Godzilla and Kong in a scene from "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire." (Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.)
It's Easter weekend, and for South Florida cinephiles, it's the calm before the storm. This resting place is the perfect time to catch up with big-scale studio offerings before plunging into festival frenzy. That's right: the Miami Film Festival sprang forward from its traditional March berth to its current dates of April 5-14, meaning it will be unspooling back to back with the Miami edition of OUTshine (April 18-28).
The ripple effects of the date change remain to be seen. Will it benefit both events, or will one festival rise to the surface while the other sinks? The “different audiences” line of defense holds little weight to those of us who would like to keep attending both events and may now have to make some difficult choices.
Dan Stevens as Trapper, Rebecca Hall as Dr. Ilene Andrews and Kaylee Hottle as Jia in a scene from "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire." (Photo credit: Dan McFadden. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.)
But let's cross that bridge when we get to it. Before us we have two big-budget tentpoles that sell nostalgia while trying to rope in a younger generation. One is a supernatural blend of laughs and chills that returns its franchise to its original urban setting. The other throws together its jumbo-sized walking allegories to see if they can work together instead of surrendering to their alpha-male instincts to beat each other to a pulp.
Which franchise comes out on top? It's not even close. Let's take a look.
“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire”: King Kong has a toothache, and his pain doesn't stop there. This muscular chapter in the Universal MonsterVerse saga begins with a wordless sequence that follows the big ape's daily routine on Hollow Earth, the hidden realm beneath our planet's surface where we last saw him three years ago. He can hold his own in these harsh, Darwinian surroundings, but fending off other predators underlines the sense that he doesn't belong there. Even more so, it drives home the engulfing loneliness for someone who's under the impression that he's the last of his kind.
But “New Empire” doesn't dwell too much on existential angst. Director Adam Wingard, who also helmed its predecessor, “Godzilla vs. Kong,” wants to show you a good time, and he has crafted an eye-popping thrill ride that not only delivers the slam-bang goods but restores a sense of awe and wonder to these monster mashes.
Rebecca Hall as Dr. Ilene Andrews and Brian Tyree Henry as Bernie Hayes in a scene from "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire." (Photo credit: Dan McFadden. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.)
I was initially miffed when humans entered the picture since the prospect of a Godzilla/King Kong crossover told entirely from the creatures' point of view felt like a very enticing proposition. But even with the homo sapiens characters, “New Empire” shows a marked improvement over the 2021 film, itself a serviceable genre entry that didn't reinvent the wheel but didn't require viewers to have an encyclopedic knowledge of the lore to enjoy themselves.
Dr. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall), now sporting a new shorter-haired look, is struggling to connect with Jia (Kaylee Hottle), the last surviving member of the Iwi tribe who called Skull Island (Kong's old abode) home before it was destroyed. Ilene has since adopted the girl, who is beset by nightmarish visions that prevent her from getting through a day at school without freaking out her classmates.
Ilene is concerned about her adoptive daughter's well-being. As the head of Kong research at Monarch, the covert organization monitoring these giant creatures, called Titans, she is also concerned about an unidentified signal that may point to trouble down below, which likely means it will spill over to the planet's surface. She seeks out conspiracy theory podcaster Bernie Hayes (Brian Tyree Henry, back for more) to help decipher the meaning behind the signal.
Godzilla in a scene from "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire." (Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Poctures.)
To deal with Kong's infected chomper, Ilene brings in Trapper (Dan Stevens), a veterinarian who knows his giant monsters. With his red Hawaiian shirt, laid-back demeanor and holistic approach to adversity, Trapper ends up being the shot in the arm the movie needs, turning what could have been a listless globetrotting adventure into a freewheeling spectacle. Stevens, who previously worked with Wingard as the titular ticking time bomb in the violent thriller/slasher film “The Guest,” is clearly having a ball playing the groovy doc. You'll want what he's having. No bad vibes allowed.
But Trapper, and Stevens' irresistible star turn, are only the tip of the iceberg. Wingard, working from a screenplay credited to Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett and Jeremy Slater, has a couple of secrets up his sleeve, and a big part of what makes “New Empire” such a treat is the way it keeps expanding on its mythology. Each revelation made this movie nerd beam.
The most satisfying new additions to the MonsterVerse's cast of big critters are two big primates. Suko, a reddish-furred juvenile who crosses paths with Kong, perhaps has the most satisfying arc, though he's initially such a backstabbing jerk, part of me didn't want him to change his wicked ways. Then there's the Skar King, an older ape who is so deliciously cunning and evil, he is literally a slave driver. (It's clear Wingard knows his Indiana Jones movies.) This is the villain I was looking for.
Carrie Coon as Callie Spengler, Finn Wolfhard as Trevor Spengler, Paul Rudd as Gary Grooberson, Annie Potts as Janine, Mckenna Grace as Phoebe Spengler, Logan Kim as Podcast, Dan Aykroyd as Ray Stantz, James Acaster as Lars and Celeste O'Connor as Lucky in a scene from "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire." (Photo by Jaap Buitendijk./Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.)
This is not to diminish the growth that Kong shows here. The iconic simian, often depicted as a destructive force of nature, shows newfound resolve, even leadership skills, in “New Empire.” The same cannot be said of his scaly adversary-turned-reluctant-collaborator, and if there's something that this film skimps on, it's Godzilla. Wingard and his creative team are juggling so many elements that the giant lizard is too often reduced to a plot device. Coming months after Japan's Oscar-winning “Godzilla Minus One,” the relative short shrift that the apex predator is given here is all the more glaring, even though the city-leveling butt-kicking remains a thrill to experience under Wingard's assured stewardship. He is capably backed up by the retro sounds of Antonio Di Iorio and Tom Holkenborg's score, which alternates between '80s-throwback synthesizers and rousing orchestral swells.
There are nits to be picked with “New Empire.” In addition to the reduced Godzilla presence, the movie tries to cover too many bases, with arguably enough content for two jam-packed extravaganzas. But when the results are this exhilarating, the vastness of its scope so richly rendered, that's hardly a dealbreaker. Wingard, whose past horror work often had a mean streak, has crafted a nifty demolition derby with a big, pulsating heart. Much like the touchy-feely Trapper, it's a hugger. Also, an absolute blast.
“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire”: There's a chill in the air in this latest installment of the paranormal problem solvers, and it's coming from the ghosts of better supernatural action comedies. Unremarkable but not unwatchable, the fifth entry in the franchise started forty years ago by director Ivan Reitman and stars/co-screenwriters Dan Aykroyd and the late Harold Ramis attempts to integrate more horror elements than usual in its mix of forced self-referential laughs and deep dive into the Occult.
Finn Wolfhard as Trevor Spengler, Celeste O'Connor as Lucky, Paul Rudd as Gary Grooberson, Kumail Nanjiani as Nadeem Razmaadi, Logan Kim as Podcast and Carrie Coon as Callie Spengler in a scene from "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire." (Photo by Jaap Buitendijk./Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.)
Its prologue, chronicling New York society's brush with a demonic spirit circa 1904, suggests a more ambitious undertaking that will treat its otherwordly threat seriously. But before there's a discernible payoff to the period-piece trappings, the movie jumps forward to present day, with the kind of chase scene that an old studio hand like Richard Donner could have brought vividly to life. It's safe to say British filmmaker Gil Kenan (“Monster House”) is no Richard Donner.
“Frozen Empire” is set two years after the events in “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” and like the 2021 legacy sequel, it favors its new characters over the old guard, even if the latter's involvement has been punched up. Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon), the daughter of OG Ghostbuster Dr. Egon Spengler (Ramis), has moved to New York City with her children, Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) and Trevor (“Stranger Things'” Finn Wolfhard), and her boyfriend, seismologist Gary Grooberson (the eternally youthful Paul Rudd).
The quartet's rather messy and destructive apparition-trapping efforts have caught the attention of New York Mayor Walter Peck (William Atherton, picking up a paycheck), the slimy civil servant first seen in the 1984 film. Phoebe, who is 15, is still a minor, so Callie reluctantly benches her from busting ghosts before Peck can make his move and put them out of business.
The Spenglers and Gary have moved into the old firehouse that serves as the Ghostbusters' headquarters, and it's clear the ghost containment unit is at capacity. Enter OG Ghostbuster Winston Zeddemore (the eternally youthful Ernie Hudson), who reveals a much bigger containment unit is in the works at an abandoned aquarium. (Hey, there's a future possibility for the Miami Seaquarium.)
Celeste O'Connor as Lucky, Ernie Hudson as Winston Zeddemore, Finn Wolfhard as Trevor Spengler, Paul Rudd as Gary Grooberson, James Acaster as Lars, Mckenna Grace as Phoebe and Carrie Coon as Callie in a scene from "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire." (Photo by Jaap Buitendijk. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.)
But there's a wintry menace that's keen to wreak havoc in the world, an ancient entity with the power to turn the planet into an icicle. If it sounds like Kenan and co-screenwriter Jason Reitman (son of Ivan) have assembled the ingredients for a competent popcorn movie, that's because they have. This is the part where I confess to have thoroughly hated “Afterlife,” which was directed by Reitman. “Frozen Empire” may be aggressively by the numbers, but it is also a decisive step up from the insufferable fan service and poor writing that ruined its predecessor.
It also repeatedly lets down Phoebe, its strongest, most interesting character, at every turn. Grace conveys the character's drive and fierce intelligence, but the filmmakers do not follow suit, forcing the rebellious, frustrated teen to make stupid decisions in order to move the creaky plot forward. Most disappointing of all is the way it introduces Melody (Emily Alyn Lind), the ghost of a teen who perished in a fire, as a new friend for Phoebe, then not-so-subtly hints the friendship has the potential to become something more, before chickening out in the most spineless way possible. There is something strange in this neighborhood: queerbaiting.
Dan Aykroyd as Ray Stantz and Kumail Nanjiani as Nadeem Razmaadi in a scene from "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire." (Photo by Jaap Buitendijk./Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.)
“Frozen Empire” goes through its paces, hits its marks, and drops some Easter eggs that will have fanboys salivating. It features some spooky imagery and even a pretty decent jumpscare. What still eludes the filmmakers' grasp is the sardonic humor that made the original film such a compulsively rewatchable comfort-food movie. Instead, we get some rather uninspired CGI, a villain that reeks of Guillermo del Toro envy and a bored looking Bill Murray phoning it in. Thanks, but no thanks for the memories.
“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” is now showing in South Florida in wide release, including IMAX engagements at Regal South Beach, AMC Aventura, AMC Sunset Place, AMC Pembroke Lakes and AutoNation IMAX at the Museum of Discovery and Science in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Several theaters are also showing it in 3-D. “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” is also showing in wide release, including ScreenX engagements at Regal South Beach and Dolby Cinema matinees at AMC Sunset Place. It is also showing this weekend at Nite Owl Drive-In + Tropical Market in Miami.
