Kong: Skull Island has finally roared into theaters, and the critical response hasn’t been unkind. The film’s 79% Rotten Tomatoes score, coupled with the promise of enough beast-bashing goodness to keep most audiences happy, bodes well for Legendary’s planned cinematic MonsterVerse. As one would expect, though, the movie lacks several ingredients that could’ve pushed it from goodness to greatness.
For one, many of the actors appear horribly bored, resulting in a jarring experience that never feels quite right and fails to fully immerse viewers in the world the film strives to build. Predictably, there’s no emotional core here either, but who honestly came into the movie expecting a giant, rampaging ape to pull at their heartstrings? Kong wants to smash monsters into cliff faces and look like a boss doing it. Spoiler alert: He does both on numerous occasions.
Despite its many shortcomings, Kong: Skull Island is still edge-of-your-seat popcorn movie goodness in its purest form, a triumph of spectacle-driven cinema and a testament to the cultural staying power of the creature feature. Which parts were our favorites, though? Read on for 6 epic moments in Warner Bros.’ new blockbuster and feel free to share your own picks in the comments section below.