Kong: Skull Island

Since 1933, the huge gorilla-like creature named Kong has been a cinema icon. This spectacular new action-packed sci-fi adventure is set in Nixon-era 1973, when Earth-mapping satellite photos reveal a long-hidden landmass called Skull Island in the South Pacific that is surrounded by a perpetual storm system. Intrigued, investigator Bill Randa (John Goodman) launches an exploratory expedition, muttering, “There will never be a more screwed-up time in Washington” (a line guaranteed to draw a laugh). To guide his scientists (Jing Tian, Corey Hawkins), Randa hires black-ops survivalist James Conrad (Tom Hiddleston). They are joined by plucky photojournalist Mason Weaver (Brie Larson), and are given a military escort that is headed up by embittered Lt. Col. Packard (Samuel L. Jackson). After dropping bombs to shake up the island's seismic core, they discover prehistoric beasts that boggle the imagination, and experience the wrath of Kong as he swats helicopters out of the sky. The survivors meet grizzled Hank Marlow (John C. Reilly), a WWII pilot who was shot down in 1944, and they embark on a perilous trek through primeval jungle terrain. Full of allusions to Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness and Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now, filmmaker Jordan Vogt-Roberts's Kong: Skull Island is enhanced by an assortment of menacing CGI beasts created by Industrial Light & Magic. A fun-filled creature-feature, this is recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Jordan Vogt-Roberts, the production featurettes “Summoning a God” (13 min.), “Realizing an Icon” (12 min.), “Monarch Files 2.0: Companion Archive” (8 min.), “Tom Hiddleston: The Intrepid Traveler” on the star (7 min.), and “On Location: Vietnam” (6 min.), deleted scenes (4 min.), and a “Through the Lens: Brie Larson's Photography” segment with the actress (2 min.). Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a fun popcorn flick.] (S. Granger)