There are some very well-designed set pieces, and even though the characterization spreads itself thin among such a large ensemble, most of the characters are still leagues more interesting than anyone in the other MonsterVerse movies. It kind of putters out at the end, and I think it’s at its best when it’s not trying to shoehorn in the classic King Kong tropes. I get why they have to build a relationship between Kong and Larson/Hiddleston, not because it’s so central to the mythos but because otherwise we just have an unengaging cg-fest at the end, but it feels pretty slapped-on, and I would’ve liked to see them instead dive deeper into the Vietnam allegory, which I still have some questions about. The whole thing is presented in a very artificial style which is fun for the most part, but there are moments that jarringly make this feel like a photograph of a Vietnam movie (and I suppose of a monster movie), so I just feel kind of lukewarm about the whole thing. Kong himself is a baller though, they should’ve just let him vibe. Abysmal post-credits scene also lol. Anyway, this review is officially too long.