The Corner Penthouse

Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) is the latest film in Warner Brothers' "Monsterverse" series of films, though I prefer to call it the "Monarchverse" since that's the entity that ties all of the films together. Currently, the other films in the series are Godzilla (2014), Kong: Skull Island (2017), and Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019). Read on to find out more...


In Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), Kong and his protectors undertake a perilous journey to find his true home, and with them is Jia (Kaylee Hottle), a young orphaned girl with whom he has formed a unique and powerful bond. But they unexpectedly find themselves in the path of an enraged Godzilla, cutting a swath of destruction across the globe. The epic clash between the two titans -- instigated by unseen forces -- is only the beginning of the mystery that lies deep within the core of the Earth.


I have now seen all four films in the Legendary Films "Monsterverse". Kong: Skull Island is still the best, and also the one that feels more natural with characters that are easy to invest your emotions in. Godzilla vs. Kong is the best of the three films that Godzilla is in. It wasn't overly dark like Godzilla, nor was it a brightly-colored mess like Godzilla: King of the Monsters. That's not to say that it's perfect.


The story leaves a lot to be desired, and not just the plotline involving MechaGodzilla that seems ripped off from Pacific Rim. Honestly, I stopped trying to follow along when it was revealed that Monarch turned Skull Island into some kind of research station with Kong's habitat now being inside some kind of electronic enclosure. So, I didn't bat an eye when they were hauling Kong by sea freighter to Antarctica to another Monarch research station to find some kind of "lost world" called Hollow Earth, which is his real "home". I guess Skull Island was Kong's vacation residence. By the time we see Hollow Earth, with it's gravity-defying floating rocks and prehistoric creatures, there's no sense trying to figure all of this out. Just let it wash over you and take in the sights.


And, boy, what sights there are! While Godzilla was so dark you could barely see anything, and Godzilla: King of the Monsters looked weird because it was bathed in an unnatural mix of either teal/blue or amber/orange, Godzilla vs. Kong looks great! Most of the film looks pretty natural, and any instances of unnatural colored lighting are kept to a minimum. This is a disc that you can use to show off the 4K capabilities of your system. I have no doubt that it's the best version of the movie released on disc.


The fights between Godzilla, Kong, and later MechaGodzilla are a blast! Literally and figuratively. Hands down, the fights were my favorite parts of the film. Of the human characters, the only highlight is the adorable little deaf girl, Jia, played by newcomer Kaylee Hottle. The rest of the humans are utterly forgettable. It's a shame that Millie Bobby Brown, who reprises her Godzilla: King of the Monsters role of Madison Russell, isn't given much to do other than nosing around like a member of Mystery Inc. looking for clues to take down Monarch.


Godzilla vs. Kong is presented in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio with a runtime of 1:53:08. Audio languages include English, English Descriptive, French, Italian, and Spanish. The film includes English SDH, French, Italian, Spanish, Danish, Finnish, Korean, Mandarin, Norwegian, and Swedish subtitles.


The UHD disc contains the following bonus features.

• Audio Commentary - by director Adam Wingard.

Also included is a second standard Blu-ray disc, which contains the movie and ALL of the bonus features listed below. Audio languages include English, English Descriptive, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. The film includes English SDH, Spanish, French, and Portugese subtitles.

• Audio Commentary - by director Adam Wingard.
• Godzilla Attacks (6:25) - The cast and crew discuss Godzilla's role in the film and his place in film history.
• The Phenomenon of Gojira, King of the Monsters (9:52) - Cast and crew from previous films (such as actor Sally Hawkins and filmmaker Gareth Edwards) talk about Godzilla's history, mythical qualities, and more.
• Kong Leaves Home (7:56) - The filmmakers discuss the older version of Kong, his relationship with young Jia, anf various other aspects of the film.
• Kong Discovers Hollow Earth (7:53) - A look at Hollow Earth and its creation.
• Behold Kong's Temple (5:52) - A look at the construction of the temple on a soundstage, as well as visual effects and other elements of Kong's origin story.
• The Evolution of Kong, Eighth Wonder of the World (8:25) - Members of the cast and crew, including some from earlier films, speak about the character's film history.
• The Rise of Mecha-Godzilla (7:06) - The robot Godzilla's history and the challenges of updating the legendary character.
• The Battles - Round One: Battle at Sea (5:01) - A discussion of this stage in the epic Titan battle, with look at visual effects, concept art, and pre-vis sequences.
• The Battles - Round Two: One Will Fall (5:58) - A discussion of this stage in the epic Titan battle, with look at visual effects, concept art, and pre-vis sequences.
• The Battles - Titan Tag Team: The God and the King (7:59) - A discussion of this stage in the epic Titan battle, with look at visual effects, concept art, and pre-vis sequences.

A digital copy code voucher is also included in the standard two-disc black UHD Blu-ray case. The first print run includes a slipsleeve.


Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) is available on 4K UHD/Blu-ray, Blu-ray/DVD, and DVD. As for the previous films in the series... Godzilla (2014) (reviewed here) is available on 4K UHD/Blu-ray, Blu-ray/DVD, and DVD. Kong: Skull Island (2017) is available on 4K UHD/Blu-ray, Blu-ray/DVD, and Target-exclusive Blu-ray. Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) (reviewed here) is available on 4K UHD/Blu-ray, Blu-ray/DVD, and DVD.


All images were taken from the IMDB gallery of the film. The item was provided by Warner Brothers for review on this site.