Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire is the latest entry in the Monsterverse film franchise, pitting Kong and Godzilla, against an undiscovered threat while delving further into the histories of these Titans and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond.

The previous movie, Godzilla vs. Kong, didn’t have an especially strong story and this latest installment is even weaker. The endearing relationship between Kong and little Jia is replaced by the pairing of Kong with a younger giant ape he befriends in the subterranean world.

The backstory surrounding the villainous “Scar King” doesn’t add up, especially given the power of the beast he uses to do his bidding. The proposed comic relief in characters Bernie and Trapper is silly, and the attempts at drama — such as the subplot involving Jia’s predestined connection to the events — feels tossed in. What is fun to watch is Kong dispensing some justice on the bad guys.

This is not my favorite of these films, and I feel that with a little more effort in the writing department, it could have been much better. This sci-fi/fantasy/action film features two worlds that provide ample fodder for the wonderfully cinematic visuals. Primary colors are pleasingly rich while whites appear gradational and snappy. The combination of rich color, sepia and gradational gray tones looks absolutely terrific, while HDR underscores the thematic elements, creating a visibly stark contrast between light and dark images.

The cinematography makes use of close-up camera angles that show off the superb rendering of detail. The CGI in the film has appreciable delineation, which adds an enriching aesthetic. In general, the level of detail, color depth, and deep blacks make for an engaging visual display.

The Dolby Atmos track takes advantage of all the tools in the immersive sound toolshed. This film is tailor-made for Atmos as the audio objects placed in the height channels contain attention-grabbing atmospherics and discrete effects. Dialogue is reproduced with excellent prioritization.

Dynamic range is excellent, allowing the track to resound with superior clarity and room-shuddering bass. Surround use achieves a high level of envelopment that is engrossing as effects seamlessly blend, creating a detail-rich sound field.

Fourteen production featurettes provide insights into the making of the film, including character evolution, visual design, scene deconstructions, and a set tour, plus a filmmaker commentary. Also supplied in the package is a Movies Anywhere digital code.

ULTRA HD 4K BLU-RAY
STUDIO: Warner, 2024
ASPECT RATIO: 2.39:1
HDR FORMAT: Dolby Vision, HDR10
AUDIO FORMAT: Dolby Atmos with TrueHD 7.1 core
LENGTH: 115 mins., PG-13
DIRECTOR: Adam Wingard
STARRING: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, Fala Chen