Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Score: 89
from 8 reviewers
Review Date:
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire delivers top-notch audio and video quality with entertaining monster battles, though the franchise's narrative may lack substance.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
Dolby Vision
Dolby Atmos
Dolby TrueHD
Video: 98
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire dazzles in 4K UHD with vibrant Dolby Vision colors and deep blacks, offering a precise 2160p/HDR10 transfer. Despite some CGI issues, the HDR enhancements highlight Godzilla's atomic breath and bioluminescent scenes, making it a visually impressive experience.
Audio: 98
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire features an outstanding Dolby Atmos mix, characterized by a balanced bass, immersive surround effects, and active overhead channels. However, upper frequency extension is somewhat limited, affecting the clarity of high-end sounds. Dialogue remains clear and the overall audio experience is dynamic and engaging.
Extra: 83
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’s 4K UHD Extras deliver a rich mix of behind-the-scenes featurettes totaling over an hour, covering everything from the evolution of the Titans to visualizing Hollow Earth, complemented by a detailed commentary track that blends technical insights with anecdotes, sans equipment specifics.
Movie: 81
Despite impressive visual effects and thrilling battle sequences, 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' struggles with an overstuffed plot and excessive human storylines, detracting from the monster mayhem that fans crave. The CGI occasionally falters, particularly with the less detailed Scar King and an overly cute juvenile ape, Suko.
Video: 98
"Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" offers an impressive visual feast with its Ultra HD rendering. The 4K UHD transfer is wonderfully detailed, leveraging its 2160p/HDR10 and Dolby Vision compatibility to deliver a consistently high bitrate on a triple-layered 100GB disc. This ensures that the visual quality is outstanding, with primary colors appearing vibrantly rich and secondary colors effectively popping off the screen. Blacks are deep and inky, while whites are gradational and punchy, highlighting the film's unique and varied aesthetic. The Dolby Vision enhancements particularly shine in the lush greens and dark reds of Kong's underworld lair and Godzilla's atomic breath, creating a visually arresting experience.
The disc maintains its 2.39:1 aspect ratio for the entire runtime, with some scenes originally presented in 1.89:1 and 2.39:1 for IMAX digital presentations. Captured in 4.5K using Arri Alexa LF and Mini LF, alongside Red Helium and Komodo cameras, the resulting post-production process involved Kodak Vision 3 2254 stock, which was processed with bleach bypass for enhanced contrast. This meticulous process results in an end product that combines rich color, impressive fine detail, and nuanced dark sequences. Black levels are expertly managed, stretching the limits of any display while maintaining clarity without any noticeable crushing.
Despite occasional issues where CGI intersects with practical effects—leading to some softness—this technical characteristic does not detract from the exceptional quality of the 4K transfer itself. Details like Godzilla's atomic breath, bioluminescent elements in Hollow Earth, and vibrant climatic scenes are rendered beautifully, pushing the capabilities of HDR to their limits. From sweeping international vistas to fine textures in close-ups, "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" remains a visually striking film that fully utilizes its considerable budget to create a million-dollar look on screen.
Audio: 98
The Dolby Atmos audio presentation of "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" is a masterclass in dynamic sound design, providing an immersive and powerful auditory experience. The primary audio format being English Dolby Atmos, supplemented by English Dolby TrueHD 7.1, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, offers a comprehensive range that ensures every element is captured with precision. The sound mix leverages the full potential of modern surround sound setups, delivering an impressively immersive experience. Notably, the bass response is noteworthy for its balance and power, rendering Godzilla's and Kong's roars with window-rattling intensity without clipping or distortion.
The surround effects are meticulously designed, incorporating ambient elements and discrete action sounds that enhance the 3D immersion. Overhead channels are actively utilized, making sequences like debris falling in the final battle extremely engaging. Dialogue remains clear and intelligible throughout, even amidst the chaos of massive battle sequences. The mix's aggressive nature pushes the enveloping sound to superior levels with directional effects that embrace the viewer from all angles.
However, there are minor concerns in the upper frequency range, where high-frequency extensions seem somewhat constrained. This is particularly noticeable in the film’s music score and certain sound effects, where cymbals and water splashes lack the expected sparkle and airiness. Despite this, the overall audio mix remains highly impactful, leaving most viewers unlikely to notice the limited high end unless they specifically listen for it. The incorporated subtitles—English (SDH), French, and Spanish—ensure accessibility for a broader audience.
Overall, "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" delivers a near-perfect audio experience that effectively utilizes Atmos technology to capture the grandeur of kaiju battles with vivid aural clarity and depth.
Extra: 83
The extras for the "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" 4K UHD Blu-ray present a thorough and engaging exploration of the film’s intricate production. These featurettes, although brief, collectively offer in-depth insights into the film's development, from the evolution of the Titans to the elaborate visual and practical effects used to bring Hollow Earth to life. The commentary track adds significant value, featuring Director Adam Wingard along with key crew members discussing creative inspirations, technical challenges, and personal anecdotes that enrich the viewing experience. This comprehensive collection of supplementary materials makes it an essential addition for enthusiasts and provides a detailed behind-the-scenes look at the making of this monumental MonsterVerse installment.
Extras included in this disc:
- GxK: Day of Reckoning: Overview of the franchise progression.
- Evolution of the Titans: Godzilla Evolved: Analysis of Godzilla’s design changes.
- Evolution of the Titans: From Lonely God to King: Kong’s character evolution.
- Into the Hollow Earth: Visualizing Hollow Earth: Concepts for Hollow Earth.
- Into the Hollow Earth: Monsters of Hollow Earth: Creature designs in Hollow Earth.
- The Battles Royale: A Titanic Fight Among the Pyramids: Behind-the-scenes of the pyramid battle.
- The Battles Royale: The Zero Gravity Battle: Insight into the zero-gravity action sequence.
- The Battles Royale: The Titans Trash Rio: Making of the Rio de Janeiro battle.
- The Intrepid Director: Adam Wingard: Big Kid: Director's enthusiasm and vision.
- The Intrepid Director: Adam Wingard: Set Tour: Director-led set tour.
- The Imagination Department: Art Department War Room insights.
- The Monarch Island Base: Portal to Another World: Design of the Monarch island base.
- The Evolution of Jia: From Orphan to Warrior: Exploring Jia's journey.
- Bernie’s World: Behind the Triple Locked Door: Production design of Bernie’s apartment.
- Commentary by Director Adam Wingard, Visual Effects Supervisor Alessandro Ongaro, Production Designer Tom Hammock, and Editor Josh Schaeffer.
Movie: 81
"Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" maintains the action-packed thrills and colossal spectacle that fans of the franchise have come to expect, but falls short in balancing its human and monster elements effectively. The narrative picks up where "Godzilla vs. Kong" left off, with Kong residing in Hollow Earth and Godzilla roaming the surface. Both Titans are thrust into a new conflict against the formidable Skar King and his ice Titan, Shimo. The film attempts to interweave human storylines, including Monarch researcher Ilene Andrews and her deaf daughter Jia, who play a significant role in deciphering the history and motivations behind these ancient monsters. However, these human subplots often feel overstuffed and detract from the primal allure of monster mayhem.
Visually, the movie is a mixed bag. While the CGI renders impressive titanic clashes that fans crave, certain elements like the mini ape companion to Kong and Skar King's detailing fall short of the standards set by predecessors in the Monsterverse. Godzilla's limited screen time—a mere 20 minutes—strikes a disappointing chord for fans expecting more of the King of Monsters. That said, when the monsters do clash, the scenes are a roller-coaster ride of destructive enjoyment. The exploration of new biomes within Hollow Earth offers a visually intriguing yet inconsistent experience.
The film’s attempt to mix humor with high-stakes monster battles is moderately successful. While some scenes, such as Kong's shower under a waterfall following an opening battle, add a light-hearted tone, others feel too cartoonish. Despite its narrative and visual missteps, "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" delivers enough high-energy brawls and visually inventive moments to satisfy diehard fans of kaiju lore, even if it leaves some longing for the franchise’s former glory.
Total: 89
"Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" on 4K UHD Blu-ray offers a spectacular visual and audio experience for fans of monster cinema. Filmed in a crisp 2.39:1 HEVC aspect ratio, the overall video quality is exceptional, providing sharp details and vibrant colors that truly bring the colossal battles to life. The Dolby Atmos audio track is robust, delivering an immersive soundscape that complements the on-screen chaos effectively. Even though some viewers might notice occasional lapses in character engagement and narrative coherence, the focus on grandiose monster fights largely eclipses these shortcomings.
The disc comes with practical extras that add to its replayability. Unlike previous entries where human characters might dilute viewer experience with unnecessary exposition, this film maintains an acceptable balance by prioritizing monster action more effectively. The runtime of 114 minutes seems well-utilized, making for a quicker, more engaging watch. Some may point out minor audio issues, but these do not significantly detract from the overall viewing experience.
Conclusion: The Monsterverse films keep getting sillier and sillier, but I can’t really complain as even the original Toho films back in the day were not exactly high art (though Godzilla Minus One actually shocked everyone with how good it was this last year), but this one seems to be goofier than even Godzilla vs. Kong. It’s mostly a King Kong movie with a few cameos from Godzilla though, so fans will want to adjust their expectations accordingly. BUUUUUUUUUUUT, at the end of the day I still enjoyed this as a mindless popcorn film and find it fascinating to see how the United States’ Monsterverse differs from the Toho Direct method that was Godzilla Minus One . But whatever your thoughts on the movie itself, the audio and video are top notch, and the extras actually rather decent as well, leaving me to recommend this as a fun popcorn watch.
Technical Specifications:
Starring: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Godzilla, King Kong
Directed by: Adam Wingard
Written by: Terry Rossio, Adam Wingard, Simon Barrett
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 HEVC
Audio: English: Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Core), English, French, Spanish DD 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Studio: Warner Brothers
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 114 Minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: June 11th, 2024
Recommendation: Popcorn Watch
AV Nirvana review by Michael ScottRead review here
Video: 90
Audio: 100
However, that little tidbit is less to do with the actual transfer, and more to do with the how the film itself looked due to the CGI application on a fundamental level....
Godzilla and Kong alike both roar with window rattling power, but it doesn’t really clip at the source, and seems to have a fairly low extension as well....
Extra: 70
Movie: 60
• GxK: Day of Reckoning • Evolution of the Titans: Godzilla Evolved • Evolution of the Titans: From Lonely God to King • Into the Hollow Earth: Visualizing Hollow Earth • Into the Hollow Earth: Monsters...
That is, it deals WAY too much with the human interactions, including splicing in our telepathic mute girl from the previous films FINALLY getting to do something worthwhile in the form of an ancient race...
Total: 80
BUUUUUUUUUUUT, at the end of the day I still enjoyed this as a mindless popcorn film, and find it fascinating to see how the United States’ Monsterverse differs from the Toho Direct method that was Godzilla...
Blu-ray.com review by Randy Miller IIIRead review here
Video: 100
Audio: 100
Extraordinary elements like Godzilla's atomic breath and natural wonders, such as bioluminescent material and glowing crystals deep within Hollow Earth, push all three of these extremes as far as I've...
Optional subtitles are limited to English (SDH), French, and Spanish, available during the film and all extras....
Extra: 70
Movie: 70
Bonus features include a full-length commentary and just over an hour of behind-the-scenes featurettes, which are identical to those found on the separate Blu-ray edition, reviewed here....
I finally got to watch a really good monster movie just the other day, one that pairs relatable human characters with a solid story and copious amounts of beastly destruction....
Total: 80
For what it's worth, I've given earlier entries more or less the same star rating but this one feels like it has a bit more replay value... and while that doesn't necessarily make it the best film in the...
The Digital Bits review by Stephen BjorkRead review here
Video: 95
Audio: 80
Post-production work was completed as a 4K Digital Intermediate, which was then scanned out to a 35mm internegative on Kodak Vision 3 2254 stock, processed with bleach bypass in order to enhance contrast,...
It’s a wildly aggressive mix, with consistent envelopment and plenty of directionalized effects to surround the viewer at all times, including from the overhead channels (there are a few particularly memorable...
Extra: 85
Movie: 60
They explain some details from the earlier drafts of the script that were left out of the final film, like how light operates in hollow Earth—they eventually decided that it really doesn’t matter, and...
The universal acclaim for Godzilla Minus One has been interesting, because there’s nothing particularly original about it, and it borrows heavily from several previous films in the series....
Total: 80
(It’s worth noting that as of this writing, I couldn’t find any other reviews that mentioned it, so it certainly hasn’t bothered other reviewers)....
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 100
Audio: 100
Splendid, deeply saturated color keeps the scenery lively, with an intensity and boldness that’s rare anymore in this era of digital grading....
The depth and power is rare, although some discs do offer greater weight (the recent Dune 2, for one)....
Extra: 60
Movie: 2
Nine featurettes follows, focusing on characters, Wingard, hollow earth, the monsters, and others....
Rather than correcting that, Warner plays into the misconception because it’s easier than dealing with the reality of nuclear fallout....
Total: 66
Godzilla x Kong is worse than a disgrace, and sinks to previously unknown levels of awfulness....
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 100
Audio: 100
All the while, black levels are incredibly rich and inky with outstanding gradational differences between the various shades, allowing for excellent visibility within the darkest, velvety shadows, providing...
The mid-range exhibits distinct clarity and superb definition during the loudest, ear-deafening moments, making every screeching roar, radioactive breadth and tiny piece of rubble reverb through the room...
Extra: 40
Movie: 60
The Titans Trash Rio Evolution of the Titans (HD, 12 min) houses two brief discussions on the two monstrous titans Godzilla Evolved Kong’s Journey: From Lonely God to King Into the Hollow Earth (HD, 12...
But others will be momentarily pulled out of the illusion, chuckling at the bonkers absurdity because the possibility is crassly convenient only in service for the moment rather than arising organically...
Total: 80
The sequel demolishes home theaters on 4K Ultra HD with a stunning, reference-quality Dolby Vision HDR presentation and a stellar, demo-quality Dolby Atmos soundtrack, and they're joined by a healthy if...
Home Theater Forum review by Todd ErwinRead review here
Video: 100
Audio: 100
Warner’s 2160p HEVC encode on this disc is in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio for its entire running time and includes both Dolby Vision and HDR10 high dynamic range on a BD100 disc (although only using about...
Surrounds and heights are extremely active throughout, from the loud action sequences with sounds coming from all around you to the more quieter indoor lab facility sequences with excellent reverb....
Extra: 60
Movie: 60
The Monarch Island Base: Portal to Another World (1080p; 5:32): A look at the production design of the Monarch base....
Meanwhile, back at the Iwi village, Ilene and her team encounter the tribe’s Queen (Fala Chen) who invites them into a temple where Ilene deciphers some hieroglyphics that tell the history of how Skar...
Total: 70
The New Empire is a terrific looking and sounding disc, but as a movie, the franchise seems to be running out of steam....
AVSForum review by Ralph PottsRead review here
Video: 96
Audio: 100
Like its predecessor, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a sci-fi/fantasy/action film that features two worlds that blend of mix cinematic visuals, and this Ultra HD rendering makes the most of its elements....
This film is tailor made for Atmos as the blend of audio objects placed in the height channels contains atmospherics and discrete effects....
Extra: 80
Movie: 50
• GxK: Day of Reckoning • Evolution of the Titans: Godzilla Evolved • Evolution of the Titans: From Lonely God to King • Into the Hollow Earth: Visualizing Hollow Earth • Into the Hollow Earth: Monsters...
The epic new film delves further into the histories of these Titans, their origins, and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary...
Total: 82
Ralph Potts AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews Reference Review System: JVC DLA-NZ7 4K Ultra High-Definition Laser Front Projector (Calibrated with Calman color calibration software and Portrait Displays C6 HDR2000...
Why So Blu? review by Aaron NeuwirthRead review here
Video: 100
Audio: 100
As the film builds its adventure into grander areas, there is plenty for the viewer to take in, with the monsters playing well on the center and side channels, and all the results of their battles playing...
Extra: 70
Movie: 80
Into the Hollow Earth: Visualizing Hollow Earth (HD, 5:46) – A look at the continued development of the world that is Hollow Earth, including the places explored to find sounds and inspiration....
Wingard and writers Terry Rossio, Jeremy Slater, and Simon Barrett seem to get that, as this is perhaps the slightest entry for the MonsterVerse, but no less engaging, let alone lacking in scope....
Total: 90
With an agreement reached to do even less with humans, more with monsters, and make it all lively and colorful, if you’re not letting go of the need to call everything into question for the sake of enjoying...
Director: Adam Wingard
Actors: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens
PlotIn a world still reeling from their first epic battle, Godzilla and Kong face a new threat that forces them to join forces. An ancient titan, long thought to be a myth, emerges from the depths of the Hollow Earth, bringing with it untold destruction. This monstrous adversary, possessing both the brute strength of Kong and the raw, elemental fury of Godzilla, threatens not just their dominions but the very balance of nature itself. As the planet teeters on the brink of chaos, scientists scramble to uncover the secrets of the Hollow Earth and devise a plan to counter this unparalleled menace. Meanwhile, humanity watches in fear and awe as these two titans, once adversaries, become an unlikely alliance.
The epicenter of the conflict shifts between sprawling urban landscapes and the mysterious, uncharted territories of the Hollow Earth, leading to breathtaking battles and awe-inspiring set pieces. The human characters, led by a determined group of scientists and investigators, race against time to influence the outcome without becoming collateral damage. The movie melds humanity's resilience with the raw power of these colossal beings, setting the stage for a climactic showdown that will determine the future of the planet. Every revelation brings more questions as ancient secrets are unearthed and dormant powers spring to life.
MoreWriters: Terry Rossio, Adam Wingard, Simon Barrett
Release Date: 29 Mar 2024
Runtime: 115 min
Rating: PG-13
Country: United States, Australia
Language: English