Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire review: This monster mash is what IMAX screens were made for

Ridiculously entertaining, this latest entry in Legendary’s Monsterverse is a popcorn crowd pleaser that unites Godzilla and Kong against a slew of ancient enemies. A breathless fantasy that channels the cheerful lunacy of Shōwa era Godzilla, via Hanna-Barbera and Edgar Rice Burroughs, it’s positively Kongkers!

Set three years after their epic showdown with Mechagodzilla (Godzilla Vs Kong), our titular titans enjoy an uneasy truce, engineered by Monarch. Godzilla maintains order on the surface world, where he treats the Colosseum in Rome like a huge cat basket between city-flattening bouts, while Kong has been relocated inside the Hollow Earth, where he’s been promised distant relatives live.

Godzilla maintains order on the surface world, where he treats the Colosseum in Rome like a huge cat basket in between bouts…

When we first see him, he’s an unhappy ape, bothered by both local predators and a throbbing toothache. If you’ve ever wanted to witness monster dentistry, you’re in the right place. 

This uneasy status quo is rocked by a mysterious signal. Monster prof Ilene Andrews recruits kaiju podcaster Bernie Hayes, and sets off to uncover the source emanating from a subterranean world ruled by an altogether less charismatic simian, the Skar King. Godzilla has much the same idea, getting juiced till he turns pink in the process.

The result is a retina-searing romp that demands to be seen on the largest premium screen possible. Director Adam Wingard helms with admirable chutzpah, and the score by Tom Holkenborg is fittingly bombastic. The visual effects work is jaw-dropping stuff.

Rebecca Hall, Kaylee Hottle and Brian Tyree Henry reprise their roles from Godzilla vs. Kong, providing expository dialogue and word balloons for the real stars of the show, with additional help provided by Dan Stevens, Alex Ferns and Fala Chen.  

The action sequences are consistently inventive, a terrific job by director of photography Ben Seresin and production designer Tom Hammock.

The relentless chaos is extremely well choreographed, and never gets boring.

The movie was lensed by Seresin in IMAX 1.90:1 aspect ratio, the first Monsterverse outing to be shot exclusively for the format, and looks stupendous. 

We rate Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire as a fearsomely frenetic, family-friendly film, albeit one with a high volume soundtrack which may disturb younger viewers.

Godzilla x Kong = London

To celebrate the film’s release, a larger-than-life promotional stunt was executed on London’s South Bank.

Godzilla’s pulsating pink spikes, could be seen poking up from the river Thames, while Kong’s giant hand, crushed an iconic London red phone box. Created with admirable detail and interactive lighting, these sculptures brought the magic of the Monsterverse to life in spectacular fashion.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is directed by Adam Wingard, and stars Rebecca Hall, Kaylee Hottle, Brian Tyree Henry and Dan Stevens. Rated 12A, 115 minutes.