X = ?

In preperation for watching Godzilla × Kong: The New Empire (2024), I rewatched Kong: Skull Island. It's funny how far the franchise has moved. K:SI is, among other things, a re-imagining of the King Kong story as an Apocalypse Now flavored Vietnam meditation. The later movies, much less.

GxK catches us up with the state of the monsters. Godzilla stomped a bit of Rome, but is curled up asleep like a cat in the Colosseum. Deep beneath the Earth, Kong is feeling a bit melancholy - and has a bad toothache. In the Hollow Earth observation station, scientist Rebecca Hall calls in rogue veterinarian "Trapper", Dan Stevens. He's the type to swing from a copter to lasso the infected fang and yank it out. Sort of an Indiana Jones type, or maybe a parody thereof. It's hard to tell if he's comic relief or not. 

But scientists are picking up an odd signal, and so is Kaylee Hottle, the deaf girl who is the last of the Iwi tribe of Skull Island. So, with the help of conspiracy podcaster Brian Tyree Henry, they head to the underworld to see what's what.

Among other things, Kong picks up a little friend, a mini-Kong. Although Kong is the last of his species, there are some other giant apes around (these guys look more like orangutans). They are enslaved by an evil king ape, and also kept locked up in a special area of the Hollow Earth, along with a tribe of Iwi. Hottle finds out that her new family have been broadcasting a warning, one that will take Kong and maybe even Godzilla as well, to combat.

Unlike Skull Island, this is a very modern movie. Lots of exposition is done via cable news, Henry's modern comic relief, etc. It's nice to see Mothra brought in to mediate between Kong and Godzilla, and Hottle is a lovely presence. Mini-Kong is sort of mixed - Kong tries to treat him as a protege, but he's a little shit (of a giant ape). I guess he had a lot of trauma. 

In connclusion, I'd say not enough Godzilla, Kong was too mopey, and Mini-Kong too much of a brat. When do we get Godzuki?

Also, did I miss the movie where Godzilla defeated Mecha-Godzilla? Or did it just run off of my mind like water off a duck?