Brains vs Brawns. Skull Island Impresses with Mystery and Kaiju Style Action!

What makes Skull Island a fine jumping in point is that one doesn’t need to know the live-action movie at all.

Netflix Skull Island Promotional PosterLegendary PicturesSkull Island is essentially a variation on a theme. I’ve seen this story in Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous; both tales concern teens and adults trapped in the worst place possible. They not only have to contend with rogue scientists but also giant monsters. When they wash up here, where they land is no Hotel California.

Although this animation is billed as a story for an older crowd, the teen elements are at the forefront, and the ape (i.e. Kong) simply lounging around. His presence is downplayed while another beast takes centre stage. I’m curious about Dog, who probably aids the mighty gorilla. This temperamental mutant has the features of a Pitbull, lion and armadillo.

He’d be the type of creature cryptologists and scientists would want to study. But instead, they’re more interested in riling up things from the sea and detonating explosives in places where they shouldn’t. Charlie (Nicolas Cantu) doesn’t like this life, and if it weren’t for his best friend, Mike (Darren Barnet) being here, he’d probably go crazy. This teen wants a normal life.

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From Storyboard Art to Film with Richard Bennett. Godzilla vs Kong Art on Kickstarter!

Clover Press is ready to rumble with Godzilla & Kong: The Cinematic Storyboard Art of Richard Bennett.

Book Cover
Final art subject to change.

Clover Press is ready to rumble with Godzilla & Kong: The Cinematic Storyboard Art of Richard Bennett. This book puts together a selection of the best sequences from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Picturesโ€™ blockbuster trio of hits Godzilla vs. Kong, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and Kong: Skull Island, along with some never-before-seen deleted scenes. It’s sure to be a must-have for movie buffs, film students, industry professionals and, of course, all Kaiju aficionados!

All of these images are by Richard Bennett, one of the most respected storyboard artists working today. He’s collaborated with directors David Fincher, Christopher Nolan, Brad Bird, and JJ Abrams, among others. Now, Bennett and Clover Press are launching a Kickstarter campaign for a stunning hardcover coffee table book which showcases Bennettโ€™s storyboard storytelling and two of the biggest stars in the history of cinema with.

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Is Dune Doomed Because This Film is a Two-Parter?

The first film is ambitious enough to lay the foundation of whatโ€™s to come, but itโ€™s better to read the books to know the full story than to wait for part two.

DUNE 2021 Movie Poster: duneBe Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Star power wonโ€™t necessarily make Denis Villeneuveโ€™s Dune the most memorable. Names like Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, and Jason Momoa will bring their fans in, but they’ll be disappointed. Just how often they are on screen is no different than the 1984 product. Back then, the stars included Sting and Max Von Sydow. Even Patrick Stewart had a role before becoming widely known in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Ultimately, this filmโ€™s success depends on a willingness to sit through a 150min long movie. The many introductions made the pacing tough to get through. Also, Frank Herbertโ€™s very dense work is not for everyone. In a nutshell, the saga he created is about whoever controls the drug, Melange, can hold the galaxy hostage. It’s known as “The Spice” and it can give frequent users prolonged life and psychotropic abilities.

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The Highs and Lows of Godzilla vs Kong

Although Legendary’s films don’t have the same nuances as the Japanese movies, the blockbuster design in Godzilla vs Kong is welcoming.

Godzilla vs. Kong.pngBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Playing at select theatres, on HBO Max and Apple TV
Spoiler Alert

To say Godzilla vs Kong is leaning on the ape winning is obvious in the first few minutes of the movie, and we see him as a giant monkey than fierce beast from Skull Island. Heโ€™s been domesticated and Iโ€™m not fond of this idea.ย 

Although fiercely independent, the Monarch Organization can exert a bit of control because this titan has a relationship with a very young mute girl, Jia (played by newcomer Kaylee Hottle). She’s the last of her tribe who once worshipped the furry guy as a god, and Kong chose to save her instead of the entire tribe. Their home got razed by that weather system which surrounds it, and this group felt a sense of duty to do what’s right after the incident decades agoโ€“they helped awaken a lot more monsters than they bargained for.

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Lotsa Products Coming for Godzilla vs Kong, Leading Up to & After!

Godzilla vs Kong - Godzilla

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Kaiju-Pow! The slow and steady rollout of Playmates line of Godzilla vs Kong toys have wave two set for Spring 2021 (according to Twitter) and as for whether I spotted them sitting on shelves too early is debatable.ย 

Trolls on online forums will be just that, ruining my excitement of a late self discovery. Iโ€™ve seen the earlier wave of releases and theyโ€™re not as cool, When local governments say stay at home as much as possible, any find I make at a big box store for toys and household supply restocking is not meant to time with the release schedule of products for my hobbies.

With the movie finally headed to theatres and online in March, the products now available in stores are always exciting to examine. I missed my opportunities to purchase the light up Identity Discs from TRON Legacy. they were gone, faster than I thought, but this time I’m on the ball.

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