Rating: 4.5/5
Set just after the Vietnam War, a team of soldiers, led by Samuel L. Jackson, are tasked with escorting a group of geologists to Skull Island. Tom Hiddleston features as an ex-British Intelligence agent who specialises in tracking. Thankfully, the love story within this film is NOT between a blonde woman and an ape but is instead between the sexy tracker and a war photographer, played by Brie Larson. I don’t think I was the only one confused as to why a war photographer was taken on a trip to survey a newly found island, but okay. Everyone’s favourite, John Goodman, stars as the all-knowing scientist who has found the island. However, through a few near misses with the feral beasts on the island, we discover that the legend of King Kong was not unknown to some.
If anyone is a fan of classic films then you may remember the very first King Kong movie from 1933. Although vastly different from Kong: Skull Island, certain parallels are obvious throughout the flick. I loved that Skull Island was actually shaped like a skull - the originality behind this was exceptional. I also loved that, instead of continuing on with the cheesy storyline of a filmmaker in search of his next big ticket, it is instead about a government run organisation attempting to make ‘first discovery’ of this newfound island.
The CGI Kong is an almost anatomically accurate replication of an ape (sans genitalia). The expert CGI makes it difficult to remember that you are, in fact, only watching a movie. Sometimes it was almost too good; when the ‘baddies’ emerged from their cave (literally), I was on the edge of my seat with one eye closed. Nothing should look that realistic.Kong: Skull Island manages to bring new flavour to the already well-known King Kong story, while still offering parallels for fans of the original. This results in a satisfying film, which I enjoyed thoroughly - and not only because of the VERY sexy Tom Hiddleston.