Kong's Last Roar

Rating: 5/10 (13 March 2017)

How many times can they really do King Kong? King Kong 76'? OK. King Kong 05' with Peter Jackson? I can dig that. Kong: Skull Island is pushing it. This might be the flimsiest King Kong film to date. It reinvents nothing. Sure, there isn't a blonde woman being kidnapped, and sure there isn't a scene where Kong climes up a skyscraper.. but not relying on the tropes of the series doesn't excuse the unimaginative storyline here. It's aesthetic is a Vietnam war film. CCR blasts the soundtrack. You know where this is going. The characters are wooden. The only thing they've got going for them is their star power. John Goodman does a good job as always. John C. Reilly is a treat to see. However, Samuel L. Jackson is Samuel L. Jackson.. again. Also, the jumps scares.. why? Why is Hollywood still relying on jump scares in the horror/sci-fy genre? I'm sick of it. The sound dies down and BOOM a creature pops out. This happens a dozen times here. Enough. The effects in Kong are as good as they should be, but it's certainly not a standout. The new Planet of the Apes series is truly wowing with realistic looking apes. This film could've learned a thing or two. Also, just in case you're wondering about what I think of the post-credits surprise.. here's my answer: Sorry, Warner Bros. I'm not interested.