After the mixed reception to Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla, Legendary seemingly wanted to course correct for the future of its MonsterVerse. The promos for King of the Monsters focus heavily on the big spectacle monster mayhem, which the film is chalk full of. I was lucky enough to attend an early screening of the new film, written and directed by Krampus‘ Mike Dougherty, and had a blast. Like many, I wasn’t too hot on Godzilla, but was interested to see where future installments could go now that the king had been re-introduced.

The cast features some returning faces like Ken Watanabe as Doctor Serizawa and Sally Field as Vivienne Graham, but also new faces played by Millie Bobby Brown, Vera Farmiga, Charles Dance, Kyle Chandler, and O’Shea Jackson Jr. I wasn’t super invested in the human characters once again, but of all of them, I thought Charles Dance’s Jonah was the most interesting. He’s basically an eco terrorist hellbent on releasing the Titans to cleanse the Earth. The monster fights are what you’re here to see though, and they definitely do not disappoint. I loved the way Rodan, Mothra, and Ghidorah were brought to life. Their designs were so striking and unique, and pitted against Godzilla, they brought some serious destruction.

What’s interesting about King of the Monsters, is it seems like the filmmakers really found a way to take the best elements of Godzilla and Skull Island to create this sequel. Sadly, a lot of the most epic moments have been spoiled by trailers, but there is still plenty to witness that will blow your mind. I can’t wait to see next year’s Godzilla vs Kong after the ending of this film. As always, be sure to watch the video below for my full thoughts.

The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species—thought to be mere myths—rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.