High on rampaging action, low on plot.

Rating: 8/10 (10 March 2017)

Largely eschewing the solemnity and symbolism that is often attached to the story of King Kong, this cinematic reincarnation focuses on delivering good ol' popcorn entertainment and very little else. Transplanting Kong into the sun-drenched Vietnam War era is the first step towards lightening the mood, with a cracking 70s soundtrack, playful Apocalypse Now references and vibrant cinematography all amplifying the fun factor. But lets face it, this more action-adventure-ish take on Kong is all about its set pieces. Luckily, they range from very good to downright amazing, with top-notch CGI throughout. The final showdown between skyscraper-sized ancient beasts is a suitably epic climax, although the standout is an explosive and exhilarating introduction (excluding a sneak peek in the pre-credits scene) to the eponymous gorilla. The sheer scale of Kong is showcased in glorious moments throughout this sequence, director Jordan Vogt-Roberts combining slow motion, a rumbling sound design and tricky one-shot takes to immerse and elate. Action aside, there's a nice streak of casual humour to offset the death and destruction, and the noteworthy cast—Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Toby Kebbell, John C. Reilly—ham it up in the best way possible. To the movie's detriment, however, is a script that is fundamentally lazy, only providing enough background info on characters so we ostensibly care whether they live or die, yet without following through on majority of subplots. This lack of depth results in some of the 'emotional' moments either falling awkwardly flat or providing unintentional comic relief. Not as narratively rich as previous King Kong films, but certainly more exciting and visually pleasing, Kong: Skull Island is an exuberant and action-packed blockbuster that rightfully doesn't take itself too seriously.