#adamwingard

Godzilla vs. Kong is not the kind of movie that'll give you pause to think. That doesn't matter. The action scenes are rousing, crystal-clear, and varied. The special effects are pristine. Best of all, the film knows what you want to see and delivers.

When Godzilla suddenly Apex Cybernetics’ Pensacola facility, conspiracy theorist Bernie Hayes (Brian Tyree Henry) becomes convinced they somehow provoked the titan. Madison Russell (Millie Bobby Brown) - an avid fan of his podcast - shares his suspicions, they rope her friend Josh (Julian Dennison) into investigating. They’re not entirely wrong. After the attack, Apex insists mankind needs to develop a weapon against Godzilla and ask Monarch to give them access to Kong. They believe the titan ape can lead them inside the vast caverns below our world to a power source formidable enough to take down the king of the monsters.

A recurring flaw with the Monsterverse films is the human element. Unlike other cinematic universes, we haven’t really had people to latch onto. The humans tend to get old, unceremoniously killed, or play their part, then leave. That issue has been (mostly) rectified here. No one is going into this film to see what the humans are up to. Nonetheless, director Adam Wingard keeps the tiny people busy and involved. Millie Bobby Brown’s character back in a major role and most of the film follows Kong, rather than Godzilla. Why is this important? because the ape is the kaiju most similar to us. When Kong is injured, angry, distraught, or relieved, you can tell by his expression. He also has a direct connection to Jia (Kaylee Hottle), a native of his island. She’s deaf. He can’t speak. Your brain links them, and the film expands on this connection with the Jane Goodall-like Dr. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall), Jia’s adopted mother. Now Kong works for Monarch.

The “vs.” part of the film is where it is at its best. The fights are in the daylight, brightly light, or in dust-free atmospheres which allow you to clearly see the punches, claw swipes, kicks, slashes, tail whips, and blasts. The “fight choreography” is excellent, combining the giddy excitement of WWE matches with spectacular destruction. A scene set in Hong Kong with bright neon lights illuminating the soon-to-be rubble is particularly well done. The lighting is moody and each frame gorgeous enough to be turned into a desktop wallpaper. Best of all? The film has a definitive winner. It’s another example of the movie delivering what you ordered.

Godzilla vs. Kong could’ve certainly injected deeper meaning into its story and given us something to think about after the dust settles. Then again, would it have felt out of place in a story that confirms the Earth is hollow and the home to an ecosystem filled with bizarre leviathans? The inhabitants of Monster Island have been many things over the years but what’s made them endure are the goofy plots, the giddy excitement of seeing larger-than-life rumbles. I had a blast and can’t wait to see it again. (April 4, 2021)

You’re Next is a scary, suspenseful, and gory delight. While it may have flaws, you'll be excited to share this home invasion horror film with your friends because of the way it reinvigorates the genre.

A family reunion brings Erin (Sharni Vinson) to the home of her boyfriend’s rich parents. Unfortunately, predators have set their sights on the house. Three (or maybe more) armed men with creepy animal masks begin an assault that will see everyone dead, unless these would-be victims can get their act together.

The flaws present are only those inherent to the genre. It’s like if you had a pet tyrannosaurus. You could house train it and teach it tricks but just by virtue of being a carnivorous dinosaur, it would still eat your neighbours. So You're Next does have flaws but as the type of movie that it is, it deserves a perfect score as long as it's a home invasion movie you want to see.

Here we have a script and story made by someone who loved horror movies and wanted to make a good one. To begin, the film uses a novel idea that's seldom used in horror films: the characters are actually competent, and intelligent! When people get separated from the group and risk getting picked off, it's because they're emotionally distraught over someone's death or sent on a mission by the rest kind of thing.

The most exciting element of the film is Erin. She's one tough cookie, someone who takes charge when panic sets in the hearts of everyone else. She’s going to make the maniacs outside regret the day they set their sights on her. Single-handedly, she makes this the opposite of every bad slasher film where every teenager is there solely to add to the body count. Her competence adds tension to the story. She's got the skills it takes to survive this ordeal and save the others too.

This is a gory movie and it revels in its blood and guts. While you feel bad when someone gets it, at least director Adam Wingard delivers when someone kicks the bucket. It's reassuring in a way. If the innocents are going to die horribly, you figure so will the bad guys and that's something you can't wait to see.

The soundtrack adds a lot to this picture. It's got a lot of energy and the action is fast-paced the music selection cranks it up that extra notch. It's a small touch but makes a big difference. Once all of the material this type of horror film has to offer has been expensed, You're Next moves onto something different. It once again confirms Wingard and writer Simon Barrett as fans of these types of films and individuals committed to delivering their very best.

You’re Next is gory, fast-paced, intelligently written, and a whole lot of fun. It’s got a terrific protagonist that will have you cheering and plenty of memorable scenes. Its mix of dark humor and genuine scares is just what you've been waiting for if you've been itching for something that'll drench the floor in the red stuff. (On DVD, February 13, 2015)