Kong is receiving dental treatment. The giant creature veterinarian, Trapper, appears. He is calm. I found this amusing.
The way “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” makes us care about Kong is as follows: Before showcasing his massive fists, the film reveals that even he needs the touch of others. It seems that even Kong, who can go deep into the Earth, cannot escape the need for dental care.
The reason this scene is good is not simply because it weakens Kong. After seeing him receive treatment, one becomes less concerned with who he might attack and more interested in who he will live with. The story of Kong, searching for his own kind, and his journey with the young primate, Sukko, gains strength from this moment.
I think this film succeeds in making us care about the speechless Kong, but sacrifices the time needed to nurture that feeling to the new weapon.
My sympathy goes out to the monster suffering from toothache
When the film shows Kong as a body in need of treatment, it emphasizes care and compassion over brute force. The premise that even the strongest individuals cannot always solve problems alone is a good starting point.
The dental treatment scene, instead of providing a lengthy explanation of Kong’s loneliness, shows the moment when he needs help. What he needs is not just an opponent to fight and defeat, but also someone he can trust with his ailing body.
Here, Trapper’s composure proves invaluable. Even when faced with a massive patient, he follows through with the necessary treatment. Observing his attitude, one feels more empathy for the discomfort Kong is experiencing than for the bean’s size.
If the film had emphasized a frightened person screaming, the focus of the scene would have been on the human’s fear of encountering the monster. However, this film shows us Kong being treated through the person who is providing the treatment.
I highly value this difference. It does not explain why we should like Kong; instead, it shows a body that is worthy of concern. Just as a person who is sick doesn’t have the energy to immediately compare who is stronger, this approach is more effective.
It is not as if the film has abandoned Kong’s dignity. The fact that he needs treatment does not mean that he is weak. The ability to survive on one’s own and the willingness to accept help from others are not mutually exclusive.
This distinction is essential to Kong’s story of searching for his own kind. Encountering other beings does not simply mean having more opponents. It also means the possibility of entrusting oneself to them, staying by their side, and offering and receiving help.
Therefore, dental treatment is not just a joke inserted before a major adventure. Because Kong needed care, a standard is established for judging future relationships. It becomes possible to distinguish between actions that demonstrate power and actions that protect someone.
This is also why treatment scenes in monster movies were welcome. Even while enjoying the spectacle of large bodies colliding, I find myself hoping that those bodies do not get hurt. Few things make it easier to become invested in the outcome of a fight.
However, feeling empathy for Kong being cared for and believing in the reason why it cares for others are two separate things. What the film should show next is not a stronger fist, but the reason behind using that fist.
Does the film’s conflict change when Kong, who is receiving help, accompanies the young Suko and begins to care for someone?
Kong chooses sides without speaking
The companionship between Kong and the young ape Suko is the best thing this film does. Even without dialogue, they go from being wary of each other to becoming companions who protect one another, giving Kong a reason to fight.
Sukko was not initially a child who trusted and followed Kong. Similarly, Kong does not immediately open his heart simply because he has met a member of his own species. There is a period of time that must be shared before trust can be established between individuals who are the same species.
The film fills that time with gestures and actions. The initial hostility transforms into companionship, and trust develops between the two who are moving together. There is no need to wait for a human explanation to understand who Kong is trying to protect.
I prefer stories where monsters understand each other’s feelings without explanation. The less people interfere and try to define the relationship, the more closely one observes the way the two are together. Even just the difference in their sizes reveals who is worth worrying about and the desire to protect someone.
What is particularly noteworthy is that Suko changes the way we think about Kong’s search for his own kind. Initially, the desire was simply to know that one was not alone. Now, the focus shifts to how to care for the small being that has appeared beside us. The responsibility of caring for others becomes intertwined with alleviating loneliness.
On the other side, there is Ska King, who oppresses his own kind. He even inflicts pain on the monster Shimo, which breathes icy breath. When he needs someone else’s power, the method he chooses is not to gain trust, but to cause pain.
This contrast is clear and beneficial. The difference between Kong and Scar King lies not in who looks more intimidating, but in how they treat those weaker than themselves or those under their control.
For Ska King, Shimo’s suffering serves as a means to motivate others. For Kong, Sukko’s existence becomes a reason to change his own actions. Even with the same power, one side demands obedience, while the other uses it for protection.
Thanks to this, the conflict moves beyond a simple dispute over hierarchy. The reason people want Kong to win is not simply because he has bigger fists. It is because they have already seen which side he will choose once he gains power.
If so much emotion can be conveyed through the monster’s actions alone, what can human actors add to the experience?
People are needed to reflect Kong’s inner self
Human actors play a crucial role when sharing stories of treatment and family concerns rather than explaining monsters. To understand who Kong is fighting for, the audience must also see the characters demonstrating their care for others.
Dan Stevens, who plays the veterinarian Trapper, performs his role with a calm demeanor. Even during Kong’s dental treatment, his relaxed attitude emphasizes the importance of the medical procedure over the absurdity of the situation. As a result, Kong is not just a spectacle to be observed, but a patient who needs care.
I appreciate the lightness of this performance. Even though the actor doesn’t emphasize their voice to express concern for the character, it naturally conveys the idea that the character has a body that needs treatment. However, it is important to distinguish between the actor’s skill in bringing the scene to life and the role itself, which deepens the story.
Rebecca Hall, who plays the scientist Aileen, portrays the worry that she might lose her daughter, Zia. When Zia encounters the Iwi underground, the joy of her daughter finding her place is juxtaposed with the mother’s anxiety. In this scene between the mother and daughter, Hall emphasizes the relationship with her daughter over the achievements of the exploration.
This concern is linked to Kong’s loneliness as he searches for his own kind. Kong desires companionship, while Aileen fears that someone she is with might leave. Both are facing problems that cannot be solved simply by becoming stronger.
It would have been better if the film had lingered a little longer. The process by which the daughter comes to terms with the possibility that she belongs somewhere different from her represents the next stage of care. One could also ask how the feeling of protection differs from the desire to keep someone close.
However, the script does not linger on Aileen’s concerns for long. So I regret the choice to save time that could have been given to Hall’s performance. This ultimately limited the opportunity to develop the themes of finding one’s own kind and the family story between the mother and daughter.
In the role of Zia, Keiry Hotle conveys the feelings of a child encountering a stranger who is also of the same species, through her facial expressions and gaze. Although she has found someone to be with, she is not entirely at ease. In contrast, Brian Tyree Henry, playing the podcaster Bunny who joins the exploration team, repeatedly displays reactions of being flustered in the face of danger.
Bunny’s scream is loud, but it doesn’t reveal who Kong will protect.
Simply juxtaposing Trapper’s composure with Bunny’s surprise does not necessarily deepen the relationship. So, should we call this film a failure simply because the human element feels superficial?
The film did not fail because there were too few human characters
I do not agree with the criticism that there is too little screen time for the human characters. However, it is true that Kong’s relationships should have filled more of the space left by the humans.
The presence of Kong and Sukho together is evidence of this. The process by which they come to trust each other, despite initially being wary, is something that can be understood even without human dialogue. The absence of human dialogue does not mean that the story itself has disappeared.
In this section, it becomes clear who I need to observe. I find myself comparing Kong when he is alone versus when he is with Suko. Even with the same level of power, what he does changes depending on who he is with.
The question is whether those changes have accumulated sufficiently. The process of coming to believe in Sukko is good. However, I want to see more about what Kong endures in order to protect the child Kong has come to trust. Having someone appear by one’s side and making choices for that person are different things.
It is also regrettable that the Sky King appears late in the game. Kong, who is trying to protect, and the enemy who rules through pain cannot remain opposed to each other for long. While the difference between the two is clear, there is little time to repeatedly confirm this difference through actions.
I don’t want to hear any more about the villain’s backstory. I want to see how Kong acts differently in the face of Ska King’s oppression. Simply having a cruel enemy doesn’t automatically deepen the protagonist’s care.
In “Godzilla vs. Kong,” the two creatures, who were initially adversaries, joined forces against a greater threat. This cooperation represented a strategic shift in the conflict. The necessity of fighting together united the two monsters.
This time, a more specific reason is added to the cooperation. This is because Kong now has a community of his own kind and a young being to protect. Now, what is important is not only winning together, but also for whom we are fighting together.
Even though it is the same collaboration as the previous work, Kong now carries a different responsibility. Therefore, the film must show this changed responsibility for a longer period. The relationship that Sukko and Kong build is now as important as meeting Godzilla again.
Therefore, simply increasing the number of human scenes is not a sufficient solution. While it may address Aileen’s concerns to some extent, it cannot replace Kong’s own choices. If Kong is the protagonist, any moments of deepening relationships must be demonstrated through Kong’s actions.
What I value is not simply the amount of time the monster appears on screen. It is the process during that time, where Kong transforms into a being needed by someone. Instead of focusing on developing new responsibilities for Kong, the film asks: what more does it give Kong?
It was necessary to strengthen the relationship more than simply acquiring new armor
The film establishes a reason for Kong to fight, but in the latter half, it quickly focuses on increasing his combat power. It provides Kong with mechanical armor, simultaneously addressing his injuries and equipping him with a weapon.
The fact that it has armor is not inherently a problem. The narrative of Kong using that power to protect someone aligns with the earlier scenes of him receiving help. However, the film’s focus shifts too quickly to the power of the new weapon.
Kong went to receive treatment, but ended up attending a new product launch event.
The injury serves as another opportunity to demonstrate that even a strong person like Kong needs the help of others. The experience of relying on someone else is also connected to the care Kong develops for Suko. However, the armor quickly cuts short that weakened period and readies Kong for battle.
I am not going to argue that this is a setup error. I accept the explanation that treatment and weapon enhancement occur simultaneously within the movie. What is regrettable is not the rightness or wrongness of the explanation, but rather what they chose to show for an extended period.
As Kong’s power grows, the relationships that must be protected with that power also deepen. However, before confirming the responsibility towards Sukko, preparations for the next battle take precedence. While the reasons for fighting are known, it is important to see how those reasons have changed Kong.
Godzilla is an ally well-suited to this speed. Having detected the threat and accumulated power, he joins the alliance, ready to turn the tide. Unlike Kong, he does not go through a long process of growing close to someone and changing emotionally.
The appeal of seeing two powerful beings unite is undeniable. When beings that were previously hostile join forces, the very act of them fighting together can be exhilarating. I don’t want to diminish that enjoyment simply because Kong’s relationship with the other character is superficial.
However, reaching an agreement does not mean that Kong’s story is complete. While Godzilla’s strength aids in battles, it does not replace the sense of responsibility that Kong learned while caring for Suko. Although an alliance has been formed to fight together, Kong’s story of caring for others is still short.
It is easy to see what can be achieved thanks to the armor. What is more interesting is what has changed compared to when Kong was surviving alone. My regret is that the time dedicated to combat preparation did not allow for a deeper exploration of this question.
Even so, there is a certain enjoyment to be had from watching Kong alongside Sukho. For me, the pleasure of their companionship is a reason to recommend this film, more so than the power of the new armor.
I preferred the being that Kong’s hand would protect over Kong’s fist
I do not think the best scenes in this movie came from the use of more powerful weapons. I was moved by the moment when Kong and Sukho begin to trust each other. It showed that even a monster that doesn’t speak can be a protagonist through its actions.
The partnership between Kong and Sukho, and the way Ska King manipulates others through pain, is a clear achievement. However, the score was reduced because the focus was placed on increasing combat power rather than on the time it takes for care to develop into responsibility. The film succeeded in winning our hearts, but it rushed to develop that feeling to the end.
Nevertheless, viewers who can read a monster’s character from its movements will find the 115 minutes worthwhile. This is even more true if they enjoy adventures in which a once-hostile being becomes a trustworthy companion. That is because there is more reason to root for Kong than merely his size and fists.
Conversely, if you expect a similar balance between Godzilla and Kong, I do not recommend this film. It does not deeply follow the human family drama, nor does it deliver the sense of disaster and fear one might expect when facing a monster. This film chooses a monster to adventure with, rather than a terrifying invader.
When watching, it is better to focus on how Kong treats Sukho, rather than who is stronger. Also, compare it with Aileen’s concern for Jia. This reveals how finding someone to be with and caring for that person are different.
The next film to watch is “Godzilla vs. Kong.” In the previous film, a larger enemy united them, but this time, Kong has someone he needs to protect. Even when cooperating, the reason for the conflict changes when there is something to protect.
My rating is 3 out of 5 stars. It is an enjoyable monster adventure, but the most important relationships were not developed sufficiently. I wanted to see for a longer time whom Kong’s hand was trying to protect.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can it be understood even without having seen the previous work?
The central story of Kong searching for his own kind and traveling with Suko is easy to follow. However, watching “Godzilla vs. Kong” first will make it easier to understand how the two monsters come to cooperate again and the relationships between the human characters.
Is “Godzilla” and “Kong” a movie in which Godzilla and Kong have similar prominence?
No. The story centers on Kong, who is searching for his own kind and meeting someone to protect. While Godzilla is positioned as a powerful ally capable of changing the course of events, expecting a similar level of importance for both monsters might be disappointing.
Is this work based on a true story or a novel?
This is neither a true story nor a novel adaptation. It is the fifth film in the MonsterVerse franchise, featuring the existing Godzilla and Kong characters in the same world. The vast ecosystem within the Earth, as depicted in the film, should be accepted as part of the story’s setting.
Is it a terrifying disaster film, or a lighthearted adventure film?
It is more of an adventure that focuses on the personalities and cooperation of the monsters, rather than the fear of disaster. It also includes humorous moments, such as Kong’s dental treatment. However, there are scenes of fighting and abuse, so you should not take “lighthearted” to mean that it has no violent scenes.
What aspects should one focus on to find it more enjoyable?
It is worthwhile to compare how Kong treats Sukho and how Ska King manipulates others. Rather than focusing on who is stronger, examining whom they use their power on and how reveals the underlying reasons for the conflict. The relationship between Aileen and Zia can also be understood using the same criteria.
