Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Review: Marks A Return To The Roots For The Godzilla And Kong Saga
Cast: Anna Sawai, Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell
Created By: Chris Black, Mark Fraction
Streaming Platform: Apple TV+
Filmyhype.com Ratings: 4/5 (four stars)
The wait for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is finally over, to the delight of fans of Godzilla, King Kong, and company, of those who had rediscovered their love for the gigantic monsters inherited from Japanese sci-fi since 2014 with the remake of Godzilla post-nuclear and from the cinematic narrative that was. Apple TV+ puts its signature on this product whose shape is connected to a grandiose ambition and the desire to complete a narrative universe still full of holes and many things to say. The final result is as conceptually ambitious as it is spectacular. Born in Japan, but destined to fascinate the whole world, kaiju-based films are inevitably associated with the king of monster’s par excellence, Godzilla. It can be debated whether this title belongs to the Japanese lizard or to King Kong, the titanic primate equally loved by fans of the genre, but there is no doubt that it was the new Legendary-branded MonsterVerse that rekindled this rivalry.
A universe that after the first moves seen in Kong: Skull Island has progressively developed to incorporate the two great rivals of the genre, King Kong and Godzilla. The exploits of the two titanic creatures, who also had the opportunity to clash on the big screen, obviously focused on the fascination exerted by these two monsters, forgetting how their passage leaves a mark on humanity, unable to cope with their unstoppable pace. As we will see in our review of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, however, it is not a mere television spin-off: the goal of creators Chris Black and Mark Fraction was to tell an ambitious story, set on multiple temporal levels and capable of enriching the narrative universe of the saga, exploring the origins of the underground organization Monarch. This is why the production deployed a high-profile budget and mobilized the charisma of Kurt Russell and his son Wyatt. But will it be able to hold its own against the film titles?
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Review: The Story Plot
In 2014, shortly after the devastating battle between Godzilla and two MUTOs in San Francisco Bay that revealed to the world the existence of the primordial creatures known as Titans, young Cate Randa travels to Tokyo to shed light on the recent disappearance of her father Hiroshi. Contrary to what one might think, the man did not lose his life in the rubble of the city: at the end of the cataclysm, Hiroshi made sure that his daughter was well and safe and then went into hiding during the evacuation after having mentioned a mysterious mission to her. Shortly thereafter, he was reported missing in a plane crash, and his body was never found. In Tokyo, however, Cate discovers another shocking reality: her father led a parallel life, was married to another woman, and even had another son, Kentaro. Rummaging through his things, the two half-brothers will come across a dossier from the remote island of Skull Island, within which all the secrets of the enigmatic Monarch organization are hidden.
Soon Monarch agents will be on their trail, and the two will find themselves forced to ask for help from the young hacker May, Kentaro’s ex-girlfriend. The real story, however, actually began in the 1950s, when American Lieutenant Lee Shaw was ordered to protect the beautiful and brilliant Japanese scientist Keiko Miura and escort her during an investigation into a radioactive peak in the Philippines. On that occasion, their paths crossed with that of the young cryptozoologist Bill Randa, and the unlikely trio had their first encounter with the primordial race of the Titans… The creators Chris Black and Matt Fraction rightly choose to focus on waiting, to sip the appearances of the various monsters while favoring suspense over free spectacle. So, the various episodes offer the beauty of natural scenarios in which the various characters exchange sophisticated comedy jokes while trying to discover the truth about what is happening. The tone is light-hearted, at least in the past, while in the time window that we can consider contemporary the protagonist Cate Randa (Anna Sawai) is unable to overcome the trauma of Godzilla’s first attack on San Francisco, the city where she lived.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Review and Analysis
Godzilla, Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla II – King of the Monsters and Godzilla vs Kong has always had the problem of finding the right compromise between the need to have a minimum narrative at the service of the human characters and the presence of the screen of the Titans who they fought like there was no tomorrow. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is very substantial, but from the beginning, it tries to go beyond mere spectacularity and create the right mix between depth and the effect of monsters appearing but without interruption. Of course, it may seem to some that they are there just to remind us that yes, we are talking about them. There is honestly a problem in the series, which is the focus on the romantic and family dynamics of Randa, Kentaro, and May. If at certain moments there is the risk of articulating the entire process around them, then the narrative complexity becomes such that the obstacle is circumvented. The inserts taken from the 1950s are beautiful, although honestly, the temporal logic would predict a slightly less lively Kurt Russell (how old should he be? 90?).
At a script level, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters tries to be as plausible as possible and far from an excess of suspension of disbelief. Very aesthetically pleasing, with special effects of great impact and often strong colors, the series winks (as in the first films of the Monster Universe) to Lovecraft, to the concept of ancient greats beyond our control. Of course, it perhaps takes too much time to discover his cards, but the point is that mere spectacularity is more suitable for the big screen, here we are talking about Monarch and therefore a different approach was needed. There are many references to classic films, not just the Monster movie, as a bit of classic conspiracy theory and old-fashioned spy action are added. The problem remains that neither of the three youthful protagonists is truly interesting or original, and the two Russells take the spotlight for the second two.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, in the end, is perhaps not the masterpiece that was hoped for, but it will certainly find an audience that will sing its praises. Not as numerous as it could have been, however, given his move away from the mainstream, he’s still asking for an effort. This narrative approach is embellished by the attention with which Fraction and Black interpret the need to show the visual identity of the saga, so much so that, in each episode, there are spectacular natural scenarios, which become the perfect theater in which the characters exchange sophisticated dialogues as they try to reveal the truth about unfolding events. A dualism that generates a series with a strong identity, animated by different narrative tones that find, in the different time horizons in which it develops, a not obvious cohesion.
From these assumptions, a series is born that aims to bring a story of pure adventure to the small screen, in which the inner dimension of the characters and the more collective journey to discover the human origins of the MonsterVerse find equal space. The objective was achieved thanks to the intelligence of the production of not making the presence of monsters central, which is certainly not lacking, but which are used as secondary aspects, allowing the human element to be put in the foreground, made up of adventure, but also of feelings and fears, of traumas to process and of unspoken hopes. Aware of how the reference to the MonsterVerse has the greatest appeal for viewers, Legendary conceived Monarch: Legacy of Monsters as a visual story that abandons the grammar of the big screen and the potential it offers, enhancing the potential of seriality on the small screen. A gripping plot, fluid yet never overly frenetic editing, and exotic settings used to their fullest create an irresistible sense of wonder and anticipation, just as they did in the past.
A visual characterization that rewards the subtle presence of the monsters, who appear to us in their nature as extraordinary beings, even before being monstrous. Whether tiny creatures or beloved movie monsters, their appearance is accompanied by a sense of ferocious wonder that makes Monarch: Legacy of Monsters a rewarding, high-profile series, yet another addition to Apple TV+’s already impeccable catalog. With Monarch: Legacy of Monsters we return to the basics of the idea, that is, to build a story of adventure, research, and discovery in which the “monster” serves as a spectacular but not necessarily primary support for the story and content. At the center of this show are the mystery, the adventure, the feeling, and the relationships between the characters, certainly not those monsters which are, however, the main focus of the narrative. And don’t think that the production seems to want to save on special effects to keep the budget down.
From the magnificent locations and scenographic reconstruction, it is clear that this is a notable production effort on the part of Legendary and Apple TV+. In the area of television series that can guarantee first of all entertainment and a show capable of satisfying everyone, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters stands out for its productive foresight and a very balanced vision of what it wants to stage. Explicitly aware that viewing on smaller screens than the cinema cannot guarantee the same spectacularity, the show overcomes this limitation through a very profitable game with the public. A lively plot, fluid but never unnecessarily hysterical editing, and exotic settings exploited to the fullest offer the right appeal to build a sense of wonder and anticipation a bit in the old-fashioned way, so when the giant creatures arrive to destroy or threaten, that’s the effect becomes even more effective.
The first three episodes are seriously entertaining, they offer sufficiently well-defined characters and a show that can be appreciated for its variety, and this is truly a notable step forward compared to what the universe of King Kong, Godzilla, and companions has been able to offer in the last decade. Kurt Russell is formidable, but this is certainly nothing new. There is certainly no need to spend many words on the talent of the star of The Thing and Escape from New York, so we simply confirm that his stainless charisma this time too does not show the slightest sign of abating. Particular praise goes instead to the brilliant choice of placing him alongside his charismatic son Wyatt in the role of the same character over 50 years apart: the two are physiologically in perfect harmony, and manage to shape a truly memorable Lee Shaw, who inevitably towers over the entire cast of the series.
Alongside yet another confirmation of the acting skills of father and son, however, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters also allows us to discover some new promises that, until now, were completely unknown to the general public. We are talking first of all about the surprising Anna Sawai, the protagonist of the contemporary timeline, who after having distinguished herself in Pachinko, now conquers the spotlight in an even higher profile title, waiting to see her again in February in the miniseries Shogun, on Disney Plus. They don’t look out of place either. Ren Watabe (Kentaro), the fascinating Mari Yamamoto (Keiko Miura), and Kiersey Clemons (May), aka Iris West from Zack Snyder’s Justice League, then unfairly relegated to a minor role in Andy Muschietti’s disastrous The Flash. For her too, the series represents a great opportunity for redemption. The icing on the cake, however, is the great return of the legendary John Goodman, who returns to take on the role of the character already played in Kong: Skull Island. His presence, in addition to representing – as always – an added value, also represents yet another confirmation of the great work of narrative interconnection carried out by the authors.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Review: The Last Words
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters marks a return to the roots of the Godzilla and Kong saga, with a newfound sense of adventure, charm, and mystery. Apple TV+ hits the mark and demonstrates that kaiju can also find space on the small screen. Monarch: Legacy of Monster shows the human side of the MonsterVerse in which the simplistic presence of monsters accompanies their appearance with a sense of ferocious wonder that makes Monarch: Legacy of Monster a satisfying and high-profile series, yet another addition to the already impeccable catalog of Apple TV+. In the area of television series that can guarantee first of all entertainment and a show capable of satisfying everyone, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters stands out for its productive foresight and a very balanced vision of what it wants to stage.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Review: Marks A Return To The Roots For The Godzilla And Kong Saga - Filmyhype
Director: Anna Sawai, Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell
Date Created: 2023-11-17 19:42
4
Pros
- Impressive visual effects
- Engrossing story
- Kurt Russell's performance
Cons
- Slow pacing
- Underdeveloped characters
- Too much focus on human drama and not enough on monsters
