The Blu-ray/DVD for Kong: Skull Island is out. Are the extras cool and interesting? Should you add this big ape to your home entertainment collection? Check Kidzworld’s Blu-ray review.
By: Lynn Barker
In Kong: Skull Island, a 100 foot ape has enough trouble just keeping underground monsters that destroyed his family from killing the island natives. Then, here come more humans with bombs and helicopters. Can’t a big ape just have some peace and quiet?
Kong vs. invading helicopters
Trek to Skull Island
During World War II, American and Japanese pilots crash land on an uncharted island in the South Pacific only to be confronted by a ginormous gorilla at least 100 feet high!
The native village
Now it is 1973 and former British Special Air Service Captain James Conrad (Tom Hiddleston) is hired by explorer Bill Randa (John Goodman) to guide an expedition to map out the same island. Transporting them on the mission are the Sky Devils helicopter squadron fresh from the Vietnam war and led by Lieutenant Colonel Preston Packard (Samuel L. Jackson). Pacifist photojournalist Mason Weaver (Brie Larson) joins them thinking there is more of a story here than most know.
In the boneyard of Kong's dead relatives
At Odds
Not all those on the mission agree. Packard's men start dropping explosives to determine if the ground below the island is hollow, despite Conrad's objections. The ‘copters are attacked by the ape known as “Kong” and many crash. The remaining group is split up. Randa reveals to Packard that he is with a secret government organization called Monarch whose mission is to get proof of the existence of monstrous creatures that have been forgotten by humanity. Packard is determined to kill the ape who killed his men.
Colonel Preston Packard with some of his men
Conrad won't let them kill Kong
Wild Critters Attack!
The group has three days to trek to the opposite side of the island to be picked up. If they miss the date, they’ll be stranded! While trekking through the jungle, the divided groups encounter a giant spider, huge water buffalo and weird flying dinosaur-like creatures. Conrad, Weaver, Brooks, biologist San Lin (Jing Tian) and a few others find the local natives and Marlow (John C Reilly), the now 28-years-older pilot who crashed on the island in WW II. He reveals that Kong is the island's guardian and is worshiped as a god by the natives for protecting them from reptilian monsters that live underground and have slaughtered Kong's ancestors, leaving him as the last of his kind. He is a good guy!
The long marooned Hank Marlow
Reunited
The two groups finally reunite but by now, Weaver has had a gentle exchange with Kong, witnessed by Conrad and Kong keeps protecting her. Both Conrad and Weaver want to do anything to save the big ape from Packard’s wrath. Then there are those giant reptile/dino like creatures. Who will win? Will anybody make it off this crazy island alive!
Kong's worst enemy
Special Extra Features
There are some nice ones on this set. Creating a King is a two-part extra including Realizing an Icon and Summoning a God. These features include the actors talking about being captivated by the old Kong movies. There is great-looking concept art included. Brie is happy her character is not a lady who needs rescuing.
Scientist Bill Randa
We hear from the special visual effects team on the new look of this Kong and the other crazy monsters like the Skull Crawlers etc. Interesting!
- On Location: Vietnam shows us beautiful country that was used as Skull Island and all the inhabitants of a local village come out to watch the filming. Cool!
- In Tom Hiddleston: The Intrepid Traveler, we go to the Hawaii location where he and Brie Larson helicopter over water and more. They go to Queensland, Australia where Tom explores strange animals and in Vietnam, everybody goes on a boat ride and loves the local food. Nice extra.
- Through the Lens: Brie Larson’s Photography shows us some of the actual pictures Brie took in her role as a photojournalist. She’s a great photographer. Cool that they didn’t just use a prop camera for her character!
Photojournalist Mason Weaver
- Monarch Files 2.0 is a series of fake documentary clips created as if the Monarch organization looking for hidden giant monsters really existed. This is fun!
- Deleted Scenes are few and just include a bit more with the soldiers, a short confrontation between Hiddleston and Jackson is included.
- Audio Commentary by director Jordan Vogt-Roberts gives us tidbits you might miss while watching; why he chose certain shots etc. Worth a listen for details.
The group discovers the killing field
Wrapping Up
Kong: Skull Island is a blast with fast-paced battles and cool CGI critters. It’s great that Kong is more a good guy than ever and the message that Man should not be destructive toward Mother Nature is great. I love that the “damsel” in the film kicks butt and makes friends with Kong and Hiddleston makes a cool jungle adventurer.
Kong sees unwelcomed visitors
The Blu-ray and DVD look and sound great and the extras are fun and interesting. As usual, I miss that Gag or Blooper reel but what is here is well worth watching. As we did for the film in theaters, we can go four stars.
Kong: Skull Island Blu-ray Rating: 
Kong: Skull Island Blu-ray
You can buy Kong: Skull Island on Tuesday, July 18th!
Have Your Say
Do you root for giant Kong in these movies? Would you want to be a photojournalist like Brie’s character or a jungle tracker like Tom’s? Comment below!
