This had Brie Larson, John Goodman, and SAMUEL L. JACKSON; what the hell happened? In all honesty it wasn't the performances that hindered Kong: Skull Island from its potential, it was (almost) everything else. The characters were merely passable as just that, they are one dimensional card board cut outs that Kong and the other CGI monsters could fling around. No one had depth, it was always black and white, good vs. evil, Samuel L. Jackson getting pissed off and Tom Hiddleston trying to stay calm.

Kong was an impressive spectacle to say the least, but he was misused in his own movie. Suspense is never achieved in this film, his reveal is too quick, it doesn't simmer, Gareth Edwards Godzilla was able to build suspense and minimally show the King of Monsters himself until the end, that is what Kong: Skull Island could have done, but it didn't.

Don't even get me started on the greenscreen...

The pacing wasn't anything spectacular either, the second act is more repetitive than the entirety of Groundhog's Day, more CGI monsters fighting people doesn't make a better film, it comes off as lazy, and the last thing you want your audience to get tired of is CGI monsters, when the main premise involves a CGI monster.

Wow, was there anything good about it? Yes there was.

Kong was a great sight to see, his hair looked real, his palms looked rugged, and his eyes felt fierce. Though he was underutilized, he still looked really good. The cinematography was at least better than most blockbuster action films. The helicopter sequence towards the beginning was fairly great, and was a definite plus for this film.

Kong: Skull Island is a big blockbuster, it isn't artsy or complex it is just a monster movie, but it is disheartening to see that it messed up on core elements to making a good film.
5/10