Kong: Skull Island Reviews

Parents need to know that Kong: Skull Island is a very violent, action-packed reboot of the King Kong story. Set in the 1970s, the movie follows a group of scientists on a mission to survey a mysterious island in Southeast Asia. That's where they encounter several dangerous giant creatures, including an ape trying to protect his habitat (there are also giant birds, a spider, an octopus, and reptilian creatures). Things get pretty brutal, with victims being dismembered, stomped on, eaten, and tossed around; helicopters also crash and are ripped apart. So you can expect a high body count, with scene after scene of jump-worthy action, death, and gore. The language can also be strong, with one use of "f--k," plus several uses of "s--t," "ass," "bitch," etc. There's also some social drinking, but sex is limited to embraces and very brief implied prostitution in a couple of scenes set in Vietnam and Thailand. Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, and Oscar winner Brie Larson co-star, accompanied by a diverse supporting cast; themes include teamwork and courage.

Part reboot, part Apocalypse Now homage, this is the goriest and least approachable Kong to date. But Skull Island does have enough memorable creature battle scenes to make for a fun, if jumpy, moviegoing experience. Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts and the screenwriters give Kong a case of Coppola fever. From Jackson's bloodthirsty "love the smell of napalm in the morning" need for vengeance to the fact that a character is named Conrad (Apocalypse Now was based on Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad) to the aviator sunglasses and slow-motion shots of helicopter rotor blades, it's all there. Except instead of Marlon Brando's Col. Kurtz living among the natives, it's Reilly's goofy Capt. Marlow (also a Heart of Darkness name) who's been stranded there. Reilly adds much-needed levity to the intensity of the big-budget fight sequences, which are well-executed, if gruesome.

The actors are all talented, though Hiddleston seems like a slightly odd choice for his role. Yes, he plays Loki, but his name isn't exactly synonymous with action flicks, and there are times he seems too posh to be believable as a shady tracker battling serious demons. Among the supporting cast, Toby Kebbell's terrible Southern accent is somewhat distracting. But Shea Whigham and Jason Mills stand out as opposites-attract soldiers Cole and Mills, who have each other's backs. With so many more human characters, it's unsurprising that Kong himself is less "human" and more awesome, godly beast. For high-stakes, jump-out-of-your-seat popcorn fare, this will do the trick, but don't expect to feel quite as much for Kong as you might have in previous versions of the story.

Kong: Skull Island Details

Theatrical release date: March 10, 2017
Cast: Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman
Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Studio: Warner Bros.
Genre: Action/Adventure
Topics: Wild animals
Character strengths: Courage, Teamwork
Run time: 118 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13