Produced by the same team who brought us Godzilla (2014), Kong: Skull Island is an interesting retelling of the Kong story that brings the iconic monster into a more contemporary setting. Set during the end of the Vietnam war, alternative researchers Bill Randa (John Goodman) and Houston Brooks (Corey Hawkins) petition the government to fund an expedition to an uncharted island, which they believe contains a secret, primeval ecosystem, never seen by man. To get there, they are granted a military escort, headed by Colonel Preston Packard (Samuel L. Jackson). Together with a skilled tracker (Tom Hiddleston) and an outspoken political photojournalist (Brie Larson), they all set off into the mysterious unknown. Upon their arrival, the group are faced with the dangerous wildlife of Skull Island (not including Kong himself) as well as Hank Marlow (John C. Reilly), who has befriended the natives since being stranded on the island since World War II. While fighting to survive the destruction of Kong, the team desperately try to reach their arriving rescue team, and escape the dangers of Skull Island.
The thing I like most about Kong: Skull Island is how modern the story feels. Even though it is set in the 1970s, this take on the story feels fresh in a way that Peter Jackson's version didn't. There is no mention of New York City here, and many of the other typical Kong tropes are absent. The film doesn't completely abandon all reference to its origins, however. There are still a few subtle and not-so-subtle nods to the source material, which I thought were smartly used. While we're on the subject of theming, this film borrows as much from classic Vietnam movies as much as it does the Kong franchise. There are many notes from films like Apocalypse Now and Rambo, though but not so many that the movie feels derivative.
I also appreciate the way Skull Island gives the monsters plenty of room to play. This is a huge contrast with 2014's Godzilla, which did a reasonably good job, but spent too much time with the dull human characters narrating the big monster action fans had paid to see. The visuals of the film are top notch, with some very creative and memorable creature designs.
My only complaint about the cast is it was perhaps a little too large for everyone to get equal screen time. There were a few characters I would have liked to see more of, but the various plot threads only allowed for a certain amount of storytelling. For instance, while Tom Hiddleston may have top billing, I found his character ultimately forgettable. Of the other players involved, I particularly enjoyed Samuel L. Jackson's intense performance as Col. Packard. Being a career military man, Packard has no problem with a new assignment, and decides to start his own personal war with Kong, which results in nothing but trouble for everyone else. John Goodman is also excellent as Bill Randa, a man who knows for a fact monsters are real, and is eventually proven right. My praises of the cast wouldn't be complete without the mention of John C. Reilly. His performance as the grizzled, slightly crazed Hank Marlow steals the show, and is one of the most memorable of the whole movie.
Kong: Skull Island breathes some new life into the old bones of the Kong franchise, and is a great modern interpretation of a classic story.
*There is a small post-credits scene which hints at some possible future films, so make sure to stick around after the show!
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