It is hard to believe that the Monsterverse is over 10 years old. What started as a new adaptation to the King of the Monsters has become a cinematic universe that features not only Godzilla but also featuring other icons such as King Kong. It has been a few years since this world of monsters has been on the big screen with the previous outing being none other than Godzilla vs. Kong; a blockbuster that would be a major milestone for the Monsterverse with its theatrical and digital success. After the clash of icons, whispers began to stir of a sequel with rumors suggesting the film would center on the son of Kong. However as more on the film unfolded, it was clear this continuation would feature the iconic titans again; and sure enough the duo have returned to the big screen in the latest installment to the Monsterverse-Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

The movie centers on Kong and a team from Monarch traveling through Hollow Earth to discover a new titan that threatens the planet, and the only way to stop this menace is for Kong to make an unlikely alliance with the king of monsters. Directing this monstrous blockbuster is none other Adam Wingard, the director behind Godzilla vs. Kong, and along Wingard are many of Godzilla vs. Kong’s cast and crew. With Godzilla vs. Kong acting as a culmination for the Monsterverse, it was interesting to see just how the filmmakers would continue this shared universe. Being a fan of Godzilla and monster films, I was eager to see what was in store for this new installment. Now after seeing the titans’ latest outing, I can say that Godzilla x Kong is a continuation that is both fitting, surprising and very much entertaining.

Going into this one, I expected this new monster movie to be more flash than substance; which was not a bad thing as that is what I come to expect from this series. After seeing the movie, Godzilla x Kong lived up to the simple yet extravagant standards of the Monsterverse; which was evident in the film’s story. The plot to this monster film was straightforward in its direction and featured little progression to the overall continuity. Yet, much to my surprise, this plot had more to offer than I initially expected. For starters the story had a solid sense of adventure with Hollow Earth serving as an engaging set piece for the movie. Yet the most surprising element to the plot had to be its narrative. While the plot’s structure was similar to its predecessor Godzilla vs. Kong, its execution was in many ways dynamic as the monsters served the focal point for the plot. Between this as well as an enjoyable climax, the plot to this installment had more to offer to the series-not to mention the monster film genre itself.

When it comes to these movies, the cast can be as simplistic as the story. In the case of this installment, the ensemble was simple but effective. Characters like Dr. Illene Andrews (Rebecca Hall) and Bernie Hayes (Brian Tyree Hall) make their return and,for the most part, they do well in their respective roles. Meanwhile the young Jia (Kaylee Hottle) received the most development of the returning characters and her progression was interesting to be sure. As for new characters the most notable was Trapper (Dan Stevens) who brought a lot of character to this minimal cast. However taking center stage in this film were none other than the monsters. Typically the monsters are used as major obstacles in the story, but the Monsterverse has done an impressive job developing both Godzilla and Kong as principal characters; and this could not have been more evident in this installment. Kong received most of the screen time while Godzilla was handled more traditionally in his appearance. When it came to new monsters, this film certainly had its share with the most notable being none other than the Scar King. As villains go, Scar King was refreshing but lacked the sense of gravitas seen in previous kaiju.

Since this is the Monsterverse, it was no surprise to see Godzilla x Kong have a sense of spectacle. Going into the movie, I was concerned to see how the visuals would turn out (especially when comparing it to the likes of Godzilla Minus One). However my worries were put to rest as the effects were up to task and created a vibrant look for the Monsterverse. As for the action, the film had its share of big time sequences and monster fights. While these sequences may not have had the impression seen in the previous films, they were still exciting and even crafted moments that were unique to the Monsterverse and the genre itself. As for the music, Tom Holkenborg (Junkie XL) returned to conduct another score for the Monsterverse. While the score lacked the grandiose nature heard in previous soundtracks, it did have an adventurous spirit that created a lively atmosphere to this massive blockbuster.

As continuations go, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire takes the right steps in moving this series forward. While some elements could be too straightforward, the direction this sequel took was commendable as both story and characters had more to offer than I expected. As a spectacle, the movie was an enjoyable experience as both the visuals and action captured the outlandish nature to this series. It will be interesting to see where the Monsterverse goes from here, but for now it is nice to see another enjoyable blockbuster get added to this monstrous series.