"Godzilla vs. Kong"
Toho Studios in Japan was king of making rubber-suited monster movies during the 1960s, with none more popular than “King Kong vs. Godzilla.” In that Ishiro Honda directed classic, a furry looking Kong was employed to defeat Godzilla, atop Mount Fuji no less. The cheesy (but fun) rumble had Kong emerging victorious in the end. Only 59 years later, movie fans get a stylish, CGI (computer generated imagery) heavy update for new fans to enjoy. But will it end the same way?
The buzzing social media hype surrounding “Godzilla vs. Kong” is to be believed, as this film is essentially a three-round heavyweight bout of astronomically colossal proportions. The film is loosely the third part of a trilogy following 2017’s “Kong: Skull Island” and 2019’s “Godzilla: King of the Monsters.” To describe the film’s heady sci-fi plot is irrelevant, as is describing the lead actors because there simply aren’t any. The monsters are the stars, and any human involved is simply part of a massive ensemble cast with no real actor getting more screen time over another. Godzilla is essentially tearing up the world and scientists (who don’t appear to work for any sort of particular organization) decide to employ Kong to stop him. Not so fast my movie friends! Godzilla, if you remember, has atomic breath (a blue fiery spitball, if you will), and Kong must counter this in order to win.
The film delights and dazzles with special effects by journeying everyone off to the center of the Earth for a legendary weapon. That’s where this film becomes a winner, mostly with eye-popping special effects, situations, and slams the likes of which you’ve never seen on a screen before. Not that all of the famed Godzilla body suit work actor Haruo Nakajima went through was for naught. “Godzilla vs. Kong” is the first official film to start the 2021 summer blockbuster series, and you won’t find a more fun or punchy escapist film than this one.
"Nomadland"
At some point in everyone’s life, there simply becomes too much of everything. Too many possessions, too many obligations, or simply too much drama. It can dangerously pile up to the point of wanting to get away from it all. Writer and director Chloe Zhao seizes that sort of realization and creates a film that zeroes in on just how to handle such an event. “Nomadland” stars Academy Award winner Frances McDormand as Fern, a woman who, upon the death of her husband in a dried up Nevada town, decides to hit the open road in a van and travel the country looking for greener pastures. Not moving for any sort of permanency or stability, this is straight up nomadic life. Living out of her van, she hooks up with other nomads in an offbeat community where she learns more tricks of the trade. Because of the on-the-move lifestyle, Fern comes across many people from different backgrounds who all have their reasons for living this nomadic lifestyle. Sweeping cinematography dashed with staccato bits of humorous poignancy, “Nomadland” is easily the best film of 2021 so far.
Toho Studios in Japan was king of making rubber-suited monster movies during the 1960s, with none more popular than “King Kong vs. Godzilla.” In that Ishiro Honda directed classic, a furry looking Kong was employed to defeat Godzilla, atop Mount Fuji no less. The cheesy (but fun) rumble had Kong emerging victorious in the end. Only 59 years later, movie fans get a stylish, CGI (computer generated imagery) heavy update for new fans to enjoy. But will it end the same way?
The buzzing social media hype surrounding “Godzilla vs. Kong” is to be believed, as this film is essentially a three-round heavyweight bout of astronomically colossal proportions. The film is loosely the third part of a trilogy following 2017’s “Kong: Skull Island” and 2019’s “Godzilla: King of the Monsters.” To describe the film’s heady sci-fi plot is irrelevant, as is describing the lead actors because there simply aren’t any. The monsters are the stars, and any human involved is simply part of a massive ensemble cast with no real actor getting more screen time over another. Godzilla is essentially tearing up the world and scientists (who don’t appear to work for any sort of particular organization) decide to employ Kong to stop him. Not so fast my movie friends! Godzilla, if you remember, has atomic breath (a blue fiery spitball, if you will), and Kong must counter this in order to win.
The film delights and dazzles with special effects by journeying everyone off to the center of the Earth for a legendary weapon. That’s where this film becomes a winner, mostly with eye-popping special effects, situations, and slams the likes of which you’ve never seen on a screen before. Not that all of the famed Godzilla body suit work actor Haruo Nakajima went through was for naught. “Godzilla vs. Kong” is the first official film to start the 2021 summer blockbuster series, and you won’t find a more fun or punchy escapist film than this one.
"Nomadland"
At some point in everyone’s life, there simply becomes too much of everything. Too many possessions, too many obligations, or simply too much drama. It can dangerously pile up to the point of wanting to get away from it all. Writer and director Chloe Zhao seizes that sort of realization and creates a film that zeroes in on just how to handle such an event. “Nomadland” stars Academy Award winner Frances McDormand as Fern, a woman who, upon the death of her husband in a dried up Nevada town, decides to hit the open road in a van and travel the country looking for greener pastures. Not moving for any sort of permanency or stability, this is straight up nomadic life. Living out of her van, she hooks up with other nomads in an offbeat community where she learns more tricks of the trade. Because of the on-the-move lifestyle, Fern comes across many people from different backgrounds who all have their reasons for living this nomadic lifestyle. Sweeping cinematography dashed with staccato bits of humorous poignancy, “Nomadland” is easily the best film of 2021 so far.
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