Funnest movie of the year

Rating: 7/10 (24 March 2020)

Following the conclusion of the Vietnam War, Kong: Skull Island follows a team of scientists and soldiers as they explore an uncharted island in the Pacific Ocean, only to discover that they have stumbled across an island filled with monsters, weather storms, and other dangers. Washed up monster hunters Bill Randa (John Goodman) and Houston Brooks (Corey Hawkins) assemble a team consisting of former Captain James Conrad (Tom Hiddleston) to guide the expedition; a group of soldiers under the command of Colonel Preston Packard (Samuel L. Jackson) ; and the awarded journalist and photographer Mason Weaver (Brie Larson). The group becomes separated as their helicopters are destroyed by a massive ape they later learn to call "Kong", and as they are separated each group is forced to survive against a myriad of other equally terrifying and exotic beasts.
As you can already tell this film is stuffed with award winning, big name actors. Tom Hiddleston stars as the movie's lead: James Conrad, the man leading the party on Skull Island. Sam L. Jackson plays a hell bent war general who wants nothing more than to kill Kong, even if it means his men not making it to the pick up zone on time. Brie Larson and John Goodman both do a good job porting their characters, and do the best with what the are given, but are evident left with shallow characters. One of the most surprising actors in the film was John C. Reilly, who shows up roughly halfway through the film as an old American pilot who crashed here during WW2. While all of these actors did exceptionally well, the real show stealers were the troops. Although they didn't have as many moments or lines as the others, I always enjoyed the film most when they were on screen. Their performances were really convincing on showing how close you grow with your brothers wile stationed together during wars, and how brutal it can be to watched them killed.
Probably the most entertaining part of the film, is how Vogt-Roberts nails the monsters. The level of scale, fear, imagination and action he is almost constantly delivering is impeccable. The fights with Kong are always shot in a wide, sweeping shot that turns around him and holds on for long. Those are absolutely incredible, they are sophisticated, beautiful shots to which sounds adds a real savage nature and together bring a real enthusiasm for the audience to the fights. Moreover, the various other monsters from the island are all interesting creatures and all feel part of the island.
Furthermore, Vogt-Roberts shows off quite a drive in his first act. The journey to the island is riveting and build with constantly good editing and witty cinematography choices that always keep us oriented in what's going on. The full blown action sequences are amazing, really absolutely stunning. He places the camera in the most interesting places and it throws us into the world and the size of Kong. The score is dead on with every scene and never felt out of place, which is a very easy problem to notice in a lot of recent films. The cinematography is some of my favorite, where loud actions scenes would suddenly be cut quiet and replaced with nothing but the sound of a gun reloading. While this movie wasn't up for any oscars, I think it easily could've won sound mixing and/or editing. While the movie is hits a slow patch part way through the second act, but is quickly resurrected at the end as the movie reaches its climax.
Kong: Skull Island sticks out from the other Kong movies. I see it as less of a Kong movie and more so a King Kong meets Jurassic Park meets Saving Private Ryan film. I don't think I have ever left a theater so pleasantly surprised by a movie. Arguably the most underrated film of 2017, I am giving Kong: Skull Island a 7.5/10.