Film Name:哥吉拉2：怪獸之王 / Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Choose a theater with top-notch audiovisual equipment, relax your mind and nerves, and prepare for what might be the most breathtaking cinematic spectacle of the year!
Last weekend’s massive preview screenings of “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” proved that opting for an IMAX showing was easily my best decision in recent memory. Even now, I vividly recall that sensation of being utterly engulfed by the visuals—as if they were swallowing me whole.
Even if you’ve forgotten or missed 2014’s “Godzilla” and 2017’s “Kong: Skull Island,” it doesn’t matter. As part of Warner Bros.’ ‘MonsterVerse’ franchise, this film stands on its own merits. If you crave an intense audiovisual feast, “King of the Monsters” is your ultimate choice.
That said, it’s worth noting this film has its share of flaws. For viewers who aren’t particularly fond of giant monsters or visual spectacle, watching this might feel like a bit of a slog…
[Friendly reminder: The following contains spoilers, but they won’t significantly affect your viewing experience.]
One reason I admire “King of the Monsters” is that it genuinely puts the giant monsters front and center. Humans completely cede the spotlight, often existing merely as connectors, narrators, or backdrops… Within this context, scenes like Dr. Serizawa’s sacrifice carry even greater weight.
However, precisely because of this, the film’s plot leaves little to discuss.
It’s not that it’s poorly made or riddled with plot holes. In fact, the story of “King of the Monsters” manages to be internally consistent, with the motivations and principles of its various factions and characters being understandable—but that’s about it.
The plot fulfills its basic task of “connecting the appearances, battles, and motivations of the major monsters,” but it doesn’t shine in any particular way. The pursuits and actions of the main family of three aren’t particularly memorable, and the symbolic significance of Dr. Chen/Dr. Ling (and other roles) played by Zhang Ziyi outweighs their actual impact—it’s neither here nor there.
As a side note, as a fan of American TV shows, the cross-over feel in this film was overwhelming…
For instance, Charles Dance’s portrayal of Jonah Allen constantly made me think of Tywin Lannister, especially when he shouted “Long Live The King!”—it instantly transported me back to Game of Thrones, with the old lion’s spirit fully embodied…
Truthfully, Charles excels at such roles. But in this film, human characters take a backseat. With limited room to shine, the actors’ dissonance becomes more noticeable.
Then there’s Millie Bobby Brown as Madison—the moment she raises her hand, I immediately think “Eleven” is about to cast a spell. That shot transitioning from eye level to overhead made me think she was going to lift the monster… (Stranger Things Season 3 returns July 4th this year—don’t forget to tune in!)…
Of course, these are just minor, inconsequential observations that don’t detract from the overall experience of “King of the Monsters.”
The film actually packs plenty of Easter eggs and homages, including the twin monster concept—a trope that’s appeared in past films. After all, the Godzilla franchise has been around for over 60 years, spawning dozens of movies and accumulating a wealth of its own “treasures”… It’s similar to watching “Avengers 4”: the more you know, the more enjoyable it becomes. Unfortunately, “monster movies” aren’t particularly prominent within the genre, and they have even less of an audience foundation here, making it hard for them to become universally appealing bonus points.
Having covered some of the film’s characteristics and issues, it’s time to start gushing!
The visual spectacle of the “King of Monsters” is truly breathtaking. The film highlights four titanic creatures—Mothra, Godzilla, King Ghidorah, and Rodan—each making a stunning entrance that delivers fresh awe and excitement through varied settings, environments, and human reactions.
Take Rodan’s debut, for instance: It begins with Ghidorah building tension like a storm gathering, then shifts to apocalyptic scenes of humans fleeing volcanic eruptions. Next comes the high-stakes aerial battle between the air force and Rodan off Mara Island. Finally, the diversion tactic triggers a clash between Rodan and Ghidorah, followed by Godzilla’s grand entrance to reignite the conflict. It’s a thrilling, multi-layered sequence that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
However, Rodan’s combat prowess leaves much to be desired, and throughout the film, he comes across as a rather opportunistic turncoat…
By contrast, Mothra presents an entirely different aesthetic.
This colossal creature, alongside Godzilla as one of Earth’s guardians, exudes an ethereal aura from its larval stage. Its coloration—a serene blue-green that harmonizes beautifully with Yunnan’s landscapes—features silk-spinning and cocoon-weaving abilities. Anyone who raised silkworms as a child will likely find this deeply nostalgic…
After Mothra’s “metamorphosis,” it becomes even more spectacular. The sight of its wings unfurling instantly reminded me of Zhang Yimou’s grand lighting spectacles—utterly breathtaking. No wonder it has won over countless fans.
The most eye-catching giant among the “King of Monsters” is undoubtedly the extraterrestrial visitor, King Ghidorah. Every time it appears, it exudes pure badassery.
As the film’s true antagonist, Ghidorah commands even greater presence than Godzilla. Its first appearance unfolds in frozen form at the South Pole, building tension through micro-human perspectives before expanding to sweeping panoramas. The initial clash with Godzilla serves as a mere warm-up, with its three-headed form and electric blasts leaving a lasting impression.
King Ghidorah has discovered that there are 17 monsters in the world, but they only obey the “King.” After the native king was stunned by the oxygen bomb from his “lousy teammates,” the foreign challenger King Ghidorah naturally “took over” these “Titanic Monsters” and began wreaking havoc on Earth.
King Ghidorah’s unique form and abilities provided us with many intriguing moments—like its built-in storms, sonic attacks, and energy absorption—which left me feeling utterly hopeless, wondering “How on earth do we fight this?”
But no matter how formidable the villain, the true spotlight always belongs to Godzilla.
Of the three clashes between Godzilla and Ghidorah, the final showdown in Boston delivers the most exhilarating spectacle. The film masterfully balances the earth-shaking scale of the battle with intimate, tense close-ups, prioritizing the titanic clash of monsters while incorporating human actions as a secondary layer. Overall, this sequence stands as the most thrilling segment of the entire film.
The greatest draw of “King of the Monsters” lies in its visual spectacle. Fans of kaiju films and tokusatsu will undoubtedly revel in it, while those who simply enjoy special effects sequences can get a taste of the action.
However, the film’s reliance on “big scenes” feels excessive. Watching giant creatures fill the screen is actually more exhausting than other special effects sequences… While I thoroughly enjoyed it, viewers who never fully immerse themselves from the start will likely find the experience less satisfying. Instead, they’ll find themselves constantly thinking, “When will this end?”—and I’m confident this reaction will be common, even widespread.
Lastly, I absolutely must give a shoutout to Red Lotus Godzilla—it was so damn cool!
Following Warner Bros.’ “MonsterVerse” plan, the next film should be Godzilla vs. Kong. And as the post-credits scene hints, Ghidorah hasn’t truly been defeated…
I’m already looking forward to the next round of this “Ace vs. Ace” showdown!
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