviews, he knows what he's talking about. To be fair, he handle the action scenes very well. The visual queues of classic cinema are there and can be harsh when it comes to criticism of his own work. Everything else was more of a miss than a hit.… Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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8
Nikop0lJun 24, 2017
Since Deep Blue Sea I didnt see director who would off his main lead in middle of movie in one second like its nothing.

Anywho, to the film. Solid monster movie. CGIs are good, battles between Kong and humans or the lizardy thingy are prettySince Deep Blue Sea I didnt see director who would off his main lead in middle of movie in one second like its nothing.

Anywho, to the film. Solid monster movie. CGIs are good, battles between Kong and humans or the lizardy thingy are pretty entertaining. Movie tried to pretend it has lore, although it doesnt, but threw all of that into trashbin very soon so cool. At the end of the day its monster movie with monsters killing humans like its nothing and monsters fighting in epic battles. Delivers that very well. So if you are one of those who cant stand any movie that is below level of Kubrick, stay away. If you want to have some fun seeing giant monsters kicking each other ass, with flavor of Vietnam war songs, flamethrowers, Heuys and so on, grab a popcorn and enjoy the ride.

PS: If you saw 2014 Godzilla and liked it, you will like this too. If you didnt, you wont like this movie.… Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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8
ThaddeusDec 16, 2017
Loved the reference to Jurassic Park in this movie, and I thought the cast and CGI were good. Easily better then Godzilla, which was a good movie. Best King Kong movie period.
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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7
myneeshDec 20, 2017
Really enjoyed this one. The music, the scenery... Kong looking badass.
John C Reilly is one funny m******r seriously!
Can't wait King Kong to take on Godzilla!
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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8
WorldofLuckyFeb 3, 2018
Kong:Skull Island was a surprise to me. I had walked into the movie with my husband expecting a bad movie, or at the very least something like the most recent version of Godzilla. However, for what it was, it was a lot better. That would be aKong:Skull Island was a surprise to me. I had walked into the movie with my husband expecting a bad movie, or at the very least something like the most recent version of Godzilla. However, for what it was, it was a lot better. That would be a summer blockbusting creature feature.

Don't get me wrong, Kong won't win any drama awards. It is a B grade monster movie filmed with a AAA budget. The budget was worth it though. The effects were believable and very enjoyable. The only issue I had with the filming was the transition from night scenes to day scenes left me blind for a few seconds.

The acting was decent for what they had. The only really fleshed out character was John Reilly as a shot down American Pilot (if you have seen a preview or trailer you already know he who is, the funny older guy). John Goodman, Samuel L Jackson, and team are all good at what they do, but they just weren't fleshed out. Their characters were generic.

Probably the most interesting part though was little Easter eggs laid around that indicated Mothra, Godzilla and I believe King Ghidorah. It even includes a monster hunting organization. I love the idea of a marvel level universe for the large monsters. This is a good idea, almost as good of an idea as Universal's monster universe started by the remake of the Mummy next month.

The good: It hit all the right notes for a monster movie, action, adventure, no reliance on arbitrary romance. I didn't detect any racist stereotyping and I really liked that it was set in 1973.

The bad: Some of the effects were filmed for 3D, I did not watch that version, but even the flat 2D screen was annoying when it tried to push those scenes into the movie. Also, I would have liked more monstrous creatures on the island.… Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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4
kamgeforceApr 14, 2017
Not exactly sure how did this movie get away with being ok or even good. Its bland pile of mediocrity. People were hating on Jackson´s King Kong but that movie blows this **** out of the water in every aspect. Whether its acting, action,Not exactly sure how did this movie get away with being ok or even good. Its bland pile of mediocrity. People were hating on Jackson´s King Kong but that movie blows this **** out of the water in every aspect. Whether its acting, action, characters, soundtrack, hell even the so called bad cgi in King Kong was more enjoyable to watch than this. The only reason this movie exists is to set up the duel with godzilla, but both movies were horrid so what can we expect from it... Some good actors wasted their time and good name on this ****e and some ****e actors got opportunity to show of their suckage like the lead female, quite possibly the most useless and generic "character" in a while.… Expand
5 of 8 users found this helpful53
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2
bkristmanMar 10, 2017
One of the worst bigger budget films i've ever seen and i'm usually a fan of creature feature/monster movies. It's a hodgepodge of cliched dialogue and badly acted scenes with long periods of nothing happening.
Kong goes missing for half anOne of the worst bigger budget films i've ever seen and i'm usually a fan of creature feature/monster movies. It's a hodgepodge of cliched dialogue and badly acted scenes with long periods of nothing happening.
Kong goes missing for half an hour at a time .
They rip off ideas from apocalypse now and moby dick and likely a dozen other films but in a cheesy way.
It was like watching a bunch of bad low budget b-movies all strung together. Tom Hiddleston is so out of place in this film it's not even funny.
He and the other actors just phone in their lines . The 3-d was practically non existent so i wish i hadn't paid extra.
Sorry i even went to this junker.… Expand
12 of 20 users found this helpful128
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4
Rebecca31Mar 10, 2017
My gut instinct told me this would not be a good movie, however upon hearing the positive reviews I thought I should set aside my prejudgements and give it a try. And you know what? I should have listened to my gut. I’ve been told by multipleMy gut instinct told me this would not be a good movie, however upon hearing the positive reviews I thought I should set aside my prejudgements and give it a try. And you know what? I should have listened to my gut. I’ve been told by multiple people that this is better than Peter Jackson’s version, and yes his version isn’t amazing and no it hasn’t aged well but it’s a hell of a lot better than this mess. Simply put, ‘Kong: Skull Island’ does not hold up against the motion capture by Andy Serkis in ‘King Kong’ 2005. There isn’t enough effort put into this remake so I was left disappointed.
One dimensional characters embark on an adventure to an uncharted island blah, blah, blah. Enter Kong, John C. Reilly and skull crushers. Yeah I know stupid name to call them but don’t worry John C. Reilly takes a moment to acknowledge their ridiculous name and we all laugh… Don’t get me wrong, I did in fact laugh at times yet I don’t think I was supposed to laugh quite as much. Sometimes a script is so bad all you can do is laugh and cringe. Also featuring Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson. Now if I had known this was going to turn into Samuel Vs Kong then I honestly wouldn’t have bothered. The countless amount of other great movies referenced in this one was crazy, jumping on the shoulders of other monster movies in the desperate hope of creating something decent out of it was simply a giant fail. Considering King Kong is an iconic movie monster this does not do him any justice whatsoever. That just leaves one question. Was I entertained? Well yes and no. It had its moments were it reeled me in but moments later it lost me again. No I wouldn’t recommend it but all you monster movie fans will probably see it anyway so don’t say I didn’t warn you.… Expand
6 of 10 users found this helpful64
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5
EdeltraudMar 11, 2017
CGI (or whatever techniques used to make beasts) & locations are great. Enjoyed the movie as I watched it, but later it left me flat. So much more could have been done with the characters' stories, the photographer & scientists got shortCGI (or whatever techniques used to make beasts) & locations are great. Enjoyed the movie as I watched it, but later it left me flat. So much more could have been done with the characters' stories, the photographer & scientists got short shrift. The natives were especially meh, no cool rituals or any action vis a vis Kong there. Overall, way too glossy, never felt the fear. Would like to see a grittier treatment, I mean, Kong had his best parts airbrushed -- come on!… Expand
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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7
ivan_terribleMar 11, 2017
It's different from the previous king kong. More action and more victims. Less character developments compared to the previous ones. Don't forget to stay back until the end of the credits for potential sequel.
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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7
NerdConsultantMar 24, 2017
Kong Skull Island is a dumb film, but it’s the sort of dumb film I like. It never tries to over stretch it boundaries and gives you exactly what you expect but it is entertaining in that sense, so my predictions of it being a mediocre filmKong Skull Island is a dumb film, but it’s the sort of dumb film I like. It never tries to over stretch it boundaries and gives you exactly what you expect but it is entertaining in that sense, so my predictions of it being a mediocre film feel unjustified. I think this is a good film. It could have used a bit more Kong and the plot doesn’t flow quite as well as it could have, but what it does well it does well. The dialogue is pretty good some of the characters are relatively entertaining, though some of them are not as well written. The acting is fairly decent and the effects hold up alright. Anyone who saw 2014’s Godzilla should check this one out. It’s a very similar film and it almost follows the plot beat for beat. This unfortunately means that you probably won’t enjoy it as much if your problem with the Godzilla film was that they focused too much on the humans at the expense of the monsters. You can probably tell from my brief descriptions whether you are going to like this film or not. I would recommend seeing it at the cinema as I think you won’t get the same effect on the TV screen and it comes with my recommendation. This is a pretty good film. If you are going to see the film, stay until the end of the credits, there’s a post credit scene which sets up future movies and it’s really awesome.… Expand
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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3
TreceApr 8, 2017
Luego de la joya de Godzilla pensé que una buena saga de monstruos vendria, pero finalmente escucharon al publico palomitero que no supo apreciar esa pelicula y aqui esta el resultado: Kong. Y muy bien que sea Kong a secas, porque este monoLuego de la joya de Godzilla pensé que una buena saga de monstruos vendria, pero finalmente escucharon al publico palomitero que no supo apreciar esa pelicula y aqui esta el resultado: Kong. Y muy bien que sea Kong a secas, porque este mono sin personalidad perdido en una pelicula que no entiende sus momentos ni sabe quien es el protagonista, no seria rey de nada.… Expand
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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7
badgerryan19May 19, 2017
Good movie. I really liked the CGI. Also what a great set of a cast. The movie has some really great set pieces and exciting action scenes. Unfortunately the characters are ultimately shallow and not really fleshed out. The king of the movieGood movie. I really liked the CGI. Also what a great set of a cast. The movie has some really great set pieces and exciting action scenes. Unfortunately the characters are ultimately shallow and not really fleshed out. The king of the movie is obviously Kong who steals the movie. This is a great one to just watch with a bunch of friends who want to watch a monster movie.… Expand
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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7
Jess_HillMar 23, 2017
Hold onto your butts! This is a joyful creature feature with some of the best monster fights I've seen on film, and cinematography to die for. The storyline is beyond ridiculous, and the script is woeful, but the world building and creatureHold onto your butts! This is a joyful creature feature with some of the best monster fights I've seen on film, and cinematography to die for. The storyline is beyond ridiculous, and the script is woeful, but the world building and creature design are phenomenal. The visual effects are stunning, some sequences had the audience applauding, and the fact that it doesn't take itself too seriously makes for a delightfully entertaining, if not cerebral, experience. Cinematic fun writ large, this is a silly monster movie that delivers what it promises on the tin. 7.87/10*
*Stay until the very end.… Expand
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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7
FuturedirectorMar 14, 2017
Predictable and clumsy but impressive and fast-paced. Kong: Skull Island is another cool and satisfying all-new story that reboots the classic King Kong character in a very vigorous and ambicious form.
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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9
sandbornMar 21, 2017
What a monster blockbuster should be! Finally Hollywood makes a monster movie just right! I was captivated from start to finish; this movie is all thriller and no filler! I wasn't bored for a minute. Definitely better than Godzilla 2014!
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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9
COOLQUINN17Jun 13, 2017
It's been 12 years since Kong appeared in theaters and this was a worthy come back. Instead of being the same old Kong story, they decided to do something different. They decided to set the movie in the 1970's and it was a great decision. TheIt's been 12 years since Kong appeared in theaters and this was a worthy come back. Instead of being the same old Kong story, they decided to do something different. They decided to set the movie in the 1970's and it was a great decision. The performances of Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman and the rest of the cast are really great. Kong himself looks amazing and he's the hugest and toughest kong we ever got. The CGI on Kong and the skull crawlers are well done. Here's a fact, Kong was also motion capture, which is really cool. The monster brawls are really epic. Kong is just beating the **** outta those skullcrawlers. The only two problems I had with the film is that I thought Kong wasn't in the film as much as I thought he would be. I mean he does have more screentime in his movie then Godzilla did in his 2014 movie but he should of had been in the film a little longer. Also, I wish they could of had dinosaurs in the movie. Not that I hated the skull crawlers or anything just that dinosaurs are the thing that Kong famously fights. Overall, this is a really well made monster movie and I look foward to seeing Kong battling Godzilla when King Kong Vs Godzilla comes out in 2020.… Expand
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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7
Lone_Wolf_SonesMar 13, 2017
Kong Skull Island is a fun Monster flick. It's budget clearly didn't go to waste with its visual effects which are very well done. There are some genuinely spectacular sequences of action with Kong. The film is a bit slow to start but onceKong Skull Island is a fun Monster flick. It's budget clearly didn't go to waste with its visual effects which are very well done. There are some genuinely spectacular sequences of action with Kong. The film is a bit slow to start but once things get rolling its generous in the number of thrills it delivers. The cast is pretty solid with notables like John Goodman and Samuel L. Jackson as well as John C. Reiley who offers some great comedic relief. A lot of monster films like to offer only glimpses or keep the monster hidden to build suspense. I was glad that Kong makes his presence known fairly early. While Kong is the main attraction of the film, there are some other amazing creatures as well and its a thrill to watch Kong slug it out against them.… Expand
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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8
daviddelnorte23Jun 29, 2017
Muchísimas ganas de ver a King Kong aplastar monstruos y humanos y el bueno de King, no defraudó. Si es verdad que en muchas fases de la película quieres que salga Kong, Kong y Kong por puro vicio, pero lo cierto es que la película se tieneMuchísimas ganas de ver a King Kong aplastar monstruos y humanos y el bueno de King, no defraudó. Si es verdad que en muchas fases de la película quieres que salga Kong, Kong y Kong por puro vicio, pero lo cierto es que la película se tiene que desarrollar y también a sus personajes. Yo creo que hay demasiados "humanos" y no llega a desarrollar a la mitad, le sobran. Pero aquí lo importante es el mono y el mono mola, y el mono aplasta, y el mono está clavado. También me han encantado el resto de la "fauna" de la isla calavera con una sensación que puedes encontrar cualquier cosa en cualquier momento.

En cuanto al resto, el guión está bien porque te quedas con ganas de más película y porque se hace muy llevadera, pero por contra no desarrolla a los personajes del todo. Destaca para mi gusto L. Jackson y la chica (Brie Larson), y uno que a mí me gusta siempre Shea Whigham.

En conclusión, es una película SUPER divertida si te gustan los efectos, la acción... etc. No hay nada más divertido que pasar un buen rato viendo a Kong aplastar cosas, una mala bestia. Me lo he pasado como un niño. Un 8.… Expand
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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7
Creeper3455Mar 13, 2017
Kong Skull Island felt like watching a low budget version of Mad Max Fury Road. I mean,the movie is good,but some things were boring. If we have to watch Kong kicking everyone's butt,it will be less entertaining in charachter development,Kong Skull Island felt like watching a low budget version of Mad Max Fury Road. I mean,the movie is good,but some things were boring. If we have to watch Kong kicking everyone's butt,it will be less entertaining in charachter development, since Samuel L. Jackson and John C. Reilly were the only ones that made this movie a bit fun (aside from the action),and the rest was quite decent. The visual effects were great/weird at the same time. In some parts, it felt like rewatching The Jungle Book (The 2016 one,not the cartoon). In the end,no,it's not better than 2005's King Kong,but Kong Skull island really knows how to entertain the audienc with a promising story,some weirdly impressive effects,but with a (kinda)lame acting that makes this movie fine to watch.… Expand
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10
Davrosdaleks1Mar 11, 2017
I loved this move, absolutely loved it! I feel that some of the naysayers are too jaded. This was a popcorn, adventure film and its quality was far above expectations.

It looks great. The computer animation is really good and didn't take youI loved this move, absolutely loved it! I feel that some of the naysayers are too jaded. This was a popcorn, adventure film and its quality was far above expectations.

It looks great. The computer animation is really good and didn't take you out of the film. Also, really liked the giant creature design in this. They feel very natural. The cinematography is superb, the best part of the film. Kong of course is the king of the film and he does not disappoint. He has never looked better. A lot of color in this too, which is refreshing considering how grey and muted so many films are these days.

This film fixes a lot of problems from the Peter Jackson remake. Gone is the need for Kong to be attracted to a human woman (which never made a whole lot of sense). It has a lot of monster like Jackson's, but it doesn't feel like the violence is trying too hard to be edgy. It also scraps the worn out plot from the original. No third attempt at the skyscraper bit. This is a new story and it works all the better for it.

Many people complained that the people aren't as interesting as Kong. I disagree. Yeah, there were a lot of them, some had more time to shine than others, and the two leads weren't as developed as some supporting characters, but I still liked them all. I felt they were all likable and excellently performed by the cast.

I highly recommend this film. (Oh, and if you're catching the scene after the credits, don't read the credits near the end. It'll spoil something.)… Expand
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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8
GreatGatsbyMar 20, 2017
Kong: Skull Island is one of the best blockbuster films you will ever see, with brilliant production, characters, and especially the great visual effects. It's great to see a film that does not fear killing off major characters, while leavingKong: Skull Island is one of the best blockbuster films you will ever see, with brilliant production, characters, and especially the great visual effects. It's great to see a film that does not fear killing off major characters, while leaving more than just a couple survivors as well. The greatest handicap on Kong is elements of the writing and a fairly simplistic story overall that really takes no risks to shock the viewer past the great effects. The film, however, is a gripping tale with each character portrayed brilliantly, with a ever looming sense of thrill. Kong provides the viewer with a meaningful creature that is sure to lead the way for Universal's forthcoming universe of monsters.… Expand
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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8
Movieman27Mar 17, 2017
I have to be honest with you and say that I did not enjoy the movie as much as I did Logan but that being said I did like the movie it was a good time at the movies super fun and adventure and action packed with suspence and even a littleI have to be honest with you and say that I did not enjoy the movie as much as I did Logan but that being said I did like the movie it was a good time at the movies super fun and adventure and action packed with suspence and even a little humor but due to what I was seeing in the theater I was in the movie is not for kids an entire family had to walk away from the movie during a disturbing scene I don't think that it is a good idea to take the kids kong himself may traumatize children much less the level of action and adventure but I am going to have to say that you should see the movie just don't take the kids… Expand
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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7
barthebardMar 21, 2017
CGI is really good. The fight scenes were realistic. However, the story left me disappointed. But I guess you really don't watch this sort of movies for the story...
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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3
ZerpnosMar 20, 2017
Berbat abi bu film berbat ötesi bir şey. Daha az puan verebilme şansım olsa onu verirdim. "King Kong" denen filmi de hiç sevmemiştim ve 3 saatimi boşa harcadığımı düşünmüştüm. Şimdi de 2 saatimi boşa harcadığımı söylüyorum. İnsana kattığı birBerbat abi bu film berbat ötesi bir şey. Daha az puan verebilme şansım olsa onu verirdim. "King Kong" denen filmi de hiç sevmemiştim ve 3 saatimi boşa harcadığımı düşünmüştüm. Şimdi de 2 saatimi boşa harcadığımı söylüyorum. İnsana kattığı bir şey varsa o da can sıkıntısından nasıl patlama noktasına geldiğinizdir. Bu kadar kısmı spoilersız anlattım çünkü filme gidecek varsa, gerçekten kandırmıyorum. Berbat bir film kesinlikle gitmemenizi öneririm. Şimdi spoiler vererek, sahneleri örnekleyerek anlatıcam. Zaten filmde senaryo adına hiçbir şey yok. Spoiler: İsteyen spoiler verdiğim kısmı okuyabilir, devamı da şöyle gerçekleşiyor. Her zaman ki gibi klişeler ardı arkası kesilmeden devam ediyor ve Bir tane adamım kaldı, adadan çıkamam. O adamı bulup kurtarmalıyız gibisinden erkeklik gösterileri ve sonucunda ölen daha fazla adam tabi film size bunların sonucunda Kong ve adanın Kongdan sonra en güçlüsünün savaşını gösteriyor.(Aman tanrım mükemmel bir senaryo) Bu kadar birbirini takip etmeyen, çok kötü şeyler izledikten sonra hemen adadan kurtuluyorlar ve bitiyor. Bu kadar film işte bu, boş beleş aksiyon seven ve 2-3 tane CGI canavarı görüp "Ben buna bayılıyorum" tarzında olan bir insan gitsin ve izlesin. Böyle seyredenlerin keyif alacağından eminim. Ha bir de atladığım bir kısım var. Filmde ki kızımız ve Kong 2 dakikalık bir aşk yaşıyorlar. Kesinlikle izlemek istediğim şeylerdi bunlar. Son zamanlarda ortaya bomboş senaryosu olan ve boş beleş aksiyonlarıyla dolu filmler çıkıyor. Gerçekten bıktım ve berbatlar. İzlemenizi asla tavsiye etmiyorum arkadaşlar. Sırf paranıza ziyan olmasın ve sinirimi atabileyim diye buraya bu incelemeyi yazıyorum. UZAK DURUN BU FİLMDEN.… Expand
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10
cdunny21Mar 16, 2017
I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT MOVIE! IT WAS SHOT WELL AND HAD A WELL DONE PACE. EVEN AT THE SLOWER MOMENTS OF THE MOVIE, OF WHICH THERE WERE FEW; IT NEVER FELT THAT THE MOVIE WAS DRAGGING. THE ACTION WAS WELL DONE AND THE CGI WAS FLAWLESS.I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT MOVIE! IT WAS SHOT WELL AND HAD A WELL DONE PACE. EVEN AT THE SLOWER MOMENTS OF THE MOVIE, OF WHICH THERE WERE FEW; IT NEVER FELT THAT THE MOVIE WAS DRAGGING. THE ACTION WAS WELL DONE AND THE CGI WAS FLAWLESS. EVERYTHING WAS ASTHETICALLY PLEASING AS WELL. NO ACTOR DID A POOR JOB IN THEIR ROLE. THE MOVIE IS SO STAR PACKED THEIR IS A QUESTION ON IF EVERYONE GOT THEIR FAIR SHARE OF SCREEN TIME. AND DO NOT FORGET TO STAY FOR THE AFTER CREDIT SCENE!… Expand
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10
TxMANZMar 11, 2017
When I had first heard that they were making another Kong film I was skeptic; after all, its only been a few years since Jackson's iconic King Kong reboot rolled into theaters. Still, it seemed like it would be a lot of fun, and would alsoWhen I had first heard that they were making another Kong film I was skeptic; after all, its only been a few years since Jackson's iconic King Kong reboot rolled into theaters. Still, it seemed like it would be a lot of fun, and would also tie into Legendary's Godzilla reboot; seemed promising.
We just got back from the theater, and to sum it up simply: it is truly amazing! Without spoilers, it is enough to state that it has so many unexpected great things going for it: the ensemble cast is great (particular props to John C. Riley's character), the story is completely fresh and unique, and the movie keeps going and never grows dull from start to finish, whether the action is fierce or if the characters are merely conversing. Skull Island isn't a retread of the original story, and reboots the series right. Also of note is how the WWII and 70's eras are well-established and integrated into the overall experience. As one last note, a surprising amount of humor and fun is sprinkled throughout the film; it never feels like too much, and yet adds an extra spark to an already fantastic film.
Overall, Kong:Skull Island is a fun and enjoyable blockbuster smash that delivers in all the right ways, and is not to be missed.… Expand
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8
imshiva21Mar 13, 2017
Movie was spontaneous. visually could have been better nevertheless enjoyed till the end, great casting sam jackson was a bit naive... KONG stole the act even Mr Loki(Tom Hiddleston) couldn't match up with his skill. (7.5/10)
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10
marlavrMar 13, 2017
The action begins from the start. It is very suspenseful more than scary. Great use of technology. I liked that Kong was given a soul and compassion for others. Loved the soundtrack.
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7
hicholesterolMar 15, 2017
If you like monster movies, you will be pleased with this movie. It was not anything special when you consider actually acting or writing, but it was definitely entertaining. John C. Reilly really stole this movie. He was the most lovable,If you like monster movies, you will be pleased with this movie. It was not anything special when you consider actually acting or writing, but it was definitely entertaining. John C. Reilly really stole this movie. He was the most lovable, and quoteable character. This movie also gets the size of Kong right, which is great. (Probably to give Godzilla an actual challenge in the upcoming crossover movie). It's a great movie about a giant ape, but if you're looking for this movie to blow you away, you'll be dissapointed.… Expand
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8
HerrKapitan9Mar 21, 2017
Kong is the newest entry into this cinematic monster universe that is upon us and for the most part... its pretty entertaining! Sure the movie has its flaws but if you want to go to the theater and have a good time with you well deservedKong is the newest entry into this cinematic monster universe that is upon us and for the most part... its pretty entertaining! Sure the movie has its flaws but if you want to go to the theater and have a good time with you well deserved hotdog popcorn combo its a good choice.

Having that in mind i can tell you Kong Skull Island has a pretty cool visual style and having the setting the actual island is a very good choice that increase its adventure characteristic. They are lots of monsters, and monster fighting monsters or humans, pretty good special effects and a promise for what is to come. The down part is the writing, not much character development (hope that changes in the potential other movies) and in a way i think is overcasted! too many big names and not much time for them to shine, except for John C. Reily, he slays it!!!!

In short, its a fun movie to watch, lots of things to see and enjoy, just don't expect a master piece of cinematography and you'll have a good time :) They will be very interesting things to come in the future of this monster universe… Expand
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5
VeldkampPhilipMar 20, 2017
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie is just a random mashup of scenes and different tones. The editing is incredibly poor and creates a movie that feels like on big trailer. Furthermore the characters are just so bland. Nobody cares about them and they are just there to act as things for monsters to kill. Even the main characters with the exception of Samuel L Jackson's just say the stupidest things. The photographer girl is just there to be pretty and does not contribute to the story in any way. Some instances, characters just speak and it has no impact on anything around them. I remember the photographer just saying some stuff about mass graves at one point which just doesn't make sense and is just inconsequential. Furthermore the guys wearing the blue jackets are just so incredibly stupid and say such stupid stuff until they die in a brutal way. Additionally, nobody reacts in a human-like way when people die. They just look at it with a confused expression and continue. Ultimately, sometimes the movie is sad, then the next scene is a like a rock montage of stuff and the tone just feels like its all over the place. the only reason this is a 5/10 is because the monster scenes look really cool and the final fight between Kong and the Lizard-thing is awesome.… Expand
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3
OscarTurnerMar 22, 2017
Being a big fan of the 2005 King Kong movie, I was scared to be disappointed, but after seeing the second trailer, my hopes got a bit higher, making the movie appear to be artistic, and not just a simple big blockbuster movie. My firstBeing a big fan of the 2005 King Kong movie, I was scared to be disappointed, but after seeing the second trailer, my hopes got a bit higher, making the movie appear to be artistic, and not just a simple big blockbuster movie. My first impressions were right: it is a traditional blockbuster movie, with a thin plot and uncharismatic characters, and yes, I am including Kong in this. The actions scenes were alright but not great, the scenery was okay at best and there's just no attachment for any of the characters here.

This world is filled with monsters and ugly creatures, compared to the more dinosaur world in the 2005 movie. This is fine, although, Kong seems to be more a creature than a giant ape. He walks and acts way too human like, not at all ape-like, and there is no real connection between the humans and this beast. This lack of emotional context, depth and even artistic scenery makes up for a disappointing movie.… Expand
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8
66jdMar 26, 2017
A great movie. The special effects have been brought right up to date.
However, I still find myself preferring Peter Jackson's 2005 version.
I did prefer the ending of this one though.
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10
cupofcassacinoMar 26, 2017
If you enjoy mega monsters and nostalgia, you'll enjoy Kong. I mean, he is King. I was entertained by this movie and went in just beyond excited to see this adaptation. Well done!
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6
FlexedacornApr 20, 2017
The second movie in the Monster movie cinematic universe (Godzilla being the first). Where as Godzilla kept teasing you with brief appearances, Kong was not camera shy in the least. From the very beginning of the movie you get put rightThe second movie in the Monster movie cinematic universe (Godzilla being the first). Where as Godzilla kept teasing you with brief appearances, Kong was not camera shy in the least. From the very beginning of the movie you get put right into the action. The movie takes place right after the Vietnam War and uses a lot of the music from the time period. A little too much music at times, but defiantly helps to set the overall tone.

Kong: Skull Island benefits from the star cast of Tom Hiddleston, Bri Larson, Sam Jackson, and John Goodman to name a few. The best in my opinion is John C. Reilly who really steals every scene he is in with his sense humor. In the end it’s a Giant Monster (Kaiju) movie, so if you like the genre you will not be disappointed.… Expand
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8
holovaaanApr 8, 2017
King Kong was better to watch at cinema in IMAX. I didn't see any other parts so I can't compare but I think that it is good enough. Good special effects and acting, there are some moving and funny moments. Characters are interesting despiteKing Kong was better to watch at cinema in IMAX. I didn't see any other parts so I can't compare but I think that it is good enough. Good special effects and acting, there are some moving and funny moments. Characters are interesting despite of that the film is too short for knowing them. There were a few not logical moments as in other modern action films. Overall I liked this film and my mark is 8/10.… Expand
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4
EduBJun 8, 2017
Movie without identity; From the soundtrack that stays different every time; The script that in the beginning already runs; The characters are played in presentation, the performances are very bad; And even the purpose of the characters areMovie without identity; From the soundtrack that stays different every time; The script that in the beginning already runs; The characters are played in presentation, the performances are very bad; And even the purpose of the characters are without the greatest nexus; The film does not have a certain standard, everything is played there and it's just that; I expected much more from the film; King Kong is only there to say that the movie is his but it is not; Honestly you do not have to make such a movie!… Expand
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9
Mikeymessi10May 1, 2017
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. An exceptional movie I have ever seen, with scenes that will make you be on the edge of your seat,heart racing, jaw dropping. I recommend it for everyone over the age 9… Expand
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3
SimcoastJun 25, 2017
Almost everything went wrong with this movie, but by far the most egregious failing is the casting and acting. Besides John C. Reilly, and maybe Samuel L. Jackson, every actor feels so ridiculously out of place and their performances soAlmost everything went wrong with this movie, but by far the most egregious failing is the casting and acting. Besides John C. Reilly, and maybe Samuel L. Jackson, every actor feels so ridiculously out of place and their performances so wooden and awkward that it is excruciating to watch. Some of the casting decisions and their acting are so astonishingly poor that they arouse deep suspicion in the competence and agenda of the production team.
Besides the aforementioned exceptions, all actors amplified a suspiciously terrible script with their almost comically poor performances, giving off a constant awkwardness that makes you want to end the film halfway through.
About 90% of the characters in the film literally contribute nothing to the film or the story and I question the need to include these characters in the first place.

This is a common theme throughout the movie however, as the editing appears to have been done in a rush, the story and rational frame of this new cinema universe is insultingly silly, and the narrative arc is predictable and derivative.

If it wasn't for the decent overall CGI, the great design and presence of Kong, and the beautiful scenery, this would without doubt be a 0 or a 1.
A true shocker.… Expand
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4
chrisjee1234Jun 25, 2017
Kong is good. The character, I mean. Not the movie. This film tries to be an entertaining monster flick, but forgets to be a good movie in the process.
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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8
Bugger217Sep 12, 2017
The second film in Legendary Pictures' MonsterVerse goes back to the 1970s and trades the classic "beauty killed the beast" story for a more straightforward monster movie plot. And Kong is definitely a monster here. He's still painted in aThe second film in Legendary Pictures' MonsterVerse goes back to the 1970s and trades the classic "beauty killed the beast" story for a more straightforward monster movie plot. And Kong is definitely a monster here. He's still painted in a sympathetic light, but he's not afraid to go absolutely wild while defending his territory. He's also the biggest Kong we've seen in an American production, and he's still growing, with plans for him to face off against Godzilla in 2020.

Skull Island visually calls back to many Vietnam War films. Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts infuses so much style and color into the film. That helps make up for its shortcomings, mainly on the human side of things. A cast including Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, and Samuel L. Jackson goes largely wasted. John C. Reilly is the standout, being the one character with anything close to an arc.

Still, Vogt-Roberts has the right amount of panache, and he keeps things moving at a breezy pace. I rarely ever felt bored, even if I wasn't massively invested in the characters. The first major set piece, where we see Kong battle a bunch of helicopters against a beautiful sunrise, is thrilling to experience and absolutely stunning to behold. The climax delivers an incredibly entertaining monster brawl. There's a ton of cool imagery in the middle.

At the end of the day, there are worse ways you could spend two hours, and from a stylistic perspective, this is better than 90% of Hollywood blockbusters nowadays. It moves quickly and has some truly jaw-dropping moments. I love this interpretation of Kong and can't wait to see him fight everyone's favorite giant lizard in a few years.… Expand
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7
Hurricane16Feb 4, 2018
The visuals and exciting action scenes make up for the lack of character depth
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7
DomgwyDec 20, 2017
Kong: Skull Island is so excited to get going it can’t even wait for the studio logos to get out of the way.

Within the opening few minutes of director Jordan Vogt-Roberts, first blockbuster, we catch the final moments of a World War 2Kong: Skull Island is so excited to get going it can’t even wait for the studio logos to get out of the way.

Within the opening few minutes of director Jordan Vogt-Roberts, first blockbuster, we catch the final moments of a World War 2 dogfight and get our first glimpse of the titular hero.

‘Hero’ is definitely the right word for Kong in this latest version of the well worn tale. Despite some A-list stars in the ensemble human cast, there is no clear lead character to latch onto. Instead everyone has a role to play — Samuel L. Jackson’s military leader, Brie Larson’s ‘anti-war photographer’ and Tom Hiddleson’s ‘tracker’ (although the later’s role seems to mainly be reduced to posing heroically in a impractical baby gap t-shirt) all serve a purpose and propel the plot along until our next encounter with the inhabitants of the legendary Skull Island.

The real ‘characters’ in the film are the creatures, and they are by no means in short supply. Vogt-Roberts and ILM do a great job of making Skull Island feel alive and dangerous, literally anything could end up being a monster and there are plenty of varied sequences of horror and action, the film going to great lengths to keep delivering on the monsters without getting repetitive.

In the age of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures are attempting to create there own ‘Monsterverse’. Kong: Skull Island is the second entry into this latest interconnected franchise, following Gareth Edward’s (underrated) Godzilla in 2014. The vast majority of the wider connections are left to John Goodman’s Randa and Cory Hawkin’s Brooks to explain. As employees of the ‘monster hunter’ organisation Monarch these two serve as the expository ‘mad scientists’ essential for any monster movie. Some references to this growing cinematic world are subtle, some not so much, but they never get in the way of the movie itself. So far, Kong: Skull Island and Godzilla serve as a great example of how two movies can be polar opposites in terms of tone and style yet share enough connective tissue to exist within the same universe. Warner Brothers could definitely learn a thing or two from this approach with their DC comics films. Allowing directors to create their own movies within a ‘shared universe’ will add variety and breath of appeal to a franchise. You can make a dark, serious Batman film (i.e. Godzilla) and a light, fun, action heavy Superman movie (i.e. Kong: Skull Island) and still have them be connected in a meaningful way.

Once the universe building on the mainland is out of the way the vast majority of Kong: Skull Island is spent moving from one action set piece to another. While the film is light on plot the addition of John C. Riley as veteran Hank Marlow and the relentlessly likable cast keep things moving at a brisk pace as the ragtag group of characters attempt to escape the island and it’s inhabitants.

Another stroke of genius from the filmmakers is the Vietnam-war era setting, bringing a sense of colour and a great jukebox soundtrack to film that is built to be an assault on your senses.

While the 1970's setting does allow for an explanation of sorts as to how the island has remained undiscovered, it also means we get an some less than subtle political analogies. The war mongering Colonel Packard (Samuel L. Jackson) becomes hell bent on killing Kong after the team’s initial encounter, insisting that ‘This is one war we’re not going to lose’. Of course, as our the moral centers of the film, Hiddleson, Larson and Riley’s characters band together to defend Kong, insisting that ‘he was just defending his territory’ (a little bit like the Viet-Cong who successfully devastated the invading U.S. forces during Parkard’s last deployment).

Although you can read some subtext into Kong: Skull Island that is by no means what it is intended for. The film is big, dumb, fun, pure and simple, balancing a light tone, brutal action and likable, if a little one-dimensional characters to create a great ‘popcorn’ movie. If Legendary and Warner Brothers keep this up, they could have found their own formula for the next successful shared movie universe.

Which only leaves one big question…when the inevitable clash of titans comes, who’s side are you on? Kong or Godzilla?… Expand
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7
dijavantewowMar 13, 2017
It is a visually beautiful movie, and there are some great moments of comic relief, but the best part is the Kong himself is ever-present. This may seem obvious, but Godzilla proved, to our detriment, that the monster doesn't apparently needIt is a visually beautiful movie, and there are some great moments of comic relief, but the best part is the Kong himself is ever-present. This may seem obvious, but Godzilla proved, to our detriment, that the monster doesn't apparently need to be in the movie much to make the movie (although not good). Not a perfect movie by any stretch, but overall solid, fun to watch, and a great way to bring King Kong back.… Expand
4 of 7 users found this helpful43
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8
NotoriousFraudMar 10, 2017
I'd be lying if i said i haven't been looking forward to seeing this movie since it was announced. I remember seeing the Peter Jackson movie in theaters nearly 12 years ago and the movie blew my young mind. Now, director Jordan Vogt-RobertsI'd be lying if i said i haven't been looking forward to seeing this movie since it was announced. I remember seeing the Peter Jackson movie in theaters nearly 12 years ago and the movie blew my young mind. Now, director Jordan Vogt-Roberts (Kings of Summer) not only must reboot the titular ape, but also set up future films in the "Monsterverse". As a long time Kong-fan and amateur critic, i can say that he has succeeded. 'Kong: Skull Island' is the first great blockbuster of 2017, with a loaded cast and spectacular effects, 'Kong' also does what 2014's 'Godzilla' failed to do.… Expand
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8
johnem95Mar 11, 2017
Despite getting off to a somewhat shaky start and featuring an overabundance of characters, 'Kong: Skull Island' delivers as a fun, fast-paced popcorn-muncher with colorful visuals and exciting action.
4 of 7 users found this helpful43
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7
MaverickneoMar 15, 2017
Lets face it, you are going to see this movie to see King Kong kick some serious butt. This movie wastes ZERO time putting King Kong on the screen and having him do just that. Sure most of the characters are Kong fodder but hey, thats whatLets face it, you are going to see this movie to see King Kong kick some serious butt. This movie wastes ZERO time putting King Kong on the screen and having him do just that. Sure most of the characters are Kong fodder but hey, thats what they are there for. The movie is very entertaining if you love monster movies. This movie was lots of fun and best of all...Wait until the credits are over. :)… Expand
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8
Agent314Mar 10, 2017
At times muddled and a bit awkward, K:SI truly shines when it matters. Some, but not all, the characters are a bit thin; however, this isn't a character driven drama. It's a MONSTER MOVIE! And let me tell, boy does it have monsters. AndAt times muddled and a bit awkward, K:SI truly shines when it matters. Some, but not all, the characters are a bit thin; however, this isn't a character driven drama. It's a MONSTER MOVIE! And let me tell, boy does it have monsters. And when they fight you'd better hold on to your popcorn. This is why the film succeeds. Of course, the brilliant visuals and surprisingly good cinematography don't hurt. The true stand-out is certainly Kong himself. Both pensive and angry, he is oft times bewildered by the human cast and royally pissed off by them. But he is Lord Protector of Skull Island, and there's a lot more for him to be concerned with than human mosquitoes.

Expect to laugh. Expect to cheer, and be prepared to be amazed. But most of all, expect to have fun.… Expand
7 of 13 users found this helpful76
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9
Joshua123Mar 10, 2017
If you've come to expect King Kong fighting dinosaurs like in the original, or Peter Jackson's reboot, you'll probably walk out a bit disappointed. However, if you can enjoy the movie for what it is; a goofy yet fun and action packed monsterIf you've come to expect King Kong fighting dinosaurs like in the original, or Peter Jackson's reboot, you'll probably walk out a bit disappointed. However, if you can enjoy the movie for what it is; a goofy yet fun and action packed monster movie, then you'll DEFINITELY enjoy KONG: Skull Island.… Expand
6 of 12 users found this helpful66
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7
PimpinpakmanMar 11, 2017
The action was actually very well done. I haven't seen monster movies where they were able to show great detail into the destruction a giant king kong would be able to do or fight another big monster like creature. This is what i expectedThe action was actually very well done. I haven't seen monster movies where they were able to show great detail into the destruction a giant king kong would be able to do or fight another big monster like creature. This is what i expected Godzilla to be like. So i actually highly recommend a watch, preferably not in 3D.… Expand
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6
tibzoidApr 8, 2017
Conventional, uninteresting, basic genre picture. People have forgotten how good movies used to be. Ignore this film and rent Peter Jackson's version or even the 1978 De Laurentiis film.
3 of 6 users found this helpful33
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7
imthenoobMar 22, 2017
The plot is kind of typical and predictable but the beauty of the film lies in the CG and the entertaining fights with Kong and his fellow monsters. That's the whole point of big monster films - To see big monsters fight. Don't water it downThe plot is kind of typical and predictable but the beauty of the film lies in the CG and the entertaining fights with Kong and his fellow monsters. That's the whole point of big monster films - To see big monsters fight. Don't water it down with a shallow plot and rarely feature the key character (much like they did with the new Godzilla). From the start, Kong is a front and center character and is given plenty of screen time through out.

It's a solid film and I can't wait for Godzilla vs Kong.… Expand
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6
Jack97Mar 16, 2017
You go to a King Kong movie for the spectacle of Kong himself, and when the ape shows up in Kong: Skull Island it's a sight to behold. The CGI is well realized and when he throws down with these skull crawlers it is VERY fun! The climaxYou go to a King Kong movie for the spectacle of Kong himself, and when the ape shows up in Kong: Skull Island it's a sight to behold. The CGI is well realized and when he throws down with these skull crawlers it is VERY fun! The climax especially was amazing big screen eye candy. The human characters are bland and uninterestiing, which is more of a bummer considering the cast assembled, but if you just want to see Kong in all of his glory then you'll be satisfied with Kong: Skull Island. Good escapist blockbuster entertainment.… Expand
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9
Dirk2112Mar 10, 2017
This film is just short of a pitch perfect pulp kaiju adventure. Has a few comparatively minor issues but see it. See it immediately if you know what the words "pulp kaiju adventure" mean.
3 of 6 users found this helpful33
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7
Truth_of_PiscesMar 26, 2017
When I found it this was a prequel to 2014's Godzilla, I was super excited. This movie does an excellent job of expanding the universe they're trying to set up. Visually it's pretty damn impressive. Kong himself looks just as should for whatWhen I found it this was a prequel to 2014's Godzilla, I was super excited. This movie does an excellent job of expanding the universe they're trying to set up. Visually it's pretty damn impressive. Kong himself looks just as should for what they're trying to make him out to be. He's not just a giant silver back gorilla like Perter Jackson envisioned, he's a giant up-right walking ape that knows how to do some serous damage, and it's just an awesome display. A lot of the other monsters are beautifully presented, with the exception of the movie's "Skull Crawlers" which just fell a little flat for me in terms of design. The actors do a really great job, but they feel sort of wasted, as if they cast simply because their names would draw in viewers and not based on their acting talent, but this is just a personal gripe; Tom Hiddleston is charming as ever on screen, John Goodman performs as good as expected, and Samuel J. Jackson...well you don't need me to comment on a performance from SLJ. Overall, Kong: Skull Island is a much more "fun" film than Godzilla. You get to see a lot more of the title character than in the latter film which is a plus. However, the film's main problem is tone; it's a bit all over the place being tense one minute minute followed by camp and comedic the next. Still, it's a great build-up and if you stick around for the end credits, you'll see why.… Expand
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9
TVJerryMar 14, 2017
This is a complete revision of the King Kong tale. A group of scientists (and their military escorts) goes on an expedition to a mysterious island, where they discover quite a few large, dangerous creatures. It's less about a raging monsterThis is a complete revision of the King Kong tale. A group of scientists (and their military escorts) goes on an expedition to a mysterious island, where they discover quite a few large, dangerous creatures. It's less about a raging monster and more about an action-packed adventure. The creatures create a formidable presence and the encounters are full of creative ways to kill. Toss is John C. Reilly for some sweet humor, stunning locations and beautiful cinematography. Combine them with assured filmmaking from 2nd time director Jordan Vogt-Roberts ("The Kings of Summer") and the result is pure popcorn fun! NOTE: Stay thru the credits for a promising preview.… Expand
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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7
TheQuietGamerAug 5, 2017
Kong's return to the big-screen is action-packed and exciting. If you ever wanted to watch the big ape just go around smashing the crap out of everything then this is for you. Everything is brought to life with gorgeous visuals. The movie isKong's return to the big-screen is action-packed and exciting. If you ever wanted to watch the big ape just go around smashing the crap out of everything then this is for you. Everything is brought to life with gorgeous visuals. The movie is bright, colorful, and brought to life with an amusing sense of style and flair. Watching all of the monster carnage is a blast. Unfortunately there's some other stuff going on in the background that isn't so great. The movie suffers whenever Kong isn't onscreen.

The majority of our main human heroes aren't very interesting. Our leads are particularly dull. What cool characters there are end up getting killed off before the credits roll so we're stuck with the lame ones at the end of the movie. Fun is something that is emphasized constantly throughout. Expect plenty of humorous dialog and goofy moments. Every now and then it's taken way too far though. To the point where it's tongue-in-cheek moments end up making the whole thing just feel super corny, and not in a good way. This leads to some bad dialog and moments of just bad acting from talented people. The set up proves to be an interesting take on the original story though.

The action and spectacle are really what carries you through the movie. It's jaw droppingly gorgeous and these are the Kong fights we've been wanting to see for years. There are so many other cool creatures other than Kong onscreen as well. It allows for plenty of imaginative moments of man vs unknown monster. It doesn't pull it's punches either. It's a surprisingly brutal movie as well. There are also plenty of explosions and moments of destruction too. All of this is usually accompanied by a pretty great soundtrack.

In closing, I'm saying that the movie gets it's depiction of Kong right and provides plenty of exciting and memorable moments. It just struggles with it's tone, writing, and characters. All of that stuff is pretty weak. It still doesn't do much to hinder my excitement for the future of Kong movies. Especially since that after-credits scene told that his world is about to get a lot bigger. It just means you've got some disappointing stuff to sit through in order to get to the truly great stuff. It's worth putting up with though.… Expand
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8
HeaviermetalMar 11, 2017
Good movie overall. Feels a bit too flat at times, and could have used more of what made the trailer so exciting throughout the movie. The cinematography and VFX were incredible.
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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7
VDSJul 7, 2017
I liked the 1933 King Kong, and the silly 1976 version, but not so much the pompous Peter Jackson affair. And if you happen to be reading this PJ, King Kong isn’t giant gorilla, he’s a King Kong, a thing in his own right – ok, natural historyI liked the 1933 King Kong, and the silly 1976 version, but not so much the pompous Peter Jackson affair. And if you happen to be reading this PJ, King Kong isn’t giant gorilla, he’s a King Kong, a thing in his own right – ok, natural history lesson over. Where does this version sit? Well, lower than ’33 and ’76, but way ahead of the 2005 CGI-fest from New Zealand.

I straightaway liked this version of Kong (the creature). He’s a standy-up beastie, and therefore towered over the puny humans. Something he was always meant to do. But the said puny humans themselves weren’t that great, acting/characterisation wise.

Larson – forgettable. Hiddleston – cardboard. Jackson posting in the same character he’s played since Pulp Fiction. Rilley and Goodman helped to save the day, but the latter was written out way too soon and in a rather heavy-handed manor. Kong was king of the film, and quite rightly so. But a bunch of pixels still weren’t in the same league as the ’33 stop-start motion monkey.

Having said that, I liked the ending. It was refreshing to have a Kong film end without his highness being splattered all over the New York sidewalk. There was a nice post credit scene setting up a Kong/Godzilla grudge match. And did anyone else catch John C Rilley explaining how that will work (Godzilla’s x 3 bigger than Kong, apparently)?… Expand
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mrmonsterAug 9, 2017
Definitely one of the most fun movies of the year. Not the best acted or best written, but a very fun movie, enjoyable movie to watch. I'd highly recommend it for any man of monsters.
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7
SpangleApr 5, 2017
Dear Billy,

Kong: Skull Island, directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, is his chance at a Vietnam War. In his sophomore feature, Vogt-Roberts seems to have some self-recognition that he will never get to direct a Vietnam War film. This is not aDear Billy,

Kong: Skull Island, directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, is his chance at a Vietnam War. In his sophomore feature, Vogt-Roberts seems to have some self-recognition that he will never get to direct a Vietnam War film. This is not a shot at him, as he is certainly a promising young director with both this and his debut Kings of Summer standing as solid starts that show he is capable of handling both small intimate films and huge films of epic proportions. While neither are particularly great, they are both capable films nonetheless. In this film, he takes his chance to add as much Vietnam imagery as possible by setting the film in 1973 and also tossing in some Cold War paranoia for good measure in this story of a group of people wandering the jungles on a mission, encountering a remote tribe, and facing a being that the tribe sees as a god. Did Francis Ford Coppola not make this film, sans the big monkey, in 1979?

Wearing this Apocalypse Now influence on its sleeve, Vogt-Roberts shows a love of both gratuitous shots of helicopters flying into the island or of the smell of napalm in the morning when Preston Packard (Samuel L. Jackson) tries to dump napalm on Kong. Yet, as with all Kong films, it must run through the beats of the story. Fortunately, Vogt-Roberts improves upon Peter Jackson's recent rendition. By chopping off an hour, the film is not so dreadfully long, which is really a major benefit. Give me the dinosaurs, but not for too long. Give me some backstory, but not extended scenes in a boat and trying to get funding for the trip. This latest edition streamlines it, yet still has the time to get into very compelling mythology regarding Skull Island and the nature of Kong as well as the other beasts that call Skull Island home. Additionally, some of the more unsavory elements of Jackson's films included its depiction of the natives of Skull Island. Depicting them as horrible savages out to kill white people, Jackson's film indulges in nasty stereotypes that create a truly captivating opening scene in that film, but that hardly justifies the racism. With Skull Island, Vogt-Roberts dispatches of this nastiness and instead has a smart and respected tribe in the center of Skull Island. Playing host to WWII veteran Hank Marlow (John C. Reilly) for 28 years, these are no savages and Vogt-Roberts never pretends they are. Instead, the tribe is given its due respect throughout the film. This latest film also ditches the racist undertones of past Kong films. From the original to various remakes, critics have shown the parallel between King Kong being an ape (as black people have often been derogatorily been referred to as "monkeys") and the white/blonde damsel in distress that he clutches in his hand. To critics, it has been a parallel between the perceived assault on the white race by black America. Now, whether or not you buy that or not, I did once have a film professor who claimed that it was why no studio could have an American direct King Kong again, as that parallel had been made. She was not entirely wrong, even if Vogt-Roberts is American as Brie Larson is never a damsel in distress or screeching in his paw, which Naomi Watts did often in 2005. Instead, he holds her once and it is to save her. By then, she had already established that he was not an enemy and was passed out anyways, so no concerns there from her. Of all of its updates, ditching the possible racist undertones is certainly a major plus, regardless of whether you buy into that angle or not.

However, Vogt-Roberts' influences also come via the heavily 70s soundtrack, references, and the political situation at the time. Fortunately, it does actually have a lot to do with the plot. As the Cold War is burning brightly and the Americans are coming off a loss in Vietnam, the whole country needs a win. This mission to Skull Island is that win. Finding new species' or a new island would re-establish America as the top dog in the world and, as such, is a major effort even if it takes some convincing. Yet, what the film does very well with its 1970s post-Vietnam setting is to show the men trying to regroup and go back to war, even if it is a different kind of war. The men are resistant and constantly thinking home. From writing letters, discussing home, or making references to what they will do once they get there, the men form a common bond of trying to make the best of the situation. Yet, on the flip side men such as Packard or James Conrad (Tom Hiddleston) need this war. Even photographer Mason Weaver (Brie Larson) needs the war, though she is anti-war. The three of them have nothing left to do after the end of the Vietnam War and the Skull Island job represents another opportunity to feel useful in the world at a time when opportunities were scarce.… Expand
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7
Iky009Apr 18, 2017
With great visual effects and catchy action scenes, Kong manages to entertain, but his disappointingly weak premise discourages those looking for a story to the height of the film's most famous giant gorilla, but it's still a fun movie.
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