Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 89
from 8 reviewers
Review Date:
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire offers stellar 4K & Dolby Atmos presentation with entertaining, if absurd, monster battles that overshadow its weak human storylines.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
Dolby Vision
Dolby Atmos
Dolby TrueHD
Video: 98
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire on 4K UHD delivers a near-perfect visual experience with stunning Dolby Vision-enhanced colors, deep blacks, and finely detailed textures. The HDR10 transfer on a 100GB disc ensures bright whites and rich colors, though CGI can appear slightly soft. The film's post-production process and a 4K digital intermediate contribute to its cinematic quality.
Audio: 98
The Dolby Atmos track for 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' offers a balanced, immersive audio experience with thunderous bass, excellent surround activity, and clear dialogue. Overhead channels deliver dynamic effects, though the high-frequency range could be better. Overall, it’s an engaging and technically sound presentation.
Extra: 83
This 4K UHD release offers an extensive and engaging array of extras, spanning detailed commentaries with director Adam Wingard and key crew, in-depth featurettes on visual effects and character evolution, and insights into the creative processes behind 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.'
Movie: 81
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire offers an uneven blend of human drama and monster action, with CGI that occasionally falters and a plot commonly bogged down by its human elements. While the visual spectacle is fun and the Dolby Vision HDR with Dolby Atmos audio provides an immersive experience, it lacks the deeper narrative impact seen in Godzilla Minus One.
Video: 98
"Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" transcends expectations with its near-perfect 4K UHD presentation. The film, captured in 4.5K using an array of digital cameras and processed as a 4K Digital Intermediate, dazzles with sharp, firm imagery and rich texture. Whether it’s the facial definition of the human cast or the intricate detailing of Kong's fur and Godzilla’s scales, the representation is immaculate. The Dolby Vision HDR enhances the sun's brilliance and the vivid lights of the hollow earth, ensuring a peak visual spectacle. The native 4K transfer excels with razor-sharp clarity and rich black levels, enhancing depth and detail in both close-ups and wide shots.
The Dolby Vision and HDR10 enhancements truly shine, especially in sequences set in the underworld lair at the center of the earth. The atomic breath of Godzilla and bioluminescent elements are showcased with jaw-dropping color depth and luminosity. The colors are splendidly saturated, with primary hues appearing rich and secondary colors vividly animated. The film’s final digital intermediate process includes scanning to a 35mm internegative with bleach bypass processing to enhance contrast, further contributing to its striking visual impact.
The 2160p/HDR10 transfer remains consistently high-bitrate on this triple-layered (100GB) disc, ensuring extraordinary clarity and minimal artifacts throughout. Notably, the gradational gray tones and richly colored primary and secondary elements maintain impeccable integrity. Even in high-contrast scenes such as the human hideout's taxing sequences or the copious CGI battle scenes, the presentation excels with inky blacks, brilliant whites, and detailed textures. Overall, "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" is a feast for the eyes, cementing its status as a reference-quality disc in the Monsterverse series.
Audio: 98
The Dolby Atmos track for "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" is nothing short of extraordinary, delivering a loud and aggressive soundscape that is perfectly suited for the film's epic nature. From Kong's subterranean roams to Godzilla's thunderous battles, the audio mix plunges viewers into an immersive 3D auditory environment. The balance between high-energy action sequences and quieter moments is skillfully maintained, ensuring dialogue remains clear and precise even during the most chaotic scenes. The overhead channels feature remarkable object-based audio effects, adding another dimension to the immersive experience, whether through ambient natural sounds or dramatic debris crashes.
A significant low-end frequency presence is evident throughout the film, offering room-shaking bass that makes each monstrous footstep and explosion resonate powerfully. While aggressive, the mix avoids overwhelming the listener with evenly distributed bass that extends impressively without clipping. Despite this, there are some limitations in the high-frequency extension, noticeable primarily in the musical score and finer sound effects, which results in a slightly muted, less vivid top end. This slight imperfection aside, the Dolby Atmos mix remains generally vibrant and engaging.
The surround sound presentation is impressive across all channels, ensuring no speaker is left underutilized. Flying creatures, helicopters, and monster roars seamlessly pan around and above the viewer, keeping the auditory field dynamic and active. Even quieter scenes benefit from subtle atmospheric effects that enhance the hemispheric soundfield. In summary, Warner Bros. has delivered a robust and comprehensive Dolby Atmos experience that significantly enhances the viewing experience, catering well to both audiophiles and casual viewers alike.
Extra: 83
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" provides an engaging suite of extras, delivering a comprehensive behind-the-scenes experience. The commentary track by Director Adam Wingard, Visual Effects Supervisor Alessandro Ongaro, Production Designer Tom Hammock, and Editor Josh Schaeffer offers insightful details on the film’s production, including discussions on digital environments and practical set use. Featurettes like "Evolution of the Titans" and "Into the Hollow Earth" dive into character developments and visual effects design, respectively. The "Battles Royale" segments highlight the intricate VFX work in key action sequences, while "The Intrepid Director" featurettes showcase Wingard’s creative process. Additional short segments like "The Monarch Island Base" and "The Evolution of Jia" provide depth to auxiliary characters and settings, enhancing the viewing experience.
Extras included in this disc:
GxK: Day of Reckoning: Brief overview of the franchise. Evolution of the Titans: Godzilla Evolved: Details the evolution of Godzilla. Evolution of the Titans: From Lonely God to King: Discusses Kong's character growth. Into the Hollow Earth: Visualizing Hollow Earth: Explores visual concepts for Hollow Earth. Into the Hollow Earth: Monsters of Hollow Earth: Focuses on creature design. The Battles Royale: A Titanic Fight Among the Pyramids: Behind-the-scenes look at the pyramids battle. The Battles Royale: The Zero Gravity Battle: Insights into the zero-gravity fight sequence. The Battles Royale: The Titans Trash Rio: Explores the battle in Rio de Janeiro. The Intrepid Director: Adam Wingard: Big Kid: Showcases Wingard's enthusiasm. The Intrepid Director: Adam Wingard: Set Tour: Tour of film sets led by Wingard. The Imagination Department: Focuses on concept design work. The Monarch Island Base: Portal to Another World: Insights into designing the Monarch base. The Evolution of Jia: From Orphan to Warrior: Character exploration of Jia. Bernie’s World: Behind the Triple Locked Door: Tour of Bernie’s apartment set. Commentary by Director Adam Wingard, Visual Effects Supervisor Alessandro Ongaro, Production Designer Tom Hammock and Editor Josh Schaeffer: Insights into technical aspects and story development.
Movie: 81
"Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" brings the famed Titans together once more, but this time it's to combat a sinister adversary lurking within the Earth's core. The film starts with Godzilla roaming the surface, absorbing radiation, seemingly preparing for an impending threat, while Kong discovers he's not alone in Hollow Earth. Here, he encounters another tribe of giant apes ruled by the tyrannical Scar King, who wields an ice-breathing Titan named Shimo via a mystical crystal. As Kong and Godzilla unite against this formidable foe, the film delves into their rich histories and origins, alongside revelations about Skull Island and prophecies involving ancient human tribes.
Visually, "The New Empire" is a mixed bag. While it expands on the grandeur of previous Monsterverse films, the over-reliance on CGI sometimes detracts from the immersion, notably with less-than-convincing minor characters and details on the Scar King. The action sequences, though few and far between, especially until the final act, deliver the expected city-smashing spectacle. Although it's billed as a collaboration, Godzilla's sparse screen time makes it feel more like Kong's story. Additionally, the film is punctuated by moments of jarring product placement and comedic beats that can disrupt the suspension of disbelief.
The narrative is loaded with plot points that may feel convoluted, particularly regarding human elements that many viewers might find extraneous. The human storylines intertwine with Kong's quest in Hollow Earth and serve primarily as a bridge to the battles. Despite its shortcomings in pacing and occasional incoherence, "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" maintains some of its charm through sheer escapism and monumental Titan clashes that cater to both fans of the series and those seeking a colossal popcorn movie experience.
Total: 89
"Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire" takes the silliness to new heights, but it is precisely this outlandishness that makes it an enjoyable popcorn flick. Director Adam Wingard dives head-first into absurdly bonkers action sequences, pushing the suspension of disbelief to the edge. While the human characters remain as flavorless and exposition-heavy as ever, the film excels in delivering spectacular monster battles that ensure its replay value. For devout fans of the Monsterverse, this entry will not disappoint, proving both entertaining and engaging in all its monstrous glory.
Technically, the 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation is top-notch. Warner Bros delivers a stellar visual experience with a Dolby Vision HDR presentation that is nothing short of stunning. The Dolby Atmos soundtrack further enhances the viewing experience, providing an aggressive audio mix that immerses you in the action, even if some minor audio issues are noted by a few reviewers. The inclusion of a decent, though relatively light, collection of bonus features further sweetens the deal, making this edition the preferred home video choice.
In conclusion, "Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire" may not be high art, but it gleefully embraces its role as a mindless yet fun extravaganza. Fans of giant monster battles will find much to enjoy here. The impeccable A/V quality makes it a must-have for home theater enthusiasts, ensuring it earns a strong recommendation as a captivating popcorn watch.
AV Nirvana review by Michael ScottRead review here
Video: 90
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....
Audio: 100
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....
Extras: 70
• 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...
Movie: 60
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
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...
Audio: 100
Optional subtitles are limited to English (SDH), French, and Spanish, available during the film and all extras....
Extras: 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....
Movie: 70
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
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,...
Audio: 80
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...
Extras: 85
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...
Movie: 60
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
Splendid, deeply saturated color keeps the scenery lively, with an intensity and boldness that’s rare anymore in this era of digital grading....
Audio: 100
The depth and power is rare, although some discs do offer greater weight (the recent Dune 2, for one)....
Extras: 60
Nine featurettes follows, focusing on characters, Wingard, hollow earth, the monsters, and others....
Movie: 2
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
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...
Audio: 100
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...
Extras: 40
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...
Movie: 60
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
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...
Audio: 100
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....
Extras: 60
The Monarch Island Base: Portal to Another World (1080p; 5:32): A look at the production design of the Monarch base....
Movie: 60
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
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....
Audio: 100
This film is tailor made for Atmos as the blend of audio objects placed in the height channels contains atmospherics and discrete effects....
Extras: 80
• 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...
Movie: 50
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...
Extras: 70
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....
Movie: 80
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.
Writers: Terry Rossio, Adam Wingard, Simon Barrett
Release Date: 29 Mar 2024
Runtime: 115 min
Rating: PG-13
Country: United States, Australia
Language: English