MonsterVerse

 http://www.charlielayton.com/

As awful as life can be sometimes most of the time, you have to look for joy in the little things. Or in this case, the really, really big things. 

The MonsterVerse is Legendary Entertainment's shared universe that reminds me that no matter how bad things get, I can sleep at night knowing there’s a big budget kaiju franchise that is centered around Godzilla and King Kong beating the shit out of each other. And it's not just them, but a ton of other monsters as well, old and new. Think of it as a big(ger) dumb(er) Avengers made up of CGI monsters. I’m so happy I could cry. 

Godzilla

May 16, 2014

Director: Gareth Edwards

Starring: Godzilla and a bunch of blank slates (Bryan Cranston, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen)

The first ever Godzilla movie made by an American studio. Don't you dare try to bring up that other one to me, I'll spit right in your face and feel no remorse. The studios brought in a director who - despite his faults in other areas - is amazing at creating a sense of scale on film and as a result Godzilla has never looked more imposing or more like, well, the King of the Monsters. Shame about the whole 'making interesting characters' thing.

It introduced Monarch, the scientific organization that I assume will be the through line for the franchise. They'll show up in all sorts of wacky places where Man doesn't belong. It also introduced the M.U.T.O. - also known as the Cloverfield monster - who we'll probably never see again now that Legendary has been able to license more classic monsters from Toho. 

Kong: Skull Island

March 10, 2017

Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts

Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L Jackson, John Goodman, Brie Larson, Jiang Tian, Toby Kebbell, John Ortiz, Corey Hawkins, John C. Reilly 

Kong is back and the movie is mercifully shorter than 3 hours. KONG takes us back to the Vietnam War where a mix of soldiers and scientists are tasked with investigating the uncharted Skull Island. There they encounter Kong, the God of the Island, and a bunch of cool looking monsters that we won't see again unless they make that prequel movie with John C. Reilly. 

Check out Chris' review here.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

March 22, 2019

Director: Michael Dougherty 

Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, O'Shea Jackson Jr. (maybe)

Godzilla is known for memorable monsters, but lacks interesting human characters. So you're telling me the got the guys that wrote KRAMPUS to write the script for a sequel? Take my money. 

We don’t know much yet as we’re still a couple years out, but Legendary has teased Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah. I’m crying just thinking about it. Is it smart to burn 3 of its most recognizable foes at once? Probably not. Do I want to see it? More than anything. 

Godzilla vs. Kong

May 29, 2020

Director: TBA

Starring: TBA

These two titans of film haven't crossed paths since 1962 and I think we're long overdue for a big dumb monster mash. Will they collide in a catastrophic extinction-level battle for the ages, or will they put aside their differences to thwart the mighty Jet Jaguar?

In all seriousness though I'm assuming they’ll start off as enemies but join forces to fight a bigger monster. What I’m trying to say is if Godzilla and King Kong team up to fight King Ghidorah I’m going to need one of you beside me with an oxygen mask or my time on this Earth will come to a sudden but orgasmic end.